Between the trees and the moon

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:03:42 GMT

Recently had a situation in which my 4 year old kid and another kid his age were running around playing in a social setting... NOT being destructive, not getting in anyone's way, just running and laughing, when we got the dreaded statement by an old lady "Back in my day, kids knew how to behave blah blah blah"

What I find amusing is that in this particular group, people pride themselves on being progressive, anti-oppressive, human rights oriented enlightened people working toward the greater good of humanity - yet some (for instance this lady) still find it perfectly acceptable to believe that their rights are more important than those of a child simply based upon the fact that they are bigger/smarter/stronger/have been here longer etc etc etc. Remind you of any other kind of oppressor-group reasoning?

Two articles about this very thing:

http://www.canow.org/canoworg/2009/11/feminist-parenting-the-larger-picture.html

http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2009/10/dancing-between-the-tables-on-the-personhood-of-children/

G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:18:14 GMT

I suppose the continual drone of helicopters I can hear from my house is going to continue to be....errr, continual all day today and tomorrow. Freaky! I'm not joining in any protests because I'm too wimpy. If I ended up getting arrested, tasered, pepper sprayed, or jailed it would put a real crimp in my ability to parent or show up at work...but yay for all the people who have the time and energy to do it! I am all for peaceful protests - not so much the violent kind. I pray that my city can stay peaceful and nobody gets hurt during this summit.

time sensitive question!

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:34:08 GMT

Skirt without pantyhose or tights on a hot day to a job interview??

Yes or no?

if you were me what would you do??

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:30:28 GMT

okay so say you're me and you got a tattoo when you were 22. you got this tattoo from a kid that lived in the neighborhood that you did, he was around 16 years old and still lived with his parents. you actually went to his parents' house and he did that tattoo in his bedroom!!! it was one of his first tattoos and it came out a little crooked... most people wouldn't say it was a great tatoo. (i loved it anyway and always thought it looked sweet and innocent, like one of the illustrations from the book the little prince)

the tattoo kid moves to new york and greatly improves his skill. at one point several years later you end up talking to him on the phone and he says " hey you know, I will fix up that tattoo for you for free. " you mentally file it away for the next time you find yourself in nyc, but you never actually find yourself there.

anyway!!! now you are 41 and the tattoo is fading and could use a touchup! you also wouldn't mind it being straightened out a bit and maybe embellished. you think of the tattoo artist and look him up to find out he is now considered to be one of the best tattoo artists in the world!!! he has a show on cable television and a waiting list of celebrities who want his services.

do you try to contact him and see if the offer he made 13 years ago still stands? do you keep the crappy tattoo and say this is one of so-and-so's very first tattoos!? (nobody believes that the tattoo you have was actually done by the famous guy!!) or do you just forget the whole thing and go have some other non famous tatoo artist fix it up for you (which you really can't afford).

overheard

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:43:47 GMT

in a fast food restaurant today.....kinda made me sad

Mom to daughter (daughter is maybe 8 years old) : "So do you know who all is going to be in your class next year? Who all is in your class? Will there be boys in the class or will it be all girls?? Because you really don't want to be in a class with all girls. Girls are snotty."

Way to instill your daughter with self esteem.

My mom speaks before Congress!

Wed, 20 May 2009 13:10:35 GMT

My mother is spekaing before Congress today about health care issues for cancer patients!

She was recently featured in a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Cancer Society about the severe challenges cancer patients can face in paying for life-saving care.

The study, entitled
" Spending To Survive: Cancer Patients Confront Holes in the Health Insurance System ", is available here: http://www.kff.org/insurance/7851.cfm

A brief synopsis of it is in the news release, which is located here:
http://www.kff.org/insurance/insurance020509nr.cfm

(My mom, Phyllis Miller, is specifically mentioned in the news release - second bullet down!)

As a result of all of this she has been invited to speak before Congress along with a group from the American Cancer Society ( I am assuming the group is made up of some of the other 19 people in the study). She's speaking today, and I am really proud of her!

She's been interviewed for publications of the American Cancer Society, local news, and the Wall Street Journal ( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123500263888517825.html ). Her trip to Washington DC is a news feature on her local news station, WJAC in Johnstown - they interviewed her before she left, are following her around in DC (she has an entourage!), and will do a final story once she returns home. (I have looked all over their website and sadly cannot find stories or video).

She promised me that when she gets that invitation to appear on Oprah, that I will get to go with her! In the meantime, she bought me a Barack Obama t-shirt......yay!! But I was hoping for the one that says, "My mom spoke before Congress and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!"

wow....

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:33:20 GMT

I might get to go to Washington DC to be my mom's support person when she testifies before Congress!!

huh?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:46:11 GMT

weird email from shoebuy.com!

Dear *****,

One year ago, you ordered the following product from Shoebuy.com. We wanted to let you know that right now, your size and color is still available from Shoebuy.com. You can order the same product again by simply clicking on the product name below.

this was followed by a link to purchase the exact brand/name/size/color of some shoes I bought last year.... which got me thinking! do most people replace their exact shoe brand/style once per year? these were some nice quality leather shoes (sorry cows =-( ) and they are still in great shape. are shoes supposed to wear out after a year? I tend to keep shoes for at least 3 years and often much longer - I wear them until they wear out! oh well...this just struck me as odd!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:56:12 GMT

I am now a student at the Humane Society of the United State's online "university" - taking classes to earn certification as a Humane Education Specialist. It's very exciting and the classes are all self-paced, which is really nice. I am very impressed with the quality of the class I am taking so far - although a little overwhelmed! The class I am currently taking is about the use of story telling as a method of humane education... I thought we would learn certain stories and story telling techniques, but my current assignment is to WRITE 6 short stories!!! Oh my gosh! I am pretty sure I CAN do it, but it feels a little scary. I haven't written any fiction in like - ever - . Help!

Went to a lovely circle at my teacher's (spiritual teacher, not the humane society teacher!) house last night and saw robins on her front lawn! The first I have seen this spring, although I know they have been around a few weeks. The stars in the sky on the way home were amazing. It was nice to be in group ritual.....I haven't been for far too long and didn't realize how much I was missing it.

We're in the tail end of a total re-organization of our home and rearranging of rooms. The temporary chaos seems to be worth it as I think the new setup is working a lot better. Once we get the downstairs kitchen functional I will be SO happy! One step at a time.

wow, freaky, cool

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:39:27 GMT

I thought I was pretty cool collecting river's umbilical cord blood and having it cryo-stored for the future, in case he needs the stem cells.

but this is beyond anything I could have imagined...apparently menstrual blood contains stem cells as well, and here is a company that will store that for you, in case YOU need some stem cells in the future:

http://www.celle.com

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:47:34 GMT

many people on my flist have remarked upon the passing of Bettie Page. many have posted photos of this beautiful woman.... but I found it strange that they were all photos of what she looked like in the 1950s. why do we not see any more current pictures of this beautiful woman, to see her beautifully aging?

I did some research:
In a recent interview, Page has stated she will not allow any current pictures of her to be shown, because she is 25 to 30 pounds overweight.
Bettie Page Resources

I think it is incredibly sad that her career gave her such a terrible self image - that she could not accept herself as less than perfect. it must have been excruciatingly painful for her to go through the aging process and slowly lose her youthful beauty, to feel such self hatred at having a few extra pounds that she won't allow anyone to take a picture.

so the next time you are oohing and ahhing at pictures of Bettie Page, remember how much that idealism and perfectionism damaged her as a human being.

A friend believes the reason for her reluctance is more likely insecurity. "If your grandmother looked like Bettie does today, you'd be thrilled. Her eyes still sparkle. She really looks like her old self."

too bad we will never get to see, or celebrate her beauty as an older woman.

BBC sorry after John Barrowman exposed himself

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:53:05 GMT

So John Barrowman exposed himself - on a radio show?? I'm not quite getting it.

Story Here

He's more clean cut than what I usually go for, but after watching so much Torchwood all I can say is, damn, wish I was watching that radio show! =-p

pittsburgh cupcakes

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:57:56 GMT

So yesterday I finally made a quick stop into Dozen to try a cupcake. And seriously, I don't see what the big deal is. My vanilla/vanilla cupcake was kind of dry and the icing tasted funky. Did I just catch them on an off day or is Dozen WAY over-rated??

Yes We Can !

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:10:52 GMT

don't be a stephy.

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:23:37 GMT

http://tinyurl.com/5z4z79

when you really need that "jet-lag" look

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:45:42 GMT

This expensive skin care product is called "Anti jet-lag relief". Um, isn't that kind of a double negative? Relief from anti jet-lag would be.... pro jet-lag?

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:16:56 GMT

You exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness.

You are a
Social Liberal
(80% permissive)

and an...
Economic Liberal
(20% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Socialist

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

</center>

i iz dumb

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:34:06 GMT

can't figure out how to sub to an rss feed on my friends page??? anyone help me???

just cause...

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:35:25 GMT

I gotta show off my new icon!

Keeping it til the election is over. =-)

Princess Bride Meme (from Simbel_Myne)

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:33:38 GMT

When you see this, post in your own journal with your favorite quote from The Princess Bride. Preferably not "As you wish" or the Inigo Montoya speech.

"Stop that rhyming, and I mean it!"
"Anybody want a peanut?"

ritual to create social change

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:58:20 GMT

Hi friends,

My spiritual teacher and noted pagan author Francesca De Grandis will be conducting a very special ritual today at 4 pm Eastern time to create social change and help put a democrat in the white house. This ritual is something she has been working on for a long time and everyone is invited to participate by telephone. No prior ritual experience is necessary, and your presence and energy is really needed!

Further information in her October Newsletter below. I apologize for not putting it behind a cut, however I have tried several times and the lj-cut tag doesn't seem to work and I can't figure out why.

Fellow mystics, faeries, poets, clowns, and other innovative thinkers,

Contents of this email:
1) Reminder: A Ritual for Social Change
2) There is still room in my fall/winter classes
3) This month’s helpful hint

1) The Ritual for Social Change is on Sat, Oct 4, 4:00 PM eastern standard time. The ritual will be for three things:
* To put a Democrat in the Oval Office
* To stop religious, academic, mystical, and other forms of fundamentalism as they manifest in the mainstream, in the alternative community, and in our own hearts.
* This cooperative group ritual won’t suppress our individual powers. The rights of humankind and Gaia will need lone wolves for a ritual moment being in a PACK of wolves = paradox = shift the cosmos!

If this rite’s goals are important to you, please come. You’re needed. The rite is open only to those who are voting Democrat, since ritual integrity requires people following through on their ritual goal with corresponding concrete action.

To attend, dial (712) 775-7000 about five minutes before the rite. When asked for an access code, dial 1095248#. This phone number is in the U.S., and is not an 800-type number. You’ll pay your usual long-distance charges - - which depend on your long-distance plan and appear on your phone bill. The ritual will be held via a simple technology whereby individuals around the world participate in the event simply by dialing the phone. No computer or special equipment is needed.

Latecomers not allowed. To be on time, you need to dial in two-five minutes before the rite.

The event will last an hour. No experience needed. Honest! If you want to invite someone, just forward this email on, in accordance with the copyright statement at the end of the email. Yay! No need to RSVP.

2) There is still room in my fall/winter classes. The full schedule consists of three classes:
* The Ecstatic Path is open to entry level students and is a prerequisite for the advanced shamanic training that happens via teleseminars (a simple technology whereby individuals around the world participate simply by dialing the phone. No computer or special equipment is needed.)
* The Arthurian Legend and the Holy Grail is a six-month-long ritual, held a la teleseminar.
* The yearlong advanced training will also kick off.

If you’re interested in attending a class this fall, but haven’t received the eflyers about the first two classes listed above, let me know. If you’re newly on my mailing list, you didn’t receive the eflyer for the advanced training, but it will go out again once enough folks have had a chance to take the prerequisites for it. (Eflyers always denote if the class described therein is one such prerequisite.)

3) Here is this month’s helpful spiritual hint. It is a story about my cat Ganesh who died recently. One night, at about 11 p.m., I decided to proof some typing. Ganesh started meowing - - that awful, loud, and insistent yowling that cats KNOW drives you to distraction. Sure enough, I couldn’t concentrate. I chased him off repeatedly, to no avail.

Finally, I said to my older cat, Teenie, “Would you please take care of him for a while so I can work?” (Ignore the fact that I talk to cats.) Teenie came over to my table and - - oh, lawd - - promptly settled down onto the document I was trying to correct, completely covering it.

I looked at her and thought, “Okay, I surrender!”

I should’ve known better than to try to work when one of my cats was interfering. They do it for my own good when I need a break but am workaholically plugging away.

Phoebe, my best bud, expressed it perfectly when I called to tell her this true-life parable: We need to listen to our betters.

Sometimes, those superior beings are pets, but myriad other forms can manifest. For example, another time the wind may whip a hat off because it looks silly, thus sparing you a fashion gaffe. A superior being might also be the god within you, who’s telling you to do something OTHER than what you are engaged in right then.

Whatever those helpful entities and traits are, we often resist their chaos, thinking we need an everything’s-in-its-right-place-and-time plan. We cling to an “appropriate order” that we imagine to be the underpinning of happiness and even of life itself. Sometimes, of course, it is good to cling to order, and there IS an orderliness to the cosmos that guides us, nurtures us, and sets us free. Chaos, too, however, is one of life’s underpinnings, and not always a bad one. Often it acts like my cats, lovingly guiding us to the happiest possible conditions. God can manifest as loving chaos.

When the chaos of life interferes with our plans, it might reflects a TRUER plan, one in accord with our real - - but possibly ignored or even unknown - - needs and longings. Nanao Sakaki, the renowned poet, said, “Listen to wind.” And me, I’ll also listen to cats. An odd form of Divine guidance? Odd is good.

Your fellow seeker,
Francesca De Grandis
*****
Power to the people = support their right to control their own work. Copyright, 2008, Francesca De Grandis. Duplication is permitted in post on lists or forwards to individuals, if you use the entire email, including this paragraph. All other duplication requires permission.

huh?????!!!

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:27:42 GMT

Scrabulous.com is down!! Like seriously not even there anymore, down. It's been my major stress reliever for the past 4 months, I've been playing about 4 games a day and I can't just quit cold turkey like this, I'm already starting to shake and sweat.....sweet mother of mercy!!! help!

they were right!

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:08:27 GMT

I was told by several different friends in several different social circles to watch Torchwood.

So I have watched the first two episodes and, yeah..... Torchwood totally rawks. And I'm not usually a sci-fi person either.

Thanks everyone!!!!

my dog is so pretty

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:00:37 GMT

I know a bunch of you already saw this picture over at byoolin's, but for those who haven't...here's my pretty girl:

salukis!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:17:30 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saluki

Oh my gosh! Adorable greyhounds with long floppy ears! If there weren't so many greyhounds in desperate need of homes all the time I would definitely be saving my pennies for one of these beautiful creatures.