Week Four Check-In and Thoughts on Borat

I did my morning pages every day but two, and those days I somehow forgot - I think because this week I was on a different routine. I took a walk Monday around my old neighborhood, walked right up (well, just about) to the front door of my old apartment. It's been almost four years since I lived there, but as soon as I was on the speedbump-laden driveway going in, near the big metal mailboxes, the laundry room two doors down from where I was, the little cemetery next to the townhomes---When I was near these things, it all felt so familiar and recent. So, a good walk. I also got very into one of the divining rod exercises, the one that had us sketch parts of our day to keep us more grounded in the present moment. I surprised myself----Though I have never been very good at transferring something I see onto paper, throughout the week my sketches improved. Usually they featured Monty, curled up one in position or another or perched on top of the couch. I drew Adam a lot, too, and he started to become recognizable - the way his hair falls and sticks up in adorable ways, his glasses, the way he sits at his desk, the expression on his face when he's watching a movie, the little half-smile... I have really enjoyed concentrating on my surroundings and my loved ones like this. --- And my artist's date: On Tuesday, I walked downtown (it was so nice and beautiful, the weather) and got a haircut, did some Goodwill clothes shopping, and bought truffles. It was lovely to be able to be on the sidewalks and witness melting (I don't mind the mess), to be without a jacket and feel warm sun on my face again. A nice date. Very nice, as Borat would say.

Speaking of Borat, I wonder who has seen the movie? There is a lot of controversy surrounding it because Sacha Baron Cohen most definitely crossed lines, messed with human rights and was probably dishonest to people when explaining what the footage was going to be for. This being said, though----I still like it. It's absolutely hilarious, for one thing---I almost choked to death eating a beef stick, I was laughing so hard. This man has a bunch of lawsuits against him, but he took the risk to capture on film scenes that can help people consider (in a different way) some important issues. The main thread running through the movie, I think, is [the majority of] Americans' ignorance about people from Kazakhstan. Time after time, scene after scene, people think this guy can really be as stupid and politically incorrect as he acts. They definitely believe him, which is why this movie was so successful --. Even though there are many uncomfortable parts, a good thing is that everybody is attacked - not just one group. Even though many scenes are off-putting, like "the running of the Jew", I do think that Cohen (who is Jewish himself) wants us to look at just how ridiculous the stereotypes are that many people not only believe but live by. There are scenes that show how women are still considered by many to be second-class citizens. There are scenes that show hatred for homosexuals. There are scenes that show there are people so blinded by what our Administration is saying about the war that they would cheer when Borat says, " And may George W. Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq!" It was frightening, people's reactions to the different situations Borat put them in. Adam and I are talking about designing a shirt: "WOULD YOU PASS THE BORAT TEST?" I like the driver's ed guy----I think he passes the test. :)
On a different note, my poor mom and brother are stuck in the Philadelphia International Airport probably until Tuesday. I am worried about them, and I'm praying they somehow get an earlier flight. I know it's easy for me to say this, and nobody truly understands somebody else's job, but....come on. There aren't enough people working, it seems there's currently not enough FOOD there, the lines are like a mile and a half long and headed by screaming four-year-olds, and nobody seems to know anything. Super.

Anyway, I hope the day is good for everyone. Happy Sunday!