Fabulous dialogue has begun down in the comments section of the previous post. It promises to be a conversation that creates reactions. :) It will also be respectful, even when we disagree.
It will, however, have to wait. We have moved beyond the scope of the original post so I feel this new topic about race and gender issues deserves its own post and attention. However, I am in the middle of (yet another) move and less than a week away from a deadline. (A note to my writer friends: don't try to move during crunch time. Seriously.) Had I realized I was going to start something this interesting with those buttons, I would have held off until I could give the conversation the attention it deserves.
So, Krystal, you are not being ignored or disregarded! Everyone else who wants to comment, you will not be ignored or disregarded. Next week, I'll repost and we can all continue (because I do love this stuff ~ it's the thing I love most about my country, I think, the ability to do this with one another!) Meanwhile, everybody either hold on to any further comments or add them to the section below and know they will be reposted once I'm back up and running. As always, please, stay respectful. Because after all, what started this was the fact that I do believe we are all better than "Liberals have low i.q.s" and "Conservatives are fascists."
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Nice Way of Putting It
Last night, Lithus and I were talking about an article he was reading that dealt with baby boomers retiring in vast numbers from wage-earning (as opposed to salaried) jobs. There was a nuance he didn't quite get so I say:
See, you've got Madge. She's 73, has been working at the diner for the last 50 years and if she's really lucky, with regulars and a decent boss and a state that has semi-appropriate laws, she's topped out at an average of $10 an hour. Now, her dogs are barking and she just wants to sit down and have Howie rub her feet.
Then I moved on from Madge and used her to explain the nuance. This morning, however, Madge made a reappearance during conversation for no apparent reason whatsoever. And this time, Howie was actually with her instead of just along the periphery. Howie was the cook, used to have a ducktail hairdo, and wandered around with his cigarettes rolled up in his tight, white t-shirt. He's retiring, too.
After this for-no-reason Madge and Howie interlude, I shook my head, looked at Lithus and asked "Where do these people come from?" To which he replied, "You're a writer. You see people and then fill them out, make them interesting."
Which is a much nicer way of putting it than I'm crazy and have voices in my head.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
See, you've got Madge. She's 73, has been working at the diner for the last 50 years and if she's really lucky, with regulars and a decent boss and a state that has semi-appropriate laws, she's topped out at an average of $10 an hour. Now, her dogs are barking and she just wants to sit down and have Howie rub her feet.
Then I moved on from Madge and used her to explain the nuance. This morning, however, Madge made a reappearance during conversation for no apparent reason whatsoever. And this time, Howie was actually with her instead of just along the periphery. Howie was the cook, used to have a ducktail hairdo, and wandered around with his cigarettes rolled up in his tight, white t-shirt. He's retiring, too.
After this for-no-reason Madge and Howie interlude, I shook my head, looked at Lithus and asked "Where do these people come from?" To which he replied, "You're a writer. You see people and then fill them out, make them interesting."
Which is a much nicer way of putting it than I'm crazy and have voices in my head.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
A Happy
Because a little happy is a good thing. Responses to comments on the last few posts are coming, I promise. For now, though, tell me if you don't think the penguin looks like the happiest penguin you've ever seen.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, June 13, 2008
But...But...But... (Amended)
NBC News and MSNBC
updated 2 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday, NBC News said. He was 58.
No further details were immediately available.
Russert, the recipient of 48 honorary doctorates, took over the helm of “Meet the Press” in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television.
In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
*sniff*
Those are sad Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
By now you know but still...
NBC News and MSNBC
updated 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after suffering a heart attack at the bureau. He was 58.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” broadcast when he collapsed. He was rushed to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Russert’s physician, Michael Newman, said cholesterol plaque ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.
Russert had earlier been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, but it was well-controlled with medication and exercise, and he had performed well on a stress test in late April, Newman said. An autopsy revealed that he also had an enlarged heart, Newman said.
Russert’s death left his colleagues devastated.
And not just his colleagues. Still very sad here, too. But...but...but...
I don't want Tim Russert to be dead. I guess I don't understand why we have to go through this momentous election without his wisdom and sheer enthusiasm to see us through it. I guess I don't want to have to trust someone else. I guess I don't want his voice to only be reruns. And I guess I don't quite understand why I have wept all day. Why as I write this, I have tears running down my cheeks. But I know his death has thrown me in a way Brokaw's or Williams' or Gibson's wouldn't have, in a way that makes no sense and isn't logical. It's difficult for me to be this thrown "for no reason." It's even more difficult for me to admit to being this thrown "for no reason." But I am. So be it.
*sniff*
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Pissed, Back Atcha
Now, I am aware that I live under a rock. My work keeps me isolated, in that I spend hours in my office, in front of my computer, by myself. My new location keeps me somewhat isolated, in that I don't yet have many friends out here with whom to shoot the shit. I do, however, pop my head up, not un-meerkat-like, to look around every now and then.
During a recent meerkat moment, I learned that many feminists are pissed at those of us who are female, feminists and voted for Barack Obama. I didn't just read this on one website. I didn't just hear this on one news program. This is, apparently, pretty widespread pissage. They say we dropped the ball. They say we let them down. They say we had the opportunity and we blew it.
Generally speaking, I do not respond to anger directed at me with anger directed back. I've always found that particular response a nasty form of deflection (albeit an effective one when used properly ~ which is probably why so many people use it) and hugely disrespectful. However, in this instance...
What The Fuck Are You Pissed At Us For?????????????
Did you listen to what Hillary Clinton was saying? Or did you do exactly what generation upon generation of men have done since the country began and pay attention only to her gender? Do you have such little faith that maybe, just maybe, we listened to you as we were growing up and took to heart the fact that we should vote for the person, not the gender? Do you have so little faith in yourselves and your ability to teach us this valuable lesson?
You tell me I've dropped the ball by nominating Barack Obama ~ a man whose policies, ideas and ideals are the ones that resonate with me, the ones I believe can move my country and my gender forward ~ instead of Hillary Clinton ~ a woman whose policies, ideas and ideals are very similar to Obama's and yet tactics and motives repulse and scare me. And yet you stand there and say you are going to vote for a man who has the potential and the ability to, at best, stagnate your cause and, at worst, set it back a generation and you are going to do this in solidarity with me? Oh fuck that.
Once again, you have to choose between two male presidential candidates. Guess what? So do I. And believe it or not, I didn't want to. Any more than you did. I wanted with all my heart to be able to cast a vote for a female president. I wept when Clinton announced her candidacy because it was going to happen and not just in my lifetime but while I was a young-ish woman. I was going to get to share this with my nieces and their grandmothers. At the prime of my life, I was going to get to watch my country which I love so much come into the prime of its. Instead, she lost me. I was hers to lose and she did it. And she did it because I listened to you growing up. Because I listened when you taught me that the best person should get the job. That gender shouldn't and doesn't matter.
Now you tell me that the best person should get the job...unless the best person is male? Or that gender shouldn't matter...unless the gender is male? And now, you strong, powerful women, whom I have always admired, whom I have always respected and aspired to emulate, now you tell me that it was all posturing?
Because if you do as you threaten, if you do indeed vote for McCain instead of Barack Obama, everything you've taught, fought and stood for is indeed just posturing. We can disagree on who would've been better for our cause, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. But one thing is obvious, by any standard you taught us: McCain is bad for our cause; Barack Obama is good for it. How dare you drop the ball.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
During a recent meerkat moment, I learned that many feminists are pissed at those of us who are female, feminists and voted for Barack Obama. I didn't just read this on one website. I didn't just hear this on one news program. This is, apparently, pretty widespread pissage. They say we dropped the ball. They say we let them down. They say we had the opportunity and we blew it.
Generally speaking, I do not respond to anger directed at me with anger directed back. I've always found that particular response a nasty form of deflection (albeit an effective one when used properly ~ which is probably why so many people use it) and hugely disrespectful. However, in this instance...
What The Fuck Are You Pissed At Us For?????????????
Did you listen to what Hillary Clinton was saying? Or did you do exactly what generation upon generation of men have done since the country began and pay attention only to her gender? Do you have such little faith that maybe, just maybe, we listened to you as we were growing up and took to heart the fact that we should vote for the person, not the gender? Do you have so little faith in yourselves and your ability to teach us this valuable lesson?
You tell me I've dropped the ball by nominating Barack Obama ~ a man whose policies, ideas and ideals are the ones that resonate with me, the ones I believe can move my country and my gender forward ~ instead of Hillary Clinton ~ a woman whose policies, ideas and ideals are very similar to Obama's and yet tactics and motives repulse and scare me. And yet you stand there and say you are going to vote for a man who has the potential and the ability to, at best, stagnate your cause and, at worst, set it back a generation and you are going to do this in solidarity with me? Oh fuck that.
Once again, you have to choose between two male presidential candidates. Guess what? So do I. And believe it or not, I didn't want to. Any more than you did. I wanted with all my heart to be able to cast a vote for a female president. I wept when Clinton announced her candidacy because it was going to happen and not just in my lifetime but while I was a young-ish woman. I was going to get to share this with my nieces and their grandmothers. At the prime of my life, I was going to get to watch my country which I love so much come into the prime of its. Instead, she lost me. I was hers to lose and she did it. And she did it because I listened to you growing up. Because I listened when you taught me that the best person should get the job. That gender shouldn't and doesn't matter.
Now you tell me that the best person should get the job...unless the best person is male? Or that gender shouldn't matter...unless the gender is male? And now, you strong, powerful women, whom I have always admired, whom I have always respected and aspired to emulate, now you tell me that it was all posturing?
Because if you do as you threaten, if you do indeed vote for McCain instead of Barack Obama, everything you've taught, fought and stood for is indeed just posturing. We can disagree on who would've been better for our cause, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. But one thing is obvious, by any standard you taught us: McCain is bad for our cause; Barack Obama is good for it. How dare you drop the ball.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Beginnings and Endings
You know what happened this week? A white person lost a presidential nomination. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? A black person won a presidential nomination. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? A woman took a presidential nomination down to the wire and helped create one of the tightest, most galvanized and most interesting primaries in history. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? A man had to pull out his A-game and treat a woman like an actual opponent, not just a side-show, in order to win a presidential nomination. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? An era ended.
You know what happened this week? An era began.
I thought it would feel better than it does.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
You know what happened this week? A black person won a presidential nomination. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? A woman took a presidential nomination down to the wire and helped create one of the tightest, most galvanized and most interesting primaries in history. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? A man had to pull out his A-game and treat a woman like an actual opponent, not just a side-show, in order to win a presidential nomination. This has never, ever happened in this country.
You know what happened this week? An era ended.
You know what happened this week? An era began.
I thought it would feel better than it does.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
5 To Me
One of my favorite reads (not linked...yet...but a favorite nonetheless) has this meme up:
Here are the rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions of a very personal nature.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.
As usual, I reserve the right to only interview people I know well enough to ask intelligent questions of.
My response was that I didn't think we knew each other well enough for him to interview me and yet, if there was something he wanted to ask, I'd be happy to answer. These are what he came up with. Some people who have been reading Pobble Thoughts for a while may already know the answers but hopefully I can put a twist on them that will be new to most people.
1. What prompted you to begin blogging?
The Lovely Cats actually inspired me to start blogging. Reading hers was a great way to keep up with her world and her life. Things were NOT good with my biofamily at the time and the people I consider my family were scattered. This seemed to be a good way to keep them in the loop while working out some of the issues that were arising with my biofamily. Once I started blogging, I discovered it was also a really good way to keep my writing skills honed.
2. What line of work are you in?
I'm a writer. My background is hugely varied and I have only been a full-time writer for about three years now. I can, however, say I am actually, really and truly a writer. I write both fiction and nonfiction ~ anything they will pay me to write. Over in my links section under "Places You Should Go" is a link to PT's Site. That's my nonfiction persona. My first novel comes out early next year. In fact, just today, we finally decided on a title: Falling In Love. Because yes, I write trashy romance novels. It doesn't suck.
3. Ghandi once said "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and you've done that by trying to enlighten your stepson. How has that fared?
Depending on how you wish this question to read, it is either going quite well or slowly and frustratingly. In terms of being the change I wish to see in the world generally, I do well with that. It is, in fact, one of the quotes by which I live my life. I am proud to say that I don't just talk the talk. Am I perfect? Aw hell no. Can I say that I walk it more often than I don't, even when it's not easy or convenient? Yes. I can. If you mean how is it going with Timber, the answer is different. That is harder. His mother and I have very different views on so much that I am having to be subtle and diplomatic. In trying not to trash his mother's views and thereby alienating him and/or making him feel he has to choose (which will only send him running towards her belief system that much faster, in my opinion), I am having to phrase things very differently than I would and do with, say, my 15 year old nephew. So I model as much as possible and say what I can when I can and work on presenting him with an alternative view. Again, I walk the walk and hope it makes an impact. I'm also getting really good at the stealth maneuver, where I can bring something up and teach a lesson where he isn't expecting one and doesn't realize it's happened until it's over. >:)
4. You've lived in different parts of the country. Any favorite place to live?
This answer is layered. First, Boston. Then Massachusetts. Then New England. Then any of the major cities in the northeast (Philly is a favorite.) However, first and foremost, favorite of all places, home of my heart is Boston. To the point that, if I don't live there or close to it, where I live is really irrelevant.
5. Any longterm plans or goals?
Oh Lord...how long do you have???? In no particular order and certainly not all-inclusively: Best selling author. Continued happiness. World travel. Eating spaghetti in the Medina of Morocco. Living in a gothic monstrosity. Being the eccentric writer who lives up on the cliff in the gothic monstrosity. A weekend with all my favorite people in one place. Peace and self-actualization. Living a life that gives me the greatest deathbed stories ever. Impacting the youth in my life positively. Earning my epitaph ("It was all true.") Feeding marsupials in Tanzania. Living in another country and a completely different culture. Adapting to a completely different culture. Continuing to live with integrity. Being in a position to give generously to causes that mean a great deal to me. Being "famous" (quotation marks intentional because I believe that fame is one of those things that can be defined differently by different people) enough that an appearance for a cause that means a great deal to me will matter and help bring about whatever they need it to. To be evacuated from a foreign country. To continue to cause people to think, feel, react, know, consider differently than they would otherwise. To continue to challenge myself to think, feel, react, know and consider differently. To go out every night, to somewhere or something different, every night for thirty nights in a row. To avoid complacency. To nap in the sun more often (or at least under a shade tree.) To experience as much as I can squeeze into this life I've got. Another one of the quotes I live my life by is Emile Zola's, "If you ask me what I came here to do, I will tell you I came to live out loud." Which really could have saved us all a lot of time and me a lot of typing because, really, that sums it all up, don't you think?
And as a footnote to that last question, I realized I was able to leave several goals off of it that would have been there just five years ago because they have been accomplished. Which really doesn't suck. :)
Those are Pobble Thoughts, with a little nudge from and especially for Denny. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Here are the rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions of a very personal nature.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.
As usual, I reserve the right to only interview people I know well enough to ask intelligent questions of.
My response was that I didn't think we knew each other well enough for him to interview me and yet, if there was something he wanted to ask, I'd be happy to answer. These are what he came up with. Some people who have been reading Pobble Thoughts for a while may already know the answers but hopefully I can put a twist on them that will be new to most people.
1. What prompted you to begin blogging?
The Lovely Cats actually inspired me to start blogging. Reading hers was a great way to keep up with her world and her life. Things were NOT good with my biofamily at the time and the people I consider my family were scattered. This seemed to be a good way to keep them in the loop while working out some of the issues that were arising with my biofamily. Once I started blogging, I discovered it was also a really good way to keep my writing skills honed.
2. What line of work are you in?
I'm a writer. My background is hugely varied and I have only been a full-time writer for about three years now. I can, however, say I am actually, really and truly a writer. I write both fiction and nonfiction ~ anything they will pay me to write. Over in my links section under "Places You Should Go" is a link to PT's Site. That's my nonfiction persona. My first novel comes out early next year. In fact, just today, we finally decided on a title: Falling In Love. Because yes, I write trashy romance novels. It doesn't suck.
3. Ghandi once said "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and you've done that by trying to enlighten your stepson. How has that fared?
Depending on how you wish this question to read, it is either going quite well or slowly and frustratingly. In terms of being the change I wish to see in the world generally, I do well with that. It is, in fact, one of the quotes by which I live my life. I am proud to say that I don't just talk the talk. Am I perfect? Aw hell no. Can I say that I walk it more often than I don't, even when it's not easy or convenient? Yes. I can. If you mean how is it going with Timber, the answer is different. That is harder. His mother and I have very different views on so much that I am having to be subtle and diplomatic. In trying not to trash his mother's views and thereby alienating him and/or making him feel he has to choose (which will only send him running towards her belief system that much faster, in my opinion), I am having to phrase things very differently than I would and do with, say, my 15 year old nephew. So I model as much as possible and say what I can when I can and work on presenting him with an alternative view. Again, I walk the walk and hope it makes an impact. I'm also getting really good at the stealth maneuver, where I can bring something up and teach a lesson where he isn't expecting one and doesn't realize it's happened until it's over. >:)
4. You've lived in different parts of the country. Any favorite place to live?
This answer is layered. First, Boston. Then Massachusetts. Then New England. Then any of the major cities in the northeast (Philly is a favorite.) However, first and foremost, favorite of all places, home of my heart is Boston. To the point that, if I don't live there or close to it, where I live is really irrelevant.
5. Any longterm plans or goals?
Oh Lord...how long do you have???? In no particular order and certainly not all-inclusively: Best selling author. Continued happiness. World travel. Eating spaghetti in the Medina of Morocco. Living in a gothic monstrosity. Being the eccentric writer who lives up on the cliff in the gothic monstrosity. A weekend with all my favorite people in one place. Peace and self-actualization. Living a life that gives me the greatest deathbed stories ever. Impacting the youth in my life positively. Earning my epitaph ("It was all true.") Feeding marsupials in Tanzania. Living in another country and a completely different culture. Adapting to a completely different culture. Continuing to live with integrity. Being in a position to give generously to causes that mean a great deal to me. Being "famous" (quotation marks intentional because I believe that fame is one of those things that can be defined differently by different people) enough that an appearance for a cause that means a great deal to me will matter and help bring about whatever they need it to. To be evacuated from a foreign country. To continue to cause people to think, feel, react, know, consider differently than they would otherwise. To continue to challenge myself to think, feel, react, know and consider differently. To go out every night, to somewhere or something different, every night for thirty nights in a row. To avoid complacency. To nap in the sun more often (or at least under a shade tree.) To experience as much as I can squeeze into this life I've got. Another one of the quotes I live my life by is Emile Zola's, "If you ask me what I came here to do, I will tell you I came to live out loud." Which really could have saved us all a lot of time and me a lot of typing because, really, that sums it all up, don't you think?
And as a footnote to that last question, I realized I was able to leave several goals off of it that would have been there just five years ago because they have been accomplished. Which really doesn't suck. :)
Those are Pobble Thoughts, with a little nudge from and especially for Denny. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Amazing to Behold
I wish I had time to post a picture. I really do. Lithus, Timber and I are heading out of town today (which will do wonders for the mood I was in the last week or so, I have no doubt. Digressing, Pobble...). We will be back Sunday afternoon. That's 48 hours and only one full day. I have no fewer than six complete outfits with me. And four pairs of shoes.
A long time ago, a friend looked at Crow Mother and said "Dahlink, you are a woman. You are allowed to travel with as many pairs of shoes as you want." I'm holding on to that.
Those are (well-dressed and ready for any occasion) Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
A long time ago, a friend looked at Crow Mother and said "Dahlink, you are a woman. You are allowed to travel with as many pairs of shoes as you want." I'm holding on to that.
Those are (well-dressed and ready for any occasion) Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Just Frustrated
Sometimes, I get frustrated. I remember the life I lived. I remember the promises I made to myself. I know the life I want. Weekly manicures; monthly pedicures, eyebrow waxing and hair cuts; fresh flowers; coffee on the porch or balcony; reading at the cafe; napping in the park; writing letters in the coffee shop; writing books in the diner; walking under the lights of the city; dinner after nine; a vacation once a year...maybe twice if that's not too much to ask for. Laughing with my friends. Holding hands with my love. Coffee, conversation and cocktails.
It's not supposed to be about what's on television, Deadliest Catch episodes, rented movies and long silences. It's not supposed to be about a trip to the grocery store or Target being a big day out or my walk being what gets me out of the house for a little while. It's not supposed to be about naps because I'm bored and have nothing else to do and laundry for three when I'm the only one here.
I lived it. I had it. I miss it. The friends I've shared this with really do understand. That's big. That's helpful. My partner really does understand. That's huge. That's more than helpful.
I know I will get there again. I know I just have to give it time. And usually, I can give it time. Usually, I'm okay with it being out there and soon instead of right here and now. Sometimes, though, sometimes I get frustrated.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
It's not supposed to be about what's on television, Deadliest Catch episodes, rented movies and long silences. It's not supposed to be about a trip to the grocery store or Target being a big day out or my walk being what gets me out of the house for a little while. It's not supposed to be about naps because I'm bored and have nothing else to do and laundry for three when I'm the only one here.
I lived it. I had it. I miss it. The friends I've shared this with really do understand. That's big. That's helpful. My partner really does understand. That's huge. That's more than helpful.
I know I will get there again. I know I just have to give it time. And usually, I can give it time. Usually, I'm okay with it being out there and soon instead of right here and now. Sometimes, though, sometimes I get frustrated.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Hellos and Goodbyes
I've bitten the bullet and edited my blogroll over there. Some of my favorite reads just aren't posting any more. D-Man said goodbye, which was nice. But doesn't make me miss him less. Dagoth just...went away several months ago. I miss everyone who has stopped blogging but am concerned about him the most. Hopefully, he quit posting because life got so busy with good stuff. Hopefully. Then there's Jaded. She got run off by some crazy hater people. Why do we have to hate? Can't disagreeing simply be enough? Apparently not. Speaker FTB...well, I know why he's not posting and what's got him busy ~ or at least I have a very strong suspicion, even if I haven't met her yet. I hope I'm right on that one, too. The exception is Don. He's still over there eventhough he hasn't posted regularly in a while. Don, you just don 't get to come off the blog roll. :)
I have, however, linked some other great reads.
Cam Pike and his ramblings on all things sport-ish. The poop had seats at the Red Sox no-hitter the other night. This allows me to hate him.
Ick Feh. Her name is Gabi. Her profile reads: Unable to choose a career, she is also overeducated, underemployed and always opinionated. :-) See why I'm glad I found her? We disagree on which is better, Boston or New York, but not much else.
A Real Live Lesbian. Just living her life and writing about it with an honesty that makes her readers think. At least this one.
And finally, Vanyel. Wisdom, wit, thoughts, scoldings and comments from north of the border. It's good to finally be able to link him!
Anyway, as much as I hate saying goodbye to old friends (who I hope start blogging again and let me know when they do!), finding new ones is always good, too. Hopefully, you'll enjoy them as much as I.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
I have, however, linked some other great reads.
Cam Pike and his ramblings on all things sport-ish. The poop had seats at the Red Sox no-hitter the other night. This allows me to hate him.
Ick Feh. Her name is Gabi. Her profile reads: Unable to choose a career, she is also overeducated, underemployed and always opinionated. :-) See why I'm glad I found her? We disagree on which is better, Boston or New York, but not much else.
A Real Live Lesbian. Just living her life and writing about it with an honesty that makes her readers think. At least this one.
And finally, Vanyel. Wisdom, wit, thoughts, scoldings and comments from north of the border. It's good to finally be able to link him!
Anyway, as much as I hate saying goodbye to old friends (who I hope start blogging again and let me know when they do!), finding new ones is always good, too. Hopefully, you'll enjoy them as much as I.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Great Popcorn Incident
At least one night every time Lithus goes on tour, I have popcorn for dinner. Tonight was the night for this tour. I had spent the evening cleaning the kitchen and doing dishes. Cooking wasn't high on the priority list. Popcorn time.
So, I poured the oil into the pot, added my five kernels and decided that, although there wasn't much popcorn left in the bag, there should be enough. The five kernels popped and I added what was left in the bag. There wasn't enough popcorn for that much oil. Ooops. Thinking quickly, I decide to open the next bag of popcorn. Which takes longer than it really needs to.
Finally, the bag gets opened and I, still thinking quickly but not wisely, take the lid off the pot but do not think I should put it down. Afterall, I have just cleaned the kitchen and don't want the oil ring on the clean stove top. Instead, I try to pour popcorn out of a full bag, one-handed. And proceed to dump about 3 cups of popcorn kernels into the pot. Which means I now have way too much popcorn for the oil. Way too much. Which now begins to scorch. So I have to take it off the heat and get it out of the pot. Only some of it is popping. While the rest of it is scorching. And the lid is off.
Tomorrow, I really need to clean my kitchen again. Tonight, I'm having a bagel.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
So, I poured the oil into the pot, added my five kernels and decided that, although there wasn't much popcorn left in the bag, there should be enough. The five kernels popped and I added what was left in the bag. There wasn't enough popcorn for that much oil. Ooops. Thinking quickly, I decide to open the next bag of popcorn. Which takes longer than it really needs to.
Finally, the bag gets opened and I, still thinking quickly but not wisely, take the lid off the pot but do not think I should put it down. Afterall, I have just cleaned the kitchen and don't want the oil ring on the clean stove top. Instead, I try to pour popcorn out of a full bag, one-handed. And proceed to dump about 3 cups of popcorn kernels into the pot. Which means I now have way too much popcorn for the oil. Way too much. Which now begins to scorch. So I have to take it off the heat and get it out of the pot. Only some of it is popping. While the rest of it is scorching. And the lid is off.
Tomorrow, I really need to clean my kitchen again. Tonight, I'm having a bagel.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, May 16, 2008
So Much For That
I admit it; I am a fan of the "I don't have time" excuse for not working out. Afterall, by the time you get changed, go for the walk, get home, get showered, get dressed again, you've gone through a lot of time, right? Right. Mind you, I know that if it is a priority, we make time. That's my point. ;)
However, today the temps are in the high 70s, low 80s. I wanted to be out. I wanted to go for my walk. So, when I got up, I simply dressed in my walking clothes. Did my morning thing and realized my latest addiction, The Deadliest Catch, was on at 11:00. Great. I would watch the show and go for my walk. At 11:59 a.m. by my kitchen clock, I was walking out the door.
My walk is two miles from my front door and back again. Not a marathon but a nice little way to get my heart rate up a bit. I take my two mile walk, get home, take a shower, shave, get dressed, do my hair, do my makeup, find my shoes and head into the kitchen for some coffee. According to my kitchen clock ~ the same one that read 11:59 as I left ~ now reads 1:03. Yep. An hour and four minutes to do all that. Guess I got time to work out, huh?
Damn.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
However, today the temps are in the high 70s, low 80s. I wanted to be out. I wanted to go for my walk. So, when I got up, I simply dressed in my walking clothes. Did my morning thing and realized my latest addiction, The Deadliest Catch, was on at 11:00. Great. I would watch the show and go for my walk. At 11:59 a.m. by my kitchen clock, I was walking out the door.
My walk is two miles from my front door and back again. Not a marathon but a nice little way to get my heart rate up a bit. I take my two mile walk, get home, take a shower, shave, get dressed, do my hair, do my makeup, find my shoes and head into the kitchen for some coffee. According to my kitchen clock ~ the same one that read 11:59 as I left ~ now reads 1:03. Yep. An hour and four minutes to do all that. Guess I got time to work out, huh?
Damn.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Getting Going Again
So...I've had a hard time posting again. But I don't want Daisy's death to be the end of my blog, either. So what am I doing? I'm stealing. With thanks to $$ Productions, who had this one up a while ago...
Here are the rules:
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
1. Where is your mobile phone? Kitchen
2. Your significant other? Beauty
3. Your hair? Curly
4. Your mother? Flighty
5. Your father? Santa
6. Your favorite thing? Life
7. Your dream last night? Forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? Seabreeze
9. Your dream/goal? Bestseller
10. The room you’re in? Den
11. Your ex? Military
12. Your fear? Spider
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Signing
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you’re not? Frantic
16. Muffins? Yes
17. One of your wish list items? Morocco
18. Where you grew up? Hell
19. The last thing you did? Snuggle
20. What are you wearing? Comfy
21. Your TV? There
22. Your pets? Lionel
23. Your computer? Viv
24. Your life? Enviable
25. Your mood? Quiet
26. Missing someone? Yes
27. Your car? Unbreakable
28. Something you’re not wearing? Slippers
29. Favorite Store? Online
30. Your summer? Missing
31. Like someone? Yes
32. Your favorite color? Blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? Saturday
34. Last time you cried? Daisy
35. Who will/would re-post this? Unknown
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Here are the rules:
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
1. Where is your mobile phone? Kitchen
2. Your significant other? Beauty
3. Your hair? Curly
4. Your mother? Flighty
5. Your father? Santa
6. Your favorite thing? Life
7. Your dream last night? Forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? Seabreeze
9. Your dream/goal? Bestseller
10. The room you’re in? Den
11. Your ex? Military
12. Your fear? Spider
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Signing
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you’re not? Frantic
16. Muffins? Yes
17. One of your wish list items? Morocco
18. Where you grew up? Hell
19. The last thing you did? Snuggle
20. What are you wearing? Comfy
21. Your TV? There
22. Your pets? Lionel
23. Your computer? Viv
24. Your life? Enviable
25. Your mood? Quiet
26. Missing someone? Yes
27. Your car? Unbreakable
28. Something you’re not wearing? Slippers
29. Favorite Store? Online
30. Your summer? Missing
31. Like someone? Yes
32. Your favorite color? Blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? Saturday
34. Last time you cried? Daisy
35. Who will/would re-post this? Unknown
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Monday, April 28, 2008
They Come in Threes, You Know
My baby Daisy died yesterday. When Don posted about his Daisy and the the Lovely Cats posted about Cinderella, I actually thought hmmm...I wonder if Daisy will make three... before deciding she probably wouldn't because, while she certainly wasn't getting younger, she wasn't sinking terribly quickly either. She was just being herself.
Lithus and I needed to be on the road for work so we called SuperSitter who was more than happy to come visit with them. But on Saturday, she called Lithus' cell phone. We couldn't leave Saturday but we were able to leave Sunday instead of Monday and made it home in time.
I think she was waiting for me. I picked her up about 4:30 and held her and rocked her and let her know I was there. We went outside and sat in the fresh air and the sun for a little while. We rocked and talked and sang for almost two hours. I told her she was going to meet my dad and he would take care of her until I got there and not to worry when it was a long time before I showed up; I wasn't going to ever forget her and would be there eventually. She was in my arms when she died. I have to think that she knew I had made it home to her.
When I got them, we discussed three years. I knew we were on borrowed time so figured three years would be good. Bless her, she managed to give me two and a half. I'll take 'em. Everyone talks about how I was the one who gave so much to her. How I saved her life. And that's true enough. I did. What people don't often get though is how much she gave to me, that she saved my life, too.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Lithus and I needed to be on the road for work so we called SuperSitter who was more than happy to come visit with them. But on Saturday, she called Lithus' cell phone. We couldn't leave Saturday but we were able to leave Sunday instead of Monday and made it home in time.
I think she was waiting for me. I picked her up about 4:30 and held her and rocked her and let her know I was there. We went outside and sat in the fresh air and the sun for a little while. We rocked and talked and sang for almost two hours. I told her she was going to meet my dad and he would take care of her until I got there and not to worry when it was a long time before I showed up; I wasn't going to ever forget her and would be there eventually. She was in my arms when she died. I have to think that she knew I had made it home to her.
When I got them, we discussed three years. I knew we were on borrowed time so figured three years would be good. Bless her, she managed to give me two and a half. I'll take 'em. Everyone talks about how I was the one who gave so much to her. How I saved her life. And that's true enough. I did. What people don't often get though is how much she gave to me, that she saved my life, too.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Tagged, x2
The word is out: I love tags. Akakarma (http://myveryownkarma.blogspot.com/) and GNightGirl have both tagged me. Since I'm a little short on time right now, I'm combining them. Something tells me they understand time crunch.
Akakarma's tag is to list 7 weird/unusual things about yourself. Here goes:
1. I have a bachelor's of science degree. This is weird because 1. the thought of me accomplishing anything science-y on the level that would allow me to get a degree in it is laughable and 2. my degree is pre-law and I don't consider that science-y. Especially considering I have friends who accused me of going into it in order to avoid taking more math classes.
2. My baths have to be HOT. I've secretly wondered if I'm not one of those frogs that will allow itself to be cooked alive if you increase the heat of the water it's in slowly enough.
3. All my life, I have wanted to live in a hotel. This is because of the book, Eloise. Preferably, I would live in a Ritz. Yes, a Ritz would be ideal, thankyouverymuch.
4. When I shave, I shave my right leg first. Shaving my left leg or under my arms first throws the entire shower out of whack.
5. My favorite vegetable to add to spaghetti sauce is peas. Obviously, I prefer the really fresh, spring peas. However, I keep frozen ones year-round in order to have them in winter spaghetti, too.
6. I have seven email addresses. I check two of them everyday. I check one of them occasionally. I never check the other four.
7. I always travel with dental floss and a candle. They aren't related in any way except that I keep them in my suitcase, ready to go, when I am.
And the second tag, from Lori, the GNightGirl: Write your own six word memoir. It can only be six words. Here are mine ~
It was all true.
Believe everything.
Now, for the tags...
1. Krystal
2. Graziella
3. Real Live Lesbian
4. Don (in the hope that it will give him something gentle, easy and maybe fun to post about)
5. Dylan, from Out In The Middle Of Idaho
6. Anyone else who wants to play
7. You! (of course)
Take one. Take the other. Take 'em both. Or don't take them at all. Just let me know if you play. ;)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Akakarma's tag is to list 7 weird/unusual things about yourself. Here goes:
1. I have a bachelor's of science degree. This is weird because 1. the thought of me accomplishing anything science-y on the level that would allow me to get a degree in it is laughable and 2. my degree is pre-law and I don't consider that science-y. Especially considering I have friends who accused me of going into it in order to avoid taking more math classes.
2. My baths have to be HOT. I've secretly wondered if I'm not one of those frogs that will allow itself to be cooked alive if you increase the heat of the water it's in slowly enough.
3. All my life, I have wanted to live in a hotel. This is because of the book, Eloise. Preferably, I would live in a Ritz. Yes, a Ritz would be ideal, thankyouverymuch.
4. When I shave, I shave my right leg first. Shaving my left leg or under my arms first throws the entire shower out of whack.
5. My favorite vegetable to add to spaghetti sauce is peas. Obviously, I prefer the really fresh, spring peas. However, I keep frozen ones year-round in order to have them in winter spaghetti, too.
6. I have seven email addresses. I check two of them everyday. I check one of them occasionally. I never check the other four.
7. I always travel with dental floss and a candle. They aren't related in any way except that I keep them in my suitcase, ready to go, when I am.
And the second tag, from Lori, the GNightGirl: Write your own six word memoir. It can only be six words. Here are mine ~
It was all true.
Believe everything.
Now, for the tags...
1. Krystal
2. Graziella
3. Real Live Lesbian
4. Don (in the hope that it will give him something gentle, easy and maybe fun to post about)
5. Dylan, from Out In The Middle Of Idaho
6. Anyone else who wants to play
7. You! (of course)
Take one. Take the other. Take 'em both. Or don't take them at all. Just let me know if you play. ;)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
The Sunday Poll Question is being preempted today for a request.
Today Lori, aka GNightGirl from "This Just In" is having an auction to raise money for her sister, Teri Pittman. Teri is fighting rare granulosa/germ cell ovarian cancer, which is inoperable. She is doing a magnificent and truly admirable job of fighting this thing. Only medical costs are rising in spite of the family's insurance.
The auction should be a grand party. Lots of laughter, music, some great items up for bid (full disclosure ~ I've offered up an item myself) and an overall celebration of life. Wouldn't you just love to be there? Yeah, me too.
Since most of us can't be though, instead of answering a poll question today, send some joy Lori and Teri's way. Sure, prayers are welcome (aren't they always? seriously...) but more than prayers, I'm requesting happiness, celebration, joy, kick-ass-lift-a-glass-open-the-windows-and-let-the-light-in kind of goodness. Leave 'em here. Leave 'em over at Lori's (I'm going to figure out why I can't link anymore and FIX IT, dammit!). Hell, leave 'em both places. And at some point today, lift your glass, your mug, your protein shake, whatever, to Teri and cheer.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, April 18, 2008
My Fault
Remember last weekend, I said you could blame me if we got hit with more snow?
Yeah...
My apologies to anyone else who got hit today. Or who is still getting hit tonight.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Yeah...
My apologies to anyone else who got hit today. Or who is still getting hit tonight.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Interlude
I'm not fond of this song, honestly. It's a bit depressing for me. Usually, I'm more of an AC/DC type o'gal. That being said, I have reason for posting it that has nothing to do with the song itself, only oodles and oodles of pride. The picture is irrelevant as well, although I do thank Lithus for loaning it to me. Turn up the volume, click play and Enjoy!
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
<--------- Over There
Psssttt... There it is...
<----------- <----------- Over there.
In the "Places You Should Go" section. The new web site.
God, this is surreal. I'm grateful. To so many people. For so much. I'm blessed. I'm lucky.
Check it out.
<---------- Over there.
OMG, this is so cool. :)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
<----------- <----------- Over there.
In the "Places You Should Go" section. The new web site.
God, this is surreal. I'm grateful. To so many people. For so much. I'm blessed. I'm lucky.
Check it out.
<---------- Over there.
OMG, this is so cool. :)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
It's Spring and the weather has caught up with that fact here in the Pacific Northwest and I'm just not in a thinky mood At All. Yesterday, Lithus, Timber and I grabbed a bucket of chicken, went for a drive along the coast and settled in at a park for a picnic. Lazing in the sun, laughing with each other and enjoying the day. Yep, it was one of those days. Which got me to reminiscing about other of those days in my life. Which is about all the thinky I'm up for right now. So...
Question ~ What is a day or a moment in your life that sticks out as particularly special?
Pobble Answer ~ I have so many of these, it's really hard to choose only one. Interestingly enough, most of them include the Lovely Cats. However, I will choose one that doesn't, just to keep it interesting: My 18th birthday. The night before, my parents had thrown me a surprise birthday party. My best friend had spent the night. And we woke up to rain that morning. I realized that my windows were down on my car ~ a great little Mustang GT. (I loved that car. Still do. Digressing, Pobble...) Anyway! I raced down in my pajamas to get the windows up. When I turned the key in the ignition, my music started playing (very loudly as has always been my wont.) It was Superman by R.E.M. Instead of putting up the windows, I just started dancing. There in the rain. In my pajamas. On my birthday. I am, I am, I am Superman... And I can do anything... I could. And I have. That moment has stayed with me for twenty years now and its memory still makes me smile.
Your answer...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Question ~ What is a day or a moment in your life that sticks out as particularly special?
Pobble Answer ~ I have so many of these, it's really hard to choose only one. Interestingly enough, most of them include the Lovely Cats. However, I will choose one that doesn't, just to keep it interesting: My 18th birthday. The night before, my parents had thrown me a surprise birthday party. My best friend had spent the night. And we woke up to rain that morning. I realized that my windows were down on my car ~ a great little Mustang GT. (I loved that car. Still do. Digressing, Pobble...) Anyway! I raced down in my pajamas to get the windows up. When I turned the key in the ignition, my music started playing (very loudly as has always been my wont.) It was Superman by R.E.M. Instead of putting up the windows, I just started dancing. There in the rain. In my pajamas. On my birthday. I am, I am, I am Superman... And I can do anything... I could. And I have. That moment has stayed with me for twenty years now and its memory still makes me smile.
Your answer...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Busy Doing Nothing
It was decided that PT, my non-fiction writing persona, needed a website. Lithus has loads of experience doing just such things so he volunteered. Poor baby...
All weekend, "we" have been building my site. What this means is that Lithus has spent hours and hours in front of his computer doing things I will never hope to understand; making sketches at my request; uploading; downloading; spacing; gif-ing, jpg-ing and png-ing; tweaking; colorizing; scaling; coding; creating...you get the idea.
I am sitting next to him playing minesweeper on my computer.
See, every so often, he says "How's this?" and I have to look. Bless him, sometimes I smother him with kisses. Other times, I look and say "hmmmm...could we...?" At which point, his shoulders only slump a little bit before he agrees. If he's lucky, the next time I look, the result is kisses. Occasionally, it's been "hmmmm...but what if we..." or even, a couple of dastardly times, "hmmm...I liked it better before." And his shoulders only slump a little. At the end of each day, he is gracious enough to say "We got a lot done today." And I feel as busy as if we had. But I know we haven't done squat. Except lose a lot of minesweeper.
Did I mention hours and days?
I don't know if it's true that behind every good man is a good woman. I do know, behind every good writer is a good website ~ and an incredibly patient webmaster.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
All weekend, "we" have been building my site. What this means is that Lithus has spent hours and hours in front of his computer doing things I will never hope to understand; making sketches at my request; uploading; downloading; spacing; gif-ing, jpg-ing and png-ing; tweaking; colorizing; scaling; coding; creating...you get the idea.
I am sitting next to him playing minesweeper on my computer.
See, every so often, he says "How's this?" and I have to look. Bless him, sometimes I smother him with kisses. Other times, I look and say "hmmmm...could we...?" At which point, his shoulders only slump a little bit before he agrees. If he's lucky, the next time I look, the result is kisses. Occasionally, it's been "hmmmm...but what if we..." or even, a couple of dastardly times, "hmmm...I liked it better before." And his shoulders only slump a little. At the end of each day, he is gracious enough to say "We got a lot done today." And I feel as busy as if we had. But I know we haven't done squat. Except lose a lot of minesweeper.
Did I mention hours and days?
I don't know if it's true that behind every good man is a good woman. I do know, behind every good writer is a good website ~ and an incredibly patient webmaster.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
Here's a little something about me: as good as I am with words and the verbal parry, if I'm not expecting something, I can be very slow thinking on my feet. Someone will say something and I will go into vapor lock. It can be hours, days or even weeks before I realize "Wait a minute..." When I was in my teens and twenties, I would let it go. I had the attitude that if I didn't say it at the time, I had missed my chance. Now, not so much. Now, I am perfectly comfortable going to the person and asking to revisit the conversation. This comfort, however, hasn't come in time for me to revisit all the conversations.
Which is the Sunday Poll Question...
Question ~ If you could go back and say something to someone, what would it be?
Pobble Answer ~ I would go back to the two other directors of the organization I worked for in Colorado and say, to Tami: Acknowledging the possibility of something is not the same thing as assuming that something is fact. Get over it. And yes, I did bring him to you for training so don't put it on me that he wasn't trained well. All I did was set him up with paperwork. After he got the paperwork, I brought him to your office and told you he was ready to be trained. Get over it. And to Sandra: You gave us personal days just yesterday. Don't get upset with her when she calls in and uses one. No, she shouldn't have to lie and tell you she's sick. "I'm taking a personal day" is a perfectly good call-out when we have just been told we have personal days.
Wow. It feels good to finally say those, even if it's not to the women themselves. Try it. ;)
Your answer ~
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Which is the Sunday Poll Question...
Question ~ If you could go back and say something to someone, what would it be?
Pobble Answer ~ I would go back to the two other directors of the organization I worked for in Colorado and say, to Tami: Acknowledging the possibility of something is not the same thing as assuming that something is fact. Get over it. And yes, I did bring him to you for training so don't put it on me that he wasn't trained well. All I did was set him up with paperwork. After he got the paperwork, I brought him to your office and told you he was ready to be trained. Get over it. And to Sandra: You gave us personal days just yesterday. Don't get upset with her when she calls in and uses one. No, she shouldn't have to lie and tell you she's sick. "I'm taking a personal day" is a perfectly good call-out when we have just been told we have personal days.
Wow. It feels good to finally say those, even if it's not to the women themselves. Try it. ;)
Your answer ~
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Oh. My. Goodness.
Here's an open secret for you ~ I write for a little, independent, freebie newspaper out of northern Washington and have since last summer. Every month, I write a column about whatever happens to be happening in my world. When I was in New England, they were things that were going on there. Since coming out here, they've been things that have been going on here. The style is very similar to my Pobble Thoughts. I've known they were running but, because of logistics, I have yet to see a hard copy of the paper.
Last night, Lithus and I went to the club where I first met the editor of this paper. She and I haven't caught up in person since the night we met and I got the writing gig, ten months ago. We were hugging and gabbing and all that when she grabbed the mic from the stage and announced my presence. And the evening changed.
People came up and introduced themselves. People wanted to meet "the writer from Boston." People wanted to shake my hand. People have been reading, enjoying and really appreciating the articles. People wanted to ask about Boston and the move here to Washington. People said that, as they read my articles, they felt I was speaking to and for them. People said they had hoped to meet me one day.
It was flattering and surreal. All I was hoping to do was have a night on the town with Lithus. I ended up meeting fans. All because of a monthly article I wasn't sure anyone was even reading.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Those are still stunned Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Last night, Lithus and I went to the club where I first met the editor of this paper. She and I haven't caught up in person since the night we met and I got the writing gig, ten months ago. We were hugging and gabbing and all that when she grabbed the mic from the stage and announced my presence. And the evening changed.
People came up and introduced themselves. People wanted to meet "the writer from Boston." People wanted to shake my hand. People have been reading, enjoying and really appreciating the articles. People wanted to ask about Boston and the move here to Washington. People said that, as they read my articles, they felt I was speaking to and for them. People said they had hoped to meet me one day.
It was flattering and surreal. All I was hoping to do was have a night on the town with Lithus. I ended up meeting fans. All because of a monthly article I wasn't sure anyone was even reading.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Those are still stunned Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Weekday Ramblings
* I am officially and formally a member of a guild and a trade association. This pleases me to no end.
* Target makes me disproportionately happy, to the point that it doesn't matter they are all alike, everywhere. I want to go in every time I see a new one.
* When people try to sound smart, they usually end up sounding really stupid. This annoys me more than if they just sounded stupid to begin with.
* GOML! bought my book. He didn't have to. He's not a businessman, let alone an American businessman. He just did 'cause he "knows" me. This makes me happier than Target.
* Happy Birthday to Jaded and the Lovely Cats.
* Knowing what your sister wants for her funeral isn't morbid; it's actually a bit of a relief because it means you know you'll do it right. Now I just have to return the favor.
* If I wasn't afraid to jinx it, I would say that the weather has caught up with the fact that Spring is here. If we get another three inches of snow, it's my fault. Feel free to blame me.
* Getting all the "little things" handled can be more of a weight off my shoulders than any of the "big things" ever are.
* Having a job that allows you to shop, get manicures, drink coffee, eat pastries and meet new people really doesn't suck. On any level.
* I can tell which dog has fallen off the bed based on the sound of the landing.
* Getting woken up from a nap by Lithus presenting me with flowers is a lovely way to wake up.
* Parents who don't put their kids first really piss me the fuck off.
* Only one of my male readers had any comment about the post on Things That Cannot Be Explained and the question about shaving balls. This intrigues me.
* I have less of a problem with people who stay in bad situations when they are willing to admit just how bad the situation is ~ and yet there is something that makes them need to stay for now. If the person tries to minimize or pretend the situation isn't what it so obviously is, I have to remove myself or else I become...unhelpful, shall we say.
* I didn't realize just how much I had missed my music ~ until I got it back.
* Peanut M&Ms are a gift from the Gods.
* As much as I hate being on the phone, getting a phone call from the right person at the right time is really nice.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
* Target makes me disproportionately happy, to the point that it doesn't matter they are all alike, everywhere. I want to go in every time I see a new one.
* When people try to sound smart, they usually end up sounding really stupid. This annoys me more than if they just sounded stupid to begin with.
* GOML! bought my book. He didn't have to. He's not a businessman, let alone an American businessman. He just did 'cause he "knows" me. This makes me happier than Target.
* Happy Birthday to Jaded and the Lovely Cats.
* Knowing what your sister wants for her funeral isn't morbid; it's actually a bit of a relief because it means you know you'll do it right. Now I just have to return the favor.
* If I wasn't afraid to jinx it, I would say that the weather has caught up with the fact that Spring is here. If we get another three inches of snow, it's my fault. Feel free to blame me.
* Getting all the "little things" handled can be more of a weight off my shoulders than any of the "big things" ever are.
* Having a job that allows you to shop, get manicures, drink coffee, eat pastries and meet new people really doesn't suck. On any level.
* I can tell which dog has fallen off the bed based on the sound of the landing.
* Getting woken up from a nap by Lithus presenting me with flowers is a lovely way to wake up.
* Parents who don't put their kids first really piss me the fuck off.
* Only one of my male readers had any comment about the post on Things That Cannot Be Explained and the question about shaving balls. This intrigues me.
* I have less of a problem with people who stay in bad situations when they are willing to admit just how bad the situation is ~ and yet there is something that makes them need to stay for now. If the person tries to minimize or pretend the situation isn't what it so obviously is, I have to remove myself or else I become...unhelpful, shall we say.
* I didn't realize just how much I had missed my music ~ until I got it back.
* Peanut M&Ms are a gift from the Gods.
* As much as I hate being on the phone, getting a phone call from the right person at the right time is really nice.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
Several of my exes will tell you I am a self-centered, self-absorbed bitch. And you know what? I'm okay with that label because, odds are good, that if I have that reputation with someone, I have earned that reputation. I'll do the big things for anyone I'm dating ~ that's part of dating. But little, thoughtful, for-no-reason-but-I-love-you things? Not so much. I have to really love someone deeply before I really want to go out of my way for the little things. See? Self-centered, self-absorbed bitch and really okay with that. Otherwise, I'll do my thing, you do your thing and if our things happen to coincide, great! If not, eh...I'm not terribly concerned. While I have loved to do these things for my friends for a very long time, it's also been a very long time since I've wanted to go out of my way to do one of those little, special things for a partner. I do again and it's nice. It's also the Sunday Poll Question.
Question ~ What little thing do you enjoy doing for your significant other? And please note, I didn't use the word partner or spouse. That was intentional. Feel free to define "significant other" any way you choose: partner, best friend, parent, whomever.
Pobble Answer ~ When Lithus is on tour, I regress a bit with my housekeeping (okay, more than a little bit) and go back to living very much like the bachelor I was before we met. You can ask Jaded and the Divine M, as they tend to be the recipients of the groaning "I don't want to clean..." emails the day before Lithus is due home. Because I do clean before he gets home. Still, that's not entirely just for him. For as strong as my slovenly nature is, even I can only live in crack house squalor for so long. Lithus' return is just a good catalyst. Then there is the blanket. Officially, the blanket belongs to both of us, a holiday gift from MomCat. In reality, I have no claim to the blanket at all. It is completely and totally Lithus' blanket and has been since about 20 minutes after we unwrapped the thing. Every night, Lithus wraps himself in this thing cocoon-like. When he's on tour, sometimes I sleep under it, sometimes I don't. The point is, it doesn't get dirty or doggy or anything like that while he's away. Still, the day before he gets home, I make sure his blanket is washed and clean and smelling good. It stays folded and on his dresser that night so that his first night home, he has a clean, fresh blanket to cocoon into. The smile on his face and the sigh as he sinks back into his own bed, on his own pillow...and snuggled down into his own blanket makes it completely wonderful for me as well.
Your answer ~
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Question ~ What little thing do you enjoy doing for your significant other? And please note, I didn't use the word partner or spouse. That was intentional. Feel free to define "significant other" any way you choose: partner, best friend, parent, whomever.
Pobble Answer ~ When Lithus is on tour, I regress a bit with my housekeeping (okay, more than a little bit) and go back to living very much like the bachelor I was before we met. You can ask Jaded and the Divine M, as they tend to be the recipients of the groaning "I don't want to clean..." emails the day before Lithus is due home. Because I do clean before he gets home. Still, that's not entirely just for him. For as strong as my slovenly nature is, even I can only live in crack house squalor for so long. Lithus' return is just a good catalyst. Then there is the blanket. Officially, the blanket belongs to both of us, a holiday gift from MomCat. In reality, I have no claim to the blanket at all. It is completely and totally Lithus' blanket and has been since about 20 minutes after we unwrapped the thing. Every night, Lithus wraps himself in this thing cocoon-like. When he's on tour, sometimes I sleep under it, sometimes I don't. The point is, it doesn't get dirty or doggy or anything like that while he's away. Still, the day before he gets home, I make sure his blanket is washed and clean and smelling good. It stays folded and on his dresser that night so that his first night home, he has a clean, fresh blanket to cocoon into. The smile on his face and the sigh as he sinks back into his own bed, on his own pillow...and snuggled down into his own blanket makes it completely wonderful for me as well.
Your answer ~
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Earth Hour
Here's a cool idea: people are turning off their lights tonight (March 29th) from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time. One hour. That's all.
According to a Yahoo Green! article by Trystan L. Bass, What difference can an hour make? You'd be surprised -- when 2.2 million residents and 2,100 businesses in Sydney, Australia, all turned off their lights for an hour in 2007, they reduced energy use by 10.2% that day. That's equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road.
Well...cool. I can do this. And maybe you can too. At least think about it. Because candlelight is both romantic, for those of you in partnerships, and peaceful, for those of you alone tonight. Neither of those things suck.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
According to a Yahoo Green! article by Trystan L. Bass, What difference can an hour make? You'd be surprised -- when 2.2 million residents and 2,100 businesses in Sydney, Australia, all turned off their lights for an hour in 2007, they reduced energy use by 10.2% that day. That's equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road.
Well...cool. I can do this. And maybe you can too. At least think about it. Because candlelight is both romantic, for those of you in partnerships, and peaceful, for those of you alone tonight. Neither of those things suck.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Things That Cannot Be Explained, Pt. 1
Over the past ten days or so, I've realized there are some things that cannot be explained. You either get them intuitively or you don't get them at all. Things such as...
* Why "Do you shave your balls?" is a really bad pick-up line. This was an actual line used on Lithus and his crew in Childress, Texas. Now, sweetheart, I understand why you want out of Childress. I understand why you want out so badly you're willing to leave with any man passing through, even one who would respond to aforementioned pick-up line. But sweetheart, it is still a really bad pick-up line. You either get this or you don't.
* Why "Do you shave your balls?" would ever be used as a pick-up line. Poor Lithus and crew were very confused. Sure, some of these guys are small town guys. But they are not Childress-Texas-small small town guys and, honestly, they are guys. At no point were they taught the only and best way to escape from their small towns was on the coattails (or helicopter passenger seat) of someone passing through. So they had no idea how badly they were being outmaneuvered. Or that they weren't men but prey. Big, strapping, meaty prey ~ that would be leaving town in a week or so. You either get this or you don't.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ which is pretty easy to understand.
* Why "Do you shave your balls?" is a really bad pick-up line. This was an actual line used on Lithus and his crew in Childress, Texas. Now, sweetheart, I understand why you want out of Childress. I understand why you want out so badly you're willing to leave with any man passing through, even one who would respond to aforementioned pick-up line. But sweetheart, it is still a really bad pick-up line. You either get this or you don't.
* Why "Do you shave your balls?" would ever be used as a pick-up line. Poor Lithus and crew were very confused. Sure, some of these guys are small town guys. But they are not Childress-Texas-small small town guys and, honestly, they are guys. At no point were they taught the only and best way to escape from their small towns was on the coattails (or helicopter passenger seat) of someone passing through. So they had no idea how badly they were being outmaneuvered. Or that they weren't men but prey. Big, strapping, meaty prey ~ that would be leaving town in a week or so. You either get this or you don't.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ which is pretty easy to understand.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
It's Official
I am now a resident of the state of Washington. Yeah, I was supposed to do it a little sooner, I admit it. First I wanted to make sure this whole living-with-Lithus thing was going to work and I wasn't going to be moving home in a week. But, honestly, a larger part of it was I just wasn't ready to not be a resident of Massachusetts yet. My Mass plates and driver's license were really important. I am, afterall, the Boston Pobble.Here we are, though. I'm a long way from home yet...I'm here. Officially. And it's good.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
There's a blogswarm this weekend. Depending on who your source of information is, the swarm is either on writing against theocracy or writing about the separation of church and state. (My initial source was Cracker Lilo who has written a beautiful piece on this as well, which I encourage you to check out. You're going to have to go over to my links section there on the left, though, because I seem to have completely lost the ability to link within my post. Technology and I aren't friends. Digressing...) Either way, being me, I went to my beloved ~ if rapidly becoming obsolete ~ Constitution. And here's what I found (as I knew I would): "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free expression thereof..." (God, I love these guys. Such rebels. Digressing...) The First Amendment. Oh yeah, I could write on this. And I'd probably piss off a lot of believers and non-believers at the same time. "...no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free expression thereof..." Good stuff. But then I really got to thinking. What does it mean? And the Sunday Poll Question was born.
Question ~ What does the separation of church and state mean to you?
Pobble Answer ~ First, and easiest, it means I can be Pagan; the Lovely Cats, Jaded and Krystal can be very different Christians; the FE, Nemeria and Webmistress can be Jewish; Lithus and Coffee Girl can be not sure what they believe; and the rest of you can fall wherever the rest of you fall. That's the easy answer.
It also means we all have to put up with each other. We all must be allowed to practice our faith openly, so long as it doesn't infringe on someone else's. And that's where it gets sticky. Over the last few decades, this has come to mean institutionalized atheism. But that's not separation of church and state; it's not "no law respecting...the free expression thereof..." A prayer over the PA system at a school is too much. It shoves that faith down the throats of all the students, not just offers the opportunity for children of that faith to express that faith. A minute of silence? That's perfectly acceptable. It gives everyone a chance to pray ~ or not pray ~ however they choose. No one's beliefs are disregarded. And frankly, more power to anyone who can manage to keep an entire school quiet for one whole minute.
Christmas trees or manager scenes in public, nonsecular places? Fine. That's the free expression of religion. Should there be, in public, nonsecular places, menorahs and Santa Claus as well in order to represent the free expression of other religions and beliefs? Absolutely. Because that's free expression of faith ~ or lack of it ~ as well. Christians don't have the corner on the Winter holidays ~ and neither do atheists.
Separation of church and state isn't about never being exposed to another faith or belief system. It's about being exposed to all of them. It isn't about having leaders who are the "right" kind of Christian. It's about having leaders who have a strong enough moral compass to recognize there is no "wrong" when it comes to religion. It's not about banning the phrase "Merry Christmas." It's about not being offended when someone responds with "Happy Holidays" ... or "Blessed Yule." It's not about fundamentalist Christians fighting for their religion to be the law of the land any more than it is about angry atheists fighting for their lack of religion to be the law of the land.
It's about all religions and beliefs ~ and the free expression thereof ~ having a place. At least to me. What about you?
Your answer ~
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Spring
Today is one of my favorite holidays. That's the thing about being Pagan ~ we get a lot of them. But there is something about Spring that is special to me. The transitional seasons (Spring and Autumn) have always been my favorites, anyway, even before I was Pagan. There is something preparatory, anticipatory, about them. Anything is possible during these times.
Autumn brings a centeredness to my soul that is important, actually vital. But Spring...Spring brings to my soul what it brings to the Earth. A slow budding of potential. Life re-emerging. It is so slow as to be almost imperceptible. Is the grass actually greener than it was this morning? Did that tree have buds on it last night? And yet it is there. And it is powerful beyond measure.
So especially today, I wish you the gentle yet insistent power of the season. May the Spring bring to your soul all it has yearned for during the dark winter. Blessed Be.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Autumn brings a centeredness to my soul that is important, actually vital. But Spring...Spring brings to my soul what it brings to the Earth. A slow budding of potential. Life re-emerging. It is so slow as to be almost imperceptible. Is the grass actually greener than it was this morning? Did that tree have buds on it last night? And yet it is there. And it is powerful beyond measure.
So especially today, I wish you the gentle yet insistent power of the season. May the Spring bring to your soul all it has yearned for during the dark winter. Blessed Be.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I Wonder If We'll Do It
Barack Obama has done it. He has opened up the discussion of race in an adult, responsible way. He has given us the opportunity to step up, to speak and to listen. He has offered us the chance to take responsibility for our own feelings. He has pointed out the obligation we have to speak and to listen.
I wonder if we'll take him up on it.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
I wonder if we'll take him up on it.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
First, let me say a big ol' honking Thank You for the support around the episode. Ain't it nice when something like that is small and manageable? And when you've got people who support you through it? Yeah. It doesn't suck. So...thanks. Now ~ to the real reason you stopped by today...
A man I used to know is dying. How's that for a lovely way to start a Sunday Poll Question? As sad as this is, it has gotten me thinking and reminiscing about that time in my life. We weren't friends but he was a dear, dear friend of a dear, dear friend of mine. Because of this, there is no direct grief on my part (this being said, if you want to keep someone in your thoughts, instead of it being me, let it be Tony and the people who did know him, love him and are affected by this. Seriously, I'm okay out here.) But there is pain for my friend and for Speaker, who was also his friend, along with my smiling, melancholy memories. Which brings me to the Sunday Poll Question...
Question ~ Was there a group of people in your life who inadvertently helped create who you are today? Whose influence you didn't even recognize until years later?
Pobble Answer ~ From about the age of 9 or 10 until I 14 or so, I would go visit the Duck in NYC. Sometimes it was for a long weekend. Sometimes it was for a week or more. But these visits took place several times a year. And during these visits, I met the Duck's friends. This man was one of them. These friends of the Duck's were hugely influential, although at the time, I thought they were just cool adults who treated me like one of them. These people took me to my first cabaret shows, my first drag clubs, my first dive bars. They taught me the importance of sitting around with friends and talking and laughing until the wee hours of the mornings. They taught me to eat dinner at midnight and to have dessert first. They taught me to think deeply, not think at all and to love the moment almost as much as you love the people you are sharing it with. Most of them were starving, unknown artists of some kind or another. These were people I wanted to be. They were interesting, exciting and City. They were a taste of something this small town girl didn't think she could ever truly achieve. I was happy just to hang out on the periphery for a few moments. I have reason to believe most of them wouldn't even remember I was there. Some went on to become well-known and famous. Some went on to work steadily in their fields, even if you wouldn't know their names. Some dropped out of NYC and went on to live very different lives than those they were living during the years that I knew them. It has only been within the last five years or so that I came to realize how influential they were to me. As I have started living the life I have always wanted to live, I have also come to realize it is the life the Duck and her friends modeled for me all those years ago. I have achieved what they gave me glimpses of, what they unwittingly taught me I could be. So. This man and I weren't friends. I knew him for a few moments a very long time ago and nothing more. He was, however, part of a group that taught me more than any of us realized at the time. I will be forever grateful.
Your answer...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
A man I used to know is dying. How's that for a lovely way to start a Sunday Poll Question? As sad as this is, it has gotten me thinking and reminiscing about that time in my life. We weren't friends but he was a dear, dear friend of a dear, dear friend of mine. Because of this, there is no direct grief on my part (this being said, if you want to keep someone in your thoughts, instead of it being me, let it be Tony and the people who did know him, love him and are affected by this. Seriously, I'm okay out here.) But there is pain for my friend and for Speaker, who was also his friend, along with my smiling, melancholy memories. Which brings me to the Sunday Poll Question...
Question ~ Was there a group of people in your life who inadvertently helped create who you are today? Whose influence you didn't even recognize until years later?
Pobble Answer ~ From about the age of 9 or 10 until I 14 or so, I would go visit the Duck in NYC. Sometimes it was for a long weekend. Sometimes it was for a week or more. But these visits took place several times a year. And during these visits, I met the Duck's friends. This man was one of them. These friends of the Duck's were hugely influential, although at the time, I thought they were just cool adults who treated me like one of them. These people took me to my first cabaret shows, my first drag clubs, my first dive bars. They taught me the importance of sitting around with friends and talking and laughing until the wee hours of the mornings. They taught me to eat dinner at midnight and to have dessert first. They taught me to think deeply, not think at all and to love the moment almost as much as you love the people you are sharing it with. Most of them were starving, unknown artists of some kind or another. These were people I wanted to be. They were interesting, exciting and City. They were a taste of something this small town girl didn't think she could ever truly achieve. I was happy just to hang out on the periphery for a few moments. I have reason to believe most of them wouldn't even remember I was there. Some went on to become well-known and famous. Some went on to work steadily in their fields, even if you wouldn't know their names. Some dropped out of NYC and went on to live very different lives than those they were living during the years that I knew them. It has only been within the last five years or so that I came to realize how influential they were to me. As I have started living the life I have always wanted to live, I have also come to realize it is the life the Duck and her friends modeled for me all those years ago. I have achieved what they gave me glimpses of, what they unwittingly taught me I could be. So. This man and I weren't friends. I knew him for a few moments a very long time ago and nothing more. He was, however, part of a group that taught me more than any of us realized at the time. I will be forever grateful.
Your answer...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Monday, March 10, 2008
When I Lost My Mind
Shhhh....here's my secret...I'm in the middle of an episode. It's a very mild one ~ hey, I've gone this long in it and you're just now finding out, right? So mild it is and that's nice. It is, however, here. Right on schedule. When this happens, the best way to describe it is it gets noisy in my head. I am more prone than usual to being overwhelmed to the point of freezing. And there is never any way to tell what is going to be the final thing that I can't manage.
Today, I got new car insurance, dealt with credit card stuff, paid bills, researched getting an emissions test and new driver's license, made arrangements to get said emissions test and driver's license, wrote and submitted the proposal for the next book and handled an editor. I supported Lithus through some crazy-ex-wife stuff, anxiety induced illness in Timber, a background check that has taken a left turn, getting a GAL, finding a counselor for Timber as a prerequisite to getting a GAL and negotiating legalese.
So when did I lose my mind? When it came time to make a hair appointment. I haven't gotten my hair done since I was living with Crow Mother. Folks, that was October. Remember that grey streak I told you about a couple posts ago? Yeah...it's in its full glory. So, it is definitely time. Time because of vanity and time because it makes me happy.
I. Couldn't. Do. It.
Calling around, explaining what I needed, asking for prices, asking who was good with curly hair...too much. I simply froze. The noise got louder and louder until there was nothing but noise. One he realized what was going on, my dear wonderful Lithus wrapped me up and said "We're done for the day. It's time to slow down. I'll do this." And he did.
My appointment is tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
The noise is very quiet again. It's a very mild episode. I'm a very lucky woman.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Today, I got new car insurance, dealt with credit card stuff, paid bills, researched getting an emissions test and new driver's license, made arrangements to get said emissions test and driver's license, wrote and submitted the proposal for the next book and handled an editor. I supported Lithus through some crazy-ex-wife stuff, anxiety induced illness in Timber, a background check that has taken a left turn, getting a GAL, finding a counselor for Timber as a prerequisite to getting a GAL and negotiating legalese.
So when did I lose my mind? When it came time to make a hair appointment. I haven't gotten my hair done since I was living with Crow Mother. Folks, that was October. Remember that grey streak I told you about a couple posts ago? Yeah...it's in its full glory. So, it is definitely time. Time because of vanity and time because it makes me happy.
I. Couldn't. Do. It.
Calling around, explaining what I needed, asking for prices, asking who was good with curly hair...too much. I simply froze. The noise got louder and louder until there was nothing but noise. One he realized what was going on, my dear wonderful Lithus wrapped me up and said "We're done for the day. It's time to slow down. I'll do this." And he did.
My appointment is tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
The noise is very quiet again. It's a very mild episode. I'm a very lucky woman.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
Some interesting conversations have taken place here at House of Pobble the last week. (Well, interesting conversations usually take place here but these specific ones have led to the Sunday Poll Question.) Lots of political talk interwoven with philosophical and moral and ethical dilemmas. Therefore...
Question ~ Is there an action, thought or concept that you are absolutely against...and yet can see the other side of the argument well enough to be grateful you don't have to make the decision about it?
Pobble Answer ~ Physical torture. I am absolutely against it. I find it abhorrent, unconscionable, and believe it is a line that must not be crossed. And yet...as a President or a leader, with the lives and safety of an entire nation on my shoulders... I don't know. The problem is it sometimes works. Sometimes, we get the answers we need. Again, I must reiterate: I Am Against Torture. Personally, I cannot see a situation where I could in good conscious approve of waterboarding. But I can see the other side of the argument. Even if I wish I couldn't. I am aware of the fact that I have the luxury of seeing it in black and white. Because as much as I am against it, if I truly believed what was standing between me and the safety of my Heart or Timber or the Princess Kitten or the Poo was what was in this person's head ... I very well might say get the information at any cost. I don't know. Is that what leaders (not just GWB but all leaders) are faced with, only multiplied by millions of lives? I don't know. And I'm very grateful I'm just little ol' me, the Pobble, out here in the civilian world, where I don't have to make the call and I don't have to know.
Your answer ~ (And please do give an answer, even if you decide to enter into a conversation about torture.)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Question ~ Is there an action, thought or concept that you are absolutely against...and yet can see the other side of the argument well enough to be grateful you don't have to make the decision about it?
Pobble Answer ~ Physical torture. I am absolutely against it. I find it abhorrent, unconscionable, and believe it is a line that must not be crossed. And yet...as a President or a leader, with the lives and safety of an entire nation on my shoulders... I don't know. The problem is it sometimes works. Sometimes, we get the answers we need. Again, I must reiterate: I Am Against Torture. Personally, I cannot see a situation where I could in good conscious approve of waterboarding. But I can see the other side of the argument. Even if I wish I couldn't. I am aware of the fact that I have the luxury of seeing it in black and white. Because as much as I am against it, if I truly believed what was standing between me and the safety of my Heart or Timber or the Princess Kitten or the Poo was what was in this person's head ... I very well might say get the information at any cost. I don't know. Is that what leaders (not just GWB but all leaders) are faced with, only multiplied by millions of lives? I don't know. And I'm very grateful I'm just little ol' me, the Pobble, out here in the civilian world, where I don't have to make the call and I don't have to know.
Your answer ~ (And please do give an answer, even if you decide to enter into a conversation about torture.)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Challenge
Get Off My Lawn! has a meme up. (author's note ~ it went up a couple days ago) He left the tag open but told people to take it if they wanted it. He also added that it's harder than it sounds. Which, of course, made me decide I needed to do it because I do love a good challenge.
List five things people here don't know about you.
Hm...I can already tell this one might not see the "publish post" button... But we'll try. With one caveat ~ it can't include the Lovely Cats. If I have to come up with five things the Lovely Cats doesn't know about me, the post will end up being things like what I had for breakfast yesterday and that I am going to the post office today. She knows everything else. Which is comforting and a little scary at the same time. ;)
1. While I learned this past Christmas Eve that I enjoy a roast goose, I also learned that the bones freak me out. The wings are too big for the rest of the body once all the feathers are gone and it's just lying there, on the platter, waiting to become dinner. And the neck bone...Jesus, watching Lithus pull this thing out of the body was like watching a sword being drawn. It just kept coming. All the time, I'm trying to remind myself what geese look like when they are alive and convince myself that this thing on the platter is indeed what it is supposed to look like and it's not some mutant, alien goose with too long limbs. Loved the meat. Next year, I'll skip watching the prep.
2. "The Pobble" is the closest thing to a universal nickname I have ever had. Mind you, I've had a ton of nicknames over the last 38 years but they have all been person or relationship specific. I have been called: by my last name only (the Divine M); by my first initial only (the Lovely Cats and Lrns); Bunk or Bunker; Mame or Auntie Mame; Sister; Bunny; Pooh Lady; O.G.; Charlie; JB; Kyde; Gordo; Harpo; Pinky; Big Pink Cookie; Sheriff; Viv; Chris; and Bing. For the record, no, none of those are up for grabs. ;) However, for someone who has had this many nicknames ~ and whatever else I've been called behind my back ~ I've never had a universal one.
Wow... this is tough. Every time I think oh, I'll write that, I realize I've already mentioned it somewhere here...
3. I am right handed. Growing up, I was always right handed in everything ~ except for throwing a ball. And I could throw a ball pretty well. Until my gym teachers realized I was throwing with my left hand and started making me throw a ball right handed. Now, I can't throw a ball well at all ~ with my right or my left hand.
4. Ferris wheels scare the bejeezus out of me. I can ride anything fast or scary or twisty or turny. And I enjoy slow, leisurely rides. Except for ferris wheels. That moment when the car comes over the top and breaks the arch...I've been known to cry.
One more...need one more...
5. The streak I wear in my hair is based on a real grey streak. All the women in my family have had it. My mother, my sister, both grandmothers and all my great-aunts. There was no escaping this. If anything, mine has filled in later in life than the others ~ and I found my first grey in that area at age 14. Eventually, I want the streak to not be bleached at all, just my natural grey.
Wow. That is tougher than expected. I started writing on this post two days ago. Whew. Let me know if you take it up.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
List five things people here don't know about you.
Hm...I can already tell this one might not see the "publish post" button... But we'll try. With one caveat ~ it can't include the Lovely Cats. If I have to come up with five things the Lovely Cats doesn't know about me, the post will end up being things like what I had for breakfast yesterday and that I am going to the post office today. She knows everything else. Which is comforting and a little scary at the same time. ;)
1. While I learned this past Christmas Eve that I enjoy a roast goose, I also learned that the bones freak me out. The wings are too big for the rest of the body once all the feathers are gone and it's just lying there, on the platter, waiting to become dinner. And the neck bone...Jesus, watching Lithus pull this thing out of the body was like watching a sword being drawn. It just kept coming. All the time, I'm trying to remind myself what geese look like when they are alive and convince myself that this thing on the platter is indeed what it is supposed to look like and it's not some mutant, alien goose with too long limbs. Loved the meat. Next year, I'll skip watching the prep.
2. "The Pobble" is the closest thing to a universal nickname I have ever had. Mind you, I've had a ton of nicknames over the last 38 years but they have all been person or relationship specific. I have been called: by my last name only (the Divine M); by my first initial only (the Lovely Cats and Lrns); Bunk or Bunker; Mame or Auntie Mame; Sister; Bunny; Pooh Lady; O.G.; Charlie; JB; Kyde; Gordo; Harpo; Pinky; Big Pink Cookie; Sheriff; Viv; Chris; and Bing. For the record, no, none of those are up for grabs. ;) However, for someone who has had this many nicknames ~ and whatever else I've been called behind my back ~ I've never had a universal one.
Wow... this is tough. Every time I think oh, I'll write that, I realize I've already mentioned it somewhere here...
3. I am right handed. Growing up, I was always right handed in everything ~ except for throwing a ball. And I could throw a ball pretty well. Until my gym teachers realized I was throwing with my left hand and started making me throw a ball right handed. Now, I can't throw a ball well at all ~ with my right or my left hand.
4. Ferris wheels scare the bejeezus out of me. I can ride anything fast or scary or twisty or turny. And I enjoy slow, leisurely rides. Except for ferris wheels. That moment when the car comes over the top and breaks the arch...I've been known to cry.
One more...need one more...
5. The streak I wear in my hair is based on a real grey streak. All the women in my family have had it. My mother, my sister, both grandmothers and all my great-aunts. There was no escaping this. If anything, mine has filled in later in life than the others ~ and I found my first grey in that area at age 14. Eventually, I want the streak to not be bleached at all, just my natural grey.
Wow. That is tougher than expected. I started writing on this post two days ago. Whew. Let me know if you take it up.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Time to Share
I write a lot here about family. Some are people I'm related to by blood. Others aren't. There is truly no difference for me. None. It's time to share something...
The very first post I ever wrote was entitled "Whose Family?" It was a list of my family and an explanation as to why there is no difference between biological and chosen family. There weren't many people I'm related to by biology listed in that first post.
Now, were I to rewrite that first post, I would list Lithus ~ who is the answer to every hope and every dream and every whispered wish I ever had ~ and Timber ~ who is everything I never knew I wanted ~ along with all the same people I listed then. And I would add Crow Mother, my beautiful biological sister.
Why she and I got here is irrelevant to anyone but us. How she and I got here is a mystery. Time. Years. Maturity. Forgiveness. Acceptance. It all played a part. What matters, though, is that we got here.
Because of all God's miracles large and small, the most miraculous one of all is the one I thought could never be; God has given you to me...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
The very first post I ever wrote was entitled "Whose Family?" It was a list of my family and an explanation as to why there is no difference between biological and chosen family. There weren't many people I'm related to by biology listed in that first post.
Now, were I to rewrite that first post, I would list Lithus ~ who is the answer to every hope and every dream and every whispered wish I ever had ~ and Timber ~ who is everything I never knew I wanted ~ along with all the same people I listed then. And I would add Crow Mother, my beautiful biological sister.
Why she and I got here is irrelevant to anyone but us. How she and I got here is a mystery. Time. Years. Maturity. Forgiveness. Acceptance. It all played a part. What matters, though, is that we got here.
Because of all God's miracles large and small, the most miraculous one of all is the one I thought could never be; God has given you to me...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Sunday Poll Question
It's been a little intense and a lot thinky around Pobble Thoughts this past week. Both in good ways and yet undeniably true. So, I figured we'd take a break from the thinky, even with the Poll Question, and just have a little fun.
Question ~ Who is your obscure crush? Now, I don't mean the obvious ones like Johnny Depp or Angelina Jolie. I don't even mean the ones that are obscure until you mention them and then the majority of people respond with "Oh yeah! I'd forgotten about her/him." Chris Meloni and Mariska Hartigay come to mind in this category.
No, I mean the ones that, even once you tell their names, most people respond with "...Really?...Oh...Hm..."
Pobble Answer ~ The easiest one for me would be my number one celebrity crush of all time, Brian Dennehy. But everyone knows about my crush on him so it isn't really fair for me to use him as an answer today. Instead, I will tell you about my most obscure crush. Which is not easy because most of my crushes are obscure (with a few exceptions such as the above mentioned Hartigay and Meloni ~ my God but they're magnificent!) I like people such as William H. Macy and Alan Alda and, of course, the Rush Crush I've got on Geoffery Rush. But my number one obscure crush? He's not going to make it into a top ten list ~ unless it's of obscure crushes. At which point, he's first:
Tim Russert
The man is intelligent (wicked intelligent), has a great smile, integrity and wears a suit well. Yep. I got a crush on Tim Russert.
Your answer ~ Don't leave me hanging here...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Question ~ Who is your obscure crush? Now, I don't mean the obvious ones like Johnny Depp or Angelina Jolie. I don't even mean the ones that are obscure until you mention them and then the majority of people respond with "Oh yeah! I'd forgotten about her/him." Chris Meloni and Mariska Hartigay come to mind in this category.
No, I mean the ones that, even once you tell their names, most people respond with "...Really?...Oh...Hm..."Pobble Answer ~ The easiest one for me would be my number one celebrity crush of all time, Brian Dennehy. But everyone knows about my crush on him so it isn't really fair for me to use him as an answer today. Instead, I will tell you about my most obscure crush. Which is not easy because most of my crushes are obscure (with a few exceptions such as the above mentioned Hartigay and Meloni ~ my God but they're magnificent!) I like people such as William H. Macy and Alan Alda and, of course, the Rush Crush I've got on Geoffery Rush. But my number one obscure crush? He's not going to make it into a top ten list ~ unless it's of obscure crushes. At which point, he's first:
Tim Russert
The man is intelligent (wicked intelligent), has a great smile, integrity and wears a suit well. Yep. I got a crush on Tim Russert.
Your answer ~ Don't leave me hanging here...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
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