Name That Name
January 19, 2007
I started making a list of songs named after women:
Josie - Steely Dan, Blink 182
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Rosanna - Toto
Maria - Blondie
Lola - The Kinks
Mandy - Barry Manilow
Layla - Eric Clapton
Beth - Kiss
Joanna - Kool & The Gang
Carrie - Europe
Sherry - Four Seasons
Donna - Richie Valens
Aisha - ABC
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
Diana - Paul Anka
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
Polly - Nirvana
Veronica - Elvis Costello
Sarah - Fleetwood Mac
Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac
Angelia - Richard Marx
Mary Jane - Rick James
(Oh) Sheila - Ready For The World
(Letter to) Elise - The Cure
Yoshimi (Battles the Pink Robots) - Flaming Lips
Jane (Says) - Jane's Addiction
(Oh) Carolina - Shaggy
(Dirty) Diana - Michael Jackson
Wynona('s Big Brown Beaver) - Primus
(Gimme Hope) Joanna - Eddy Grant
Lucy (in the Sky With Diamonds) - The Beatles
(Come On) Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Sarah (Smile) - Hall and Oates
Then I started one for the men:
Ben - Michael Jackson
Daniel - Elton John
Joey - Concrete Blonde
Tyrone - Erykah Badu
Jack Kerouac - 10,000 Maniacs
Jimmy Mack - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
(Me and) Julio - Paul Simon
Jesse('s Girl) - Rick Springfield
(Cotton Eye) Joe - Primus
Judging by my list, there are so many more songs named after women than men.
What am I missing?
Lips Are Burning
January 18, 2007
But on to more pressing, serious matters. A real emergency, people.
I discovered my most favorite lip balm in Japan and am down to the very bottom of the tube. I can't find it on Guam. If you can help me locate an online retailer that ships to Guam OR if you pick a few up for me from the corner store and send them right over, I'd totally paypal you the cash and send you a most awesome mixed cd.
Pretty please with sugar on top?
Six Weeks
January 17, 2007
What was once a bed of sufficient size suddenly felt as though I were sleeping on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Until I started sleeping right smack in the middle. Does your bed feel too big? Reclaim it and sleep in the middle. It worked for me. It also helps if you have two fat cats who like to sleep with you. Lucky me.
I've said before that if I ever found myself in the situation I am currently in, I'd probably leave the island because Guam is so small, it's pretty much impossible to not look down any random street and be flooded with a dozen different memories associated with it. I am surprised and happy to find that I have no desire to move away, not even temporarily. I cannot imagine ever being able to call another place home. This is really good news.
I continue to be overwelmed and incredibly humbled by the love and kindness of friends and strangers. They send email, buy me dinner and tell me funny stories. They watch cheesy movies with me, strip down to their skivvies and go swimming at 2 in the morning with me. They help in every way, from checking the air pressure and tread in my tires to securing free legal services from one of the top attorneys on island. And if that weren't enough, I was reminded that I have friends I don't even know about. They are the ones who send me postcards in the mail and gifts from my Amazon wish list even though we've never met. It is all too much. I could never ever be grateful enough.
I'd like to say that I've been so occupied that I've not had the opportunity to be lonely, but that would not be entirely true. I've had plenty of alone time, however, I am not lonely. I don't know how to describe it, only to say that I am really enjoying the times of solitude. I feel almost empowered by it. It's trippy.
The hardest adjustment by far has been having to survive on my income alone. When you have a two income household (and no children) you do things like buy a new car and take out a personal loan because you can afford it. All I can say is that I'm going to be poor for a while until I finish paying for all the stuff I was once able to afford. I'll admit of all the things I could worry about, this occupies my mind the most. My daily mantra borrows a phrase from Alanis: What it all comes down to is that everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine.
It's working so far.
On ragged roads to better days (Goodbye)
