| Progress |
[Nov. 19th, 2009|04:37 pm] |
Haven't been on lj for a while- sooo shocked to see my "friends page" with posts all the way back a couple months ago- people used to post over here all the time! If I missed a couple days, it was hell trying to catch back up! And now- now it's too quiet.
I suppose I'll keep my facebook- BUT I hate the new lay out, and a part of me feels cheated using it. So I'll be popping in here much more often- I'd rather connect in this format anyway. I miss getting glimpses into people's heads- and I'm tired of reading "I pooped orange today" "I really love football" "it's a pretty day outside" or "my boss is a jackass."
We are refining the art of superficiality. |
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| About 9/11 |
[Sep. 16th, 2009|09:08 am] |
So, this post isn't going to win me any popularity contests, but I feel the need to get this off my chest...
We've just passed the eighth anniversary of 9/11. I don't watch television, so I managed to escape whatever heart wrenching coverage there was. What I didn't escape were the facebook posts.
I was struck by how many people posted "never forget" for the day. Several people posted personal stories of how they found out what was going on, about their feelings, their fears, their confusion; I completely understand that. However, this "never forget" line I'm having a hard time with, because it can mean so many different things. It's incredibly difficult to believe that anyone who was old enough to remember the events of 9/11 could possibly have forgotten what happened eight years ago, so theoretically "never forget" can't refer to the direct events. So, what are we wanting to remember by insisting we "never forget?"
Are we supposed to hold onto the feelings of panic, fear and sadness?
Are we supposed to hold onto the anger and frustration, feelings of vengeance?
What I'd like to believe is that when people typed "never forget" they were honoring those who lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, and our lost security and innocence. Unfortunately, I know that many people are still motivated by their feelings of anger and a desire to retaliate. Who are we supposed to retaliate against? We killed more people in Afghanistan and Iraq in the first few months of going in and that was how many years ago? Are we going to "never forget" those lost civilians? We collectively seem to forget horrible things we do to other countries- but we should latch on to this tragedy forever because, what? Do we deserve more sympathy? Is our pain more important than everyone else's?
I'm scared to think about what the history books will say about our actions after 9/11. The only thing that makes me happy about that time is how many people came together and tried to help one another. This tragedy inspired people to truly love and care for one another, if only for a brief time. I think it's this feeling of kinship that we should "never forget" because that love is something we can take into the future with us to make the world a better place, instead of looking backwards in sickness and in anger. |
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| Come home, sweet rain! |
[Aug. 22nd, 2009|01:54 pm] |
It seems that, while I was in Prague and the lakes finally disappeared, someone out there finally admitted that we are, indeed, in a drought...and that perhaps water conservation efforts should be kicked up a notch. Sigh. I was born in San Francisco- we had a hell of a drought in the 1980's ("If it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down" was the first poem I recall having memorized). I am very confused and frustrated that all these years later, we were plumb in the middle of a nasty drought and half way through the state finally admits it.
I never had a lawn to water, so that wasn't a big deal. I let my veggies die. I don't flush my toilet as often as I used to, haha. I'm watching my pecan trees drop green, healthy leaves and branches in a desperate attempt to survive by cutting energy usage. If I do water my few, sad and fried plants, it's in the middle of the night or the butt crack of dawn, to make sure that the water is absorbed and not evaporated.
THEN- I saw the plush lawns of UT. And the grounds at the Capitol. And various golf courses (the private ones). I have to admit- this is starting to really piss me off. I'm going to lose 75+ year old pecan trees to a drought, but I could still run barefoot through the emerald grounds of...
I'm going to make signs, and tape them to people's doors- if I see you water your lawn at 4pm, I am going to call the appropriate authorities. I don't give a crap if you have solar panels on your house and a prius in the driveway- if you are all about being "green" your lawn should be brown (HA! I think I need to make that a T-Shirt). AND I'm going to publically bitch and moan until people learn to be a little more responsible.
Just sayin.' |
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| here! |
[Aug. 18th, 2009|07:03 am] |
I'm having problems dealing with the way people treat other people. I've tried very hard in my life to treat the people around me, including complete strangers, the way I would like to be treated. Sometimes I do really well...other times I let whatever nasty emotion casting a shadow over my heart come through and pounce on those around me like some rabid animal. Luckily, these times are few and far between, but knowing that I am capable of those moments drives me all the harder to do my best and keep the beast at bay. I just wish other people tried a little harder to understand each other, tried a little harder to accept (not tolerate) each other. Respect one another.
The way I'm headed, I'll be sitting on a wooden porch in no time, rocking to and fro in a creaking rocking chair, watching the grass grow and mumbling curses about how there's "No respect" anymore in the world. Sigh. |
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| Rocks just got a whole lot sexier... |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|12:56 am] |
Marry, F*ck or Kill (Rocks edition)
Igneous, Metamorphic or Sedimentary...Kill sedimentary (they're lazy), marry Metamorphic (capable of change) and f*ck Igneous, 'cause they're HOT! (If you aren't at the courtyard, you're at the wrong party...) |
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| I'm here, I'm here! |
[Jun. 16th, 2009|10:19 am] |
Aargh...I've managed to be a great stalker on this thing, but I couldn't seem to write anything for quite a while. The last two semesters ate me alive- escaped with a beautiful report card, but I'm feeling pretty worn out by it all. Only one year left- I'll be graduating the weekend prior to Flipside 2010. I'm filled with joy and horror.
Only a couple weeks before I take off for Europe. This year, I hope to be tooling around in Karel's creation... 001yourtranslationservice.com/travel-Europe/caravan-design/caravan-beautification.html
The hope is, make it around Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic with Karel and Misha before our kidneys explode. OH, the wonderful memories I have of escaping Prague into the countryside with Karel in the late 90's...we always managed to get into just enough trouble to make it all worth while. We should be at the very least in the same town almost the entire time I'm over there. Nothing could be better.
Last trip home I reconnected with many of my old cronies- this year looks like it'll be much of the same. It's wonderful, and odd, sometimes a little sad- comparing who made it and who didn't. It's true- nothing makes you feel more alive than the threat of death.
I'm pretty interested in who I'll find new ground with this time...
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| Baby steps... |
[Feb. 22nd, 2009|11:55 am] |
Getting a lot done these days and a lot not done these days...poor Gracie has been having weird troubles, the latest is...she failed two hearing tests in two weeks (turns out the go back and double check to make sure it is a "problem" before they freak out the parents). Left ear. I found out on Friday, taking her in to the doctor on Monday at 3pm. I'm really hoping she has a low grade infection (allergies!? Hope, hope...) and this will all get straightened out. Poor kiddo.
Besides kid stuff and school stuff, I've been trying to organize my time to get my little "solar paneled art gallery" concept into reality for Flipside. I managed to put together some really ugly, basic prototypes just to have a better visual...basically, the frames are 9x9s (using 1x4s), on the top we cut out a little chunk to set a solar panel on top, rechargable battery and LED to light up the box. I'm hoping (once I get some BETTER prototypes going, and a better idea of cost as well) to turn it over to FS as a community art project. I've been very frustrated with the event for years because so much focus went into really (fun) big camps, but not so much art...and that's why I fell in love with the community in the first place. I want to bring a project to the community that will inspire more people to participate in the art realm. PLUS, I love the idea that each frame has its own power source-people can make these things, bring them out, and then take them home afterward-having their very own piece of cool glowy art.
Man, I really hope that works out.
I just need someone to constantly ply me with coffee, and I'll kick a** in school AND get this project in order. |
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| Octuplets... |
[Feb. 12th, 2009|07:42 am] |
You know, I can understand a couple really wanting a child and not being able to have their own the traditional way...so they resort to adopting (YAY) or using various fertility methods...okay, fine. But why in the hell would a single woman who already has had six children continue to push the fertility methods issue so far that their subsequent pregnancy results in, not only multiples, but octuplets?! For obvious reasons, I am a strong believer in a single parent successfully rearing their child(ren), no problem. However...I'm annoyed at people like this http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/12/octuplets.mom/index.html She was already on disability and sucking the system dry prior to this birthing fiasco. For goodness sake, she was recieving disability for a BACK injury...how is having multiple pregancies really going to help your BACK. Honestly, this proud mom will accept Visa (Mastercard, Paypal, etc.) for support. What a grand gesture, way to show how responsible you are, way to be independant, way to be self reliant, way to screw over tax-payers, way to use the system. She explains, "I'll stop my life for them and be present with them and hold them and be with them. And how many parents do that?" Well...quite a few, actually, quite a few. OH, WAIT, you LIE! She wants to go back to SCHOOL! Now, I can tell you, going back to school as a single parent with ONE child is an incredible challenge...and as much as the parent wants to be with their child(ren) while going to school, there is no way this equates to, "I'll stop my life for them."
She is going back to school to get a counseling degree (very poorly paid gig-I have a lot of respect for counseling, but she is never going to be able to pay her way in this world with a herd of kids on that salary). Perhaps she could have tried going to counseling before having 14 children. |
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| Hurray rain! |
[Feb. 8th, 2009|11:17 pm] |
The sky is leaking! The sky is leaking!!
oh, wait, nevermind....it's already stopped...
damn weather, toying with my emotions. At least I know from the radar the faucet will start flowing again soon... |
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| EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee |
[Jan. 27th, 2009|01:01 am] |
School: awesome, but exhausting
Family: awesome, but also exhausting
Upcoming birthday: just exhausting
First time in my life I am totally not...caring...about...the outcome...of...birthday-ness. Odd year I guess. I think the Chinese New Year is a tad too early for me...a lunar thing.
I think what I really need is a snow ball fight. Keep an eye out on the weather tomorrow, it's possible I could get lucky. |
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| The sky is falling? |
[Jan. 8th, 2009|10:05 am] |
Well, with all the crap going down here on livejournal, I figured it would be in my best interest to go ahead and post and say hi...and bye...on the off chance the sky is really falling. If it isn't, well, it isn't, and that suits me just fine.
Things have been equal parts wonderful and exhausting. I've enjoyed seeing all my friends, I've enjoyed having the winter break off school...but I am feeling very...off balance. I haven't been returning phone calls like I should (if I answer my phone at all), replying to emails has been challenging, writing on LJ has proved to be terribly difficult (and on the off chance that I have written, it hasn't been anything worth writing about- just some little blip to keep me from feeling entirely detached). The social networking thing is just not doing it for me. On the other hand, I've been interacting face to face with REAL PEOPLE, which is surely better for me anyways. The down side is, I'm exhausted and not entirely sure how I feel about "people" (no, not YOU personally, just the writhing hordes, haha).
I woke up without an alarm, on my own, less than eight hours after I went to bed this morning...first time in quite a while. I'm hoping this is not a fluke. It doesn't help that our bedroom is a dungeon (one window facing due south, and the window is UNDER the upstairs balcony). I like waking up to sun on my face.
I know it is only a matter of time before I snap out of what ever I need to snap out of. I'm feeling rather bored with this current blah.
I need to go make fun of the guy who gave his wife a kidney and now wants it back. |
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| privacy |
[Dec. 12th, 2008|01:09 am] |
I really TRY to keep people's stuff PRIVATE 'cause I;m not a bastard and respect other people's privacy. However, there is a thread going around that I would like to add to, personally. If you tag someone on facebook, flickr etc, in any photos that may be considered compromising...for goodness sakes, take the tags off. Really. Make sure that the person who's photo it is realizes you are posting publicly. Perhaps they aren't interested in having their (place body part here) displayed for all to see.
Think before you post (think that;s a great slogan!)
kisses and monkey fingers and harnd grenades... |
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| Hurray Weather! |
[Dec. 10th, 2008|01:25 am] |
Catching snow flakes on my tongue earlier was bad ass...having a snow ball fight with my friends and neighbors TWICE tonight (this latest time after 1am) priceless. I'm soaking, I'm dirty, I'm out of breath, my extremities sting (was running around in Crocs) and I'm so freaking happy!
Thank you universe for making my least favorite day of the year beautiful. I'm so thankful! |
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| shiver shiver shiver shiver... |
[Dec. 2nd, 2008|08:23 am] |
Really. Cold. No matter how many sweaters I put on, how high I turn on the heat, I am chilled through and through. It dawned on me this morning that I must be getting sick. Must. Brrrrr.
Mwa haa haa, I just got "Last Christmas I gave you my heart" stuck in b's head because I was humming it when I read about it being stuck in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) pixiesunshine 's head...perhaps by the end of the day he will manage to spread it throughout the Math Department at UT...slowly take over the world from there!
OH, and I bought a car! With my mom (gasp!). I'll hold onto my Civic for a while (1996 4 door, runs well but looks a little rough, if anyone knows anyone who is interested...) and then you will watch me whizz around town in a 2002 Subaru Forester! YAY! As long as g is in the house, it is the closest thing to a small truck I'll be able to get my hands on, so planning on enjoying it long and hard.
Sing along now..."Last Christmas, I gave you my heart but the very next day, you gave it away..."
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| Honestly, who are these people?!?! |
[Nov. 29th, 2008|01:09 pm] |
I've NEVER gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving...in fact, I make sure I have enough supplies to not leave my house (or friends/families, etc) all weekend if I can help it. HATE shopping, but especially shopping when EVERY LOSER IN THE COUNTRY WANTS TO SHOP?! Heck no. I've had to work through the holiday season (I'll never forget being pregnant working the counter at Garden Ridge 2am Black Friday) but I learned my lesson and got the hell out of that job. Horrible. Then you hear about something like this http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/28/black.friday.violence/index.html and you think to yourself...really? REALLY? Someone wants to save a couple bucks on a crappy toy and is willing to trample some poor bastard to death? Who thinks this is worth it?
On a happier note, my T day was full of awesomeness, and I love the people in my life! I had an amazing time, part of me wishes it would never end (but of course, if I ate like that every day, I would have no arteries, just fat tubing wiring my body...pleasant picture, isn't it?!). It was great, props to all and an extra set of thanks just for Joan and Id, the perfect hosts! Woohoo!!! |
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| Turkey day just got better |
[Nov. 27th, 2008|11:06 am] |
DUDES! Did anyone else see the Cartoon Network Float (Macy's Parade) get Rick Rolled by Rick Astley in person!?!?! THAT WAS AWESOME!
Now, back to burning my Tday dinner... |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 19th, 2008|02:23 pm] |
Thank you spurnnedhistory for posting this...we need a road trip soon. Who wouldn't want some chicken fried bacon?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfbTO0GlONU
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| Bacon |
[Nov. 19th, 2008|07:15 am] |
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Copy this sentence into your LJ if you love bacon with a passion that borders on holy, where you imagine yourself eating strips of bacon out of a bowl made of bacon with bacon bits sprinkled all over it...with bacon ice cream for dessert. |
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