Other Stuff

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=875325" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840erlcjm.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Century Gothic" >Finding Our Roots</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </b></FONT><B> H</b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding Our Roots"><U><B>ome</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Normas World"><U>Norma's World</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04311c00egdysm.gif"> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Other Stuff</b></div> <bR> <div> I have a pretty uneventful life.  I sleep, wake up, drink coffee, go to work, go home, sleep, hang out with my friends, sleep.  You get the idea.  But I'm usually doing two things at once, so you can never tell what combination I'll think of next.  Here are some of the things I do.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Read</b></div> <bR> <div> I love to read.  I read everyday, usually when I get home from work and before I go to bed.  I didn't read as much during the summer as I normally do, but it took some time to get through a trilogy that turned out to be not that great anyway.  Here are some of my favorite books:</div> <bR> <div> "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy</div> <div> "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver</div> <div> "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte</div> <div> "The Garden of Eden" by Ernest Hemingway</div> <div> "Dune" by Frank Herbert</div> <div> "Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery</div> <div> "The Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay</div> <div> "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt</div> <div> "Swamp Foetus" by Poppy Z. Brite</div> <bR> <div> And about a million more.  It's always hard for me to name books I like until I'm reminded of them somehow.  Regardless, I've read a lot and I love to talk books with people, especially Will (who claims to love "The God of Small Things" as much as I do) and Mahshook (my source for all things Indian).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Write</b></div> <bR> <div> I don't write stuff everyday.  If I get inspired about something, I try to write it down to go back to later.  Mostly, I write poetry and essays--my own observations on things.  I try to keep a dream journal, but I always forget.  I never keep a personal journal because I'm afraid someone will find them.  I used to write at a place called The Atomic Lounge (formerly the B&E).  When it closed, I developed a serious case of writer's block.  Still have it.  </div> <bR> <div> Here's a news producing haiku:</div> <div>   Making it make sense</div> <div>   Each story a puzzle piece</div> <div>   Order from chaos</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Research My Family Tree</b></div> <bR> <div> A few years back I started wondering where I came from.  So I started grilling family members and assembling this family tree.  I have learned some very interesting things.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Play Guitar</b></div> <bR> <div> I learned to play guitar when I was 21.  It's very easy to learn to play, but very difficult to be good at it.  So I pick around and abscond tablature from the internet for songs I want to learn.  I should play more, but I'm usually on the computer instead.  I don't even have callouses right now!  It's a shame.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Listen to Music</b></div> <bR> <div> I like live music a lot.  I like to go to shows to hear bands that come through town.  (As long as it's cheap and not Flock of Seagulls.  They keep coming here.)  I like a lot of different kinds of music.  Here are some of my favorites (best CDs are in parentheses):</div> <bR> <div> Ani DiFranco (Living In Clip, disc 2)</div> <div> Siouxsie and the Banshees (Superstition)</div> <div> Shawn Colvin (Steady On)</div> <div> Edith Piaf (La Vie en Rose)</div> <div> Bad Religion (New America)</div> <div> Nancy Griffith </div> <div> Nina Gordon (Tonight and the Rest of My Life)</div> <div> Enigma (Screen Behind the Mirror)</div> <div> Delerium (Karma)</div> <div> Dead Can Dance</div> <div> Placebo</div> <div> The Smiths</div> <div> k's CHOICE (Cocoon Crash) </div> <div> Poe (Haunted)</div> <div> Sneaker Pimps</div> <div> Concrete Blonde</div> <div> The Corrs</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hang Out With My Friends</b></div> <bR> <div> Mostly this refers to Macie.  Also Derek and little Ian.  I see them more than anyone.  If I get bored and want to have a conversation, I head down to my favorite coffee shop, where I've hung out for 10+ years, where I know everyone that comes it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Draw</b></div> <bR> <div> I have many friends who are exceptionally creative.  Among them are painters, sculptors, writers, musicians, etc.  I have hoped for many years that by hanging out with these people, I would somehow be able to do what they do.  I have been wrong.  However, not one to give up easily, I have tried a little of everything with varying results.  This is where I will put my trials and errors.  Feel free to roll in the floor laughing.  Drawing is a new project of mine.  It has been hard, but my friends have been very encouraging, so I persevere.  I would like eventually to be able to draw things and make them look like they actually do.  I have learned to construct Celtic knots and I spend a lot of time improving my methods and learning new ones.  Eventually, I would also like to experiment with paint, digital art and sculpture.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Surf the 'Net</b></div> <bR> <div> Here are some of my favorite links.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.emode.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.emode.com"><U>Emode</U></A>--this is where you can find out what kind of dog you are, or what your IQ is, or whatever  </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.susansongs.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.susansongs.com"><U>Susan Songs</U></A>--this is where you can find out about my friend Susan</div> <div> half.com--this is where you can find really cheap books, music and movies </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.geneology.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.geneology.com"><U>geneology.com</U></A>--this is where you should start if you want to research your family </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.learn2.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.learn2.com"><U>Learn2.com</U></A>--this is where you can learn how to do almost anything </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.howstuffworks.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.howstuffworks.com"><U>How Stuff Works</U></A>--this is where you can learn how almost anything works</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.tvspy.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tvspy.com"><U>TVSpy</U></A>--this is home to the infamous Water Cooler </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.sparknotes.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sparknotes.com"><U>Spark Notes</U></A>--this is where you can cheat and not have to read the whole book </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.yforum.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.yforum.com"><U>YForum</U></A>--this is where you can have all your questions answered, trust me </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.webmd.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.webmd.com"><U>WebMD</U></A>--this is where you go if you think there's something wrong with you </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.olga.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.olga.net"><U>The On-line Guitar Archive</U></A>--this is where you can get guitar tabs for free </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.musiccity.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.musiccity.com"><U>Music City</U></A>--this is where you get Morpheus, which will nicely replace your Napster</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mensa.org/workout.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mensa.org/workout.html"><U>Mensa Workout</U></A>--this is where you can find out if you're Mensa material </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ebay.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ebay.com"><U>eBay</U></A>--this is the world's biggest garage sale </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.nhl.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nhl.com"><U>NHL</U></A>--this is where you find all the hockey stuff </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.amarillorattlers.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amarillorattlers.com"><U>Amarillo Rattlers</U></A>--this is where you can find out about the Rattlers and see a picture of Todd St. Louis, who now has blue hair  </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gamehouse.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gamehouse.com"><U>Gamehouse</U></A>--this is where you can play very addictive games (I like Collapse, Bounce Out, Text Twist and Mah Jong)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>I like:</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">intellectual conversation</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">hanging out with my friends</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">reading good books</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">driving my jellybean car</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">art shows</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">live music</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">waxing my legs</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">going out dancing</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">road trips</div> <bR> <div> <B>I don't like:</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">prejudice</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">intolerance</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">mean people</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">having to explain myself</div> <bR> <div> <B>Someday I hope to:</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">be in Riverdance</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">be a stand-up comedian</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">write a comic strip</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">be in a rock band</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">have a black belt in karate</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">build a house</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">go to India and Morocco</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">wear a sari</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">write a book</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">have an apartment in New York City</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">own a Doberman</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">produce a talk radio show</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">own a used bookstore</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>