12 January 2008

You just have to stand back and say WOW!

Wanted to pass this on because it's fucking awesome. Thanks to MetroDad for the introduction to this video gem. The girl is in her groove. You can see it in her beat. Her brother does it like it's habit. One can imagine the practicing and his growing impatient with having to do it...like practicing his instrument instead of getting to go out and play.

Just amazes me.

05 January 2008

Chule Covers Iron Maiden

Please watch the friend during the whole video. The poor guy hides as much of his laughter that I think is humanly possible. Also....I swear Chule barks somewhere around the 2:34 mark.

And you know you're thinking in that neanderthal, retarded cave man voice, "I, Chule. Music, I like. Mmmm. Good. Music."

21 November 2007

Martina Looks Like Pam Anderson in Comparison

Found Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians by blog hopping again. The title says it old. Who you find on the list may suprise you though. Probably not some of their better photo-ops.

19 November 2007

In your youth...

...did your imaginations run wild? Do they still in your adulthood?

Jan Von Holleben's does.

15 November 2007

Think I'm joking about driving in Texas.

This happened on the interstate right in front of the theater and the restaurants next to us. MY GOD!

Oil Tanker Explodes

11 November 2007

Why NGeo is the best!

If you haven't subscribed to National Geographic in your reader, you should. Wish I could embed the video but you'll just have to go and watch it for yourself.

The architect of the sea organ won an award for his design. Simple and beautiful.

07 November 2007

Bad day at work? Bet it's nothing compared to theirs.

Seriously, I never want to bitch about work again.

Salt Mining in Uganda

04 November 2007

Quick post before bed and that strange made up time thing attacks my senses

Wanted to share the following because the pages are funny. It's a lazy post because I have just arrived home from work. My body says it's 330a whereas the clock says it's 231a. In either case, I have to work at  noon (until 9p) and I'm unsure I'll be coherent enough after work to remember a NaBloPoMo post. So....let the lazy post begin.

Demonbaby: The Second Annual MySpace Stupid Haircut Awards. Check out the first one as well. I know the post is over a year old but the topic is still timely.

Have fun and I'll chat with you later.

01 November 2007

All Saints Day

Whether you're Catholic or art lover or not, this site is good mind food. The Last Supper is deteroriating and with all the attention from The DaVinci Code, you now have the chance to get nose-close (hell, it's closer than that) to Leonardo's masterpiece. See if you can see details that the person on Jesus' right is his wife. If anything, it's an opportunity to see the state of that famous wall's mural.

25 October 2007

*stunned silence*

I'm taking Emma to a concert venue on Saturday. Out of curiousity, I was checking out who else will be coming to Dallas in the next few months. And I found something I couldn't believe. Stunned. Seriously stunned.

Hannah Montana is coming in November. Do you know what this child's tickets cost? Cheapest seats are $120. Most expensive: $1505. Yes. Each ticket cost ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND FIVE DOLLARS. Don't believe me, you're welcomed to click on the link and find out for yourself.

The Cure - Most expensive ticket is $849. Billy Joel: $740. Jennifer Lopez: $534.  The Police (playing in San Antonio): $1027. Dallas Cowboys Vs Washington Redskins (35yd line behind Cowboys bench): $1499.

It's a child who stars on the Disney Channel. What in the hell?! I'm flabbergasted. I should have become a Hollywood mother when Emma was born!

24 October 2007

Scourge

Andy Milonakis annoys the fuck out of me. Talentless shit.

17 October 2007

The NaNos

November is just around the corner...incidentally, that undercelebrated annual day is coming up, Nae Day. Do it proud this year! Go all out! Gifts, parties, drinks, etc.

Anyway. Time once again for NaNoWrimo and NaBloPoMo. And once again, I'm going to attempt to do both. I've yet to finish the race on either of them but I will continue to try and try and try. I challenge all of you to participate...that and help me celebrate my birthday.

21 September 2007

Are You Flossing?

Found a new read: Mental Floss Magazine. Don't remember how but it's been fun so far. Just wanted to whore it to the rest of you....and I wouldn't be terribly wounded if you wanted to buy me a subscription or a Pluto shirt. No, I think I would get over the pain of it all.

15 September 2007

Poor Kitty

Awesome, raunchy, fun little film by PES.

15 May 2007

Dead at 73

Guess who gets to find out what God REALLY thinks?

Bet you $5, he's hoping that he was right all these years.

14 May 2007

Find Lisa Stebic

Lisa Stebic is missing from Plainfield, Illinois. Please pass pictures of her around to eveyone you know via email, website, MySpace, etc. Anything and everything. Someone out there knows something. Hopefully as a community we can help her family Find Lisa Stebic.

09 May 2007

Hurricane Season's Early Start

We have a couple weeks before the hurricane season starts here on the east coast of the United States. It officially begins June first, but Mother Nature says "Timetable? FUCK YOU! My cycle doesn't need no stinking timetable!" Yeah, that's what I think Mother Nature says, and she does it in Mexicano (pronounce it right, people) sort of voice too. She has a storm brewing off the Atlantic Coast: Subtropical Storm Andrea. (I have a cousin named Andrea and in her youth she was a bit of a subtropical storm. Nothing big but she wasn't an angelic little summer mist either. By the way, I want a storm named after me. A Hurricane 5. "Folks, we like to call this scary little number Hurricane Naomi." Who do we contact for hurricane name suggestions?)

I have to admit something. I'm a fool for saying it but I've always been this way. I love hurricane season. It scares my kid but I love storms. Thunderstorms, ice storms, snow storms, all that inclement weather stuff. I'm a fan of those survival movies whether it be a post-apocalyptic Children of Men sort of thing or the natural disaster The Day After Tomorrow or the harrowing escape with your life Poseidon crappers. I love them because my brain tells me that when everyone else is trying to run from the War of the Worlds aliens and they get smashed....I'm surviving. And if I don't? No water off my back. I'll be dead and what is there to worry?

Beyond all the goofy movie references I just made (Can you tell I'm a movie dork and that I work at a movie theater?), I really am awed by weather and the natural instincts of the earth, meaning all the creatures that inhabit it and the symbiotic relationships we have with our planet. No matter how self-righteous we get, nature strikes that proverbial chord in us. We are humbled daily by things like disease, fear, death, and natural instinct. We are life's bitches!

When a developing storm hits the news, the people in this town go crazy. No matter the status quo or social standing, all are running to Wal-Mart and buying that SPAM. It's exciting. And the aftermath of a storm just blows one's mind. Have you ever seen a steel billboard on the expressway that practically towers above the world? Big, right? Massive, right? MADE OF STEEL, right?! Ever seen one after a hurricane? Twisted all the way to the ground like a paperclip. Don't know about you, but that impresses me.

I don't know what an early start indicates. We all speculate that it means a rough season. More storms? More damage? Eh, who really knows. I do know I don't like are the migraines. With each storm I've endured here on the Gulf Coast, the drop in pressure erupts as an extreme migraine in me. Happens before the storm hits. Huh, maybe Spiderman does have Spidey senses. (Ok, last movie reference. Sorry. Couldn't help it). I will be riding out the season here in my little, old house in Pensacola. If one does come to this area, I'll try to post as much as I can from the computer and/or the cell phone. We'll see what happens.

03 April 2007

New Toy to Play With

I have discovered that I can write an entry with the use of Word 2007. How freaking great is that?! I'll probably discover some dreaded issue that will cause me to cuss in a horrible British accent (has to be British because isn't that what every person tries to imitate but does a crappy job of it?) According to Everything Typepad, I should be able to do the following using Word:

  • Automatic Image Uploading – Images you've inserted in your post are uploaded to your account and inserted into the post automatically.  Any charts, Office SmartArt and shapes you include in your post are automatically converted to images, uploaded and inserted to the post.
  • Post Categorization – Word displays a list of your blog's categories to pick from before you publish.
  • Publish as Draft – Not sure the post is ready for prime time?  You can publish your post as a draft to upload it to TypePad without making it public.
  • Publish to Multiple Blogs – The Word Blog Tool makes cross posting easy – you can publish a post to as many blogs as you'd like without having to copy and paste between blogs or accounts.  Simply pick another blog and click "Publish".

I am a complete dork that I find this exciting. Just ignore the geekiness that sometimes creeps out. I would probably be in trouble if I knew how to do other nifty things to a webpage…..like create one. Seriously, this internet thing? Thank you Al Gore for inventing it.

29 March 2007

Every One Should Carry a Little Candy in Their Pocket.

CandyWhen you have a moment, go visit Candy from TK101. She's a local radio personality and she is a fucking hoot. I met her through mutual friends at Glass Eye and she makes me blush. She's as friendly as can be....the love just flows out of her. Funny as hell too so don't just spend time drooling over her as eye candy (eye candy...haha. Get it?! Eye Can-dy? Like her name, Candy? And looking at her?......hee hee hee *snort* ...no? Ok.) but read her entries on her page.

Just a little bit on her meeting with the infamous Davy Jones from the Monkees.

...

OK - the meat and eggs in a locker were probably not the smartest move, so I throw it in the freezer at work and our production manager throws it away as (and I quote again) "it still stinks".

Flash ahead 7 - 8 years later, I still haven't had that chance to redeem myself and I still have that entire morning in my head like it was yesterday.

Also, I  still have his napkin in my locker from his breakfast that "started to stink".  If they ever are able to clone whole people from syripy-mouth germs, I might just have him made so I can tell him all the stuff I meant to when he was here.

No interesting post script to this tale - I do, however, often wonder if he ever talks about our building and wraps up the story "and then this sweet, retarded girl shouted that she loved me before I went out the door".

I guess I'll never know.

...

Get her hit counter up. Don't forget to sign up for the Freeloading. Live streaming of the station as well.

21 March 2007

Erwin Olaf

A few weeks ago I discovered the artist, Erwin Olaf. Amazingly, gorgeous photos. Be warned: some images are nudes and may get you into trouble at work. Just beautiful imagery.

05 March 2007

What What

Found this on Disco's MySpace in his comment and it has to be the best thing I've enjoyed in a long time.

31 October 2006

Dali and Dante

Emmaline and I recently viewed the Dali exhibit at the University of West Florida. The show included 100 woodcuts illustrating Dante's La Commedia Divina, and Dali's style is quite evident in many of the pieces. Imagine the time for the woodcuts and the whole process for printing. Artists just amaze me.

Dante's character is Christlike in the prints. I have yet to read the Comedy and don't know if this is intentional but I like that Dali portrays him in such a way. He wears a crown of leaves and robes...as do all the religious characters. And despite the Judeo-Christian influence, there still resides the mythological history of the Italian people as obvious in the Arachne print.

Some prints didn't do anything for me. I passed them without a second glance. I thought pehaps the muted tones were reasons enough but they only enhanced the general scene....overall, the whole collection is quieter and simplistic in color. I think it was the ambiguity of the subject in some prints that dissatisfied me. While others were expressive and sometimes explicit, there were those few that just seemed like pretty fillers.

I did enjoy the collection though. Emma had her favorites as well (though I can't find a copy of it online to show you). I had almost nerve enough to pull out the cell phone and snap a couple of pics, but I wanted to be respectful.

13 June 2006

S.O.S:Save Our Shows

Hi,

Everyone expected House Republicans to give up efforts to kill NPR and PBS after a massive public outcry stopped them last year. But they've just voted to eliminate funding for NPR and PBS—unbelievably, starting with programs like "Sesame Street."

Public broadcasting would lose nearly a quarter of its federal funding this year. Even worse, all funding would be eliminated in two years--threatening one of the last remaining sources of watchdog journalism.

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS again this year:

http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Last year, millions of us took action to save NPR and PBS, and Congress listened. We can do it again if enough of us sign the petition in time.

This would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting.  The Boston Globe reports the cuts "could force the elimination of some popular PBS and NPR programs." NPR's president expects rural public radio stations may be forced to shut down.

The House and Senate are deciding if public broadcasting will survive, and they need to hear from viewers like you. Sign the petition at:

http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

P.S. Read the Boston Globe story on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1864

15 May 2006

Hummingbird

My grandmother sent me the following link. Photos of a hummimgbird's nest with new babes.

30 April 2006

Chris Maher

I found this photography site whilst perusing the pages of MySpace (still don't like MySpace and you can't make me). A Spacer had one of Chris Maher's nudes on her blog, and I just had to follow the link. When I did.....OUCH! I was smacked hard by the beauty, baby! HARD! And I liked it!

Maher's nudes are gorgeous and so natural and his landscapes are exquisite. He seems to prefer infrared and the results are stunning. Do spend time over there because seriously, the images beckon you to buy them and put them on your walls. DIVINE! SIMPLY DIVINE!!!!

------------------Follow me this way--------------------->InfraRedDreams.com

06 April 2006

Barbie's Fashion Dream & Ken's Crocheted Nightmare

And then the men in white coats came...with a crocheted straightjacket.

KFed

One of my favorite online personalities/writers is Disco. He moved to MySpace (every one and their whore's dog is on MySpace now) where probably all of his followers followed...including me. Reading Doug makes me happy. He's the poop. ANWAYS....upon following the Kid to his new digs, it was revealed that a god walked among us (this is of course, sarcasm) at MySpace.

Kevin Federline - Ms. Spears' ho and REAL drunken regret (Vegas guy is looking good to her now).

So, KFed has some songs on his space. To save you embarrassment and time, go to the bathroom before you head over there. And honestly, read the KFed's comments. Either these people are yanking the man's KMart-jewelry-counter-platinumlike-chains or they are absolutely delusional. If anything, it's entertainment for the whole family.

And in sexy Disco glory, Doug wrote and recorded a tribute to man.

22 March 2006

"Reason: General Asshattery"

Via the brilliantly sexy Murray at PlanetThoughtful, I provide you a link to Snubster. It's a bit asinine but can't say that I haven't been entertained. It's for all those little twits you would love to just make a list of and if given a chance to just filibuster our Congress, you would read all the idiots you encounter daily...like those people who seem to have received their driver's licenses at the county fair bumper cars turnstile or the yee-haws that insist on reacquainting themselves with their long lost half-brother's mechanic's lawyer on their reverend's brother's crack whore's dog groomer's side of the family, in the middle of the store aisles when all you wanted to do is run in for a quick second to buy a gallon of milk that is always stored in the back of the friggin building.....aggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

...

ahem

...

Yeah, um. So if you have a moment take a gander over there. It may be something you totally and completely can't relate to but I personally wouldn't know anything about that now, would I?

11 February 2006

Eight Easy Steps

On my personalized Gmail account page, I have a "How To..." section. Some of the little tips are quite useful. For example: How to fix a sweater that has shrunk. Useful, yes? But clicking on the mainpage of this little directory leads you to new and interesting places. It's a Wiki for tips on everything. If you didn't know how, below are instructions on How to Buy Colored Pencils for Children.

Colored pencils are smoother to draw with than crayons and are easier to sharpen. Choose a brand you are comfortable with in a package size that fits your needs.

  1. Understand that colored pencils are a cross between crayons and pencils. On the outside they look like pencils, but they color almost like crayons. A major benefit is that they are eraseable and easily sharpened.
  2. See that colored pencils can come in packages of 12 to 50 pencils.
  3. Know that Crayola has a very extensive line of colored pencils and usually offers the best price compared to other brands.
  4. Consider the types of colored pencils available. Crayola and Alex make long colored pencils ($2.80 for a Crayola 24-pack and $3 for an Alex 12-pack). Crayola also offers short colored pencils ($2.80 for a 36-pack). Extra-thick colored pencils are available from Crayola ($2 for an 8-pack of Write Start) and Rose Art ($6 for a 50-pack of Large Colored Pencils).
  5. Recognize that colored pencils come in other shapes as well. Ferby makes a 12-pack of colored pencils ($15) in a shape designed to be easy for children's hands to grip.
  6. Notice that Crayola offers Watercolor Pencils with Brush ($1.50). The artist draws with these pencils, then brushes on water to create a watercolor-painting effect.
  7. Be aware that you can purchase art-quality colored pencils like the 12-pack of Memory Pencils ($5) made by EK Success. These pencils are acid-free and photo-safe and are described as archival quality.
  8. Note that Color Giants makes a 12-pack of skin-toned colored pencils ($20) that accurately depict human skin shades.

Tip: Buy a coloring book or other art supplies to go with the colored pencils if you are giving them as a gift.

These instructions are better than what you find on a shampoo bottle. Why would anyone need to have directions like these to buy colored pencils? Seriously. Imagine the person who walks into Wal-Mart with these printed instructions. A frazzled mom who looks like she hasn't slept for seven days because of that fear of buying colored pencils for her five year old. She comes rushing into the stationery section scanning all of the art supplies with blood shot wild eyes. Her hair is knotted and thin from her pulling at it with worry anticipating this moment...the fear. The anxiety. There is crust at the corner of her mouth where the spittle has dried from the insane muttering about Crayola or RoseArt. Mascara is streaking down her cheeks from the tears as a result of the anxiety attack. She picks up box after box trying to decipher the labels. She compares the words to what's written on the instructions, shakes her head, and throws them back down. People are scared of her. The sounds escaping from her fill the aisle like the grunts of the unseen Sasquatch. This moment is terrifying for all those innocent passerbys but moreso for that poor mother who has NEVER bought colored pencils before. THANK GOD FOR THOSE INSTRUCTIONS or imagine the chaos that could have insued. Before the white coats are called in to restrain her, the animal-like woman reaches for a Crayola 36-pack of short colored pencils for $2.80...JUST LIKE THE DIRECTIONS SAID. Thank the God, Almighty!

10 February 2006

Someone Won a $1 Bet.

All I can say is that the director HAD to have made a bet with his friends before planning this video. Other than that, I have to repeat Emily's words, "Oh My God."

When you're done...you can do a search here: YouTube

30 January 2006

A Newborn and A Facelift

It seems Mr. Wells from PlanetThoughtful has been busy over there in Oz. He has redesigned PlanetThoughtful (and it looks marvelous, by the way) as well as created a new site. The Urban Legends Blog is a reincarnation of his old site, ULRC. So, show some linky love and scoot on over to his spaces. Go now. The internet gods demand it.

28 January 2006

Sharing the Linky Love

Threadbared.com - such a funny site. Trust me. Just click and go. Won't even give you details.

Found them through Susie Bright. A good read!
 

24 January 2006

Stunned

I was looking for information on Delaina's death, which seems to have missed the news agents in Memphis as of yet, and I found LifeGem. I can see how this may make some people feel comforted, and it is a different alternative to having a huge stone urn sitting on your sidetables with your loved one's ashes. Then again, there are few things about this that just makes me feel a little unnerved....ok, more than a few.

19 January 2006

Cult of the Foot

Some of you probably already know about my goofy fascination with Spontaneous Human Combustion. Well, in talking with friend Tom recently, I thought it would be fun to make some usable products with my little cult that I created years and years ago (and if you believe I am really a cult leader, you are more than welcomed to give me all your assets, shave all the hair off your body to purify yourself, and eat cabbage soup at precisely 5:42 p.m. every day) based on my little weirdness. Hey, if you really want to buy some of this stuff, I'm not going to stop you. I'm getting a thing or two myself.

Cult of the Foot

...

(listen to your goddess: you must buy! BUY! BUY! It will make you powerful and rich. It will make you the most eligible [insert gender here] in your neighborhood)

16 October 2005

Where Picking on Celebs Becomes Addicting...

Go Fug Yourself

Much better than Mr. Blackwell's annual list.

05 October 2005

Twenty Die and Owner Faces a Fine?

I am not too happy about this news story from New York. What do you think?

CNN's Sunday copy

AP story at ABC

I Dare You!

It's that time of year again, National Novel Writing Month. I'm giving you a couple of weeks to register. Get those pencils, pens, and keyboards ready. NaNoWriMo begins November 1 and I know you can do it. It's only 50,000 words. Not even 1700 words a day. . . .Ok, it's a little daunting but I'm going to try. Not like any of us will have the whipmaster standing over our shoulders threatening lashes in the amount of what we fail to write (even though I know some of you like that sort of thing). So, give it a try. We can encourage each other. I'll be your whipmistress. And....I can be your whipmistress (did you really think I'd say you can be mine?! hee hee...yeah, right!)

04 May 2005

Mental Health Month

It's that time of year again. Just a reminder that May is Mental Health Month. I'm going to sound a little like a public service announcement for a moment, but it's important.

Please. Please. Please. I ask. I beg you. If you or someone you know is struggling, take the time to talk to your physician. You don't need to go immediately to a mental health counselor. Start with your primary care physician. Start with your urologist or gynecologist. Start with your child's pediatrician or your podiatrist. Mention it to someone in the medical practice and they can help you. They'll direct you to the people who can help.

If you don't feel comfortable at the doctor's office, talk to your clergy. Call the toll free numbers in the phone book for the crisis line. Call one of the local hospitals.

It sounds hokey but it's worth the two seconds it takes to say something. The feelings can be temporary. The emotional issues may be a temporary illness or episode or you can be suffering from a debilitating illness that can be COMBATTED with the right therapies. DON'T let mental health cripple you. It's not worth losing life over. It's not losing your life over.

The stigma is harsh but not coping with life is harsher. Suicide is worse. Those who pass judgement are not worth your beautiful soul. So, please take the time to get help for yourself or that person you know that needs it. We don't neglect our eyesight. We shouldn't neglect our mindsight.

Thank you.

15 April 2005

Donaville:A Beauty

Donaville has been in my Storyteller list for quite some time, and honestly I don't recall how I came upon her sites. She has a journal as well a site for her digital photography. Stunning work. Take a stroll through her world. She's good.

31 March 2005

Saint John's Bible

On Sunday, I watched a wonderful PBS program on the creation of a large project. A Benedictine monastery and university in Minnesota decided to commission a handwritten Bible in English. The Bible would be written in calligraphy and illustrated beautifully in the old tradition passed down by the scribes of middle ages. Despite any one's beliefs, one has to agree that the Saint John's Bible is a task of awe inspiring brilliance, artistic beauty, and dedication. I am amazed at the work expressed by team working on this project. Simply beautiful.

15 March 2005

I have sinned!

Curly Forgive me, Carrie. And to my curly brethern out there. To those who don't understand, you may think this is a superflous post. BUT it is not. It is not vain. It is not superficial. This is a testimony of the deepest regard for all those people namely those women who had traumatic experiences with their locks as children. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN! And I was reminded two days ago that I withheld vital information from my sister in curlhood. I have committed a grievous sin...I have not shared with the circle. I am sorry and can only ask for forgiveness.

Weeks ago I was introduced to a book that holds some insightful tips in regards to how to care for curly hair. I didn't share with Carrie because...well, honestly....Carrie has the most beautiful curly hair. She has been best friend for ages and she has a routine that helps her hair shine. AND SHINE IT DOES! So, I erroneously thought she didn't need to benefit from this book. AHA!!! Not again. I won't do that again. ALWAYS SHARE, FOLKS!!!

Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey. It's a good book. It took years to fall in love with my hair. I'm not going into a post right now about my traumas because well, it goes back to the Keeper and other family members and I just don't want to talk about them right now. Let's just say that I've grown to love my hair. It took growing well into my twenties but I did it. And this book has only supplemented what I've learned. It's good. I promise. It's going to dispel some things about curly hair and make you throw away some long held beliefs. IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT but it's worth it.

Long Before I found this book, I had already started doing some of the things in it...LIKE DON'T WASH YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY!!!! But I'm serious when I say there are some great things in it. So enjoy...

AND I hope this serves as a mea culpa. SO SORRY!!!

03 March 2005

WOMEN CHANGE AMERICA

Annivlogo Ok. I'm a little behind but if you don't know yet. March is National Women's History Month. So....Women, go out and be proud. Everyone, go out and learn how women have changed the world. Start with this website. FEED YOUR MIND!!!!! CHANGE THE WORLD!!! BE A MENTOR AND A ROLE MODEL TO A YOUNG GIRL!!!!

01 March 2005

Late

If you haven't clicked to this Storyteller yet, he's worth it. Late is a favorite. He doesn't update frequently but he has archives that are well worth the time spent there. PLEASE READ. Good time. And he gives wine recommendations.

30 November 2004

Purpose

Find out who you are and do it on purpose. ~ Dolly Parton

17 November 2004

Laughter

Laughter is an orgasm triggered by the intercourse of sense and nonsense. - unknown

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. - e.e. cummings

Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing. - Ken Kesey

A laugh is a smile that bursts. - Mary H. Waldrip

A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. - Hugh Sidey

05 November 2004

Imprecation

Yes...yes...I know. Stop with the post already. HEY! If I had internet at home, we wouldn't have this problem....Ok, I lie. I'd post just as much every single day. BUT that's me. Diarrhea of the mind.

So, I sign up for Word of the Day from a couple of sites. And honestly, I love it. I got hoary sometime ago and I just like saying it aloud. "What, dear. Oh no. Not saying anything about your sexual abandonment. Just referring to how old yours seems to be.  ahem"

Today's word of the day (and if you haven't signed up for something like this, you really ought to.) is imprecation.

"Whilst driving home after a hard day about, Naomi found herself behind an inept driver. Before the fool could pull away, she rolled down her window and yelled several foul and ominous imprecations including one about a goat, Jello and a stun gun."

See....improving your vocabulary is gooooooood.

19 August 2004

Chuck Lorre's Vanity Cards

Anyone else watch Dharma & Greg? At the end of each episode after the credits, there was a white background with small print after Chuck Lorre Productions. But it flashes by and you may get one or two words. WELLLLLLLL. I am a curious sort and wanted to read them.

For everyone else who wondered what the hell was being flashed.

04 August 2004

Where in the world is Brian Spitzer?

For a brief respite from internet surfing, check out my friend's page. I first met Brian in middle school with our shared interest in theatre...we met during play rehearsal. BUT we truly became friends during Mr. Schattner's algebra class at Guion Creek Middle School in Indianapolis. I was in eighth and he was in seventh; and due to Mr. Schattner's wise choice of alphabetical seating, we were introduced.

Enjoy!

And now for something completely different.

09 June 2004

For My Mind

Watched a couple of things yesterday that brought a smile to my face. It was the first night of Last Comic Standing on NBC. I'm a sucker for comedy. That kept my interest for two hours at which time I flipped to PBS and caught Cosmopolitan on [i]ndependent Lens. Absolutely loved this film. Being privy to the Indian culture added so much more texture to this film for me. Amazingly this short film was only an hour long but I didn't feel like anything was missing. Such a great film!

Started a book last night and finished it this morning. The Language of Good-bye. I'm still surprised that this book moved me so much. I cried several times. The language of this book is beautiful. I've had the book on my shelf for months having picked it up at a discount book store. My favorite character by far was Sungae (pronounced Soon-gee).

Finished another book yesterday: My Life Among the Serial Killers. For the most part, the book was interesting. The author is pretentious and conceited. Her writing style changes abruptly when she adds anecdotes of her life; and I find it made the whole book trite. I would have enjoyed the book more if I didn't have to read about her personal life and issues. Blah!

Oh! I found the CD I borrowed from the library. It was in my backpack. Not where I expected to find it. I don't recall putting it there. And I finally listened to it today. It sucked!

Oooooo, I'm a bitch today.

05 May 2004

The Face of Bipolar

Dick Cavett

Maurice Bernard

Rosemary Clooney

Tim Burton, Robert Frost, Marilyn Monroe, Napoleon, Margot Kidder, Abraham Lincoln, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Cary Grant, Francis Ford Coppola, Buzz Aldrin, Hans Christian Andersen and . . .

Tracy Ullman, Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Georgia O'Keeffe, Robin Williams, and . . .

Vivien Leigh, John Daly, Larry Flynt, Axl Rose, Luther Wright, and . . .

04 May 2004

Childhood Depression Awareness Day

Taken from NMHA site

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 28, 2004) On May 4, Childhood Depression Awareness Day, thousands of children, families, physicians and advocates will be working in communities nationwide to get the word out that childhood depression is real, common and treatable.

“Depression affects as many as one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents but less than a third receive appropriate care,” says Michael Faenza, MSSW, president and CEO of the National Mental Health Association. “By failing to provide services for children with mental health problems, we jeopardize their social and academic development and put them at risk for more serious problems down the line.”

Consequences of untreated depression can include social isolation, difficulties at home and school, and an increased risk of suicide. The symptoms of depression may look different in youth than in adults, and as a result, are often overlooked or misunderstood.

Warning signs of depression in a child or adolescent include:

* Sad, hopeless or irritable feelings
* Falling behind in school or earning lower grades
* Losing interest in friends or activities usually enjoyed
* Avoiding people; wanting to be alone all of the time
* Talking about suicide or death
* Hurting other people or animals; damaging property
* Major changes in eating or sleeping habits

Once a child experiences an episode of depression, he or she is at risk of having another episode within the next five years. Promoting mental health awareness and knowing the warning signs of mental health problems are essential to improving and saving young people who may be risk for depression and other mental illnesses.

Childhood Depression Awareness Day was established in 1997 by a mother whose child had depression. Experts on childhood depression and other children’s mental health issues are available for telephone interviews throughout May is Mental Health Month.

01 May 2004

Jessica and Boris

To start off Mental Health Month, I wanted to share a brother's perspective of his sister's bipolar. He and his family are surviving after Jessica killed herself a year ago. The pictures of her life and his view of the world with her in it is a lovely tribute to the playmate of his youth. The site may not give all the answers of what is bipolar or how to cure it, but it shows how lives are affected.

Catching a Darkness

28 April 2004

I got 18!

Carrie sent this in an email. DON'T CHEAT!!! It'll take all the fun out of it. The answers will be in the comments. Leave a comment with your score.

Subject: Mind Teasers

This can be more difficult than it looks - it just shows how little most of us really see!

There are 29 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. How many can you get right?

These little simple questions are harder than you think--it just shows you how little we pay attention to the common place things of life. Put your thinking caps on.

No using anything on or in your desk or computer!

Can you beat 20?? (The average is 7) Write down your answers and check answers (on the bottom) AFTER completing all the questions.REMEMBER - NO CHEATING!!! Then, before you pass this on to your friends, change the number on the subject line to show many you got correct in the subject line.

LET'S JUST SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE.

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?

2. How many states are there? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?

5. What two letters don't appear on the telephone dial? (No cheating!)

6. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?

7. When you walk does your left arm swing w/your right or left leg?

8. How many matches are in a standard pack?

9. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?

10. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?

11. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

12. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?

13. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?

14. Which side of a women's blouse are the buttons on?

15. On a NY license plate, is New York on the top or bottom?

16. Which way do fans rotate?

17. Whose face is on a dime?

18. How many sides does a stop sign have?

19. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?

20. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?

21. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?

22. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?

23. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

24. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?

25. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?

26. On the back of a $1 bill, what is in the center?

27. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?

28. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?

29. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

27 April 2004

What happened to Funyuns?

Eggs, 'used' girls panties, and yes...even toilet paper (it's a theme running here at Light and Darkness. TP for everyone). It's amazing what you can find in a vending machine in this modern day of convenience.

I found this at little. yellow. different. Thank you, sir for the direct.

I'm pimping again

Ok, dear ones....great news for {public domain}! They made it to the next round. BUT it's time to vote again. We're going to skyrocket Doug and his mates to the music stratosphere. It's not just because we like him (though he's a sweetie) but they really are good.

Even if you don't agree, vote for him anyways...or I'll have to go Guido on your ass. Seriously, this is a fantastic opportunity for {public domain} and I would love for us to help them get it. Vote as many times as you want but put at least five in.

Ok....my pimping is done for today.

22 April 2004

May is coming

Ok. I'm giving everyone heads up for May because it's important. May is Mental Health Month. I think in this era of awareness that this is quite an important one, and don't you just hate it when you are in the middle of a month and discover it's an awareness month for something?!

Mental Health does not have to be strictly about mental illnesses like bipolar, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, etc etc. Mental health affects one's outlook on life and displays itself in many faces. Mothers suffer from post-partum depression. Teenagers are being bullied and subsequently releasing their emotions in violent outbursts. Children are being afflicted with eating disorders on both sides of the spectrum with their obsessiveness with food and body image. Spring is upon us and believe it or not...suicides increase during this time of year.

Next month is a very important month to all of us. How we see ourselves and others is key to how we approach our daily lives. And for those of us with chemical imbalances in our brain's physiological make-up, it's just a wee bit harder.

Educate yourself on mental illness. There is still such a horrible stigma in our society. How evident is this? Most insurances limit your mental health visits to a small number during the course of a year. Educate yourself to help promote a more comforting environment for society to talk about and accept mental illness.

Be aware of those in your life who may be struggling with issues. She may be your mother. He could be your priest. She may be your neighbor. He could be your son. As a person suffering from bipolar, the time my friends take asking me about my illness or learning about it on their own means the world to me especially with a family who is not so accepting.

You don't have to save the world. And it's not your responsiblity to save a mentally ill person from drastic choices. But perhaps knowing what your options are when confronted with mental health issues will help eradicate some of the stereotypes. Just knowing who you could call when your friend becomes morbidly depressed helps.

The history of mental health is fascinating. From the age when societies put holes in a person's head to release the spirits possessing them to electric shock therapy and even the Prozac revolution. It's chilling stuff. I only ask that you arm yourself with knowledge. You can volunteer. You can donate. You can be an activist. BUT the first step is awareness.

So...Next month is a short time away. Be prepared for Naomi commentaries and of course, you've got all my emotions in technicolor brilliance here.

Google Directory for Mental Health Organizations
Mental Health Foundation
The National Mental Health Association
Psychiatry24x7

13 April 2004

2...4...6...8...Who do we appreciate?

PUBLIC DOMAIN...PUBLIC DOMAIN...YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH, PUBLIC DOMAIN!!!

Doug of Earthbound and the rest of the mates of {public domain} are in the running for a fucking awesome opportunity. Z100, a New York radio station holds a Radio Star contest for local bands. Voting is very important here!! Please head over to Z100 and vote for the guys. This is a fabulous chance for them to win a recording contract with EPIC!! You can hear a clip at Z100. These guys deserve this chance.

Want some more Doug? He brought us the beauties Please Recycle, Pieces of Aaliyah and Dolphin Safe Love.

Congratulations Doug and {public domain}!

A mother's perspective

A Mother’s Rant At Bipolar Disorder

By Bobbi

God-damned Bi-Polar! You took my 18-year-old son from me, and you took him from himself. I want you dead! I want you gone! The only way to kill you is with meds but, you bastard, you tricked him into thinking he doesn’t need them. You take over his mind and body, and what for? To no useful end. You've placed him in danger, and you make him think he’s trying to be independent. He can be independent and happy and safe without you, but you stop him. I hate you! I hate you!

You nearly got him hit by a car at age 15. You S.O.B., all you do is make him have demons. You’ve caused him to have car accidents and to be hospitalized three times. It’s your fault! You’re useless -- worse than useless. You’ve taken away his creativity, his brilliant mind, his athletic interest. I want you dead and wiped out, never to return. Leave him alone! I want my son back. I want him to have himself back. I want him to be happy and productive and enjoy life. You’ve taken that from him. He liked to stay in hotels and eat steak and play tennis and read and surf the internet and watch movies. You put him in Skid Row. It’s you, Bi-Polar, who’s in Skid Row, not him! You prevent him from sleeping. You prevent him from having a pleasant, safe life. I HATE you! Eat Zyprexa and Lithium and die, die, die!

You stole his teenage years from him. He never experienced group dating or couple dating or going to a prom. You took away his ability to belong anywhere. He’s desperately seeking a place to belong in spite of you. You caused him to sleep all day, be up all night, and miss his teen years in spite of all the damned brilliant experts at the sleep disorder clinics and all the shrinks! Lithium and Zyprexa would kill you and make you leave my son forever, but you won’t him let kill you. You’re devious and deceitful. You’ve caused him to take dangerous street drugs in his attempt to be rid of you. But you’ve fooled him again. You know that street drugs won’t get rid of you. It’s only Lithium & Zyprexa that will get rid of you and lift your lying veil from him.

Now he’s in a hospital again. Did the police put him there? No! You put him there -- again. He still can’t see that you’re causing him to act in ways that would draw police attention to him. Again he stopped eating and sleeping. He said he had a mental blackout and wound up in a suburb far from the shelter you put him in. Now his few things that he had with him, even his clothes, will be stolen by the others you put in the shelter. Poor kid! Now he owns nothing but disorientation and delusion. You’ve made him paranoid again. You’ve taken away his reasoning ability again. You’ve taken him again.

You lie to him. You make him think he can somehow live with you and without the meds. You’re nothing but lies and deceit. You trick him into thinking that people are after him, talking to him on the radio and bugging his car. You’re a lie, a rotten, damned, useless lie! And as strong as he is, you continue to keep him in your grasp. You won’t let him take his meds and get rid of you. Bi-Polar, I hate you!

I hate you!

Found on Will I Go Crazy?

The blind leading the blind

(Mobile) April 12 - It's your pride and joy, your newborn baby, but now one disabled Alabama couple is without their child after the State stepped in and took their infant away.

Pyanne and Tyrone Jordan of Talledega are both blind and gave birth to their first child on Tuesday. But two days later the baby was taken away from the parents by the Department of Human Resources and placed in state custody. Bruce Midwurf, WPMI

Does it scare anyone else that we've regressed back to Little House on the Prairie? This story upsets me in so many ways. We have two people who were stripped of their parental rights because of a disability. There has been no indication that these two people are incompetent in any way. Do they have a history of pedophilia? Have they abandoned or neglected children in the past? Are they physically violent? Other than their eyesight, what has this couple done to prove they are incapable ot taking care of their child?

Department of Human Resources may argue that because they lack their sight, they will be unable to see where an active toddler runs about perhaps picking up scissors. Ridiculous! If the powers that be think visual impairment deems someone unfit, what about those parents or would-be parents that are afflicted with other characteristics?

I have a friend who suffers from MS. She gets weaker every day. She has three children. Should some beaurocrat who doesn't know her remove her children because she's no longer fit to care for them as she did in the past?

What about a parent who is hearing impaired? Wouldn't a new born infant be in greater danger for a parent who couldn't hear her choking sound in the middle of the night? How about normal waking at two a.m. for feeding?

What if a healthy adult who has been parenting for five years with no problems suddenly strokes out and is partially paralyzed? Mobility limited. Speech slurred. Do we need to remove children from this home?

You know I was heading here...mental illness. I was mentally ill before Emmaline was born. And post partum depression strikes more women than blindness. Let's just take all the kids away from the crazies.

And what about parents who have no physical or mental limitations but just simply work entirely too much whether from necessity or free-will? I consider absent parenting more of a disability than any handicap.

Since we are taking children away from parents moments after birth, why doesn't the state and national governments pass law to sterilize all disabled adults. Let's just prevent this kind of weakness from breeding. Right?! We wouldn't have to worry about them destroying innocent lives. Hell, we would be saving the community. Instead of having to pay for a child moved through a system of foster homes, courts, and maybe even later the penal system (you know children in unstable family environments commit more crimes), let's just get rid of the weakest links before they are born. Let's just kill out the weak points in our society and create a pure society.....does any of this sound familiar?

Unfit parents are not defined by a physical impairment. There are abused and neglected children flying under the radar of Department of Human Resources across the nation because the parents seem perfect by society's superficial standards. Adults with seemingly polished looks smiling at the people in charge, donating to all the right charities, voting in every election, and going home and beating, raping, starving their children..

And how does this happen?

WARRENTON, N.C. -- A couple charged with killing their infant son has regained custody of their 2-year-old daughter even though they still face trial in the baby boy's death. WRAL.COM

07 April 2004

Is this what Hans Christian Andersen meant?

I'm absolutely repulsed by the show The Swan. It premiered tonight and I'm just absolutely depressed by the implications of its message.

The story of The Ugly Duckling is not about changing yourself to fit into some preconceived mold of beauty in order to be loved and accepted. It's about remaining true to oneself even through the tough of it. Those who truely appreciate and recognize your beauty will be there. They will reflect what is beautiful about you and be a mirror to remind you. It may take time and introspection and sometimes pain but the people who you need to associate with aren't there to change you or even entertain the thought of changing who you are; they are simply there for you to see the beauty they do.

The Swan isn't that. The people of this show take women who don't like themselves and think they are unattractive. The experts, including plastic surgeons, dentists, weight trainers, and therapists, sequester two women for three months. After three months of work on their bodies and no mirror, they are presented. The two women look in the mirror to see themselves and then one is picked to participate in a beauty pageant of the remaining Swan participants.

One woman suffered depression after surgery. The friggin cosmetic surgeon said before the surgery, "She's an emotional woman. Some people easily suffer depression immediately after surgery. I'm worried that she'll get depressed." Soooooo, do you think that maybe there should be more time put into this woman's therapy BEFORE surgery? Nope, they went ahead and lo and behold, she went into a depression afterwards. The doctor made a housecall and lit into her about how he warned her about slipping into depression.

The other woman was having problems talking with her husband. She tried for days and days to reach him by telephone. He never picked up his cell phone even after she told him to carry it around with him always. Finally, she catches him and you could tell how unhappy he was. He said almost nothing. She gets mad because of his lack of support. Hell ya! Excuse me but perhaps he's unhappy that you've decided to do something so drastic to yourself. You risk death because you feel the need to change everything about your physical self thinking that's what's going to make you feel good inside. He doesn't stop you. No. But he's been married to you for five years and this could possibly be very hard for him. And you do it alone. It's not there beside him where both of you could go through therapy together. Nope, you take off to get your second chance in life.

It's disgusting listening to the experts talk about what they have given these women. A plastic surgeon said that he had given the woman an alluring face now. Eck! Ok, you're thinking that they've got a weight trainer and therapist on hand to really help with long term transformation. Well, one woman weighed 190 pounds and wanted to lose over 40 pounds in three months. How realistic or healthy is that? And the therapist? She said that she needs to help one contestant go through an emotional tranformation to help her accept her physical transformation. Does therapy really work that fast? Have these people found the god of therapy? Do you think she could fix the self esteem issues in my head as quickly? And the most disgusting thing about all of this? One woman is told that she's still not good enough to compete in a beauty pageant of the show's own design? "I'm sorry but we don't think you worked your transformation hard enough. Yeah, we did this to help you build your self-esteem (right!!!) BUT still you're still not as beautiful as we thought you'd be. Have fun with your new face, liposuctioned thighs and stomach, veneered and bleached teeth, and enhanced boobage. Just don't do it around here anymore. See ya!"

It saddens me. It angers me. This show is an awful statement of our society...American society. These quick-fix solutions are unrealistic. And the fact that we can't appreciate people in all their glory? We're raising men and women to despise their bodies and genetics. We're teaching them that the beautiful gifts within them SUCK!!!! because they don't look a particular way.

I have a poor self-esteem. It sucks the big fat one. And there are things about other people's lives that I covet, mostly the seemingly easy way that they can just move on and be happy with themselves. I want however, not to be different from what I truly am. I just want to be more forgiving. I want to be more accepting of all of me. I want to feel that the things that make me uniquely me are fantastic. None of that will come from physically fitting into some superficial mold. It's adjusting my skewed way of thinking. It's sloughing off the unrealistic, dysfunctional, societal views that I grew up with and truly embracing my swan...not someone else's ugly duckling.