psychokitty627's Xanga

My dad is special...

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:08:53 GMT

Ben mentioned today that Ani Difranco was playing a concert in the area, and that he thought i would like it. Although I haven't listened to it in years, I actually own one of her albums. Don't know where it is, but that's beside the point. So maybe it was actually fairly reasonable for him to think I might like it.

Except, my first thought was that she's scary.

The album I have involves a lot of cursing and talking about getting an abortion. As Dana calls it, an "abortion song". A fairly explicit one at that, given that I figured it out when I was 11.

Yes, I obtained this album when I was 11. Maybe even 10. So it's entirely possible her music has changed in the past decade, or that, given my (hopefully) added maturity, I won't find her frighting anymore.

The realization of the moment, though, wasn't about the music of Ani Difranco, but rather about how miraculous it is that i turned out half as normal as i did. Or at the very least, have maintained the ability to pull off looking normal long enough to get a job. My dad decided to take me to a CD store and let me pick out a couple albums... so I had him get me the Julie Andrews Christmas CD, the Alvin & the Chipmunks Christmas CD, and Ani Difranco. It was one of the CDs you could listen to in-store, it was the nearest one, and I liked the first 30 seconds, I think. My dad never bothered to listen to any of it, never looked her up online, never bothered to check, in any way, if it was appropriate music for a 11 year old. Either he thought I was sufficiently lame that I would never want to listen to inappropriate music, or he was just oblivious. I tend to think it's the latter.

See... this is the same dad who thought it was ok to tell his 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son, who still (God knows why) believed him, that he was actually Martian, and had been adopted by my grandparents. My mother and grandparents both would not deny this story, even if they never actually confirm it, either. And we believed him. I mean, it explained a lot. And meant that we could get away with all sorts of mischief - after all, we were half martian, and had different customs.

Same dad who knows that I have now spent 2 christmases with the same boy's family, and yet isn't bothered by the fact that he knows practically nothing about this boy. Who, when told that his daughter's car has been dented and she is looking at getting a new one, sends some money, his only instructions being "Hybrids are cool! I want one but your mom won't let me get one..." Who expresses no concern over his daughter wanting to go volunteer for 2 weeks in Mongolia or Africa, except for warning her that she might have to eat some pretty gross food if she does. (my mother banned both destinations, so I settled for Thailand.) Who, after missing his daughter's graduation, tells her (via the mother) that she can take some friends out to a fancy graduation dinner on him since he didn't take her out himself... how does he know my friends aren't the type who would spend hundreds on drinks? how does he know I wouldn't take 20 friends to the most expensive place we could find?

Either he places incredible trust on my mother's ability to repair any damage he might do to their children, or he thinks that since he is the geeky scientist child of a geeky scientist, he must produce geeky scientist children who could only get in so much trouble if they tried, or he simply doesn't understand that most kids aren't as boring as my brother and I. seriously... I don't know what he would have done with kids who never studied and had tattoos and did drugs.

He's lucky he ended up with such nerds for kids.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:05:14 GMT

There are the moments in life that make you hate people. But then there are the moments that make you believe in the good of humanity, that inspire you, that make you realize just how blessed you are... the moments when you are blown away by kindness, when people just amaze you.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:31:59 GMT

I need to update more often. I want to write about the reunion in Texas, and spring break. I should try to hash out some thoughts on the upcoming end of college and the job search and all that.

Unless I feel inspired during a moment of procrastination, though, it'll probably have to wait until after the show, unfortunately.

for now, though....

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:06:56 GMT

Guess where I am at the moment?

I am sitting in on an air mattress in a tent. In front of Duke's gyms. I'm white tenting for the Duke-Maryland game on Wed. night, meaning that I am a part of a group of 12 people who are working together to get good seats (read: standing space) at the game. We have to have 1 person here at all times during the day, 2 every night, and the weekend before the game (right now) we have personal checks, where we all come out and have to be here for 3 out of 5 checks over the course of 2 nights. Because basketball and being amazing fans is part of what Duke does, we camp out for certain basketball games. And because this is so central to the Duke experience (and because, for everything other than the week before the game (anything other than white tenting) you have to have 2 people here during the day and 8 at night) I get wireless, in the area in front of the gym. There used to be power outlets in the light posts - not sure if there still are.

Anyway, I know that's a terribly disjointed description, but I thought it was worth noting that I am tenting. Since everyone who's tenting is out here and it's a Friday night, it's basically pure chaos around me - there's music blasting, beer pong games, random soccer games, everything. I'm trying to stay in the tent and avoid most of it, but it's definitely a new experience.

Despite the cold and the partying, though, I'd have to say there's something satisfying about saying that I tented, that I was part of the true blue devil tradition. Me in a tent in the middle of a massive party - who would've thought?

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:07:38 GMT

heading home in 2 hours. It's strange to realize that I only have 1 semester left here, especially when reflecting on how quickly this semester went. I have lots to do over break... I have a feeling it's going to be over way before I am ready for it.

More thoughts later, perhaps... for now, back to work.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:51:19 GMT

I haven't updated in forever... maybe at some point I'll write a longer post.
For now, though...

Lifehouse played at the tree lighting at Southpoint mall, Durham, NC. And they were just on the Thanksgiving parade playing on the USPS float. What happened to them? I liked them. I still like them. It's sad.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:13:00 GMT

I've been really bad about keeping in touch... and I went and bought a bunch of holiday cards. I'm not promising that I'll have time to write significantly long updates, but I would like to send people cards. So - I'm requesting mailing addresses. I know I had addresses for a lot of you, but it's been a while, and I'd like to update my address book while I'm at it.
Send me your address (either in a comment or to mbh13 (at) duke.edu or makiko.hiromi (at) duke.edu and I'll try to send you a card =)

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 03:08:56 GMT

I'm love the kids here at TIP, I really do. But they just booed American Pie, and I do not approve at all. Granted, they had played the Weird Al parody earlier, but still. American Pie should never be booed. Also, the "Ace of Music" who DJed the last dance session 1 = not much of an Ace, since he cut the song. American Pie should never be cut.

Did not help that I could not find Elizabeth during the entire song, so I had no one to yell with. She came in just as the song ended, and it was rather tragic.

Session 1 kids, my wonderful CTYers (especially the family!), I miss you guys =)

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 03:17:55 GMT

The 2nd floor oven hates me. I swear it does.

This is the 2nd time that it's burned my cookies, even with the temp not as high as it's supposed to be and the baking time shortened.

....I'm officially not a fan.

on a completely unrelated note...

Instead of counting off normally, Jason's RC group recites lines from Yo Ho Ho. That has to be the most amazing count off ever.

I heard them reciting it outside my window, and it made my day =D

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 18:41:31 GMT

So I haven't updated in forever, and there's a ton to write on that will probably just end up not getting written. I do want to do a post on thoughts from Common Ground, but as my computer is dead and I'm limited to public computers for the next few days (and I don't like desktop keyboards anymore, being so used to my laptop) that probably won't be for a while. Since I won't be online much, call me to talk to me =D

For now...

If you read this, even if we do not speak often,
Comment with one memory of me.
It can be anything you want, good or bad.
Just as long as it happened.
Then post this on your livejournal to see what other people remember about you.