Along with the millions of people around the world, I watched Prince William and Kate Middleton get married today. Kate looked stunning in an elegantly sophisticated, yet simple dress and delicate makeup and jewelry.
Last night my husband asked me why I was interested in the wedding at all because I do not believe in princesses and 'Prince Charmings'. He has a point; I’m confusing. What I do love about the royal wedding is the ceremony, tradition and history behind it. As a student of literature and history, this is what I live for in a way. Although I think the rules of primogeniture are ridiculous, I can’t deny that they exist.
What I told my husband is that I don’t believe that girls should be raised to think that a Prince Charming will come to their rescue. They need to be their own person first and foremost. They should get an education and do what their hearts desire and they should travel and see the world before they get married. And they should get married to men who have flaws because no one is perfect. That is what I mean by my not believing in princesses and princes.
Watching all these little girls being exposed to the Disney Princesses is what has made me make these comments to my husband. Many of those movies portray these defenseless women, who have very little going for them except a nice singing voice, just waiting for the Prince to come to them. I think that’s a bad model for girls to follow. I am a firm believer of making a name for yourself outside of marriage.
Now, I am ok with the sweet nothings parents say to their children such as ‘she’s my little princess’ or 'he's my little prince' but I just don’t see myself teaching my children to think that way.
I have to say that in some ways Kate Middleton embodies my idea of not being a princess. She went to school, got an education and worked for some time. This is a good example for girls to follow. Of course, she ended up marrying a prince but even he’s not perfect – just look at who his father is!
If you think your husband is a prince, that’s fine too. I think my husband is the Prince of the Panza de Perrito but I know he’s not perfect. And I hope he knows I’m not perfect either because I’m opinionated and loud most of the time. Those Disney movies make the Prince always look flawless and that’s just silly. No one is perfect and that’s what I mean by my argumentation that I don’t believe in princes and princesses. Obviously historically and even today, they exist but it’s the ideology behind it that I’m not fond of. I mean for Christ’s sake, have you seen how horrible some of these princes and princesses look and behave. It’s not something to look up to, believe me!
I wish the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lots of luck and love. I think they are a very cute couple.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Physical Therapy (Part 5)
This session was not a good one. Angie had a lot of stiffness due to a bad night’s sleep. Even with her heat pad on during the day, she felt all blocked in her back. She told Lily that she had woken up with a cramp in her back and in her abs and this led Lily to check the range of motion in Angie’s ribs.
The reason why Angie was in so much pain was due to her rib cage and the intercostal muscles surrounding it being super tight. Angie had to get those muscle manipulated and it was not fun. Those rib muscles are very tender and almost any pressure on them causes discomfort. After a half hour of muscle stretching, rubbing and poking, Angie felt like she was hit by a truck right in the rib cage. She walked out of her session completely exhausted – as if she had run a marathon.
On the train ride home she began to worry that she was finding more and more issues and wondered if there wasn’t something more going on with her body. Her hope for getting better was dwindling. She was becoming frustrated with having pain for so long with no substantial relief.
All she wanted to do was get home and sleep and even that was not comforting because she knew she’s wake up in the middle of the night in pain. She took Lily’s advice to sleep with a few pillows under knees. It did help a bit but she woke up in pain once the medicine had subsided nonetheless.
Tune in next time as the saga of Angie’s physical therapy continues.
The reason why Angie was in so much pain was due to her rib cage and the intercostal muscles surrounding it being super tight. Angie had to get those muscle manipulated and it was not fun. Those rib muscles are very tender and almost any pressure on them causes discomfort. After a half hour of muscle stretching, rubbing and poking, Angie felt like she was hit by a truck right in the rib cage. She walked out of her session completely exhausted – as if she had run a marathon.
On the train ride home she began to worry that she was finding more and more issues and wondered if there wasn’t something more going on with her body. Her hope for getting better was dwindling. She was becoming frustrated with having pain for so long with no substantial relief.
All she wanted to do was get home and sleep and even that was not comforting because she knew she’s wake up in the middle of the night in pain. She took Lily’s advice to sleep with a few pillows under knees. It did help a bit but she woke up in pain once the medicine had subsided nonetheless.
Tune in next time as the saga of Angie’s physical therapy continues.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Moving Day
Today is the big day when I move to another office. Granted that proclamation sounds great and promising but I really don’t know what to expect from my new digs. I have heard that I will have to share a cubicle which seems preposterous considering I’ve never had much space in my cubicles to begin with since I’ve worked in this company. I don’t know how I’m going to fit another person into the small spaces they provide us with any way.
It’s been hard to get rid of a portion of my stuff here. I’ve accumulated lots of information in paper form because I like to have things on hand whenever I need them. This has proved to create a lot of stuff. I did get rid of some items but I can surely use more help in getting rid of work clutter. Perhaps if my new space is very small and shared, I’ll learn how to get rid of my belongings very quickly.
The best part of moving (and not sure if this is how many people feel when they are moving) is the sense of closure upon one stage of your life and the beginning of another stage. I have been sitting with my old group for the last 2 months and it’s been driving me batty. People still come up to me asking me questions about my former job. I’ve had to listen to certain loud and bothersome people driveling ad infinitum. It’s been hard to concentrate on my new job because they don’t know how to lower the volume of their retarded voices.
But as I said I don’t know if it will be any better in my new home but at least I can finally say that project and time in my life is over. Here’s to hoping that everything is better from now on.
It’s been hard to get rid of a portion of my stuff here. I’ve accumulated lots of information in paper form because I like to have things on hand whenever I need them. This has proved to create a lot of stuff. I did get rid of some items but I can surely use more help in getting rid of work clutter. Perhaps if my new space is very small and shared, I’ll learn how to get rid of my belongings very quickly.
The best part of moving (and not sure if this is how many people feel when they are moving) is the sense of closure upon one stage of your life and the beginning of another stage. I have been sitting with my old group for the last 2 months and it’s been driving me batty. People still come up to me asking me questions about my former job. I’ve had to listen to certain loud and bothersome people driveling ad infinitum. It’s been hard to concentrate on my new job because they don’t know how to lower the volume of their retarded voices.
But as I said I don’t know if it will be any better in my new home but at least I can finally say that project and time in my life is over. Here’s to hoping that everything is better from now on.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Doggies in D.C.
A few weeks ago the Mexican, the dogs and I went to D.C. for the weekend. I wanted to see the cherry blossoms in bloom and to visit my friend Marni while the Mexican was planning to visit some cousins in Virginia. We headed out for the long ride with a couple of snacks in tow and a number of places where we could stop along the way to let the dogs explore.
At the time my back had already started to bother me and I was wearing a heating pad the whole ride down. It was very helpful. The dogs took turns napping and looking out the window. We stopped near Baltimore to let the dogs visit a farm that was open to pooches and had a nice scenic area to walk. As Foxy bounced around in the high grass, we knew she was having fun. Bonnette, on the other hand, had a bone to pick with the truck parked next door to us.
The remainder of the ride was nice even though we drove through some sketchy sections of Baltimore. We drove past some of the major monuments. I even told Foxy that the Washington monument was like a big stick except that she couldn’t play fetch with it. Foxy sat in the back seat and looked at all the landmarks and the skyline –taking it all in.
When we arrived at the hotel in Virginia the doggies were happy to be seeing a new place. We had a wonderful view of The Pentagon, which Foxy enjoyed. She consistently went to look out the window and watched as the planes took off and landed nearby. She sometimes followed the planes’ trajectories very visibly by moving her head in the same arc as the planes.
We checked out a couple of dog runs and parks in the Virginia area and the girls made friends. Bonnette wasn’t so happy about this because she’s very protective of her body (namely her butt) no matter where she is. When dogs try to sniff her, she won’t have it. But of course she wants free reign to sniff theirs. She also wasn’t so happy because it was very windy. Although she had he jacket on, she was cold.
We met up with Marni on Sunday morning to go see the cherry blossoms. We realized a little too late that there was a race happening right where we would be viewing the trees, but we went nonetheless. Foxy was excited by all the other dogs and mostly by the possibility of viewing a Washingtonian squirrel or two. Bonnette’s allergies started to act up and she ended up sounding like an old person with emphysema – coughing consistently and sounding horrible (this was common behavior for Bonnette during our trip).
To Foxy’s dismay, we didn’t see any squirrels during our trip until a block away from where we had parked the car. Somehow she noticed one in a branch just above us and she made an attempt to bite it. Marni was surprised by how she was able to see one from so far because we hadn’t noticed it. But this was my life with Foxy – I had to have squirrel radar otherwise, I’d lose a limb in hot pursuit! This time however, even I missed it! I was too taken away by the beauty of the cherry blossoms, I guess.
It was a nice little trip outside of the city with the pooches. The doggies finally got to see our nation’s capital even if it meant nothing to them. They were trying to exhibit canine duties!
At the time my back had already started to bother me and I was wearing a heating pad the whole ride down. It was very helpful. The dogs took turns napping and looking out the window. We stopped near Baltimore to let the dogs visit a farm that was open to pooches and had a nice scenic area to walk. As Foxy bounced around in the high grass, we knew she was having fun. Bonnette, on the other hand, had a bone to pick with the truck parked next door to us.
The remainder of the ride was nice even though we drove through some sketchy sections of Baltimore. We drove past some of the major monuments. I even told Foxy that the Washington monument was like a big stick except that she couldn’t play fetch with it. Foxy sat in the back seat and looked at all the landmarks and the skyline –taking it all in.
When we arrived at the hotel in Virginia the doggies were happy to be seeing a new place. We had a wonderful view of The Pentagon, which Foxy enjoyed. She consistently went to look out the window and watched as the planes took off and landed nearby. She sometimes followed the planes’ trajectories very visibly by moving her head in the same arc as the planes.
We checked out a couple of dog runs and parks in the Virginia area and the girls made friends. Bonnette wasn’t so happy about this because she’s very protective of her body (namely her butt) no matter where she is. When dogs try to sniff her, she won’t have it. But of course she wants free reign to sniff theirs. She also wasn’t so happy because it was very windy. Although she had he jacket on, she was cold.
We met up with Marni on Sunday morning to go see the cherry blossoms. We realized a little too late that there was a race happening right where we would be viewing the trees, but we went nonetheless. Foxy was excited by all the other dogs and mostly by the possibility of viewing a Washingtonian squirrel or two. Bonnette’s allergies started to act up and she ended up sounding like an old person with emphysema – coughing consistently and sounding horrible (this was common behavior for Bonnette during our trip).
To Foxy’s dismay, we didn’t see any squirrels during our trip until a block away from where we had parked the car. Somehow she noticed one in a branch just above us and she made an attempt to bite it. Marni was surprised by how she was able to see one from so far because we hadn’t noticed it. But this was my life with Foxy – I had to have squirrel radar otherwise, I’d lose a limb in hot pursuit! This time however, even I missed it! I was too taken away by the beauty of the cherry blossoms, I guess.
It was a nice little trip outside of the city with the pooches. The doggies finally got to see our nation’s capital even if it meant nothing to them. They were trying to exhibit canine duties!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
An Eye for an Eye
My husband enjoys annoying our dogs. He calls it playing with them and says it is all in the name of fun and that they like it. I think that sometimes they get annoyed.
For instance a couple of weeks ago, my husband decided to put a small bone on Bonnette’s head. She got aggravated and pawed it off. He decided to put it back on her head, again she pawed it off. He did it one last time and she just left the bone on her head for a while. We giggled at her because she looked very cute. She narrowed her eyes a bit as if she were thinking of how to put a stop to this nonsense. While she moved from a seated position to a laying position, the bone fell off her head on its own.
A little later on we began to prepare ourselves for bed. My husband turned to his side and said ‘Good Night’. I stayed up a little longer to read. I was concentrating on that when I noticed out of the corner of my eye, my little dog getting on the bed on my husband’s side. She climbed up quietly and then she moved to the headboard and then plopped herself on my husband’s head.
I couldn’t stop laughing because I felt that she was plotting out this revenge through the whole bone balancing on her head incident. My husband woke up and was annoyed with her. But then he gave her a kiss and hug and she gave him a kiss to show there were no hurt feelings.
For instance a couple of weeks ago, my husband decided to put a small bone on Bonnette’s head. She got aggravated and pawed it off. He decided to put it back on her head, again she pawed it off. He did it one last time and she just left the bone on her head for a while. We giggled at her because she looked very cute. She narrowed her eyes a bit as if she were thinking of how to put a stop to this nonsense. While she moved from a seated position to a laying position, the bone fell off her head on its own.
A little later on we began to prepare ourselves for bed. My husband turned to his side and said ‘Good Night’. I stayed up a little longer to read. I was concentrating on that when I noticed out of the corner of my eye, my little dog getting on the bed on my husband’s side. She climbed up quietly and then she moved to the headboard and then plopped herself on my husband’s head.
I couldn’t stop laughing because I felt that she was plotting out this revenge through the whole bone balancing on her head incident. My husband woke up and was annoyed with her. But then he gave her a kiss and hug and she gave him a kiss to show there were no hurt feelings.
Friday, April 22, 2011
General Thoughts on Physical Therapy
Sadly I’ve had numerous injuries in my life – surgeries, pulled muscles, sprains etc. After all these injuries I’ve had to go for physical therapy (PT). The tone of the previous sentence probably sounds somber but it’s not; I am a big proponent of PT.
When I tore my ACL and meniscus, I went to physical therapy for a while to try to avoid surgery. I enjoyed the massages and the exercises but in that case, it didn’t get rid of the pain that ultimately needed to be fixed by surgery. After the surgery I had to go back to PT to rehabilitate the knee and learn better techniques to protect the knee. The first few weeks of PT were difficult because the incisions were still healing and scar tissue was forming. By the end of the period, my knee never felt better. It almost felt as though nothing had ever happened in the first place. Even to this day, my knee feels great and I give a lot of credit to PT for that.
A number of years ago, my mom had to have hip surgery. She had to go through intense PT for a month and she hated it. It was difficult and painful. I kept encouraging her because I knew that after she pushed herself a little bit, she’d feel so much better. Last time I asked her she said she didn’t even notice she had had surgery except for the scar reminder.
When I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago about the pain in my back, he asked me ‘Would you mind going to physical therapy for it?’ With wholehearted pleasure I said “Not at all!”
Even though I’m tracking my treatment in my blog and some days are going to be hard, I’m looking forward to feeling better very soon.
When I tore my ACL and meniscus, I went to physical therapy for a while to try to avoid surgery. I enjoyed the massages and the exercises but in that case, it didn’t get rid of the pain that ultimately needed to be fixed by surgery. After the surgery I had to go back to PT to rehabilitate the knee and learn better techniques to protect the knee. The first few weeks of PT were difficult because the incisions were still healing and scar tissue was forming. By the end of the period, my knee never felt better. It almost felt as though nothing had ever happened in the first place. Even to this day, my knee feels great and I give a lot of credit to PT for that.
A number of years ago, my mom had to have hip surgery. She had to go through intense PT for a month and she hated it. It was difficult and painful. I kept encouraging her because I knew that after she pushed herself a little bit, she’d feel so much better. Last time I asked her she said she didn’t even notice she had had surgery except for the scar reminder.
When I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago about the pain in my back, he asked me ‘Would you mind going to physical therapy for it?’ With wholehearted pleasure I said “Not at all!”
Even though I’m tracking my treatment in my blog and some days are going to be hard, I’m looking forward to feeling better very soon.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Physical Therapy (Part 4)
Despite a shortened sleep cycle, Angie felt better today. She walked over to her session from work. She told Lily she was feeling more mobility. However when Lily examined Angie’s muscles she informed her that yes things were better but still very tight. Angie couldn’t believe it. She thought she was making progress because the intraday pain had subsided. It just proves that there is a lot more going on in Angie’s back. And for a very long time, that it’s going to take a while to make a substantial improvement.
She learned a few more exercises and stretches. Had her moments with the heat pad, dozed off to sleep a bit and then returned to work feeling refreshed from her micro nap.
She learned a few more exercises and stretches. Had her moments with the heat pad, dozed off to sleep a bit and then returned to work feeling refreshed from her micro nap.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Be Happy
I can’t begin to tell you how annoyed I get when people tell me to be happy. I think the reasons for my annoyance are obvious to some degree.
Reasons to be annoyed when someone tells me to be happy are:
1) I think I’m happy. If I happen to think a lot about things, that’s who I am. It doesn’t reflect on my being happy or sad. Just because I like to think about things thoroughly also doesn’t mean I’m sad or upset.
2) I don’t deal well with anyone telling me what to do. It certainly explains a lot of my work issues in general. Be happy is a command and hence, I don’t like it. (if it were an instruction, I still wouldn’t like it because it doesn’t tell you how to be happy so that leads me to the next reason)
3) If you think I’m unhappy, telling me to be happy wouldn’t make me feel better if I have no clue how to be happy. This is not the case with me, just pointing out a problem with this logic.
4) If I suddenly see a person upset, and I don’t bother to ask them why…would I hazard to say to them ‘Be happy!’ No, not if I value my life. But yet people do this to other people without taking into consideration that maybe there are things going on in their life and we don’t have the full story.
It’s easy to tell people not to worry and to be happy but it is usually not comforting especially if the person seems to be just brushing you and your problems off as insignificant.
Reasons to be annoyed when someone tells me to be happy are:
1) I think I’m happy. If I happen to think a lot about things, that’s who I am. It doesn’t reflect on my being happy or sad. Just because I like to think about things thoroughly also doesn’t mean I’m sad or upset.
2) I don’t deal well with anyone telling me what to do. It certainly explains a lot of my work issues in general. Be happy is a command and hence, I don’t like it. (if it were an instruction, I still wouldn’t like it because it doesn’t tell you how to be happy so that leads me to the next reason)
3) If you think I’m unhappy, telling me to be happy wouldn’t make me feel better if I have no clue how to be happy. This is not the case with me, just pointing out a problem with this logic.
4) If I suddenly see a person upset, and I don’t bother to ask them why…would I hazard to say to them ‘Be happy!’ No, not if I value my life. But yet people do this to other people without taking into consideration that maybe there are things going on in their life and we don’t have the full story.
It’s easy to tell people not to worry and to be happy but it is usually not comforting especially if the person seems to be just brushing you and your problems off as insignificant.
Lunch with Lucy
This past weekend I went to brunch with a very good friend and her daughter, Lucy. Lucy is a girl after my own heart because she loves carbs. We sat down to have our brunch; Lucy in a high chair and her mom and me in adult chairs. The busboy put a croissant at each of our plates and Lucy’s mom and I chatted up a storm.
Occasionally Lucy would point to the croissant on her mom’s plate to signal that she wanted another piece of the croissant. I decided I would give Lucy some of my croissant as well because she needed to eat her food. The first piece I gave her, she nibbled on it as if she wasn’t sure if my piece of croissant was as good as her mom’s. When her mom gave her a piece after the one I had given her, she shoved it in her mouth. The next piece I handed her, she was still skeptical and bit into a little bit, tasted it and then put it in her mouth. Lucy’s taste test was complete and she decided that although the croissants were coming from two different plates, they were equally tasty.
Lucy then had a choice! So she could point to my plate or her mom’s and still get her food. She was very sweet about it and mixed it up a little to get a piece from me and a piece from her mom.
While we sat there, many of the other diners were waving at Lucy. She would look at them and occasionally smile. She really didn’t make a fuss at all. She had some fruit along with her bread but wasn’t too thrilled by the home fries.
A little later on her mom went to the bathroom and left me with her. She pointed to the general area where her mom had disappeared and I told her ‘Mommy is in the bathroom.’ The answer seemed to satisfy her. She smiled at me or looked at someone trying to get her attention. And then her mom appeared! She smiled from cheek to cheek.
I put on Lucy’s lamb jacket and we left the restaurant. She decided she knew the best way to get to her house—better than her mom – so she guided us there. As I walked towards my house, I kept thinking about how pleasant lunch with Lucy was. She didn’t cry or make a show; she was very well behaved. It’s refreshing to see that kids can be calm, sweet and can control themselves in social settings. I wish more kids were as fun as Lucy.
Occasionally Lucy would point to the croissant on her mom’s plate to signal that she wanted another piece of the croissant. I decided I would give Lucy some of my croissant as well because she needed to eat her food. The first piece I gave her, she nibbled on it as if she wasn’t sure if my piece of croissant was as good as her mom’s. When her mom gave her a piece after the one I had given her, she shoved it in her mouth. The next piece I handed her, she was still skeptical and bit into a little bit, tasted it and then put it in her mouth. Lucy’s taste test was complete and she decided that although the croissants were coming from two different plates, they were equally tasty.
Lucy then had a choice! So she could point to my plate or her mom’s and still get her food. She was very sweet about it and mixed it up a little to get a piece from me and a piece from her mom.
While we sat there, many of the other diners were waving at Lucy. She would look at them and occasionally smile. She really didn’t make a fuss at all. She had some fruit along with her bread but wasn’t too thrilled by the home fries.
A little later on her mom went to the bathroom and left me with her. She pointed to the general area where her mom had disappeared and I told her ‘Mommy is in the bathroom.’ The answer seemed to satisfy her. She smiled at me or looked at someone trying to get her attention. And then her mom appeared! She smiled from cheek to cheek.
I put on Lucy’s lamb jacket and we left the restaurant. She decided she knew the best way to get to her house—better than her mom – so she guided us there. As I walked towards my house, I kept thinking about how pleasant lunch with Lucy was. She didn’t cry or make a show; she was very well behaved. It’s refreshing to see that kids can be calm, sweet and can control themselves in social settings. I wish more kids were as fun as Lucy.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Editing Room
Writing can be a beast a lot of the time. It’s so relaxing and helpful when I write for myself. And since I’m highly critical of my own work, I tend to sport the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde outfit without any assistance from the outside world. But when I have to write for others it takes on a decidedly different spin.
Whenever I write for work it’s anxiety producing because I’ve been through the ringer on so many occasions. Business writing is so different from what I’ve written academically and for pleasure. It’s supposed to be concise and straightforward. Although I completely understand this difference, there are times when I struggle because those parameters are limiting and they create loopholes. So you need to be detailed to avoid potential issues. Therein lies the rub, how can you be detailed and concise at the same time? It’s very tricky. I am definitely not a master at this whatsoever.
What drives me crazy is how no one in the business world wants to write and yet, they love to edit. They are brutal with it too. I find it unfair. Just the other day I wrote a procedure that I sent around to a bunch of people to see what they thought. They all thought it was very good. I should have been proud of my work. However, I wasn’t because I knew the real audience was going to chew the draft up and spit it out with me suspended in the spit wad.
One person actually had the nerve to say “Fix this and I’ll help you edit it. It’s so easy to edit and so hard to write.” I wanted to smack the person and say to them…’why don’t you give writing a chance and then you might not be so harsh with your criticism?’ (Some of which were valid but still tame it down!). And no matter how many times people tell me not to take the criticism personally, it’s unavoidable. As someone who enjoys writing (I won’t say I’m a writer!), most of what I write is about how I feel, what I see and my comments on those things. It’s about me and it’s personal. Granted in the work world, it isn’t that way at all. The purpose of the writing is to give information, instruction and on a very rare occasion, an opinion. But it’s still annoying to have to sit there and get your work edited when people don’t have the slightest sense of how hard it is to write nor how individual it is.
Time to put on my hard shell now so that I can chip away at my next work writing task.
Whenever I write for work it’s anxiety producing because I’ve been through the ringer on so many occasions. Business writing is so different from what I’ve written academically and for pleasure. It’s supposed to be concise and straightforward. Although I completely understand this difference, there are times when I struggle because those parameters are limiting and they create loopholes. So you need to be detailed to avoid potential issues. Therein lies the rub, how can you be detailed and concise at the same time? It’s very tricky. I am definitely not a master at this whatsoever.
What drives me crazy is how no one in the business world wants to write and yet, they love to edit. They are brutal with it too. I find it unfair. Just the other day I wrote a procedure that I sent around to a bunch of people to see what they thought. They all thought it was very good. I should have been proud of my work. However, I wasn’t because I knew the real audience was going to chew the draft up and spit it out with me suspended in the spit wad.
One person actually had the nerve to say “Fix this and I’ll help you edit it. It’s so easy to edit and so hard to write.” I wanted to smack the person and say to them…’why don’t you give writing a chance and then you might not be so harsh with your criticism?’ (Some of which were valid but still tame it down!). And no matter how many times people tell me not to take the criticism personally, it’s unavoidable. As someone who enjoys writing (I won’t say I’m a writer!), most of what I write is about how I feel, what I see and my comments on those things. It’s about me and it’s personal. Granted in the work world, it isn’t that way at all. The purpose of the writing is to give information, instruction and on a very rare occasion, an opinion. But it’s still annoying to have to sit there and get your work edited when people don’t have the slightest sense of how hard it is to write nor how individual it is.
Time to put on my hard shell now so that I can chip away at my next work writing task.
Physical Therapy (Part 3)
It was not a good day. Angie woke up in a lot of pain due to her not being able to sleep the night before. Pain while sleeping, pain upon waking; this was not looking good. Angie took the day off from work to get some sleep and to aggressively do the exercises that the physical therapist told her to do. Even though she had done them all weekend, she became obsessed that doing more of them would help her feel better.
After a few naps and a number of stretching sessions, she felt better but not great. Angie’s lower back was hurting more than her middle back today and she didn’t know why.
She boarded the subway for her appointment and went to her session. She learned a couple of new exercises and then lay on the table to get an assessment of the muscle after heating it up with exercise. Just as Angie had suspected, her lower back was far tighter than her middle back. Lily validated that and told her that one side was considerably tighter than her other side. Lily asked Angie if she used a dual monitor at work. Angie confirmed that she did. Lily went on to tell Angie that she needed to adjust her work station because it was affecting her back. If she turned more to one side than the other to do her work, her muscles were going to shorten on the side where she turned the most.
“I learn something every day!” Angie thought to herself.
Lily explained to Angie that the human body isn’t meant to sit down for so many hours a day and that many repetitive and small tasks could impact the body without us knowing. Angie needed to be more aware of these tiny repetitive motions. She got her heat pad but didn’t take a nap. Angie proceeded to watch a fellow injured person go through wrist manipulations and exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome.
After she left the session, Angie swore to tell all her work friends with dual monitors to make the adjustments they needed. Angie didn’t want anyone else to have to go through these issues she was having.
After a few naps and a number of stretching sessions, she felt better but not great. Angie’s lower back was hurting more than her middle back today and she didn’t know why.
She boarded the subway for her appointment and went to her session. She learned a couple of new exercises and then lay on the table to get an assessment of the muscle after heating it up with exercise. Just as Angie had suspected, her lower back was far tighter than her middle back. Lily validated that and told her that one side was considerably tighter than her other side. Lily asked Angie if she used a dual monitor at work. Angie confirmed that she did. Lily went on to tell Angie that she needed to adjust her work station because it was affecting her back. If she turned more to one side than the other to do her work, her muscles were going to shorten on the side where she turned the most.
“I learn something every day!” Angie thought to herself.
Lily explained to Angie that the human body isn’t meant to sit down for so many hours a day and that many repetitive and small tasks could impact the body without us knowing. Angie needed to be more aware of these tiny repetitive motions. She got her heat pad but didn’t take a nap. Angie proceeded to watch a fellow injured person go through wrist manipulations and exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome.
After she left the session, Angie swore to tell all her work friends with dual monitors to make the adjustments they needed. Angie didn’t want anyone else to have to go through these issues she was having.
Pins and Needles #5
The other night I couldn’t take the pain in my back so during the day I decided to go for an acupuncture session. I used to get acupuncture years ago but it had been at least a year since the last time I’d gone. It was different this time around.
This time my back was in a worse pain than it had been when I went before. I can’t even sleep from the amount of pain that I experience. My muscles have always been tense but never to this degree. The shortened muscles in my back were what led me to pull my back muscles in the first place. I needed so much more help this time around than I ever did in the past.
Before this occasion, I’d feel the slight prick of the needle and then I would lay there for some time while the needles worked their magic. This time around the practitioner added a clamp onto the needle and had electric currents go into my back muscle. The initial jolt freaked me out but it then really helped. The current warmed up my muscle and I could feel the muscle loosen as I began to fall asleep. After some time the practitioner woke me up and did a session of cupping to take out more of the tension. Both of these methods did help me feel more relaxed and the muscle did loosen up a bit. It was still very tight but better than the block of granite it had been when I walked into the office.
I know a lot of people haven’t tried acupuncture but I highly recommend it. Who would believe that a small needle could help you feel so much better?
This time my back was in a worse pain than it had been when I went before. I can’t even sleep from the amount of pain that I experience. My muscles have always been tense but never to this degree. The shortened muscles in my back were what led me to pull my back muscles in the first place. I needed so much more help this time around than I ever did in the past.
Before this occasion, I’d feel the slight prick of the needle and then I would lay there for some time while the needles worked their magic. This time around the practitioner added a clamp onto the needle and had electric currents go into my back muscle. The initial jolt freaked me out but it then really helped. The current warmed up my muscle and I could feel the muscle loosen as I began to fall asleep. After some time the practitioner woke me up and did a session of cupping to take out more of the tension. Both of these methods did help me feel more relaxed and the muscle did loosen up a bit. It was still very tight but better than the block of granite it had been when I walked into the office.
I know a lot of people haven’t tried acupuncture but I highly recommend it. Who would believe that a small needle could help you feel so much better?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Physical Therapy (Pt 2 of the miniseries)
It started out as a bad day. Angie was awaken at a little before 5 am with pain. NO matter how she moved and turned, the pain continued and she couldn’t get back to sleep. So she got up and did some stretches and felt better.
She momentarily got annoyed by a work email she received but then got dressed to go to her physical therapy appointment. The weather was gloomy, grey and glum – not to mention humid. The subway was packed but she pushed herself in with the rest of the commuting sardines.
Arriving at the physical therapy location, Lily told her to do the stretches that she had taught Angie the other day. Angie learned a couple of new stretches and exercises for her back. It was simple enough.
Until Lily did a spinal adjustment on Angie, then the pain began. Cracks and noises – sounds that humans shouldn’t make - emanated from Angie’s back. She then had to turn onto her side where for the first time in her life, Angie got her ribs cracked. Whimpering happened again.
Then came the heat blanket that was applied to Angie’s back. Next came the drowsiness from the heat and from the relaxation. After that came the snoring. Soon thereafter, the alarm notifying Lily that Angie’s heating pad time was up. Groggily and drowsily Angie made her way out the door and back home to type this report up.
Stay Tuned for the next installment
She momentarily got annoyed by a work email she received but then got dressed to go to her physical therapy appointment. The weather was gloomy, grey and glum – not to mention humid. The subway was packed but she pushed herself in with the rest of the commuting sardines.
Arriving at the physical therapy location, Lily told her to do the stretches that she had taught Angie the other day. Angie learned a couple of new stretches and exercises for her back. It was simple enough.
Until Lily did a spinal adjustment on Angie, then the pain began. Cracks and noises – sounds that humans shouldn’t make - emanated from Angie’s back. She then had to turn onto her side where for the first time in her life, Angie got her ribs cracked. Whimpering happened again.
Then came the heat blanket that was applied to Angie’s back. Next came the drowsiness from the heat and from the relaxation. After that came the snoring. Soon thereafter, the alarm notifying Lily that Angie’s heating pad time was up. Groggily and drowsily Angie made her way out the door and back home to type this report up.
Stay Tuned for the next installment
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
In the Garden
Last year I conducted an experiment in my parent’s garden. I decided I would give planting some vegetables a try. Both of my parents have green thumbs. I didn’t have much luck with plants growing up. I killed a lot of plants my mom had given me. I convinced myself that I was not the progeny of these two veritable botanists. Nonetheless I was going to give this a try.
I went to the local Home Depot to see what kinds of seeds and plants they had. It was already a little late in May when I got this brilliant idea so I wasn’t sure what I would find. I picked up some seeds for green and yellow zucchini, some spinach and various flowers. I followed the instruction on the packages doubting what I was doing all the way. I left the seeds in their pots and planters for them to do whatever they needed to do.
The following weekend we went to visit my parents and nothing had happened. I was a little bummed but decided that they would still need more time. I watered them all with Miracle Gro and let them be.
The next weekend leaves began to sprout on all of the planters and the following week they were flourishing. A few weeks after that we moved the zucchini plants from the planters to the ground. Then there was a boom. Week after week we’d take a trip to see my parents and there were zucchinis galore. I couldn’t believe it because I didn’t really do too much (as you can see for yourself because I’ve described it in this entry)!
After a while though I was at a loss for what to do with all the zucchini that was proliferating in my parent’s garden. I grilled a lot of it, made ridiculous new concoctions with it, and I even gave some away. Regardless of how the insane amount of zucchini that I ate last summer, it was really fantastic to see what I planted with my own hands become something I could eat. My parents were proud of me although they never said this to me. They told people we knew that I had planted zucchini and that a lot of it grew (heck, my parents were helping me get rid of the explosive population of zucchini taking over their garden).
I’m going to continue my experiment this year; this time with fewer zucchini. I have to figure out what happened with the spinach; it never really became more than a few leaves. I tried some eggplant already this year. I haven’t seen much come out of those seeds yet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another vegetable harvest this summer.
I went to the local Home Depot to see what kinds of seeds and plants they had. It was already a little late in May when I got this brilliant idea so I wasn’t sure what I would find. I picked up some seeds for green and yellow zucchini, some spinach and various flowers. I followed the instruction on the packages doubting what I was doing all the way. I left the seeds in their pots and planters for them to do whatever they needed to do.
The following weekend we went to visit my parents and nothing had happened. I was a little bummed but decided that they would still need more time. I watered them all with Miracle Gro and let them be.
The next weekend leaves began to sprout on all of the planters and the following week they were flourishing. A few weeks after that we moved the zucchini plants from the planters to the ground. Then there was a boom. Week after week we’d take a trip to see my parents and there were zucchinis galore. I couldn’t believe it because I didn’t really do too much (as you can see for yourself because I’ve described it in this entry)!
After a while though I was at a loss for what to do with all the zucchini that was proliferating in my parent’s garden. I grilled a lot of it, made ridiculous new concoctions with it, and I even gave some away. Regardless of how the insane amount of zucchini that I ate last summer, it was really fantastic to see what I planted with my own hands become something I could eat. My parents were proud of me although they never said this to me. They told people we knew that I had planted zucchini and that a lot of it grew (heck, my parents were helping me get rid of the explosive population of zucchini taking over their garden).
I’m going to continue my experiment this year; this time with fewer zucchini. I have to figure out what happened with the spinach; it never really became more than a few leaves. I tried some eggplant already this year. I haven’t seen much come out of those seeds yet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another vegetable harvest this summer.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Physical Therapy (Part 1 in a miniseries)
On today’s episode of Angie’s physical therapy session, we learn what is wrong with Angie’s back.
Angie walked to the physical therapy facility after doing her cardio workout at the nearby gym. She bought her work bag, containing her laptop with her, although she thought it would have been better to leave it locked up at the gym.
She walked in with her menagerie of bags and greeted the receptionist in a very chipper mood for a gloomy Tuesday morning. She proceeded to fill out paperwork and ask whether the facility had a shower (which it did not!) and then sat to read The New Yorker cartoons while waiting for the evaluation with the physical therapist.
After a few moments the physical therapist called her over to an office. The office contained a massage table and a few chairs with a couple of physical representations of spinal columns. The physical therapist asked Angie about the pain.
Angie told the physical therapist (Lily) that a couple of weeks ago, Angie had rolled out of bed and felt the worst pain imaginable in her back – like a monster grabbed at her back and squished her muscles together. After the sudden traumatic event, Angie was able to get out of bed and walk around. Heck, she even went to the gym. Angie continued to tell the Lily that her pain was mostly at night while she slept. After her pain medication wore off, Angie would wake up in pain and not be able to sleep.
Lily then asked Angie to do a couple of things:
1) To touched her toes
2) To twist her back from left to right and back
3) To slide her arms down each side of her body
4) To squat
5) To curve and concave her spine
Angie was able to do everything but not within the acceptable range of motion. Lily made Angie walk while she watched her. She then followed this exercise by making her walk really fast and to then run.
Angie got on a table where Lily did a number of tests to see how strong Angie was to resist actions. Basically, it wasn’t so good.
The diagnosis: Angie’s core muscles, especially her abdominals, were taxed too much and her back overcompensated for this fatigue by pulling at her back muscle – creating a muscle spasm/pulled muscle. This was so bad that it was slowly moving to her hips. Lily was very happy to inform Angie that it was only muscular and her injury didn’t involve her nerves. She told her to come back twice a week for 6 weeks and that she would help Angie to get her muscles back in line and correct the issues that had caused this in the first place.
Lily adjusted Angie’s spine, which scared and then relieved her. While massaging her back, Angie whimpered because she was in pain.
And that my friends is what happened in therapy today. Tune in later this week for more progress and insights into pulled back muscles.
Angie walked to the physical therapy facility after doing her cardio workout at the nearby gym. She bought her work bag, containing her laptop with her, although she thought it would have been better to leave it locked up at the gym.
She walked in with her menagerie of bags and greeted the receptionist in a very chipper mood for a gloomy Tuesday morning. She proceeded to fill out paperwork and ask whether the facility had a shower (which it did not!) and then sat to read The New Yorker cartoons while waiting for the evaluation with the physical therapist.
After a few moments the physical therapist called her over to an office. The office contained a massage table and a few chairs with a couple of physical representations of spinal columns. The physical therapist asked Angie about the pain.
Angie told the physical therapist (Lily) that a couple of weeks ago, Angie had rolled out of bed and felt the worst pain imaginable in her back – like a monster grabbed at her back and squished her muscles together. After the sudden traumatic event, Angie was able to get out of bed and walk around. Heck, she even went to the gym. Angie continued to tell the Lily that her pain was mostly at night while she slept. After her pain medication wore off, Angie would wake up in pain and not be able to sleep.
Lily then asked Angie to do a couple of things:
1) To touched her toes
2) To twist her back from left to right and back
3) To slide her arms down each side of her body
4) To squat
5) To curve and concave her spine
Angie was able to do everything but not within the acceptable range of motion. Lily made Angie walk while she watched her. She then followed this exercise by making her walk really fast and to then run.
Angie got on a table where Lily did a number of tests to see how strong Angie was to resist actions. Basically, it wasn’t so good.
The diagnosis: Angie’s core muscles, especially her abdominals, were taxed too much and her back overcompensated for this fatigue by pulling at her back muscle – creating a muscle spasm/pulled muscle. This was so bad that it was slowly moving to her hips. Lily was very happy to inform Angie that it was only muscular and her injury didn’t involve her nerves. She told her to come back twice a week for 6 weeks and that she would help Angie to get her muscles back in line and correct the issues that had caused this in the first place.
Lily adjusted Angie’s spine, which scared and then relieved her. While massaging her back, Angie whimpered because she was in pain.
And that my friends is what happened in therapy today. Tune in later this week for more progress and insights into pulled back muscles.
Body Works
Recently I pulled a muscle in my back. I am not entirely sure how I did it but a couple of incidents might be to blame:
1) My kettle bells class
2) My poor posture
3) Rolling out of bed too quickly to attack my alarm clock one morning
4) Turning the mattress on my bed
It’s been a few weeks now that I’ve been experiencing tension and tightness in my middle to lower back. During the day it doesn’t really bother me despite my sitting for hours. Exercising for the most part seems to help my back. But at night I’m tormented by pains that wake me up after my anti-inflammatory medication wears off.
Last week I went to see the doctor and I got Xrays. The Xrays were comforting in that at least no bones were broken. The doctor confirmed my suspicions of a muscle spasm and told me to go for physical therapy. This is all fine and dandy.
What is frustrating me most about this whole issue is that here I was trying to get in better shape by going to my kettle bells class and increasing my exercise time at the gym. And what does it get me? Pain and discomfort not from muscle soreness but muscle pain.
I always feel like my body is talking to me. It tells me when I’m fighting an infection. It whispers to me when certain processes are not viable. It shouts when I need to stop doing an exercise. And I listen to it because I know it knows me and I know it very well. But it still doesn’t cooperate when I want to get in shape. I guess it’s telling me that I still need to take it easy.
I am grateful for all my body has done and what it continues to do. I just wish it would work with me a little more lately. Please let me go back to the gym and my class!
1) My kettle bells class
2) My poor posture
3) Rolling out of bed too quickly to attack my alarm clock one morning
4) Turning the mattress on my bed
It’s been a few weeks now that I’ve been experiencing tension and tightness in my middle to lower back. During the day it doesn’t really bother me despite my sitting for hours. Exercising for the most part seems to help my back. But at night I’m tormented by pains that wake me up after my anti-inflammatory medication wears off.
Last week I went to see the doctor and I got Xrays. The Xrays were comforting in that at least no bones were broken. The doctor confirmed my suspicions of a muscle spasm and told me to go for physical therapy. This is all fine and dandy.
What is frustrating me most about this whole issue is that here I was trying to get in better shape by going to my kettle bells class and increasing my exercise time at the gym. And what does it get me? Pain and discomfort not from muscle soreness but muscle pain.
I always feel like my body is talking to me. It tells me when I’m fighting an infection. It whispers to me when certain processes are not viable. It shouts when I need to stop doing an exercise. And I listen to it because I know it knows me and I know it very well. But it still doesn’t cooperate when I want to get in shape. I guess it’s telling me that I still need to take it easy.
I am grateful for all my body has done and what it continues to do. I just wish it would work with me a little more lately. Please let me go back to the gym and my class!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Getting Naked
Fear not, this will not need to be rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. This entry is about how people react when the weather gets warmer.
Today, for instance, the temperature is at 80 degrees in NYC. I just went to walk my dog and have noticed the majority of the population of my neighborhood in various states of undress. This is normal behavior in the summer; the less you wear, the happier you are.
However the problem that I have with this behavior in the spring is that I think it’s a case of too little, too soon.
I won’t pull out my shorts and tank tops just yet because well, I don’t really wear those items of clothing out in the street too often anyway. But also because I know that tomorrow the weather is going to dip at least 20 degrees. This kind of fluctuation in temperature and my dressing to fit the thermometer only leads me to get sick. I take the necessary precaution of not wearing my winter coat and putting on a tee shirt and a sweater for days such as today. This quick hit of heat only reminds me that it’s still spring and any oddness is still possible. Think back a few weeks ago when the weather hit 74 on a Friday and the following Monday, we experiences temperatures in the 20s. Can you see my rationale behind keeping the clothing on a little longer than necessary?
However, other people feel the slightest increase in temperature and decide it’s time to play a version of strip poker with no cards. The sunglasses come out (rightfully so I might add – it’s good to protect your eyes) and the items of clothing disappear. And I don’t have a problem with that behavior at all. What I do have problems with are the people who wear their bras and super short shorts (which might actually be underwear) and Ugg boots outside in this weather. If you are just as confused about the weather as I am, perhaps a little more clothing and flip flops might be a better transition?
Today, for instance, the temperature is at 80 degrees in NYC. I just went to walk my dog and have noticed the majority of the population of my neighborhood in various states of undress. This is normal behavior in the summer; the less you wear, the happier you are.
However the problem that I have with this behavior in the spring is that I think it’s a case of too little, too soon.
I won’t pull out my shorts and tank tops just yet because well, I don’t really wear those items of clothing out in the street too often anyway. But also because I know that tomorrow the weather is going to dip at least 20 degrees. This kind of fluctuation in temperature and my dressing to fit the thermometer only leads me to get sick. I take the necessary precaution of not wearing my winter coat and putting on a tee shirt and a sweater for days such as today. This quick hit of heat only reminds me that it’s still spring and any oddness is still possible. Think back a few weeks ago when the weather hit 74 on a Friday and the following Monday, we experiences temperatures in the 20s. Can you see my rationale behind keeping the clothing on a little longer than necessary?
However, other people feel the slightest increase in temperature and decide it’s time to play a version of strip poker with no cards. The sunglasses come out (rightfully so I might add – it’s good to protect your eyes) and the items of clothing disappear. And I don’t have a problem with that behavior at all. What I do have problems with are the people who wear their bras and super short shorts (which might actually be underwear) and Ugg boots outside in this weather. If you are just as confused about the weather as I am, perhaps a little more clothing and flip flops might be a better transition?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Tooth Fairy
On my way to book club last night, I saw a sign in the window of a store stating:
Tooth Fairy Registry here
I actually stopped walking and stared at the display window for a few minutes; I just couldn’t believe the nonsense of this idea!
I walked into the store to ask someone what this tooth fairy registry was about because I didn’t want to assume anything. The clerk told me it is a chance for kids to write down what they want to get when they lose their teeth. Sadly I assumed correctly.
Instead of saying “Are you kidding me?” I told the clerk “Thank you!” I proceeded to barge out of the store and ruminated on this idea until I got to the book club location.
I just can’t believe it! The whole idea of the tooth fairy in my house was that you would put your newly lost tooth under the pillow, and upon waking up the next day you’d have a little gift there. My parents, I mean the tooth fairy, gave me money, which I showed them proudly when I went to the breakfast table. My mom was always surprised and would say ‘Wow!’ or something to that end. My dad would advise me to save the money so that I could buy something I really wanted. I learned via the tooth fairy to budget for items I really wanted. Now it seems that kids just get whatever they want right off the bat. How does that teach kids to be responsible for money and for what they want? I’m not sure what this tooth fairy registry teaches kids except that they don’t have to work for anything.
Maybe I’m missing something here. It’s been a long time since I was a kid and the world has changed.
Tooth Fairy Registry here
I actually stopped walking and stared at the display window for a few minutes; I just couldn’t believe the nonsense of this idea!
I walked into the store to ask someone what this tooth fairy registry was about because I didn’t want to assume anything. The clerk told me it is a chance for kids to write down what they want to get when they lose their teeth. Sadly I assumed correctly.
Instead of saying “Are you kidding me?” I told the clerk “Thank you!” I proceeded to barge out of the store and ruminated on this idea until I got to the book club location.
I just can’t believe it! The whole idea of the tooth fairy in my house was that you would put your newly lost tooth under the pillow, and upon waking up the next day you’d have a little gift there. My parents, I mean the tooth fairy, gave me money, which I showed them proudly when I went to the breakfast table. My mom was always surprised and would say ‘Wow!’ or something to that end. My dad would advise me to save the money so that I could buy something I really wanted. I learned via the tooth fairy to budget for items I really wanted. Now it seems that kids just get whatever they want right off the bat. How does that teach kids to be responsible for money and for what they want? I’m not sure what this tooth fairy registry teaches kids except that they don’t have to work for anything.
Maybe I’m missing something here. It’s been a long time since I was a kid and the world has changed.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Bringing Out the Worst in Others
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12966698
The article link above refers to a woman who attacked one of Gaugain’s paintings in the National Gallery in Washington over the weekend. I actually went to see this exhibit and I can and cannot understand the reaction.
It does depict two bare breasted Tahitian women, which seems like something most men want to paint. I don’t see Gaugain being different than most men in that regard. I’m not saying I condone it, just pointing out that I don’t think it’s that controversial. The lady said it’s homosexual. I really can’t see that because it’s not as though the women are making out with each other. They happen to be standing naked side by side and extending flowers to someone. If the woman feels this way, she has every right to be annoyed and upset with the painting. Just don’t try to mess up the art!
Not sure what it is about Gaugain that drives people so crazy. As I was telling my friend when we were at the exhibit, I remember that my professor for a course in The History Of Art also had very disparaging things to say about Gaugain. She prefaced the class saying that she really didn’t like him as a person or an artist but that he was very important to the history of art so we needed to go over him. She did tell us why she didn’t like him and her reasons seemed justifiable.
Oddly enough, even before my professor’s tirade, I wasn’t a big fan of Gaugain’s either. I appreciate his art but is it my favorite? Absolutely not! The fact that he was very arrogant doesn’t make him very popular in my eyes either.
So I guess it’s not just me and my old professor that dislike Gaugain as a person, apparently this lady does too. Not sure why this artist brings out the worst in some people. Any thoughts?
The article link above refers to a woman who attacked one of Gaugain’s paintings in the National Gallery in Washington over the weekend. I actually went to see this exhibit and I can and cannot understand the reaction.
It does depict two bare breasted Tahitian women, which seems like something most men want to paint. I don’t see Gaugain being different than most men in that regard. I’m not saying I condone it, just pointing out that I don’t think it’s that controversial. The lady said it’s homosexual. I really can’t see that because it’s not as though the women are making out with each other. They happen to be standing naked side by side and extending flowers to someone. If the woman feels this way, she has every right to be annoyed and upset with the painting. Just don’t try to mess up the art!
Not sure what it is about Gaugain that drives people so crazy. As I was telling my friend when we were at the exhibit, I remember that my professor for a course in The History Of Art also had very disparaging things to say about Gaugain. She prefaced the class saying that she really didn’t like him as a person or an artist but that he was very important to the history of art so we needed to go over him. She did tell us why she didn’t like him and her reasons seemed justifiable.
Oddly enough, even before my professor’s tirade, I wasn’t a big fan of Gaugain’s either. I appreciate his art but is it my favorite? Absolutely not! The fact that he was very arrogant doesn’t make him very popular in my eyes either.
So I guess it’s not just me and my old professor that dislike Gaugain as a person, apparently this lady does too. Not sure why this artist brings out the worst in some people. Any thoughts?
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