Tonawanda

Tonawanda is not a town you hear of often but its familiar to me as I've been there quite a few times in my life. (And no, Leslie, its not because it sounds like "Towanda.") It's a little town off of Buffalo and near Niagra Falls - its where my Aunt (dad's sister) and Uncle lived. (Well my uncle still lives there.)

Anyway we've been receiving, and rather suddenly, a slew of orders from Tonawanda. I figure this is a message or a "hello" from my aunt or a "check on your uncle." Since I acknowledged this on Thanksgiving there's been one more order from Tonawanda. I think that was a "thanks for getting the message" order.

Wanted

Here's an e-mail from Hollywood Boss this morning:


"I write from Brazil. Got a hundred incidents here to remember. From Brazil to London to Paris and back home 8 December. All this accomplished without you but I am missing an Itinerary, updated everything. Erin, it ain´t the same without you, but you know that and I know you delight in knowing how much I want you and need you and that you don´´t care]! Woe is me.
xoxoxo
...........adrift"

The problem

The problem with making new friends is that there is a lot of conversation that has to take place before one can be labeled a "good friend" or even just "friend" (as opposed to acquaintance). Meanwhile the "good friends" you already have drift farther and farther away due to physical distance and life and personal growth and WHATEVER.

So I've got a few new friends this year... but since I'm starting out with "distance and life and personal growth" its taking a long time to "spend time." And whenever I get together with existing "good freinds" I start living in the past from when we used to spend time together.

In Erin's perfect world - we'd all live in a dorm so we could all be "just down the hall." (This may be why I've always found the thought of prison appealing.)

Wha?

Today I got my Emerson alumni magazine thingamajig. I turned to the "Class Notes" section as I usually do to find out who in my class is succeeding (so I can hate them).

The first thing I noticed was the big picture of Charles in front of a mountain...I expected a caption about him climbing the mountain but instead it was his update about getting hired at Microsoft. (No mention of his marriage of course...cuz he's weird about that stuff.)

Then I noticed the "In Memorium" section and saw someone from the class of 2000 had died. Not only was it "someone" but "someone" that I actually knew! That kinda blew me away. No mention of how or when or why... just a name.

This girl was one of the three people in the film group I was president of - me being the third. It was me, Kyra and Susanna. (Susanna is the one who died.) We are the three that did everything (well, I did everything and they showed up and helped sometimes). Its funny because I'd thought of Susanna earlier this year - someone I met "looked familiar" and I placed the familiarity after flipping through the year book and seeing Susanna's pic. I remember her briefly.. the way she smiled. That's about it. Damn my horrible memory - I'd forgotten she existed entirely until I saw that picture.

So I sat there thinking about all of this... and then I remembered hearing once that the dead can be with you "at the speed of thought." So I figured I should stop thinking about Susanna while on the toilet.

Bloggin' the Vote

So I had to vote before work (which begins at 7:30 in North Hollywood) and got to my polling place at 7:00 (in Monrovia) when it opened. Miriam followed shortly behind.

The line was only about 20 or so people deep. There was one panicked polling lady that couldn't seem to find the names when they were read to her (one person to take your signature, and two other people to verify you or something). Hopefully she's calmed by now.

I don't like InkaVote! I've done it once before but the fat barrel-width thing gets stuck in the hole when you punch it through. If they made it JUST a smidgen smaller it would be fine.

I actually did screw up my ballot when I didn't turn my sample ballot page and marked all "Yes"'s on an all "No" page.

Why is that voting in movies and on television seems so much more glamourous than my polling place? My "voting booth" was some corrugated plastic on some flimsy plastic blue legs...and NOT very private.

But I have submitted my votes!

Overall, I've been maddeningly cynical and though WANTING to get active in election protection and pro-Kerry stuff... I haven't. The most I've gotten out of my comfort zone (which is still a plus) is by putting a Kerry/Edwards sticker on my car (mind you, its taped to my inside window so I'm not the geek with the four year old bumper sticker years from now) and by sending a "Why I'm Voting For Kerry" snapfish album to people. Then I got a little e-mail "into it" when a "friend" responded that he was voting for Bush. That's about it. OH and actually I did do a whole bunch of e-mailing to senators and calling radio stations and whatnot on behalf of MoveOn.org and MarriageEquality. So I guess that's something.

Last night I watched the Eminem video - I hope that motivates some people.

Oh and I got to work by 8:10 where the bosses were eager to hear if I had any troubles or conflicts! Nope... just my own lack of attention problem. I'd say my biggest voting dilemma was over Stem Cell Research which kinda creeps me out but could benefit people I know. Oh and I couldn't figure out the 3 Strikes Proposition thing so I just voted No because Miriam's dad advised once, "If you don't know what to vote, just vote No on a proposition. They're all written bad anyway." Sounded wise.

Eventually Columbia House realized I was NEVER going to buy anything from them and they cancelled my account. I'm now trying to ride out BMG... I got my free CDs back in college and have since NEVER purchased anything...but I always decline my featured selection. I think they're just WAITING for the day that I miss the e-mail or forget....we'll see who falters first.

Today I got insight into one of our customers because she sent an e-mail with her Live Journal address on it. This chick is DETERMINED to buy some dolls but her credit card keeps declining and her checks keep bouncing. But she keeps trying. Her Live Journal revealed her to be a bi-polar cutter with a spending problem....