Role Modeling

Here in Worcester, one of two things tends to happen when I am out and about. Either people just ignore me or they give me the look. Take yesterday afternoon. It was hot out and I really wanted to stay home in front of the a.c. But Daisy needed her fluid treatment. So I had to go out. Ended up dressed in khaki shorts, a loose fitting black tank and my high heeled clogs. Most people ignored me. Some people gave me the look. And then there was the little girl. This is the response I love the best.

She was maybe 8. Maybe 10. No older. She studied me as I walked by her. Studied me as I stood waiting in line. I watched her eyes flicker to the streak. I watched her eyes get a little larger as she finally saw the tattoo running down my calf. I watched her take me in. And as I turned to leave, I grinned at her and winked.

Her whole face lit up.

Yes, Virginia, there is an option. You don't have to be a soccer mom. You don't have to be angst ridden. You don't have to conform. You don't have to be Muffy...or Lillith. Living here, growing up in a small town...there is an option. There is more. You can be everything and anything you are.

She may grow up to be a Muffy. She may grow up to be a Lillith. She may grow up to be something completely different. But for the briefest moment in her young life, she had a choice. I hope that knowledge stays with her longer than a brief moment, even after she has forgotten where the knowledge came from.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Not Rocket Science

I share the good times with the people who saw me through the bad times. If it seems simple, that's because it is.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Random Pictures

For your viewing pleasure (click on any of them to enlarge)...

The Wrestling Match ...

(nice butt, don't you think?)

The Flowers ...

(I woke up to these on my pillow one morning)

The Video Game...

The Football Game ...

And introducing...

Lithus.

Those are Pobble Thoughts and Pobble Pictures. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Lithia With Lithus

As a solitary, I don't celebrate the holidays with other people often. Every so often, though, I get a chance to do so. Last night was one of those every so oftens. We danced. We laughed. We gave thanks. We celebrated. It was lovely.



Blessed be, my friends.

I Did WHAT???!?!??!?!?!?!

The beach is clothing optional. It was a ...ahem...bad time of the month for nothingness. TTG for my two-piece tankini. I have never done anything like that in my life.



It was fun.


*giggle*


Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Washington Ramblings

* Snails are really cool little critters. Watching them is fascinating. They're even kinda cute. Slugs are just sluggy. * It rains in Washington. A lot. * I carry my fellow bloggers with me more than I'd realized. Watch spiders in a battle for the web? Spider Girl, of course. Watch Timber play his game: Wonder if this is one of the games Tai plays. Lunch at Jack in the Box: "Oh! That's the shake $$ dumped everywhere, bless his heart." Discuss living openly in VA: Michael in Norfolk seems to be making it work. Pass a child playing with her stuffed animal: Damn, what GNightGirl is doing is really amazing... You get the idea. * Pierogies and french fries make a perfectly delicious meal at 2:30 in the morning. * The weather channel shouldn't lie. When the weather channel lies, I end up dressed exactly the way I did in the mid-80s complete with satiny yoga pants, a silk tank top and a maroon blazer with the cuffs rolled back to expose the tan silk lining. All that was missing was an eyeliner design off my left eye. * Starbucks liqueur with half and half is called a brown cow. Add Baileys to it and it becomes an Irish cow. At least in my house. * Moving a bed two feet is easier than one believes it to be. * When you only have one friend actually in the town where you live, it is helpful to have a flexible editor. * Three people really can need four computers. * The store Fred Meyers has everything ~ including clothes from this decade for when the weather channel lies. Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee...on any street corner in the entire state of Washington, which is GREAT!

Sunday Poll Question

This Sunday Poll Question assumes two things. First, it assumes an existence of a higher power. Second, it assumes this higher power is omniscient. Now, knowing my readers, I don't think anyone has a problem making this assumption. However, I wanted to make it clear that I am indeed aware that I am making it. Answering the question does not mean you agree that there is a higher power or make a statement about how that higher power may take form. If you don't believe, answer anyway. Suspension of disbelief is fun, if nothing else.

Question: If you could ask the higher power one question, what would that question be?

Pobble Answer: This is a tough one. "Why?" "Where have you been?" "How?" All those things come to mind. But you know what I think I would really want to know? Who was the third woman? See, my paternal grandfather ~ my Papa ~ only saw three women naked in his entire life. The man was intimidatingly honest, so I believe him. One, was my grandmother. One was a nurse in WWII who streaked by on a dare, hoping to shock the officers, and the Chaplain in particular. And the third one was...no one knows. He was a good enough story teller that at this point, he would weave his words in such a way that he took you away from the story, away from the obvious question. And no one ever came back to it. We just didn't think to. We were too involved with where the story went next. When he died, I asked my father who the third woman was. His response was "You mean he never told you, either? I was hoping you would know!" So. For all the deep, meaningful, life-explaining questions I could ask, I don't think I will. Some things can remain a mystery ~ assuming this is how it all works afterwards. But I really would like to know who that third woman was.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Some Reassurance

For the past several years, I have become more and more distressed over the state of my country. I am unabashedly patriotic. It is through and because of the love of my country that I have become more and more concerned. The "with us or against us" mentality that was spawned after 9/11; the "see something, say something" announcements made in public transportation systems throughout the country; the existance and then expansion of the Patriot Act...yeah, I've been growing more and more concerned.

Still, I can sit on Lithus' front step with him and not be stoned for being seen with a man I'm not related to; wear clothing that exposes my skin and hair and not be punished; leave the house without an i.d. card or papers and not be jailed for not having them with me. My non-white friends do not have to fear lynchings. My GLBT friends do not live with a death sentence over their heads every single time they flirt with someone of their own gender. None of us will be beheaded for being who we are.

And I can still write this blog. I can still say that: I think the Patriot Act is leading us to a fascist state that could rival Nazi Germany; I fear for free thought, expression and opinion in a way that no American should fear for those things; I am disgusted that I cannot assure my foreign national partner that we can have political conversation on the phone without worrying about who is listening; that I believe George W. Bush has moved from dangerously stupid to stupidly dangerous; that I fear most of the country is too unaware of the subtlties (sp?) happening around us to see beyond the next election and that simply having a non-Republican in the White House isn't enough to undo the horrible damage that has been done; that I know people who are talking not just resistance but Resistance ~ and they aren't crazy, militaristic survivalist types or left-over 60s radicals but intelligent, ordinary people.

So, I take some reassurance from all this. Not much, mind you, still...some. And I have to hold onto that some.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

40 Hours and Meeting Timber

* When I went to sleep last night at 12:30 PDT (or is it PST? I never know when we're on people's time and when we're on God's. Disgressing Pobble....) ANYWAY! When I went to sleep last night at 12:30 West Coast time, I had gotten 2 hours of sleep in the last 40. It may take a little while to catch up again.

* I met Lithus' son, Timber, during that 40 hour stretch ~ and before the 2 hour nap. He's ruthless. I'm cold. These are compliments. We have set our sights on total world domination, starting with his father, who is totally and completely screwed.

* Here is an exchange from last night, coming home from dinner...

Timber: "so what's the catch?"

Lithus: "what do you mean?"

Timber: "I'm not used to having this much fun without there being a catch."

Pobble: "Welcome to my world, Timber."

Timber: "I like it."

Yeah, Timber, I think you're pretty cool, too.

I'll be reading even if I don't have much time to comment and will post when I can. Everybody have a good couple weeks.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

Here's a thought for you to think... Do monogamy and commitment have to go together? I know for most people they do go together and for those individuals, they may have to. But what about generally? What about outside of your own relationship? If you know of a couple who are not monogamous and that is mutually agreed upon and acceptable to both of them, can you accept them as a committed couple? Are they simply making a choice you wouldn't make in your own relationship the same way they might choose their hometown differently than you? (Which makes a pretty huge assumption about my readers, doesn't it? ;) ) Or do you think there is a problem there? Is one or both automatically cheating? Is this a sickness or a problem in their wiring or just a different life choice?

Pobble Answer: Personally, I don't think I have the right to place my morals or expectations on another relationship. Relationships are such personal things and every single one of them is different. If both parties need monogamy to feel a true committment, who am I to tell them they are wrong? If both parties truly agree that monogamy is not a necessary part of their relationship but find commitment between them elsewhere, who am I to tell them they are wrong? (And before anyone says anything about people who agree to it but don't really mean it, please re-read the italicized part of the first paragraph.) I do not believe that we as human beings are hardwired automatically to be polyamorous or monogamous. I think that's about the individuals and between the couple.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Busy Yet Boring

I can't think of a single interesting post. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. But the reason I'm boring here is because life has been so not boring recently. And when it gets this not boring, I don't have time to stew on my words, to express the stories that are happening, even as life rushes me to the next one.

See, Thursday night, the Lovely Cats came to visit. The kids from downstairs came up to join us for part of the evening (as alluded to in the previous post.) Last night, Tom Cat joined the fun ~ along with more of the kids from downstairs. Today, Peaches is coming out from Boston. I will take her back to town tomorrow in time for me to meet up with Dr. Bagel in order to catch a show that has a Sunday matinee. At 3:55 a.m. (yes, that's a.m. as in morning; as in "oh-dark thirty" for those of you with a military background; as in fuck it I probably won't even go to bed) on Monday I will be picked up to go to Seattle for two weeks. Monday afternoon ~ after having been awake since God only knows when ~ I will meet Lithus' son for the first time.

Breathe, Pobble, just breathe...

I'm an introvert, dammit!!!!!!

There, I feel better. I still feel like a (temporarily) boring blogger ~ but I feel better.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

I Would Drown

BDS over at Two Dollar Productions has a semi-regular series of postings called Bathing With the Drunken Viking. I've always been particularly impressed when they have shown up on weekdays because it means the imbibing was done on a weeknight. Having now imbibed myself on a weeknight for the first time in a very long time, I have decided that I couldn't bathe with the drunken viking. I would drown.


Hush darling, Auntie Mame's hung. ~ Mame Dennis to her nephew, Patrick.

Those are ohGodyoumeanIhavetothink Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee. Much Needed Coffee.

A Night with Coffee Girl

Hi! It's ME! Where are you? You should pick up. I want to talk to you! So call me because I'm gonna be here all night so call me BACK! Gaaa! Love you.

Thus started a game of phone tag that lasted most of today until we finally caught up. Almost three hours ago. See, that's the thing about Coffee Girl. We can go three days, three weeks or three months and it's like we talked three minutes ago. I was going to write "or three years" but I don't think we go that long. Because it's too important to be able to just say "Hi! It's ME!" and know the other knows who ME! is.

I'm always really, really happy after we chat because I know...well, she's still out there. And the world really needs her in it.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Shout Outs

My beloved DonDon sent me over to a couple new blogs, D-Man and Michael in Norfolk. I enjoyed them enough to leave comments. Which in turn (I am assuming here) brought Though Lovers Be Lost over here to Pobble Thoughts. And out of nowhere (although I think Tai had something to do with this somewhere along the line but truly, I have no exact clue how ~ love a good mystery), appeared Get Off My Lawn!, taking the coveted and long empty spot of curmudgeon with pride. (Note, none of these names are live links. You will have to look over at my links list to find them. They're the ones who are all shiny and new.)

These four guys are very different. All four of them will make you think, make you smile, make you want to read more.

So check out the new links here at Pobble Thoughts. And consider this shout out to you, too! Oh, also, I did some rearranging of the links. Decided it was time to organize a bit. I think I kept everybody but if you notice someone missing ~ or look over and you are missing! ~ please let me know! It's almost two in the morning here and I'm not necessarily at my best. ;) And if you have me linked and I don't know it because you read here but don't comment, please, let me know that, too. Thanks!

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Foot Fetish ~ Just Bitching Here

1. To Women ~ Even if it is a "low" heel, if you have to walk flat footed or duck walk, the heel is too high. Please. Practice at home before you come out into public. Or stay with flats. Flats are lovely, I promise. And far more sophisticated than the duck walk.

2. To Men ~ Rubber flip flops are not shoes. They are appropriate for a beach or a locker room. Not a restaurant. Not even a casual restaurant. Personally, I don't care for men in open-toed shoes at all but I recognize this is unfair and hypocritical of me, especially in the heat of the summer. But no flip flops. And if you are going to wear other sandals, I have two words for you: pedicure and please.

3. To the Cute Little Thing Out With Grandma and Mom ~ The sound of flip flops should never ~ never ~ be heard while having tea at the Ritz. Learn this now.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Just For Fun on a Monday

Your Score: Bette Davis

You scored 33% grit, 28% wit, 23% flair, and 33% class!

You're one smart cookie, and you know it. You also know how to let everyone else in on the deal. You've worked hard to get where you are, and sometimes you might not have played fair. You are ruthless but charming, and the light of intelligence sparkles in your eyes. When cornered, you can and will act, but you'd rather have things go your way and live a life of ease and comfort. It's not a great idea to cross you; you will run the competition down like a rabbit, and leave them wondering what hit them. Your leading men include Errol Flynn and Paul Henreid, men who like a feisty gal with a touch of class.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

The truly interesting part is I took this test over at Alan's. It came up that I was Katherine Hepburn, which also works for me ~ a little too well, if truth be told. So, this morning when I decided to post it, I took the test again. And came up Bette. Could've sworn I gave the same answers I gave last time. So I took it again, this time choosing my second choice answers. And came up Bette. So I took it yet a third time (I have time on my hands while I getting my first cups of coffee into me ~ it's best that I do nothing that requires human interaction or thought.) The third time, I answered everything as opposite of me as I could. Didn't come up Bette so I know the program was working and not just defaulting to the Divine Davis. Okay. Last time and I will post whatever comes up. Apparently, I'm Bette today. :) Maybe tomorrow I'll go back to being Kate. Either is fine with me. I mean honestly, who can choose between Bette and Kate?????

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

Keeping things a little more lighthearted ~ it's confession time, people!

Question: What's the stupidest thing you've ever done to impress someone?

Pobble Answer: Although I've done crazy things to impress people (including walking into the fountain at Knott's Berry Farms amusement park up to my knees in order to make a 12-year old smile) I'm not often stupid. However, it has been known to happen and this was definitely The Stupidest... The summer before my freshman year in high school, the theatre where I worked was doing Wizard of Oz. In order to build the balloon basket that the Wizard flies away in, we had to split bamboo. This was my task. Which would have been fine ~ except Jason was also assigned to help split bamboo. And oh, what a Pobble Crush I had on Jason. It was destined to be unrequited and even I knew it at the time. He was to old to even see me that way~ sixteen. He was one of the cool kids at the high school. I had to be content with being his friend ~ which we were. But oh...in my little prepubescent heart... So, we each take a hammer and a flathead screwdriver and *wham* start splitting bamboo. And I miss. Slamming the hammer into the upper knuckle of my thumb. Jason sees this and asks if I'm okay. Now, not only was there this crush going on but we were in my theatre and damned if I was gonna let it show that I couldn't take it like an adult in my theatre. So I assured him I was fine and swung that hammer again. *wham* I have no idea how many times I *whammed* that knuckle. I know it was a lot. It was so many times that it finally stopped hurting altogether. The next day, I realized I had never seen so many colors in skin before. I didn't even know there could be so many colors in skin. The joint itself was three times its normal size. And I walked around with my hand in my pocket for nearly a month trying to hide it from everyone ~ especially my mom ~ because to let anyone see it was to admit I had done it and kept my mouth shut in order to impress Jason. To this day, when it is humid and cold, there is an ache there. The stupidest thing about it is I kept my mouth shut well enough that he didn't even notice ~ so couldn't be impressed. Ah well. ;)

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Weekend Ramblings

* A woman who did almost 4 years in jail for credit card and identity theft has written a fictionalized account of her life of crime. She's selling a lot of books and has a second novel contracted and awaiting publication. Hey ~ I can work credit card theft if that will help sell my books. :)

* Toward the end of May, I had dinner with the FAE (formerly known as the FAEE but she is no longer my editor, having moved on to bigger and better so that first e is now superfluous and therefore must be removed ~ digressing Pobble...) When I shared something with her, she not only took it in stride and accepted it but she got it. Down deep, the same way I get it. With a shy yet knowing smile. And that felt really nice. (And no, I'm not coming out. I'm still the pathetically heterosexual Pobble ~ as strange as that really is.)

* I'm getting tired of friends and acquaintances getting upset when I don't blog about *them.* Something important will happen in their lives, they will stop by the blog and then get upset when I haven't written about it. Suddenly, I get a nasty-gram or a tearful phone call or even hurt silence that isn't explained to me until months later. Guess what? The title of this blog is "Pobble Thoughts." Not "Pobble Thoughts About Other People Who Think They Should Be Written About Here." Want your special day memorialized? Write your own blog.

* In the last 36 hours, I have written on a) a trashy romance novel b) a proposal for another genre-specific dictionary and c)...a script for a short film involving a killer refrigerator. My writing life is as surreal as my personal one.

* My friend, Webstress, had a baby. You know the greatest thing about Webstress? She knows I'm excited for her. She knows I want to see her and meet Ziggy. She also knows I have a life that is rather unpredictable in terms of scheduling and that I am not all that fond of children until they hit 11 or 12. (She also could give a rat's ass that his birth wasn't announced here at the time, which is nice considering Weekend Rambling The Third.) Later this month, I will go see them and she doesn't take it personally that I didn't go within moments of his birth. I will ooh and ahh over Ziggy. I will do anything Webstress needs an extra hand with around the house. And we will talk about things other than just the baby and she won't make me hold him. Gotta love Webstress.

* Almost two weeks ago now, I got into a cleaning frenzy. Cleaning Frenzy. And my house is still clean! It's a Christmas Miracle in summer. Have faith, people. They do happen.

* As I was just sitting out on my balcony, a gaggle of geese flew by honking encouragement to each other. This is a sound that always brings me a melancholy kind of happiness but this morning, it was made even deeper by the completely unexpected nature of it. What a gift.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

P.s. ~ The A Minute In The Life project (see Lori over at "This Just In" ~ and I'm too lazy to link it right now, sorry) just took place. Here is the 2 o'clock picture I sent. I know, you're shocked. ;)

That and a buck fifty will still get you coffee.