Tonight’s movie feature is the 1983 classic Class, starring Rob Lowe and the crush of my teen years, Andrew McCarthy.  John Cusack also makes an appearance, but he didn’t develop crushability until the 90s.

Despite what the new banner says, I’m not awake because of coffee.  It’s just one of those weeks, I guess.  Speaking of the new banner, is anyone having a problem with it?  It looks sharp on my Powerbook, but I’m not sure what it looks like on a desktop or with another browser.  Feedback welcome.

Happy me, I’m off for the next five days.  By the time I go back to work on Wednesday, we’ll have a new president!  Until then, I have a weekend to fill with plans, last minute story plotting to do for the November writing marathon, Kerry/Edwards yard signs to protect from rabid Republican thieves and a ton of Halloween candy to hand out.

For now, I’m off to bed.  Maybe I’ll have dreams about Andrew McCarthy taking me to the prom.  Sigh.

Posted by Kristina in Musings at 01:29 AM Permalink

I’m finally getting around to making some changes around here, brightening things up a bit.  I don’t really have the skills to do much more than play with color and design a new banner, but it amuses me.

I’m easily amused, obviously.

Posted by Kristina in Musings at 08:37 PM Permalink

(2:15 AM) Go to bed

(2:45 AM) Fall asleep

(6:20ish AM) Wake up to Jay leaving for work

(6:30 AM) Back to sleep

(7:10 AM) Wake up to cats fighting

(8:15 AM) Back to sleep

(9:00 AM) Wake up to dog barking

(9:30 AM) Back to sleep

(10:30 AM) Wake up to dog barking again

(10:35 AM) Try to go back to sleep, no success.  I’m up for the day.

Posted by Kristina in Musings at 12:48 PM Permalink

Insomnia strikes again.  I’m tired, but my brain won’t quiet down enough to let me sleep.  I wouldn’t mind so much, except this cold has me feeling lousy so all I want to do is rest.  I always resist getting involved in something this late at night (a DVD or book) because I just know I’ll be asleep before I have time to finish anything.  Wishful thinking.  So I end up watching a lot of bad television (Elimidate, for instance) or reruns of shows I’ve never really watched (Providence, at the moment).  I don’t have enough of an attention span to read when I’m this tired, so it’s JANE or Cosmo instead of a book.  In other words, this kind of insomnia isn’t productive.  Now caffeine-induced insomnia is another subject… I’m rather fond of that kind of wakefulness.

Right now I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep.  Wish me luck.

Posted by Kristina in Musings at 12:52 AM Permalink

I’ve been thinking about needs and wants.  I’m not talking about basic needs-- food, shelter, safety-- but rather what one needs in order to maintain a sustainable level of happiness.  By my definition, one person’s need could be another person’s idea of luxury.  Wants, to my way of thinking, tend to fall into four categories-- material, which will presumably make one’s life easier, faster, prettier or in some other way more pleasant; ideal, like a college education or a spouse ; intangible, such as a better sense of humor or an appreciation for art; and unattainable, like wanting to be younger or have a different body.

Obviously, a want could also be a need, depending on the person.  I may want my M.A., but someone else may need it as a prequisite for their chosen career (which could be classified as a want or a need, depending on any number of factors). 

Follow me so far?  Good, because I think I’m lost.

So, needs.  I was thinking about what I need to be happy.  Here, in no particular order, is what I came up with:

Periods of solitude

Good, deep conversation, whether about relationships, life, politics or books

Frequent touch (sexual and nonsexual)

An average of 7 hours of rest/sleep a night (I’m an insomniac, so 7 hours in bed may only be 5 hours of actual sleep)

To write

To create in ways other than writing (cooking, gardening, photography, etc.)

Chocolate (I’m dead serious)

To nurture others in tangible ways that make a difference to their lives

Pets

Acts of innocuous rebellion (taking a sick day when I’m not sick, for instance)

Two or three close, trusted friendships

A home that is a quiet, comfortable haven

I imagine there are others, but those are the things that came to mind first.  There were some things, like bubble baths and a computer, that I took off the list because they’re wants rather than needs (though I’m not entirely sure a computer isn’t a need, even if a lesser need).  I was going to put something about needing love-- to be loved, to be in love, etc.-- but I think we all need that, don’t we?  I was trying to come up with a list that was specific to me and my happiness. 

So, what is it you need to be happy?

Posted by Kristina in Musings at 06:24 PM Permalink