tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687Thu, 31 May 2012 04:37:24 +0000hard stuffexpatsexmemoriesTrifectapretending I'm funnyneedlesholidaysWTFparentingmusic100WordsFluffwritingloveWoolfI'm a stay-at-home mom to two kids. I'm a social worker who doesn't work and an American expat in Hong Kong. I enjoy loud music, dirty martinis, and the sighting of dangerous animals in their natural habitats. The local librarian knows me by name; I think coupons are horse shit; and I'm happiest in a tent. Welcome.http://www.seekingelevation.com/noreply@blogger.com (seekingelevation)Blogger502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-3651858275419906563Tue, 29 May 2012 12:01:00 +00002012-05-29T20:01:56.793+08:00 My blog got big over the winter.  Just, kind of, all of a sudden, my stats about doubled, and I began to feel the impact of this self-publishing thing.  I always thought I wanted 22,000 clicks a month, but when it actually happened, I realized that I didn't necessarily want that at all.  I'm not opposed to it on principle, but winter is not my finest time of the year, so maybe 22,000 people a http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/why-is-blogging-fun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-5770437108360644055Sun, 27 May 2012 05:29:00 +00002012-05-27T13:29:08.409+08:00 <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 0 1 77 440 3 1 540 11.1287 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 0 0 <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> Her clothes smelled like cat piss--a stench she brought around with her.  I think her mama drank too much; I know her daddy drank too much; and someone was always touching someone the wrong way. The walls http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/for-m.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-4228618259024255150Sat, 26 May 2012 03:50:00 +00002012-05-26T13:36:12.507+08:00 "Always making a spectacle of yourself," she hissed. Shutting my door, my mind ran wild with the man at the pier who'd pulled a fish from the water with one hand, so strong, like something you could depend on. A cigarette tucked behind one ear, his t-shirt fit tight as a sticker across his chest. I sat on the dock, pulling my shorts to hide my flightless bird, awkward ostrich legs, wondering if http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/spectacle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-2398845864283898051Wed, 23 May 2012 13:13:00 +00002012-05-23T21:13:12.879+08:00 My husband says, "You're in over your head."  And I deny it.  He says, "You've bitten off more than you can chew."  But I deny that, too. Something happened to me in the past year.  I've become unable to sit still.  I used to detest people like that.  I blame the children. My kids wake up at 6 am.  They go back to sleep at 8 pm.  I'm with them that entire time, six days a week.  There is not ahttp://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/girls-who-ride-around-in-cars-and-cry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-2434715116518283067Sat, 19 May 2012 12:42:00 +00002012-05-19T20:42:30.451+08:00Woolf <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 0 1 751 4285 35 8 5262 11.1287 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 0 0 <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> For those just joining us: we are reading Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse and discussing.  We are now on the second section: Time Passes. Chapter 1 Everyone comes back from the beach and goes to http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/time-passes-indeed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-3898042811178749251Sat, 19 May 2012 10:22:00 +00002012-05-19T20:47:26.584+08:00Woolf I'm back with some more Virginia Woolf.  I'm definitely playing catch up here, so help me fill in the blanks, ok?? For those just joining: we are reading and discussing Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse.  Won't you join us? Chapter 18: I know I’m supposed to say that Chapter 17 was my favorite, with the epic dinner party and all.  But I have to say, I’m partial to Chapter 18.  I love how http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/chapters-18-and-19.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-7429782936643346887Thu, 17 May 2012 22:50:00 +00002012-05-18T06:50:57.521+08:00 I haven't been in a foul mood in awhile.  I write best in foul moods.  Depression is a terrible, terrible beast I'd like very much to exorcise from my life, but it never fails to give me something to write about.  Take it away, and I tend to be too busy to bitch or write.  Pity. So how is it that I am not depressed now when just a few months ago I was lovingly tending the single most depressinghttp://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/run-depressed-girl-run.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-463166339156821565Mon, 14 May 2012 12:48:00 +00002012-05-14T20:48:14.053+08:00 Chapter 17:  Dinner at the Ramsays.  This is a really dense, important chapter. Mrs. Ramsay feels the responsibility of uniting all of her guests because if she doesn't do it, who will.  She wears me out.  This whole lifestyle wears me out.  To me, you have some folks over for dinner if you like them all and know they get on well.  You start out with some G&Ts on the porch, have your dinner http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/woolf-chapter-17-summary-and-analysis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-6857338328346430122Mon, 14 May 2012 12:20:00 +00002012-05-14T20:20:45.240+08:00 I'm apologizing for my lack of Virginia Woolf posts again.  Although I am keeping up with the reading, it's been harder than hell to find a single block of time to sit down and write a post about it.  My reading time is caught with five minutes here, two minutes there.  You know what I mean. It's all the usual BS, plus my son had surgery (just tonsils, don't worry) and I got a job.  The job http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/wheres-woolf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-678589216118701823Sun, 06 May 2012 05:24:00 +00002012-05-06T13:24:02.525+08:00 I've decided to leave Chapter 17 as its own post.  I tried including it here, but then my word count was like 14 billion or something. Chapter 13: Lily and William are still chatting about art.  William tells Lily about all the art he's seen in his day, in his travels.  Lily thinks that it's okay that she hasn't seen all those works of art, because artists can sometimes feel as if their work http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/woolf-13-16-summary-and-analysis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-6381429622425617452Thu, 03 May 2012 14:21:00 +00002012-05-03T22:21:13.268+08:00 (Please note that the f- word is used, as a verb, in this post.  More than once, I believe.  If you find that upsetting, please don't read it.  It is not a good option to read it and then tell me that you found it upsetting.  Forewarned is forearmed, yo.) I thought I had nothing to say today, and it’s true that I don’t. Except that tonight, as I struggled to entertain the children for the http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/boy-you-still-look-pretty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-1043333560115260403Wed, 02 May 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-05-02T20:00:27.575+08:00Woolf You will not be amused to learn that I am not ready to write on Chapters 13-17 of To The Lighthouse.  You may be amused why, but probably not. Why: last night I was planning on dedicating the night to reading, writing, and then "retiring early."  My husband came home around 6 with a bouquet of flowers for me (!), one sweaty child and one child screaming bloody murder.  Estelah doesn't really http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-2928628661962481398Tue, 01 May 2012 09:31:00 +00002012-05-01T17:31:21.538+08:00 I stopped fluffing without any announcement.  I'm sorry.  It became a chore, instead of being fun.  Ya know?  The fluff was something I did when I was bored and wanted to laugh.  Once I turned it into a weekly thing, it stopped being fun.  No, it was still fun, just not as much fun.  Anyway.  I stopped.  But because I have 15 minutes before I have to start making dinner, and because John Mayallhttp://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/05/labor-day-fluff.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-4524455995499871590Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:14:00 +00002012-04-29T16:14:14.276+08:00 Bloggers aren't supposed to write about writing.  It's, pretty much, the only taboo thing left out there.  I can tell you about childbirth, experimental sexual positions, and the way my husband recently told me he can absolutely see me having a pill addiction one day before I can tell you how I feel about writing. Because I think taboos are fun like piñatas, here goes. I've decided, for reallyhttp://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/pinatas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-1094002957354927341Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:00:00 +00002012-04-29T05:00:05.780+08:00music This song makes me giddy.  I want to make out with a guy who can play a violin like that. My husband is all, "Is this an Amish barn-raising?"  I want to make out with a guy like that, too. http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/andrew-bird.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-6243313029512196487Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:58:00 +00002012-04-28T16:58:19.949+08:00 I read a blog yesterday, written by a young father who is dying of a malignant brain tumor. And then I read a book written by a man who makes his living eating the local foods from places I can't pronounce. In both writings, the men talked of pain. And one is not more valid than the other, and I feel, not for the first time, that I am just a passenger in a speeding bus. Clips of life flash http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/windows.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-4761928906033482873Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:01:00 +00002012-04-27T21:06:29.459+08:00 I've never (quite honestly) wanted to be one of those big, household name bloggers.  (Obviously, right?)  I've never wanted to be a household name anything, except maybe after I'm dead.  If I kick it tomorrow, FYI, look on my bookshelf.  That's where I keep all the writing I consider to be good.  If you read it and think it's okay, try to get it published for me, ok?  Thanks. I've never wanted http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/deaf-cat-woman-please-come-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-3723456310928583990Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:34:00 +00002012-04-26T19:34:32.436+08:00 Disclaimer: I am bone tired right now, after a night of no sleep.  I want to do this, but I'm going to need you all to help me out here.  Here are just a few of my ideas, nothing too deep or interesting.  What do you all have?  I'm going to type this through once, without really looking at the book, without clicking a single page on Google and without editing it. I forgot to tell you all last http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/woolf-7-12-analysis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-3777089855701204498Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:00:00 +00002012-04-25T05:00:05.855+08:00Woolf Welcome back!  You still reading?  Still ok??  Reading another 25 pages or so, should bring us up to the end-ish of Chapter 12.  Again, here's my brief chapter summaries.  Analysis will be tomorrow.  Again, please let me know how you're getting on, ok? Chapter Seven: This chapter starts out strong—with James hating his father for interrupting the closeness he was sharing with his mother.  A http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/week-3-cant-write-cant-paint.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-6740652784278087145Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:29:00 +00002012-04-24T15:29:40.147+08:00 Every month, I wonder if I'm pregnant.  Even though my husband had a vasectomy.  Vasectomy babies are all anyone wants to talk about when you tell them that your husband is going under the knife, so maybe that's why it's always in the back of my mind.  I think that I will wonder, every month, until I am the one no longer able to conceive.  And then it will be true to me. Every night, when I http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/tuck-those-ribbons-under-your-helmet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-1030682006780530202Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:15:00 +00002012-04-21T14:15:03.148+08:00 I've re-written this four times already.  I keep including the wrong details. Here are the right details: I don't have a car.  Most of my friends here do.  They are kind enough to continually offer me rides places.  They pick my kids up for school often.  They bring them to Mandarin often.  Sometimes it's on their way.  Sometimes it's not. When a friend takes my son to school and brings him http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/need-some-advice-yall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-6735402983783286929Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:52:00 +00002012-04-19T17:53:08.780+08:00Woolf Thanks for your understanding last night, folks.  Today has become easier, oddly, because my son has his 109th bout of tonsillitis this calendar year (surgery will be scheduled next week, don't worry) and we're all just hanging out watching Rio.  Again. Okay, so I originally said that we'd be looking specifically at the structure of the book, gender/marriage, and time.  And I said that time andhttp://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/woolf-1-6-analysis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-1693318200874519155Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:52:00 +00002012-04-18T19:52:40.098+08:00Woolfparenting OMG, are the excuses going to start already?  It's week one, for the love. I was going to post my analysis of Chapters 1-6 here tonight, but let me tell you what happened instead. My husband went to work, as usual, at 7:00.  At 9, someone swung by to grab my son in a carpool (of which I am the poor-girl, charity, tax-write-off member, given that I have a kid but no car).  I waved hello and http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/its-like-college-but-different.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-8646397107709224547Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:09:00 +00002012-04-18T19:52:52.044+08:00Woolf Okay, so you should be up to the end of Chapter Six by now, yeah?  I wasn't sure how to structure the response to the reading, but while writing it, one method kind of rose to the top of the pot.  Today I'm going to give you a synopsis of the action/events of what we've read.  Tomorrow I'm going to post the second half, with the meatier bits in it.  I guess that'll be good, because if you feel http://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/week-2-ill-never-be-r.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3672011267414107687.post-5662201868793533998Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:11:00 +00002012-04-18T19:53:13.651+08:00Woolf When my copy of To The Lighthouse came in the mail, and I opened it up and started reading, I got nervous.  It felt a little impenetrable.  It felt a little heavy.  It didn't feel like beach-side reading, and I was suddenly scared for the entire project.  If I couldn't get into it, how was I going to get anyone else excited about it? It's Sunday morning now, and my husband just took the kids tohttp://www.seekingelevation.com/2012/04/woolf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seeking Elevation)5