http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:ProsePetals&section=today deviantART RSS for by:ProsePetals en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:40:14 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/28668864/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/28668864/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:57:54 PST

All is well here. Hubby still has his crazy-busy work schedule. Maniac is still enjoying his senior year mostly. Sphynxling is still enjoying middle school mostly. Travis is 6 months old today, and is sporting 2 teefs now ... I'm the same pretty much as always. Still writing. Still studying. Still receiving emails to increase my manhood... all that jazz. Life is good in your friendly neighborhood flowerpot.

I probably missed a few dates, but I did manage to get through the first month of my desired aim of a year's worth of international holiday. My aim is to continue this project primarily through the end of October/beginning of November 2010 -- and thereafter try to find more holidays that I probably missed over this particular 12-month period...learning about probably more obscure holidays from other countries. My own private global awareness project from a gentle bully platform.

I started with Associated Content, and shared an article called November Holidays Around the World. In that, my primary focus was on Veteran's Day, which is one of the more somber holidays that is recognized throughout many parts of the western world.

From there, I carried over to Factoidz, which I enjoy writing for...even if it doesn't generate a lot of income. I've discovered many useful tips there (just as I have with eHow), and really like learning from my fellow blip-writers.

November isn't a “busy” month, so far as holidays are concerned. Still, I enjoyed learning about various celebrations and such from other countries...and really enjoyed looking up recipes from those other places. That, by the way, is another aspect of my way of learning about holidays -- to find out how people celebrate their commemorative days, what the traditions are, what foods they eat...and would I try to prepare/cook those meals? Looking at the recipes, the answer is usually YES...some of the recipes look heavenly.

Without further ado, the following is the list of holidays I wrote up for the month of November.

November 4: Unity Day (or Den Narodnovo Edinstvo)

November 5th in History: Guy Fawkes Day and Bonfire Night in England and Canada

November 7: Bangladesh National Revolution and Solidarity Day

November 8 International Holiday: Pohnpei Constitution Day (Micronesia)

Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary

November 18 & 19 International Holidays: Oman

International Holidays: Muslim Festival of Sacrifice - Eid al-Adha

International Holidays: Thanksgiving (USA)

International (quasi) Holidays: Buy Nothing Day

November 30 in Scotland - St. Andrew's Day

Yep...between that, various other articles, studying for class and reading up for the dissertation...and everything you saw in the first paragraph, life is grand. http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/28110434/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:32:49 PST [link]

Handmade Soaps for Christmas Gifts: [link]

Amish Friendship Bread as a creative Christmas gift: [link]

Holiday Gift Jar of dry ingredients for Chili or Soup and Bread: [link]

Recycling to create handmade Christmas cards: [link]

Handmade Cookbooks and Recipe Boxes as Holiday Gifts: [link]

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/27394226/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/27394226/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:07:00 PDT [link]



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/27244224/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/27244224/ Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:02:27 PDT [link]

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26939745/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26939745/ Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:38:58 PDT
In addition to my regular reading today, I've been looking into the history of Cumming - and there are some really interesting nuggets of Jawjuh trivia up in there.

Funny, though, I didn't realize Cumming also has a fucknut crazy man self-proclaimed *Wisest Human* - Doctor of Cubicism, "Dr." Gene Ray, creator of the -*ahem*- Time Cube...

...he even offered $10,000 to any academic institution (or $1,000 to any non-academic mere mortal) to categorically disprove his "theory" - you can listen to him here. And he doesn't much care for Obama, either.

Cashew, anyone?



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26749005/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26749005/ Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:55:00 PDT
...and my time available is reverting back to minimalist again.

I am not "leaving" -- I just have to focus on my studies. The maternity break was nice...now it's time to get back into the groove.



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26607579/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26607579/ Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:10:28 PDT [link]

Quoting myself:

"Out of curiosity, I went to Sarah Palin's facebook page. I would not dream of becoming a fan of hers...yuck. Thing is - you can't comment to her page unless you ARE a fan. *chuckle* Funny, though, the first thing I noticed was that Jim Bakker was commenting on her Wall. In one of his comments, he linked this video: [link] in which Glenn Beck is falling all over himself about how Sarah Palin is right. Never mind for a brief moment that Jon Stewart already tore Beck up here: [link] -- *chuckle* -- but seriously, never mind that. Jim Bakker, of ALL people, is going to cite Glenn Beck (but I repeat myself), to convince the right-wingers that Sarah (alas, broken record) is RIGHT? And they wonder why we're calling them INSANE??? Really?!?! ...yes Glenn, somebody really should answer the question. *blank stare*"



"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself." ~Thomas Paine

I try to live by this...but I have to tell you - current events and reactionaries make me wonder why I bother. *sigh*

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26500814/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26500814/ Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:51:38 PDT “We are born naked, all the rest is drag.” –RuPaul

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wow.

Yeah, that's the word of the morning. Why, you ask? Well, I'll tell you...

An Update from the Flowerpot


Starting with René... From what I can see, being a new daddy is quite becoming on him. I had my suspicions that he'd be outstanding even while I was pregnant, and during the first few weeks the suspicions started cementing - but sometimes these matters take a bit more time than a couple of weeks. Also, as any woman who's ever had a baby knows, post-partum thought process takes more than a couple of weeks to spring back from hormones, lack of sleep, physical discomforts, etc etc... I've had some time to really watch René interact with Travis, as well as the two older demons since Travis' birth. I've also had some (very necessary) time to decompress since having given birth, which allowed me to regroup mentally and get my thoughts back in order. The past two months, René has been amazing...between his travel schedule (which is insane) and our home (which is mellow - but VERY busy, given everything). This is what I can tell you - this past weekend, I had NO fear or worry or mistrust. I could not have said that at any point about the ex when it came to something like this past weekend. René is in a class all his own, so far as I'm concerned. He is...very simply...amazing. I'll explain a bit more about this later, and why the matter of trust/fear is significant - because it's also future-focused. As to how he himself is doing? From what I can see, he's doing great. I've asked him, and he hasn't said otherwise - he's given every indication that he's satisfied with both home and work. Now we just need to add the "recreational" component - and that though applies to everyone in the household. No worries - I've been researching, and I think we've found the answer to that - so that's in the works. Anyway, the point is, René seems to be doing very well - from my perspective anyway - I won't presume to speak for him.

Next up? Campion: Our eldest is a senior. Officially. Today. Up until this morning, he has been a rising senior, but today it is concrete. He drove off to school this morning for his first day as a senior in high school. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that my first-born is almost 18. Jinkies. Over the summer, while his sister was on vegetation, comments were made TO her (I'll address that more directly later) about Campion. About how, from St. Bea's viewpoint - and from St. Bea's Dad's viewpoint - Campion isn't going to amount to anything. Some of the comments Pepper shared with me made my blood boil - but I took them in stride, and did NOT share them with Campion. He has been demoralized by St. Bea and his Dad LONG ENOUGH. I will not willingly add to that. Besides, if he actually follows through with his stated goal this year, he will live the fact that success is the best revenge anyway. Now, can I say with any certainty that he'll follow through? Of course not - neither can I force him. This has got to be HIS bag - and if he wants it badly enough, he'll go for it. If he puts forth the required effort (and if I'm able to see THAT), then I will help him as far as I'm able toward attaining his goal - and he knows that also. The goal ...? Gain entrance into SCAD. You art lovers here in the U.S. should appreciate that and its significance. I would love to see Campion nail it solid. It is, however, entirely on his shoulders. Still, either way, today...well, today is today. First day as a senior. Momentous day for him.

Which brings us to...Pepper: Our daughter is a middle schooler. Officially. Today. Up until this morning, she has been a rising middle schooler, but today it is concrete. She walked out the door to the bus stop -by herself- for her first day as a middle schooler. This is my babygirl. The one who has been essentially princess-handled by St. Bea... The one who, so like me, gets nervous about so many things and would *like* to have things spoon-fed or silver plattered but resent when they are...who is afraid sometimes of looking foolish about trying new things, so will practice in private so that she doesn't embarrass herself in front of others. She's not yet learned that everyone's in the same boat, a... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26283274/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/26283274/ Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:51:25 PDT
I return to school...well, I start the next residency a week from tomorrow...but I will be back in a regular class later this month. I'm rather looking forward to that. Life has been mostly peaceful - mostly. Easy to become complacent about some things when life gets this quiet.

Anyway, I figured I'd share the contents of my journal from my regular place ([link]) ~ from a couple of days ago.

~*~

I received a call from my aunt in Houston yesterday. She has an interesting role in The Bloodletting ... and I think this call is going to be included as well - a very positive call in a happy (if strange) sense. Reminders of the weird circle of family.

This is the same aunt who put together the family video from the old reel-to-reels, if you recall from the one bit of writing I've shared of the Bloodletting. She has, yet again, managed to share a small family revelation with me. This time, though, it's directly related to Travis.

My aunt's daughter, my cousin Kelly, is my grandmother's first grandchild. At the time, there were three pregnancies within six months - my cousin Kelly, my brother Travis (known as Chigger within the family), and my cousin John (known familiarly here as Blue).

All three babies were born within six months... Kelly in May, Chigger in June, and Blue in November. Chigger died in December of that same year (1968), and Blue died December last year (2008). My son is named for both of them...Travis John.

What is really interesting about this, though...Travis John was born on May 30 - which just happens to be...



(can you guess?)



Kelly's birthday.

*blink*

Wow.

*ponders*

Hope you're well.

~*~

, , &


~prosey


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/25645258/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/25645258/ Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:10:20 PDT *



"We are born naked, all the rest is drag." –RuPaul

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Travis is one month old today.



Last night, he gave us about four hours of (almost) uninterrupted sleep, so that is an extremely good sign for positive change.

This morning, he smiled - awake and actively - and THIS time, it was due to voice response/recognition. He has a few very distinct smiles - I've watched them while he sleeps - and I got two different ones this morning. The first one was the kind where the eyes crinkle up at the corners, the nose does this kind of squinchy thing, and the mouth is HUGE - nothing but smile. The second one was almost like looking in a mirror (set on time warp, of course) - scarily, he has my half-grin, on the left side of his face. Both smiles were very sweet - and Maniac got to see one of them partially (upside-down, since he was standing) - but when Travis realized his brother was standing behind/above him, his smile ended ...in favor of curiously hunting for his brother's face.

Right now, he's (yet again) giggling in his sleep - on my chest - while I wait for him to wake up again to eat.



That's it for today's update.



, , &


~prosey

i may be straight, but i'm not narrow

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/25123291/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/25123291/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:57:25 PDT
...not feeling like writing a full journal, but am willing to share Travis J.C. Wirtz pics Day 0-4: [link] ...Enjoy!

Happy Thursday!

P/L/S


~prosey


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24902324/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24902324/ Sat, 23 May 2009 06:25:48 PDT REALLY wanna know, or unless I'm prepared to find out more than I never wanted or needed to know on a given subject.

This is pulled directly from an exchange elsewhere, and rather than create a HUGE interaction on someone else's blog, out of respect and kindness to that person, I'm bringing it to my own page... And this one is...well, it's illuminating, it's interesting (at least I found it to be so), it's educational...and mostly, I found it to be mind-boggling...

Bearing in mind the contextual framework of how this subject arose, this was a portion of the original commentary...because this subject didn't originate from thin air randomly (thank goodness!! ) :

[Me]: ...[extraneous commentary related to other stuff]...*Pruthpetals Westheimer mode*: "Thinking on fellatio...well, aside from being fun, it's a terrific source of low-calorie protein! (I read somewhere only 40 calories per shot, but I can't attest to the validity of that...)"

[Them]: "Prosey, I think you might be mistaken on the nutritional benefits. Remember that seminal fluid is a sugar solution (it's sperm food), and I have my doubts about the actual protein content contributed by the spermatozoa."

...so with this in mind, that what started out as my goofy 'doktor-hat' persona joking around, I got curious, and the results of that curiosity are what follows here...

So without further ado:

...from elsewhere...

I dunno...I was just going by what I've read and pulling from memory. Because you & I have so much fun with stuff like this, and given the early-morning hour here (meaning, I have some lack-of-sleep playtime at my disposal), I decided to go and research. Where my main flaw is, from what I have read this morning, is in caloric content. I don't know if there is sufficient space to post everything I noted, and I apologize to [M] in advance for the sheer size of this comment -- but I found all of it quite interesting and figured I'd share...

More than any of us wanted to know about semen/spermatozoa...

1976 Article abstract:

"Semen samples were obtained from 61 subjects with fertility disorders but no endocrinological or obstructive disorders of the urogenital tract. Semen containing cells other than spermatozoa was excluded. Spermatozoa were separated by centrifugation and then by washing 3 times with Ringer's buffer at pH 7.2. After another centrifugation the final pellet was suspended in .5 ml of buffer and cells recounted. Protein determinations were made in plasma and in homogenized spermatozoa. The protein content of seminal plasma ranged from 20 to 60 mg/ml. Protein concentrations of seminal plasma were unrelated to sperm counts. However, the protein content of washed spermatozoa decreased with the increase of original sperm counts. This trend suggests an altered protein metabolism in the spermatozoa of oligospermic patients which might be related to fertility incompetence. Sediments from azoospermic patients had 4 times more protein than spermatozoa-free sediments from oligospermic specimens. It is suggested that in azoospermic disorders the seminiferous tubules secrete increased amounts of proteinaceous material. Destruction of immature cells may also contribute to the increased protein content" (Singer, et al., 1976).


Composition of semen? WOW!

"There are many ingredients composing semen, and its makeup is the same from man to man. Here are a few of the constituent elements: vitamin C, calcium, chlorine, cholesterol, citric acid, creatine, fructose, lactic acid, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin B12, and zinc...The caloric content of the average ejaculate is estimated to be approximately 5 to 25 calories...its protein content is roughly equivalent to that found in the egg white of a large egg. So she's probably best off sticking with eggs" (Zimmer, 2009). (An afterthought here...I found the 'sticking with eggs' comment highly amusing, because although I like eggs as much as the next person...I think given the choice in calor... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24598903/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24598903/ Tue, 05 May 2009 10:17:40 PDT Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day...
~Memory, Cats

I have to chuckle a bit this day...watching the little flowers I planted last week. Combination flowers - pansies, daisies, and a couple of others I can't remember their names. When I planted them last week (along with spreading about beneficial nematodes), I did so with the understanding that we were expecting rain (which did finally come in the past few days). I wasn't worried so much about the flowers, but about absorption of the nematodes, but that's a different subject altogether.

What I hadn't thought about is flowers' reactions to day/night/rain/cold...etc...except to ensure that the flowers I selected for planting would be flowers that can handle direct sunlight for at *least* six hours out of a given day, given my location, and how brutal the summers here can be. I hope my sweet little flowers survive the weather here. Anyway, back to point...I've watched with maternal amusement as the flowers have shifted their day & night positions, which of course I already knew about, but had never had the opportunity to observe up close & personal...since I'm not a flower or plant planting kind of person, despite my user name and love for blossoms. I do not have a green thumb...my mother does, but I don't. *shrug* Still, watching my baby blossoms close up at night time, tightening around themselves against the slightly chilly air...very sweet. Makes me think of a mother and a newborn babe - of any species, really - hunkering down against the night. More poignant, though, is watching the flowers respond to rain. The daisies don't really seem to mind, nor do the purple blossoms whose names I can't recall... but the little pansies...oh, those poor depressed little things......when it rains (and it has rained a LOT over the past few days), they hang their heads, almost in sorrowful response to the weeping of the sky above.

I know, I know...flowers don't actually have *emotions* in the sense that we do...but it's still a touching observation, at least to me. Today, though, the sun is out, burning its way through the clouds, and watching the pansies is like watching a child playing in a garden...their little faces are all opened up, facing the sun...their bright colors on full parade in celebration of the sunlight...adoration of light in the colors I selected for the merriment they seem to share just because they exist to do so. Oh, and the bumblebees & flutterbies seem to be thanking me, too...I've seen a LOT more of those -just today- than I have in the last 1.5 years I've lived here.

And speaking of maternal amusement...

Mother's Day is around the corner, right? I know this...all of my cards have already been mailed (along with most of my May birthday & anniversary cards). I still haven't decided what to give my mom for Mother's Day...though it will likely be flowers. Boring, uncreative...I know. :sigh: I never know what to get Mom, really. But anyway, one thing I've noted over the years is the increase of spam from FTD & Hallmark, beginning about 3 weeks prior to Mother's Day. This is unsurprising, since Mother's Day is the Number One card & flower occasion of the year. (You thought Valentines?...LOL...nope!) This year, though, I have been positively bombarded with spam...more than THIRTY spam messages TODAY ALONE!!! Even from Planned Parenthood! Well, actually, as a mother and as a supporter of Planned Parenthood Federation, I actually make the association with that one and *why* it makes sense...but STILL!!!

Good googlie-mooglie!! Yikes!

Anyway, I guess it's just a reminder to remember Mom...and spend money on her or something. Seriously...come Sunday, give her a jingle. She'll appreciate it more than you know.

Moving along...I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy day...as it happens, today is Cinco de Mayo, which is as good a reason to have a happy day as any (Olé!!!) - so, all of my fellow blossoms here...

...turn your faces to the sun (I hope it's s... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24508903/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24508903/ Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:42:20 PDT
Within the realm of my (private) blog, I shared the point that I have thus far reached in my research. Which is (only in part) as follows:

Problem: The rise of neoconservatism in the United States has resulted in a new brand of cultural war between the genders, with negative outcroppings toward women in the area of healthcare. Pressure by politicians on healthcare providers in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology has created increased battleground topics in preventive services such as birth control, and diagnostic and treatment services such as safe abortions.

Please note, in the original version of this, there are three citations that I have chosen to omit here since they are a portion of my research material. They are not relevant here, though they are essential to my research. (Most students will grasp that...lol!)


Okay, anyway.


The problem statement provided should tell you a couple of things about my focus - but it also omits a few things, by virtue of the necessity for objectivity on my part. What it demonstrates is something about my professional background: healthcare and human resources. What it doesn't demonstrate is what my position(s) is/are on the subject itself. That is a deliberate omission for the reason noted - objectivity.

However, one thing to which it lends itself here - in this seemingly unusual setting, and why I'm mentioning it here in my dA journal - is the subject of morality. Within the focus of my research, at this point, I have five specific questions - only one of which I will share here, since it is as good a springboard as any to expand on thoughts as they are applicable to art:

• Did the advent of the birth control pill (BCP) increase promiscuity in women?

The definition of "promiscuity" is, according to Princeton.edu: "indulging in promiscuous (casual and indiscriminate) sexual relations"

Hmmm. Perhaps you can already see where my thoughts are headed, but if not, allow me to expand a small bit. *Promiscuity* is a term that is steeped in various "morality" guidelines - as defined by different people and organizations.

The subject of the advent of the BCP is (yes, even now) a controversial one, predominately headed up by *men* - and by various churches (I won't touch denominations, though). Basically, the BCP opened doorways for women to be just as free to choose who/how/where/when they had sexual relations as men always have been -- which would be the *morality* focus. However, as many people with any sort of background in women's health can tell you, the BCP has many other functions aside from contraceptive purposes - areas of healthcare responsibility left untouched by the same neoconservatives who only want to address morality based upon their respective definitions - and push those definitions of morality down other people's throats.

This particular debate has been going on now for decades...and I won't bother going into it in detail, because it gets rather emotional - and very quickly - which I have no desire whatsoever to open up.

As applicable to art...the same issues of morality rise on a regular basis - both here in dA (and other art sites) and in the real world. No, I'm not referring to the subject of "art versus porn" specifically; rather, to what is "acceptable" based on definitions of morality - into which the subject of "art versus porn" falls. And I've heard/read a myriad of arguments from as many perspectives.

Now, here in dA (my historical), I have several "concerns" unrelated to this specific subject that go back to when I first became a deviant, but those concerns do not change the fact that, by and large, I agree with dA's position on the subject of nude art/erotica/etc. deviantART, like it or not, is a business and is operated accordingly. With that thought in mind, there are two primary concerns that rise with respect to this subject: (1) responsibility to the community-at-large in terms of what is made available in a manner fitting with compliance with laws related to minors; and (2) ensuring that artists' rights to freedom of expression are not infringed upon while maintaining civic responsibility.

This is a tall order, actually. In fairness, dA has done what it can to ensure both of those concerns are attended - there is a Submission Agreement that deviants enter into with dA that outlines what is and is not permissible to submit in their galleries. Some of those definitions are subjective, yes, and open to interpretation that, in the event of a PV report, are handled on a case-by-case basis. Further, there is a filtration system in p... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24491892/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24491892/ Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:25:01 PDT
The salesperson answers, "Which one do you mean, sir? We have:

Work Out Barbie for $19.95,
Shopping Barbie for $19.95,
Beach Barbie for $19.95,
Disco Barbie for $19.95,
Ballerina Barbie for $19.95,
Astronaut Barbie for $19.95,
Skater Barbie for $19.95,
and Divorced Barbie for $265.95".

The amazed father asks: "It's what?! Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.95 and the others are only $19.95?"

The annoyed salesperson rolls her eyes, sighs, and answers: "Sir... Divorced Barbie comes with: Ken's Car, Ken's House, Ken's Boat, Ken's Furniture, Ken's Computer, one of Ken's Friends, and a Key Chain made with Ken's testicles."



Happy Day!


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24475591/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24475591/ Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:37:42 PDT
A few things about the FlowerPoet you may or may not know...when applicable to this subject...I'm damn near impossible to offend - though some have succeeded in the past, it's not a regular occurrence, so PLEASE feel free to share your views. I only ask that you do so respectfully, and though we may disagree, I will respond in kind.

As a parent, I understand why some people get really twitchy about certain imagery...and I do my best to take that into consideration when pondering how I phrase certain things, or depending on whom specifically I am addressing - whether I'm chatting with someone I know to be a parent...or someone I know to be a minor... I do my best to not take for granted that people who come to my pages come from diverse demographic positions - and I *do* try to take care to respect that. Moving along...

Among the other things you may or may not know - I'm not any kind of true "romantic"...no mistake, with my husband, romance is a beautiful thing - but what I'm referring to in this context is that I'm not a ooey-gooey sentimental milksop kind of person. I don't have any problem with people who *are* sentimental and romantically inclined (hell, my mother is probably the most ooey-gooey person I know)... I don't, for example, read Harlequin romance novels...*shudders with revulsion* - ANY book that describes "her honey-nectared breasts" or "his pulsing manhood" is going to put me off in a split-second. Now, do I enjoy erotica? Sometimes - in its proper place. There is a time and place for all things. However, truly, my preference -in this I'm referring to READING- is true crime and horror...and suspense fiction the likes of Dean Koontz et al. If you've ever read any Koontz, you know that occasionally he *does* go there (semi-erotica), but it's never graphic or descriptive in any real way. He ALLUDES to the events/actions, but leaves the details to the readers' imaginations. That is my preference (and probably why I detest book-to-film, but that's an entirely separate subject).

I don't particularly care for graphic erotica. *shrug* Personally, I find it redundant. Erotica should stimulate a very natural part of us, as human beings, but doesn't need to be blatant or graphic to do so...once it goes in that direction, the blank spots in individual imagination are left to another person's interpretation to fill in...and I don't like that. I have a rather vivid imagination without anyone else's help, thankyouverymuch. So for me...personally... viewing erotica should be symbolic - artistic representation - of something that is not plainly displayed. But that is MY view...and I don't expect everyone to share that perspective.

Is this a hint that I'm any sort of prude? Pffft...no. LOL. Anyone who's known me for ANY length of time knows that I believe a dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste - and I have just as much fun with it as anyone...but when it comes right down to brass tacks, to me, there is absolutely nothing shameful or disgusting about the human form - either male or female. To me, the human body is beautiful - in all its shapes and sizes, in all of its details, in its various functions (yes, even the ones that are considered "gross" like elimination and such - they're all natural parts of us as members of the animal kingdom). Do I find the female form more aesthetically appealing in art? Yes. However, I also think the male form is *quite* beautiful...in ALL its splendor. Every single bit.

Using that thought right there ^ as my initial springboard, I'm going to admit a few things about my own upbringing - and why I believe it to be relevant for many people, as well as why I categorically dismiss it in the real world.

I was brought up in a rather conservative home (mild understatement)...in an evangelical christian church (*ahem*)...and was taught outright that our bodies are dirty. That we're "sinners" from birth...taught to revile Eve for tempting Adam...taught that we don't touch our "privates" for anything other than cleaning...and this list of DON'Ts goes on into near-infinity. Never mind that BOTH of my parents, as I would later learn (to my childhood horror), are sexual creatures - and neither of them views sexuality as simply a means of procreation. Does that thought g... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24197219/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24197219/ Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:58:55 PDT
...Easter to some, the Spring Equinox (and its many names: Alban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Festival of Trees, Lady Day, NawRuz, No Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring, Vernal Equinox...) to some as well, or Passover (Pesach)...

...or just taking a day to enjoy spring by no name whatsoever,

may you have a peaceful and happy day.

, , &


~prosey


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24124421/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/24124421/ Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:55:25 PDT
I won't single anyone out or anything (since I make a habit of NOT doing that), but there was a poll here in dA that got me to pondering the reality (and necessity) of professionalism.

I think sometimes in community-based situations, such as a PTA...a church...or here in an art website, we lose focus on the necessity of professionalism. And that is a damn shame.

In this situation (which I neither know, nor wish to know the details), the question was about a contest. I guess someone voluntarily offered to donate a prize for the contest...but when the winners were announced, I'm guessing the donor decided to NOT contribute his/her prize donation due to dislike of whomever one of the winners was...for "personal" reasons.

I may have the situation completely messed up, but that's how it appeared to me based upon how the poll was written.

Now, for me, the answer was easy. Set aside personal differences, and donate the gift that was promised regardless. I imagine that in an extreme situation, I might make an exception to that thought...but I doubt it.

I thought back to the times when I was working in different places - and had to work with people I couldn't STAND - but my personal feelings about them were irrelevant. Professionalism demands that personal feelings are set aside.

...but this is voluntary, and not work-based, you say...

Yeah, sure. I've also been involved in various community-based organizations where my *personal* feelings about another person may have been, shall we say, less than positive. Be that as it may, in a social setting, we can play Peyton Place games all we want to (I choose not to, but that's something else entirely). However, if there is an event that includes *everyone*, then individuals with personal dislikes between each other - quite frankly - those dislikes are irrelevant. It is STILL a matter of professionalism.

Unless that person raped my mother or kicked my child or did something to violate me/my family in an illegal or incredibly detrimental way, then I am under an obligation to maintain professionalism. I give my word...I keep my word. In today's society, something like someone's word doesn't seem to mean much; but to me, my word is a token of my credibility...which I will not compromise under 99.999999% of circumstances - and certainly NOT for a personal dislike. Besides, chances are, if the person in question for whom I held such dislike was one who had committed an offense of such a nature that I could NOT maintain my professionalism, then chances are, I would not be a member of an organization that would put me in a situation where I would have to share time/space with them.

I wish, sometimes...frequently, that people would remember...life is NOT high school, for goodness sake. In the real world, outside of the juvenile bubble, we have to put on our "Big Girl" & "Big Boy" panties and behave like adults are expected to.

, , &


~prosey

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23992476/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23992476/ Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:05:56 PDT Yeah, this morning was fuuuuuuuuun....

It started with NO COFFEE.

To fully appreciate this, I need to back up to yesterday evening. I'm in the final week of my current class...which is a good class, all shortcomings considered. But like most other classes, the last two weeks are usually heavy in terms of assignment loads - both individually and team-based. Last night midnight (AZ time - so 3AM my time) marked the end of the 7th week of this class (one week remaining). You have to understand also that these are compressed classes...meaning a full semester of information is crammed tight into an 8-week span. So when I say the assignments are heavy, I mean REALLY heavy. Aaaaaand, as with many previous classes, when teams come into play, not everyone carries the same work ethic. Last night was no exception. And I was cranky as hell... I had my portion of the team assignment submitted to the team forum by last Friday. All 1,500 words of it - which was a huge chunk of a 3,500 word paper. This paper is a substantial portion of our collective grade for this class. I was NOT fucking around with it.

The paper itself was a combined analysis of the three major types of research models: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed-method. I had quantitative - which I selected deliberately, as it is the one I fear the most. One team member had qualitative; one had mixed-method; and the other member had editorial and posting responsibilities. The final posting MUST be submitted by midnight, Arizona time - and AZ is 3 hours behind me. *blink*

So last night, as has happened on more than one occasion, I was up past midnight my time...because when it comes to school, I'm something of a control freak. I get my team work done before my individual work - because I will not be the weakest link and fuck up another person's grade...however, neither will I risk someone else fucking up MY grade due to laxness - and the individual who was slated to post the team paper said 'sayonara' before the one last piece had been added to the paper. Sooooo...guess what that means, kids? It means Prosey's up til the job is done - and submitted ON TIME so nobody loses points for a late paper. *rolls eyes*

Making this worse, because I had an appointment this morning that required my *fasting* bloodwork, I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight. *siiiiigh* At midnight, I had grudgingly put my water glass in the dishwasher and got that running (shortly after Rene & I hung up the phone)...and waited. Long story short on the class thing...the last portion was submitted by just before midnight...I did the copy/paste and final review (even though I was NOT the editor for this report - *grr*) and then gave everyone 20 minutes to review it before I posted it.

What this meant was I was already cranky by the time I went to bed, which was about 12:30 this morning. And as usual, I was up by 5:30 to attend the morning routines. The difference in today's morning routine is that I didn't get to eat anything...I didn't start brewing the coffee...the only wetness or flavor that reached my dry, thirsty mouth was water & toothpaste - which of course got spat out.

By 8 this morning I was at the OB/Gyn's office...and by 10 past, I was getting my blood drawn...and the first taste of anything that I could swallow was that vile, disGUSTing glucose drink...*BLECH!!!!*

Adding insult to injury, this was the 3-hour GTT, which meant I had to stay in the office for three full hours. After drinking the puke-o-rama-drink-they-try-to-tell-you-is-"fruit punch", I had to get my blood drawn three more times...at 9:10, 10:10, and 11:10 - at which point, I was headachey, hungry, and flat-out exhausted. So I left (and mentally debated grabbing a gyro en route home, but decided against it). Came home...FIRST thing I did was turn on the coffeepot. Made myself a sammich and got the dreaded vitamin out. Once everything was ready, I sat down, ate half of my sammich, and swallowed the horsepill with some GLORIOUS coffee...and just a few minutes ago, I finished the other half of the sammich.

So now my tummy is happy, my headache is dissipating, and as soon as I post this blog, I'm curling up to go to sleep til the little ones get home.

I won't know the results of the GTT for two or three days...but I'm not overly worried about it. The 1-hr GTT was only a few points outside of the "normal" range and I've had no other symptoms of hyperglycemia, so...

Oh, and I've also lost 5 lbs since last week. Hmmmm. Weird. *shrugs again* AND, the doc and I discussed speci... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23810354/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23810354/ Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:42:31 PDT Blog of Excellence ~

The Story So Far... Be sure to read through the archives - holy smokes! Simply amazing!

The primary focus is gay rights, but he delves into other areas of civil liberties, and I just ADORE the way he articulates.

to Mr. Garrett!!!

~*~

, , &


~prosey

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23482639/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23482639/ Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:28:34 PST Or like a ball. Maybe a beach ball. Though I doubt I'd float as elegantly through a crowd at a sporting event...

......

Yeah, that has been the latest bane. Shape. Or definitive lack thereof. Yes, I hear you and agree...round IS a shape...I DO get that... But damn, it took my little bit of actual *inwardly-sloping curve* away. Wasted my waist line... Now it's ALL outwardly-sloping. ALL of it. From boobs to belly to ass...*heavy sigh* Funny this, so far, I've gained only 24 lbs - so I have another 16 to go before I'm considered "outside" of the average/expected gain. Pffft.

And thinking more deeply on that increasing contour, Lily is loving it. To the point that, if I could possibly wager this specific reaction, she's pissing Travis off nicely. Lily has always enjoyed kneading/threading my belly. I don't think much of it since she's a cat, and doing it brings her that feline creature comfort...and since she (mostly) doesn't use her claws (both cats have been trained well in that regard). But now that the belly is getting considerably larger (with a LOT more to go), she's got two problems with her longtime habit. First, the matter of leverage. In order to get those front two paws going the way she'd like, she has to use her hind paws. This is annoying - VERY annoying. Because her *preferred* kneading time is while I'm on the computer. Soooo...I'm sitting here, typing, minding my own business...and Lily decides (by whatever things cause cats to decide to do this) to climb up and start her routine. Understand, if she is interrupted, she will return as frequently as is necessary to get it out of her system (at least for a few days anyway)...so it's better to just let her do it all in one shot, even if that means she's going at my belly like a ball of bread dough for twenty minutes. Not comfortable, but certainly not worse than labor or anything.

The second problem......is she is now getting pushed BACK from within. Her reaction is difficult to gauge, at best. She seems perplexed by Travis' reaction (if I can apply that type of human reaction to a cat) - so she'll change direction and start working another area of my belly (hey, there's plenty to work with presently). Yesterday, I'd finally had enough...the battle between Lily & Travis was getting painful, so I had to push Lily off. Several times she tried to return...but between me and Rene, she wound up (almost resentfully and sulkily) walking away, to perch herself on a pillow across the room...and glared at me for a while. Later in the evening, she got her cajones back and climbed on the love seat, but only so far as to perch on the far arm of the love seat...and continue to glare at me. I almost feel badly for her. You see, I've never bothered to stop her from this habit. Sadie does it also...but she does it to the backs of my legs when I'm laying down. Sadie curls up behind my knees and kneads until she finds that she's content (all of about 2-3 minutes at most). All cats do it - one of the few truly kittenish behaviors they carry with them into their adulthoods. Lily, though, is a picture of stubbornness on this thing. I've never stopped her, or tried to retrain her away from it, since I see no reason to. I think, though, she should probably watch herself. There are only three months remaining to this condition...and Travis is going to get bigger than her rather quickly...and he can take his time getting back at her.



P/L/S


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23063192/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/23063192/ Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:29:46 PST Taboo Topics: Parents...and orgasms... *blink*


You know, there are certain subjects one never really wants to discuss with parents. *shudders*

The subject of orgasms is one such example.

I love my parents, no mistake...they make me crazy in more ways than I care to describe, but I love them both dearly. However, there are certain subject that make even me cringe...I start shuddering to the point of appearing to be convulsive. I mean, honestly...EWWW.

That said...this is a subject that has, as of today, officially come up with BOTH of my parents. *siiiiiiiigh*

Previously - as in a few years ago, in speaking with my dad...we were talking about his various visits to the doctor and the different things he goes for - and the subject of prostate health came up. No biggie...my "clinical hat" came on automatically, since even though he's my dad, he *is* a man, and the subject of prostate health is a very important one. I won't pretend the conversation was comfortable - IT WASN'T - nor will I pretend that I was enjoying it - I WASN'T - but I can easily joke about it...today. Well after the fact. And we've never revisited the subject. We don't need to. *laughing* EVER.

Today, I was having a conversation with Mother...and gawdONLYknows how the subject arose, but the subject did come up. *blink-blink*

*shudddddderrrrrrrr*

Mentally, I was screaming EWWWWWWWW at a few things my mother was saying. Understand, those of you who know that I lack a brain-to-mouth filter or any type of STOP button - well, I come by that VERY naturally. My mother, bless her, lacks the same filter. So, in order to maintain any semblance of sanity amidst probably the most surreal conversation I've ever had with my mother...I put that "clinical hat" right back FIRMLY on my head. Because bottom line, maintenance of sexual health is as important as any other bodily function. Seriously. I'm not going to pretend that my parents are asexual...much as I would SO MUCH RATHER.

*shakes head* - when the call "accidentally disconnected", I was relieved more than anything else...and I was able to maintain a sense of humor about it - mostly. To those of you who know Mom, hearing her laugh (I mean really laugh) is worth its weight in gold...and hearing her laugh so hard that she literally snorted was amusing. The topic that brought that, though, is one that I would rather not EVER revisit - at least not with either of my parents.

On THAT happy note, here's to wishing all of you a wonderful weekend...and remember - stay *healthy*!!


P/L/S
~prosey

i may be straight, but i'm not narrow

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22763092/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22763092/ Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:30:11 PST [link]

Click there to send President Obama a THANK YOU on behalf of women everywhere!

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22707531/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22707531/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:12:27 PST [link]) and as I kind of expected, the answers are split. Over the next few days, I am hoping for more answers - as well as thoughts and explanations related to those answers.

For my part, I voted *Other* - based upon what I understand the definition of rights to mean. From the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:

"Rights are entitlements (not) to perform certain actions or be in certain states, or entitlements that others (not) perform certain actions or be in certain states.

Rights dominate most modern understandings of what actions are proper and which institutions are just. Rights structure the forms of our governments, the contents of our laws, and the shape of morality as we perceive it. To accept a set of rights is to approve a distribution of freedom and authority, and so to endorse a certain view of what may, must, and must not be done."

From the philosophy dictionary (objectivist-specific):

Genus: Recognition
Differentia: Of that which is necessary for a rational being to live in a society
Comment: Basically this entails the right to life, with the other rights being corollaries. The key to the first sentence is in a society. Food, shelter, clothing, etc., are not rights, but needs.

I opted for two completely different types of definitions that both fall within the realm of philosophy, since the subject of rights is more of a philosophical/epistemological one than anything else. We can get into legalese and all of that, but law is a subject that is a component of ethics, which is a subset of philosophy as well...so I decided to stick with the basics. (Hey Cami...what were you saying about big words...? [] )

Both of the above definitions are similar, when viewed candidly.

The perspective of objectivism is a harsh one, admittedly - and I'm not a complete subscriber to objectivist philosophy, though I agree with components of it. The Stanford definition is more of a generic definition...and I want to be clear about that. There is a myriad of variant definitions, to include children's rights, women's rights, civil rights, animal rights, et cetera ad nauseam...and while certain ones (in my opinion) are valid, others are not. I will return to that shortly.

Rights, as defined in both instances above, apply to rational beings who are individually, independently autonomous. Understanding that aspect of the subject of rights boils down the subject neatly, when looked at from a bias-free perspective.

Human beings have one *basic* right - the right to life. Not the right to live, but the right to life. It is an inalienable right. How people exercise this right varies from individual to individual...but all of those variants spring from the same foundational premise.

Animals, meaning cats, dogs, birds, fish, and so on...do not have rights. There is no such thing as animal rights, but animal welfare - and that springs from human rights...not because we're "better" animals (and we ARE animals), but because as the species that determines, through reason, what *rights* are, we also are responsible for creating laws with which to govern. As such, we are the caretakers of our fellow species in many ways. With that responsibility rests the obligation to ensure ethical treatment of all our animal companions, great and small...to ensure their welfare and to prevent cruelty at their expense.

...point of clarification here...going by the strictest definitions - human beings cannot determine what "rights" a type of animal has within its own "society" - example: a wolf pack...a highly complex and organized society in which the alpha oversees the pack...those "rights" are determined by their internal structural order, and are not subject to this particular discussion, if that makes sense...

Children...and this one is a touchy one...do NOT have active rights until such time as they are autonomous and non-dependent upon another (adult) human being. Meaning, yes...children have rights, but they cannot act on those rights until they are of an age when they have reached a level of reason and understanding that allows them to engage in adult society. While they are dependent upon another human being, they have only the entitlements allowed by their guardians.

Women...duh. The word *woman* means adult female human being, in the simplest terms. Women do have rights...though from what I've witnessed, not enough women actually act upon their rights. *sighs & shrugs*

Civil...duh. Civil rights applies to men and women of different subsets, such as race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, etc...this is one of those areas I get really twitchy because there are also... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22482191/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22482191/ Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:20:24 PST For more information related to this, please refer to my husband's blog: [link] ~

Anyhooo...this morning has me thinking. I'm in the middle of researching Hélène Cixous and her poststructuralist feminist theory, which is extremely interesting, and its thrust ties in with other philosophical musings... about which I have an essay to construct. Among other writers, I've been reading a good bit of Robert Solomon's work...specifically about self and truth.

One area of Cixous' focus is "phallogocentric" language, particularly in Western culture...and its impact in communication between men and women. Interesting, this, that she is marked as a feminist (specifically a French feminist), but she isn't denigrating men in any way, though some of her critics have made that accusation. Though her focus is definitely on the feminine, she points out (and quite strongly) how the stark gender binary is oppressive to both sexes...which is a thought that is also reflected beautifully (and marvelously deconstructed) in *DivineNimbus' "Masculinities on Stage" ([link]).

In an entirely different context, these thoughts resurfaced...in =AmanitaGemini's journal "Gay Prejudice and a song list" ([link])... Much of the patriarchal language of our Western culture is connected directly to religious origin, and has an influence in how we communicate - whether or not we're religious people. I can't help but wonder, with respect to the GLBT community, how much language has influenced the ill-guided perspective that has dominated our culture for so long, and why perhaps there is such fear and animosity toward genuine equality across the board. Hmmm...

...thoughts thoughts thoughts...

Anywaaaaay...Happy Fried Day!!!

P/L/S



~prosey

__/''\__¸.¸.•¤**¤•^.,.•¤**¤•^.,.•¤**¤•.,.•¤**¤•^.**
'*•. .•*' Bitch please...I run this shit!!! ~*♥*~~*♥*~~*♥*~
/.•*•.\¸..•¤**¤•.^,.•¤**¤

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22465029/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22465029/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:58:09 PST many thanks to fledgist for the link to this.


[link] ~The Greatest Greatness of George W. Bush
Wednesday 07 January 2009
by: William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t | Columnist

Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave...

~The Rolling Stones

To: George W. Bush
From: Your biggest fan
Re: Your imminent unemployment

Greetings, Mr. Bush.

I was sorry to hear about the passing of your cat, India. Eighteen years is a long time for a cat - my mother has one that's 20 and still going strong, if you can believe it - and I'm sure India had a comfortable, caring life with your family.

I got to spend part of last weekend with an old friend of mine. He's a bit older than 18, and he's also a troop who recently rotated back from a tour in Falluja. He just had a baby daughter, and he will be sent to Afghanistan before too much longer. He did his duty in Iraq, dealt his share of death and saw his friends die or be ripped to shreds right in front of him.

He was hollow in a lot of places that had been full before he went to Iraq. He was not the same man we'd said farewell to. But he was alive, and if he survives his upcoming Afghanistan tour, maybe he will get the chance to have a long, comfortable, caring life with his family, just like little India.

At present, my friend's life is the polar opposite of comfortable, and he still has Kabul waiting for him just over the horizon. His life is the way it is because of you, Mr. Bush. You have been the single greatest influence upon his time in this world; you put him over there and hollowed him out, and because of you, it's about to happen again. You were the single biggest influence upon the lives of every person he knew over there, every person he saw over there, and every person he killed over there.

It's funny. I was thinking the other day about when I marched in one of the first large-scale post-inauguration protests against you in Washington, DC. It was May of 2001, it was The Voter's Rights March to Restore Democracy, and it was a few thousand people shouting down the unutterably ruinous Supreme Court decision which unleashed, just as we then feared, everything that has since come to pass. "Not my president!" we bellowed. "Not my president!"

It's funny because that memory seems so very quaint to me now. A stolen election? Pfff. To paraphrase a different president, Americans get scarier stuff than that free with their breakfast cereal nowadays. Thanks to you, governor.

My All-Time-Grand-Prize-Bull-Goose-Gold-Medal-Winning Top Five list of what you've done, in no particular order, and in my own humble opinion:

1. You were warned by the outgoing administration when you first took office. You were warned by the Russians. You were warned by the Israelis. You were warned by the Germans. You were warned in a memo given to you by your own National Security Adviser. You were warned by men like Richard Clarke. You were warned all those times that Osama bin Laden intended to strike the United States, and still the Towers came down.

(All those people working on that Legacy Project of yours should go back to bed, by the way; they are trying to salvage the unsalvageable. You protected us, they claim? Ha. You're 0-1 on terrorism and 0-2 on war)

2. Less than a month after those Towers came down, a reporter asked what you thought we should do. "We need to counter the shockwave of the evildoer," you replied, "by having individual rate cuts accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates." I happened to be watching television and heard you say that live into a camera. The only reason I didn't throw up on myself is because my teeth were clenched too tightly for the vomit to pass my lips. I swallowed hard, grabbed a pen, and wrote down what you said and when you said it. It was October 4, 2001, just after nine in the morning. You'd like people to remember you standing on that pile of rubble in Manhattan, you with the bullhorn and the heroic pose. I, however, will always remember you pitching tax cuts to a devastated nation while a pall of poison smoke still hung in the air over Ground Zero.

3. A few years later, you wanted hundreds of billions of dollars diverted from other areas of the federal budget and into your war in Iraq. You took more than $70 billion out of the budget used by the Army Corps of Engineers in Louisiana to fund the repair and maintenance of the New Orleans levee system. Katrina struck not long after you took tha... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22264496/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22264496/ Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:26:30 PST "We are born naked, all the rest is drag." –RuPaul

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

...closing eyes briefly and considering over the past year...

...2008 has been -overall- the best year of my life yet. Like all things that are good, appreciation comes truly when considered in context against the bad, and yes there have been some less-than-positive events this year. I don't know that we can truly be thankful for all that is wonderful in our lives without contextual balance.

This year, I have gained so much...René & I officiated our vows, confirming our marriage and committing our lives to one another...we also created life between us which will reach fruition in the coming year...the kids have grown exponentially as little human beans and have shown themselves for the grace and happiness they have, particularly given the constricting nature of the previous years.

Likewise this year, I experienced the single-most profound loss I have ever known...a very private grief that I have shared to point, but not in its peculiar flavor and intensity because I wouldn't know how. Through this loss, I have a greater appreciation for what is gained...and a sense of self-awareness I knew not before, for I never had reason to reflect on *certain* matters until forced to by Blue's death. Some of that is positive...some not so much...and that's okay. It is what it is.

There are things I know that I need to share with René because of certain reflections that I've avoided, not for my own sake but for the sake of others that I never wanted to slant the viewpoint about...but that upon consideration, are points that are important to know since they explain an aspect of my personal philosophy that I had ...?avoided?... and that are important. Not that they matter in the grander scheme of things, but in my little anthill here, they are significant.

And in thinking on those matters, thoughts turn again to the positive...the "good old days" (if there is such a thing) - which, by definition is what Auld Lang Syne means...*old long since* ~ or times gone by... Apropos...no? *smile*

For this, my final journal of 2008, I leave you with they lyrics of Auld Lang Syne...to smile and to reflect...and to appreciate the wonder that is this life with all the ups and downs that go along with it...

Auld Lang Syne
~Robert Burns

(This is one of different versions - all twists & turns of Burns' 1700s writing - and there are many arguments as to which version is "correct" - but this one is the one I personally enjoyed reading the most. Doesn't matter that I don't know what most of it means in literal translation - the point goes beyond that anyway... [:smile:] )

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne

We two hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne

And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

P/L/S
~prosey

i may be straight, but i'm not narrow

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22158817/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/22158817/ Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:12:58 PST
In the process of the chat, I was able to share a few character traits of John that I haven't really shared here before. It's no secret how close he & I were...and I have vented on his behalf frequently...but I've never really said much about him, since my stance has always been that his life/person isn't my story to tell. I guess it is now...probably with the help of my aunt and some friends. I'm not going to share much this morning, save for my thoughts in their specific context.

Had the situation been reversed, I suspect I know how John would have reacted. He would have grieved privately. He would have put on a smile for the family. He would have been a source of strength and support for others, since that was one of his many trademarks. He lived and loved with a ferocity known to few...and the depths of that was something he exposed to fewer. People who knew John knew that he lived balls to the wall, but only a handful knew him well...and would likely never guess what all resided under the surface. He had a well of inner strength - the kind borne of tragedy and hardship that none of us should ever have to endure, and from a very tender age. That strength often manifested itself in a way that everyone around him recognized - he was a fighter. He hated to lose, and he never backed down from a fight. (That's actually a somewhat typical trait in the men of my mother's family...) Under that surface was an extremely tender person, though. He let few people into that core. I know of a handful - outside of his sons - who he dared to let in there. He jealously guarded that core, that soft center that defined who he *really* was...the truest John who was already firmly established by the time he was about 6 or 7 years old. And yes, I remember him back that far, even though I'm 3.5 years his junior. He played the role of wicked-mean big brother to me...and was positively evil to me sometimes, but heaven help the person outside of family who stepped there. Not that many did (I was "too sweet" a child) - not the point. Just...that place in him was set and sealed from very early on. He was loyal to a fault, and chose his loyalties carefully. One of the things I admired most about him, though, was that he never ever forgot where he came from. There is too much about that to explain, though Rene got to hear a small bit from my Uncle Raymond about the "south side"...*chuckle* It's said tongue-in-cheek, but there's a lot of serious undercurrent that goes along with it. *shrug*

Back to point, had the situation been reversed, John would have "put on his big girl panties"...he wouldn't have wallowed. He'd had enough sadness in his life that he wouldn't have faltered for one more. He, of all people, understood that in this life, we take the bad with the good...and we keep rolling. I've been trying to do just that, and yesterday for the first time, I actually started feeling it. Just a small bit, but a spark has to start somewhere I suppose. It's a start...it's enough.

Anyway...I suppose the thrust of my thoughts -in their respective context- is that this time of year really is one of reflection. It's not about the material things we can get during one of the most unfortunately commercialized times of the year. It's about remembering who we love - and that one of the greatest gifts we really can give is an expression of that love. For ourselves, for each other, for our fellow man -- no matter what sadness plagues our hearts at any given time -- and it's a reminder that sadness can come at any time, even at times that are "calendar designated" to be joyous. That's LIFE. Death is a part of life...and apropos that we crossed the solstice into the season that serves as the perpetual reminder of that.

No matter how you celebrate this season - whatever flavor you choose - please know that you are loved. Someone out there loves you...and also remember to share that love with others, because in times of sorrow, it's all to easy to forget that love is only realized when it is shared.

Have a peaceful holiday.

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21976091/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21976091/ Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:50:32 PST


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21909398/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21909398/ Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:42:05 PST [link]

Today.

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21731788/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21731788/ Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:36:56 PST
Here's the thing...from my perspective - which I may well be alone in, but it's my take... I detest everything about shopping. With a purple polka-dotted passion. From clothing to groceries...hate hate HATE shopping. Why? Well, I dislike crowds of rude people, first of all. I only shop because it's something that has to be done - but people, bottom line, are assholes in groups. Get a shopping event like, oh...Black Friday or the day after xmas...which are entrenched in the gross, paganesque ritualism that is rampant consumerism...? The door is WIDE open for mob mentality. Yes, I'm rather certain that the Wal*Mart in question and its management team did what it could to train & prepare its employees for the frenzy that was bound to happen - but there is LITTLE to be done to control a mob. Think about it - think about certain rock concerts of days gone by and death-by-tramplings that occurred. People are animals, no matter what kind of ability to reason we place there. In groups...herds...packs...whatever - extrapolate the animal tendencies exponentially...and you have a cocktail for disaster. I blame the people, not the retailer.

And a place like Wal*Mart?!?! Okay...LOL...I'm going to get very blunt and VERY ugly for a bit here - brutally honest, if you will. The ONLY reason I shop at Wally World is for the terrific prices there. I like the whole one-stop shopping thing there. Not to sound like a total snob, but I *prefer* more up-scale products...but for certain things, like Reynolds Wrap & Charmin Ultra, you can't beat Wally World for the price. Further, their deli pizza is a LOT better than delivery. For children's clothing, it's cool, too...since children grow like weeds - and I see NO point in buying name brand clothing that's going to be outgrown in six months. Shoes? No. Adult clothing? Rarely. But random household goods & groceries...and oil changes? Sure.

Okay, next up - the *feel-good* factor. It is NO secret about the primary clientele to which Wally World caters. Not to put too fine a point on it - but some days when I walk into Wal*Mart, I feel as though every trailer park in the local vicinity came en masse on the same day I opted to go. FURTHER...I'm no *Skinny-Minnie* by ANY stretch of the imagination...but walking Wal*Mart does wonders for my self-esteem by making me feel like a beauty queen... Try it sometime. Anyone who has EVER watched Jerry Springer to feel better about their OWN lives can identify with this strange phenomenon.

Now then...the *racial* factor...particularly at a time such as Midnight Madness on Black Friday. I have four primary observations... White/caucasian. Black/African-American. Hispanic/Mexican-American et al. Asian/Asian-American of any far eastern variety. Asian/Indian (and no, NOT Native American, but *Indian*). One grouping at a time. (Please consider most of this being stated with tongue FIRMLY placed in my cheek...okay...? )

Starting with Indian. *sigh* Culturally, Indian folks have a caste society, right? It's a *cultural* thing that is misunderstood by many white folks. However, as understanding and respectful of cultural differences as I strive to be...at 4 in the morning with pregnancy hormones going out of control, chances are the bitch under my skin is going to come out in FULL force after I've said "Excuse Me" three different times to an Indian couple who are at the *top* of the order and view everyone else as inferior to them. I'm in NO way subject to another cultural standing unless I am a guest in *their* country. In *that* situation, I will be completely polite - as a guest should be - but here? I'm not a guest - neither am I a tourist. And when I've gone the polite route to no avail, then chances are the next words out of my mouth are going to be along the lines of, "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY" - or something quite similar. And yeah, that happened. And they had the gall to look at me as though I was the asshole. *shrug* In that moment, I cared not a stitch. I was quite pissed. And it's NOT a racist thing, because I have several Indian friends and I adore them...I like my dentist, even when she gets a bit uppity - because she can take it as well as she dishes it out...though I think the fact that I gave it right back to her sur... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21546749/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21546749/ Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:42:17 PST [link]

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21112212/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21112212/ Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:59:50 PDT
No grousing.

Just a bit of good news.

Not gonna say a lot (yes, you get the rare short journal).

Just gonna say that our family is going to have a new member in June.

...~~...

Happy Day!!

, , &


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21060961/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/21060961/ Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:16:27 PDT
No, actually I got to thinking about two different things. First, the seeming misunderstanding that since I'm an Obama supporter coupled with my heavy disgust for McCain, that somehow I'm suddenly "anti-American"... and the other subject is about the draft.

Okay first subject. I am an Obama supporter - without apology. However, we must first understand that this is *politics*...and people get kinda retarded when the subject of politics is on the table. I want to make one thing abundantly clear - because it's important to understand: I dislike almost all politicians. If anyone's unclear on that, re-read it: I dislike almost all politicians. I'm not an Obama supporter because I like him. *siiiiigh* With regard to McCain - the same is true. I'm not a non-supporter because I dislike him. It's all politics. It's a matter of specific platforms that are important to me - and up until several months ago, I was distinctly torn.

Let me clarify another thing here, since it's on my mind to do so. Yeah, I make fun of certain characteristics McCain displays. This is in NO way a disparagement of what he went through in Vietnam - and to anyone who has misunderstood that, let me be clear yet again. I'm the daughter of a decorated war veteran and retiree. My respect for all that our men & women in uniform endure in the name of this country from which I am proud to have been born has few bounds. That being said, McCain has brought shame on his own name by using his former POW status as a means to personal and political ends. By using it as a ploy/tool since the very beginning of his political career, he opened the door for others to mock him for hypocrisy.

I used to hold McCain in high esteem. Being from Arizona, I was a child when McCain started his political career - and like most teenagers, at the time I had little interest in politics. My interest in McCain's politics came later, during my early adult years. For my own reasons, I was a semi-supporter of McCain for a very long time, despite the fact that I disagreed adamantly with his political platforms. One thing I admired about him, though, was that on many controversial topics, he kept his fingers out, except to say that those matters should be kept to the states - which had been pretty standard for him.

However, when he took the stance on family values after California began recognizing gay marriage, that was the beginning of the end for me. All of a sudden, McCain actually became actively involved, where he never had before. Additionally, while he may have never agreed with Roe v. Wade, and has pretty much always stated it should be left to the states - his campaign took the stance of overturning Roe v. Wade. These are two subjects that are hot buttons - and about which many of us are passionate. Those two matters pretty much sealed my vote for whoever was running against him.

There are other subjects that bother me tremendously, such as the health care crisis, and the state of our education system. More recently of course, the economy has become a headliner...but we've been seeing the direction that's been going for a while as well, with a BIG hint coming from the housing market and the real estate industry overall.

Now then, there is not a single subject above that I won't make jokes about. *raised eyebrows* Nobody seems to bat an eye if I crack a "Brokeback Mountain" joke, or if I pop off with some of the immortal genius of George Carlin. Why? Because most people who have known me for any length of time know what a staunch pro-choice advocate I am, and that I am also an avid Pride supporter. Nobody seems to mind that.

But if I crack a joke about McCain's twitches & such, suddenly it's off-limits?! Pfffft. Bullshit. He's not out of bounds...period. He lives in a fishbowl, and NOBODY I know is trying to denigrate the nightmare that he did, in fact, endure...but that does not mean that he, his age, his health, and his idiosyncracies are off-limits. Speaking of his time in service, and his time as a POW...I never had any reason to look up the history of Carol McCain - his first wife. Only recently have I bothered reading about that...and in doing so, my present disgust for McCain has only amplified.

All of that being said, at the end of the day, when this campaign is all said and done, there will be someone new in the White House, and everyone is going to have a job to do. It's at that point when we all kinda have to suck it up and charge on. That's the way it is. Regardless of who takes the presidency. And quite frankly, I feel a measure of pity for whoever actually "wins" - because take a good, hard look at what they're "winning."


Moving on...to the draft.


This subject has come up a few times recently in differen... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20950133/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20950133/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:04:46 PDT
The story behind my love for Leonard Cohen would be considered sacrilege by true die-hard fans/enthusiasts, but here it is. I saw the movie "Pump Up the Volume" and heard Everybody Knows for the first time. At the time, I just thought it was a cool song.

A few years later, I met a guy who was what would be considered a *die-hard* Leonard Cohen enthusiast - and he turned me on to a LOT of excellent stuff. I was hooked, and have been ever since. I don't listen to him all the time, because I don't listen to any one artist all the time. But yeah...while Everybody Knows is a *terrific* song with kickass lyrics, there are *many* great songs by him, from old to more recent. My personal favorite by him is...

Alexandra Leaving
~L. Cohen

Suddenly the night has grown colder.
Some deity preparing to depart.
Alexandra hoisted on his shoulder,
they slip between the sentries of your heart.

Upheld by the simplicities of pleasure,
they gain the light, they formlessly entwine;
and radiant beyond your widest measure
they fall among the voices and the wine.

lt's not a trick, your senses all deceiving,
a fitful dream the morning will exhaust---
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving,
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost.

Even though she sleeps upon your satin.
Even though she wakes you with a kiss.
Do not say the moment was imagined,
Do not stoop to strategies like this.

As someone long prepared for this to happen,
Go firmly to the window. Drink it in.
Exquisite music, Alexandra laughing.
Your first commitments tangible again.

You who had the honor of her evening,
And by that honor had your own restored---
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving.
Alexandra leaving with her lord.

As someone long prepared for the occasion;
In full command of every plan you wrecked---
Do not choose a coward's explanation
that hides behind the cause and the effect,

You who were bewildered by a meaning,
whose code was broken, crucifix uncrossed---
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving.
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost.


*soft sigh*

Happy Day!

P/L/S
~prosey

i may be straight, but i'm not narrow

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20902918/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20902918/ Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:30:09 PDT [link]

I'll skip the pop-psych lesson for today. The video speaks for itself.


Second...I've been far less active here in the past two years than in the first two...and yet, the activity has increased quite a bit. Cute. Catch the 65K, & I'll try to think of something creative.

P/L/S




]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20869405/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20869405/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:36:38 PDT *



My son continues to surprise me. *chuckle* I forget sometimes -given everything- that he's still wholly my son. Screamo-metal is his preference (and thankfully he usually keeps that in his room) - but mornings like today, he catches me off-guard. "Mom...where's your Joni Mitchell CD?...I wanna hear it in the car on the way to school..."

*blink* Okay, so now I've got "A Case of You" stuck in my head. Not a bad song to have running on repeat, I suppose.

Anyway, last night I found myself simultaneously amused and disturbed. I've been researching *BOTH* candidates (as many of you know if you're in my email address book) - and asking questions. Yesterday, between exciting philosophy text reading () and note-taking, I was researching a variety of things. Familiar as I am with McCain's politics, there are pieces of history that I don't remember, due to the fact that I was, in many obvious ways, a typical teenager and was not remotely interested in politics. So, there were certain events that happened during roughly my senior year (that were being investigated for a long time prior) of which I have no active recollection. I sent an email to people who have a greater active memory to the specifics than I do...

...and the email was as follows:

"Hi there,

Have been researching memory banks that go back to McCain's early days (and a lot of this dates as far back as elementary school years for me, so the memory isn't "active") -- but WHY is there so little national coverage for the following:


[link]

[link]

[link]

Curiouser and curiouser."

To this email, I received numerous responses - both amusing ("Because Fox News is not the History Channel." ) and really irritating ("He apologized for that years ago..." ). I received middle-ground critical responses, but in all, my attention was actually *actively* focused on Cindy McCain's avoidance of questioning about finances. Hmm. Which is fine, in and of itself - but when it comes to her husband wanting to become this nation's leader - and given -a) the history he has, -b) the current economic crisis, and -c) the matter of public *trust* - privacy alone isn't a factor. I respect her right to privacy -absolutely- however, the matter was (and IS) of a criminal nature. And no, I'm not trying to "pick on" McCain - I am *FULLY* aware that he was not alone in his guilt...and I know that other members of the Senate and the House need to be assessed equally - but it just so happens that McCain and Obama are the ones running for President - so YES, full disclosure of both husband AND wife if the wife's financial contributions were directly involved in any way to politics (and in the matter of John McCain, they most certainly were) - and I think BOTH candidates need to have their financial inventories FULLY assessed, given the current economic state and what has transpired over the past several weeks. Again, yes, absolutely.

That all in mind - I found the *timing* of an email with this video: [link] interesting. Not really peculiar, all things considered. After all, there's a debate between Obama & McCain slated for tonight, and one of the biggest topics on the table *IS* the economy. Dirty politics, but yeah...really important information of which the public should be aware. And it's gonna get dirtier. I'm sure McCain's campaign will dig up more "nefarious plotting" on the part of Obama & the FM connection (cue evil laughter) - which they've already done on several occasions. An email received this morning with this article: [link] is just a preview of how nasty it's getting already...and there are still four weeks remaini... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20848237/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20848237/ Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:03:49 PDT
Tomorrow is the last day - in most places - to register to vote. Have you registered??? (Obviously, this question is directed to those of age who are legal U.S. citizens eligible to vote...)

Or else...Don't bother...I mean, why does it matter? And most definitely, don't look at this [link] , really.

(And I *never* thought in a million years I'd post something like this...just ask Rene. He'll tell you my thoughts on stuff like this...seriously.)





]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20803816/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20803816/ Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:25:29 PDT Advance Warning: Long Read

I was actually hoping to be able to use some of last night's debate as Fried Day Funny fodder...alas, I was so annoyed by much of it that I couldn't bother seeking amusement. So, with due respect, I will leave the mockery to the lovely Tina Fey.

How many here were actually able to watch last night's debate?

Governor Palin *did* do better than expected. Granted, the bar was set *re-he-he-healllly* low. She was, more than anything, a prop. She didn't answer a single question. She campaigned. *BUT* - even in moments of rebukes to Senator Biden, she was far more gracious than Senator McCain was with Senator Obama. Yeah, she sneered a couple of times, but mostly her painted smile appeared almost genuine. It's being said all over the place that Biden did better than expected. I was pleased that his handlers put something in his brain-to-mouth filter. He only really slipped once on that note, in my estimation, and when he did...it was beautiful. (I'm referring to when he slam-dunked the "maverick" nonsense - and for some fantastic reading, check out this article: [link] - and many thanks again to fledgist for this one.) In all, it was entertaining.

For me personally, just reflecting this morning - I have to be completely honest. I went into watching last night's "debate" with extreme bias, and without apology. Anyone claiming that Palin's performance "made up for" her horrific face-plant with Katie Couric and others are speaking out of *PURE* wishful thinking. That she "did better than expected" does NOT equal she "did well." And in the end, it will have no impact on the outcome. It was pure distraction...window dressing, if you will.

A couple of stark points stood out to me, with respect to her display last night. First, her trip-up over the question of gay marriage. She sorta splattered that one. Second, her declaration that the Vice Presidency should be afforded more power. The moment that came out of her mouth, my first mental reaction was anger. I'm not a whiz bang on the Constitution by ANY stretch of the imagination - but I am fairly certain that beyond succession of the President in the event of unfortunate circumstances, the Constitution doesn't afford any executive authority to the Vice President. I double-checked the U.S. Constitution ( [link] ) - since I'm not expert on said document...and I also checked with America.gov ( [link] ), since there is talk about the "enhanced" role of the VP in recent years. I could go on about this topic...but given my anger with McCain's suggestion on Tuesday that the President should act outside of Constitutional guidelines (exceeding the designated authority of the Executive Office) - couple that with Palin's opinion/suggestion last night - I'm probably better off biting my tongue.

Besides, having been in a defensive role most of this week - on personal and political fronts - I'm probably better taking a deep breath, and sharing the amusing points of note. I've heard a LOT during the course of the past few months (and I'm sure we'll hear more over the next 33 days) about change - and who to trust more.



Change is a catch-phrase...whatever. But trust?! I swear, in the back of my mind, I hear Glinda the Good Witch and her conversation with the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz exchange from Munchkin Land.

Hello. These are politicians. They are actors. They do NOT care if you like them, dislike them, love them, or loathe them. And no, they most certainly don't care if you do or don't trust them. In fact, they KNOW you don't trust them. Politicians are a very special breed of slime, ranking slightly higher than attorneys (and look at the number of cross-germinated cases there). Many - yes, many - men and women have gone into politics with noble ideals and bright ideas. I'm not suggesting otherwise. But the stark reality is that once in...the *transformation* occurs. The baby-kissing...the schmoozing...the double-talk and non-answers... they do NOT care about true public trust - they care about one thing - and one thing only. Gaining your VOTE. They will play on every appeal to ignora... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20787864/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20787864/ Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:35:58 PDT [link]

I'm inserting a comment I recently made - and I know that I probably have a lot of this goofed up, but this is how I understand things, and why I believe this is so very important. To those with a far more intricate understanding of the process - my apologies up front if I mangled it...

Anyway:

"I don't *like* politics either. Doesn't change the fact that human beings are political animals - and that has been said since the days of Socrates (and earlier, I'm sure). [...] Okay - I'm going to explain it as I understand it - and it is complex. At the national level, come election, the voice of the people (November 4) is the *Popular Vote*. This is when people spend hours upon hours in line to cast their individual vote/ballot (unless they did what I did, and voted during the Advance Polls, to avoid those lines). Those numbers ARE tallied. They are a measure of the voice of the people. That said, each of us lives in either a "Red" or "Blue" state. Red being predominantly Republican; Blue being predominantly Democrat. With me so far? In each state, there are electoral voters - a certain number in each state depending upon population. These voters make up the Electoral College. Generally, they vote with the majority of the constituents of *that* state, but they are under NO obligation to do so. They are, just like you and me, individuals with the right to their respective vote. The total number of those votes is the Electoral vote - which determines the Presidency. Now- in my opinion, this methodology made perfect sense when our nation was very small, but is grossly outdated and we either need to revamp the Electoral process or do away with it - but that is my opinion. Until such time, that's what we have.

Moving along...it *DOES* seem useless, and it's all to easy to fall into a brand of apathy when the electoral vote is what defines the Presidential determination - but you have to stop there and step back. Is the presidency the only position that matters? Absolutely NOT. That is the Executive Branch - ONE of the three branches of our government. We -THE PEOPLE- determine who is in our CONGRESS. The electoral college does NOT decide that. We do. Those Senators and Representatives are designated by our votes to speak FOR US. Which, of course, is why I'm on such a strong push with this bit of legislation for people to actually contact their state elected officials and voice their thoughts on this - as it affects ALL of us for decades to come, no matter what our party affiliations. Further, at the city and county levels, the officials are not determined by the electoral college, but by the vote of the people. It's an upward spiral, that. It IS complex, but it's not really *difficult* to follow when you break it down. Whether you live in a "red" or "blue" state makes no difference. Voting at the lower levels determines the higher levels - which is why your vote is SO VERY important.

Yes - there is something wrong with the American people. They've become too complacent and apathetic about the very thing we're discussing. Too many people abstain their vote - they throw away their right to make their voice heard, and then wonder what the fuck is wrong with our government. Duh - connect the dots. If EVERYONE exercised their right to vote - and UTILIZED their right to defend their vote at the risk of voting elected officials back OUT of office for not acting in accordance with the will of their constituents - or out of line with the Constitution - then the government officials will be FORCED by the will of the people to color inside the lines. But it takes EVERYONE acting - and not just sitting idly by and bitching about how much they hate politics and hate the government. If you throw away your vote by not voting - you FORFEIT the right to complain about how this country is governed. Period."

Thanks for putting up with my blither.



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20771668/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20771668/ Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:39:07 PDT Update

I urge every U.S. citizen - no matter what state, no matter what party affiliation - write to your elected officials. NOW.

This is that important. I'm not trying to sway anyone's personal political views - or anyone's vote for that matter. We're all entitled to those opinions...this isn't about that. This situation we're in is something that affects ALL of us, regardless of where we sit on the political spectrum.

Take the time to write. Demand answers from the people who are making decisions that will affect all of us for years...hell, decades...to come.

What you see below was duly modified - eliminated sarcasm and profanity - and sent BACK to Senator Isakson's office, along with Senator Chambliss' office, AND to Congressman Lewis' office.

Our voices independently might be small...but the only way to make them heard is to actually speak out.

Thanks for listening.

/update


I know this is going to seem like I'm grousing (I am), but this canned response is a whole lot of nothing, and tells me exactly what our illustrious Congresspersons actually think of their respective constituencies. When I read something like this, I get really annoyed...I know that I talk a lot and don't say much - but I'm not a damnable politician. *mutters grumpily* I've interspersed my thoughts into this...though I'm still working on my "official" response to this letter (minus the expletives...obviously)...which I will send probably later today.


Dear Mrs. A-W:

Thank you for your letter regarding the economy, the financial markets and the proposal from the Treasury Secretary to the Congress.

We are in difficult financial times, and I am committed to protecting the savings and jobs of the people of Georgia by making sound decisions on both immediate actions as well as long-term actions. (Okay, you're not campaigning, and I'm not convinced that you really know anything...but go on.)

First, our economic stress is rooted in the decline of the housing market. (Thank you for this illustrious bit of information. You think that this really came as a surprise to anyone? Private consumers have been observing changes in their personal credit - WITHOUT explanation for the past 1.5 years, Senator - and THIS situation is the explanation, that banks have been refusing to give...so while the housing market has been in steady decline, that alone is NOT sufficient explanation.) The cause of the decline was the funding of marginal credit mortgages (subprime) through the creation of mortgage-backed securities that were sold around the world. (With whose approval, I ask? And why was this something entirely neglected by you and your colleagues in Congress?) As the default and foreclosure rate on these mortgages increased, the value of the securities declined. As the values declined, the balance sheet of the financial institutions that bought them deteriorated. (Twice placing the blame solely on the mortgage issues - no. The financial institutions were giving hints without explanation for quite some time...again, isn't that why we elect you? To serve your function of protection of the people?) The market for these securities declined and ultimately evaporated, thus causing a liquidity problem for the financial institutions and a credit crisis for American consumers and small businesses. (You're trying to make it sound as thought this happened overnight - and that it's some big surprise. It isn't.)

In the immediate term, we must address the credit and liquidity crisis. In the long term, we must put in place the oversight and safeguards to ensure the transparency and accountability necessary to prevent this from happening again. The Treasury has proposed using up to $700 billion dollars to purchase, at a discount, these mortgage-backed securities. (NO!! There is NOT agreement from the PEOPLE to use OUR tax dollars for this bullshit...) This would provide liquidity to the financial institutions and improve their balance sheets. The important question is this: "Is the taxpayer of Georgia protected?" (Again, Senator, respectfully NO, that is NOT the important question. This goes beyond just THIS state. This affects ALL taxpayers, nationwide, across the political spectrum. Not just us here in Georgia.) If the Treasury properly discounts the securities to, say, 50 or 60 cents on the dollar, and holds the securities to maturity there should be little or no cost to the Treasury. More importantly, investors will return to the market and will compete with the Treasury to by (Uhm, really? Not to be persnicketty, but it's a REAL slap in the face to your supporters and critics to send out an official letter with such a typographical error as this) these discounted securities and t... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20630789/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20630789/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:12:42 PDT
I was so thrilled to be able to go in, fill out the form, get the card, and get the voting OUT of the way. The conversation with the two gentlemen & the two ladies there was amusing. One of the first questions I was asked was, "How did you know to come in this early?" *chuckle*

...why, email of course! That brought a laugh - and then the follow-on comment from the older gentleman was something about how nice it was that "young people" are paying attention to political matters (*gasp!* ) - and actually getting out and voting.

I was muttering (on the inside) yesterday afternoon when talking with one of my neighbors about the coolness of being able to get voting for this election out of the way this early. She gave me a really strange look, and then said - "Nope, I'm going to take advantage of my 'time off' on November 4th"...(she's a high school teacher). I chose to bite my tongue, since I hadn't been initially addressing her, but another neighbor with whom I was conversing about the frustration of this election, and she had expressed interest in getting the voting out of the way as well, especially since she works in a different county and isn't sure she'll have the day off on election day.

...ANYWAY...

Check your local area; find out about advance voting!

On the way home, I had a chance to look at gas stations (one route so far; I'll check out two other routes when I go to get Sphynx for her appointment). Yowza! All stations were deserted except for two. Both of the two that were open had ONLY regular fuel, and the prices were $4.09.9 (where I tanked up yesterday) and $4.19.9, further up the road. Everywhere else was completely out of gas. *shakes head* I'll know more later, but what a friggin' mess. I still am unsure what's caused this particular fuel crisis, but it's ugly.

Ah well...Happy Tuesday, anyway!


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20189158/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/20189158/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:38:38 PDT

Just a little something for day to put a new face on.


1. How old will you be in five years? -- Five years older than I am today.

2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? -- Sphynx

3. How tall are you? -- Tall enough to look down at my daughter, up at my son, and up further at my husband. So...tall enough.

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? -- I am learning to stop projecting. Mostly this upcoming class...or rather, getting it over with.

5. What's the last movie you saw? -- Mr. Woodcock. *blink* ...kinda.

6. Who was the last person you called? -- René

7. Who was the last person to call you? -- My son

8. What was the last text message you received? -- 'k' from my son

9. Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail? -- My sister

10. Do you prefer to call or text? -- neither...but text, if email isn't available.

11. What were you doing at 12am last night? -- helping my son with a school project.

12. Are your parents married/divorced? -- Divorced

13. When did you last see your mom? -- Last month

14. What color are your eyes? -- Green

15. What time did you wake up today? -- 05:30

16. What are you wearing right now? -- A lifeguard tank and my overalls...yeah, undergarments are securely in place.

17. Do you like Christmas songs? -- For about 3 seconds...

18. Where is your favorite place to be? -- *blink*

19. Where is your least favorite place to be? -- At either the gyn's office...or the dentist's. Take your pick.

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? -- Australia

21. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years? -- Wherever we go, there we are.

22. Do you tan or burn? -- Initial burn, then tan.

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? -- On a bad day/night? My mother...

24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? -- I don't recall - a lot of things make me laugh.

25. Do you have an e-crush on anyone on DA? -- Yep. I married him.

26. How big is your bed? -- King

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer? -- Laptop

28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on? -- Jammies, usually

29. What color are your sheets? -- Dark blue

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? -- When René is home, 1...when he's traveling, 2

31. What is your favorite season? -- Autumn

32. What is the best way to waste time on dA? -- There's an activity in dA that isn't considered wasting time? Erm, forums, I guess...

33. What do you like about winter? -- That it ends

34. What do you like about the summer? -- Cotton candy clouds

35. What do you like about spring? -- The return of flowers

36. How many states/provinces have you lived in? -- A lot

37. What cities/towns have you lived in? -- Too many to bother naming

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet? -- bare feet

39. Are you a social person? -- I can be...sometimes...

40. What was the last thing you ate? -- Just finished dinner: meatloaf, wax beans, and potatoes au gratin

41. What is your favorite restaurant? -- La Vineria mmmmmmmm

42. What is your favorite kind of ice cream? -- Pralines & Cream

43. What is your favorite dessert? -- Tiramisu

44. What is your favorite kind of soup? -- Cream of Potato

45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich? -- I don't generally eat PB&Js

46. Do you like Chinese food? -- Yep

47. Do you like coffee? -- Of course

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average? -- Not enough

49. What do you drink in the morning? -- Coffee

50. What is your favorite gallery on dA? -- dunno anymore

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? -- Yes

52. Do you kno... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19947793/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19947793/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:15:24 PDT
Out of nowhere, a VERY old forum post (from April 2006) resurfaced with new comments. *blink* I was as surprised as anyone, but responded to the comments given - with respect to who was commenting and what their position was/is.

There was a very good debate going - not harsh or ill in any way, just respectful disagreeing, and actually had the potential to go somewhere rather positive. Rare, when discussing a dead horse topic like abortion or anything to do with that debate.

Then the forum was locked, with the comment to not revive old forums. Huh? I didn't revive it. In fact, though I am still current with the specific subject and many facets of the present standings of the topic about which was written, I had all but forgotten about the forum post itself.

Responding to comments made was not about reviving an old subject; it was about the courtesy of responding to comments in kind, and in the spirit in which they were given.

I was tempted to start a whole new forum post, referencing the original ([link]) - but to do so would be a real waste of my time, and I don't really feel like rehashing the entire thing. Like I said, I was rather surprised that it resurfaced in the first place...

I'm confused...is there a specific policy on that about which I'm unaware? When did exercising free speech and respectful debate become a product of time? Maybe I'm missing something...can someone point out the policy to me? (I'm actually feeling a bit too tired/mentally drained to go digging through dA's policies to find out - so any assistance there is appreciated...sincerely.)

P/L/S


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19682818/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19682818/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:55:07 PDT rapidograph inspires me.

So without further ado, something FUN in Prosey's journal.



I've done (total #109) out of these 128 listed things...

level 1
(x) smoked a cigarette
(x) smoked a cigar
(x) kissed a member of the same sex
so far: 3

level 2
(x) are / been in love
(x) dumped someone
(x) been fired
(x) been in a fist fight
so far: 7

level 3
(x) had a crush on an older person
(x) skipped class
(x) slept with a co-worker
(x) seen someone / something die
so far: 11

level 4
(x) had / have a crush on one of your deviantART friends
( ) been to Paris (I don't remember, so it doesn't count)
( ) been to Spain
(x) been on a plane
(x) thrown up from drinking
so far: 14

level 5
(x) eaten sushi
(x) been snowboarding
(x) met someone through internet
(x) been in a mosh pit
so far: 18

level 6
(x) been in an abusive relationship
(x) taken pain killers
(x) liked/loved someone who you can't have
(x) layed on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(x) made a snow angel
so far: 23

level 7
(x) had a tea party
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle
(x) gone mudding
(x) played dress up
so far: 28

level 8
(x) jumped into a pile of leaves
(x) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game
(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work / school
so far: 33

level 10
(x) watched the sunset
(x) felt an earthquake
(x) killed a snake
so far: 36

level 11
(x) been tickled
(x) been robbed / vandalized
(x) been cheated on
(x) been misunderstood
so far: 40

level 12
(x) won a contest
( ) been suspended from school
(x) had detention
(x) been in a car / motorcycle accident
so far: 43

level 13
(x) had / have braces
(x) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(x) danced in the moonlight
so far : 47

level 14
(x) hated the way you look
(x) witnessed a crime
( ) pole danced
(x) questioned your heart
( ) been obsessed with post-it-notes
so far: 50

level 15
(x) squished barefoot through the mud
( ) been to the opposite side of the world
(x) swam in the ocean
(x) felt like you were dying
so far: 53

level 16
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
(x) recently colored with crayons / colored pencils / markers
(x) sang karaoke
(x) paid for a meal with only coins
so far: 58

level 17
(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) kissed in the rain
so far: 62

level 18
(x) written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) watched the sunset/ sunrise with someone you care/cared about
(x) blown bubbles
(x) made a bonfire on the beach or anywhere
so far: 66

level 19
(x) crashed a party
(x) have traveled more than 5 days with a car full of people.
(x) gone rollerskating / blading
(x) had a wish come true
( ) been humped by a monkey
so far: 70

level 20
(x) worn pearls
( ) jumped off a bridge
(x) screamed "penis" or "vagina"
( ) swam with dolphins
so far: 72

level 21
(x) got your tongue stuck to a pole/freezer/ice cubes
( ) kicked a fish
(x) worn the opposite sex's clothes
(x) sat on a roof top and watched the stars
so far: 75

level 22
(x) screamed at the top of your lungs
(x) done / attempted a one-handed cartwheel
(x) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
(x) recently stayed up for a while talking to someone you care about
so far: 79

level 23
(x) picked and ate an apple right off the tree
(x) climbed a tree
(x) had/been in a tree house
(x) been too scared to watch scary movies alone
so far: 83

level 24
(x) believed in ghosts (when I was little)
(x) have had more then 30 pairs of shoes
( ) gone streaking
( ) visited jail... (only by phone, so I don't think that counts)
so far: 85

level 25
(x) played chicken
(x) been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on
(x) been told you're hot by a complete stranger
( ) broken a bone
(x) been easily amused
so far: 89

level 26
(x) caught a fis... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19621624/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19621624/ Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:03:01 PDT [link] to the web page that shows this, I'm putting it in my journal.

Why? Because it's one of the biggest issues...because it's important... While there's no guarantee Obama can push this through Congress - particularly the potential fight by insurance lobbyists, there's no chance at all if he isn't elected.

The Problem

Millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured because of rising medical costs: 47 million Americans — including nearly 9 million children — lack health insurance with no signs of this trend slowing down.

Health care costs are skyrocketing: Health insurance premiums have risen 4 times faster than wages over the past 6 years.

Too little is spent on prevention and public health: The nation faces epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases as well as new threats of pandemic flu and bioterrorism. Yet despite all of this less than 4 cents of every health care dollar is spent on prevention and public health.

Barack Obama's Plan

Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All

* Obama's Plan to Cover Uninsured Americans: Obama will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The Obama plan will have the following features:
1. Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
2. Comprehensive benefits. The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care.
3. Affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
4. Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan.
5. Simplified paperwork and reined in health costs.
6. Easy enrollment. The new public plan will be simple to enroll in and provide ready access to coverage.
7. Portability and choice. Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.
8. Quality and efficiency. Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met.
* National Health Insurance Exchange: The Obama plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participating insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and have the same standards for quality and efficiency. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, public.
* Employer Contribution: Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small businesses will be exempt from this requirement, and will receive a new Small Business Health Tax Credit that helps reduce health care costs for small businesses.
* Support for Small Businesses: Barack Obama will create a Small Business Health Tax Credit to provide small businesses with a refundable tax credit of up to 50 percent on premiums paid by small businesses on behalf of their employees. This new credit will provide a strong incentive to small businesses to offer high quality health care to their workers and help improve the competitiveness of America’s small businesses.
* Mandatory Coverage of Children: Obama will require that all children have health care coverage. Obama will expand the number of options for young adults to get coverage, including allowing young people up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parents' plans.
* Expansion Of Medicaid and SCHIP: Obama will expand eligibility for the Medicaid a... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19450461/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19450461/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:03:56 PDT
I'm a tad pissed. I haven't been following the headlines of late, since I've been focused elsewhere, but it was brought to my attention that our illustrious president is trying to sneak some pretty rotten bullshit through before November. Imagine my surprise. But this particular bullshit?

Oh my effingawd: Check this out: [link] disgusted and appalled. Absolutely revolted.

That...in conjunction with this: [link] bit of McCain brilliance, followed up by this: [link] ...*shakes head and sighs*

Fortunately - we CAN fight back. It's not much...but it's something...

Sign the petition: [link] ...and forward to every like-minded person you know. Do not sit idly by while the so-called "leader of the free world" sends women back into the dark ages - even if you don't "approve" of abortion...BIRTH CONTROL IS NOT ABORTION!! IT IS AN ACT OF RESPONSIBLE CHOICE THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY!!!


/rant


P/L/S


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19395673/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19395673/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:44:08 PDT
Haven't decided what I think yet of this v6 launch.



Certain facets of it are quite familiar...that seem to me competitive. Wonder why that might be?

*wanders off, pondering*

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19125116/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19125116/ Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:17:35 PDT [link] - thanks...and please note, I'm not updating any formatting stuff in here, so some emoticons here don't display.)

I watched a frustrating episode of FX's 30 Days. [:sigh:]

There is a reason I generally avoid watching television. Watching the above-referenced episode happened completely by accident. Rene & I were watching Dodgeball...and recovering from a very heavy meal [] ...which meant I was moving as little as possible. When Dodgeball was over, I got on the laptop to attend messages and check my classroom...as the episode in question began. Within 10-15 minutes, I became curious to see how the situation would evolve and conclude.

The synopsis of the episode is that Kati, a 30-something LDS Christian woman from California (married with two children) would move in with Dennis & Tom in Michigan (domestic partners with four children). Kati's stance was/is anti-same sex marriage - but more critical - anti-parenting for same sex couples, using morality as her reason.

Clarification: The word "morality" here is used in the sense of Kati's definition of it. She said "morality" interchangeably with what she meant as her opinion, as opposed to what morality actually is.

Over the course of the show, I almost felt (a very small amount of) pity for Kati, who was clearly used to being around like-minded people (scary as that is)...and was suddenly thrust into an environment within which she was completely isolated, surrounded by people with polar opposite viewpoints.

She, sadly, was one of the stereotypical Christians who call themselves "open-minded" with the exception of her perspective of biblical meaning and intent - and firmly believed/s that children should ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY be adopted to heterosexual married couples. Never mind my personal opinion on shoving one's own individual morality (same meaning as referenced in the 'Clarification' above) onto another person and negating choice...there were a couple of areas that really irritated me.

First, in a conversation with members of an advocacy agency - and speaking with the daughter of a dual parent family (father & step-mother...and mother & domestic partner) - Kati could not hear the ignorance of her own words...paraphrasing: I believe children should be raised in mother-father homes - I believe that in a home with gay and lesbian parents, the child is put in a situation where s/he is forced to accept gay as a choice.

When it was explained to her (repeatedly) that a child does not choose to be gay or straight, she continued like a mule to push the phrase that the 'child would still be forced to accept gay as a choice' - and then turned around and denied being judgmental of gay as a choice - never mind that it's NOT a choice to begin with. [:grr:] (Nor could she see the hypocrisy of taking away anyone's personal choice while still advocating her personal opinion, which is *also* a choice...)

The other scenario was one I found to be grossly appalling. Kati went to visit with a couple of foster network workers - former foster children themselves - to discuss the reality of the foster system. Even after seeing with her own eyes the way kids wind up in foster care, she continued to insist that children should exclusively be adopted to heterosexual married couples. The exasperation on the faces of those she was digging her heels in with was evident. Even after being given explanations that "most" couples who are looking to adopt (foster or not) want babies...and that the VAST majority of children in the foster system NEVER get adopted...she still stood by her position. You could clearly see that the conditions of foster children broke her heart - but she clung to the delusion that she was "right" and that the majority of people "should agree with her"...when the evidential willingness of gay and lesbian couples to adopt fostered children would help to minimize the number of children stuck in the foster system...and provide them stable and loving homes...*mutter*...within which, sexual orientation is NOT a factor.

...and she could CLEARLY see that Dennis and Tom provided a very loving, nurturing, and safe environment for their four sons - she continued her foolish position, and she wants to see laws enacted that would prevent homosexual individuals and couples from becoming parents. *deep, sad, and frustrated sigh* Even when the statistics show that the "traditional" family unit of mom/dad doesn't prevent abuse situations -- talk about stating the obvious -- and that there is NO evidence whatsoever that growing up in a same sex household has any negative impact o... ]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19035138/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/19035138/ Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:55:01 PDT

...just a really *blah* day?

That's been today. I took a shower with hopes of getting out of the funk I'm in, even knowing why I'm in a funk, and even knowing that a shower won't fix it. A nice bubble bath won't fix it (though that'd feel good, for sure). Bitching and moaning about it doesn't fix it...but seems to be the thing to do, since can't do much else about it.

On the upside, I've gotten a LOT of reading done while sitting and dreading the inevitable (it'll be over soon, hopefully). What I'm reading isn't exciting or anything, but for someone like me, it's interesting reading, and it's touching on philosophical and political points of history, which I do find enjoyable. In the midst of the reading, more questions have surfaced that call to question why I think the way I do, and questioning what I actually believe - and why. What that means is that I write more statements with hopes of feedback in order to learn. I write seemingly irrelevant polls just to pick people's brains.

All the while, really just avoiding the reality that my house is way too quiet and the cats are good company, but can't have a conversation with them. The reality is that I don't wanna go to the periodontist. I actually had a moment of anxiety this morning about the whole ordeal. Stupid and irrational...believe me, I know. :sigh: Doesn't change it. Doesn't fix it, knowing that I'm being stupid about it.

I'll feel better when I don't have to deal with it in present or future tense.

, , & !



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18920167/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18920167/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:16:27 PDT
Hallelujah
~L. Cohen

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

You faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
to a kitchen chair
She broke you throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's its to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18886922/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18886922/ Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:34:18 PDT
Interesting how it's taken me a while to get used to the lack of drama. Having lived a life replete with drama - and for the vast majority of my existence - AND having consistently stated that I want a drama-free life...

...well, now it's here.

Funny this. When one lives everyday surrounded by others' issues and lives at the whims of someone else's psychosis - escaping that and finding the long-desired silence can be its own brand of stress. Because when you're *used* to walking on egg shells, the silence keeps your eyes looking upward, waiting for the proverbial "other shoe"...but the stress passes eventually, with a lot of love and patience.

In this, I've been fortunate. August will mark the one-year anniversary of physically escaping hell. The progress of my getting used to the silence has been gradual, but it is in a positive direction. For a while, I was daily afraid that the ex- would continue his threats in more of a tangible way than telephonically or via email - as he had done before my escape. The last *real* threat he made was that I wouldn't see my next birthday.

Well, folks, the next birthday came & went without incident. I turned that day on the calendar the day after we returned home from the Netherlands. *chuckle*

I guess this topic is on the table today, since I'm having to meet the ex- at the halfway point for court-ordered summer visitation...and I'm not happy about not seeing my kids for the next five weeks (would've been six weeks, except that my daughter has a camp that she asked in advance if she could attend and he agreed to let her).

Getting back to drama...sometimes - most of the time - it's internal. I don't mean when people are consistently accusing others of harassing them - or wrongly and unfairly calling them out by name in their journals...but it even applies to that thought as well. My thoughts at present are on the cunt who *dared* to call my children bastards. Yeah, I hate the word "cunt"...but there is a special breed of human vermin that deserves it. This individual and a friend both called people out publicly in their journals - accusing them of harassment and whatever - seemingly not recognizing the hypocrisy of their own words. I only recognize this, having long since walked away from the situation, save for hearing about it in past tense after-the-fact terms by people with whom I'm still friends. I firmly believe that the origins of this type of drama are *also* INTERNAL. The origin has NOTHING to do with the person being accused of harassment. It has to do, in my opinion, with some thought or idea planted in a person's head for whatever reason, rightly or wrongly. And for whatever reason, once the idea is planted - the person tries to turn that delusion into a reality...or has convinced him/herself that the delusion *IS* reality, and that the imaginings are ideas that have actually transpired OUTSIDE of his/her own mind. And the trouble begins.

I only *really* recognize this from a distance. Getting back to my ex-asshole, I had to come to terms with the truth that, while our 13-year relationship had been chock-full of intense and unnecessary drama, in the present tense, there is blissful silence. The only times I become afraid of what he's capable of is when it's time for visitation... It is what it is. Have I come to terms with the fact that he has no real power over me? Yes. Have I come to terms with the fact that during extended visitations, he *will* try stupid mind games with my children? Yes. Do I like that? No... But will I respond to it? No. My children are not toddlers. They're 16 and 10, respectively. And during the course of things, they keep me informed of the bullshit. By allowing myself to step away from it, except when it adversely impacts my children, I've allowed myself to walk through the open door of FREEDOM FROM DRAMA. And interestingly, because of that, the ex-asshole's behavior has toned down considerably.

I wouldn't have believed that possible - and sometimes, I still have to catch myself and force myself to stop looking up for the other shoe.

A thought for all of those who claim to want to be drama-free...walk the fuck away from the drama. Don't keep perpetuating it...just walk away. I did, and the freedom is wonderful. It's worth it...really.

P/L/S

~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18815589/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18815589/ Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:16:59 PDT [link]

, , &

i may be straight, but i'm not narrow...

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18730673/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18730673/ Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:39:05 PDT

Forgive me if I cleared out my message center without responding to anything much - I just got back in country, and am worn out. If there is anything specific you wish me to look at, lemme know & I will.

For a run-down of our trip, my journal is here: [link]

Otherwise, all is well here. Hope it's good where you are.

P/L/S



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18427253/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/18427253/ Wed, 21 May 2008 08:15:15 PDT
...the fundraiser was a success! Thanks to those of you who were able to help - by contributing and/or by spreading the word.

On that happy note, I will say that my sister, along with her 4 children and her mother, are situated nicely in a small house not terribly far from where they were previously. Some very generous donations of furniture and carpeting were given, which has helped tremendously. My sister was/is just overwhelmed by all of the help and support of the local community, and was flat-out speechless and grateful at the outpouring from people who to her are complete strangers.

In other news, another of my sisters and my brother made it safely to Europe, and we hope to see them next weekend. Dunno how the whole schedule thing is gonna work out, but it'll all be fine.

Our summer schedule is shaping up to be extremely busy - and busy is good. Keeps me out of trouble. I've not been all that active here, and I don't anticipate too much changing in that regard, particularly now that I'm back in school, and my focus is understandably distracted from here. In any case, all is well.

How are YOU?

, , &


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17877142/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17877142/ Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:26:18 PDT
I've started a fundraiser, and am posting a link to it here, as well.

[link]

The above link takes you to fundable.org - and my description in there is quite brief, so allow me to explain the situation. Most importantly, I don't want anyone to feel any obligation or anything - just so everyone understands that up front. At the same time, I want to put the word out in as many places as I am able...

One of my younger sisters survived a house fire this past weekend. She is the mother of four children, all under the age of ten. She shares a home with her mother, and is herself a full-time college student on top of everything. The house was a total loss. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. The fire was electrical, from what I understand.

I live really far away from her (897 miles/1443 km), and there is little I can help with beyond emotional and moral support. A friend of mine pointed out the fundable website to me, and I figured I'd give it a shot.

Anyway, if you can...great. If not, no worries.

P/L/S


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17825662/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17825662/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:47:15 PDT United States Orphan Works...Sterl posted a poll not terribly long after I received a couple of messages about this from my son's best friend - which has me quite confused actually.

I read the Act of 2006; I read through the proposed bill.

I'm not seeing anything that truly impacts anyone *here* or in other art sites...because the idea is orphaned art works...where the author/creator and/or copyright cannot be unearthed after diligent research in good faith.

Yes, the language needs to be cleaned up, since it's sketchy and vague in some areas...but for artists whose works are clearly and obviously theirs, I'm failing to see what the major damage is.

Someone...anyone...who has a better grasp on this than I do (cos goodness knows, I've been wrong before...), please explain to me what the problem with this bill is that has so many people up in arms....

P/L/S
~prosey


]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17623720/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17623720/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:22:01 PDT
My avatar is changed.

WTF?!?!

See this?

Okay...ha-ha-ha...April Fools...

I personally do *not* find this "joke" funny. It's infantile, and annoying. And given my background here, I personally am just a tad bit more than annoyed. With the history of account infiltration...again, my personal story...this was NOT the first thing I wanted/needed to see. Particularly when I'm *finally* starting to feel safe again.

I'm sure the brainchildren of this crank will say (as they usually do) that I (and anyone who feels the way I do about this) should "lighten up" and "have a sense of humor"...

...to which I'd probably respond with a pair of flying birds...and a retort that goes along the lines of "get a real sense of humor, then"...

How dare you "Admin" people toy with everyone's accounts? Shame on you.

]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17256654/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17256654/ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:35:24 PDT [link]

Read this: [link]

Happy Day!



]]> ~ProsePetals http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17205203/ http://ProsePetals.deviantart.com/journal/17205203/ Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:32:03 PST

While I was mildly annoyed about having to drive her to school (mainly because the traffic over there is just awful), I was glad of it in the end, because I saw a sign on one of the MANY church billboards around here that made me *LAUGH*...


"FAITH BEGINS..........WHERE REASON ENDS"

**


*wipes tears of mirth away*

I know what the intent of that statement is, and if it brings comfort to you spiritual folks out there, *wonderful*...seriously. Please forgive me if I can't stop laughing at the ironic truth of the statement, though.

Ah, well...

Oh, for you folks in Tejas , we'll be there next weekend, but we're gonna be waaaay on the eastern end, and only for a few days. Touch bases, if you're able.



]]> ~ProsePetals