And I am sitting alone in my apartment, having just watched the movie Stranger Than Fiction and consumed the worlds worst bowl of popcorn, two glasses of water so over run with calcium that the little white specks nearly hurt when swallowed, and the last Reese's Christmas Tree in my house.
I did have plans, but as seems to be my luck, those plans were canceled. It's all horribly depressing- having been excited about the prospect of actually having something to do this year, of being able to see the year off with a bang, of the opportunity to 'begin as you intend to go forward' as it were. Now sitting here alone, while all of my friends are off doing something- even if that something is nothing more than watching the ball drop with their children and spouses- I am having a very difficult time of looking kindly on the coming year.
Or even on the coming few months.
There are worries I can't shake, bothersome questions about life, the universe and everything that I have yet to find the answers to, and a whole list of insecurities and failings that plague my mind with those unconscionable 'What If's. This is proving to be a spectacularly stressful New Year and I can barely muster the enthusiasm to see the night through to the dawning of the new year.
Perhaps I will just go write some very drab and depressing story, top it off with poorly written fanfiction, and go to bed early.
Then, perhaps, I shall make one last valiant effort to 'begin as I intend to go forward', call everyone I know and wish them a Happy New Year in sincerity before slipping into bed with a happy sigh.
But I doubt it.
Read More...
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Welcome to the Second Edition of The Worlds Biggest Procrastinator Takes on the Holidays!
A Cautionary Tale
The world is full of mysterious and unexplainable creatures- the Faeries, Gnooks, Pegasuses, Nargles and Dragons to name a few- but none more elusive or inexplicable than the Swanky Claus. Appearing only once a year, for no more than a week but no less than two days near Christmas, it is difficult to even prove the existence of the Swanky Claus- unlike Nargles which, while also only appearing around the time of the winter equinox, are known to inhabit mistletoe. And yet, even with the Swanky Claus' ambiguous nature, much is known about this nearly magical being through mythology and even some religious texts.
Much like Santa Claus, the origin of the Swanky Claus is a touching story which blends and bastardizes Christian ritual, Dutch tradition, and polytheistic mythology with an over abundance of soda pop. I won't bother you with the gruesome details, but suffice it to say that the Swanky Claus offends at least 90% of the world and is the second largest marketing device in North America. The moral of the story? Never mix anything of cultural importance with something that was once made out of cocaine.
While the beginnings of the Swanky Claus phenomena may be quaint and a wonderful teaching tool for young children, other stories about this thaumaturgical figure are little more than horror stories the likes of which even Tim Burton would be hard-pressed to make suitable for for the little ones. Terrifying tales of 13 hour shopping sprees at the mall and downtown, chilling chronicles of hills of wrapping paper and rivers of ribbon, appalling accounts of flying flour and de-veining shrimp! Oh no, ladies and gentlemen, these are no harmless fables of happy holidays and little elves! Even the burliest of men would weep at the sheer chaos that accompanies the Swanky Claus.
While children of all ages the world 'round are celebrating the name of Santa Claus, men and women all over the great state of Connecticut- and now Missouri- are bemoaning the existence of the lamentable Swanky Claus.
But not to fear, my faithful readers, this horrible creature will soon be gone. And this year, much the same as last, and as it has been for nearly two decades, the Swanky Claus has taken pity on us poor mortals and deigned to subject us to her presence for only a mere forty-eight hours! Ah, the relief! I know. You must admit, however, it is impressive that the Swanky Claus will yet again accomplish everything that us mere mortals have spent the past month bustling about in such a short amount of time.
Yes, the presents under the tree and the fragrant aromas of roasted chicken and pecan pie that float lightly on the breeze of a small Missouri neighborhood are proof enough that not only does the Swanky Claus exist, she is a true work of magic.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT! Read More...
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
My computer died
Completely and totally. >_<
I am on my sister's computer now, but I can't do this often or for long, so I am putting this blog on somewhat of a hiatus. Iwill update when I get a chance, but I don't want anyone to explect that to be often. I should have a new computer sometime after the new year- before May I would think- but until then, my updates will be rather sparatic. As in no more than once a week, if that.
Sorry guys, but there really is nothing I can do. o_0 And I KNOW this sucks more for me than for you...
Until I can get online again,
~Swanky Read More...
I am on my sister's computer now, but I can't do this often or for long, so I am putting this blog on somewhat of a hiatus. Iwill update when I get a chance, but I don't want anyone to explect that to be often. I should have a new computer sometime after the new year- before May I would think- but until then, my updates will be rather sparatic. As in no more than once a week, if that.
Sorry guys, but there really is nothing I can do. o_0 And I KNOW this sucks more for me than for you...
Until I can get online again,
~Swanky Read More...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Serious things to talk about here
So, recently I've been having thoughts about my future. Things like my goals and how to reach them. What I actually want, and what I don't. It's been a very difficult to have to really sit and think about these things, especially since I have not been reaching the conclusions I once thought I would.
I needed to gather my thoughts clearly. Take a good look at what I want and exactly where I want to go. I thought that a good place to start would be to list what my goals actually are- both short term and long term. Looking at the list now, I notice that I haven't had a list of goals that were so vague in a very long time, and this worries me. I used to feel s sure of exactly what I wanted, and now, I seem to be as confused as I was back in high school. The biggest problem is that looking at my list I am at a loss as to what to do to accomplish them. The short-term goals are fairly straight forward- get a license, a well paying job (with benefits), move out on my own. I can see how to d those things. What I can't figure out is what to do about my long-term goals, as they are all so... wishy-washy.
I want to study religions, history and things like anthropology and archeology for a career. I want to travel to the places I have dreamed about my whole life. Places like Jerusalem, Egypt, India, the Far East, Africa, the Mayan and Inca ruins in South America. I want to do something that keeps me engaged and learning. I want to be able to look at a painting and pick out the social importance of it for both the time it was made and for ourselves.
I want to see and do things that are breathtakingly amazing- to me. I used to want to be in the Peace Corps, and while that isn't one of my goals anymore, it is very similar to what I want now. I want to help people when I can, how I can, and I would love to be an important mover of knowledge and information. Not at a teacher in a classroom, but as a student in the world.
I don't know where these goals lead me. I don't know what careers out there would allow me to do these things, go these places and learn all that I want to know. All I know is that my previous goal of working in the theater is no longer where I want to go. Theater will always be an important part of my life, but as a hobby, not as a career or a way of life. I know this, but it leaves me s confused as to what comes next.
I have spent so much of my life working towards a life in theater that it has become an integral part of who I am. If I am not the person that was so sure that theater was my life, then who am I?
I don't know. And I don't know how to figure it out. Well, it's late, and I should get to bed and stop rambling on. I actually feel better for having at least put this all down. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure some of this out now.
Well, until next time my dears,
~Swanky Read More...
I needed to gather my thoughts clearly. Take a good look at what I want and exactly where I want to go. I thought that a good place to start would be to list what my goals actually are- both short term and long term. Looking at the list now, I notice that I haven't had a list of goals that were so vague in a very long time, and this worries me. I used to feel s sure of exactly what I wanted, and now, I seem to be as confused as I was back in high school. The biggest problem is that looking at my list I am at a loss as to what to do to accomplish them. The short-term goals are fairly straight forward- get a license, a well paying job (with benefits), move out on my own. I can see how to d those things. What I can't figure out is what to do about my long-term goals, as they are all so... wishy-washy.
I want to study religions, history and things like anthropology and archeology for a career. I want to travel to the places I have dreamed about my whole life. Places like Jerusalem, Egypt, India, the Far East, Africa, the Mayan and Inca ruins in South America. I want to do something that keeps me engaged and learning. I want to be able to look at a painting and pick out the social importance of it for both the time it was made and for ourselves.
I want to see and do things that are breathtakingly amazing- to me. I used to want to be in the Peace Corps, and while that isn't one of my goals anymore, it is very similar to what I want now. I want to help people when I can, how I can, and I would love to be an important mover of knowledge and information. Not at a teacher in a classroom, but as a student in the world.
I don't know where these goals lead me. I don't know what careers out there would allow me to do these things, go these places and learn all that I want to know. All I know is that my previous goal of working in the theater is no longer where I want to go. Theater will always be an important part of my life, but as a hobby, not as a career or a way of life. I know this, but it leaves me s confused as to what comes next.
I have spent so much of my life working towards a life in theater that it has become an integral part of who I am. If I am not the person that was so sure that theater was my life, then who am I?
I don't know. And I don't know how to figure it out. Well, it's late, and I should get to bed and stop rambling on. I actually feel better for having at least put this all down. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure some of this out now.
Well, until next time my dears,
~Swanky Read More...
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Somehow I seem to have found friends
Don't ask me how, but it's true. Last night (Monday night for those of you who don't know that this is a Tuesday night post already) I went out to dinner with a group of friends. It was nice. Rather than feeling like the one that shouldn't be there- as so often happens when I go out with other people- I was engaged in conversation and felt comfortable with the other people. I didn't feel like the popular people's token uncool friend. I even had a moment while I was out when I looked around the table and thought "Wow, I think this might be the beginning of me having a social life..."
After dinner, Casidee- my newest friend thanks to SLAW- and I went to see that movie "August Rush". It was alright, a bit over dramatic and too neatly arranged for my liking, but not a bad movie all around. Robin William's roll was not his typical, and the little boy is too cute for words, though. I was just a bit disappointed in the ending. It felt... contrived. As if it was ended in that matter just to make an audience happy, rather than holding true to the story and art of the movie. And I hate that. I like happy endings as much as the next girl, but I would rather a sad ending that feels like it fits than a happy ending that feels pasted on. Still, it was fun to spend the whole night out with Cass.
And, this weekend I am driving out to Chicago to go to a birthday party and a concert, which should also be a lot of fun. I can't wait. Though, I do have to say that I am glad that I get a four day break between the two. I can still only deal with so much social interaction at once, and if I had gone out to dinner on say Wednesday night, I wouldn't have been able to manage a whole weekend of people afterwards. I know it. I'll let you all know how it works out for me with the break between. I should be fine, but who knows, right?
Ok, on to other things. I just spent the last few hours gathering together things for this years Christmas blogging fun! I can't tell you to much, because I don't want to spoil the surprise, but you're getting a full advent calendar this year! It will be complete with story, illustrations and little gifts! I've been wracking my brain for downloadable gifts for you, and let me tell you it hasn't been easy, but I think I have a few good ideas. I will also be doing the 12 days of Slashmas again this year, but that will be hosted on my fanfiction blog and on InsaneJournal. This blog is strictly fanfic free.
The fun will start on December 1st and be updated everyday until Christmas. That's a full 25 days of Joy! ^_^ Aren't you excited? I am!
In other news, I've started looking for the perfect Christmas cards, and I can't find them. So, I may be making everyone's cards this year. I promise, they will be nice! So, if you want a card from me, make sure you send your name and mailing address to sjcswank[at]gmail[dot]com! It's not too late to be added to the list! Though, it soon will be! Get me your info before December 15 to ensure delivery by Christmas!
Alright, I think that's about it for today. I'll be back tomorrow with thought on careers, education, and life- mine namely.
Until then, my friends,
~Swanky Read More...
After dinner, Casidee- my newest friend thanks to SLAW- and I went to see that movie "August Rush". It was alright, a bit over dramatic and too neatly arranged for my liking, but not a bad movie all around. Robin William's roll was not his typical, and the little boy is too cute for words, though. I was just a bit disappointed in the ending. It felt... contrived. As if it was ended in that matter just to make an audience happy, rather than holding true to the story and art of the movie. And I hate that. I like happy endings as much as the next girl, but I would rather a sad ending that feels like it fits than a happy ending that feels pasted on. Still, it was fun to spend the whole night out with Cass.
And, this weekend I am driving out to Chicago to go to a birthday party and a concert, which should also be a lot of fun. I can't wait. Though, I do have to say that I am glad that I get a four day break between the two. I can still only deal with so much social interaction at once, and if I had gone out to dinner on say Wednesday night, I wouldn't have been able to manage a whole weekend of people afterwards. I know it. I'll let you all know how it works out for me with the break between. I should be fine, but who knows, right?
Ok, on to other things. I just spent the last few hours gathering together things for this years Christmas blogging fun! I can't tell you to much, because I don't want to spoil the surprise, but you're getting a full advent calendar this year! It will be complete with story, illustrations and little gifts! I've been wracking my brain for downloadable gifts for you, and let me tell you it hasn't been easy, but I think I have a few good ideas. I will also be doing the 12 days of Slashmas again this year, but that will be hosted on my fanfiction blog and on InsaneJournal. This blog is strictly fanfic free.
The fun will start on December 1st and be updated everyday until Christmas. That's a full 25 days of Joy! ^_^ Aren't you excited? I am!
In other news, I've started looking for the perfect Christmas cards, and I can't find them. So, I may be making everyone's cards this year. I promise, they will be nice! So, if you want a card from me, make sure you send your name and mailing address to sjcswank[at]gmail[dot]com! It's not too late to be added to the list! Though, it soon will be! Get me your info before December 15 to ensure delivery by Christmas!
Alright, I think that's about it for today. I'll be back tomorrow with thought on careers, education, and life- mine namely.
Until then, my friends,
~Swanky Read More...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
A Thanksgiving Story
An autobiographical story by Swanky
Well, boys and girls, another year has begun it's assent into winter, and Thanksgiving has once again snuck up on our friendly neighborhood procrastinator, Swanky. Yes, here it is, Thanksgiving Eve (which really ought to be called "Run-around-as-frantic-as-the-turkey-that's-about-to-be-cooked Eve") and Swanky is hard at work in the kitchen. Cleaning the oven, baking pies and cakes and cookies, peeling and chopping all manner of root vegetables, and chugging on her Smirnoff Ice as though it were bottled water and she a white man in Mexico.
Not an unusual sight, at all, this yearly dance among clouds of flour. Though, Swanky's language seems to be a bit more colorful this year as she washes and rewashes the few pieces of bakeware available to her. Seems her kitchen is not nearly as well stocked as she is accustomed to. It is certain that she misses her mother more tonight than she has all year. Still, her fluffy Boston Cream Pie has not fallen, and her Pumpkin Pie is as aromatic as ever. Seems she has not lost her touch in verbally assaulting her food into compliance, even if she has lost a pan or two.
Or more importantly, her two favorite blue glass, unfluted Pyrex pie plates.
Still, she heartily raises her bottle, toasts a quiet "Here's to you, Gran," and pulls the dead foul out of the fridge. Setting to vigorously ripping the neck from the spine of the once-feathered creature, one can hear the low growl of a woman in the heat of battle...
...And the language of a god fearing sailor.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, ALL! Read More...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Hey guys...
Sorry, but things have gotten a little hetic this week, so this blog has- unfortuanate as it is- been put on hold. I will return on Monday with the pics of my Fancy Hat and a new set of recommendations. I am sorry about this.
I've got the Soul-Sucking Monster Fic of DOOM! to finish, but before I go, I just want to throw two things out here- which I will expound upon next week.
First, I've been feeling a bit... lackadaisical about entering the Theatre world. I've been thinking about my choice of career paths a lot recently, and the only conclusion I can come to is that it just doesn't seem to fit anymore. I love the Theatre, but it feels like a hobby, not a career, and I don't tend to mesh well with thespians, with certain notable exception. I'd say, 9/10 of the people I have worked with on shows hated me, the other 1/10 have become very close friends of mine. o_0 That's not great odds there... Anyway, next week, maybe I'll have some of this thought out better and I can work out how I'm feeling a bit more.
Second, I miss my friends. I have been reading my friends blogs- the ones that keep blogs that is- and I've realized something: we are all moving on. I'm not this ones 'oldest and bestest friend' anymore, or that one person that can always cheer up that one. Being so far from my friends has made it actually impossible for me to stay as close to them as I used to be. I know I don't keep in touch with people like I should, and that that is part of the reason I am not as close to my friends, but it really is more than that. For some of m friends, it seems like the only thing we have in common any more is fanfiction. For others, it's just a matter of not keeping up on each others lives.
Part of me thinks that it's that my friends are out growing me. This is an odd feeling for me- usually, it's me that out grows my friends. I know that sounds bad, but its true. Nearly every close friend I have lost touch with, it was because I had reached a maturity level that they hadn't yet. It's not really a bad thing, but it always made me feel bad- like I was being stuck up. But when you reach a point in your life that someone else hasn't gotten to yet, it cause a rift between you. I feel like its happening again, en mass, and I am the one that hasn't mature as quickly. Most of my friends are working, married, have kids or other responsibilities. I'm still a kid in comparison. I can't even decide what it is I want from life, at all. I can't even settle on a major!
I'm supposed to have graduated, be working, starting my own life. But I'm not, and my friends are. It sucks, because I don't like this new distance between me and my friends, but I don't know how to fix it. Its easy to say "well, decide what yo want, and start working for it! catch up to them!" Its not so easy to do it. Part of me is scared, part of me doesn't want to give up being a kid yet, but most of me is just really confused. And, there is a part of me that thinks that everything I'm going through right now is just because I'm emotionally screwed. That if I got help, and maybe even if I went on anti-depressants, things wouldn't seem so bad. I would be able to figure out what I want, start working for it, and not get left behind by my friends.
I guess it all just really boils down to the same as the first: I don't know what I want, and I need to figure it out. I wish it were as easy to do as to type.
Well, enough of this boring, depressing talk! It's almost Turkey Day! And I have a story to finish. So, I'm going to get some sleep and start fresh and new tomorrow.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I will see you again on Monday!
Until next time, my friends,
~Swanky Read More...
I've got the Soul-Sucking Monster Fic of DOOM! to finish, but before I go, I just want to throw two things out here- which I will expound upon next week.
First, I've been feeling a bit... lackadaisical about entering the Theatre world. I've been thinking about my choice of career paths a lot recently, and the only conclusion I can come to is that it just doesn't seem to fit anymore. I love the Theatre, but it feels like a hobby, not a career, and I don't tend to mesh well with thespians, with certain notable exception. I'd say, 9/10 of the people I have worked with on shows hated me, the other 1/10 have become very close friends of mine. o_0 That's not great odds there... Anyway, next week, maybe I'll have some of this thought out better and I can work out how I'm feeling a bit more.
Second, I miss my friends. I have been reading my friends blogs- the ones that keep blogs that is- and I've realized something: we are all moving on. I'm not this ones 'oldest and bestest friend' anymore, or that one person that can always cheer up that one. Being so far from my friends has made it actually impossible for me to stay as close to them as I used to be. I know I don't keep in touch with people like I should, and that that is part of the reason I am not as close to my friends, but it really is more than that. For some of m friends, it seems like the only thing we have in common any more is fanfiction. For others, it's just a matter of not keeping up on each others lives.
Part of me thinks that it's that my friends are out growing me. This is an odd feeling for me- usually, it's me that out grows my friends. I know that sounds bad, but its true. Nearly every close friend I have lost touch with, it was because I had reached a maturity level that they hadn't yet. It's not really a bad thing, but it always made me feel bad- like I was being stuck up. But when you reach a point in your life that someone else hasn't gotten to yet, it cause a rift between you. I feel like its happening again, en mass, and I am the one that hasn't mature as quickly. Most of my friends are working, married, have kids or other responsibilities. I'm still a kid in comparison. I can't even decide what it is I want from life, at all. I can't even settle on a major!
I'm supposed to have graduated, be working, starting my own life. But I'm not, and my friends are. It sucks, because I don't like this new distance between me and my friends, but I don't know how to fix it. Its easy to say "well, decide what yo want, and start working for it! catch up to them!" Its not so easy to do it. Part of me is scared, part of me doesn't want to give up being a kid yet, but most of me is just really confused. And, there is a part of me that thinks that everything I'm going through right now is just because I'm emotionally screwed. That if I got help, and maybe even if I went on anti-depressants, things wouldn't seem so bad. I would be able to figure out what I want, start working for it, and not get left behind by my friends.
I guess it all just really boils down to the same as the first: I don't know what I want, and I need to figure it out. I wish it were as easy to do as to type.
Well, enough of this boring, depressing talk! It's almost Turkey Day! And I have a story to finish. So, I'm going to get some sleep and start fresh and new tomorrow.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I will see you again on Monday!
Until next time, my friends,
~Swanky Read More...
Saturday, November 17, 2007
I am a horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE blogger!
Gods! And was all set a ready to make a post for Thursday and Friday, too, but my internet decided to take a holiday! So, yeah, it's not my fault... this time...
Alright, so, first things first: I have not worn a fancy hat yet. I know! Like I said, a horrible, horrible blogger. I just have yet to have a chance to get one ready, and I want to do this right! I promise that tomorrow morning will be dedicated to perfecting the hat, and I shall wear it all day tomorrow! Technically, I have until Monday when a new challenge is posted to finish this week's challenge, so it's ok. I'm just not being a very good "Something New" Role Model for everyone, am I? I will work on this, I promise.
Also, I love next week's challenge. ^_^
Ok, so I've been getting a good response from people about my weight loss. Thank you all for that. ^_^ It means a lot to me to see and hear you all being so happy for me. Gives me something happy to counteract the "stumbled to the bathroom without my glasses again and still look like a rather round blob" of the mornings. Which, really, have only started recently, since I really started trying t have a morning routine, which now includes pills and brushing my teeth. I must say, having an actual bathroom routine has helped me keep my bathroom cleaner! Don't know what that's about, but ok... o_0
Alright. The party was fun. I didn't get to bu anything, because I haven't been paid yet, but it was still worth the trek out there. Being social isn't s bad! Also, the SLAW meeting was slawsome, as expected. I had a lot of fun, my sister had a lot of fun, and now I am truly excited about the idea of having a Holiday Party. ^_^
That's right, there will be a Holiday Party in the not-so-distant future! I'm inviting all the people in SLAW- well, maybe not the creepy guy that showed up today. o_0 I kinda don't want him to know where I live... BUT! Other than that, I am inviting everyone from SLAW. And m father is going to invite a few people from work, and my sister is going to invite one or two of her friends, and... well, let's just say it'll be a full house. o_0
I've already started making a list of possible things to cook for this party, and things to make for little take-a-way gifts. I'll be making another post eventually, once I've gotten things narrowed down a bit, to ask people for help on those decisions. I know what I like, and what my family likes, but that's a pretty narrow view and I would like all the input I can get. I really want this party to be a hit! ^_^
Well, I think that's about it. I may have to work later, and Sunday, but I'm not sure yet. Will let you all know how hat goes. And next week! Next week we get our special Thanksgiving Posts! Complete with Thanksgiving themed Recommendations! Oh yes, it will be fun!
Until then, happy weekend my friends!
~Swanky Read More...
Alright, so, first things first: I have not worn a fancy hat yet. I know! Like I said, a horrible, horrible blogger. I just have yet to have a chance to get one ready, and I want to do this right! I promise that tomorrow morning will be dedicated to perfecting the hat, and I shall wear it all day tomorrow! Technically, I have until Monday when a new challenge is posted to finish this week's challenge, so it's ok. I'm just not being a very good "Something New" Role Model for everyone, am I? I will work on this, I promise.
Also, I love next week's challenge. ^_^
Ok, so I've been getting a good response from people about my weight loss. Thank you all for that. ^_^ It means a lot to me to see and hear you all being so happy for me. Gives me something happy to counteract the "stumbled to the bathroom without my glasses again and still look like a rather round blob" of the mornings. Which, really, have only started recently, since I really started trying t have a morning routine, which now includes pills and brushing my teeth. I must say, having an actual bathroom routine has helped me keep my bathroom cleaner! Don't know what that's about, but ok... o_0
Alright. The party was fun. I didn't get to bu anything, because I haven't been paid yet, but it was still worth the trek out there. Being social isn't s bad! Also, the SLAW meeting was slawsome, as expected. I had a lot of fun, my sister had a lot of fun, and now I am truly excited about the idea of having a Holiday Party. ^_^
That's right, there will be a Holiday Party in the not-so-distant future! I'm inviting all the people in SLAW- well, maybe not the creepy guy that showed up today. o_0 I kinda don't want him to know where I live... BUT! Other than that, I am inviting everyone from SLAW. And m father is going to invite a few people from work, and my sister is going to invite one or two of her friends, and... well, let's just say it'll be a full house. o_0
I've already started making a list of possible things to cook for this party, and things to make for little take-a-way gifts. I'll be making another post eventually, once I've gotten things narrowed down a bit, to ask people for help on those decisions. I know what I like, and what my family likes, but that's a pretty narrow view and I would like all the input I can get. I really want this party to be a hit! ^_^
Well, I think that's about it. I may have to work later, and Sunday, but I'm not sure yet. Will let you all know how hat goes. And next week! Next week we get our special Thanksgiving Posts! Complete with Thanksgiving themed Recommendations! Oh yes, it will be fun!
Until then, happy weekend my friends!
~Swanky Read More...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I missed you yesterday...
Sorry about that! I was a bit busy is all... o_0 I starting my new job yesterday, and I was there ALL DAY. 13 hours of work. I left my house at 9am and wasn't back until almost 11pm... By which time I was just really tired and wanted to eat something and go to bed. o_0 It's not a hard job or even really a tiring job- I spent most of the day chatting with my friend Virginia and reading fanfic. lol. Can't complain about that! Though, there are a few weirdos that come in. Nothing I can't handle though. Virginia tends to get a bit more nervous around the downtown folk than I do, an she's no wheres near as polite to them either. o_0 The hardest thing about the job is not getting overwhelmed when there is a big line, and learning the lotto machine. I was a little annoyed that I was left alone in there during rush hour on my first day, but I managed ok.
Ok, I have some big news! I went to the doc today, and I am now only 198 lbs! I hit 232 when I was 11, and just STAYED there until about a year and a half ago. o_0 It's nice to be able to say that I am under 200 lbs finally. My doc says that if this keeps up, then I won't have to have surgery or go back on the Glucofage, which makes me ill. He seemed very happy about it all. ^_^ It's actually very exciting.
So, I am debating weather or not to wear my fancy hat to tomorrow's party or to Friday's SLAW meeting... I think that I'll be able to take a pic of me in the hat better at the SLAW meeting than at the party, but I would get it in either way. What do you guys think?
Well, I'm quite tired now, so I'm going to go take a nap or something. Stay well my friends,
~Swanky Read More...
Ok, I have some big news! I went to the doc today, and I am now only 198 lbs! I hit 232 when I was 11, and just STAYED there until about a year and a half ago. o_0 It's nice to be able to say that I am under 200 lbs finally. My doc says that if this keeps up, then I won't have to have surgery or go back on the Glucofage, which makes me ill. He seemed very happy about it all. ^_^ It's actually very exciting.
So, I am debating weather or not to wear my fancy hat to tomorrow's party or to Friday's SLAW meeting... I think that I'll be able to take a pic of me in the hat better at the SLAW meeting than at the party, but I would get it in either way. What do you guys think?
Well, I'm quite tired now, so I'm going to go take a nap or something. Stay well my friends,
~Swanky Read More...
Monday, November 12, 2007
I had intended for this to be a Mnday-Friday Blog...
But it seems my blogging habits are harder to break than I thought they would be. I keep putting up my entries rather late at night, making it more a Tuesday-Saturday Blog... well, I will try harder. I promise.
I've updated this week's Recommendations, and put up a brand new Something New Challenge! This week we'll be Wearing Fancy Hats! Oh yes, I love it! ^_^ Thank you to Francine for her great input on this one. It's all her fault, for once.
Don't be shy people- anyone other there that wears a fancy hat this week, leave a post here and tell me about it! Show me a picture, write up a description, write some hat-oriented haiku, give me a piece of abstract art that represents you and your hat! Whatever strikes your fancy(hat)!
On to other news- because, yes, I have some. I have acquired gainful employment. That's right people, the worlds ultimate slacker has found a job! It's a slacker's job- part-time at my friend's convenience store- but, it is a job none-the-less! I start tomorrow morning, and as such, I should get myself to bed soon. But, alas, I am as much of a procrastinator as ever, and I still need to wash some clothes and take a shower. o_0 Oh lord, will I never learn?
I am also proud to announce that I have been made a Potter Noyz Superfan for November! Yes, that band I recommended last week, apparently, they love me at least half as much as I love them! As a matter of fact, I was just listening to their podcast "Harry Potter and the Mystery of WRock" and I realized that I am mentioned in every episode! I was impressed by that. ^_^ Yeah, I'm a dork. But I have fun.
Well, other than that I really don't have anything to report. I'm going to a little party on Thursday- a girls only, tupperware-style langerie party, no less- and I have a SLAW (St Louis Area Wizards) meeting on Friday. My sister will be here on Saturday, and I start working tomorrow! Whoa, this is a rather bus week for me, eh? I'll most likely sleep all day on Sunday to compensate. ^_-
Until next time, my lovelies,
~Swanky Read More...
I've updated this week's Recommendations, and put up a brand new Something New Challenge! This week we'll be Wearing Fancy Hats! Oh yes, I love it! ^_^ Thank you to Francine for her great input on this one. It's all her fault, for once.
Don't be shy people- anyone other there that wears a fancy hat this week, leave a post here and tell me about it! Show me a picture, write up a description, write some hat-oriented haiku, give me a piece of abstract art that represents you and your hat! Whatever strikes your fancy(hat)!
On to other news- because, yes, I have some. I have acquired gainful employment. That's right people, the worlds ultimate slacker has found a job! It's a slacker's job- part-time at my friend's convenience store- but, it is a job none-the-less! I start tomorrow morning, and as such, I should get myself to bed soon. But, alas, I am as much of a procrastinator as ever, and I still need to wash some clothes and take a shower. o_0 Oh lord, will I never learn?
I am also proud to announce that I have been made a Potter Noyz Superfan for November! Yes, that band I recommended last week, apparently, they love me at least half as much as I love them! As a matter of fact, I was just listening to their podcast "Harry Potter and the Mystery of WRock" and I realized that I am mentioned in every episode! I was impressed by that. ^_^ Yeah, I'm a dork. But I have fun.
Well, other than that I really don't have anything to report. I'm going to a little party on Thursday- a girls only, tupperware-style langerie party, no less- and I have a SLAW (St Louis Area Wizards) meeting on Friday. My sister will be here on Saturday, and I start working tomorrow! Whoa, this is a rather bus week for me, eh? I'll most likely sleep all day on Sunday to compensate. ^_-
Until next time, my lovelies,
~Swanky Read More...
Friday, November 9, 2007
Another Week Comes To A Close...
So, first I shall give you my last Word Of The Day, and then, the rest of this entry is really just me complaining. o_0 Don't worry, I'll try not to turn this into one of those annoying emo-blogs. Just, sometimes, one needs to vent, yes? Well, today I vent.
Alright, today's word was:
Presage:
noun. 1. An indication or warning of a future event; an omen. 2. A feeling or intuition of what the future holds. 3. Prophetic significance. 4. [Archaic] A prediction; a prognostication.
transitive verb. 1. To indicate or warn of beforehand; to foreshadow. 2. To have a presentiment of. 3. To predict; to foretell.
intransitive verb. 1. To make or utter a prediction
"Although the enlightenment and liberation which had been expected to come after the war had not come with victory, a presage of freedom was in the air throughout these post-war years, and it was their only historical meaning." -Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Ok, so I don't actually know how many times I used this word today. I liked it, and was using it for everything all the time. I know I got it in there at least five times, though. It was fun. ^_^
I've enjoyed doing this Something New Challenge. Remember to check back on Monday to see what the new Challenge and Recommendations will be! The Something New Challenge offers a presage of challenge indeed!
Ok, so on to the venting. I actually wrote this first, but then I thought I ought to get the word of the day in there before I went on my little tangent, so I moved it down here...
Well, it's Friday evening and my father is short one gallbladder and resting peacefully at the hospital- where Virginia ditched me. I asked her to picked me up from the hospital two weeks ago, and then Wednesday she agreed to take her cousin to visit their family today. They live about 2 1/2 hours away, but Virginia assured me that she would be back to get me at 1 without a problem. However, when I called her this morning to give her directions, she asked if she could come get me later, and told me to call her back around 2 and she'd let me know what was going on. Well, when I called at 2, she was playing bridge with her family and was so loath to leave that she had called a friend of hers (that I have only met once) to see if she could come get me instead.
Needless to say, I was slightly annoyed by this. I told her not to worry about it and paid the $30 my father had given me for dinner and gas money to take a cab home instead.
What bothers me about this isn't that I had to spend my money for food to get home, or that I got home so late and it was a big huge hassle. What bothers me about this is that Virginia has done this to me about four times already. If she didn't want to do it, she should have just said no. Or at east told me I would have to find a different ride on Wednesday. Granted, I would have still been a little annoyed, but at least I would have known and had money for a cab AND food.
I've never ditched her when she needed something from me. I've never told her no when she's asked for hep with anything, or for me to watch her kid. I give her gas money and try to always pay her back when she lends me money for anything. I've even allowed her to rearrange my schedule to better help her! Like when she decided that me coming over all day on Saturday to help her wallpaper wasn't enough, so she had to keep me from when school let out on Friday (after one of her god awful club meetings) until Sunday afternoon instead.
I went with that, because she's my friend and needed help. But I'm so sick of her selfishness now. When my father was sick- he had the sinus infection from hell- I wanted to make him my chicken soup, but she needed my help with something or another, so she bought him chicken soup he doesn't like and came over with it so that I would have no reason not to go help her. When I wanted to spend a day with just my sister and go see Harry Potter, she insisted that she come along, because she would feel stupid going to see it without a kid. When I told her that I couldn't watch her kid on Valentine's Day because I supposed to have a date-like-thing, she decided that she would drop her kid off at my house in the early evening and then come get him at nine since I stay up so late anyway. It obviously wouldn't be a problem for me to have to push my date off until ten at night, because her and her husband needed that day off. And then she was an hour late picking the kid up and my date was so mad at me because we ended up not having time to do anything! That was the only chance I got to go on a real date with that guy, by the way.
But she doesn't care about any of that. She'll pay for my lunch the next day and she thinks that makes it all better. She thinks that she's such a thoughtful and generous person because she'll give me rides home (but only if I'll cancel any plans I might have had and run her errands with her instead) or buy me lunch (but only if I help her with her homework while we eat) or "pay me back" for hours spent cleaning and wallpapering and painting her house with a cheap dinner at a Chinese buffet.
And the worst thing is, I let her! Because, don't you know, I'm the imposition. If I'm asking for a ride, well, beggars can't be choosers.
What the hell is wrong with me? Half-assed help is no help at all, right? I should think of it that way from now on, right? *sigh* Yeah, well, I'll try...
Until Monday, my ever present little Ryls,
~Swanky Read More...
Alright, today's word was:
Presage:
noun. 1. An indication or warning of a future event; an omen. 2. A feeling or intuition of what the future holds. 3. Prophetic significance. 4. [Archaic] A prediction; a prognostication.
transitive verb. 1. To indicate or warn of beforehand; to foreshadow. 2. To have a presentiment of. 3. To predict; to foretell.
intransitive verb. 1. To make or utter a prediction
"Although the enlightenment and liberation which had been expected to come after the war had not come with victory, a presage of freedom was in the air throughout these post-war years, and it was their only historical meaning." -Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Ok, so I don't actually know how many times I used this word today. I liked it, and was using it for everything all the time. I know I got it in there at least five times, though. It was fun. ^_^
I've enjoyed doing this Something New Challenge. Remember to check back on Monday to see what the new Challenge and Recommendations will be! The Something New Challenge offers a presage of challenge indeed!
Ok, so on to the venting. I actually wrote this first, but then I thought I ought to get the word of the day in there before I went on my little tangent, so I moved it down here...
Well, it's Friday evening and my father is short one gallbladder and resting peacefully at the hospital- where Virginia ditched me. I asked her to picked me up from the hospital two weeks ago, and then Wednesday she agreed to take her cousin to visit their family today. They live about 2 1/2 hours away, but Virginia assured me that she would be back to get me at 1 without a problem. However, when I called her this morning to give her directions, she asked if she could come get me later, and told me to call her back around 2 and she'd let me know what was going on. Well, when I called at 2, she was playing bridge with her family and was so loath to leave that she had called a friend of hers (that I have only met once) to see if she could come get me instead.
Needless to say, I was slightly annoyed by this. I told her not to worry about it and paid the $30 my father had given me for dinner and gas money to take a cab home instead.
What bothers me about this isn't that I had to spend my money for food to get home, or that I got home so late and it was a big huge hassle. What bothers me about this is that Virginia has done this to me about four times already. If she didn't want to do it, she should have just said no. Or at east told me I would have to find a different ride on Wednesday. Granted, I would have still been a little annoyed, but at least I would have known and had money for a cab AND food.
I've never ditched her when she needed something from me. I've never told her no when she's asked for hep with anything, or for me to watch her kid. I give her gas money and try to always pay her back when she lends me money for anything. I've even allowed her to rearrange my schedule to better help her! Like when she decided that me coming over all day on Saturday to help her wallpaper wasn't enough, so she had to keep me from when school let out on Friday (after one of her god awful club meetings) until Sunday afternoon instead.
I went with that, because she's my friend and needed help. But I'm so sick of her selfishness now. When my father was sick- he had the sinus infection from hell- I wanted to make him my chicken soup, but she needed my help with something or another, so she bought him chicken soup he doesn't like and came over with it so that I would have no reason not to go help her. When I wanted to spend a day with just my sister and go see Harry Potter, she insisted that she come along, because she would feel stupid going to see it without a kid. When I told her that I couldn't watch her kid on Valentine's Day because I supposed to have a date-like-thing, she decided that she would drop her kid off at my house in the early evening and then come get him at nine since I stay up so late anyway. It obviously wouldn't be a problem for me to have to push my date off until ten at night, because her and her husband needed that day off. And then she was an hour late picking the kid up and my date was so mad at me because we ended up not having time to do anything! That was the only chance I got to go on a real date with that guy, by the way.
But she doesn't care about any of that. She'll pay for my lunch the next day and she thinks that makes it all better. She thinks that she's such a thoughtful and generous person because she'll give me rides home (but only if I'll cancel any plans I might have had and run her errands with her instead) or buy me lunch (but only if I help her with her homework while we eat) or "pay me back" for hours spent cleaning and wallpapering and painting her house with a cheap dinner at a Chinese buffet.
And the worst thing is, I let her! Because, don't you know, I'm the imposition. If I'm asking for a ride, well, beggars can't be choosers.
What the hell is wrong with me? Half-assed help is no help at all, right? I should think of it that way from now on, right? *sigh* Yeah, well, I'll try...
Until Monday, my ever present little Ryls,
~Swanky Read More...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Holiday Season is Upon Us! W00T!
So, I love the holiday season, and today, I got my Swiss Colony catalog in the mail, which means... THE HOLIDAY SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED!!! *happy dance*
So, I'm making my cards list! If you want a card from me, send me an email at sjcswank[at]gmail[dot]com with your address, which holiday you celebrate, and who in the house the card should be to, And you'll get one!
W00T!
~Swanky Read More...
So, I'm making my cards list! If you want a card from me, send me an email at sjcswank[at]gmail[dot]com with your address, which holiday you celebrate, and who in the house the card should be to, And you'll get one!
W00T!
~Swanky Read More...
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Word of the day and catching up, in more ways than one.
First, let me just say that even though I did not post Wednesday or Thursday, I did learn my new word for Thursday, and I used both it and Wednesday's word five times. However, I don't remember exactly how I used them... I'll post what I do remember, and both Wednesday and today's words now...
Tuesday: bete noire
I remember that during a conversation with my mother trying to encourage her to g back to school I conceded that classes were her "bete noire", but that she ought to try to overcome that. I also remember that when explaining to Virginia why I didn't want to go with her to pick up her husband from their store, I mentioned that malls were one of my bete noires. I don't remember the other ways in which I used them.
Wednesday:
Ubiquitous: adjective. existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent. "Tearing his eyes away from the scene before him just in time to see a fair-haired man disappear into one of the back rooms with a man dressed in form-fitting black leather, Harry wished he were ubiqitous." In The Dark Knight by Minxie.
This one started with my friend Jade. This is one of her favorite words, and I can understand why. It has an appealing sound and is much better than merely saying omnipresent- which was always one of my favorite words to begin with. She brought it up to me on the phone while we were discussing this week's challenge, and I promised her I would use it this week. Then things just got more interesting when I saw the previous quote in a fanfiction I was reading. Learn something new, and you'll see it all over the place, I swear.
I do remember two of the five ways I used this word. One was to Virginia. While she was complaining about what her son got p to at school, I shrugged and told her, "It can't be helped- you're not ubiquitous after all." I then had to explain what ubiquitous meant to her, so I also spread the learning with that one! The other instance was during a theological conversation with someone in Babies-R-Us whom I had never spoken to before. That was also a new, fun, and challenging experience. ^_^
Thursday:
Agglomeration: noun. (1) The act or process of collecting in a mass; a heaping together. (2) A jumbled cluster or mass of usually varied elements. "This blog is really just an agglomeration of random ideas- much like Swanky's brain."
So, I shall use agglomeration at least five times today, and I will try to get both meanings in, as well!
I should be able to post again tomorrow, but I am not positive. My father is going in to the hospital tomorrow morning to have his gallbladder removed. I will be bringing my laptop with me, and if the allow me to use it and have Wi-Fi, then I should be able to post while I am waiting fr him to come to recovery. I make no promises, however, I will try.
Now that I have gotten caught up with my Something New Challenge I can explain the other way in which I have been "catching up" this week.
For a while now I have been increasingly withdrawn. It is a problem that I have, after a certain amount of time of engaging in social interaction daily, I end up not interacting with anyone. At all. I don't like this about myself, and it has become a large problem that is interfering with m life, so I am trying to change it. When I woke up the other morning, I realized that I haven't been doing a very good job with this, so, I've been focusing on it. This is why I haven't updated. I was on the phone nearly all day on Wednesday, and yesterday I spent the day with Virginia and then the evening chatting with my father. I only just got my first moment to myself in the past two days, and here I am.
It is interesting to examine the past two days. I didn't want to talk to anyone, but I forced myself to. I think the week and a half break that I had from having to deal with anyone helped me to be able to force this upon myself at all, since I had to drop my classes because I had been unable to d exactly that. But I also think that being able to hand pick who I was going to interact with helped. Either way, I have to say I feel a little better now. Not because of the actual interaction, but because I fee like I accomplished something. I forced m self through four panic attacks in the past two days, and still, I didn't crawl back to my room to hide. I did something that will hopefully have a beneficial outcome for me, despite a great desire not to. That I am proud f, and it makes me feel a little better to know that I can still win in life, no matter how small the victory.
So, I hope to be able to update every weekday, but understand that if I do not there is good change that I am out there fighting the good fight once again, and keep your fingers crossed that I come out alive and not in a straight jacket!
~Swanky Read More...
Tuesday: bete noire
I remember that during a conversation with my mother trying to encourage her to g back to school I conceded that classes were her "bete noire", but that she ought to try to overcome that. I also remember that when explaining to Virginia why I didn't want to go with her to pick up her husband from their store, I mentioned that malls were one of my bete noires. I don't remember the other ways in which I used them.
Wednesday:
Ubiquitous: adjective. existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent. "Tearing his eyes away from the scene before him just in time to see a fair-haired man disappear into one of the back rooms with a man dressed in form-fitting black leather, Harry wished he were ubiqitous." In The Dark Knight by Minxie.
This one started with my friend Jade. This is one of her favorite words, and I can understand why. It has an appealing sound and is much better than merely saying omnipresent- which was always one of my favorite words to begin with. She brought it up to me on the phone while we were discussing this week's challenge, and I promised her I would use it this week. Then things just got more interesting when I saw the previous quote in a fanfiction I was reading. Learn something new, and you'll see it all over the place, I swear.
I do remember two of the five ways I used this word. One was to Virginia. While she was complaining about what her son got p to at school, I shrugged and told her, "It can't be helped- you're not ubiquitous after all." I then had to explain what ubiquitous meant to her, so I also spread the learning with that one! The other instance was during a theological conversation with someone in Babies-R-Us whom I had never spoken to before. That was also a new, fun, and challenging experience. ^_^
Thursday:
Agglomeration: noun. (1) The act or process of collecting in a mass; a heaping together. (2) A jumbled cluster or mass of usually varied elements. "This blog is really just an agglomeration of random ideas- much like Swanky's brain."
So, I shall use agglomeration at least five times today, and I will try to get both meanings in, as well!
I should be able to post again tomorrow, but I am not positive. My father is going in to the hospital tomorrow morning to have his gallbladder removed. I will be bringing my laptop with me, and if the allow me to use it and have Wi-Fi, then I should be able to post while I am waiting fr him to come to recovery. I make no promises, however, I will try.
Now that I have gotten caught up with my Something New Challenge I can explain the other way in which I have been "catching up" this week.
For a while now I have been increasingly withdrawn. It is a problem that I have, after a certain amount of time of engaging in social interaction daily, I end up not interacting with anyone. At all. I don't like this about myself, and it has become a large problem that is interfering with m life, so I am trying to change it. When I woke up the other morning, I realized that I haven't been doing a very good job with this, so, I've been focusing on it. This is why I haven't updated. I was on the phone nearly all day on Wednesday, and yesterday I spent the day with Virginia and then the evening chatting with my father. I only just got my first moment to myself in the past two days, and here I am.
It is interesting to examine the past two days. I didn't want to talk to anyone, but I forced myself to. I think the week and a half break that I had from having to deal with anyone helped me to be able to force this upon myself at all, since I had to drop my classes because I had been unable to d exactly that. But I also think that being able to hand pick who I was going to interact with helped. Either way, I have to say I feel a little better now. Not because of the actual interaction, but because I fee like I accomplished something. I forced m self through four panic attacks in the past two days, and still, I didn't crawl back to my room to hide. I did something that will hopefully have a beneficial outcome for me, despite a great desire not to. That I am proud f, and it makes me feel a little better to know that I can still win in life, no matter how small the victory.
So, I hope to be able to update every weekday, but understand that if I do not there is good change that I am out there fighting the good fight once again, and keep your fingers crossed that I come out alive and not in a straight jacket!
~Swanky Read More...
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Word of the day!
So, here is my new word for today for this week's Something New Challenge. What's yours?
bete noire: N. Something or someone particularly detested or avoided; a bugbear. "Never an exceptional student, Andrews somehow managed to navigate the academy's rigorous courses with satisfactory grades, though all forms of mathematics were agonizing to him, remaining what he called his "bete noire" throughout life." Charles Gallenkamp, Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions.
And, here is how I used yesterday's word, Spoonerism:
I got lucky the first time. I called my mother:
Me: Hi!
Mom: Hi.
Me: I learned a new word today!
Mom: That's nice. Hold on, Michael's hetting the souse on fire...
Me: ...
Mom: Ok, all better.
Me: He was hetting the souse on fire? *laughs*
Mom: You know what I meant!
Me: That was a spoonerism, Ma.
Yeah, I told you this was going to be easy. My night pretty much kept up like that. I got three other spoonerisms from my father and my sister last night. And then I finished off the 5 times requirement by telling Virgina that in just a few hours, my family had provided me with four spoonerisms. So, spoonerism was easy to do. Let's hope bete noire goes as well! Read More...
bete noire: N. Something or someone particularly detested or avoided; a bugbear. "Never an exceptional student, Andrews somehow managed to navigate the academy's rigorous courses with satisfactory grades, though all forms of mathematics were agonizing to him, remaining what he called his "bete noire" throughout life." Charles Gallenkamp, Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions.
And, here is how I used yesterday's word, Spoonerism:
I got lucky the first time. I called my mother:
Me: Hi!
Mom: Hi.
Me: I learned a new word today!
Mom: That's nice. Hold on, Michael's hetting the souse on fire...
Me: ...
Mom: Ok, all better.
Me: He was hetting the souse on fire? *laughs*
Mom: You know what I meant!
Me: That was a spoonerism, Ma.
Yeah, I told you this was going to be easy. My night pretty much kept up like that. I got three other spoonerisms from my father and my sister last night. And then I finished off the 5 times requirement by telling Virgina that in just a few hours, my family had provided me with four spoonerisms. So, spoonerism was easy to do. Let's hope bete noire goes as well! Read More...
Monday, November 5, 2007
The wonders of words
So, in honor of this week's "Something New Challenge" Learn a new word everyday and use it 5 times before the day is up! I've decided that in addition to my new word for the day, I would share with you all some of my favorite words. I believe that words are a gift, allowing us to communicate with the world around us, and to unleash the wonders of the mind with spectacular imagery and captivating eloquence. And still, nothing is ever so one dimensional. Words can be silly or serious, confusing or illuminating, complementary or hurtful. There is no limit to the human language, if you have the vocabulary to use, that is.
So, with out further ado, here is my list of "The Top 10 Words Of The English Language"!
10. Zemmiphobia: N. Fear of the great mole rat. "I'm sorry, Professor, I cannot attend your lecture, Rodents and the Joy of Sex due to my Zemmiphobia... Yes, yes I have a doctor's note..."
First, I love this word because of the particular way it sounds rolling of your tongue the fifth time you say it. I also love the implications behind this word. The fact that it exists tells us that there are literally hundreds of people that fear the mysterious and elusive. And, it also makes me wonder, if the thing that you fear is fictional, does that not make the fear itself fictional?
9. Spoon: N. a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle used to stir, serve or take up food; formerly a golfing wood with an elevated face. V. scoop up or take up with a spoon; snuggle and lie in a position where one person faces the back of the others. "Mother, spoon some of that butter sauce over the pound cake, please."
Say it. Go ahead, say it. Again. One more time. Now tell me you aren't laughing. I ma have to record myself saying "Spoon" a few times, just to fully get this point across. It is a funny sounding word. That is all there is to it.
8. Kludge: N. a system and especially a computer system made up of poorly matched components. "Putting Vista on that kludge will lead you no where but the blue screen of death, mark my words!"
Not only a useful word this todays growing world of technology, but also this word carries perfect imagery. The formation of the word, both on the page and on the tongue, gives a feeling of the hodgepodge, dysfunctional, and "random organization". Personally, I think that it is one of best envisioned words of modern English.
7. Smorgasbord: N. a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes; an often large heterogeneous mixture. "Look at all this food, Vera! It's a virtual smorgasbord!"
Ok, who thought to make a word that looks like a bastardization of "Some more gas board" and then attributing it to lots of food? Do I really have to say any more?
6. Lisp: N. A speech defect or mannerism characterized by mispronunciation of the sounds (s) and (z) as (th) and (th). "It's just plain mean to ask a person with a lisp to say 'the sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick'."
I envy the type of evil genius that it takes to think to put an 's' in the word used to describe not being able to pronounce 's'.
5. Androgynous: Adj. Being neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine, as in dress, appearance, or behavior; Biology: Having both female and male characteristics; hermaphroditic. "Some people are saying that Hillary Clinton's claims that her failings in the recent debate were caused by sexism is ridiculous because of her androgyny."
I love this word, I think, because it is one of my favorite attributes. There is something beautiful about androgyny. There is a beauty that a woman possesses and a beauty that a man possesses, and then there a beauty to those who try to imitate the other. I love it.
4. Crwth: N. Crowd, derived from Welsh. pronounced 'crooth'. "A huge crwth of Harry Potter fans are planing to meet at King's Cross Station on September 1, 2017 to celebrate the Epilogue in the end of the series."
There is no Vowel! I love the Welsh, only they could get away with using a w for a vowel or making 'll' roll of the tongue just so. If you ever get a chance, you should have someone who speaks Welsh to say this word. It is a thing of beauty.
3. Malapropism: N. Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound. "To say that that the election was won anonymously rather than unanimously would be a grave malapropism."
Based off a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The Rivals. Mrs. Malaprop continuously confused long words with other long words that sound similar but mean nothing of the like. Also, the definition has the word ‘ludicrous’ in it- this leaves no doubt that Malapropism is an awesome word.
2. Euphemism: N. The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. "If you know what I mean..."
I like the sound of this word. Makes me think of all sorts of things that the rest of the world thinks of as just plain wrong but would be nice enough to say are simply ‘politically incorrect’.
1. Dreamt: V. INTR. To experience a dream; To have a deep aspiration. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, then are dreamt of in your philosophy" Shakespeare-- Hamlet.
I love this word. It is invariably my favorite word in the English language. It is both a beautiful word with a beautiful meaning. I have always believed that dreaming is an essential part of being human- both to dream in our sleep, and to dream fr our future. Even to dream for our past.
And now, our new word for today!
spoonerism: N. The transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. "Mom, pass me that gar of jarlic."
I think I should have sufficient opportunity to use this word today, since I do it all the time! As a matter of fact, that quote up there is an actual quote from me while I was cooking... Oh yeah, this is gonna be easy. ^_^
Check in tomorrow for a list of how I used the word and my new word of the day! Read More...
So, with out further ado, here is my list of "The Top 10 Words Of The English Language"!
10. Zemmiphobia: N. Fear of the great mole rat. "I'm sorry, Professor, I cannot attend your lecture, Rodents and the Joy of Sex due to my Zemmiphobia... Yes, yes I have a doctor's note..."
First, I love this word because of the particular way it sounds rolling of your tongue the fifth time you say it. I also love the implications behind this word. The fact that it exists tells us that there are literally hundreds of people that fear the mysterious and elusive. And, it also makes me wonder, if the thing that you fear is fictional, does that not make the fear itself fictional?
9. Spoon: N. a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle used to stir, serve or take up food; formerly a golfing wood with an elevated face. V. scoop up or take up with a spoon; snuggle and lie in a position where one person faces the back of the others. "Mother, spoon some of that butter sauce over the pound cake, please."
Say it. Go ahead, say it. Again. One more time. Now tell me you aren't laughing. I ma have to record myself saying "Spoon" a few times, just to fully get this point across. It is a funny sounding word. That is all there is to it.
8. Kludge: N. a system and especially a computer system made up of poorly matched components. "Putting Vista on that kludge will lead you no where but the blue screen of death, mark my words!"
Not only a useful word this todays growing world of technology, but also this word carries perfect imagery. The formation of the word, both on the page and on the tongue, gives a feeling of the hodgepodge, dysfunctional, and "random organization". Personally, I think that it is one of best envisioned words of modern English.
7. Smorgasbord: N. a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes; an often large heterogeneous mixture. "Look at all this food, Vera! It's a virtual smorgasbord!"
Ok, who thought to make a word that looks like a bastardization of "Some more gas board" and then attributing it to lots of food? Do I really have to say any more?
6. Lisp: N. A speech defect or mannerism characterized by mispronunciation of the sounds (s) and (z) as (th) and (th). "It's just plain mean to ask a person with a lisp to say 'the sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick'."
I envy the type of evil genius that it takes to think to put an 's' in the word used to describe not being able to pronounce 's'.
5. Androgynous: Adj. Being neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine, as in dress, appearance, or behavior; Biology: Having both female and male characteristics; hermaphroditic. "Some people are saying that Hillary Clinton's claims that her failings in the recent debate were caused by sexism is ridiculous because of her androgyny."
I love this word, I think, because it is one of my favorite attributes. There is something beautiful about androgyny. There is a beauty that a woman possesses and a beauty that a man possesses, and then there a beauty to those who try to imitate the other. I love it.
4. Crwth: N. Crowd, derived from Welsh. pronounced 'crooth'. "A huge crwth of Harry Potter fans are planing to meet at King's Cross Station on September 1, 2017 to celebrate the Epilogue in the end of the series."
There is no Vowel! I love the Welsh, only they could get away with using a w for a vowel or making 'll' roll of the tongue just so. If you ever get a chance, you should have someone who speaks Welsh to say this word. It is a thing of beauty.
3. Malapropism: N. Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound. "To say that that the election was won anonymously rather than unanimously would be a grave malapropism."
Based off a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The Rivals. Mrs. Malaprop continuously confused long words with other long words that sound similar but mean nothing of the like. Also, the definition has the word ‘ludicrous’ in it- this leaves no doubt that Malapropism is an awesome word.
2. Euphemism: N. The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. "If you know what I mean..."
I like the sound of this word. Makes me think of all sorts of things that the rest of the world thinks of as just plain wrong but would be nice enough to say are simply ‘politically incorrect’.
1. Dreamt: V. INTR. To experience a dream; To have a deep aspiration. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, then are dreamt of in your philosophy" Shakespeare-- Hamlet.
I love this word. It is invariably my favorite word in the English language. It is both a beautiful word with a beautiful meaning. I have always believed that dreaming is an essential part of being human- both to dream in our sleep, and to dream fr our future. Even to dream for our past.
And now, our new word for today!
spoonerism: N. The transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. "Mom, pass me that gar of jarlic."
I think I should have sufficient opportunity to use this word today, since I do it all the time! As a matter of fact, that quote up there is an actual quote from me while I was cooking... Oh yeah, this is gonna be easy. ^_^
Check in tomorrow for a list of how I used the word and my new word of the day! Read More...
Friday, November 2, 2007
Are radical protesters becomng an issue in America?
Last night on The O'Reilly Factor, a show that my father routinely watches, there was a segment on radical leftist protesters. Three incidents were mentioned: the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence interruption of Mass at Most Holy Redeemer Church in San Fransisco on Oct 7, the Codepink confrontation with Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice last Thursday, Oct 24, and the Paul Addis attempted attack on the Grace Cathedral, also in San Fransisco, this past Saturday. There was also another segment posing the idea that "far-left protesters" have become a problem.
For those of you who have not heard, on Oct. 7 two members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a well known charity that supports the gay community in San Fransisco, attended Mass at the Most Holy Redeemer Church. This was not just any Mass, however, this was the welcoming Mass for the new Archbishop of San Francisco, Most Rev. George Niederauer, who has been described as a "progressive", giving a much more lax view on many Catholic issues such as homosexuality and sexual offence investigations on other priests.
From what I have been able to find, the two members of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence that attended the mass were both calm and respectful in their behavior, if not in their dress. There were no outburst, and the two claim that they fully participated in the Mass and felt very welcomed by both the Archbishop and the parishioners. The only issue that seemed to be there was a slight feeling from the parishioners that the flamboyantly arranged nun habits that the two wore were a bit less than respectful, but no mention of that was made during the Mass or during the socializing afterwards. It seems that the only real issue about this whole demonstration has come from the (admittedly slanted) coverage of the event by such personalities as Bill O'Reilly. Sister Edith Myflesh, Current Abbess of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, stated "We are dismayed that a moment of genuine communion during sacred worship is being twisted for political gain by the forces of hatred and dissension." (Sisters Upset Communion Being Turned into Political Issue)
I am not comfortable stating that this was a "dangerous radical-right protest", as Mr. O'Reilly would have us believe. Rather, it seems to be that this was a very peaceful statement. Do I think that it is the best idea to stage any sort of protest inside a church? No. But then, this wasn't really a protest, either. The two Sisters did not pose any sort of agenda while there, even. Perhaps their outfits were a bit less than respectful, but none-the-less, there was no issue caused until the media became involved.
Another situation that I feel has been exagerated by the press is the Codepink confrontation with Condoleezza Rice. A Codepink member, red paint smeared on her hands to represent the blood the organization feels Condoleezza Rice is responsible for, walked up to Secretary Rice, stopping mere inches from her face as she entered the room to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Secretary Rice did not react to the protester, nor to the woman's insistence that Secretary Rice is a "war-criminal". The Codepink protester was immediately removed from the room, along with other Codepink members from the audience. The following videos show parts of the hearing before the confrontation, during and after.
It does not appear to me that this protest was dangerous, however, I will say that I believe the protester should not have gotten so close to Secretary Rice. The same statement, with the same impact, could have been made from a respectable distance. Also, I believe it was at least as inappropriate to interrupt a Capitol Hill hearing to make a statement as it was to interrupt a Mass to do so. Inappropriate or disrespectful as it was, I none-the-less do not agree that it was dangerous. Again, I feel this was a peaceful demonstration, which might have benifited from a little distance between Secretary Rice and the protester.
The last "protest" Mr. O'Reilly made mention of was Paul Addis' attempted attack on the Grace Cathedral. I can't really comment on this, because, surprising as it may be, I haven't been able to find sufficient information about the situation. The most indepth coverage I have been able to find is this article from The San Fransisco Chronicle. From what I have been able to gather, Mr. Addis was apprehended late Saturday night on the steps of Grace Cathedral, with a belt of fireworks and small explosives. Arrested for arson once before, when he set fire to the icon of the annual Burning Man festival four days early, Mr. Addis has not made any statements that would connect his recent activity at Grace Cathedral to any protest group other than a passing mention of it being "his religious right".
I am interested to know where Mr. O'Reilly got the information that this was intended to be some sort of leftist protest. I am sure that his research team is much more thorough and experienced in dragging up the hidden details of a story than I am, but if this were some sort of protest, one would think it would have been covered in at least one of the local news sources as one. And yet, there has still yet to be any mention of a connection between the attempted arson and any agenda, left or right.
Do I think that Paul Addis is dangerous, that his actions were dangerous? Yes. Do I think that this lends to the theory that protesting in America has become increasingly dangerous? No.
I cannot claim that Mr. O'Rielly only mentioned the extremists on the left last night. There was also a segment covering the Westboro Baptist Church Law suit (The Baltimore Sun), however, I was unable to find a video or transcript of this segment on his webpage. Albert Snyder, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq, brought a law suit against Westboro Baptist Church after the Arkansas based church protested at his son's funeral, holding signs that read things such as "God hates your tears" and "Thank God for dead soldiers". Unanimously, the jury found in favor of Mr. Snyder, setting a $10.9 million verdict against the church, the first successful civil claim against Westboro to date. Headed by Pastor Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church has a long history of such disrespectful, tasteless and extreme protesting, especially at funerals, going back as far as 1998, when they protested at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was brutally beaten to death in Laramie, WY.
Do I believe that protests such as the ones held by Westboro Baptist Church are dangerous? Yes. They are dangerous not only because the spread a message of hate- something we cannot really stop because we all enjoy the right to free speech in this country- but also because of the truly grotesque fashion in which they are held. Can you image the pain that the loved ones must feel when they look up at these funerals and see these people? That causes a pain that no one should have to suffer. I wouldn't suggest protesting at Fred Phelps funeral, either. It's just plain wrong. It is not the time or place. A funeral is the place for grieving and support, not for political or religious protesting.
Do I think that the protests in America are getting out of hand, becoming unlawful or dangerous? In general, no, I do not. There are a few groups and individuals, on both ends of the spectrum, that have taken things too far, that need to be reigned in, but on the large scale I personally believe that there should be more people that will stand up for what they believe, weather I agree with them or not.
So, here is what I think: If you feel that radical protesters in America are becoming an issue, get out there and get your voice heard! Let the world know how you feel and why you feel it, and do so in a way that other people can look up to. Show the world that protesting doesn't have to become a nasty subculture in our society, but can, and should, be a great asset.
Perhaps, together, respectfully, we can make a difference in the way the world thinks. Maybe if we try, we can change something for the better.
~Swanky
Links in this entry:
The O'Reilly Factor: http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly
Article: O'Reilly 'Talking Points Memo' on radical protesters transcript: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307612,00.html
Article: O'Rielly Segment "Far-Left Protestors Causing Problems" transcript: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307677,00.html
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: http://thesisters.org
Article: "Sisters Upset Communion Being Turned into Political Issue": http://thesisters.org/MHR_Release.html
Archbishop of San Francisco, Most Rev. George Niederauer: http://www.sfarchdiocese.org/archbishop.html
Codepink: http://www.codepink4peace.org
Article: "Rice Accosted By Anti-War Protester": http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/24/national/main3402772.shtml
Video: Playlist of CodePink confrontation with Condoleezza Rice: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AD791FDD3E0AFC35
Atricle: "Burning Man suspect held in Grace Cathedral arson attempt": http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/30/BAGJT2QQB.DTL&tsp=1
The San Fransisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle
Article: "Reversal likely in protest verdict": http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-te.md.westboro02nov02,0,4500443.story
The Baltimore Sun: http://www.baltimoresun.com
Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder: http://www.matthewsnyder.org/
Westboro Baptist Church: http://www.godhatesamerica.com
Pastor Fred Phelps: http://www.godhatesamerica.com/ghfmir/main/phelpsbio.html
Matthew Shepard: http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageNavigator/Matthews%20Place/Learn/Matthews%20Story/Learn_MS_Matthews_Life Read More...
For those of you who have not heard, on Oct. 7 two members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a well known charity that supports the gay community in San Fransisco, attended Mass at the Most Holy Redeemer Church. This was not just any Mass, however, this was the welcoming Mass for the new Archbishop of San Francisco, Most Rev. George Niederauer, who has been described as a "progressive", giving a much more lax view on many Catholic issues such as homosexuality and sexual offence investigations on other priests.
From what I have been able to find, the two members of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence that attended the mass were both calm and respectful in their behavior, if not in their dress. There were no outburst, and the two claim that they fully participated in the Mass and felt very welcomed by both the Archbishop and the parishioners. The only issue that seemed to be there was a slight feeling from the parishioners that the flamboyantly arranged nun habits that the two wore were a bit less than respectful, but no mention of that was made during the Mass or during the socializing afterwards. It seems that the only real issue about this whole demonstration has come from the (admittedly slanted) coverage of the event by such personalities as Bill O'Reilly. Sister Edith Myflesh, Current Abbess of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, stated "We are dismayed that a moment of genuine communion during sacred worship is being twisted for political gain by the forces of hatred and dissension." (Sisters Upset Communion Being Turned into Political Issue)
I am not comfortable stating that this was a "dangerous radical-right protest", as Mr. O'Reilly would have us believe. Rather, it seems to be that this was a very peaceful statement. Do I think that it is the best idea to stage any sort of protest inside a church? No. But then, this wasn't really a protest, either. The two Sisters did not pose any sort of agenda while there, even. Perhaps their outfits were a bit less than respectful, but none-the-less, there was no issue caused until the media became involved.
Another situation that I feel has been exagerated by the press is the Codepink confrontation with Condoleezza Rice. A Codepink member, red paint smeared on her hands to represent the blood the organization feels Condoleezza Rice is responsible for, walked up to Secretary Rice, stopping mere inches from her face as she entered the room to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Secretary Rice did not react to the protester, nor to the woman's insistence that Secretary Rice is a "war-criminal". The Codepink protester was immediately removed from the room, along with other Codepink members from the audience. The following videos show parts of the hearing before the confrontation, during and after.
It does not appear to me that this protest was dangerous, however, I will say that I believe the protester should not have gotten so close to Secretary Rice. The same statement, with the same impact, could have been made from a respectable distance. Also, I believe it was at least as inappropriate to interrupt a Capitol Hill hearing to make a statement as it was to interrupt a Mass to do so. Inappropriate or disrespectful as it was, I none-the-less do not agree that it was dangerous. Again, I feel this was a peaceful demonstration, which might have benifited from a little distance between Secretary Rice and the protester.
The last "protest" Mr. O'Reilly made mention of was Paul Addis' attempted attack on the Grace Cathedral. I can't really comment on this, because, surprising as it may be, I haven't been able to find sufficient information about the situation. The most indepth coverage I have been able to find is this article from The San Fransisco Chronicle. From what I have been able to gather, Mr. Addis was apprehended late Saturday night on the steps of Grace Cathedral, with a belt of fireworks and small explosives. Arrested for arson once before, when he set fire to the icon of the annual Burning Man festival four days early, Mr. Addis has not made any statements that would connect his recent activity at Grace Cathedral to any protest group other than a passing mention of it being "his religious right".
I am interested to know where Mr. O'Reilly got the information that this was intended to be some sort of leftist protest. I am sure that his research team is much more thorough and experienced in dragging up the hidden details of a story than I am, but if this were some sort of protest, one would think it would have been covered in at least one of the local news sources as one. And yet, there has still yet to be any mention of a connection between the attempted arson and any agenda, left or right.
Do I think that Paul Addis is dangerous, that his actions were dangerous? Yes. Do I think that this lends to the theory that protesting in America has become increasingly dangerous? No.
I cannot claim that Mr. O'Rielly only mentioned the extremists on the left last night. There was also a segment covering the Westboro Baptist Church Law suit (The Baltimore Sun), however, I was unable to find a video or transcript of this segment on his webpage. Albert Snyder, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq, brought a law suit against Westboro Baptist Church after the Arkansas based church protested at his son's funeral, holding signs that read things such as "God hates your tears" and "Thank God for dead soldiers". Unanimously, the jury found in favor of Mr. Snyder, setting a $10.9 million verdict against the church, the first successful civil claim against Westboro to date. Headed by Pastor Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church has a long history of such disrespectful, tasteless and extreme protesting, especially at funerals, going back as far as 1998, when they protested at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was brutally beaten to death in Laramie, WY.
Do I believe that protests such as the ones held by Westboro Baptist Church are dangerous? Yes. They are dangerous not only because the spread a message of hate- something we cannot really stop because we all enjoy the right to free speech in this country- but also because of the truly grotesque fashion in which they are held. Can you image the pain that the loved ones must feel when they look up at these funerals and see these people? That causes a pain that no one should have to suffer. I wouldn't suggest protesting at Fred Phelps funeral, either. It's just plain wrong. It is not the time or place. A funeral is the place for grieving and support, not for political or religious protesting.
Do I think that the protests in America are getting out of hand, becoming unlawful or dangerous? In general, no, I do not. There are a few groups and individuals, on both ends of the spectrum, that have taken things too far, that need to be reigned in, but on the large scale I personally believe that there should be more people that will stand up for what they believe, weather I agree with them or not.
So, here is what I think: If you feel that radical protesters in America are becoming an issue, get out there and get your voice heard! Let the world know how you feel and why you feel it, and do so in a way that other people can look up to. Show the world that protesting doesn't have to become a nasty subculture in our society, but can, and should, be a great asset.
Perhaps, together, respectfully, we can make a difference in the way the world thinks. Maybe if we try, we can change something for the better.
~Swanky
Links in this entry:
The O'Reilly Factor: http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly
Article: O'Reilly 'Talking Points Memo' on radical protesters transcript: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307612,00.html
Article: O'Rielly Segment "Far-Left Protestors Causing Problems" transcript: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307677,00.html
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: http://thesisters.org
Article: "Sisters Upset Communion Being Turned into Political Issue": http://thesisters.org/MHR_Release.html
Archbishop of San Francisco, Most Rev. George Niederauer: http://www.sfarchdiocese.org/archbishop.html
Codepink: http://www.codepink4peace.org
Article: "Rice Accosted By Anti-War Protester": http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/24/national/main3402772.shtml
Video: Playlist of CodePink confrontation with Condoleezza Rice: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AD791FDD3E0AFC35
Atricle: "Burning Man suspect held in Grace Cathedral arson attempt": http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/30/BAGJT2QQB.DTL&tsp=1
The San Fransisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle
Article: "Reversal likely in protest verdict": http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-te.md.westboro02nov02,0,4500443.story
The Baltimore Sun: http://www.baltimoresun.com
Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder: http://www.matthewsnyder.org/
Westboro Baptist Church: http://www.godhatesamerica.com
Pastor Fred Phelps: http://www.godhatesamerica.com/ghfmir/main/phelpsbio.html
Matthew Shepard: http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageNavigator/Matthews%20Place/Learn/Matthews%20Story/Learn_MS_Matthews_Life Read More...
Thursday, November 1, 2007
What is a Wrockstocker?
Abby Hupp, organizer of Wrockstock Spooktacular 2007, left an amazing blog today on her myspace page telling the world what it takes to be a "Wrockstocker". I was very moved my her entry, and I wanted to share it with you all, to show you all exactly why I am so in love with this group of people. I'll just put my favorite snipits here, but please, click on the link so you can read the whole entry. It really is moving.
Myspace.com Blogs - What is a Wrockstocker? - Wrockstock Spooktacular MySpace Blog
Abby is completely right. That is what Wrockstock was all about, at least for most of us. It wasn't about the bands or Harry Potter. It wasn't about the costumes or the fangirling. It was about the joy and the fact that we were helping to raise money for The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA). It was about making a difference in the world, weather just by adding you money to the HPA pot, or by brightening the lives of the Wrockstockers around you. It was amazing to be a part of, inspiring to see, and humbling to know that there are so man people in the world who actually care.
For some time now, I have been disenchanted with my generation. We are the future of this world, and all around us the world is falling apart. This is not different from any other generation, the world is always falling apart, or at least seems to be. Regardless, we are responsible for trying to change that which we don't like about our world, and we haven't.
It is encouraging to see that there are people who are interested in changing the world. Who are willing to sacrifice time and energy, among other things, to make a difference. If the Wrockstockers of the world, and the HPA, keep growing and spreading their love and drive, there may be hope for our generation yet.
I'll be blogging more about the HPA later I'm sure. What exactly it is, what they stand for and why its swiftly becoming so important to me. I hope that anyone who reads this at least takes the time to visit the HPA and find out some more about this great organization. And if the above attributes discribe you, perhaps you should look into Wrockstock 2008. It's going to be a blast, full of love, motivation, and hope for the world.
~Swanky
Links:
Myspace.com Blogs - What is a Wrockstocker? - Wrockstock Spooktacular MySpace Blog
"To be a Wrockstocker, you do not have to have attended Wrockstock, but you should already be most of the following things... the rest will come... that's what this community is all about. All of us learning and growing as human beings, together...
"1. Generous. With their time, their hearts, their minds and on occasion, with their spare money...
"2. Respectful.... of themselves and others. Those with no self respect cannot respect others. Treat yourself with the same love and kind[n]ess that you give to your friends. Speak up if your friends are disrespecting themselves or others...
"3. Caring. Comforting a total stranger, saying "I love you" to someone who really needs to hear it, helping someone in need despite your own issues, these are how you spread love in this world. Performing random acts of kind[n]ess and making a habit out of it. This is the little stuff that can make a world of difference...
"4. Tolerant. Of each other, of the world, of "Muggles", even of Wal-Mart...
"5. Funny and/or fun loving. We use humor to raise awareness, to ease our pain and to show our appreciation for each other, differences and all...
"6. Concerned about the world. ... If the news makes you cry, if you want to grab President Bush by his short hairs and shake him til the money runs down his thighs, if you would spend your spring break building houses in New Orleans, if you would march your straight behind down main street in a Gay Rights parade, if you are sick and tired of seeing piles of dead children on the side of the road all over the continent of Africa, tired of seeing 12 year old boys who are the foot soldiers for drug trafficking warlords in South America, if you hate seeing women being mistreated in [A]sian and [M]iddle [E]astern countries, if you hate that Walmart is turning countless [C]hinese people into soul[l]ess slaves to the system and keeping them in giant chicken-coop like dormitories, if you are sick of seeing the gay kid in your art class getting hassled, anything that makes you angry about the world, anything that makes you wish you could do something about it..... you can. We did, we do and we will."
Abby is completely right. That is what Wrockstock was all about, at least for most of us. It wasn't about the bands or Harry Potter. It wasn't about the costumes or the fangirling. It was about the joy and the fact that we were helping to raise money for The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA). It was about making a difference in the world, weather just by adding you money to the HPA pot, or by brightening the lives of the Wrockstockers around you. It was amazing to be a part of, inspiring to see, and humbling to know that there are so man people in the world who actually care.
For some time now, I have been disenchanted with my generation. We are the future of this world, and all around us the world is falling apart. This is not different from any other generation, the world is always falling apart, or at least seems to be. Regardless, we are responsible for trying to change that which we don't like about our world, and we haven't.
It is encouraging to see that there are people who are interested in changing the world. Who are willing to sacrifice time and energy, among other things, to make a difference. If the Wrockstockers of the world, and the HPA, keep growing and spreading their love and drive, there may be hope for our generation yet.
I'll be blogging more about the HPA later I'm sure. What exactly it is, what they stand for and why its swiftly becoming so important to me. I hope that anyone who reads this at least takes the time to visit the HPA and find out some more about this great organization. And if the above attributes discribe you, perhaps you should look into Wrockstock 2008. It's going to be a blast, full of love, motivation, and hope for the world.
~Swanky
Links:
- Myspace.com Blogs - What is a Wrockstocker? - Wrockstock Spooktacular MySpace Blog
- Wrockstock Spooktacular 2007
- Wrockstock at Myspace
- The Harry Potter Alliance
- HPA at Myspace
- Harry Potter and the Muggle Activists- by Andrew Slack- A wonderful article about the HPA by organizer Andrew Slack.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!!
Happy Halloween to everyone out there in cyberland! I do love this holiday. ^_^ Costumes are so much fun! Though, I will say that it never made sense for me to really love Halloween, since I don't really like candy much... But, Halloween comes with costumes and cute little kids, apple cider and hay rides, haunted houses and piles of dried leaves to jump in... Yeah, it's a nice holiday.
Fall is finally upon us here in the Mid-West. I do miss living in the North East, fall comes earlier there and is just so... pretty. And I miss living in a place where I know where to go. My yearly trip to the graveyard to sing to the dead peoples, the best haunted house in the world- if for no other reason than because I know everyone who works there- the old lady that always set aside a 'kids room' at her Halloween party so we could come in and have cider and popcorn balls and candied apples without being disturbed by the 70 year old people dressed in "sexy costumes"... Halloween was never boring in Connecticut, I must say that.
Well, I'll be spending the night at my friend's house, helping her hand out candy to all the munchkins and entertain her family. It won't be quite as good at the disturbing- yet still sweet- old lady, but it'll have to do.
You know, I always wanted to be like that old lady when I was younger. She just seemed like she must have had such a fun life, and that she wasn't going to let a little thing like age stop her from enjoying life. I'd like to think that I'll be like that when I'm older.
So this year, I am dedicating Halloween to the little old lady with the best apple cider in the world and a spirit that's no older than 20. May we all be as happy and carefree as her this year.
Happy Halloween, y'all! Stay fresh!
~Swanky Read More...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Story: Blithe
A while back I took a creative writing class. It was a lot of fun, and I wrote quite a few short pieces for it, so I thought I would share them with you.
This was the first assignment, which was to write a story which follows someone. I chose one of the many actors at our local Renaissance Fair, and the title is his character name. I hope you enjoy it!
Title: Blithe
Date: 10/13/05
Assignment: Follow Someone
Blithe
His leaves blow about him wildly in the strong autumn breeze. His face, painted with grain designs in brown and greens, shows how he loves his work. Children giggle and point as he passes them. Mothers and father cling tightly to their little ones as they try to follow the man in his strange costume. Brutal teenagers laugh at what they think is his misfortune; to have to be The Treeman must be a fate worse than death. But he always gets the last laugh, jumping out from a well hidden nook amongst the other trees, making the toughest of the boys squeal with fright. He has done this for many years, has mastered the art of being The Treeman. The Faire would not be the same without him.
He slips silently into the little trailer, moving as gracefully as ever. With the utmost care he removed his leaves and branches, his makeup and tattered clothes. He emerges back into the world as just another faire-goer, making his way home after a long day of games and food and shopping. No one notices that with each step his tall frame seems to sway with the breeze. Unconsciously, the children stare at him as their parents drag them off, away from the magic of the faire, to be washed and fed and put to bed. As he makes his way out of the painted wooden gates he is all graceful nods and smooth gestures, waving his farewells to the other members of the staff, silently congratulating them on another well worked faire day. He drives his small car the short distance to his quant home, taking the back roads. He is surrounded by trees, and he is comfortable, after all these years.
He bounds from the car, excited that for once he is Home and not at some dingy hotel in God only knows where. Its dinner time, and he can already smell the sweet sausage as it cooks. Everyone is inside, most likely washing up for their coming meal. Making as little noise as possible, he creeps into the house and sneaks upstairs. He can hear his children splashing each other in the bathroom, but practices great restraint and continues to his own room to ready for the meal. He is not supposed to be home yet, but the Faire will continue short The Treeman tonight. He listens contentedly as his children race down the stairs to their dinner. He slowly sneaks down after them, careful to avoid that third step; it squeaks. Tonight he would sit down to eat, surrounded by his beloved family, as nothing other than himself. Tonight, The Treeman can rest.
Authors Note: Blithe is the name of a mythical forest fairy/spirit from English medieval folklore. He is portrayed as ‘The Treeman, Blithe’ at several Renaissance Faires, namely The Connecticut Renaissance Faire. Read More...
This was the first assignment, which was to write a story which follows someone. I chose one of the many actors at our local Renaissance Fair, and the title is his character name. I hope you enjoy it!
Title: Blithe
Date: 10/13/05
Assignment: Follow Someone
His leaves blow about him wildly in the strong autumn breeze. His face, painted with grain designs in brown and greens, shows how he loves his work. Children giggle and point as he passes them. Mothers and father cling tightly to their little ones as they try to follow the man in his strange costume. Brutal teenagers laugh at what they think is his misfortune; to have to be The Treeman must be a fate worse than death. But he always gets the last laugh, jumping out from a well hidden nook amongst the other trees, making the toughest of the boys squeal with fright. He has done this for many years, has mastered the art of being The Treeman. The Faire would not be the same without him.
He slips silently into the little trailer, moving as gracefully as ever. With the utmost care he removed his leaves and branches, his makeup and tattered clothes. He emerges back into the world as just another faire-goer, making his way home after a long day of games and food and shopping. No one notices that with each step his tall frame seems to sway with the breeze. Unconsciously, the children stare at him as their parents drag them off, away from the magic of the faire, to be washed and fed and put to bed. As he makes his way out of the painted wooden gates he is all graceful nods and smooth gestures, waving his farewells to the other members of the staff, silently congratulating them on another well worked faire day. He drives his small car the short distance to his quant home, taking the back roads. He is surrounded by trees, and he is comfortable, after all these years.
He bounds from the car, excited that for once he is Home and not at some dingy hotel in God only knows where. Its dinner time, and he can already smell the sweet sausage as it cooks. Everyone is inside, most likely washing up for their coming meal. Making as little noise as possible, he creeps into the house and sneaks upstairs. He can hear his children splashing each other in the bathroom, but practices great restraint and continues to his own room to ready for the meal. He is not supposed to be home yet, but the Faire will continue short The Treeman tonight. He listens contentedly as his children race down the stairs to their dinner. He slowly sneaks down after them, careful to avoid that third step; it squeaks. Tonight he would sit down to eat, surrounded by his beloved family, as nothing other than himself. Tonight, The Treeman can rest.
Authors Note: Blithe is the name of a mythical forest fairy/spirit from English medieval folklore. He is portrayed as ‘The Treeman, Blithe’ at several Renaissance Faires, namely The Connecticut Renaissance Faire. Read More...
Because I can
Ok, so, starting tomorrow, I'm going to be posting my original stories to this blog. I'll put up one story per day, and most of them are pretty short. I'd really like to know what you guys think of them! Yeah, that would be awesome...
Also, my brain has been spinning with different ideas for the "Something New" section of my recommendations. I can't wait to do some of them, but I really want to have other people doing them along with me, so I guess I will have to. *sigh* If anyone other there has any suggestions, leave me a comment! We'll get to them eventually, I'm sre! and I know that in another month or two, my ideas are going to run dry and I'm going to need all the help I can get! o_0
Ok, well, I am going to bed now. For the next... week and a half or so I'll be updating this thing twice a day, once with a story and once with a journal post. After that, it'll just be once per day. Yeah, I promise, I don't usually update a million times a day. Just on the first day. ^_^
See you all tomorrow! Sweet Dreams!
~Swanky Read More...
Also, my brain has been spinning with different ideas for the "Something New" section of my recommendations. I can't wait to do some of them, but I really want to have other people doing them along with me, so I guess I will have to. *sigh* If anyone other there has any suggestions, leave me a comment! We'll get to them eventually, I'm sre! and I know that in another month or two, my ideas are going to run dry and I'm going to need all the help I can get! o_0
Ok, well, I am going to bed now. For the next... week and a half or so I'll be updating this thing twice a day, once with a story and once with a journal post. After that, it'll just be once per day. Yeah, I promise, I don't usually update a million times a day. Just on the first day. ^_^
See you all tomorrow! Sweet Dreams!
~Swanky Read More...
Monday, October 29, 2007
Something New Challenge 001: Take a Pic of Your Life!
So, this is my random picture for "Something New Challenge 001: Take a Pic of Your Life!" This is me, dressed up as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter Series- who is dressed as a mandrake for Halloween. It was taken this past weekend, at Wrockstock Spooktacular 2007, which was the time of my life! So much fun, so much love, so much music, and so much Harry Potter! It's a pretty good representation of my life- love, music, books, and costumes.
Things you can't see about my costume, but I want you to know are there: On my cloak (which I did make myself) there are three pins. Two from my cabin mates which say "The Cabin We Have Is LOVE" and "Wanna be my fanboy?" and then also my one pin from CatchLove to support ending the Genocide in Darfur. Under the mandrake there is a Hufflepuff crest clasp. On the skirt and hat are some flowers and sprouts. And the Mandrake had Cabbage Patch style toes, finger, knees and elbows, belly button, and yes, even a butt crack. lol
This costume took me a long while to do. Two skirts, a cloak, and that hat had to be made by hand. So much effort, and so much love went into this thing, and I only got to wear it for an hour! lol Yeah, that's me for ya. lol ^_^
Ok, so, if you've got a random picture that represents YOUR life, let me know! Leave me a comment and I will go see what you are all about! ^_^
Much love!
~Swanky
Wrockstock is LOVE
The wonderful thing about having a place to blog where no one reads what I write is that I can be as much of an ooc mushy mess as I want to be without ever having to worry about my image.
Cause, yeah, I worry about my image a lot. /sarcasm
Anywayz! WROCKSTOCK WAS AMAZING!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how bloody friggen awesome the whole weekend was! The Lodge we were at all weekend was litteraly the Hogwarts of the Ozarks, Abby wasn't lying about that at all. The area was so pretty, and when you stood out on the back deck over hanging the lake at night and looked back at the lodge, the GIGANTIC fish splashing lightly in the black water behind you, and all the lights twinkling out of the windows... Oh god, it really did look just perfect. It felt magical there. And then you add all the great people who were at/working/playing the shows, and it was heaven.
We had a little set back because Rachel was supposed to be picked p from my place by 11 so that I could leave by 12, and her ride ended up being TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATE, but other than that, the weekend was perfect. I had thought I was going to end up crying like a baby when I heard "Snape vs Snape" by Ministry of Magic, but I didn't. I DID cry when Oliver Boyd and the Rememberalls played "End of an Era", which I didn't expect until I was there and he was playing his set. I still screamed with everyone else for him the play the song even though I knew it was going to make me cry at that point.
Like I said, so very concerned about my image.
I met some great people, and actually got like a million diferent ideas for fics, and I met great people, and I heard almost all my fav wrock songs, and did I mention the people I met? Yeah, it was so awesome.
So much so, that I have decided that I am not even going to bother trying to go to Wrock the Boat or Prophecy next year if Wrockstock is happening again. I can only afford to do one Harry Potter thingy next year anyway...
And THAT is if m father doesn't kill me because I am going to drop all my classes this semester because I am failing them all. Yet again. This is getting ridiculous, but I really don't know what is wrong with me. I just need to suck it up and go to class, that's what. No matter how much I do not want to sit in class bored to tears, or how much I think my teacher is an idiot, or how much I don't want to put up with the students... no matter how much I want to crawl back into my bed and hide from the world for a day or two, I have to figure out how to get my ass to go to class.
I need more will power. Anyone wanna lend me some? And could you send me some bravery, too, so I can tell my dad that I am dropping out for the semester?
And a fly swatter? We've had a fly for about 2 weeks and it is going to drive me insane and I haven't been able to kill it yet.
Anyway, I'll be putting my video and pictures up soon, hopefully. As soon as I figure out how to get them off my phone, anyway. Oh! and I have others on a disposable that I need to develop. So, yeah, funness to come, promise!
Later!
~Swanky Read More...
Cause, yeah, I worry about my image a lot. /sarcasm
Anywayz! WROCKSTOCK WAS AMAZING!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how bloody friggen awesome the whole weekend was! The Lodge we were at all weekend was litteraly the Hogwarts of the Ozarks, Abby wasn't lying about that at all. The area was so pretty, and when you stood out on the back deck over hanging the lake at night and looked back at the lodge, the GIGANTIC fish splashing lightly in the black water behind you, and all the lights twinkling out of the windows... Oh god, it really did look just perfect. It felt magical there. And then you add all the great people who were at/working/playing the shows, and it was heaven.
We had a little set back because Rachel was supposed to be picked p from my place by 11 so that I could leave by 12, and her ride ended up being TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATE, but other than that, the weekend was perfect. I had thought I was going to end up crying like a baby when I heard "Snape vs Snape" by Ministry of Magic, but I didn't. I DID cry when Oliver Boyd and the Rememberalls played "End of an Era", which I didn't expect until I was there and he was playing his set. I still screamed with everyone else for him the play the song even though I knew it was going to make me cry at that point.
Like I said, so very concerned about my image.
I met some great people, and actually got like a million diferent ideas for fics, and I met great people, and I heard almost all my fav wrock songs, and did I mention the people I met? Yeah, it was so awesome.
So much so, that I have decided that I am not even going to bother trying to go to Wrock the Boat or Prophecy next year if Wrockstock is happening again. I can only afford to do one Harry Potter thingy next year anyway...
And THAT is if m father doesn't kill me because I am going to drop all my classes this semester because I am failing them all. Yet again. This is getting ridiculous, but I really don't know what is wrong with me. I just need to suck it up and go to class, that's what. No matter how much I do not want to sit in class bored to tears, or how much I think my teacher is an idiot, or how much I don't want to put up with the students... no matter how much I want to crawl back into my bed and hide from the world for a day or two, I have to figure out how to get my ass to go to class.
I need more will power. Anyone wanna lend me some? And could you send me some bravery, too, so I can tell my dad that I am dropping out for the semester?
And a fly swatter? We've had a fly for about 2 weeks and it is going to drive me insane and I haven't been able to kill it yet.
Anyway, I'll be putting my video and pictures up soon, hopefully. As soon as I figure out how to get them off my phone, anyway. Oh! and I have others on a disposable that I need to develop. So, yeah, funness to come, promise!
Later!
~Swanky Read More...
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