Pretend Joanie told you to cry it out here:
28 January 2011
25 January 2011
This Lady Rocks
Also, I can still write, even if it comes out all weird. Check out mah behbeah jokes on fb:
21 January 2011
Another One for Roadtrips
CABBAGEHEAD
I came home last as drunk as I could be
and saw a horse a standing where my horse ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a milk cow your mother gave to me."
and saw a horse a standing where my horse ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a milk cow your mother gave to me."
I been around this great big world a hundred times or more
but a saddle on a milk cow, I've never seen before.
but a saddle on a milk cow, I've never seen before.
I went into the house as hungry as I could be
and saw a coat a hanging where my coat ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a bed quilt your mother gave to me."
and saw a coat a hanging where my coat ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a bed quilt your mother gave to me."
I been around this great big world a hundred times or more
but pockets on a bed quilt, I've never seen before.
but pockets on a bed quilt, I've never seen before.
I went to the bedroom as tired as I could be
and saw a head a laying where my head ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a cabbagehead your mother gave to me."
and saw a head a laying where my head ort to be.
I said, "Dear wifey, dear wifey come explain this thing to me."
She said, "You fool, you fool, you great big fool, can't you never see
that's just a cabbagehead your mother gave to me."
I been around this great big world a hundred times or more
but a mustache on a cabbagehead, I've never seen before.
but a mustache on a cabbagehead, I've never seen before.
-- Appalachian Folk Song--
This Man Does it All
But nothing tops the epic-ness of this amazing song, Grandpappy sang it when requested, even multiple times, on road trips, much to Grandmammy's dismay, but Granpappy loved to see kids smiling, even if his wife wasn't.
Grandpappy's Favorite Metal Band
So...PCIII, my cuz, and grandpappy's youngest grandson, is a superfan of this fine band (and so is Grandpappy now too!):
Grandpappy has a lot of other favorite tunes, which can be found here.
Grandpappy has a lot of other favorite tunes, which can be found here.
20 January 2011
Pro Joe Liberals to the Rescue
Miss Canada is going to have fun with these pictures I'm sure. Buzz and Mr. Funnyface love trucks, any trucks that make noise and have flashing lights to be exact.
Miss Canada - Tell Mr. Funnyface that Ali had, basically, Mighty Machines, or whatever that show is from Canada with all the cool trucks (leave in comments, I'll link later), in her front yard! Woohoo! I am the coolest person in the world to a 3 year old...which oddly, is very similar to the mental age of @TDHurst.
@SheriffJoe_D has some fans at the Streetsboro PD, and Streetsboro FD. So...if @RealSheriffJoe wants to do a fundraiser for this badass right here. PM me on twitter.
Btw, they weren't just stopping by to chat about funny blogs and fake twitter accounts...they were actually here to convince grandpappy to go to the Dr. at the VA.
So, in addition to trolling for jesus on the internets...I do it in real life too...but grandpappy would do the same for me. I love that man.
Miss Canada - Tell Mr. Funnyface that Ali had, basically, Mighty Machines, or whatever that show is from Canada with all the cool trucks (leave in comments, I'll link later), in her front yard! Woohoo! I am the coolest person in the world to a 3 year old...which oddly, is very similar to the mental age of @TDHurst.
@SheriffJoe_D has some fans at the Streetsboro PD, and Streetsboro FD. So...if @RealSheriffJoe wants to do a fundraiser for this badass right here. PM me on twitter.
Btw, they weren't just stopping by to chat about funny blogs and fake twitter accounts...they were actually here to convince grandpappy to go to the Dr. at the VA.
So, in addition to trolling for jesus on the internets...I do it in real life too...but grandpappy would do the same for me. I love that man.
Feminist Theology: What is going on here...an explanation of sorts
So...this blog is my testing ground for business ideas, working out the kinks of teaching university students vs. homeless kids....and being a bitch quite honestly. There's a lot of bumper stickers on cars in the parking lot of this fine establishment that say this: well behaved women rarely make history. I'd like to paraphrase that by saying that bitches get shit done, and change the world for the good.
Remember Captain Planet
? He was a bad ass mofo, kind of like Al Gore
is trying to be. It takes a lot of courage to put your authentic self in front of a lot of people (social media in general) and put something radical out there. People are going to judge you, but some people are going to love you for it
(@yokoono is a fan of @sheriffjoe_d and she's kinda like a 2nd wave Mother Teresa
...so there ya' go)
All the various stunts I've been pulling are basically to integrate my personal and professional life. The courage live openly, without being addicted to pleasing others, but living life under the radical notion that I will have to answer for my sins someday before the Lord in heaven.
I strive to be Christlike in my love for others, because in those acts of love we get to touch the divine. That's all stuff in the bible, and it's good advice in general. Love others, be loved in return. This is the meaning of life. Children, our pets, our parents, our "tribe" (the friends who are like family in their love for you and concern for your well being), all teach us to love others as Jesus loved us.
I refused to watch Mel Gibson's torture-porn bdsm fetishized account
of the crucifixion of Jesus. One does not need to be manipulated into crying in a dark theater with strangers to prove they understand the gravity of Christ's sacrifice for all the well intentioned sinners like me. Ditto for all that mega-church crap. Billy Graham Crusade? No thanks.
One only needs to hit rock bottom, find themselves alone, with no one to turn to...on the verge of running of to /b/ to get the courage to end it from the deepest darkest underbelly of the internet.
But if you were to seek an answer to the question, should I do it or not? One would find, within the same thread, when above and below there are those who will link you to a tutorial on how to kill yourself live on the internet, one anon will offer his phone number for you to call in the middle of the night...just to tell you that you matter to someone who has never met you, but loves you as Christ does...even though he knows he's going to get a lot of assholes calling him just to troll.
This is how God works. He's not going to show up on a piece of toast
, going to visit a Jesus Sky Scraper in Poland won't cure you...but the selfless Christlike love of another, the unconditional compassion of Christ, and the knowledge that Jesus will always be your biggest fan because he wants you to do well, to love as he has loved, and to get to the party up in heaven with all of the rest of your family. All those wonderful cats and dogs who were really secret agents of the Lord, they're at the party too.
God loves animals, they have souls....I know this because I am a medium. It runs in the family on both sides and it is why I am so successful in business. Cats, in particular walk on the line between this world and the next, and God is their boss...so, this explains why they don't give a fuck what you think most of the time...just like me.
All these hijinx, all this time and energy is the result of: me wanting to rectify past wrongs to myself and others by radically loving the shit out of people, even if it comes in the form of tough love. I school those people because I see in them the signs of a deep pain, a pain so deep they may have buried it way and repressed the powerlessness that being a victim of abuse can cause.
And I want to help them, but no one can be forced to do anything, without choosing to do so. They need to be given a choice. God granted man free will...but he didn't intend for you to go it alone. Which is why he sent Jesus. If Jesus is not your thing, just copy and paste this into a word doc and do a look-up and replace, find all the Jesus' and replace with "Creator" and call it good.
I used teach art to homeless kids, it was the best job I ever had, but I never earned a single penny. What did I gain from radically loving the shit out of those kids? And by "shit" I mean the worst of the worst behavior problems I have ever had heard described in a briefing.
By respecting them, being consistent, listening to them (Miss Canada taught me all that) and showing them that art has the power to heal and it is the best medicine, and the only treatment that works, and also, not paying attention to the baggage that most teachers pre-conceive kids to have, especially survivors of abuse...I was hooked. Hooked on helping others. It's what I really want to do with my life.
I just wanna teach art to kids who deserve to feel the love and compassion of Christ and know that there is at least one adult who believes in them and will never hurt them. Art heals, and I know this from experience. My patrilineal grandmother was a retired art teacher...my childhood was very weird and artsy. It made me who I am today.
So, I'm just trying to earn a lot of money by doing not too much work, so I can teach art to homeless kids...so, click my links?
Oh, and I'm taking on WBC next. My fans in Australia, New Zealand and S. Korea really dig the shitshows, and trolling for Jesus pays.
T-shirts Available Here: http://feministstayathomedaughter.spreadshirt.com
Remember Captain Planet
? He was a bad ass mofo, kind of like Al Gore is trying to be. It takes a lot of courage to put your authentic self in front of a lot of people (social media in general) and put something radical out there. People are going to judge you, but some people are going to love you for it (@yokoono is a fan of @sheriffjoe_d and she's kinda like a 2nd wave Mother Teresa...so there ya' go)All the various stunts I've been pulling are basically to integrate my personal and professional life. The courage live openly, without being addicted to pleasing others, but living life under the radical notion that I will have to answer for my sins someday before the Lord in heaven.
I strive to be Christlike in my love for others, because in those acts of love we get to touch the divine. That's all stuff in the bible, and it's good advice in general. Love others, be loved in return. This is the meaning of life. Children, our pets, our parents, our "tribe" (the friends who are like family in their love for you and concern for your well being), all teach us to love others as Jesus loved us.
I refused to watch Mel Gibson's torture-porn bdsm fetishized account
of the crucifixion of Jesus. One does not need to be manipulated into crying in a dark theater with strangers to prove they understand the gravity of Christ's sacrifice for all the well intentioned sinners like me. Ditto for all that mega-church crap. Billy Graham Crusade? No thanks.One only needs to hit rock bottom, find themselves alone, with no one to turn to...on the verge of running of to /b/ to get the courage to end it from the deepest darkest underbelly of the internet.
But if you were to seek an answer to the question, should I do it or not? One would find, within the same thread, when above and below there are those who will link you to a tutorial on how to kill yourself live on the internet, one anon will offer his phone number for you to call in the middle of the night...just to tell you that you matter to someone who has never met you, but loves you as Christ does...even though he knows he's going to get a lot of assholes calling him just to troll.
This is how God works. He's not going to show up on a piece of toast
, going to visit a Jesus Sky Scraper in Poland won't cure you...but the selfless Christlike love of another, the unconditional compassion of Christ, and the knowledge that Jesus will always be your biggest fan because he wants you to do well, to love as he has loved, and to get to the party up in heaven with all of the rest of your family. All those wonderful cats and dogs who were really secret agents of the Lord, they're at the party too.God loves animals, they have souls....I know this because I am a medium. It runs in the family on both sides and it is why I am so successful in business. Cats, in particular walk on the line between this world and the next, and God is their boss...so, this explains why they don't give a fuck what you think most of the time...just like me.
All these hijinx, all this time and energy is the result of: me wanting to rectify past wrongs to myself and others by radically loving the shit out of people, even if it comes in the form of tough love. I school those people because I see in them the signs of a deep pain, a pain so deep they may have buried it way and repressed the powerlessness that being a victim of abuse can cause.
And I want to help them, but no one can be forced to do anything, without choosing to do so. They need to be given a choice. God granted man free will...but he didn't intend for you to go it alone. Which is why he sent Jesus. If Jesus is not your thing, just copy and paste this into a word doc and do a look-up and replace, find all the Jesus' and replace with "Creator" and call it good.
I used teach art to homeless kids, it was the best job I ever had, but I never earned a single penny. What did I gain from radically loving the shit out of those kids? And by "shit" I mean the worst of the worst behavior problems I have ever had heard described in a briefing.
By respecting them, being consistent, listening to them (Miss Canada taught me all that) and showing them that art has the power to heal and it is the best medicine, and the only treatment that works, and also, not paying attention to the baggage that most teachers pre-conceive kids to have, especially survivors of abuse...I was hooked. Hooked on helping others. It's what I really want to do with my life.
I just wanna teach art to kids who deserve to feel the love and compassion of Christ and know that there is at least one adult who believes in them and will never hurt them. Art heals, and I know this from experience. My patrilineal grandmother was a retired art teacher...my childhood was very weird and artsy. It made me who I am today.
So, I'm just trying to earn a lot of money by doing not too much work, so I can teach art to homeless kids...so, click my links?
Oh, and I'm taking on WBC next. My fans in Australia, New Zealand and S. Korea really dig the shitshows, and trolling for Jesus pays.
T-shirts Available Here: http://feministstayathomedaughter.spreadshirt.com
19 January 2011
18 January 2011
Why I don't say the n-word
When I was a wee Army brat
our family lived into a very horribly awful, from a design standpoint, yet great for families, government housing in Wheaton, Maryland.
My dad worked at the Pentagon and Walter Reed Hospital...and um, it was basically greater D.C.
Well, being a small kid I used to repeat things I heard from my friends...all of whom were black, but specifically, my friend Samaira. She was cool, but as her muslim name might suggest, he parents were muslim...not just any run-of-the-mill muslims...Black Muslims
, who are different in their beliefs than Sunni
or Shia
muslims. Some might say radicalized, but who the hell knows what that means anymore it's so subjective.
Anyways....she and I would sneak into her older brother's room and giggle when we listened to his NWA
cassette tapes on his sony walkman
...then we tried to sing the words...then we got bored and tried to dress our barbies
like the ladies of the evening in Pretty Woman
.
At dinner one evening, I wanted to sing my mum a song. Oh fuck....I got like half a verse into this canonical song (I was 5, so how true to verse it was...who knows):
And then I heard the whoooooosh! My mum slapped my face so hard, I think I got whiplash. But I have no memory of the pain...just the sonic boom/whoosh.
Then she said:
So....now every time I hear the n-word I can feel this slight breeze...maybe it's psychosematic, but basically the ghost of that slap forced me to buy all my mid-90's rap
at Walmart. So there you go. Not saying the n-word has never held me back in life, and I hate when white people say it...
our family lived into a very horribly awful, from a design standpoint, yet great for families, government housing in Wheaton, Maryland.My dad worked at the Pentagon and Walter Reed Hospital...and um, it was basically greater D.C.
Well, being a small kid I used to repeat things I heard from my friends...all of whom were black, but specifically, my friend Samaira. She was cool, but as her muslim name might suggest, he parents were muslim...not just any run-of-the-mill muslims...Black Muslims
, who are different in their beliefs than Sunni or Shia muslims. Some might say radicalized, but who the hell knows what that means anymore it's so subjective.Anyways....she and I would sneak into her older brother's room and giggle when we listened to his NWA
cassette tapes on his sony walkman...then we tried to sing the words...then we got bored and tried to dress our barbies like the ladies of the evening in Pretty Woman.At dinner one evening, I wanted to sing my mum a song. Oh fuck....I got like half a verse into this canonical song (I was 5, so how true to verse it was...who knows):
And then I heard the whoooooosh! My mum slapped my face so hard, I think I got whiplash. But I have no memory of the pain...just the sonic boom/whoosh.
Then she said:
People get shot for saying that word, do not ever say that word again. Do you understand me?
So....now every time I hear the n-word I can feel this slight breeze...maybe it's psychosematic, but basically the ghost of that slap forced me to buy all my mid-90's rap
at Walmart. So there you go. Not saying the n-word has never held me back in life, and I hate when white people say it...An open love letter to my south korean fans...
Thanks guys:-) In return, Old Boy badassery...let's get this dude to go get that fucker up north, amirite?
This is basically S. Korea's answer to Die Hard....mwhua! xoxoxoxoxo
This is basically S. Korea's answer to Die Hard....mwhua! xoxoxoxoxo
Self-depricating language on this blog & an answer to my critics
I use the words 'Bitch' and 'Asshole' a lot in most of my social media endeavors:
http://twitter.com/socmediabitch
http://twitter.com/sheriffjoe_d
http://feministstayathomedaughter.blogspot.com/2011/01/calm-after-shitstorm.html
It's a defense mechanism against trolls, it's really the recipe for an easy win and it goes something like this:
http://twitter.com/socmediabitch
http://twitter.com/sheriffjoe_d
http://feministstayathomedaughter.blogspot.com/2011/01/calm-after-shitstorm.html
It's a defense mechanism against trolls, it's really the recipe for an easy win and it goes something like this:
- When confronted, apologize immediately for any perceived wrongs. Who cares if you were really wrong or not?
- Admit imperfection - e.g. come out of the bitch closet
- Wait for the troll to attempt to put together a coherent argument, without employing a fallacy of argument such as an Ad Hominem attack.
- ????
- Profit
When you've backed them into a corner, they have no way out but to employ a whisper campaign against you via the back channels of whatever social media site you're participating in...
For example, the troll of Phoenix and his racist so-called-20-year-comedy-veteran-who-hasn't-made-it-yet-talks-like-she's-bette-midler of a mentor are shit-talking me in the greater phoenix area, specifically with Yelpers in the design community. @SocMediaBitch was started as a backhanded swipe at this pitiful attempt to ruin my PR/Mkt'g biz http://www.shakticonsultingllc.com.
So....that twitter account is structured like a college classroom in a digital environment. They want to trash talk me? I'll school them and the whole of the design world too...and by world I mean I have top marketing firms from around the world following all of my twitter accounts because they see something of value in what I have to put out there.
I like to spread the wealth...and I am an advocate for small businesses, and I take offense to malicious Yelpers who take advantage of Yelp's high search rankings to troll small business owners who do not meet their every whim.
Excuse me: who the hell are you to tell someone else how to spend their life savings?
Most small business owners put all of their free time and money into making their vision a reality. Unless you're part owner...keep the reviews funny, useful and cool...and not vindictive and mean spirited. Now, this is not to say...don't complain. By all means, do so if it is constructive. But to give a business owner a one-star review, because a structural wall in a building that he rents space in, is not glass, is dumb.
Here is why I can steal clients from phx designers with a quickness. I have a business degree, not an art degree...I can rattle off ROI, leverage and break-even formulas off the top of my head. And have them in a casual conversation throw some raw numbers at me and I can give them an assessment in seconds about the health of their marketing and PR strategy.
I learned a lot from my Civil/Environmental Engineering days...I learned the right questions to ask to win the project, and more importantly, I gained the most awesome skill of wordsmithing any engineer's resume to higlight was important to stakeholders, to show that we had the experience necessary for the publically-advertised project.
So...to all the trolls who haven't mentally graduated high school yet, I say this:
Maybe in the next life you should spend more time studying and less time beating up gay kids. You're reaping what you've sown. Sure, go ahead and laugh at me, but I am laughing right back at you, and all the way to the bank.
17 January 2011
I really did laugh out loud
Christian /B/ale is such a goof...can we get a campaign going to get him on Seasame Street where he belongs?
http://jezebel.com/5735954/the-golden-globes-treasury-of-celebrity-facial-expressions?skyline=true&s=i
http://jezebel.com/5735954/the-golden-globes-treasury-of-celebrity-facial-expressions?skyline=true&s=i
For word nerds with mathlete tendencies
Here are some stats...I am happy the Aussies enjoy the blog, because those ppl wrestle crocs and call their vajayjays "Maps of Tasmania" Also, Amanda Palmer is touring there...so, to tide you over until she reaches your shores....
And...the lyrics, because they're some noteable quoteables in there:
And...the lyrics, because they're some noteable quoteables in there:
Map of Tasmania - Social Media Feminist Manifesto in song
Lyrics and epic feminist badassery by Amanda ʻFuckingʼ Palmer
They donʼt play the song on the radio
They donʼt show the tits on the video
They donʼt know that we are the media
They donʼt know that we start the mania
Ass is off itʼs seat and Iʼm shaking you
Walking down the street Iʼm the lady - ja
Showing off my map of Tasmania
Soft and sweet and shaped like a triangle!
Some girls want no shape and they shave it all
I think sad it hurts with the stubble
Walk in named look like an eight year old!
I say grow that shit like a jungle
Give ʻem something strong to hold onto
Let it fly in the open wind
If it get too bushy you can trim
They donʼt play the song on the radio
They donʼt show the tits on the video
They donʼt know that we are the media
They donʼt know that we start the mania
Ass is off itʼs seat and Iʼm shaking you
Walking down the street Iʼm the lady - ja
Showing off my map of Tasmania
Polished off Video Here:
Why you should watch this a 2nd time? Two words: Lego Merkins. 'Nuff Said.
If you like this kinda music and want to follow an awesome blog, from someone who knows how to rock a pop-culture geeked-out Merkin, then have a look-see at Amanda's personal blog. I kinda want to be her when I grow up someday. Or maybe I'll just open an etsy store with custom lego merkins? If you want to pre-order...hehehehehe....let me know in the comments.
Here's Amanda's (yes, we're on a first name basis, if only in my head, but her DH thinks I'm funny as the Liberal Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Laugh your ass off here), so I'm sure he'll vouch for me.
Oh right...stats...
13 January 2011
A Desert Rat in Winter
ah, ah, (imagine a drunk singing this at karaoke)
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
Hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new land,
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla, I am coming!
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Here's the view from the house:
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
Hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new land,
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla, I am coming!
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Here's the view from the house:
And the dreaded kitty-killers, icicles! Oh noes! I had to knock these down dude in case this happened to one of grandpa's 4-legged grandsons (whoa! watch out!)
The greatest excitement in my life right now is waiting for that monster icicle to finally touch the ground....it will happen, oh yes, it will happen.
Husbands: Head of Household or Your Best Advocate?
I grew up thinking I'd never be married to someone who I could truly call my best friend. I never thought I could submit to his judgement, or obey his wishes.
But guess what? I do. Doesn't that sound horrifying coming from a card-carrying feminist? I know...it took me a lot of time and soul searching to come out of the closet. Don't get me wrong...I am a smart woman capable of living as a single person, should I choose...but, I don't want to work that hard.
Seriously, I was smart enough to marry someone who compliments what I do well in life, and picks up the slack where I fall short. Why should I have to work any harder than I have to? Alright, that sounds lazy...but riddle me this..who else (besides the obvious) will love you unconditionally and accept that you're an imperfect person? Mom and your husband. Once you're married, mom steps back from the role of primary responsibility for your well being...sometimes it's hard for them, but then you have a baby and they're like, "your kid, your diapers.." and you really wish they would take over:-)~
When he guides me...it is coming from a place of love. When he plans for our future...it is to please me and make my life easier. What more could I want?
So, that's why I do crazy stuff like defer to his judgement and all...but honestly...it feels kinda good.
But guess what? I do. Doesn't that sound horrifying coming from a card-carrying feminist? I know...it took me a lot of time and soul searching to come out of the closet. Don't get me wrong...I am a smart woman capable of living as a single person, should I choose...but, I don't want to work that hard.
Seriously, I was smart enough to marry someone who compliments what I do well in life, and picks up the slack where I fall short. Why should I have to work any harder than I have to? Alright, that sounds lazy...but riddle me this..who else (besides the obvious) will love you unconditionally and accept that you're an imperfect person? Mom and your husband. Once you're married, mom steps back from the role of primary responsibility for your well being...sometimes it's hard for them, but then you have a baby and they're like, "your kid, your diapers.." and you really wish they would take over:-)~
When he guides me...it is coming from a place of love. When he plans for our future...it is to please me and make my life easier. What more could I want?
So, that's why I do crazy stuff like defer to his judgement and all...but honestly...it feels kinda good.
Get Well Soon Gabby!
My heart goes out to my adopted home state of Arizona...see what happens when I leave? I know it wasn't my fault...but still...
Obama's speech really struck a chord with me. It was so hard for me to listen to him talk about the 9-year-old girl who was murdered by that madman. I love kids, babies especially since I'm hitting that stage in my life where the brain is over-run with baby-lovin' hormones.
I usually get my baby fix at my bestie's home. She watches 5 kids during the day...has a huge kitchen, cable tv, and lots of fun toys (but I promise I only play with them while the kids are awake and playing too:-), plus, she has all my favorite childhood books...so while the kids may or may not be paying attention when I read to them...I'm really just reading aloud to myself and basking in the glow of all things Suess.
What really got me teary eyed was hearing that Christina Taylor wanted to be the first woman to play in Major League Baseball. I had to watch my mom hear that...
Now, my mom is kind of a superfan. She holds season tickets to the Cleveland Indians...travels to see them and goes to nearly every game. She seriously loves baseball. It's her thing...next to volunteering her time with Amigos de las Americas, being a cat wrangler, and her day job as a revoker of licenses...and sometimes union den mother.
Once, my mom told me that she wanted to be an astronaut when she grew up...a Trekkie at heart, it came as no surprise to me that my mom wanted to get up close and personal with the stars. But, she said that in the 1970's girls were not allowed to go to Space Camp (I guess they had to settle for the movie, which came in 1986). I know she shed a tiny feminist tear for this little one who never got to realize her dream.
In my mind's eye....I imagine that Christina is up in heaven having a catch with Jesus.
Obama's speech really struck a chord with me. It was so hard for me to listen to him talk about the 9-year-old girl who was murdered by that madman. I love kids, babies especially since I'm hitting that stage in my life where the brain is over-run with baby-lovin' hormones.
I usually get my baby fix at my bestie's home. She watches 5 kids during the day...has a huge kitchen, cable tv, and lots of fun toys (but I promise I only play with them while the kids are awake and playing too:-), plus, she has all my favorite childhood books...so while the kids may or may not be paying attention when I read to them...I'm really just reading aloud to myself and basking in the glow of all things Suess.
What really got me teary eyed was hearing that Christina Taylor wanted to be the first woman to play in Major League Baseball. I had to watch my mom hear that...
Now, my mom is kind of a superfan. She holds season tickets to the Cleveland Indians...travels to see them and goes to nearly every game. She seriously loves baseball. It's her thing...next to volunteering her time with Amigos de las Americas, being a cat wrangler, and her day job as a revoker of licenses...and sometimes union den mother.
Once, my mom told me that she wanted to be an astronaut when she grew up...a Trekkie at heart, it came as no surprise to me that my mom wanted to get up close and personal with the stars. But, she said that in the 1970's girls were not allowed to go to Space Camp (I guess they had to settle for the movie, which came in 1986). I know she shed a tiny feminist tear for this little one who never got to realize her dream.
In my mind's eye....I imagine that Christina is up in heaven having a catch with Jesus.
12 January 2011
Types of Intelligence
Whenever I tell people the smartest man I know is a man who quit school in the 7th grade, they are usually a bit confused. Allow me to explain.
Long, long ago when I was a little smartass in middle school I had this wonderful teacher named Mrs. Rodenbaugh. She was cool, and loved young people, especially helping them to learn and grow. The particulars weren't important, just the acquisition.
She always said, it's not what you know, or the quantity of your knowledge...but the ability to realize that if you don't know something, then to ask someone for help...to, at least, want to know more is just as important as being a straight "A" student.
It was wonderful advice and something I think about often, especially in regards to others who don't have an expensive piece of paper that says, "Hey, I spent a lot of money and time in a University." It keeps me grounded. I hope I've never made anyone think that I think less of them because they don't owe a ton of money to the Department of Education.
Everyone is smart. A biological anthropologist would say that all humans have intelligence. In their science, intelligence is basically defined as an ability to learn and adapt...other species do not adapt well to changes in their environment. This special brand of intelligence is what sets primates apart from the rest of the animal kingdom and what helped them to evolve into human beings...if you dig that paradigm....(Young Earth creationists...I know you're reading;-)
So there are various types of intelligence, some people are better at things then others here's a few off the top of my head:
1. Athletic Intelligence
2. Quantitative Intelligence (mathletes, engineers, md's)
3. Qualitative Intelligence (people who talk a lot, remember random crap)
4. Savants (chess geniuses)
5. Puzzle Solvers (Sudoku boggles my mind people!)
6. Caring Intelligence (nurturers)
I think the most successful happy people in life have caring intelligence. Even if it is not their most powerful trait...it is the secret to a long life.
Caring people:
Long, long ago when I was a little smartass in middle school I had this wonderful teacher named Mrs. Rodenbaugh. She was cool, and loved young people, especially helping them to learn and grow. The particulars weren't important, just the acquisition.
She always said, it's not what you know, or the quantity of your knowledge...but the ability to realize that if you don't know something, then to ask someone for help...to, at least, want to know more is just as important as being a straight "A" student.
It was wonderful advice and something I think about often, especially in regards to others who don't have an expensive piece of paper that says, "Hey, I spent a lot of money and time in a University." It keeps me grounded. I hope I've never made anyone think that I think less of them because they don't owe a ton of money to the Department of Education.
Everyone is smart. A biological anthropologist would say that all humans have intelligence. In their science, intelligence is basically defined as an ability to learn and adapt...other species do not adapt well to changes in their environment. This special brand of intelligence is what sets primates apart from the rest of the animal kingdom and what helped them to evolve into human beings...if you dig that paradigm....(Young Earth creationists...I know you're reading;-)
So there are various types of intelligence, some people are better at things then others here's a few off the top of my head:
1. Athletic Intelligence
2. Quantitative Intelligence (mathletes, engineers, md's)
3. Qualitative Intelligence (people who talk a lot, remember random crap)
4. Savants (chess geniuses)
5. Puzzle Solvers (Sudoku boggles my mind people!)
6. Caring Intelligence (nurturers)
I think the most successful happy people in life have caring intelligence. Even if it is not their most powerful trait...it is the secret to a long life.
Caring people:
- make and keep lifelong friendships
- love animals
- are kind to children, and show them respect
- do for others as they would have done to them
- appreciate the non-materialistic elements of their lives
- show compassion
- "pay it forward"
- Love others the way Jesus loves them, they forgive
- Have short memories and get over things easily
- have humility
- love and honor their parents and elders
- admit when they're wrong
- take responsibility for their actions
- have good taste in music
- make others laugh and laugh a lot themselves
Grandpa has a lot of caring intelligence, which is why he'll never be alone in his old age I am sure. First, he's a cat magnet. He has 4 cats all weighing in at over 20 lbs. Second, he's a good ole boy from West Virginia and has never forgotten his humble upbringing during the Great Depression. And lastly, Grandpa planted the seeds of love in his children and grandchildren. In his final years, he's harvesting all he's sown. I hope he feels like he made a good run of it, and that I can love him as much as he has loved me.
11 January 2011
A Poll of the People, for the People and by Me
So, there is a poll at the bottom of the page. I have suggested some questions for a potential "Friday's w/Heber" feature. I ask, he answers, I blog, verbatim. Hilarity ensues. If you have a better question...leave it in the comments. Thanks!
10 January 2011
This might take longer than I thought...
I think Kitty Cat Local 170 called in their Union Chief (Simon - all orange cat) to prevent any un-authorized over-time. Looks like it may be a long night! Also, doesn't this look like a elephant seal convention....on the work site/dinner table/cat bed?
Project Womanhood: Baby Blanket
I am working on a blanket for an old friend I recently reconnected with, who has a brand new baby! Yay babies, I loves 'em.
Since I have insomnia (side effect of bi-polar mania) I have been looking for quiet things to occupy myself with whilst I'm up all night.
Here is the project work site:
I think of the kittehs as my Union supervisors (Kitty Cat Local 170). Most new mom's wash the shit out of anything that touches their newborns...so hopefully Donna is a clean freak too. I'll post the finished product in a few days.
Since I have insomnia (side effect of bi-polar mania) I have been looking for quiet things to occupy myself with whilst I'm up all night.
Here is the project work site:
I think of the kittehs as my Union supervisors (Kitty Cat Local 170). Most new mom's wash the shit out of anything that touches their newborns...so hopefully Donna is a clean freak too. I'll post the finished product in a few days.
Grandpa(w)
This is the badass, Chuck Norris loving, Republic-hatin' (within reason, he kinda has a thing for Sarah Palin), rootin'-tootin'-ist Grandpa around. And one of his four cats, or "four-legged grandsons" as he likes to call them.
The book that started it all...
The book that got me to reconcile my feminist nature, my evangelical tendencies, and my nuturing spirit was this:
I like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris.
I love her brother's musings on modern American families, but Amy Sedaris made my life change. No longer did I worry I was a 'bad feminist' for wanting to have children, possibly home schooling (but who knows, I'll likely welcome the respite that sending them off to school for 6 hours a day will provide, mom's need a break too!), and wanting to cook, clean (not really, I hate it, but I need to have a clean home and have too much pride to pay someone), and just be a stay-at-home wife/mother.
I come from a long line of rockin' ladies who worked full-time and raised beautiful, sometimes large families (depending on your definition, a stressed out new mom may put that at 1+), who turned out alright if you normalize for occasional mental illness and petty theft.
I married a great man, who understands that family (even when it's not his) comes first and is ok with me running away to come back home for a few months to act like a teenager again and provide loving companion care to my dear grandfather as he begins his journey into old age, at 85.
I refuse to admit that grandpa will someday die, I wish the man who was my Stay-at-home grandpa could live forever, just like Keith Richards....but I know someday he will join grandma in heaven...on a Vacation with Jesus as I like to imagine it...and wait to start the party until the rest of the family joins them too.
Knowing that grandpa won't be here someday is hard. And, I know that I will cry, be heartbroken and want him back. But, if you're going to cry over a man, best it be your grandpa, right? Who else is worth all those tears?
Oh well, the way I look at it...I'd rather be here for him now, then spend a lot of money on flowers for a funeral he wouldn't have wanted anyways. I imagine we will throw a hillbilly beer party in lieu of a memorial service in his honor....that's just the way he rolls.
I like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris.
I love her brother's musings on modern American families, but Amy Sedaris made my life change. No longer did I worry I was a 'bad feminist' for wanting to have children, possibly home schooling (but who knows, I'll likely welcome the respite that sending them off to school for 6 hours a day will provide, mom's need a break too!), and wanting to cook, clean (not really, I hate it, but I need to have a clean home and have too much pride to pay someone), and just be a stay-at-home wife/mother.
I come from a long line of rockin' ladies who worked full-time and raised beautiful, sometimes large families (depending on your definition, a stressed out new mom may put that at 1+), who turned out alright if you normalize for occasional mental illness and petty theft.
I married a great man, who understands that family (even when it's not his) comes first and is ok with me running away to come back home for a few months to act like a teenager again and provide loving companion care to my dear grandfather as he begins his journey into old age, at 85.
I refuse to admit that grandpa will someday die, I wish the man who was my Stay-at-home grandpa could live forever, just like Keith Richards....but I know someday he will join grandma in heaven...on a Vacation with Jesus as I like to imagine it...and wait to start the party until the rest of the family joins them too.
Knowing that grandpa won't be here someday is hard. And, I know that I will cry, be heartbroken and want him back. But, if you're going to cry over a man, best it be your grandpa, right? Who else is worth all those tears?
Oh well, the way I look at it...I'd rather be here for him now, then spend a lot of money on flowers for a funeral he wouldn't have wanted anyways. I imagine we will throw a hillbilly beer party in lieu of a memorial service in his honor....that's just the way he rolls.
Reconciliation of Feminism and Traditional Womanhood
In addition to general bitchiness, you might also find some slightly academic musings on this blog from time to time, at my whim.
I saved only a few books from my Women's Studies courses at Arizona State University (ASU), they are,
I saved only a few books from my Women's Studies courses at Arizona State University (ASU), they are,
- Radical Feminist Theory Reader (for the "WTF?!" factor and to cite canonical pieces on my Jezebel ( www.jezebel.com/user/MissSterious/ commenting posts from time to time)
- Eve's Herbs (a cool book about herbal pharmacology from ancient times through today)
- Women as Healers (the book that started this fascination with someday being a PA or MD, we'll see how big of a sadist I am...Medical School might not be the big obstacle I thought it was when I was in High School, before I knew that the only difference between college grads and non was persistence and access to funding.)
I know I used too many parenthesis...I need to work on it...I promise, I'm going to hit up my 9th and 10th grade English teachers for help, trust.
Am I ready for this?
Last night I learned that all the free baby sitting and days hanging at my best friend's at-home-daycare have paid off.
I successfully calmed my grandpa down after an hour of repetitive back and forth from all the various doors in the home, searching for his beloved cat Omar. Omar is kind of a dick. He pissed all over the house, fights with the other cats, and has anxiety if he can not see grandpa at all times. Grandpa loves this white fur baby, and thinks it's too cold outside for him to run around after midnight. Also, I think grandpa is so used to having a living, breathing teddybear space heater in bed with him at night that he can't fall asleep without him.
So, using my friend Tanya's tactic for getting 2-year-olds to focus and move on to something else...I created a narrative of sorts...goes something like this...
"Omar is a natural hunter and he wants to catch mice. Mice like the warmth of a home at night, so they might be trying to break in...Omar is out patrolling the parameter of the house outside, but he's really protecting the home from infestation. He'll come back when the coast is clear or he's had his fill. Also, since he is all white, and outside the ground is covered in snow, you can not see him. He is like a ninja cat."
Sounds plausible, right? Well, it worked. Grandpa chilled out, stopped waking up mom (who has to be at work in the AM - all caps necessary, she has to be there early), and watched the season finale of Sarah Palin's Alaska...even though she is a Republican, and he is a hardcore good ole boy Democrat (from the 'holler in Peachtree, WV, he'll have you know). He thinks she is nice and should make more TV shows.
So, thanks Tanya. I thought someday I'd be using your tried and true techniques on my own children, but for now, it works to keep grandpa calm. And mom can get some sleep.
Grandpa's brain misfires at times, at others it's as sharp as a whistle. The other night we were watching coverage of the murders in Tucson, AZ and he said,
"I've never owned a gun, besides my government issued firearm in WWII, and I knew I didn't need one. I always knew I could kill a man with my bare hands. A gun would just be redundant."
Ok, first off my grandpa has probably watched too many Chuck Norris movies, and admittedly he is a superfan of Walker: Texas Ranger....but how does he know this? I will investigate further and let you know....
I successfully calmed my grandpa down after an hour of repetitive back and forth from all the various doors in the home, searching for his beloved cat Omar. Omar is kind of a dick. He pissed all over the house, fights with the other cats, and has anxiety if he can not see grandpa at all times. Grandpa loves this white fur baby, and thinks it's too cold outside for him to run around after midnight. Also, I think grandpa is so used to having a living, breathing teddybear space heater in bed with him at night that he can't fall asleep without him.
So, using my friend Tanya's tactic for getting 2-year-olds to focus and move on to something else...I created a narrative of sorts...goes something like this...
"Omar is a natural hunter and he wants to catch mice. Mice like the warmth of a home at night, so they might be trying to break in...Omar is out patrolling the parameter of the house outside, but he's really protecting the home from infestation. He'll come back when the coast is clear or he's had his fill. Also, since he is all white, and outside the ground is covered in snow, you can not see him. He is like a ninja cat."
Sounds plausible, right? Well, it worked. Grandpa chilled out, stopped waking up mom (who has to be at work in the AM - all caps necessary, she has to be there early), and watched the season finale of Sarah Palin's Alaska...even though she is a Republican, and he is a hardcore good ole boy Democrat (from the 'holler in Peachtree, WV, he'll have you know). He thinks she is nice and should make more TV shows.
So, thanks Tanya. I thought someday I'd be using your tried and true techniques on my own children, but for now, it works to keep grandpa calm. And mom can get some sleep.
Grandpa's brain misfires at times, at others it's as sharp as a whistle. The other night we were watching coverage of the murders in Tucson, AZ and he said,
"I've never owned a gun, besides my government issued firearm in WWII, and I knew I didn't need one. I always knew I could kill a man with my bare hands. A gun would just be redundant."
Ok, first off my grandpa has probably watched too many Chuck Norris movies, and admittedly he is a superfan of Walker: Texas Ranger....but how does he know this? I will investigate further and let you know....
Note to Would-be Stalkers and Potential Asshole Commenters
Note to Stalkers: I've already had two in my young life. If you show up at my door or my place of employment (hopefully), I will call the cops and you will be forced to listen to the same story 5 times in 15 minutes from Grandpa. Just a warning.
Asshole Commenters: This is not a democracy, this is a blog. I also comment at Gawker sites, and I dig their rules. If you act like a jerk, I'm going to delete your comments. No slut shaming, women hating, bible thumping, or thread hijacking. Be nice, as Patrick Swazy would say circa his Roadhouse era. If you disagree, cool, let me hear it, but don't put me down or act a fool.
Asshole Commenters: This is not a democracy, this is a blog. I also comment at Gawker sites, and I dig their rules. If you act like a jerk, I'm going to delete your comments. No slut shaming, women hating, bible thumping, or thread hijacking. Be nice, as Patrick Swazy would say circa his Roadhouse era. If you disagree, cool, let me hear it, but don't put me down or act a fool.
Coming Home
I supposed the first blog entry should be an explaining of sorts. I am a 27-year-old college graduate who is thinking of going to grad school in a few years. I am a free-lance writer of sorts (Shakti Consulting), but I am otherwise unemployed. I have been suffering from bi-polar disorder for most of my life, and it is something that runs in the family, and I'm currently in treatment and managing my life ok at this point. I am also a recovering shopaholic, and no it is not as cute as the chic-lit books make it out to be (although, those books do offer a lot of insight to the consequences of a life living paycheck to paycheck and hiding addiction from those you love, so I can't fault them that).
I just moved home to the land of ice and snow, the Greater Cleveland Area of Northeast Ohio. The land of my birth, and the reason why I never fit in at any Scottsdale bars.
I am married, college educated (Go Sundevils!!), and not currently pregnant. I have a home, husband, awesome tabby cat and sweet chiwiener dog in Scottsdale, AZ, where I have lived for the past 6 years. Before Scottsdale, I attended San Diego State University to run away from, what I thought then, was a boring life in suburbia.
What I've learned in the past 8 years away from home is that there is no place like S'boro. I've never met nicer, more interesting (and caring) people in all my life and travels, than when I lived in my hometown with my mother and eccentric grandfather.
My mom told me Grandpa was starting to have memory issues, and really couldn't be alone during the day. Since my husband is a big bad engineerd (as I like to say) and working 100 hour weeks, I decided he can ignore me from afar and I would come back home to help mom and grandpa, and write and study for the GRE/MCAT, maybe get a P/T job at night for kicks and to get a breather from care giving, and hang out with my old buddies from High School. Basically, I get to be a teenager again.
I cook, clean, and watch over grandpa from roughly 7am-5pm, then my time is mine. Since I am a recovering shopaholic, I try to do things that are culturally interesting, instead of materialistically mindless consuming. This may or may not include quilting. My mother and grandmother used to quilt together...so it is a family mother-daughter tradition of sorts (and mom has 20+ bins of fabric remainders, all 100% cotton and fabulous!). So, you might see some pics from a current project from time to time.
Ok, a little about me:
I am an unemployed technical writer/admin assistant and I've never written for a commercial publication before. You can get a feel for my writing style by reading some of my reviews here at Yelp . I have a Bachelor's of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with emphasis in Business and Women's Studies from Arizona State University (ASU). I'm considering going back to graduate school, so I'd like to get back to writing, which I enjoy.
I just moved home to the land of ice and snow, the Greater Cleveland Area of Northeast Ohio. The land of my birth, and the reason why I never fit in at any Scottsdale bars.
I am married, college educated (Go Sundevils!!), and not currently pregnant. I have a home, husband, awesome tabby cat and sweet chiwiener dog in Scottsdale, AZ, where I have lived for the past 6 years. Before Scottsdale, I attended San Diego State University to run away from, what I thought then, was a boring life in suburbia.
What I've learned in the past 8 years away from home is that there is no place like S'boro. I've never met nicer, more interesting (and caring) people in all my life and travels, than when I lived in my hometown with my mother and eccentric grandfather.
My mom told me Grandpa was starting to have memory issues, and really couldn't be alone during the day. Since my husband is a big bad engineerd (as I like to say) and working 100 hour weeks, I decided he can ignore me from afar and I would come back home to help mom and grandpa, and write and study for the GRE/MCAT, maybe get a P/T job at night for kicks and to get a breather from care giving, and hang out with my old buddies from High School. Basically, I get to be a teenager again.
I cook, clean, and watch over grandpa from roughly 7am-5pm, then my time is mine. Since I am a recovering shopaholic, I try to do things that are culturally interesting, instead of materialistically mindless consuming. This may or may not include quilting. My mother and grandmother used to quilt together...so it is a family mother-daughter tradition of sorts (and mom has 20+ bins of fabric remainders, all 100% cotton and fabulous!). So, you might see some pics from a current project from time to time.
Ok, a little about me:
I am an unemployed technical writer/admin assistant and I've never written for a commercial publication before. You can get a feel for my writing style by reading some of my reviews here at Yelp . I have a Bachelor's of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with emphasis in Business and Women's Studies from Arizona State University (ASU). I'm considering going back to graduate school, so I'd like to get back to writing, which I enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)