You can't get there from here

I saw that on a postcard one time while I was visiting Maine with Ronnie and Zaxy two years ago. Hard to believe how much has changed in 2 years!

nyhoo the last few weeks has been one big blur of teaching, teaching, working on the DVD curriculum, teaching and um some more teaching ;)

Its Memorial Day Weekend and all I have planned is to edit tmw while Szymanski works on her jewerly making. Saturday morning teach and then hopefully meet up with Jack later that day.

Sunday I want to spend with Jack. He was sick with the flu for 2 weeks, and not just tiny sick, but sick sick. The kind where he seems catonic at times. And this man always has something to say so it was unusual. I am glad tho he's the kind of guy who when he gets sick, hes very easy to be around. He's not at all cranky or moody. Nor does he want to sleep it off either. I was glad he spent a lot of last week at my place. He had a fever on and off for a week. One night I stopped by BlockBuster where they were having a sale on used DVDs four for $20. I got a bunch for us to watch while he recovered. I know how it is to be sick. But whats even worse than that is being sick and BORED. Not having any energy to do anything makes it even easier to become depressed or despondent. Luckily Jack hung in there, and finally, today after 2 weeks of the flu, he's starting to feel normal again. I'm glad. I wasn't used to seeing him so ill for so long.

BTW as far as movies go from the past few weeks here's what I thought of the following;

Marie Antoninette with Kirstin Durnst, directed by Sophia Crapola *yeah I spelled it right* no wonder this movie bombed. There was nothing learned or gained from watching this fluff of people playing dress up. Plus whoever was the music director for this movie must've gotten the job through a family member or something. No way did that person earn this job on their own. Their choice in music was pitiful at times and this is coming from a DEAF woman who lack's the ability to tell if a person is singing off key or not. Now as for Kirstin Durnst. She always plays a snob role well, I loved how she ignored her Father in Law's whore. But, I thought was the most interesting part of the movie was the guy who played the prince, later turned King. Now here was an interesting face. I would've liked to have seen more focus on King Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman) and his role in all of it. And that brings me to why I hated the movie. WHAT WAS THE POINT!?! I mean really, what did anyone learn or take away from the story when the movie ended? Sure the dresses and scene sets, PrETtiE yes, but what else? The ending SUCKED. I mean come on Sofia Crapola? What were you thinking? The movie lacked any real effort in character exploration or historical research *which always helps if youre gonna do a historical movie!* Nyways for several days after watching the movie, Jack had to listen to me grumble about how I watched all of it and it ended like that? Its not even "two thumbs down". Its "two bloody stumps attempting to use Sign Language down!!!"

I am hereby announcing I am a hyprocrite because while I swore off Mel Gibson. Not because of the Passion of Christ. No siree, it was when I saw him during a tv interview. When he was asked if he truly believed in evil spirits. He suddenly looked around his vincinity, eyes transfixed on specific points as if


he saw several imps jumping about and was annoyed and slighty afraid of them at the same time. I immediately thought cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. He would get along with my friend Paula splendidly and they could do spiritual warfare sessions and be Christian or in his case Catholic warriors together... Then add on the anti-semite rant from last summer, I was never gonna give him a chance to grace my tv screen again till.... one night last week coming home from work, saw a young couple throw several dvds on the floor next to the trash cans. Immediately me and this one guy made a mad dash for the movies. The only one I scored that was worth any interest was Apocalypto. Jack and I decided to give it a whirl. Neither one expected it to be any good. I was intrigued because its suppose to be about the Mayan Civilization. This was one of the best "period" movies I had seen in a while. I cannot say how historically accurrate it was, considering the reviews are mixed. Most agree its epic vistas and I was hooked from beginning to end. I still don't like Mel Gibson, but this movie was well done, cannot be argued otherwise.



We also watched the Da Vinci Code which was nicely done too. Very straight-forward and amazingly just like the book. Nevermind the storyline itself was shit but the ideas brought forth from the story was great. I remember reading poor reviews of this movie. I don't see why tho because again, the actors, director and producers all followed the story line, chronologically. I guess the Priory of Sion and hidden messages within Leonardo's famous artworks wasn't enough to keep the audience interested. Granted the movie was 2 1/2 hrs long. Too long to sit on your arse in the movie theater with no bathroom breaks or to stretch your legs. I suspect that might have been part of the problem. The story is not fast, fast paced like most action movies are. Then again, it follows the speed of events from the book. If you have an interest in religion, then you will enjoy this movie. Just watch it on DVD so you can pause and take periodical breaks. Btw, Jack and I agree, Paul Bettany *he played the role of the imaginary friend in the movie A Beautiful Mind* was one of the best 'psychos-type character' we've seen on screen in a while. Kudos to Bettany on his performance.

Still here

lately, seems like everyone around me is having a horrible time or majorly depressed for one reason or another. Me I am not depressed at all, rather I am very content but its hard to see so many people around me in such poor spirits :(

But I am well, when I have access to the internet again, will write a LONGer entry!

"You're nothing but a pack of cards!"

-Alice in Wonderland

You see, I loused up and forgot to buy mother's day cards for Mom, Baba, Aunt Nancy and Aunt Maria. I decided instead to do special Mothers day blog posting :)

Before I start... for inquiring minds

Alan Perlis was a computer scientist, known for his pioneering work in programming languages and the first recipient of the Turing Award.

Sarah Perlis who makes jewelery resides here in NYC, work has been seen in Lucky magazine among several others.

Vivian Perlis, American music historian and faculty member at Yale School of Music

Perlis Films, by yours truly.

Did you know there's a clothing name Perlis in New Orleans

There's also a country name Perlis in Malayasia!

Gonna start of with Maria;
Maria I know we don't know each other well but I wanted to let you know I think you are a terrific mother to the boys. I think its amazing you became a doctor and you never mind answering my nagging health questions either. I always feel welcome in your home and I look forward to getting to know you better! I am glad you use some asl with the boys, it means so much to me.

Nancy;
Nancy I know when you first met me as a child, I was rather mean and spiteful to you. I was jealous of all the attention my uncle David was giving you so that was part of the reason why, plus a big case of immaturity (hell, what do you expect, I was like what 10 years old???) but since I have turned into an adult, we have become such good friends. I still have the beautiful quilt you made for me when I left home for the 1st time to go live at MSSD. I love to brag about how my aunt made this for me. I also love how we both dig the Addams Family and how you we adore collecting vintage items like the original Nancy Drew books and thrift shopping! I look forward to you all visiting me this spring and good news, one of my students in ASL works at the Bronx Zoo and will give us FREE admission, (maybe get some behind the scene looks too! she works with monkeys most of the time)


Go to www.classicmusical.com for a list of all the movies made during the "Golden Era" The below titles are 2-4 minute video clips from Youtube

!!! ONLY one thats SUBTITLED! Fiddler on the Roof !!!

George M Cohan
West Side Story
White Christmas
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Oklahoma!

Mom;
What can I say? I enjoy being with you very much! As you can see, one of the biggest influences you had on me is the art of performing and a love for musicals both old and new. (I know, I know I risk losing my "deaf identity badge" for admitting during the time when I had no deaf identity I watch tv, movies without closed captioned!)I learned about George M Cohan, Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, John F Kennedy not the musical but the movie Pt .109. Plus the fact you were involved with Stars of Fantasy at the Lancaster Metaphysical Chapel to raise money for various charities by putting on fabulous shows, with lots of glitz and pizzazz! I still remember you doing the number from a famous dirty talking comedienne, I can't remmy her name but you had the audience members in stiches, roaring with laughter.I am glad I grow up involved with the gay community. Lord its still sad to believe that the Tally Ho is still the only GAY bar anywhere in Lancaster!You should read this blog entry to get a taste of what my hometown is all about. Joziu Also knowing people who had AIDs both straight and gay taught me early on, that diseases do not discriminate! You showed me no matter how small or big a task is, always do things well. Or don't bother doing them at all. Thats why to this day I never do anything half-ass. I also remember you being the manager at the coffee shop at St. Joesph. We had a lot of fun working there. You gave me my first experience with grill cooking. Before that I was a bus girl or dishwasher at other restuarants. I also wanted to thank you for introducing me to all walks of life, and to accept people for who they are, not what society thinks but based on their individual behavior as a decent human being. My life is fuller because you showed me real people, living real lives!

Baba;
Where do I begin? I will write about how you influenced me with your own activism in life, considering I was born and you were already 49, goes to show, political activism is a life-long commitment. I loved how you went to college in the 70s during the women's lib. You even attempted Law School in California which is no easy feat! You worked for section 8 housing (low income) and you taught me, the ideals that all people deserve to have a roof over their head and food on their table. Poverty should not be limited to a certain color(s), especially here in America, one of the richest countries in the world. Its astonishing to see the poverty lines that exist right here in our own backyards, that there are kids who go to bed hungry every night, domestic or sexual violence taking place hourly, etc. I remember once, we stopped somewhere at a store and I decided to wait in the car. I must have been 8 or 9 years old and of course already have experienced being a latchkey kid that you told me to make sure the doors are locked and not to open them for anyone. I obeyed and when you returned back to the car, and we were driving you added something along the line of this. "You can't depend on others. You can only depend on youself." Basically the idea that ONLY I could be responsible, take care of, and look out for MYself...that its a big world out there, filled with lots of bad people. And I can't just assume everything will be ok, I have to make it ok for ME. I have always remembered that particular talk to this day. Another thing you did was volunteer at Planned Parenthood when I was a teenie booper, you told me about the girls walking in knocked up and still playing with barbie dolls. You were also involved with NOW and marched in DC. You spoke about roe V wade all my life, reminding me of a time where women had back alley abortions and wire hangers were used. You've been an active DEMOCRAT all my life that I too am a blue blooded Democrat all the way! My god, Clinton had a surplus when he left, the monkey ass Bush used it all up within a year, mustve been all those vavcations he took before 9/11! I joke to people, the reason why our blood veins are blue is that blood is truly blue (thereby, we are democrats to the core!) that till the blood comes into contact with oxygen then it turns blood REd! One of my mantras in life was said by Eleanor Roosevelt "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I see why you admired her, she was a woman who believed in serious social reforms. Much a product of her generation in which the Women's Suffarge took place. Funny I never realized it, but I truly am a feminist in a sense of social activism not just for women, but for the Deaf community, Gay community and so on and so on based on you being a wonderful role model who like the rest of our family has a big heart filled with a lot of generoisty. Besides sharing is more FUN. Last but not least, I must also mention that you never cease to amaze me by always being involved in social events or organizations such as book clubs, elderhostel, a trip across Canada, volunteering at the library or Deaf services, letting numerous people over the years between all of our friends live with us for short and extended period of time. I don't think anyone ever walked in our home and was made to feel unwelcomed. No one ever walked away hungry. Even before I was born you did this for some of my uncles friends or Mom's friends too. Later you did the same for my friends. By the way, check this site out on Alice in Wonderland

This 13p stamp from July 1979 was issued to mark the International Year of the Child. It features Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat in one of John Tenniel's memorable illustrations from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Happy Mother's Day!

Nyways I apologize again for not getting those Mother's Day Cards, but I wanted you all to know that I may have forgotten the cards, but I didn't ever forget the significance of being a mother is all about. Besides you know my hallmark genes make me feel shitty that all last week, and this week I didnt get around to buying them.

Dont'cha just hate it...

When youre somewhere in public and you see someone in your line of vision that looks like someone you know that you keep looking up anyways. Even tho you know its not who you think it is, but still you keep looking...I am at the TC library right now, finished tutoring so am finally catching up on emails, PAH!

Blondie and I nabbed some goodies from a nearby dorm where they were giving clothes away for FREE! Donations accepted for a local charity, you bet we were like vultures, its FREE, whee as Ronnie always says! By the way her son's birthday will be next week, he looks so BIG in the pictures she sent me. God I miss RoNNie! Anyways I was hoping for a freecylce meet this weekend, have 3 bags full of clothes, books to give away. Instead I ended up browsing for local garage sales (which of course is unheard of here, who the heck owns garages??)

Tmw night my Sweets and I will meet in LES for Cinco De Mayo celebration, its a Mexican celebration of the dead. Reminds me a little of Halloween but defintely not as scary. I also snagged him some button shirts where the free clothes were. I enjoy picking up stuff I know or hope he will like?. He liked his bday gift from last weekend, I gave him a gorgeous suhsi set for two people, a book, a "zen" garden. Very simple and he liked them all. We both have been so busy we were having difficulty finding free time to meet this weekend but I am glad hes super busy too.

Szymanski left for California last Wed night into Thurs(about 3am) when the shuttle bus came to pick her up. She decided to take it from Blondies apt as its closer to downtown than her apt.. I stopped by to keep her company till the shuttle bus picked her up for the airport. I ended up crashing there for the night. Then last night while visiting with Eddie and Blondie, it got kinda late and I decided to crash on Eddie's couch, so been feeling like a hobo the past few days, tonight I am sleeping in MY bed.

Our Bronx's class got cancelled for tmw, due to most of the students are taking their SATs. Man I don't envy them at all. I remember when I took mine by in my junior or senior year of MSSD I had pneumonia and I was sooo sick. I remember taking the test and getting dizzy. I eventually at one point ended up playing connect the dots with my answer sheet because my focus was shot and I was running a fever. No wonder I only scored like 850, I didnt care cuz I knew that test doesnt mean squat in the real world. I still went to college and grad school, so SATs do not make or break you.

Got a pay raise at one of my jobs, a $5 an hour increase, yeah! I could sure use the moolah. Tonights is DPHH but I am not in the mood to mingle, I rather start putting away my winter clothes and get out my summer clothes, even tho I need to lose 5-10 lbs. I dont look bad or anything, but when the clothes are tight on me, it doesn't make me feel very attractive. I am soooo waiting on my tax refund, half will go to bills the other half I want to use to get a really good haircut, the $75 kind.

I also have a possible job interview next week, am waiting for a reply back to my email... Plus one interpreting agency seems very interested in adding me to their database even tho I am not RID certified.. hell its MONEY!

alrighty I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! later man....