Hidden No More

Felicity and I went to see Hidden Figures yesterday morning and OH MY FUCKING GOD it was TREMENDOUS!!! If you haven’t seen it yet, GO!

Look mes amies, this is a flick without a single space ship (well, no Star Trek-y, Star Wars-ish ones anyway), no aliens, werewolves, superpowered humans and it wasn’t all post-apocalyptic-y either. And yet, and yet I loved it. Huh.

The True Story of "Hidden Figures," the Forgotten Women Who Helped Win the Space Race: A new book and movie document the accomplishments of NASA’s black “human computers” whose work was at the heart of the country’s greatest battles.

The movie, from the book by Margot Lee Shetterly illuminates the lives and accomplishments of three real life black women who worked as “computers” (female high level number crunchers) for The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) – now NASA. They were there working, fighting to get ahead and be treated as equals during the late ‘50s (though the movie is set in ’61).

This was before Rosa Parks said, effectively, “nope, I’m not giving up my seat,“ The four black college students hadn’t yet sat down at that Woolworth’s lunch counter. Despite '54's Brown v. Board of Education decision, segregation still existed. The West Computers worked in a separate building, on the far west side of the NACA campus, from their white counterparts.

In the book, Shetterly highlights one particular incident involving an offensive sign in the dining room bearing the designation: Colored Computers.

One particularly brazen computer, Miriam Mann, took responding to the affront on as a her own personal vendetta. She plucked the sign from the table, tucking it away in her purse. When the sign returned, she removed it again. “That was incredible courage,” says Shetterly. “This was still a time when people are lynched, when you could be pulled off the bus for sitting in the wrong seat. [There were] very, very high stakes.”

But eventually Mann won. The sign disappeared. (source)

Hard enough being a woman in this country but being a black woman? Being a black woman in the '50s and '60s trying to thrive in a white, mostly male work environment? Oh man! Seriously strong and hardcore awesome!

One of the women, Katherine Johnson,:

was responsible for calculating the trajectory for the 1961 space flight of Alan Shepard, the first American in space. In 1962, NASA moved to digital computers and used them for the first time to calculate John Glenn’s orbit around the Earth. However, Glenn refused to fly unless Johnson verified the computer’s calculations. (source)

Hidden Figures is about three brilliant, courageous, resourceful women who, against all odds, became significant members of Team Space. Mary Jackson, 2015 National Medal of Freedom winner Katherine Goble Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan — mathematicians, engineers, computer whizzes, wives. mothers, heroes.

Sleepless in Valhalla

Rocco – calculating or caring?

Woke at 1AM and could NOT get back to sleep. Yes, I tried the ol' deep breathing gambit. I attempted to calm my thoughts but, after a fruitless hour, I gave up. It’s been a long time since 1AM's come 'round with me stone, solid, that's-it-for-tonight awake. My beloved Amazing Bob was still here the last time this happened.

I fired up my iPad, thinking I’ll find something anesthetizing to read. HAH! Not bloody likely given our deranged conman Prez, the criminally enabling Republican party AND their loyal loggerheaded followers. I have to keep reminding myself that the Flaming Orange Id LOST the popular vote by 2.9 MILLION! America is NOT all of a sudden swamped by white hooded robe wearing, fascist fucking asstoads. Yeah, there’s far too many of ‘em but they ARE the minority. Dammit.

I’m clearly out of practice with the whole relaxation thing.

I should do what Michelle of Rubber Shoes in Hell does. She unleashes her creative curiosity, pondering deep topics such as:

Was Mr. French happy with his career choice?
If I had a time machine, would I use it responsibly?
Would Norman Reedus like my banana bread?
Is there an accurate way to measure how much wood a woodchuck can chuck? (source)

If I did this I could, quite possibly, find answers, deep in the hidden corners of my bean, to such important issues like:
1)  Taupe – who named this color? Sounds like a foo-foo, made up marketing buzzword to sell overpriced silk stockings.

2)  Mark Hamill – I had SUCH a crush on him after seeing Star Wars: A New Hope (and, back then, it was just plain Star Wars. Who knew the story would go on and on?) I never got the appeal of Han Solo. Yeah he had a devilish charm but, at the tender and supremely idealistic age of 19, I was more turned on by Luke Skywalker’s Force questing optimism and determination.

Did you know? Hamill's 65! I thought he was my age.

So then, what’s Crush Boy been up to besides deep, non-speaking parts in The Force Awakens?

Last week, Hamill debuted The Trumpster, a supervillain alter ego who reads Trump tweets in the voice of The Joker, who Hamill voices in the DC animated universe. (source)

Hoo BABY I wish I could hear this!

3)  Is Rocco opportunistically after copious pats and chin skritches or is he offering comfort/taking care of me when he visits at WAY TOO conscious 1AM? Does it HAVE to be one or the other? Could my furry former feral have two motivations?

4)  Why don’t I read more, different sorts of blogs? And by different I mean, NOT political. Yes, politics can be in the mix but how’s about some other stuff like travel stories, adventures in friendship, aging, food, family, random craziness, ART, etc.

Funny is good – VERY good and mega importante but I don’t need writers to make me laugh 24/7. Honest. Got any recommendations?

Possibly my problem is that, when I do come up with all these crucial questions at 1AM, the iPad is right there at bedside. Somehow I always end up back at the horrors du jour. New plan – I leave the iPad downstairs when I go to bed and put pad and pen by the bed. I can write down my questions whilst employing relaxation techniques.

Pleased to Meet You

I signed up for a couple of Meetup groups – ASL practice and socialization, draw the figure and writer stuff. Meetup, helpfully, sends me emails about new groups forming in my general area that I might, (based on my profile?) be interested in. Nice. I just received two communiqués, however, which made me go all 'the hell?'

Vegan Girls of Brookline

Hello Everyone! This group is for women who live in Brookline who practice a vegan lifestyle (if you are vegetarian or considering veganism this will not be the group for you.) I am looking for ethical vegans who perhaps want to meet their neighbors, make new friends, and/or just have a vegan friend to grab dinner with from time to time, etc. with the hopes of sharing vegan dinners, potlucks, etc….

Brookline’s an immensely wealthy near-suburb of Boston. Exclusive even, just like the “Vegan Girls” club they’re forming. Being a vegetarian or even considering veganism isn’t enough, nope. You gotta be full fledged vegan already AND you have to live in this moneyed enclave.

Also “Girls?” What? Is this the dietary warrior equivalent of The Powerpuff Girls? Are the founding members 12 years old? With their vegan-curious need not apply note, this reeks of junior high mean girl. I’m stunned that they don’t specify an age limit too. No “girls” over 27 welcome. Is there a dress code? Beyond Skin heels are cool but Louboutin’s are right out (unless they’re from his chic, very limited and hard to get vegan line)? Of course.

Just curious, what would an unethical vegan be like? Eschewing animal products primarily for nutritional/health reasons? Vegan more for global warming than animal rights? Pure but for all the wrong reasons!

Then, I got an invite to join the Young Women's Republican Book Club of the South Shore. No shit – REALLY. I’m neither young nor an idiot but, yes, I do live on the South Shore. I think Meetup’s recommendation algorithm needs to be tweaked BIG TIME.

This is a book club for 20-something republican women on the South Shore! We will be reading right-wing minded books and discussing them over lots of laughter, fun and (many) drinks!

I wondered – is this a spoof group? You know, an Onion-esque or Colbert Report-like social club? If real, WHAT THE HOLY FUCK?!

I looked more at their page and YES this is an actual real group – not a joke (OK, a joke YES but not a purposeful attempt at funny). How can ANY sane human, let alone a woman, vote for a party who, seemingly, can’t let a day go by without saying, doing or voting for something utterly, despicably heinous vis-à-vis 50.4 percent of the population.

• The right to make health care choices for ourselves?
• “Personhood Laws” and Fetal Rights and Mandatory Ultrasounds?
• Abstinence Education?
• Attempts to legalize the murder of doctors who provide abortion services?
• Making contraception a religious, not health issue?
• Attempts to make single parenthood a crime?!
• And let’s not forget that equal pay for equal work, something the equal rights amendment would have made the law of the land, was ixnayed by our chums //snort// in the Republican party.

Oh yeah, this THIS IS the Republican party.

The site’s author’s line, We will be reading right-wing minded books and discussing them over lots of laughter, fun and (many) drinks! Yeah, I’d have to be blind fucking drunk too in order to laugh about the obscenely ridiculous, maliciously destructive, shortsighted, cruel, asinine, lies, obfuscations and damn lies that your right-wing minded authors spew.

Ummmm, I'm taking a pass on both groups. I know, you're shocked. Wicked shocked even.
Sympathy for the Devil – Rolling Stones

Rogue Anniversary

Yesterday would have been our 31st anniversary. The Amazing Bob and I got married a decade and a half after meeting, hooking up and recognizing that we were a thing…a BIG, IMPORTANT, BRING-DOWN-THE-HOUSE thing. We used the date, January 27th, as our overall anniversary.

So yeah, yesterday was rough city. Jen and Oni (my heroes!) arranged the day to reduce my mondo pain. At 9:30 AM, Oni and I motored down to the movie theater in Braintree – the one with closed captioning and cushy recliners in ALL ten auditoriums (!!!).

What did we see? Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

 In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. (source)

It was FABULOUS!

Forest Whitaker was utterly brill (as uszh) as Saw Gerrera, the leader of an extremist bunch of Rebel Alliance fighters. He is Jyn Erso’s, the main hero played by Felicity Jones, long time mentor, a father figure.

The rest of the cast is brill too. Donnie Yen is Chirrut Îmwe, the ass-kicking, force believing warrior monk. Jiang Wen is Baze Malbus, a freelance assassin and Chirrut Îmwe’s bestie. Riz Ahmed plays Bodhi Rook, a cargo pilot for the Empire before defecting. Diego Luna plays Cassian Andor, a soldier, pilot and Intelligence officer for the Alliance.

My favorite droid of the entire Star Wars canon debuts in Rogue One. It’s K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk. He’s a reprogrammed Imperial droid and, in the readjustment, got a tremendously dry wit. 

Yes, I want an action figure now.

This is the Star Wars film we've always deserved, one that more closely resembles the mix of people found on our own little planet. And though it's long overdue, it represents a changing Hollywood, and a more globalized film industry. (source)

Much has been written about the tremendous diversity of the cast – that is, the actors aren’t all white boys – COOL.  Also too, as with The Force Awakens’ Rey, the main hero, the prime mover’s a chick. A totally kick ass, outside the mainstream vagina toting human. AWESOME! She was the highest paid of the entire cast too. Unusual considering the overwhelmingly entrenched gender pay gap BUT only fair since she was the lead.

There should be more, more, more women in the next Star Wars flick.

I do believe we need a Rebel Alliance here in the this former democracy, known as the U.S. I gotta find/strengthen my own inner Leia/Rey/Jyn just like Whitney Taylor of the Massachusetts ACLU who has said:

We (the ACLU) will fight for the civil rights and liberties of everyone in the Commonwealth and beyond. We may not have blasters, but these are the smartest, most dedicated people I have known in my life.

As we prepare to battle and protest the threats presented by the Trump Administration, I ask that everybody reach for their inner-Leia. We need to take the momentum created by the Boston Women’s March for America and the Women’s March on Washington on January 21st and take action! (source)

I do believe I’m going to go see Rogue One again this morning.

A MUCH more deranged and far less charming Fitzcarroldo

Hair Hitler announced that his wall WILL be built despite Mexico quite empathetically responding to his claims that they’ll pay for it with a resounding THBPBPTHPT! Who’s gonna pay for his Fitzcarroldo on steroids and meth vision now?

Bozo the barbarous, birdbrained prez has also announced a hiring and spending freeze (just FYI, hiring freezes have always proved not only highly ineffective in controlling federal employment but also mondo hurtful to us citizens. A wicked painful, hurtful lot).

So, how’s he gonna get his wall now? I only mention it BUT, you can’t freeze hiring and, at the same time, build a GIGANTIC sop to your dimwitted vanity and rampant prejudice. Ya know, you actually need people to do the work. It doesn't happen by magic you sadly inadequate, mentally ill prick.

Mr. Trump directed federal agencies to use existing funds as a start to the wall and formally called for the hiring of an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents and 10,000 immigration officers. (source)

Existing funds? According to Fortune the wall could cost $25 BILLION. That’s 25 followed by NINE fat zeros! I could be wrong BUT I don’t believe we’ve got that amount sitting around buffing its nails in the national piggy bank.

The wall is one expensive piece of construction, running perhaps as much as 29 percent (based on a low ball estimate of 13.9 billion buckos) of what the nation spends in one year on national highways. (source)

Hey, we don’t need our highways repaired. What’s a few bent suspensions, blown tires and devastating car wrecks when Dear Leader’s astoundingly dimwitted ego needs a stroke or 25,000,000,000?

The Flaming Orange Id wants us'n Americans to foot the bill for his epic egotism since Mexico proved resistant to his windy braggadocio,

The White House on Thursday said President Donald Trump is considering a 20% tax on imports from Mexico to pay for a southern border wall, but that the President is still weighing other options.
(source)

Do you already think that avocados, tequila and Toyotas (amongst other imports) are too expensive? Guess what? If Darth Cheeto gets his way, they’re about to become wholly unaffordable.

Texas alone:

…imported $84 billion from Mexico in 2015. With a 20 percent tariff, Texas businesses and consumers would have paid an extra $16.8 billion for the same goods and services. (source)

Also too, and I only mention it but, historically speaking, WALLS DON’T WORK! People fleeing barbaric, repressive, authoritarian regimes WILL find a way. Determined folk go over, under and around, don'cha know.

Friend and author Kevin Tudish notes:

“So, let's see: U.S. taxpayers will pony up the initial money for the wall. And then U.S. taxpayers will pay higher prices for goods coming in from Mexico. As usual with the Trump administration, U.S. citizens get screwed twice in the deal. Or am I missing something?”

Nope, not missing a single damned thing.

Christ almighty, I need a serious palate cleanser or two. Luckily Valhalla obliged.

Sanity Maintenance

*  Last year, at around this time, The Amazing Bob and I were on pins and needles waiting to hear if that spot found on his CAT scan was a recurrence of the BIG BAD.

*  Two years ago on this very day my beloved TAB had heart surgery. He’d had an attack shortly after finding out that he was rockin’ not one but two kinds of cancer. This was round one of the Lymphoma Battles. It was also the Snowmageddon winter.

*  Three years ago we had a surprisingly quiet January. Mind you, we fully expected some heinousness to land on us but it didn’t. So, a tense yet calm winter.

*  January of 2012 was the winter of Prostate Hell. I'll say n'more on that.

*  I can’t find any notes on January 2011. Did we get the year off or am I forgetting something? Was this the winter of twice weekly cardio rehab?

*   January 2010 was our MGH Marathon year.

And of course, January’s the month of TAB’s birthday and our anniversary. Tomorrow. It woulda been our 31st.

So yeah, even without Darth Cheeto my month was gonna be a stone bummer.

What has the Fascist Tangerine Manatee done to us since last Friday? The PBS Newshour’s post The 12 executive actions Trump has signed (so far) tells us what he's accomplished beyond tweeting and making the U.S. the laughing stock of the known universe. It's painful but ya gotta read it (if you weren't already aware). I want to hide out, go all mythical ostrich but a) that ain't gonna make the Evil Orange Narcissist vanish and b) I really want/NEED to be a part of the resistance.

Mirah Curzer, a lawyer, feminist AND photographer, has a brill post up over at The Coffeelicious: How to #StayOutraged Without Losing Your Mind, Self-Care Lessons for the Resistance

This is a FABULOUS post. Take the time and go read the whole thing. We’ve a long, blindingly hard slog ahead of us and, in order to not lose our lovely marbles at the same time we're being effective resister/activists, we gotta get and stay smart. Below is just a wee morsel of her wise article. Once again, ya gotta read the whole damn awesome post!

1. Don’t Get Used to Trump — Get Away From Him
    You will do more good if you make time for non-Trump conversations and non-political activities. It’s like taking a vacation from your job, which research has shown dramatically boosts productivity. Take a good long break, then come back refreshed and ready to work.
    2. Focus Your Energy on One or Two Issues
    3. Make Activism Fun
       Don’t let anyone tell you that humor has no place in the movement, or that you aren’t allowed to be proud of your contribution, or that it’s unseemly to have fun while you’re doing serious work. That’s all bull, and it’s counterproductive to boot.
    4. Take Care of the Basics
         Go to therapy.
         Get enough sleep.
         Go to the doctor/the dentist.
         Exercise
         Spend time with friends
         Get outside
         Eat well. Sure, healthy is good, but I also mean delicious. Cook (or order) food that makes you happy.     
         Make your bed. Seriously, it takes like two minutes max and makes such a difference.

Given the extra special Hell-on-Wheels month that I'm having, what Sanity Maintenance stuff am I doing?

• I had fish 'n' chips from Sparkle Boys for lunch yesrerday. Yes, fried food is bad for me. No, I haven't had it in a very long time. I LOVE fish 'n' chips and it made me feel a little better. Phlbbt!
• I'm seeing Janice again today. Twice in one week! Woohoo!
• Me and the Y, we got a whole thing goin' on.
• Tomorrow night, me, Jen and Oni will go out to celebrate what would've been TAB's and my anniversary.
• I'm painting. 
• Knitting.
• Spending quality time with the herd.
• Reading authors who make me happy – Martin Millar and John Scalzi to name just two. AND I'm NOT feeling guilty about reading fiction either! Also too, fiction can be funny AND important at the same time. Exhibit A: Lysistrata by Aristophanes. And again – Phlbbt!
• Oh and I made my bed yesterday. I'll probably do that again today too!

What are you doing to buoy your spirits, preserve your sound minds and wit? Tell me, tell me!

As long as we’re talking about Wales...

And we were, right? Right?!!

Only been to Wales once and it was an astoundingly brief visit. I'd flown into Manchester, England headed, ultimately, for Ireland. I'd blown off my connecting flight to Dublin figuring I’ll get to the coast in Wales somehow and then catch a ferry over. Yeah, there wasn't a shit-ton of thought involved in this plan.

Getting from the airport, to Piccadilly Station and then down to Chester (still in England, not in Wales yet!) was the first leg of my overland trip. For some odd reason I was unable to get a connecting train to Holyhead that day so figured I’d spend the night there. I'd watch the street performers, walk the wall and find a lovely pint – which I did. The pub was an odd joint – it appeared to be, not a re-creation, but an unintentional holdover from the 19th century. I wondered if it had just Brigadooned in for the day. In the morning I'd hoof and hitch the remaining 83 miles.

That was the plan.

Being a Directionally Impaired babe I naturally went the long way, ending up in Llangollen (pronounced Th-lan-goth-len), 75 miles from Holyhead. DOH! But I was now in Wales and it was absolutely beautiful. I found a B&B for the night and then set out for a walk around the village. In addition to seeing what there was to see, my goal was to find a nice pub with an even nicer pint.

I noticed fairly quickly that the townsfolk weren’t as cheerfully outgoing as the folks in Chester. They weren’t rude or nasty – nothing like that – they just seemed utterly aloof. Chilly. I was just 24 miles from convivial Chester, what up with the big tone change?

Could be that I looked so very different from this hamlet’s residents with my dark hair, skin that’s decidedly not pale to the point of translucence, cowboy mules, all black clothing and backpack. Yeah, I kinda stood out as the odd STRANGER in a town that’s generally, most of the year, not the big tourist destination. Every summer, there’s a mondo music fest there but I was WAY too early for that.

Who knows? Could be something else entirely.
In a wholly unscientific study the Welsh were found to be shy and depressed.

According to the survey, the most friendly and emotionally stable Britons were found in Scotland, while Wales was home to a disproportionate number of shy and neurotic people. (source)

Huh.

I did find my nice pint, a Rev. James Original, in the near empty Prince of Wales pub. Tired of catching folks sneaking sidelong studies of me, I decamped to my crib-for-the-night to read.

In the AM I booked it for Holyhead. I’ve no memory of how I got there. Either I got a ride quickly OR found a bus. Whichever, it was as uneventful as my overnight in this port town.

I’d like to go back to Wales one day. There’s so much damn beauty (as long as I avoid the holiday/caravan parks!) and, who knows, the folks in Llangollen might be more happily sociable in autumn. Possibly I should bring a translucent skinned Brit around with me to, ya know, put everyone at ease.

We Are Our Only Hope

Here's Jen on Boston's Women's March for America:

The women's march was amazing. The optimism and friendly openness of the crowd was contagious. Thousands of people making warm eye contact and sharing smiles was something I'm honestly not used to. I was excited to be a part of this giant like-minded collective.

The clear message of the day was that while today was important, tomorrow and the next day and the next are more important. We need to come together, stay together and fight together. Failure is not an option; there is too much at stake. That we will have to fight for rights that were hard won over these last few decades is mind blowing.

I am grateful to everyone that organized and worked this tremendous event.

Oh, and Elizabeth Warren kicks some major frickin' ASS

From a friend’s Facebook status:

In his Illegitimate Inauguration speech, the Narcissist-in-Chief referred to the start of a "historic movement." For once, he was right. There is a movement. Not in the anemic turnout to the Illegitimate Inauguration, but in the millions of people flooding the streets all over the world to protest the Racist-in-Chief, his cabinet of billionaires and anti-government zealots, and his white supremacist advisors.

From Robert Reich’s page:

Marches and demonstrations are great, but if we’re to successfully resist Trump’s agenda and get back on track, we also have to be disciplined and strategic about regaining power.

So what can you do?

1. Join with neighbors and friends in your congressional and/or state district – and plan your strategy. Here’s a handy guide: Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda

2. If you live in a safe blue district and you like your member of congress, find a “sister” district in another state that’s up for grabs – and use your time and energy to support a good candidate there. Here’s a handy guide: Going From Red to Blue: Sister District Project

What’s the sister district thing all about?

The Sister District Project harnesses the progressive resources of safe blue and red communities to help elections on the local, state, and national levels go blue.  In so doing, we will ensure that all Americans have equal representation and our government works for all people, not just the minority in power.
~~~snip~~~
Volunteers in blue communities will coordinate with volunteers in their sister communities as well as the campaigns of the progressive candidates that need support. Volunteers will be able to register voters, make phone calls, donate money, and canvass for their sister communities. With this targeted, individualized approach, volunteers will have a discrete and specific goal with measurable success. One by one, we will flip and secure these races for progressive candidates. In so doing, we will re-build the pipeline of progressive candidates at the state and local levels, we will win back state governments and bring fairness to redistricting, and in 2018, we will take back the House and ensure that all Americans have an equal voice in Congress.

More from Robert Reich’s page:

I had breakfast recently with a friend who's a former Republican member of Congress. Here's what he said:

Him: Trump is no Republican. He’s just a big fat ego.

Me: Then why didn’t you speak out against him during the campaign?

Him: You kidding? I was surrounded by Trump voters. I’d have been shot.

Me: So what now? What are your former Republican colleagues going to do?

Him (smirking): They’ll play along for a while.

Me: A while?

Him: They’ll get as much as they want – tax cuts galore, deregulation, military buildup, slash all those poverty programs, and then get to work on Social Security and Medicare – and blame him. And he’s such a fool he’ll want to take credit for everything.

Me: And then what?

Him (laughing): They like Pence.

 Me: What do you mean?

Him: Pence is their guy. They all think Trump is out of his mind.

Me: So what?

Him: So the moment Trump does something really dumb – steps over the line – violates the law in a big stupid clumsy way … and you know he will ...

Me: They impeach him?

Him: You bet. They pull the trigger.

Just a reminder on Pence – amongst others, he’s on the take to Tobacco companies. So much so that he's on record spewing phony "alternative facts" about the dangers of smoking. He's also popped that global warming’s a myth, stem cell research is ‘obsolete’ and he’s made it abundantly clear that he’s not sold on this whole “evolution” thingie.

His nickname's Dense Pence for good reason.

No big, whopping surprises here. Trump is the first battle – Pence is next. While these are goin' down we also absolutely MUST turn the House and Senate around. 

Circumscribed Wanderlust

Eastern Brown Snake
Fast-moving, aggressive, known for their nasty tempers

 Every time I read a Bill Bryson book, I want to visit the places he talks about.

OK, maybe not so much the Sunburned Country but that has more, to do with the colossal distance (a 23-42 hour plane ride!), cost (cheapest roundtrip flight I could find was $1,370!) and the fact that so much of their wildlife can kill me. In fact, apparently, they hold this as a goal. Also too:

"That’s the thing about Australia, you see. It teems with interesting stuff, but at the same time it’s so vast and empty and forbidding that it generally takes a remarkable stroke of luck to find it."

Salmon River and the Sawtooth Mountains

The Lost Continent didn’t inspire me to travel around the US more/again but then, I live here. I’ve already been most of the spots in the continental US that I really feel amped to see. Yes, I’d like to see the Craters of the Moon in Idaho and the Grand Tetons of Wyoming but the political climate out there makes these scary no-goes. I’m a middle aged, deaf, tippy, non-blonde, “unladylike,” makeup eschewing babe – hence a target for abuse even before I open my yap. I've got a keen sense of self-preservation, thenkyewveddymuch! Also too:

"In the morning I awoke early and experienced that sinking sensation that overcomes you when you first open your eyes and realize that instead of a normal day ahead of you, with its scatterings of simple gratifications, you are going to have a day without even the tiniest of pleasures; you are going to drive across Ohio."

Somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains

A friendly sheep on the Isle of Skye

A Walk in the Woods sparked me to hike the Appalachian Trail but, ya know, only in my imagination. I’ve always WANTED to be a hiker type – spend a day or 30 in the glory of the woods and mountains but, well, I could trip over a pebble while looking right at it. I could get tangled in brambles and brush while standing two feet away. I’m liable to fall off a mountain without any effort at all. Instead, I read other’s accounts and let my imagination run wild. AND...

"What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die of course. Literally shit myself lifeless."

Alright, alright….possibly he just inspires me to visit England and Wales. The Type Archive in London? Pembrokeshire in Wales? Stonehenge? Like...totally!

What about Scotland? I’m already thrilled about the place. Been there a few times or more and def look forward to going again. My dream is to trike the Isle of Skye. I fantasize about long walks (or mountain triking!) in the Outer Hebrides. The galleries and museums of Edinburgh exert a real solid pull – a tractor beam. I WILL get back there!

Now I want to reread Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe and I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America after Twenty Years Away. Hells bells, I want to reread all his books. Also, I feel quite certain I’ve got a copy of The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way kicking around the house – must find it!

"It is a curious feature of our existence that we come from a planet that is very good at promoting life but even better at extinguishing it."
~ from A Short History of Nearly Everything

We can whimper, we can whine or we can fight back!

An estimated 175,000 people were there on the Boston Common yesterday and Jen and I were two of them.

Despite being up front in the disabled corral, I didn’t see Felicity. For that matter, a lot of my friends attended and I didn’t see any of them either. Warum? THERE WERE 175,000 PEOPLE THERE! It would’ve been a total fucking miracle if I did run into any of my compadres.

I DID see Carlos Arredondo, the cowboy hatted hero of the Boston Marathon terrorist attack, though. In fact, he was standing just outside of our pen.

Elizabeth Warren spoke and, boyhowdy, she was thrilling, funny and inspiring.

“We can whimper, we can whine or we can fight back,” Ms. Warren said, as demonstrators in pink hats waved American flags. “Me, I’m here to fight back.”

“We believe in science,” Ms Warren said, adding, “we know that climate change is real.” A police officer patrolling the rally pumped his fists in agreement.

“We also believe that immigration makes this country a stronger country,” Ms. Warren said. “We will not build a stupid wall and we will not tear millions of families apart.” (source)

State Attorney General Maura Healy spoke:

"We're gonna make our case day after day for shared values," Healey said. "I have a message for President Trump. The message from the people of Massachusetts: We'll see you in court.” (source)

From Boston Mayor Mary Walsh,

“We will take this fight from Boston Common to the Mall in Washington.”

There were a lot of wonderful, rousing. mega-inspirational speeches. I am deeply grateful that Jen came with me and ‘terped. But…but….you were up in the Disabled Corral where you could see the official ‘terp. Yes, yes I sure was BUT, though I get on very well in one on one ASL situations, watching a speech about big issues versus simple chit chatting is a whole ‘nother kettle of sign. I could pick out words and phrases here and there but most went clean over ma tête.

I’d feel all terrible and embarrassed and shit BUT I’m a very late deafened babe – I generally do AOK. Having said that, I believe it’s time for another class and more practice with pro-signers. Also too, CART/ closed captioning (on the Jumbotron) would’ve been fab.

The speeches went on and on and while the temps weren't obscenely, bitterly cold, it wasn’t balmy either. Most of the speakers, according to Jen, had, more or less, the same uplifting, fight, fight, fight, this is just the beginning, get organized message. So, Jen and I decided to pack it in. Yes, we wanted to march too but no tellin’ when that would actually commence.

Now for the hard part – getting out of the crowd. It was less than half a mile from where we were sitting to the Park Street T station. Easy peasy right? Not with 175,000 souls packed in and barricades everywhere, We were like salmon swimming SLOWLY upstream. The crowds were all headed towards where we were leaving (mebbe this was where the march began?) and, more than a few times, all we could do was stop, stand and wait for the next break in the wall of people.

At one point, unable to move for 30 minutes and packed in tighter than a Saturday night at the Middle East with Morphine headlining, I turned to Jen and said “gee, good thing I’m not claustrophobic. Oh…wait…I am.” Everyone was so nice, thoughtful, caring and helpful though. We were all, it seemed, being our best, most groovalicious selves. Really gave me a shot of hope.

And then I announced, “Hey, I’m not cold anymore!” Body heat – it’s a way excellent thing.

Eventually we tumbled out of a giant clot of folks into a less jam-packed area. Two wonderful people helped steady me. Jen told me that the woman said “I’m a doctor, do you need help?” WOW! They offered to make a path for us to get through the rest of the crowd (tremendous people!) but seeing a clear-ISH way to Beacon Street, we thanked them deeply and ventured on.

All in all a fabulous, uplifting and thoroughly exhausting experience. My hope is renewed. The rally was just a beginning. Now we must stay connected, informed and energized.

“We come here to stand shoulder to shoulder to make clear: We are here. We will not be silent. We will not play dead. We will fight for what we believe in!”
~ Elizabeth Warren