Even though I won’t be posting anymore, I do reserve the right to use this account for cheering! I do care about you all and want to see what you’re up to periodically. So if you see a cheer from me, just know that I was thinking of you. :)
I have to put Cynonymous to rest. But first:
To the person who said I did not and would not accomplish anything here:
I am learning to play my ukulele.
I lost over 60 pounds and improved my health and self-image.
I wrote a short story and put it online.
I kicked a 20-year-old caffeine addiction and in the process cured my insomnia.
I got back into reading.
I took a painting class and learned how to paint.
I took a drawing class and learned how to draw.
I became vegetarian for a year.
I asked for a raise and got it.
I sold some things I made.
I co-wrote songs and got more comfortable with singing.
I funded renewable energy.
I funded a micro-loan.
I learned new ways of dancing.
I opened an Etsy shop.
I found friends here when I was feeling lonely and bored and uninspired.
To those friends: I’m not going to delete my account, but I won’t be using it anymore. I’ve been thinking it over a long time – you’ve probably noticed I’ve not been around much – and I have to do this. You’ll still be able to message me. I love you all but life is very unsettled right now and I haven’t been able to give much time to 43 Things. And honestly, I haven’t been able to be myself here lately. It’s not your fault, but I can no longer be myself here. Take care, everybody. :) I’ll still be reading about you. :)
Did Nanny go to heaven?
Yes, honey.
Who drove her there?
Um . . . God? (No, angels dummy, next time say angels!)
But isn’t God invisible?
Um. Apparently.
Well how does he drive if he’s invisible?
(stumped Mommy)
(Invisibility does not affect one’s ability to operate heavy machinery, does it?)
“You see this word? It says workbook. It means I’m an official workbook worker. My grandma bought it for me. I think she knew I was an official workbook worker.”
It’s a soprano ukulele, made of mahogany, and it only cost $40 at the music shop. Last night I tried playing Blitzkrieg Bop on it. :D
“Mommy, you’re the best person who ever made me vegetables.”
So the other night I overheard her talking to herself, having a pretend conversation, and I knew I had to save it somehow, so I opened up Word and started transcribing it:
Ms. Amy, I really miss you but I hope you would come back. So what I’m going to do is make a book and every picture I make I’m going to put it in my book. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll miss me too, but I made up my mind, I made my choice, I’m going to big school.
And a long time ago I started school. I missed you anyway. I’m sure I’ll miss you a lot. I’m sure you’ll miss me too, but don’t worry. But you have to worry about this: I won’t ever come back. I’m staying at big school. I’m sure I won’t remember you. I’ll miss you. I wish you would come over and see me but I don’t think you know how to get to this house. I wish you would come over. I’ll miss you a lot. The end.
But there’s one thing I’m excited about: I’ll make new friends. I’ll have a new life so when I’m grown up I’ll live by myself. But maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll just stay with my parents. And I know you are a grown-up; so am I getting to be.
Ms. Amy, the earth is wonderful, especially you.
I want to print it and send it to her teacher. The part that kills me is when she says “I’m sure I won’t remember you.” It seems out of place at first, but it’s not really. It’s probably true, and that makes it both funny and sad.
The other thing I loved about this was that she’s being so brave, and I can see her growing up in it. Just a few weeks ago when we were talking about her last day of school and starting kindergarten, she was so worried about going to “big school” and being around bigger children. She cried and told me she didn’t want to go. But she’s made up her mind now. :)
Every bit as loveable as the movie! And because of it I’ve created a new word: stolent! It’s an adjective to describe a book someone loans to you, after which you decide to keep forever.
Reminiscent of other ghost stories I’ve seen but still worth it – beautifully shot, spooky, heartbreaking.
The restraint of these two would-be lovers is fascinating to watch, but I’m not sure what purpose it served. They should have been together. Maybe it makes a better movie if they’re not though.
Oh, I want to read more from him now. This was a short little heartbreaker of a book about a young couple on their wedding night. It’s about how sometimes you don’t know how to save a moment until it’s too late. Oh, it had me crying. But he’s a wonderful writer, and he can build up to a moment superbly. I can’t believe I haven’t read him before.
I sort of fell out of love with this book the more I read of it. It’s hard for me to explain why. Lots of times I just have feelings about books and I can’t really articulate them. I’d probably make a terrible reviewer. I do really like the way she writes, but I guess I wanted to feel closer to the characters. I think I love a book most when I can love the characters in them. When I feel like they’re real people I carry around with me in my heart.
Reads like you’re watching a movie. Sort of episodic, like a short film. And creepy. A strange little story that leaves too many unanswered questions. Looking online, this doesn’t seem to be one of his best. I think he’s worth reading more of, though.
Though Toad seems like sort of a grumpy bastard. And he’s probably really slow too, so I bet Frog has to wait for him wherever they go. But hey, I’m just glad I talked her into Frog and Toad instead of Barbie. Is that wrong? She really wanted Barbie. I was trying to explain to a four year old the difference between literature and books that have Barbie on the cover. And then I felt like I was being all intellectually superior with my preschooler. But we got it home and she really likes it and can read some of it, so I think we’re both happy now.
Diversity is everywhere in the natural world:
Sex-changing fish; male seahorses that give birth;
species where inter-sexed bodies are in the majority.
Some animals are promiscuous, and some bond for life. There are over 300 vertibrate species that engage in homosexual behavior.
This film makes the point that we have to respect diversity because it’s natural. It’s nature.
Some cultures do it better than others. Thailand has its ladyboys, or katoeys. They are about 1 in 100 of the male population in Thailand. Thai culture more or less accepts transgendered people. Their tolerance has its roots in Buddhism, its belief in karma and destiny, that everyone has or at some point will be a katoey.
And in Suriname, a South American country, the Creole descendents of African slaves have retained their cultural belief that we are all visited by spirits sent by God to help us through life’s trials. They believe sexuality is shaped by those spirits, so when a woman is visited by a male spirit she will desire other women and when a man is visited by a female spirit he will desire other men. The result is a society where sexuality is fluid and carries no stigma. They believe it’s the quality of the relationship that counts and that feelings don’t come from the individual, but from God.
The documentary discusses a study done in 1996 by psychologists at the University of Georgia. Sixty four male undergrads participated. They identified themselves as heterosexual, reportedly having never had a homosexual fantasy or engaged in any homosexual act. They were divided into two groups based on answers to a questionnaire: those who had homophobic attitudes and those who did not.
Each man was put into a room alone where a homoerotic video was played. Beforehand a sensor was placed around each man’s penis to detect arousal. Of the group with homophobic attitudes, a significant proportion demonstrated significant levels of arousal. In the group with more relaxed sexual attitudes, the overwhelming majority had no sexual arousal.
So the conclusion was that those who are outraged by sexual deviation are often fighting something in themselves. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, almost all the men with homophobic attitudes reported no reaction to the video when asked it if turned them on – denial and self-deception. And that can be dangerous. Because when people’s attitudes about their own sexuality are challenged, the reaction is too often a violent one. The murder rate of transgendered people is the highest of any minority group, about 17 times the national average (in the U.S.).
I loved the little boy Noah in this film, who makes skirts and halter tops out of scarves. A very sweet, softspoken eight-year-old with teddy bears on his bed and who can dance like he should be on stage. He’s growing up in a small farm town in middle America, and his parents are afraid for his safety. I was happy for him that they are loving and accepting of his uniqueness. But they are afraid they will not be able to protect him. The point the film makes is that while nature loves diversity, society for the most part hates it. Oh, hurry up and evolve, everybody!
There’s a girl in the song too. This is a quick sketch of what she might look like. I think I’ll do her in colored pencil like the boy.
To be doing this goal. Oh, if only there were more time to do everything we loved, and fewer things to do that we don’t love.
Now this is a quickie. About a hundred pages you can read in ten minutes. (It’s a picture book by a cartoonist.) Worth the few minutes of your time. :) Edmund and Rosemary are convinced they’re in hell. Hell on earth. But then they don’t want to leave. They find reason to stay. It’s a hopeful little story.
A good story, a really good writer, but it was a bit of a downer watching someone pretty much ruin his life, and so foolishly. But then at the end it’s like the author thought that was what he needed, to shake up his boring, quiet little life. I’m not so sure about that. Did anyone read this? Did you think that was a good outcome for him?
Though sometimes it’s only three times. Which is fine. I’m just happy I’m fit enough that it feels good, instead of like torture.
