Weblog 128

July 20, 2008~ 12:00am
I look around at all the people surrounding me, and I often puzzle over what makes each of us tick. What fears prevent- what hopes propel.. what do they, deep in their hearts, truly bow to...



and I believe the answer for most is 'convention'. It's so much easier to disappear into the crowd, to speak in their voice, to see as they do- to have opinions and morals shaped by one's religion or one's parents or by the prevailing party in government, and I think it's a tragedy. There is so much that is lost to fear and conformity, and so much to be gained by educating ourselves-- by reading and figuring out things on our own.

Just look at leisure activities. How many of us have allowed those things in life that bring us joy to be shaped by something or someone outside ourselves. (I'm thinking here of wives who 'learn to love sports' because that's all their husband will be entertained by; usually a husband who was started out early in tee ball and little league and high school sports and in turn, was shaped himself.) How often are parents discouraging of the 'odd interest' a child may have in bugs or writing poetry or things that keep them indoors, noses in books. How often have you overheard the remark, "Go on outside. Get some fresh air- go find some friends and play ball...." and hardly ever, "Wow. That IS a weird insect. Would you like to know more about it? Wanna hop in the car and take a drive to the library?" as a skinned-knee urchin stares raptly into the grass.

Folks are suspicious of interests that fall outside the social norm. On some unexamined level, the oddballs make people uncomfortable because they demand we s-t-r-e-t-c-h a bit. In a society where so many rush to buy the same clothes and see the same movies and take the same type of vacations, it's difficult to be different.

What floats one's boat must be the fare of the day: if it be internet gaming or watching YouTube, then those activities it will be. Otherwise folks have nothing to talk about- nor do they really want to challenge themselves or others, or be thought of as strange. The most pain, hands down, must be suffered by homosexual adolescents growing up in a heterosexual home. What internal agonies they must endure! The whole world around them- rampantly sexual, albeit hetero- and ogling the girlies



and there they are: odd man out, afraid to come out of hiding and be who they are. Perhaps GQ sets their hearts racing, or for the girls, a stolen glimpse of her father's Playboy magazine. How do they do it? How do they get through that and into adulthood without too much scarring?

And homosexuality is just the most obvious choice in speaking of people's deep, inherent differences. What about the artistic child? The scientific or musical prodigy? In a world where there is a crushing tide of conformity everywhere you look- from political views to what goes on in the bedroom- God bless those who have the courage to turn against the tide, swim way out past the breakers and just laugh, looking back at the crowd- and feeling free.




July 20, 2008~ 2:00pm
Yesterday was my mum's 88th birthday. We're going to celebrate with cake and coffee at my sister's house this evening, and of course I have my weekly lunch and shopping expedition with her this afternoon. I sent her a card already, but I also bought her some Saris' chunk chocolate (her favorite!) and a Hawaiian Volcano plant, which grows out of a piece of hard lava.



Ain't it a beauty! Just needs a wee bit of water, just enough to cover the bottom of the bowl, and filtered sunlight. I also got her a birthday card for today with a picture of SNL's Roseanne Roseannadanna on the outside. Open it up- and what you hear is- "I get depressed, I get wet, my face broke out, I'm nauseous, I'm constipated, my feet swell, my gums are bleeding, my sinuses are clogged, I got heartburn, I'm cranky and I have GAS!" delivered in that nasal, hammering, staccato delivery of hers. LOL!!! That oughta get a good belly laugh out of her. So here's to mum.....88 years old. Wow. And just under the wrinkles, the young woman she once was- and still is, I'm sure, locked inside there.....




Yep. I see you there, mum. I do. Happy Birthday.




July 20, 2008~ 2:30pm
Think you've pretty much kept up with current events? Wanna see how what you know stacks up to everybody else? This is a neat little test-



just click on the image there, and answer 12 questions. It's part of a research study. I feel pretty good. Got 2 wrong, which puts me at 83%- that's way better than average. When you're done, click the links on the left to look at drilled down stats based on education, gender, etc. (Sad part is, most Americans were around the 50% mark. And college educated ones, only a few percent higher.) Sheesh. Too much nonsense; not enough hard news.




July 22, 2008~ 6:40am
Behold......the poet!




LOL!!! If you're a person who's been around poets at all.....you'll immediately see the humor in this.

(And speaking of recognizing things, in his slightly 'wall-eyed' splendor- that cat bears a marked resemblance to Russell Crowe



don't you think?




July 23, 2008~ 6:50pm
I'm not saying the man is old.....



but I would think that the man who has might have access to the RED F*CKING BUTTON oughta have an idea which end is UP! LOL!!! Did any of you see this AP photo circulating yesterday in Yahoo's 'photos of the day'? Yes, yes.......probably a temporary mishap in handing over the mike to the old fella'- as he barked away at the Republican Presidential Candidate's stump speech in New Hampshire. Hey.....at least he's dressed. Didn't come wandering into the place in his pajamas, pants on backwards, shoe on his head-






Ah, well.
Spoke too soon.

LOOK AT THAT! The old fool MISSED HIS MOUTH!





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