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Incarnation of sinew,
aroma of real;
I don't taste
but you're there.
Note: This is a response to the poetry prompt at One Single Impression and has nothing to do with the movie...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Should he stay or should he go?
I don't know and I don't care. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and a former Catholic, I'm in a unique position to have an opinion and I find that I just don't care. The problem with the church I love isn't the pope. The problem is the bureaucracy of the church. The problem is the unrealistic sexual dogma. If you make what comes natural a sin and a crime, then it seems to me you set the system up for crimes that are much more grievous. Covering up the little things priests do because they are human and can't help acting like humans leads to a system that can and will cover up larger crimes. I have no hope that the church can change enough to stop this kind of thing.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Thinning the Animosity
In Mississippi, lawmakers are working out together to try and lose weight and set a good example for their constituents. Here's the NPR news story. Isn't that an awesome idea? Not only for the stated reasons, but also because working out together creates a bond.
I don't claim to understand all the reasons for the enormous partisan divide we are experiencing, but I do think that part of the problem is that we all hang with people who think just like we do. Wouldn't it be a lot harder for Senators and Congress people to villainize each other if they were all working toward a common goal and sweating to the oldies together? Washington could use some of what Mississippi has... I wanna see Kerri high-fiving McCain for doing the grapevine without falling over. Wouldn't that be fantastic?
I don't claim to understand all the reasons for the enormous partisan divide we are experiencing, but I do think that part of the problem is that we all hang with people who think just like we do. Wouldn't it be a lot harder for Senators and Congress people to villainize each other if they were all working toward a common goal and sweating to the oldies together? Washington could use some of what Mississippi has... I wanna see Kerri high-fiving McCain for doing the grapevine without falling over. Wouldn't that be fantastic?
Friday, March 26, 2010
One Day Without Shoes
If you've known me very long, you've heard my favorite Dave Barry joke. (Everybody has a favorite Dave Barry joke, right? That's not weird?) "I was sad because I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet... so I took his shoes." The reasons I find that funny probably have a lot more to do with twelve-step meetings than bible proverbs... Anyway, having no shoes is not a laughing matter for some people.
Toms Shoes is a company that sells shoes and every time you buy a pair they give a pair to a child that doesn't have any. In order to raise awareness about the problems people who can't buy shoes face, they are promoting April 8th as a day without shoes. They challenge everyone to go the whole day, if they can, or part of the day if they cannot, barefoot. We'll be going for a walk around our neighborhood shoeless. How about you?
Link to information about the event and the idea. (This post isn't paid for. I just think this is a nice company and wanted to help spread the word.)
Toms Shoes is a company that sells shoes and every time you buy a pair they give a pair to a child that doesn't have any. In order to raise awareness about the problems people who can't buy shoes face, they are promoting April 8th as a day without shoes. They challenge everyone to go the whole day, if they can, or part of the day if they cannot, barefoot. We'll be going for a walk around our neighborhood shoeless. How about you?
Link to information about the event and the idea. (This post isn't paid for. I just think this is a nice company and wanted to help spread the word.)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Guilt Free Three
Trying to come up with a post for today... and not really feeling it, but Jasmine and I listened to Hank Green's Helen Hunt Song this morning and that got me thinking about this old subject. What the Guilt Free Three is, is a list of three famous people you would never have a chance with but you would totally spend a night with if you could. It's guilt free because these people obviously aren't available to you... you can't put the local plumber or anything on there. Do you have such a list? Does your partner? Would it bother you to know your partner's list?
1. I don't really... though Hank Green might make such a list if I had one. But I don't. Also, if such a list existed, which it doesn't, Mel Gibson (I know he's elderly... these things don't make sense) and Pierce Brosnan might be on there, so it's a good thing I don't have a list.
2. Probably, but it isn't the sort of thing you tell your wife, is it?
3. I totally want to know. I would then measure myself against the impossible yardstick that is the Guilt Free Three and it would bother me, but it might also be great diet motivation.
1. I don't really... though Hank Green might make such a list if I had one. But I don't. Also, if such a list existed, which it doesn't, Mel Gibson (I know he's elderly... these things don't make sense) and Pierce Brosnan might be on there, so it's a good thing I don't have a list.
2. Probably, but it isn't the sort of thing you tell your wife, is it?
3. I totally want to know. I would then measure myself against the impossible yardstick that is the Guilt Free Three and it would bother me, but it might also be great diet motivation.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Return of The Asterisks
It has been a long time since I did a randomish asterisk post. So here's one for you.
Immigration reform. I'm torn. A lot of my favorite clients are immigrants. They are hard working, considerate, and just plain nice. I'd like to make legal immigration easier without necessarily rewarding people who break the law. What do you think?
Jasmine, just now, "remember that one movie that I don't remember the name of or anything about? Oh wait. That was a book."
Some More Comparisons
Coffee>Tea
Chocolate>Vanilla
Unicorns>Zombies
Robots>Dinosaurs
Nerds>Normal People
Filing is not my strong point. I detest tax season.
As Pooh would say: Happy Wednesday!
***
Immigration reform. I'm torn. A lot of my favorite clients are immigrants. They are hard working, considerate, and just plain nice. I'd like to make legal immigration easier without necessarily rewarding people who break the law. What do you think?
***
Jasmine, just now, "remember that one movie that I don't remember the name of or anything about? Oh wait. That was a book."
***
Sometimes you can't help but compare apples to oranges. Like this. The last Harry Potter Movie < Alice in Wonderland
***
***
Some More Comparisons
Coffee>Tea
Chocolate>Vanilla
Unicorns>Zombies
Robots>Dinosaurs
Nerds>Normal People
***
Filing is not my strong point. I detest tax season.
***
As Pooh would say: Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Yay!
It's a happy day. I know a lot of folks are grumbling but they are the same sorts of folks who hated medicare when it first came out too. Now the Republicans won't touch that one. History will look back on this day with approval... anyway, that's what I think.
Obama Presidency=Win
Obama Presidency=Win
Monday, March 22, 2010
Oh Those Crazy Coloradans
This woman wants to garden topless, which I guess is legal in Boulder... News Story. My question is- Why? At thirty seven I can see the effects of gravity and wouldn't want to inflict that on the world. She's 52. Also, sunburn there: would not be pretty. Maybe it's a laundry issue and the local housing authority could hold a raffle or something to raise money and have her laundry done for her.
Seems like wearing clothes is a matter of courtesy. It's a shame they have to legislate for that. On the other hand, I wonder how many men are now planning on moving to Boulder and joining gardening clubs. Maybe courtesy is in the eye of the beholder?
Seems like wearing clothes is a matter of courtesy. It's a shame they have to legislate for that. On the other hand, I wonder how many men are now planning on moving to Boulder and joining gardening clubs. Maybe courtesy is in the eye of the beholder?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Advice For Young People
Here are thirteen things I've learned from my checkered past... I've posted this kind of thing before, but today seems like a good day to revisit the idea.
1. Don't drink with your boss.
2. Have a political perspective that is your own; not Rush's, not Democracy Now's, but your own.
3. Do not be afraid to really understand another person's perspective, if understanding changes your mind, that's a good thing and not a weakness.
4. Realize that people who disagree with you are not necessarily morons. Remember that they are people too.
5. Try to always live within your means. Learn to distinguish between necessity and luxury.
6. Sex is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. Be careful with it. Boys are after it, but so are the girls.
7. If you aren't comfortable talking about the consequences of intercourse, you don't know the person well enough to be engaging in it.
8. Don't ask boys out. They say it's okay, but they don't mean it. Dating has rules. They are stupid rules but if you want to date you have to learn them.
9. It is your civic duty to vote.
10. Relationships require work. They are usually worth it.
11. Marriage is a lot harder than it looks. Just because he got down on one knee and went to a lot of trouble, doesn't mean you have to say yes.
12. Money isn't everything, but when you don't have enough it sure feels that way.
13. Education is almost always worth it, even if it doesn't make you more money.
1. Don't drink with your boss.
2. Have a political perspective that is your own; not Rush's, not Democracy Now's, but your own.
3. Do not be afraid to really understand another person's perspective, if understanding changes your mind, that's a good thing and not a weakness.
4. Realize that people who disagree with you are not necessarily morons. Remember that they are people too.
5. Try to always live within your means. Learn to distinguish between necessity and luxury.
6. Sex is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. Be careful with it. Boys are after it, but so are the girls.
7. If you aren't comfortable talking about the consequences of intercourse, you don't know the person well enough to be engaging in it.
8. Don't ask boys out. They say it's okay, but they don't mean it. Dating has rules. They are stupid rules but if you want to date you have to learn them.
9. It is your civic duty to vote.
10. Relationships require work. They are usually worth it.
11. Marriage is a lot harder than it looks. Just because he got down on one knee and went to a lot of trouble, doesn't mean you have to say yes.
12. Money isn't everything, but when you don't have enough it sure feels that way.
13. Education is almost always worth it, even if it doesn't make you more money.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Changing and Not Yet Ending, World We Live In
Here's some good news. Good News
Also, my eldest and youngest child (I only have the one, you know) turns thirteen tomorrow. She doesn't actually read my blog but if she did I would take this opportunity to wish her a Happy Birthday. Turns out that in this amazing digital age we live in, thirteen is important.
1. Thirteen is the age at which you can get your own you-tube account without lying about your age. You tube is seriously one of the most amazing places for kids to hang out. You've got the Vlog Brothers and Charlie is so Cool Like and The Five Awesome Girls and a ton of great role models. You also have pictures of boobs. It's a mixed blessing.
2. Thirteen is when you can do the same with Facebook... My niece who is 14 is on Facebook and has her age listed as 24 and what makes me nuts about this is that her picture looks older than she is... and I want to call my sister and scream about the whole thing... but I haven't yet. Maybe after I calm down about it.
3. Deviant Art... Jasmine has a deviant art account with her age slightly misstated because she's turning thirteen tomorrow and she really, really, really wanted to enter a design contest for the All Caps album.
Is there a point to all this? Seriously, I don't know, but as a parent I am thrilled about all this technology and also scared as heck. Parents, know what your kid is doing online. It's not like reading their diary... It's more like not letting them have the car keys till they are ready to drive.
Also, my eldest and youngest child (I only have the one, you know) turns thirteen tomorrow. She doesn't actually read my blog but if she did I would take this opportunity to wish her a Happy Birthday. Turns out that in this amazing digital age we live in, thirteen is important.
1. Thirteen is the age at which you can get your own you-tube account without lying about your age. You tube is seriously one of the most amazing places for kids to hang out. You've got the Vlog Brothers and Charlie is so Cool Like and The Five Awesome Girls and a ton of great role models. You also have pictures of boobs. It's a mixed blessing.
2. Thirteen is when you can do the same with Facebook... My niece who is 14 is on Facebook and has her age listed as 24 and what makes me nuts about this is that her picture looks older than she is... and I want to call my sister and scream about the whole thing... but I haven't yet. Maybe after I calm down about it.
3. Deviant Art... Jasmine has a deviant art account with her age slightly misstated because she's turning thirteen tomorrow and she really, really, really wanted to enter a design contest for the All Caps album.
Is there a point to all this? Seriously, I don't know, but as a parent I am thrilled about all this technology and also scared as heck. Parents, know what your kid is doing online. It's not like reading their diary... It's more like not letting them have the car keys till they are ready to drive.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Happy Green Day
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Absolutely nothing of note going on here other than my wearing of a green shirt two days in a row because I thought yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day. I seem to have migrated over to Facebook and I really appreciate how easy FB makes it for me to keep in touch with most of my blogging friends, but a lot of you aren't on there and so I miss out on what's going on with you. If you are on Facebook, and you do the thingum where stuff gets posted there, I like that a lot. I'll try to do better. Blogging, as inconsistent and terrible at it as I am, has been a lifesaver for me these last few years and even though I'm sometimes a rotten blogging friend, all of you (except the anonymous evil spammers) are very important to me.
Absolutely nothing of note going on here other than my wearing of a green shirt two days in a row because I thought yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day. I seem to have migrated over to Facebook and I really appreciate how easy FB makes it for me to keep in touch with most of my blogging friends, but a lot of you aren't on there and so I miss out on what's going on with you. If you are on Facebook, and you do the thingum where stuff gets posted there, I like that a lot. I'll try to do better. Blogging, as inconsistent and terrible at it as I am, has been a lifesaver for me these last few years and even though I'm sometimes a rotten blogging friend, all of you (except the anonymous evil spammers) are very important to me.
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