Live for nothing or die for something.[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=w_LuxmlJscE[/youtube]
Current Mood:
awake
January, 2008
Saturday, January 12th, 2008
Saturday Photo Blog: Many Injured, Some Presumed Dead
It was a quiet Saturday morning in the city of Aquadome when all of a sudden a huge Earthquake prompting a tsunami hit, forcing half the residents to spill onto a glass end table.
Aloon, a betta who resides nearby and witnessed event told our reporters, “They didn’t have a chance. I saw Dawn literally lift up the city to relocate them across the giant chasm. WHY? Why would she do that? Despite that she’s clutz- as God knows I fear for my life every time she cleans my tank, you just don’t move a city.” Aloon shook his fins and continued, “I heard screaming and then silence as the giant woman took a paper towel and wiped up the corpses. To me that’s just wrong, give them a proper burial, alert the families, SOMETHING.”
“If it were us, we’d be locked in the other room. We knock over a few glass chess pieces and we’re hellions, she kills half a city of sea monkeys and it’s a forgivable accident? Whatever.” Mila said in disbelief.
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
Ashley!
Happiness is being sent the photos that you thought were lost.
Pictured is me and Ashley back in ‘da day and a wee Jonathon prior to that day.
Click on thumbnails for full image
Now she’s replaced me with comfort foods- I think I went wrong somewhere.
Here she is with the three staples of life: Cereal, Cupcake and Corn.
Then again, she’s always had a strange relationship with food
Current Mood:
Buddha
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008
Split Personalities and more Jonathon/Stan Lee plotting against me
As some may have noticed, I’ve been double posting my AG stuff here and some of my here stuff there. Well NO MORE! I suggest my friends/family/fans visit both to avoid missing anything clever and live changing. I’m sure ONE of these days I’ll write something clever and trust me, you’d hate to miss it.
Today’s double post has to do with the blah weather experienced in this area that seems never ending. What adds to the misery is my florescent surroundings at work that offers no windows, but who needs windows and natural light when the rain hitting the roof let’s you know exactly what the weather is like outside?
Let it snow- PLEASE. A NW Girl’s Plea
People in Alaska have griped about the near 24 hours of darkness in the winter and the near 24 hours of sun in the summer. Yeah- I lived up there for over a decade and due to the climate of snow and… well sun, it’s not so bad. Here in the great Northwest there’s something I find more disturbing, it’s the steady down pour of rain. Rain. Rain mixed with cold, rain mixed with wind, 24/7 rain. Here you definitely get to know the many shades of grey. A light grey with the rain is a “nice” day. The medium grey with the rain is a “bleh” day, and then the darker shades of grey means heavier rain fall and a possible storm on the horizon. Should there be a sun break, you wind up confused by the glowing sky orb and you fear the end of the world is coming. “The light! I SEE THE LIGHT! EEEEEEEEEEK”
Trapped inside your home; every movie has been watched, they haven’t written enough books to read and you lack the energy and motivation to write your own. Creativity? Not until spring.
Today I was driving back from getting take out and saw “Free Pregnancy Test” on the sign of a local clinic. I was so bored that I considered actually going in to get tested. Regardless that there’s no way for me to be pregnant, it saddened me that peeing in a cup was almost a welcomed change from the dull rainy winter routine that I’ve placed myself into. Work. Home. Work home work home… store. Home. Work. Home work home work… video store. You’d think they’d have more indoor activities in my rather small city aside from the mundane and painful to visit malls.
Perhaps I’ll check out AA, NA, Alanon, over eaters anon, under eaters anon, gamblers anon and ummm- testicular cancer support group. Sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide.
When I walk outside at work and there’s a co-worker there looking at the same sky, very little needs to be said. We look at each other, look at the sky (mutual heavy sigh). “It’s never going to end.” “Nuh uh.” (heavy sigh)
For all this rain a little snow would definitely be a welcomed change of pace, but there’s no chance it’s going to happen this year. The ground is wet, the rain continues to pour down and temperatures stay a steady 35-45 degrees.
Sometimes I’ll sit and wonder why the houses haven’t sunk into the ground. Maybe it’s happening so gradually that we don’t even notice. One of these days I’ll walk out my front door and realize that I’ve been entering and exiting an underground ramp leading to the surface.
Snow. It’s like that annual bonus your company may or may not give out. If received it gives that inner light an added boost, if not received, it sucks your soul a little and set the tone for the rest of the season.
For those of you who have enough of the white stuff, please send it my way. I’d be more than happy to shovel it, pile it, make igloos out of it, scrape it off my roof, plop down and make snow angels, throw it at pedestrians and stomp it off my boots as there’s just not a whole lot you can do with rain.
More Jonathon and Stan Lee plotting behind my back. Yes, Mila still exists, but she’s pretty much turned into my neck warmer when I go to bed.
Sunday, January 6th, 2008
Seriously? This is still in debate? Seriously?
I believe all people are entitled to their belief systems (how nice of me eh?). When I was getting my daily dose of Reuters, I came across an article in which I found out that the controversy between evolution vs. creationism is still up for discussion as part of the curriculum in public schools. Seriously? Really?
I try to wrap my mind around how an actual adult in the modern world can believe in creationism so much that they wish for it to be taught in a science class.
Why is this even up for discussion? IS creationism being taught in public schools? It irks me beyond belief that it’s taught in private schools and that it’s being taught period. Math is a universal language and you must comprehend, understand, and apply that language in order to move on to obtain a higher education. Why isn’t the same for science?
My comments are bolded
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The National Academy of Sciences on Thursday issued a spirited defense of evolution as the bedrock principle of modern biology, arguing that it, not creationism, must be taught in public school science classes.
The academy, which operates under a mandate from Congress to advise the government on science and technology matters, issued the report at a time when the theory of evolution, first offered in the 19th century, faces renewed attack by some religious conservatives.
Creationism, based on the explanation offered in the Bible, and the related idea of “intelligent design” are not science and, as such, should not be taught in public school science classrooms, according to the report. I thought this was a “duh” factor. Seriously, it’s not?
“We seem to have continuing challenges to the teaching of evolution in schools. That’s something that doesn’t seem to go away,” Barbara Schaal, an evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St. Louis and vice president of National Academy of Sciences, said in a telephone interview.
“We need a citizenry that’s trained in real science.” Can I hear an “Amen”?
Evolution is a theory explaining change in living organisms over the eons due to genetic mutations. For example, it holds that humans evolved from earlier forms of apes.
The report stated that the idea of evolution can be fully compatible with religious faith. “Science and religion are different ways of understanding the world. Needlessly placing them in opposition reduces the potential of each to contribute to a better future,” said the report.
But teaching creationist ideas in science classes confuses students about what constitutes science and what does not, according to the report’s authors.
The report was released by the academy and the Institute of Medicine, which advises policymakers on medical issues. It updates academy publications issued in 1984 and 1999. It was written by a committee headed by University of California-Irvine biology professor Francisco Ayala.
“Biological evolution is one of the most important ideas of modern science. Evolution is supported by abundant evidence from many different fields of scientific investigation. It underlies the modern biological sciences, including the biomedical sciences, and has applications in many other scientific and engineering disciplines,” the report stated.
The authors highlighted developments in evolutionary biology, citing its importance in understanding emerging infectious diseases. They noted the discovery, published in 2006, of the remains of a Tiktaalik, a creature described as an evolutionary link between fish and the first vertebrate animals that walked out of water onto land 375 million years ago.
President George W. Bush said in 2005 American students should be instructed about “intelligent design” alongside evolution as competing theories. “Part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought,” Bush said. Okay Mr. Bush, would you be willing to teach Wicca, Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism, Mormonism and other belief systems into the curriculum? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Basically ignorant people take up the majority of the US- so let’s all throw out logic and go with the Idiot’s Guide to the Universe.
Advocates of “intelligent design” contend that some biological structures are so complex they could not have appeared merely through natural processes. So gee golly let’s go back to the time in which God bowling explained thunder until science was able to convince otherwise. Or the world was flat until they were able to prove otherwise. And we’re the center of the Universe all alone out here for all of eternity, aren’t we?
A Typical Discussion:
Moron: “Well I guess if you want to believe you came from apes (laughing) that’s your choice.”
Me: “I believe we perhaps belong to the same order, yes, but the not the same class or genus. Perhaps a common ancestor, although the more I speak with you, the more it does seem plausible that yes, perhaps we did come from apes as you share a similar intellect.”
A judge in Dover, Pennsylvania ruled in 2005 that the teaching of intelligent design violated the U.S. Constitution, which requires a separation of church and state, because it is based on religious conviction, not science. Exactly.
A 2006 Gallup poll showed that almost half of Americans believe that humans did not evolve but were created by God in their present form within the last 10,000 years.
(Editing by Julie Steenhuysen)
On to the lighter side-> I’ve seen my friend Ben torment his cats for the camera for over half a year, and I was always jealous that I didn’t get that same luxury. I now get to torment for picture opportunities!
Pictured is Stan Lee as a little Russian girl, him getting annoyed with the scarf, and then attacking and winning the fight against the head scarf. Also pictured in this blog is Jonathon’s famous Blue Bunny. I bought it for him around Easter in 2003. Although of course we do not celebrate that religious holiday, some pretty cute stuffed animals are sold on shelves during that time. This animal has lost an ear (I went to pick him up by the ears once and there was a separation causing the boy to scream a blood curdling scream, thankfully as I stood there with bunny ears in hand- my mother, who we were visiting, quickly grabbed her sewing kit and saved the day). I had also performed an operation not too long ago in order to reattach the bunny’s arm as this blue creature has slept with him every single night for the past four years and was in the operating room with him twice. He is Blue Bunny and he ROCKS.
Saturday, January 5th, 2008
DP Paparazzi- Creating a new form of mental and social disorders?
As much as I dislike celebrity attention, I don’t give a flying [insert whatever word comes to mind here] about what film, song, and circus stars do on their off time as I’m pretty sure they don’t care what I do on my off time. I felt the need to give something a little attention.
Here are my thoughts.
I’m curious as to why there’s such a price tag on the mundane aspects of someone who’s in the lime light. Who is demanding to peer at these people as if they’re animals in a free roam zoo? I for one couldn’t care less. As long as writers and producers puppet them properly in which I’m entertained be it on an MP3, stage or film, that’s all that matters to me.
I wonder if the death of Princess Diana caused them to see power they held in pestering, intruding and creating drama which caused a higher price tag to float above celebrities heads as they run the risk of causing further damage that could possibly be captured on film. People who are in the public eye live life large just because the cameras are on 24/7 and they feel people are wanting to live vicariously through them until they break or fade away.
Take good ol’ basket case Britney and I swore I never would give her attention. There is absolutely nothing special about the mental case except that she is a product of the paparazzi. She grew up in front of the camera and attention became her air. I personally feel that she is psychologically damaged beyond repair. I couldn’t imagine being in those shoes (or actually lack of shoes most times). The privacy that is longed for becomes too silent too soon. The attention is too intrusive and everything is recorded causing you to feel suffocated under those same lights that you know if you bore them more than a few times by living a regular life, you fade if you lack the true talent to keep you on top. At this point she will never become a legend or icon of talent, beauty and grace. She is not classical and she will never be a classic.
Continue reading DP Paparazzi- Creating a new form of mental and social disorders?
Saturday, January 5th, 2008
DP How to survive the post holidays.
Whether you opt to recognize any one of the many winter holidays, post New Years still paints the world a certain shade of grey. The streets are littered with dead trees, tinsel is crinkled around browned pine needles, and the twinkle lights that had illuminated the neighborhood and cities for months are now balled back up in closets leaving a certain void both visually and mentally.As much as the Hallmark season gets on our nerves; it felt good to celebrate, complain, and do a shot every time we heard a holiday song (via alcohol or a rifle). Paid days off and short work weeks were also an added bonus I already miss as I’m clinging desperately to my first two day weekend in quite a while. Annoying yet addictive music, cheesy holiday themed shows and films, multiple festive gatherings and aesthetically appeasing decorations wiped out of view calls for a way keep us going until spring.
Helpful Suggestions:
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Dye your pets vibrant colors. Not only will it brighten up your surroundings, but constantly cleaning up the bleeding color will keep you busy for months.
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Make a list of your firsts on a white board or blog. January 4th, 2008: “I’ve flipped off my first motorist of the year!” or “I was flipped off for the first time this year!”
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Movie theme nights! This is actually something I used to do for years. You pick a genre be it cheesy horror films, academy award films, classic black and whites- rent a marathon’s worth of the films, don similar attire to the films being watched and eat foods that you associate with the movies. You can do this alone, with your significant other or host a film themed night get together. New Year’s day I had a Godzilla marathon!
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Go to your local florist and buy fresh cut greenery, not flowers, but just leafy branches. It’ll perk you up and transition you from the holiday wreaths and trees through spring, plus they last much longer than cut flowers.
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Keep the festive foods going. Why limit yourself to pumpkin pie once a year? I think associating holiday type foods year round keeps the blah away from the post seasonal culinary delights and assists in not over indulging once November hits.
Feel free to list your post holiday survival that doesn’t include anti-depressants or vandalizing the neighbors’ house.
-Ghic
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008
To Catch a Predator: Santa
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008
A New Year and 2008 the Musical
The first morning of the first of the year.
Although my New Year’s Eve wasn’t a huge and exciting event, hopefully I helped out a friend who needed someone to listen- although my approach to helping out people leaves something to be desired, “Things can always be worse, consider yourself lucky, get over it.”
When I saw the clock change to midnight, I went in Jonathon’s room to wish him a happy new year. I swear he looked half awake! His blood curdling scream showed me otherwise. 
When I woke up him up this morning (no scaring this time), I told him about the scream and he scoffed at me, “Prove I did that.” An hour later I got back to him with a retort, “Prove you didn’t.” “I know I didn’t because I was there.” “Well so was I.” “Prove you were.” I’m still thinking on that one.
After playing a video game and getting irked at the cat for jumping on the controller each time I reached a difficult part- I popped in the first film of our Godzilla marathon. It was awesome… and I feel like I’m writing a book report right now. “How I spent my New Year’s Day” by Dawn Masuoka.
The fun continued in the form of the dreams I had while napping during the movie fest and the spilled into the evening as Jonathon began to play with his cat further. The cat toy is a long pole with feathers hanging off of the end of a string. It almost looks like he’s fishing for cats. Once I put it away, Jonathon started to laugh so hard it sounded like he wasn’t breathing. When I looked to see what had him in hysterics, I saw Stan Lee sitting next to my foot with the toy I thought I had cleverly put away. Apparently he wasn’t finished playing and wanted us to continue the game.
A traditional beans and rice feast to start the year off modest in order to prosper through out the new year, games, laughs, and drawing painted the memory of our first day in 2008.
Currently Jonathon is in his room watching a movie and shouting, “I love you!!!” in which I keep shouting back, “I love YOU!” and this has been going on since I started this blog and making it really difficult to focus. So I am going to end this, run in there- kiss his face all over, and say, “I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Now watch your movie so I can have some quiet time- but I still love you so don’t take offense!”
**a little later in the evening**
2008- what will I do with you?
I’ll put it to song possibly.
2008 the musical!
Will I allow a romance to dance-
across my heart and into my pants…
<speaking>Wait that’s wrong. </speaking>
Will I allow a romance to bloom
not holding up arms
or falling too soon?
Friendships will grow,
I’ll meet those I know…
in New York come spring.
Spreading my wings from West Coast to East
and finding my place in between the two.
<speaking>Hmmm sandals and suits? </speaking>
I think I’ll just fall into the arms of the Eastern shore that waits.
Big moves…
perhaps.
Big news
at last.
Where will the story lead?
Watching the moon
reach down to me
Taking my eyes
and helping me see…
That the streets are gold
if you allow them to be
And nothing is impossible
if you know how to dream.
True love
maybe
True to myself
of course.
How will each chapter play out?
I don’t care
as this life is for me
Free to wander
where this path leads
I’m willing to find out
what destiny wrote
and trust myself
to make the right choice
Good bye 2007 and all that you hold,
I’ll remember you well
But 2008 shines so bright
of a beginning that has been waiting for me to come out of my shell
And I have!
Okay… so maybe the score needs a little work.
