shooting star

Big-time Brag Alert

2009-11-24T19:32:00.001-05:00

My Dana has been noticed by the Philadelphia Enquirer.

That is -- a MAJOR newspaper.

Check her out.

My beautiful Dana, who is an artist.

Hahahahahahaha!

*brag alert off*

All is vanity

2009-11-18T13:54:00.002-05:00

Dante Alighieri -- and his supramuse, the Buddha -- had it right.

[WARNING: Digression into philosophical realms alert. Where I probably have no business. Sorry.]

Money-wise, anyway.

Having hung ten on the surfboard of life lately, I can dig it. Reality is both food in your mouth and the expectation of a roof over your head -- but on the board, it's a choice between one or the other. That's a place I never thought I'd go. But, well, you either wipe out or you stick till you get to the shore.

All is vanity -- or illusion, depending on whom you listen to. Including yourself.

"People are about as happy as they want to be," said Honest Abe. Think about that.

Does being happy mean safety and security? The knowledge that where you lay your head down at night will be the same tomorrow as today? That you will eat? That you will fulfill your social expectations -- pay your bills, step on the treadmill, not create waves?

I used to think so. Not no mo'. There is sublime liberation once you step out of the Comfort Zone.

In today's hermetically sealed, risk-free, post-modern, smart version of life, I'm worse than a heretic. I'm an outcast. An Oedipal exile. The worse because I was carefully groomed to groove into the track ... and didn't. I'm broke. Hanging on by my fingernails. One step away from the soup kitchen. (Ever see "Fun with Dick and Jane"?)

And I LIKE IT. Yes. Truly.

Why? Well ... David has a bit to do with it. And I don't think either Dante, the Buddha, Jesus Christ nor any other luminary ever accounted for how much being one half of a whole makes a difference.

For he does. He is so much me, and him, and us, that it is difficult to separate the sine waves, but the truth is, we just ... well, fit. For good, or for ill. Or, if you like, for better or for worse. *grin*

It's entirely likely both of us will wipe out. But until that day, I am living. We are LIVING. You know?

You have to admit that pretty much ALL of the social constructs we've carefully crafted for ourselves only give us the illusion (or vanity) that we Know It All. Well, we don't. And I don't want to. I LIKE living by my wits. For the first time in my life, I feel ALIVE.

Do you?

I am NOT making this up

2009-11-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

Sugar-Daddy Ken.

A song for fall

2009-10-29T19:11:00.000-04:00

LIFE IS BUT A DREAM

by: Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

BOAT, beneath a sunny sky
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July--

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear--

Long has paled that sunny sky;
Echoes fade and memories die;
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die;

Ever drifting down the stream--
Lingering in the golden gleam--
Life, what is it but a dream?

... And then there were none

2009-10-29T13:50:00.001-04:00

This one's for my friend Greg at A Pirate Named Neo.

(Via cutecats.tv)

Jon Stewart smacks down CNN

2009-10-14T11:36:00.000-04:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

CNN Leaves It There

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Ron Paul Interview

It's a small world after all

2009-10-09T15:21:00.004-04:00

(image credit: James Hayden, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia)

You've GOT to check out the fascinating images from the Nikon Microscopy U Small World Images contest. This one took fourth place, and guess what it is? (Dana O will love it!) The ovary of an anglerfish.

(Via Instapundit)

You can't make this stuff up

2009-10-08T13:20:00.000-04:00

One gay man, two lesbians and a three-legged cat.

An 'O' by any other name

2009-10-05T10:57:00.002-04:00

It's only been a scant 8 months into the new presidency, but already President Obama has racked up an impressive tally of nicknames. Some of my favorites:

D'OHbama
Duh One
The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers
God, Jr.
Obama bin Lyin'
OediPOTUS Wrecks

and

Waffles the Clown

_____________________________________________

Now, just to prove I'm bipartisan, back in 2005 Tim Blair* conducted a contest to find the best nickname for then-President George Bush. Some of my faves from THAT one:

Shrubya McChimplerstein
Dumbya Shrub, Fascist Lord of the Bushista Cabal of McHitlerstan
Smirky McShrub, Chimperor of Jesusland
Lord Voldeburton
Romperstompenfuehrer
Drunkya McPretzelchoker

and

Chimpler W. McNazipants

(Also, check out this list)

___________________________________________

Ain't it nice to know there's at least some people with creative spark left in this world?

___________________________________________

* A stellar blogger from Australia

A little chuckle for yer Sunday

2009-10-04T14:18:00.001-04:00

Ah, those crazy Russkies.

(Via The Manolo)

Apologies for abysmal blogging lately

2009-09-30T15:01:00.001-04:00

Blogger burnout? Not sure, but rest assured, it won't be permanent :)

Magnificent Australians

2009-09-24T21:54:00.002-04:00

Nods to Britons, who have taken their share. Perhaps I'll do a post on Britons; because, let's face it, they've stuck with the war on Islamo-idiots far longer, and far more reliably, than anyone else.

But man for man, few in numbers, Australians have ALWAYS been there -- with their unique humor and elan. And plain cold courage. Stack them up against so-called other "NATO" allies. Dutch? German? Belgian? Whomever. All are well behind enemy lines. Aussies are taking it and giving it back.

Hats off, mates.

Say what!?

2009-09-24T13:12:00.000-04:00

GET MORE AT ManBabies.com!

(Via Dana O)

no, no, no, no, NO

2009-09-23T14:08:00.003-04:00

The government has NO BUSINESS REGULATING THE PRESS. Hello, Pravda, Xinhua?

(Sorry, KT -- just gotta rant about this one, as a recovering journalist. I'll be nicer later, promise!)

Hello, frikken Ministry of Truth?!

I'm so @#$% pissed off about this I'm spluttering. Letters to Congresscritters forthcoming. Letters? Try Howlers, Harry Potter fans.

Stay tuned.

People of Wal-Mart

2009-09-20T11:19:00.000-04:00

WARNING: This site is seriously funny, and seriously addictive.

Happy 'Talk Like A Pirate' Day!

2009-09-19T10:31:00.004-04:00

(image credit: metrocolumnistsblog.dallasnews.com)

Ahoy, maties!
Many happy returns of the day, especially to my friend, A Pirate Named Neo :)

Best pirate joke:

Have you heard about the latest pirate movie? It's rated "Arrrr!"

Man, 101, bests would-be burglar

2009-09-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

You gotta love it!

"Tenacious Kazimierz Michalski, who fought in the Second World War and survived the horrific conditions in the Russian Gulags, caught Stephen Gillespie, who posed as a builder, stealing £300 pounds from his wallet when he was meant to be fixing the leaky roof."

Rest in peace, Patrick ...

2009-09-15T15:29:00.003-04:00

... and thanks for shining your light.

I always had a huge, mega, monster crush on this man -- he was a class act on and off the screen, not to mention being really hunky (built almost exactly like MY man, actually). And he handled his battle with cancer with the same grace. All of us, male and female, can only hope to be half the man he was.

Rest well, sir.

This clip will always and forever define him for me:

Tea Par-tay in D.C.!

2009-09-12T17:08:00.001-04:00

By some estimates, 2 MILLION PEOPLE marched today -- ignore THAT, Lamestream Media!

Prepare to enter a new dimension

2009-09-11T16:17:00.001-04:00

All right.

This man is off the chain. To say the least.

Percussion to the 10th power, baby:

In memory

2009-09-11T15:28:00.001-04:00

(image credit: remembervietnam.homestead.com)

If Bangladesh can do it ...

2009-09-10T11:02:00.001-04:00

Why can't we?

Down with suits and ties!

Best comment: "I always thought that the person who invented the tie, should have been hung with one."

Along with the person who invented high heels.

For David

2009-09-09T17:12:00.003-04:00

... who may never read this; he's not one for the printed word, much. Though he may not "read" the words, he'll "read" my heart. Most assuredly. Already has.

Normally, I'm one for posting snippets from others -- a paragraph from a news story here, a video there. This one time, I'm departing from personal tradition, fully expecting a high boredom threshold from readers.

So be it ... I'm willing to run the risk. Because for the first time, and the last, there is love. And my heart is so full, I have to put it in printed words, though they may never be read. (Or "read.")

**************

For one thing, we look alike. That is, we are built much the same: Slim, clean-limbed, graceful, like cats. Our faces look alike, far beyond the superficial brown eyes and oval structure. We share the same easy smile.

For another, there is an undeniable magnetic pull, the strength of which takes my breath away.

For a third, we communicate on a very basic frequency. This I will expand on -- but for now, it's important that it IS basic. You'll see why, I hope.

All of this is a superficial skimming of Why We Are. But it's hugely important, not only for us, but for everyone looking for The One.

Onward:

*************

I am a Smart Person. I was raised carefully, by intelligent parents, to appreciate and cultivate all that is best in human achievement. My lineage is high -- Old Money, and Society, with all its refinements, were bred into me like breakfast oatmeal. Though I did not inhabit the rarefied strata of high society, because my Dad chose the obscurity of military service, I was inculcated with its bedrock precepts of Entitlement and Education into all that was, is, and will be, in the Human Condition. I was encouraged to exercise my mind, flex my creative muscles, dare to dream, to be sure that my reach may exceed my grasp. I was given every bit of ammunition human achievement had to offer, quite consciously, from far-seeing parents. I was raised to be A Lady.

The only problem with perfect upbringing is ... the person.

No ambition.

Beyond being loved.

Alas, I'll never put paid to the investment in me. I'll never light the world on fire. I'm sorry.

******************

He loves me.

It's very simple. And, in simplicity, we solve the riddles that keep us up at night -- we find rest. We find our Home.

******************

Me and him, we understand each other. Body ... O yes.

Mind. What's to understand?

Soul. An uninterrupted circuit.

*****************

The stupid stuff of life -- "How dare you do this, that or the other" -- is, well, stupid. Anger? Only a blip on the radar.

There is only love.

We. Love. Each. Other.

****************

So, there you have it. An unwanted diatribe about me and my so-called life.

But, well ...

I've finally solved the secrets of the universe.

And David did it.

****************

I love you.

Jammin' ... and I mean JAMMIN' ... in Nashville

2009-09-08T16:16:00.000-04:00

Dream a little dream

2009-09-08T15:36:00.000-04:00