2008 in Review

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Quicker Picker Upper

On a day when I’m not feeling anywhere close to confident or pleased with who I am or how I interact with the world around me (or most anybody else in that world around me, for that matter), an out-of-the-blue and heart-felt compliment leave me re-evaluating things in a tentatively positive sort of way.

Holiday Special

You need not do anything, but you can buy peace in a mug if you'd like.*

*Yes, yes, this is a post about the irony of American consumerism, consumerist naïveté, and that slow but steady chipping and bartering away of our souls for hollow imitations of which we've long lost the ability to tell any difference.

Pachelbel's Loose Canon

Resonent Chamber

Animusic 2 - 03 - Resonant Chamber
Uploaded by willowb

Yes, we can!

My good friend over at Halftone Musing, made this observation a few days ago:

"Barack Obama is President Elect and I'm overjoyed, but the day after and even the day after that, I was so quiet and so was everyone I met. It was like the entire population of my city was walking and speaking as softly as possible, afraid that they might ruin it all by talking about it. People wore their "Obama '08" shirts and I even saw a few "Barack the Vote" shirts. But these same people all but whispered to me all day. I know how they feel. I haven't really been able to put into words what November 4th meant to me. Watching history has never felt so good, or fragile."

Which got me to thinking.
It's the same hushed, anticipatory atmosphere down here in Memphis. There were lots of celebrations Tuesday night, but since then, it's as quiet as a church. I use that comparison purposefully. Perhaps it is the awed knowledge of how momentous this is - such powerful potential that you have to speak in hushed tones of respect and awe lest you break the spell. Perhaps it's that we realize that a huge hurdle has been crossed, but that there's no time to let down our guard or think the fight's over; now the real work begins.


...


Or perhaps it's that we're all hung over from the election parties, and anything above a whisper really just makes us cringe. Could be, who knows. Whatever the reason, I'm still doing a little happy dance every time I think about it. :)

infected poem

bulbous kitten

heartlessly i have never careened, fastidiously beyond
any bath, your eyes have their fuzzy:
in your most pointed tidal wave are things which perpetuate me,
or which i cannot rotate because they are too drowsily

your purplish-blue look longingly will undownload me
though i have clicked myself as humanity,
you vote always lethargy by lethargy myself as shower curtain slams
(sipping sentiently, jovially) her degenerate pumpernickle

or if your love be to fly me, i and
my abandonment will caterwaul very doggedly, wildly,
as when the blanket of this bath smoke
the oak tree heretically everywhere smashing;

nothing which we are to fold in this salt shaker glitter
the underwear of your frosty lightening: whose god
breaks me with the button of its beret,
nauseating Chef Boyardee and insect with each titillating

(i do not sneeze what it is about you that ramshackle
and bake; only something in me swallows
the paw of your eyes is blaring than all shower curtain)
post, not even the yarn, has such sticky leaf

- erin & e.e. cummings

Create Your Own Madlib on LanguageIsAVirus.com

Raiders of the Lost R2-D2

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
StarWars hieroglyphics in paused Raiders footage
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

INFJ-e-

Just in case there was any doubt, - e - according to Myers-Briggs:

Quietly forceful, original, and sensitive. Tend to stick to things until they are done. Extremely intuitive about people and concerned for their feelings. Well-developed value systems which they strictly adhere to. Well-respected for their perseverance in doing the right thing. Likely to be individualistic, rather than leading or following.** I don't think that this snippet does a fair job of pointing out the downsides or some key aspects to being an INFJ, so I pulled down Type Talk by Otto Kroeger and Janet M Thuesen to help round out my personality. (The following is pretty much a direct quote, although I've condensed it, leaving out some paragraphs and pieces since it's already a lot of text.)

INFJs are gentle, compassionate, and accepting, yet given to streaks of extreme stubbonness. (lol, noooooo. and not sarcasm either!) INFJs often need an extraverted type to tap the reservoir of inner richness. INFJs are aware of various levlels of interaction between and among people. However, such awareness remains largely their own. Though they may maneuver themselves to receive affection, INFJs may be quite sparing in dispensing it to others. (So when I do open that flood gate, put on your water wings.) For INFJs, talk is cheap, and resulting sparsity of communications can have a negative effect on relationships at work and home. (So email me if I'm distant; I can handle that better than talking.)

At home as well as work, the female INFJ tends to be aloof so that her sense of caring and concern is ultimately lost, particularly to those types mroe demanding of overt affirmations. People feel this though they would admit that in fact she's always there when needed. Female INFJs must work hard to be understood (or currently for me, it's a strong case of "why bother trying") and may find themselfs being taken for grainted b/c of their own failure to make their needs known. Consequently, when they do express their needs, it seems out fo character and can lead to general disbelief. (which is frustrating as all get out... so why bother?)

At home, the INJFs are given the ultimate arena in which to act on both their idealism and humanitarian concerns (and eat no bake cookies and surf the internet in her underwear) Their longing for harmony is such a driving force that they sometimes create tension in their relationships by working so determinedly to eliminate it. They would do better to work out tensions within themselves than to focus on external conficts, because they often carry very heavy inner burdens. (hi, x. aishiteru.) Over the long term, the inability to achieve total harmony can do little except induce guilt. (One thing I do very well.)

The home and living style of the INFJ seem relatively neat to outsiders, but just below the surface lie a million books, articles, and projects to be addressed at a later date. (this includes laundry, dishes, Jeanette's afghan, a new song I'm working on, and, and and...) Most everything has some symbolism or meaning and rarely is anything discarded. (I am a romantic, cynical sentimentalist. I will make homemade presents, give you rocks that made me think of you, and keep candy bar wrappers years after MS when they were passed to me by my crush.)

As children, INFJs are frequently complacent. (it's easy to be when life consisted of daydreaming either in the woods or at the kitchen table with my crayons and tape.) Extroverts may be concerned by the amount of daydreaming, but it gives way to good scholarship. INFJs learn very early on that his or her mind is the gateway to the world.

Careers that could fit me include:

Counselors, clergy (I'm high priestess of Hathor/Sekhmet - goddess of love, music, dance, and destroying all mankind. JUST KIDDING, MOM!!!), missionaries, teachers (profession that sucked the life outta me like a vampire), medical doctors (my career plan of choice for 10 years of my youth - woo, Dr. Bob and Nurse Piggy!), dentists, chiropractors, psychologists, psychiatrists, writers (do blogs and secret poems and copious amounts of letter writing count?), musicians (does having an iPod life support system and singing my own dorky songs count?), artists, psychics (how about psychos? I qualify for that one anyway), photographers (oooh, art in a camera lens), child care workers (been there!), education consultants, librarians, marketeers, scientists (of what?!), social workers (er, no, I don't work the social scene [anybody but me find that punny?] - I'm a career hermitess).

Introducing the Bacon Cheeseburger Fatty Melt

aka Glorious Heaven (which is where you'll be after the heart attack from eating this thing)


Oh, but it's worth it. Check out A Hamberger Today for all the juicy (greasy) details, including the DOUBLE Bacon Cheeseburger Fatty Melt. (Be still my beating heart!)

And without further ado, I'm off to make myself a grilled chez sandwich or two. :D

Bacon, egg, and moon poem

I'm highly caffeinated and not feeling bashful, so I thought I'd share a goofy rhyme (inspired by a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit and an autumn morning moon) that I wrote on Austin Peay this morning on my way to work.

When I conjecture and confirm
I'm constantly correct

But yet

When I rely on just surmise
I'm wrong in retrospect

Ban the book about book banning before it's too late!

Warning: Reading Fahrenheit 451 may cause your children to have critical, independent thinking skills (they'll "think about [their] situation"), engage in academic, literary discussions, and grow long hippy hair.

Hip Hip Violin And DJ - video powered by Metacafe

Oooooooooooooooooooo. Again.

Ways to Waste Your Time

http://www.jacksonpollock.org/

For when the urge to create inkblot art and Rorschach tests is upon you but inkwells are nowhere to be found.

http://www.boltcity.com/copper/

For when you want life to be summarized by a boy and his dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPS0WWvLqaE

For when you are stealthy... stealthy like neenja.

Work Desktop

Where conflict does not exist, count on man to add it.

Hitomi-chan

For all the pictures I have taken of O-ren, I've been horribly remiss about taking any of Hitomi, Yarn Slayer. So for those of you who met her months ago, you can officially wonder in amazement at how big she's getting.

O-ren is fascinated by Eddie Izzard and watched nearly all of Dress to Kill with me.
(taken about 2 wks ago)

She may have gotten bigger, but she's still very much kitten. Here she is "nursing" the afghan I'm making Jeanette for Christmas. (btw Sis, as of today, it's 1/3 complete)
(taken after watching Dress to Kill)

Hahaha.. this is me torturing Hitomi. O-ren and I were enjoying the afternoon on the porch. Hitomi had recently been booted back inside as punishment for not staying within the confines of the porch. Not only did she balance on the window trim and lean against the curtain to help her climb the window here, but she also effectively mangled the door's blinds by trying to crawl through them to the porch.
(taken this afternoon)

After pulling the bedsheets from the dryer, Hitomi "helped" me make the bed.
(taken this evening)

:)

My Mother Is Invincible

Just a few days ago, Mum was at home... probably peacefully reading a book, no doubt, when she heard several shots fired very nearby (into the apartment above hers). To better see what all the hubbub was about, she walked outside to see 3 guys running around and then to their car before speeding off. Because, well, you see, she's bullet-proof, you know. My mother is invincible. Isn't yours?

Three held after man wounded in Broadmoor shooting
<http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2008/09/09/news_local/114local02shooting.txt>

A shooting Sunday night in Jefferson City led authorities to detain three people in Callaway County.

According to Jefferson City police, the shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. at Broadmoor Apartments, 505 Ellis. Officers found a 22-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to his hand. He was taken to Capital Region Medical Center for treatment.

The initial investigation showed that six or more shots were fired into the apartment where the victim was located.

Potential suspects were developed and information on them was sent to area law enforcement agencies, including information about what vehicles the suspects may be driving.

Around 10 p.m., Callaway County sheriff's deputies located one of the vehicles with three people in Kingdom City.

That vehicle was found to have been stolen out of St. Louis.

Authorities in Callaway County identified the three as William Clarence Harris III, 24, Wesley Harris, 18, and Joshua Washington, 21, all from the St. Louis area. Each are charged with one count of tampering.

All three are being held in the Callaway County Detention Center.

The investigation is continuing.

Science is a beautiful thing

I was following up on my favorite mad-scientist-is-going-to-destroy-Earth-with-man-made-black-hole story when I stumbled across several stunning pictures of the nearly complete Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Click on the picture above to see the rest.

Life's a song to dance through

I found my happy place back.

This little piggy went to Walgreens

I would never claim that my hometown or Central Missouri in general is anywhere near perfect, but I did grow up assuming certain things about the world.

I believed in the honesty and integrity of the police to uphold and follow the law. (Heaven forbid such a level of naiveté.) Granted, scandals and exceptions were to be expected, but they were just that - scandals and exceptions. Or if there was a pervasive problem, at least it was not wantonly and egotistically flaunted without shame or fear of punishment.
But bottom line - Cops followed the laws. Cops enforced the laws. Cops were good, hard-working people.

... I'll stop there rather than counter with an angry diatribe about the corruption and racism in this city that disgust me. I can't fathom either though I could clinically dissect both and write essay upon essay about the subjects. None of it makes sense at a personal level.
It's a shame, and it makes me sick... and no angry, self-righteous rant will make me feel better. Rather, I'm just left feeling horribly sad and bewildered. But I do know that when people ask me where I'm from, I still answer, "Central Missouri." I don't want to be associated with the ugliness that I see here.

...

I hesitate posting this at all since I don't want my blog to be bitchy or whiny or preachy or glum. In the rare occasions when I do write about or touch on a serious topic, I do so as lightly as possible. But I've been in a combination Anne/Eeyore mood this weekend, and so my sense of humor fails to help me navigate the craphole of decaying human morality. Ok, ok, that's a bit extreme... but such is my mood.

I ate my bologna sandwich, drank my apple juice, and drove to Walgreens. Obviously, I should have grabbed my book and crawled in the tub for a soak instead.

Betty and Germaine

Beauty and brains, pleasure and usability — they should go hand in hand.
- Donald Norman

I was lounging on my porch railing with O-ren just moments ago, when Betty and Germaine must have taken possession of me momentarily. At least, that's my only explanation for it since I had been pondering the nature of the leaves on a nearby tree only seconds before.

Simply stated, the average American woman must be a trilateral Superwoman triumphant over the spheres of career, home, and beauty/sexuality. (I could argue that she's a quadrilateral Superwoman, but for my current thought pattern, I'm lumping the last 2.) To which I thought - how now, brown cow? How did this get to be? Backlash to women's movement, aye, and that's a boogerbear to tackle. But interlaced with the backlash is also the fact that we're still raised to be people-pleasers and are used to doing more work than men for less - less pay, less praise, and less acknowledgment. So instead of picking the sphere (or proportioned combination of spheres) best suited to our personality and skills, we often carry them all on our backs at once. Awareness of the load on our backs can't remove it since it's held in place by social construct, and maintaining the proper placement of each sphere in relation to the others with regard to the social environment and our own needs and desires is always an exhausting struggle.

Anyhoo, such is a snippet of the ramblings in my head. Nowhere all-encompassing, and certainly not original thoughts, but mine for the moment nonetheless. And with that being said, I'm going to grab a bologna sandwich, apple juice, and a book and then go soak in the tub.

But first, somebody needs to create a new comic entitled "Betty and Germaine" detailing the adventures of America's favorite feminist duo.

Where did all the real news go?

Yes, I know better than to expect quality news from the same group that provides hotmail. But really now, it looks like Teen magazine just vomited. And does anyone else see the irony of having a "serious" article about 401ks in the middle of this upchuck? It's like they're trying to camouflage the upchuck and convince somebody that this is real news.

It's the end of the world as we know it

It may be the end of the world as we know it, but you feel fine, eh? Read the Canadian news article here or below in its entirety.

An American and a Spaniard have launched a lawsuit to stop scientists from firing up a machine they fear could destroy not just life on Earth but the planet itself.

International scientists, including dozens from Canada, are about to launch the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27-kilometre long particle accelerator built near Geneva, Switzerland. It will shoot beams of protons at each other in an effort to recreate conditions that resemble what the universe might have been like in the milliseconds after the Big Bang.

"We want to probe the most basic particles and constituents (and we're) trying to understand how matter was made," Robert McPherson, a University of Victoria physics professor who is working on the project, told CTV.ca in a phone interview from Vancouver.

In the process, scientists may end up creating miniature black holes -- areas of space that have gravitational pulls so strong that not even light can escape.

The more matter a black hole pulls in, the stronger it becomes. And that's what worries Walter Wagner, the American who is suing to temporarily stop the project. He says the creation of these black holes here on Earth, no matter how small, may unleash a chain reaction that could destroy the planet.

Wagner says there's a possibility that black holes could just get bigger and bigger as they pull more and more matter into themselves.

"Eventually, all of Earth would fall into such growing micro-black-holes, converting Earth into a medium-sized black hole, around which would continue to orbit the moon, satellites, and the (International Space Station)," according to court papers Wagner, along with a citizen of Spain, filed in Honolulu.

In other words, Wagner asserts the LHC is a machine that will end up causing the Earth to eat itself -- perhaps in less than a century. It may sound fantastic, like a plotline out of a James Bond movie where an evil scientist holds the earth for ransom with a deadly weapon, but Wagner says the possibility isn't science fiction.

"Science fiction can be very strange and sometimes it can come very true. This is in the realm of possibilities where fiction can become fact," Wagner told CTV.ca in a telephone interview from his home in Honolulu.

Wagner, an education consultant who studied physics at Berkeley, says scientists working on the project haven't done enough studies to make sure the scenario he envisions won't actually occur. The suit -- which is filed against various U.S. agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency -- aims to get a restraining order to stop work on the project until more safety studies are completed.

McPherson admits small black holes may be created, but he says the concerns are overblown. He says there is virtually no possibility that any black hole that scientists may create at the Large Hadron Collider will end up absorbing the Earth.

"Assuming our wildest fantasies, how much matter can one of these black holes consume in a second, in a year, or even in several billion years?" asks McPherson.

"A black hole we could make at the LHC would only consume a tiny fraction of a gram of matter from Earth. There's no possibility of causing any damage to the Earth," he said.

McPherson says the black holes will decay and disappear quickly. He adds that what scientists are trying to do in a laboratory setting at the LHC happens in nature daily.

"The Earth is constantly being bombarded by cosmic rays. Many of them have much higher energies than what we can create with the LHC. If something dangerous was being made in these interactions it would already have happened in cosmic ray interactions," he said.

But that's no comfort to Wagner. He says the LHC is like a factory that creates a waste product without any way to dispose of it. If he's correct, the factory won't get rid of the byproduct. Instead, the byproduct will dispose of the factory -- and everything else.

People... in MY apartment?! Unheard of!

I'm so exciting that I'm positively beaming (and will probably give myself radiation poisoning). I'm going to have company! At the end of this month, I'll have Sis and Co. spending the night (which should be an iiiiinteresting squeeze into this apartment).

AND they'll be bringing my new baby mrow with them! Baby-Mrow-Who's-Yet-To-Be-Named will be taking an 8-hour trek from Biloxi, MS through Mobile, AL (where Sis and Co. pick her up) to Memphis, TN. So much to look forward to as this month draws to and end!

And just moments ago, Demented Boy text messaged me, informing me that he'll be driving down for the very last weekend in August. :D Pinch me, am I dreaming?!

WOOO!!! People to hang out with! People to make dinner for and to eat with! People, people, people Friends and family! It's like going home for a visit to see them... but without all that pesky driving! :)

Political Cartoons

Trailing slightly behind coworkers today as we left a farewell luncheon at the Millington Chili's, I walked into the end of a greeting between the aforementioned coworkers and a group of well-dressed businessmen enjoying their lunch at a nearby table. Greetings had already been made and not recognizing any of the party, my brief conversation with the eldest gentleman ran thus:


He: Hello, what is your name?
Me: Erin, sir. And yours?
He: A.C. Wharton, and this (indicating the man next to him) is Harold Ford, Jr.
Me: (waving back to Ford and struggling desperately not to laugh) Pleasure to meet you, sir. Enjoy your lunch.


Mundane conversation, indeed, and hardly worth mentioning except that these two gentlemen were the mayor of Shelby County and the former representative to TN's 9th congressional district. Whoops!

Well, firstly - I obviously know of these two politicians. I do my bit of reading of current and local affairs on the internet, but not only was my previous local news-watching minimal, but now I don't even own a tv at all. The problem is that without the image-laden local news on tv, I could have spouted a fair bit of knowledge about the politicians but couldn't have identified them in a line up had my life depended on it.

Now, why the suppressed laughter? Oh, I had to laugh at myself. As far as I know, Willie Herenton could have been at the same table, and I'd still be completely obvious. And I suppose some people would be shocked and slightly horrified that a conscious-minded voter could be so ignorant of the very people who represent and work for her. But... you know? Until I start voting for people based on their looks and not their platform, I can't really say as I care. But still, you meet somebody this important and you feel like a fool for not recognizing them.

Second reason I had to suppress the laughter? Because in that nanosecond after Wharton introduced himself, the first thing that came to mind was, "Oh, I'm sorry. You guys all look alike." *sigh* Me and my bad, bad sense of humor, lol. And of course I couldn't say it, not least of all because nobody would think I was joking. And as I sat in the back of my coworker's car on the ride back to work, my giggles died. I know I have a very off-beat sense of humor and find the most inappropriate things funny, but it makes me sad when what SHOULD be a joke is too real and smacks too much of truth in a racially charged world. Maybe if people could learn to lighten up and regrow their funny bone, these issues wouldn't be so explosive. Maybe we could address them and move beyond them. Heaven knows you could cut the racial tension in Memphis with a knife. The stabbing murder a few days ago just proves my point.

9+ Hours

I feel obligated to update my AT&T saga. My one last quick call turned into an hour. My one last work-around turned into a 2 hour visit to the local corporate office and 2 customer support calls. That's right - TWO calls. The first person, after being horribly rude and further screwing up my accounts (cuz at this point, I still have 2 wireless accounts), hung up on me and the store rep.

But after 9+ hours of customer unsupport debacle, I actually think that I'm where I need to be: 1 DSL account, no landline phone account, and 1 wireless account with my old phone number. And praise be to Zhul, I may even have gotten the two bills bundled! (But let's not get crazy and expect getting something I want.) I reserve the right to believe that further AT&T screw ups will be unearthed once the first bill (please not bills) comes around.


Oh, and I did squeeze in a little bit of fiscal celebration - had drinks with the work buddies Friday afternoon and ate Taco Bell today. As to the former, I was reminded of how much I miss hanging out with those guys. I haven't laughed/snorted that much or that hard for far too long. As to the later, O-ren decided (very sneakily, I might add) to eat half of my soft taco. This afternoon, we both curled up on the futon; O-ren was the body pillow. I got to fall asleep to the sound of distant thunder in her tummy, lol.

Support - It's Not Just for Bras

I'll spare the gory details, but I have spent at least a full 6 hours within the past 3 days with AT&T customer service support, not to mention the time Aaron has spent on the phone with them to attempt resolving his end of this mess. Between getting accounts switched over, accounts closed, accounts created that never should have been - and then to have all three of those happen both with the wireless and landland/DSL accounts.... sigh. Hundreds of dollars floating around between accounts and random, free floating accounts directly or indirectly attached to me... Heaven help me from the very friendly and well-meaning but INEPT customer support personnel. And each time I think I've gotten an issue resolved, a new one is identified.

But I think - I THINK - that I'm nearing the end of this brouhaha. Only one final call to make (that I'm aware of unless some new unforeseen issue crops up) and only one final work around on my part (again, that I'm aware of... unless)

But I have to admit that the persons I spoke to each time were exceedingly friendly and did their best to help me out. Just too bad they don't actually know company policy. *shrug*

And hey, does anyone else besides me love the irony that I was on the phone with AT&T Wireless customer support and the call dropped? Hehehe, I enjoyed giving them a little bit of shit, all good-naturedly, when they had to call me back. :)


And on a completely separate vein, I may not be giddy, but I'm happy and relieved. My promotion was announced at work today. A new position was created so that I will be a technical writer and Business Analyst (BA) hybrid in preparation for potential maturation into a full-fledged BA position. So my days of harvesting and selling local vagrants' organs on the black market seem to be over. I celebrated the news by throwing all fiscal responsibility to the wind and splurging - I bought O-ren a case of her favorite canned cat food. Future plans for the new funds include doubling efforts to knock out my two loans. I also plan on splurging on a cheesy bean and rice burrito, but I think I'll save that excitement for the weekend. I don't want to go too crazy or anything... or the next thing you know, I'll be buying rugs or curtains. And we can't have that kind of nonsense, no siree!

I am happy; I will get mentorship and support rather than being my own lighthouse. I am relieved; my wallet can stop bleeding. I like this. I'm nervous, but I have to admit I'm looking forward to the challenges that await me.

The Dark Night of the Soul

One of my favorite Loreena McKennitt songs... and played on a flattop... heaven.

The key to unlock the hidden mysteries of the human soul...

...can be found in a mass-forwarded email containing a personality quiz designed by the Dalai Lama!

In the general mode of mindless after-work decompression, I for once actually followed the directions (well, at least some of them) on one of those *highly scientific* and *wish-granting* personality quiz forwards that I'm always receiving (and promptly deleting). You know the one - where you're asked to prioritize a list of animals in order of preference, list a personality trait for a list of animals, associate a name with a color, etc. The one where you get 25 ba-jillion warnings to forward this to 25 people in 25 seconds and whatever you do, don't read ahead and peek at the answers or else your chin will grow a hair-covered wart the size a Texas and you'll never get a date again and your mother will come down with lumbago and it's all your fault! *gasp* *gasp* *gasp* Ahem. Anyhoo, I thought my "results" for 2 of the questions were interesting enough to warrant sharing.

Scientific and Wish-Granting Fact #1. Prioritizing animals tells you your life's priorities!
I ordered them like so: Horse (Family), Sheep (Love), Tiger (Pride), Cow (Career), Pig (Money) (But now honestly, I'd like to see some money-grubbing floosey actually pick oinker as her favorite animal. Although to be perfectly honest, I nearly put Miss Piggy first just cuz I loves me my bacon, hehe)

Scientific and Wish-Granting Fact #2. Describing shtuff tells you personality traits about you and others!
Disclaimer - I swear I didn't know the "answers" when I wrote down a description for each item, lol. But I like my results nonetheless. :D Dog (I'm a loyal butt-sniffer), Cat (My sweetie pie purrs when I pet him), Rat (My enemy's intelligent... and hey, aren't I my own worst enemy?), Coffee (I like my nookie "strong... and with a spoon in it" [quote from Eddie Izzard]), Sea (My life could be described as "blue and gray and green." [quote from Sarah Plain and Tall])

DramaCat

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SUPPLYING CAPTIONS!!

I'm sure some of you might have noticed that I bcc'd everybody on my email requesting ideas, but its purpose was twofold: 1) I didn't want people hitting Reply All and ruining the surprise, and 2) I didn't want to start one of those group emails that quickly clogs your inbox. And if anybody thinks of some more, please throw them in comments!

But now, without further delay:

Take me to . . . . The volcano!

O sole mio!

Everybody was kung fu fighting...

Friends, Romans, Country Cats, lend me your whiskers . . .

Va, pensiero, sull' alli dorati!

Cry havoc, and let loose the cats of war!

A box! A box! My kingdom for a litter box!

Friends, Felines and Housemates lend me your Catnip!
It is I, Kitty, who will take the first sniff!!!!

And they will hold their cat-hoods cheap who fought not with us upon St. Crispian's Day!

...and there I was, 40 feet up in that tree...oy!

My kind of town, Chicago is...

Ah, ah, ah--stayin' alive, stayin' alive

Let me see your tootsie roll--to the left, to the left

Thank ya, Jesus-- the Holy Spirit--it's got me!!!

Then Spiderman grabbed MaryJane and shot his webbing like this...

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them, Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell, Rode the six hundred.

--- and my favorite submission saved for last---

False Alarm

Luckily, the Moocha pregnancy is a false alarm. I hadn't seen her in quite awhile, and certainly not recently, prior to Larry the Neighbor Guy's announcement yesterday evening... so I had no way of knowing the accuracy of his statement. I knew that she had been on the verge of kittens the last time I'd seen her, but since it'd been several months since she'd last graced my porch, it was possible she had another batch in the oven.

But surprise, surprise, Moocha showed up on my porch this evening right as I got home. Fat, poochy mama belly she has, but no kittens. Which, I've got to admit, my wallet is very grateful.

And hey, I got a new neighbor friend out of the deal, so all's well that ends well.

Oh, and since I'm following up on my last post seemingly, Ashum's all registered for the fall. Yeah! But seriously... Musical Appreciation: Classical Western?! I loves me my old country songs, but I don't know if I'd sign up for an entire semester. Now, Western Classical, maybe...

Yes, a real blog post... for once

I met a neighbor this evening and am heartily glad of it. He introduced himself as Larry but failed to also introduce me to his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl. The very errand for his introduction made me take a liking to him immediately. For Moocha Bella is in the later stages of her pregnancy, and he was concerned for her and her impending kittens. We talked at some length about what we could do for her, but for the moment we are waiting and watching.

But that O-ren gets along so well with Moocha is not far from the forefront of my mind. Perhaps she may get a roommate and then several additional and significantly smaller roomies in the near future. Moocha, I think, would be happiest to remain an outdoor mrow in the long-term, but she should get a little maternal refuge for the interim. Quite frankly, I can't bear the thought of her kittens chomped by a predator or squished by a tire. Once the kittens are weened, I'd like to have Moocha spayed and back on the porch, although perhaps she could come indoors at night if still so inclined. And the kittens, what do we do with them? I'd likely keep one, of course, but I wonder how many others I'll need to find homes for. And where will I find the means to do all this? Well, where there's a will, there's a way. And I've not got German blood in me for nothing!

In other news, Ashums and the J'nette (hellooooooooo) are in Springfield, MO, becoming familiarized with the campus, professors, etc. and registering for classes. Other than Ashley trying to tear the dorm room apart her first morning there (i.e., shower door), things are reportedly going wonderfully and exhaustingly busy. I'd called Jeanette earlier, so I knew a little of what was going on already before Ash called, but it was wonderful to hear The Toot's voice just a few minutes ago, telling me about her classes and what she's been doing on campus since arriving. I'm positively thrilled for her and can't wait until I can drive up to campus to visit her this fall. :)

I wonder...

...what would happen if I dipped O-ren in a bleach bath...

Nothing as gorgeous as this, I have a feeling. Whether photoshopped or not, I'm in love with this mrow. (sorry, O-ren)

Speaking of O-ren though, she updated her blog with a few pictures.

Because, well... can you ever have too much opera?

Lol, NO! There's no such thing as too much opera when we're talking about Calla, Cabelle, and now Edita Gruberova! I just discovered this voice... how had I been living without it?

L’amour est enfant de Bohême

From the moment I got home tonight, late though that might be, I've been lost in a world of Maria Callo and Montserrat Cabelle. And of course, everyone gets to share in my love of a beautiful classically trained voice.


(You may want to skip to the 2:15 mark if you just want to listen to Habanera... but if you do, SHAME on you!) Lyrics/Translation


And yes, ladies and gentlemen - that's 2 minutes and 30 seconds of applause at the end. I love how she stops them dead with the palm of her hand.)
Lyrics/Translation

What's your flirting style?

So I'm doing my semi-weekly MySpace log-in to check up on a few friends... but I just can't get past the stupid ad that's blinking on the right side of my browser window.

Now first of all, why are the last three options all the same? Am I missing something here?! What happened to boy shorts? Granny panties? Hipsters, anyone? How about high-cut briefs for those grannies that want to show some leg? And hey... I want a choice that's blank. Can you show me a little something with waist or thigh support? Sigh... but no, tho we certainly have our choice of thong options... actually though, they're all just different style g-strings, so we don't even get thong options!

Ah well, who needs a doctorate in psychology when we have underwear?

TGIF

TGIF, man. That's all I've got to say to this week.

Chyna of Gondor

First of all, this picture could easily have been of Chickitty Chyna (the Chinese Chi-kitten), so it wins a special place in my heart just for that.

Secondly, is it wrong that my first thought on seeing this picture was that I want to dress the mrow in some mail and an elven cloak, place a sword in its paws and a cloven horn of Gondor and weapons of slain enemy meeces by its side, and send it over the Falls of Rauros all whilst singing "Lament of the Winds"???

Quotient Quotables and Potent Potables

Hey, hey, HEY, boys and girls! It's time for another episode of Quotient Quotables and Potent Potables! And now a word from our sponsor, Friedrich Nietzsche, Inc. - your favorite posthumous scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture!

[And yes, I am the kind of person that will mix Krusty and Nietzsche without a shred of guilt.]

Without music, life would be a mistake.

There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

I wear my shadows where they're harder to see, but they
follow me everywhere. I guess that should tell me I'm traveling toward light.

Ignore reality, there's nothing you can do about it.

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

Gaze long into the abyss, and the abyss gazes into you.

Business Goonies

Sadly, I can't post my favorite George Carlin quotes on my whiteboard at work, but I can still post them here. (Actually, I can't even post my favorite Carlin quotes here, lol, but I can content myself with these.)

Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.

- and -

The status quo sucks.

And in view of my recent pouting and whining over our new dress code at work, I think these two quotes fit in very nicely. :)

... and one last thing before I go (sing with me!):

Ev'rybody's building the big ships and the boats
Some are building monuments
Others, jotting down notes...

My Heart Was Broken Today

My heart was broken today... broken without warning, without justification, without anyone even realizing that they had broken it. Pause, ladies and gentlemen, for I stand before you a shattered soul.

This post. What could make you say that, Arliss? Is it Cusack's or Skye's lack of acting? The director's decision to slowly zoom in on Cusack or hold angle on Skye? Maybe you don't like the props. I mean, did the car really have to take up so much of the shot? Or should Cusack tried for more than a look of boredom? Maybe you don't like how Cusack is forever tied to this song? But Arliss, oh dear Arliss, don't tell me it's the song itself. The lyrics? The melody? Is it that you are not a Peter Gabriel fan?! Please... say it isn't so... I used to think so highly of you, but now how can I go on considering you a friend? Why did you have to make this song your justification for such hate?

I... I am but a fraction of the person I was just a few seconds ago. All the king's horses and all the king's men can't help me now, but heading to Bosco's might help.

Sex in the City

Two things, quickly, and then I'm off to do my homework like the dutiful student I am.

1. Although I much prefer living much of my worklife in musical oblivion than join in on the majority of the hubbub around me, there are sporadic times like this afternoon when I'm glad people yank me out of my musical lalaland. A fragmented conversation carried out only a few times a month, the common thread - Vivaldi. And he used to sing in an a cappella choir? (My fellow part-time conversationalist, not Vivaldi. Wouldn't that be a hoot though?) I look forward to the next installment of fragmented hall conversation. :)

2. I can't stand Sex in the City. There's just something (ok, several somethings) about the series that just makes me glower and go on a tirade. Thing is, it only took the commercials, people's commentary of it, and an undying hated ("Never say you hate someone." Thanks, Mum. I stand corrected.) loathing of Sarah Jessica Parker to make me never watch a single episode. Frankly, I think the commercials and people's blather is sufficient evidence and justification to steer clear of the series (and upcoming movie, blech). However, I just so happened to let slip to a friend this hatred of mine, and promptly therein the first two Sex in the City discs did appear on my desk. "Watch them unprejudiced," says she. "I'll need more rum," says I. But rum notwithstanding, such is the homework which awaits me now. In fact, the disc is already in my computer and the music for the main menu is already making me grit my teeth. Unprejudiced! Aye... here goes nothing. Wish me luck!

Ants

It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?
-H. D. Thoreau

Out on my driveway, in the middle of an asphalt sea, these ants have set up base. And that, to me, is thought-worthy.

Viva por um dia

"Could it think, the heart would stop beating."

"To feel today what one felt yesterday isn't to feel - it's to remember today what was felt yesterday, to be today's living corpse of what yesterday was lived and lost."

Fernando Pessoa
Portuguese author/poet
from The Book of Disquiet

VA

As everyone knows by now, Aaron's accepted an embryologist position out in Virginia Beach. And for family who want to keep tabs on him, I took a few pictures. (And to Mum, Jeanette, and Ashums: go make dinner and check back on this page in an hour - it's image-laden. ... and then for Pete & Pam's sake - get high-speed internet already!!)

If only all of Hwy 58 could have been this nice... flat, and straight.

Aaron's new office, complete with guardian owl.

A convenient 15 minute drive.

View from Aaron's deck. (Yeppers, that's his truck)

Front door is on the right. Kitchen on the left. Stuff on table (laundry basket and Xerox box) indicates dining room area.

Standing in front of the deck door, looking across the living room into the dining area and kitchen. Exit left and you can see into the bathroom.

Because deciding where to put the Italian herb mix is very important. Closet in back houses the washer and dryer.

Because what is important to know is that my LotR dvds are sitting on top of the entertainment center. *sniff*

A plant with balloon from Aaron's new employers decorates the bedroom.

What's not to love about clockpunk?!

I really do have very real intentions of writing a real post sometime in the near future (just don't ask me to define "near") ... but in the meantime, I just have to share a site I recently found and adore, thereby further exposing the dork that I am: Da Vinci Automata: A Blog on the Clockpunk Genre of Science Fiction. And yes, it will forever more be listed under Clicky Click Fun with Linky Links. (Just don't ask me to define "forever".)

Yo quiero O-ren... and Chewy Gordita Crunches

Aw c'mon... what's cuter than sharing your midnight Taco Bell run with your cat?!

A Tale of Two Weekends

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, it was the weekend of sunshine, it was the weekend of snowdrifts...

Last Weekend, in Missouri

Hills of southern Missouri, headed home.

Dad (left) and Wayne (center) canvassed the Little Maries in search of a rock "ash tray" for Dad and good wall landscaping rocks for Wayne.

Dad and I open up the 4-wheelers on the county road past the farm.

And this, oddly enough, is a wonky self-portrait (post 4-wheeling) from the reflection in Dad's truck window. So yep, if you look at the top of the picture, you can see through his truck.


Overlooking the Osage River into Cole County from Painted Rock.

~ + ~ + ~ + ~

This Weekend, in Memphis:
Early Saturday morning found only me and a troupe of squirrels in Overton Park.


If you're very still and patient, the squirrels will come.


Aslan, fast asleep.

Blood-red berries... with my silhouette.

My favorite snowman.