Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Words are Power AND Powerful
On the tip of my tongue an offensive is poised and rearing.
My intention a bullet, my body a trigger finger.
Yeah my pen is a pistola,
There's no need to fear, fear yeah.
Yeah my pen is a pistola.
My sacred arsenal is an infinite, ageless inkwell.
It's a fountain of youth and a patriot's weapon of choice.
Yeah my pen is a pistola,
There's no need to fear, fear yeah.
Yeah my pen is a pistola.
On the tip of my tongue an offensive is poised and rearing,
My intention a bullet, my body a trigger finger.
Yeah my pen is a pistola,
There's no need to fear, fear yeah.
Yeah my pen is a pistola.
~Incubus~
My intention a bullet, my body a trigger finger.
Yeah my pen is a pistola,
There's no need to fear, fear yeah.
Yeah my pen is a pistola.
My sacred arsenal is an infinite, ageless inkwell.
It's a fountain of youth and a patriot's weapon of choice.
Yeah my pen is a pistola,
There's no need to fear, fear yeah.
Yeah my pen is a pistola.
On the tip of my tongue an offensive is poised and rearing,
My intention a bullet, my body a trigger finger.
Yeah my pen is a pistola,
There's no need to fear, fear yeah.
Yeah my pen is a pistola.
~Incubus~
Holidayze
Plain and simple, they suck.
They bring out the worst in people, whether they be strangers or kin. Shoppers are rude, and as we saw on Black Friday 2011, they can be downright deadly. Liberal use of pepper spray this holiday season was the big trend. Wall Street AND Wal-Mart.
And then there are the family members that either insist on living in the past or an alternate reality. And no, these are not the same. The former will remind you of some indiscretion you made when you were three, and the latter will manipulate their lack of courtesy and twist things so it appears you are at fault.
We can't leave out the holiday drama! If it's not someone being rushed to the hospital, then it's someone having major depression over a loved one who had the nerve to die near or on Christmas. Why not remember the good things about a loved one? Sure beats making the rest of the world miserable because you choose to live in the negative.
Speaking of negative, can't forget the couple that is always threatening divorce right before the holiday, fucking the whole thing up for their kids. Three years running now, hopefully three time's the charm and they'll actually go through with it and END the madness!
On the other end of the spectrum is the already divorced bunch that has boundary problems which has led to kids in psych wards. Always an adventure with this bunch, as you never know who will have a meltdown first.
I didn't decorate for Christmas this year, it's too much of a hassle dragging it all out, sorting, hanging it, and then having to take it all down and put it away by yourself. Perhaps next year I'll get ambitious, but I doubt it. Heck, maybe I'll be on a beach next Christmas, if we can figure out accomodations for the furkids. That could be fun, break tradition and go visit family that lives on the ocean, no little kids and none of those drama types. Not sure if we'd know how to act!
This November and December has been the strangest I've ever seen, there has been record RAINFALL, record-setting flooding, and temps at freezing only a handful of times. Just a dusting of snow so far, but right in time for New Year's Eve, the forecast is for three days of snow. I went outside to do poop patrol and the air had certainly cooled off with a brisk wind, but I could feel the moisture in the air. Came inside and asked the husband if we were due for a snowstorm, checked the handy-dandy Weather Channel app, and sure enough we are. I amaze myself sometimes! Yep, got my meteorlogical mojo voodoo tuned up! :)
They bring out the worst in people, whether they be strangers or kin. Shoppers are rude, and as we saw on Black Friday 2011, they can be downright deadly. Liberal use of pepper spray this holiday season was the big trend. Wall Street AND Wal-Mart.
And then there are the family members that either insist on living in the past or an alternate reality. And no, these are not the same. The former will remind you of some indiscretion you made when you were three, and the latter will manipulate their lack of courtesy and twist things so it appears you are at fault.
We can't leave out the holiday drama! If it's not someone being rushed to the hospital, then it's someone having major depression over a loved one who had the nerve to die near or on Christmas. Why not remember the good things about a loved one? Sure beats making the rest of the world miserable because you choose to live in the negative.
Speaking of negative, can't forget the couple that is always threatening divorce right before the holiday, fucking the whole thing up for their kids. Three years running now, hopefully three time's the charm and they'll actually go through with it and END the madness!
On the other end of the spectrum is the already divorced bunch that has boundary problems which has led to kids in psych wards. Always an adventure with this bunch, as you never know who will have a meltdown first.
I didn't decorate for Christmas this year, it's too much of a hassle dragging it all out, sorting, hanging it, and then having to take it all down and put it away by yourself. Perhaps next year I'll get ambitious, but I doubt it. Heck, maybe I'll be on a beach next Christmas, if we can figure out accomodations for the furkids. That could be fun, break tradition and go visit family that lives on the ocean, no little kids and none of those drama types. Not sure if we'd know how to act!
This November and December has been the strangest I've ever seen, there has been record RAINFALL, record-setting flooding, and temps at freezing only a handful of times. Just a dusting of snow so far, but right in time for New Year's Eve, the forecast is for three days of snow. I went outside to do poop patrol and the air had certainly cooled off with a brisk wind, but I could feel the moisture in the air. Came inside and asked the husband if we were due for a snowstorm, checked the handy-dandy Weather Channel app, and sure enough we are. I amaze myself sometimes! Yep, got my meteorlogical mojo voodoo tuned up! :)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Spontaneous Combustion
Not two days ago,
I had a look in a book,
and saw a picture of a guy fried up above his knees
I said 'I can relate', because I've been thinking
Of combustication as a welcomed vacation
From the burdens of the planet Earth,
Like Gravity, Hypocrisy, and the Perils of being in 3D
But thinking so much differently,
Pardon me while I burn, and rise above the flame
I'll never be the same
I had a look in a book,
and saw a picture of a guy fried up above his knees
I said 'I can relate', because I've been thinking
Of combustication as a welcomed vacation
From the burdens of the planet Earth,
Like Gravity, Hypocrisy, and the Perils of being in 3D
But thinking so much differently,
Pardon me while I burn, and rise above the flame
I'll never be the same
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A Woman's Worth
1 million females a year disappear in a country of over a billion people.
Gender-based abortions and even the use of an ultrasound for sex-determination is illegal in India, but those in the medical profession and the families of the pregnant women look the other way on a daily basis. There's even a term for it: gendercide.
Here in the United States, we would think that only the poor, uneducated people would think that it was a good thing to only have male offspring. The outlawed practice/custom of dowry is their reason, they simply cannot afford to have them married off.
Strangely though, even wealthy families don't want girls. Oddly, for the same reasons, they don't want to pay dowry. What would possess a paternal grandmother to make her daughter-in-law go for the illegal ultrasound, and if refused, try to cause the pregnant woman bodily harm? If the daughter-in-law actually submits to the ultrasound, and a girl-child is found, then she faces pressure to abort, even if it's late in the pregnancy. God forbid she actually has the nerve to defy everyone and has her child, she'll spend the rest of the child's (and her) life trying to keep the pissed off paternal relatives from trying to assassinate them. What a life. Happens in India all the time though.
While they recognize that a shortage of women (in most areas the ratio is 300 women for 1000 men) is nto a good thing, they just want the women to be in someone else's family, NOT theirs.
In a country that worships a plethora of female deities, and has an almost equal percentage of female legislators, PLUS has had many female heads of state, it seems absolutely asinine that India would have such a low regard for the rest of the population of females. I think their government should adopt a law similar to China, and outlaw more than 1 girl/1 boy per married couple, and give financial incentives to try to keep it that way. Chances are, no one is going to pay much attention to a law like that since they can't seem to obey or try to divert from the laws that have already tried to solve the problem every chance they get.
While the plight of women in India is deplorable, perhaps the misogynistic sentiments will assist with curbing the exponentially unsustainable population growth problem there. Sorry, but that's the only glimmer of something good from this situation. A war between India and China might get rid of a few extra men, if they can keep the planet from nuclear war.
Gender-based abortions and even the use of an ultrasound for sex-determination is illegal in India, but those in the medical profession and the families of the pregnant women look the other way on a daily basis. There's even a term for it: gendercide.
Here in the United States, we would think that only the poor, uneducated people would think that it was a good thing to only have male offspring. The outlawed practice/custom of dowry is their reason, they simply cannot afford to have them married off.
Strangely though, even wealthy families don't want girls. Oddly, for the same reasons, they don't want to pay dowry. What would possess a paternal grandmother to make her daughter-in-law go for the illegal ultrasound, and if refused, try to cause the pregnant woman bodily harm? If the daughter-in-law actually submits to the ultrasound, and a girl-child is found, then she faces pressure to abort, even if it's late in the pregnancy. God forbid she actually has the nerve to defy everyone and has her child, she'll spend the rest of the child's (and her) life trying to keep the pissed off paternal relatives from trying to assassinate them. What a life. Happens in India all the time though.
While they recognize that a shortage of women (in most areas the ratio is 300 women for 1000 men) is nto a good thing, they just want the women to be in someone else's family, NOT theirs.
In a country that worships a plethora of female deities, and has an almost equal percentage of female legislators, PLUS has had many female heads of state, it seems absolutely asinine that India would have such a low regard for the rest of the population of females. I think their government should adopt a law similar to China, and outlaw more than 1 girl/1 boy per married couple, and give financial incentives to try to keep it that way. Chances are, no one is going to pay much attention to a law like that since they can't seem to obey or try to divert from the laws that have already tried to solve the problem every chance they get.
While the plight of women in India is deplorable, perhaps the misogynistic sentiments will assist with curbing the exponentially unsustainable population growth problem there. Sorry, but that's the only glimmer of something good from this situation. A war between India and China might get rid of a few extra men, if they can keep the planet from nuclear war.
Choices, Choices: The Spice of Life?
So the other day I got the American Express prepaid card for the $50 mail-in rebate from my the HTC EVO Design I purchased a couple of months ago, now, what to spend it on...
Well, I could really use new bras and underwear. But fifty bucks ain't nothing when buying ladies undergarments nowadays. If you pay less than $25 for one, you can be assured that's it's allotted expiration date will be upon you in the first two months of wear, and you can forget about it making a year even semi-intact.
SO- I have given up on the underwear and I'm going to finish building up my stellar collection of cooking and baking spices from Penzey's and The Spice House. No reason not to, as they are less expensive and better quality than at Kroger's.
When I went to Chicago a few years back, I purchased some of the "Chicago Neighborhood" signature blends and fell in love with most of them, especially their Bavarian, Ukranian, and Little Italy mixes. Have to get the refillable amounts for all of those. I was in Boston a couple weeks ago and the first place I spent money at (that wasn't a toll booth, gas station, or McDonald's) was Penzey's. I was like a kid in a candy store! Almost $80 later, I had Turkish bay leaves, whole nutmeg, granulated and minced onion, Spanish smoked paprika, French thyme, a different kind of Bavarian blend, Pasta Sprinkle, Bouquet Garni, Parisien Bonne Herbes, Four Peppercorn Blend, Spanish rosemary, Shallot-Pepper seasoning, Grey sea salt, and a bottle of REAL vanilla extract! Not to mention all the cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and extra whole nutmeg that all the gift boxes are packed with.
If you haven't noticed by the amount of copy given to underwear vs. spices, spices definitely are the more passion-filled subject with this woman. While the Victoria's Secret kind of spice will attract and catch a man, the Penzey's kind of spice will keep him and is far more important when the ravages of time make the VS kind of spice absolutely obsolete. Besides, the lingerie is more for the females than the men, most guys really wish they didn't have so many layers to get through! Give that same guy a robust stew or nicely spiced steaming bowl of chili when his favorite team is playing and you're apt to get compliments for weeks and requests for more...
And OMG! today in my email was a coupon for a free gift box, with only a $5 purchase! Talk about giving a free rock to a crack addict!
I just placed an order with the Spice House for a Microplane Spice Grinder with Built-Storage and Shaker for my whole nutmeg, some Milwaukee Ave Steak seasoning, Ukranian Village seasoning, Little Italy seasoning (salt-free), Bavarian-style salt-free seasoning, Dried Porcini and Shiitake Mushrooms and a couple more spice bottles! Friday I'll get a few more things from Penzeys and get my free crack, erm, gift box of spices....then I should be good for a while, that is, unless, I COOK! Bwahaaahaaa....
Well, I could really use new bras and underwear. But fifty bucks ain't nothing when buying ladies undergarments nowadays. If you pay less than $25 for one, you can be assured that's it's allotted expiration date will be upon you in the first two months of wear, and you can forget about it making a year even semi-intact.
SO- I have given up on the underwear and I'm going to finish building up my stellar collection of cooking and baking spices from Penzey's and The Spice House. No reason not to, as they are less expensive and better quality than at Kroger's.
When I went to Chicago a few years back, I purchased some of the "Chicago Neighborhood" signature blends and fell in love with most of them, especially their Bavarian, Ukranian, and Little Italy mixes. Have to get the refillable amounts for all of those. I was in Boston a couple weeks ago and the first place I spent money at (that wasn't a toll booth, gas station, or McDonald's) was Penzey's. I was like a kid in a candy store! Almost $80 later, I had Turkish bay leaves, whole nutmeg, granulated and minced onion, Spanish smoked paprika, French thyme, a different kind of Bavarian blend, Pasta Sprinkle, Bouquet Garni, Parisien Bonne Herbes, Four Peppercorn Blend, Spanish rosemary, Shallot-Pepper seasoning, Grey sea salt, and a bottle of REAL vanilla extract! Not to mention all the cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and extra whole nutmeg that all the gift boxes are packed with.
If you haven't noticed by the amount of copy given to underwear vs. spices, spices definitely are the more passion-filled subject with this woman. While the Victoria's Secret kind of spice will attract and catch a man, the Penzey's kind of spice will keep him and is far more important when the ravages of time make the VS kind of spice absolutely obsolete. Besides, the lingerie is more for the females than the men, most guys really wish they didn't have so many layers to get through! Give that same guy a robust stew or nicely spiced steaming bowl of chili when his favorite team is playing and you're apt to get compliments for weeks and requests for more...
And OMG! today in my email was a coupon for a free gift box, with only a $5 purchase! Talk about giving a free rock to a crack addict!
I just placed an order with the Spice House for a Microplane Spice Grinder with Built-Storage and Shaker for my whole nutmeg, some Milwaukee Ave Steak seasoning, Ukranian Village seasoning, Little Italy seasoning (salt-free), Bavarian-style salt-free seasoning, Dried Porcini and Shiitake Mushrooms and a couple more spice bottles! Friday I'll get a few more things from Penzeys and get my free crack, erm, gift box of spices....then I should be good for a while, that is, unless, I COOK! Bwahaaahaaa....
Monday, December 12, 2011
Once upon a time...
...there was a woman that lived in small insular community, so small it wasn't even big enough to be called a town. This speck on the map had managed to keep an almost 1950's existence well into the new millenium. This 36 square mile square of a township is home to 51 shy of 5,000 people, 98.5% of those people being Caucasian. The township was organized in 1838, after pioneers cleared and claimed land inward from Lake Erie. When Andrew Jackson decided to start giving away land grants and moving the original inhabitants to reservations in the late 1860's, the township was platted and made official in 1868.
This woman was raised in this community, and her family have been landowners there since 1873. While this should have meant something back before the turn of the century when dowries were required in order to remain in good standing, 100 years later for a girl-child it just meant that she had better go to college if she had any dream of a good life. The boys were the ones worthy of inheritance. Life was conditional.
So I said all that, to say this: while spending all but 10 years of my life in this insulated bubble, this place and my family have greatly influenced me, but not to the point that I was unable to think for myself and form my own opinions. This blog will be my avenue for my thoughts and opinions. Don't try to change my mind, it will take a darn good argument for that, and frankly I am not into wasting precious moments left here on Planet Earth listening to drivel.
Welcome, come on in and stay a while.
This woman was raised in this community, and her family have been landowners there since 1873. While this should have meant something back before the turn of the century when dowries were required in order to remain in good standing, 100 years later for a girl-child it just meant that she had better go to college if she had any dream of a good life. The boys were the ones worthy of inheritance. Life was conditional.
So I said all that, to say this: while spending all but 10 years of my life in this insulated bubble, this place and my family have greatly influenced me, but not to the point that I was unable to think for myself and form my own opinions. This blog will be my avenue for my thoughts and opinions. Don't try to change my mind, it will take a darn good argument for that, and frankly I am not into wasting precious moments left here on Planet Earth listening to drivel.
Welcome, come on in and stay a while.
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