Aka Random Philosophical Thoughts about God and the Universe

Originally written on Dec 28, 2008

Isn't it always at the oddest times when sudden bouts of introvision will strike? Those moments where the tiniest observation sparks such questions as: "who am I", "why am I here", "is there a god", "what happens when we die?" Instances like... Taking a bubble bath. Something as unimportant as watching the bubbles swirl in the water when you move. Seeing those tiny swirling vortexes sparking the thought about how much they look like galaxies spinning through space. Now suddenly you no longer see bubbles clumped together along the water, rather now it's large galaxies full of lightly packed star systems. Watching how the smallest of movements in the water cause vast changes in structure, yet each progressively smaller component barely shifts at all. How would a tiny water molecule making a larger bubble know that the entire clump of bubbles was now on the other side of the tub with only the barest of breaths.

Ever notice how the best way to move a clump of bubbles isn't to try and pick them up? Doing so usually only results in many bubbles bursting and the rest not wanting to go where you wanted to put them. A deep blowing breath will move them quickly, but again many burst and the clump loses almost all it's shape. Some clumps disintegrate entirely. Yet it is those soft gentle breezes that can shift the entire clump around with the minimalist of damage.

Makes me wonder if god might be the same. The gentlest of touches to cause the biggest of changes. Things so small they almost go unnoticed yet make a profound difference.

Who knows? All I know is my bathwater all too soon turns cold and my thoughts turn to more mundane things like housecleaning....


... and wishing I had a larger tub.... or a hot tub.


Mmmmm... Hot tub......

Sunday Mom and I were hanging out around the house after having gone to go see Prince Caspian. She flipped on PBS and there was a show on called "BizKids". This episode of it was all about Ethics. Watching it made me nearly cry. I've been reading all the stories on NotAlwaysRight.com and the one question that keeps coming up in my head is this: Yes, these customers are rude and annoying, but how often is it not just the customers but also the business people? It goes both ways. The same people who complain about their customers are often also the ones who turn around and be the same when they are the customer.

One thing on that BizKids that was reassuring was a small experiment they did at various colleges. They had a pair of people, one was watching and took notes, the other pretended to drop their wallet. They were trying to see what the reaction would do. A lot of people simply didn't notice, but of those who did, most actually returned the wallet without even looking at the contents. Those who did keep the wallet also didn't even look at it, they simply walked off with it. Overall it didn't matter what was in the wallet. People either took it or they didn't.

Even then, what is it about all those people who just refuse to take responsibility for their actions? Who refuse to have any kind of ethics at all? I'm not just talking about the families who have been on welfare for generations (yes, some people in my hometown have been on it for probably 3-4 generations now, maybe more), but the businesses who make money simply to make more money.

60 Minutes yesterday had an interview with John Bon Jovi. I've always been impressed with his music and style, very different from most other bands in that it was more uplifting and not as hateful. After watching this interview I wish this country had more people like him. He's invested in a pro football team and pretty much uses the profits (what little they are) to turn around and help out his city, not sit on them.

The big thing on everyone's mind is the gas and oil companies. They are raking in all this profit... but what are they DOING with it? Have you ever noticed that most the time the money that these super rich people and companies seems to continue to stay at the top? Think about it, they bit luxury items which go to people who are pretty much already rich, most of them keeping their people either in the poor house or in the life of minor luxury. You don't see those people going down to best buy and paying for blue collar paychecks.

Even then, MOST of their money goes into banks, who then use that money to give out loans to the not so rich and famous there by creating even more debt.

I wish to god we could get rid of the entire credit card system. It can be used for good things, especially emergency needs, but so many people simply don't know how to manage their money. They live beyond their means. The whole "must have it now" attitude. Why can't people understand that for those expensive fun items they need to save up money THEN buy them. Not buy it now and pay it off later.

I know I'm going all over the place, but this is more a stream of thought than anything.

Guess I'm done ranting for now.

Earlier I was with one of my mom's coworkers as she was returning a rental van. Two things that needed to be done before we could turn it in was run it through a car wash and fill the tank to 3/4th full. I don't need to tell anyone about how high the prices are. It took $50 to fill 1/4th of a tank. That, however, is not what has driven me to post this.

While I was inside the station waiting to pay I did what we all do, let my eyes wander over all the goodies arrayed on the counter. Kit Kats, donuts, gum, lifesavers, so on and so forth. My stomach was wanting munchies, but I knew I couldn't get any impulse buys.

That's when it struck me. Impulse buys. An entire industry that hinges on frivolous spending. An industry that faces the harsh reality of the current economic situation.

Ask yourself this: When was the last time you bought a candy bar? Did you buy it out of a vending machine, at the grocery store, or at a gas station? How many times in the past six months to a year have you looked at an impulse buy and decided against it because of gas prices?

Doesn't seem all that important or shocking does it? Yet, think on this. Due to shipping, all those impulse buy items will start to rise in price, making people even less likely to buy them. In time, lack of demand will make the producers cut back on production and not ship as far. Loss in production will result in lay offs as less people will be needed to make the items.

Makes you stop and think doesn't it? Granted, this isn't going to happen over night, and if something finally happens to reign in the gas terro.. er.. companies, then this might not happen at all. I'd suspect the first symptom will be sales of said impulse buys, then slowly seeing a smaller selection.

You know the saddest part? Those hit hardest will probably be gas stations themselves. Most stations find their profit from the stuff inside the station, not the gas itself.

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The good:

Last weekend was a blast!! Saturday, Pat, River and I walked to downtown Kennesaw for the "Taste of Kennesaw" going on by the train station. Was small but SOO fun. Lots of other puppies there. River was SOOO well behaved. She got kinda scared when a train went by, but she never barked or anything. Just skittish and shaking. It was a GORGEOUS day too. Sunday we stayed home, but I spent the day making my famous "Meat Buns". Though sadly I can't find my normal bread recipe and had to try a new one. Tried out an Egg Bread recipe that actually turned out really well. The only part that was kinda so so was that we over boiled the gravy and it was STRONG. But the REALLY fun part was that while I was cooking dinner, Pat cleared the table off and we played games while the food was cooking. Home cooked food and games, sooo much fun.

The bad:

River is currently in with the vet. Nothing unexpected, but this is her first round of heartworm treatments. They are keeping her in for 3 days (we dropped her off monday morning). Though the only kinda bad part was that they had done some xrays monday and there was something in her lungs. Probably just a piece of heartworm, but they wanted to call us and let us know, finding out if she's been acting odd (coughing whatever) the past few days. Apparently what the heartworm treatments do is slowly kill off the worms which then break apart and flow into the lungs where they get re-absorbed into the body. So that's probably what showed up on the xray. I really like our vet. Some wouldn't bother telling us this stuff.  Haven't heard anything today so I guess things are all ok. I pick her up tomorrow.. hopefully. Scary part is that even once we get her home we're supposed to keep her calm for a month. You ALL know how spastic she get's when we come out. We've got the name of a specific sedative to ask for if they don't give us something (who knows, they might just give it to us anyway). I think they will get to know exactly what we mean when we show up to pick her up and she freaks out. Anyway, I'll keep ya'll updated. Just really miss her right now.

The UGLY:

My laptop is dying.

Some of you might already know about this from Quu's journal (or maybe I've already posted about this? Hell if I know!), but a couple months ago I started getting these one pixel wide vertical lines going down my screen. The count is now up to 5: 1 cyan, 2 yellow, 2 magenta. The 5th line showed up when I was having a very very shitty day up in Michigan. Anyone who knows Quu knows that one of the primary ways he shows his love and affection is by buying gifts. (No.. not buying your love, but 'spoiling' people.) After I refused to talk to him (or anyone else that day) he never did get to tell me.. but when I got home he kept saying "You've got a surprise coming on the 19th!" My first thought was that I had out of town friends coming up to stay for an extended weekend or something. But no one would spill the beans even though Pat was all but BURSTING at the seams to tell me (god that man can't keep a secret to save his life, but i love him for it!). So eventually we go out with folks, i think to a movie or something, and I come back and find a Dell receipt  displayed on my web browser. Yes.. Pat had already bought me my new laptop. Yes.. it's shiny and new.. and while it was supposed to be here by tomorrow, won't be here till NEXT Friday.

Ugly part is having not only to move over all my files, but having to dig up all my old passwords and clean them off this puter. Ooo.. and my email. ;_; Thankfully I've already got all my MP3s moved over to a file server (which my itunes points to), but damnit I'm gonna lose my ratings on everything. GAAAHHH... anyone know how to share the ratings on songs in itunes form one computer to another? It is the one thing I hate about getting a new computer.. moving all my flies over. Though technically this one still works so I can use both... But i want to clean most my stuff off so I can let pat use this when we go out.

While I might miss my old full keyboard, I think Pat is going to get me a docking station for it so I can hook up my keyboard and mouse to it. Would do better on my back than having to reach up to the laptop (don't have a proper desk chair at the moment)


An now for something totally random:

Tonight: SCA Fighter Practice - 7:30-dark at Bell's Ferry Park

My old SCA friend beau_nidle and his fiance were on their way to Orlando for a week and were passing through. He gave me a call and we ended up catching a late dinner at Rosario's. Funny how when we meet we're always eating italian.

It was good catcing up with him. His fiance is a wonderfully sweet woman who works with the Nashville ballet and symphonic orchestra (er.. i think that's the right one). Both he and Quu had a great time talking about germany. It was fun listening to all the different places he's been, foods he's eaten. It was just a fun evening.

It really hit home how much I miss my old friends in Memphis and the SCA. I've lost touch with just about everyone. But, like my therapist said... I get back in touch and it's like we've never been apart. Things to catch up on, but no awkwardness. That part is the only thing that I find reassuring. I mean.. what would you rather have: sit around, bemoaning and depressed because you miss your distant friends; or going on with your life, remembering the fun times, and enjoying what little time you're able to have when you have it? Some people I really do miss... I want to go hang out, grab a drink and food and catch a movie... anything. But I try not to let it bring me down. Instead I'm trying desperately to get my life in order so I can go back and visit those distant friends more.

I hope I can go to Samhain up in memphis this year, it's Orc Wars time again.

One word if warning, this entry will probably be quite long once completed and I have no intentions about using LJ Cut this time.

---

The past two decades have seen a lot of major tragedies in US history: The Twin Towers, Columbine, The Oklahoma City bombings and more. I still remember sitting in my office at UT Memphis when I found out about the twin towers. It was a shock to say the least. The realization that true terrorism could happen in the US.

This past Monday saw another great tragedy: The Virginia Tech Shootings. Thirty Two people killed plus the shooter. And for once, something I heard on the news has shaken me to the core. I'm still figuring out what it is about this that bothers me so much. So far, the only thing I can come up with is the lack of a 'why'.

What makes someone do such a thing? People try to point fingers, saying he was a troubled man with a history of depression, angry and antisocial. But that isn't a reason. Its a dishonor to all those who are depressed, angry, and antisocial but do not go out on a killing spree. They deal with their problems, sometimes hurting themselves or others, but rarely resort to murder. Even then its more of a crime of passion where their emotions are focused on a single target. But that isn't what happened at V Tech.

One hears about how he was quiet and a loner, sitting quietly in the back of class not really participating, rebuffing offers at friendship. All I can think about is the voice screaming in my head saying 'Thats me!' Despite my anger at students and teachers, I never resorted to violence, never took refuge in my hate. I chose, rather, to escape through writings and books to far away places. Yet this person chose the bloody path. Why?

The truth of the matter is this: there is no reason. No fault, no formula that drives someone to do such a thing. Thousands of others have dealt with these problems without becoming mass murders. There is no one to blame, no way to prevent this from happening again. Someone CHOSE to do this. The only one to blame lies dead with half his face blown off.

Maybe that is what is so bothersome. With the other tragedies, we look back and see how things could have possibly been prevented. But this time.. nothing. His teacher warned police and college officials, but no overt threat was apparently found so there was nothing to be done. Being angry doesn't make you a murder. Gun safety regulations wouldn't have helped. There was no prior incident to even WARN people he was capable of this. Being able to write about violence doesn't mean the author is going to do it. If that was true then Steven King and Dean Koontz (sp) would be in mental institutions for the criminally insane. Counselling was recommended, but you can't force someone to go. For counselling to work the person has to WANT help. Its obvious this man didn't.

That does bother me some. People trying to accuse the college of dropping the ball. Seriously, considering the history of college campus violence, they did what anyone else would have done. For all they knew the shooter was dead or had left the campus just like any 'normal' crime of passion. Regardless of what the media and Hollywood try to tell us, murder sprees are NOT common!!

So now you'll get activist trying to push for more gun regulations as well as a new group forming to demand college campuses beef their security. Why won't people realize that it won't help? While heightened security might seem good, all it will do is sap funds from other programs, probably the arts. You'd have to have a college built like a prison with constant monitoring to have prevented something like this. Just because there is a law saying no guns on campus doesn't mean people will obey. In fact the only people who do obey are the law abiding citizens who won't do something like this.

So the question remains: How does one prevent something like this from happening? One side says keep the guns out of the criminal's hands, but we have seen repeatedly how effective that is. Another side says let everyone have guns, turn the US into a version of the old wild west where you have people taking the law into their own hands. One group says batten down the hatches and beefen security. Another group says that can cause this to happen as well as infringe upon normal citizens. Everyone has a point, everyone has faults. The reality is that there IS no way to prevent things like this. People do evil things for stupid and crazy reasons, or no reason at all. Like a hurricane, you can prepare all you want, but it doesn't stop the storm from hitting. Its beyond our control. The only one who can truly stop it is the person doing it. Sometimes the wind shifts, a different choice is made, but in the end its the storm to decide. At least most storms have the decency to give forewarnings, people have a nasty way of keeping secrets.

While no one can make the choices and decisions of another, everything you do effects someone else. And not just the bad either. A simple smile to a stranger can do more than you could ever imagine. Never forget that. Try watching the movie 'pay it forward'. My own personal experiences prove it. Someone smiled at me and was polite during rush hour traffic. Made my day. I treated Pat better and so forth. We just don't realize it because no one really tells why. Even then, its up to each and every person to decide how they will let the external events in their life will effect them. Will you pass on the bad? Will you pass on the good? Will you purposely chose not to let the bad continue on and counter act it with good? My common example is the rude cashier. Maybe she had a really bad day. I could be rude back and make it worse, or counter act it with a smile and possibly brighten up her day. Saying circumstances force you into doing anything is a cop out. They can explain how you got there, but only you are responsible for your own actions.

Anyway... I guess I'm done rambling. Feel free to disagree, feel free agree, feel free to add your own thoughts, feel free to pass this on to others. In the end.. its up to you to decide.

(18-04-2007 14:13:05) Update: I strongly recommend you go to CNN.com and watch the video interview with Criminology Professor Jack Levin titled "Warnings Signs of a Killer". It annoys me that the press keeps trying to make it seem that people could have 'read the warning signs' and stopped this. I love what this man says at the end and hope more people listen to it. I'm pissed about the "The Mind of a Killer" interview though. More excuses...

(18 04 2007 18:33:11) Update: Apparently during the two hours between the shootings, a package was sent to NBC News. I only mention this because while watching the interview when they released the first picture, I was really pissed off at the reporter because he kept cutting off the professionals and harping on "This is something from the movies", even referring to the Matrix. Sheesh... I seriously doubt this kid watched those movies, let alone idolized them. Yes, media and Hollywood don't help these things, but neither do they CAUSE it. The poor professional was trying to say, "this guy was psychotic" but no one wanted to listen. Everyone wants to blame someone else. Pisses me off. Anyway...

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Tomorrow I'll go back and clean this up, make spelling corrections and so forth.

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While I was taking a shower all those complicated and random thoughts that everyone has in the shower were running through my head. Along my line of thinking I stumbled upon the phrase: "Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum", from the song "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" which I knew was based off a commencement speech. I then remembered how recently I was perusing the web and saw someone falsely attribute lines from the speech to Baz Luhrmann. It's irked me to no end to see things like that happen. I couldn't remember exactly where it was from as I had two different stories. One I had heard, and strongly suspected was true, was that it was written by a woman columnist at the Chicago Tribune. The other was that it was the commencement speech by some congressman (yea, I never heard the Kurt Vonnegut rumor).

Being the curious one I am, I just had to go look it up.

Wikipedia to the rescue!

Wear Sunscreen or Sunscreen Speech [1] are the common names of an essay actually called "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune as a column in 1997.

The most popular and well-known form of the essay is the successful music single released in 1999, accredited to Baz Luhrmann.

The wikipedia article goes on to tell the history of the article including the rumor about it being attributed to Kurt Vonnegut's commenment speech at MIT as well as how Baz Luhrmann got the idea to use the speech in one of his songs. You can read the original article on the website for the Chicago Tribune.

For my own records, I'm gonna post the entire thing here as well. ( Read more... )

I guess I'm unusual in the fact that Friday the 13th is typically a GOOD day for me.

Looking forward to what the day has in store!

Last night I had the first true nightmare since before I left Memphis.

I had just fallen asleep and was in that semi-sleep/wake state where you can't tell the difference between what's real and what's not. That's when I heard it.

I heard the sliding screen open and shut. A voice I didn't recognize was calling to the cats, almost like he was trying to get them to go outside. It was a sickly sweet male voice. Think of someone like Vincent from Eureka. I wasn't sure what was going on, if I was just hearing things or if it was real. Felt like I couldn't move, couldn't call out to find out who it was, and.. i was terrified. Something deep down told me this was a stranger and he was going to hurt my family and there wasn't anything I could do about it.

Foot steps down the hall, everything was dark. He stopped just outside our bedroom, I couldn't see anything, but a soft voice still called out to the cats. Part of me thought he didn't know we were there, or who knows what it was. Tried as I might, I could barely move my hand to try to wake pat up. Nothing.

Footsteps again, he's moving down to the living room again.

Somehow I manage to be able to move. I try to shake pat awake, but he's sound asleep. Even when I straddle his chest and try to shake him harder, nothing. He's still asleep. I'm so scared. Some part of me wants it to be a friend, someone we know, someone who won't hurt us. I give up trying to wake pat up and go to the doorway, reaching out to turn on the hall light. Nothing. I cant remember if I called out or not, but I tried the light frantically a few times, and that's when i knew it was a nightmare. I knew the light wasn't burned out, the power was cut to the house. Nightmare. This isn't real. I have to wake up. My hands grab the door and scramble to get it to close, try to turn the knob to make it lock, but it's not working right. I can hear the foot steps coming down the hall. I'm screaming, partly to pat, partly to my real self, to wake up. Deep down I know that if this man get's a hold of us, he'll kill pat before he wakes up, tie me up, kill river and the kitties in front of me.. then torture me. Somehow I knew he was going to skin me alive. And all I can do is keep screaming to wake up. He's outside the door, reaching for the knob...

... and I manage to wake up.

I have never.. NEVER.. been so scared in my own home before.

Luckily pat woke up enough to cuddle but he wasn't really conscious. Thankfully a friend of mine was still awake and was able to help me calm down. I feel better now, but the memories of that terror still haunt me. And people wonder why I don't like horror flicks....

I was on the phone last night with a close friend going through a really hard time in their life right now. In the midst of talking with them and helping them share their troubles I discovered something about myself.

Over the past 3-4 years, my depression has been, for lack of a better term, a buffer between me and the rest of my emotions. These past few weeks that I've been on the full dosage of my meds I've been... well... weepy. Not necessarly in a bad way. Little things that tug at heart strings practually have be bawling my eyes out. I'm kinda jumping at shadows for a lot of things. I also feel almost manic... but I'm not.

Its just.. after so long.. I feel alive. My emotions are at a normal level but I'm just not used to it. While my body is finally balancing out, I have to get myself balanced out. Relearning how to deal with real feelings again. Trying not to over react, but its hard. At least I am used to second guessing everything I think and feel, so I'm kinda being able to prevent it from affecting those around me.

It just feels so weird. Part of me that's been bottled up for so long wants to rush out and make up for lost time. Have to restrain myself so I don't go wild. Guess that's why it almost feels manic, but I know its not. For the past 4 years I've been content to stay home and pretty much do nothing. Now.. now my shelter is beginning to feel more like a prison. Pat is so supportive though. I feel so lucky to have him. *blows a kiss to her baby* I love you honey!

Anyway... time to go.

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from gas Navigator:

I75-south: 3 of 3 lanes closed till 8am at exit 205


that is the exit I have to get off at....

fucking son of a bitch!!!

sooo glad I left at 6am.. cause traffic is really backed up

moving again.. slowly... almost there...

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Ok, I'm looking for something kinda specific, while I can't pay anyone for it was wondering if anyone knew of something like this already existed or would be willing to do it for.. ah.. gratitude?

Anyway.. By now you all should know how much I love the Phoenix, mainly the Symbol and Mythology, but slanted to silver/white and blue.

I can find all sorts of Phoenix images.. but I'd be interested if anyone knows of an Ouroboros with a black dragon and white phoenix chasing/biting each other's tails (very yin/yang ish). Just about all the imagery i find is either a single dragon or snake biting/eating it's own tail, or a combination of the two. Not to mention the flood of pics of the FMA symbol (which sucks btw, I can't believe people actually got TATTOOS of that thing).

Sooo.. if anyone knows something to help me out, leave me a comment here or send me a note.

x-posted to DA

Since the weather is so great, pat and I have the windows open. This is great and all... until this bird starts calling out at 3am and won't let me sleep. I think itmight be a Mocking Bird because it keeps changing calls, and I swear it was mimicing the police/fire/ambulence sirens.

Too hot to close the windows.

Probably will be survivng the day on cafeen then....

*wishes she had her BBGun*

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Jeeze.. soo much buried in my LJ. 90% of my quizzes are broken now, but that's fine. However, reliving the past couple years before moving to ATL is just fucking painful.


From lj_nifty

Allah Sulu's Massive Tool Reference Page

lethann

lethann

I miss big band music. And jazz band. I miss going to my sister's concerts and hearing the music live. I miss music. Haven't been listening to a lot of music lately. Yet another warning sign that went unnoticed for too long.

I grew up surrounded by music. Maybe I've mentioned it before, but my sister is something of a musical genius. All my life there has either been a radio on, my sister practicing, or going to and from musical events. I miss those days. Course life was different back then. I really was in the background. Not that I really minded. I got my attention, just... was never really involved like my sister. Yet another diacomity of my personality: I crave the spotlight while hating it at the same time.

Before David died, before school became a living nightmare, I was the social butterfly. Being the 'baby' afforded its own kind of attention. Spoiled rotten by just about everyone. Talking with adults mostly. There never really were kids my age around. My two next door neighbors but no where else till school. In a way, everything has been a struggle for me. I remember when I was old enough that I went from the nursery to sunday school at church. I didn't understand why at the time, but my mom had to fight to put me into a specific class. The one taught by her good friend Nancy. Found out years later why. Nancy actually taught the equlivent of first grade. I was supposed to go into the 'kindergarden' class... but I was the ONLY kid for that class. The sticklers were going to make me be in a class on my own. But mom fought it. She won out. That's my mom for you.

I seem to remember that eventually more kids my age came along and I had to go to the class.. and hated it. I've always been mature for my age.. so imagine going from first grade back to kindergarden. Yeah, seems fun at first.. all glitter and glue, but you have to know me. I like crafts as much as the next person, but I also like to learn. I love discussion and intelluctial persuits. Toss in the fact that I usually looked down on my 'peers' because, from my point of view, they are stuipd and ignorant. Not to mention ill behaved. Yes... I was one of those kids who could sit in the 'big church' and pretty much sit still and keep quiet through the whole thing. One of the reasons why most kids annoy me to no end. From my point of view, its not that hard to just sit there. I have no concept of what these kids actually think like. Heck... I get irritated by my nephew and neice because they both can't sit still to save their lives. Normal child behavior, but I can't understand it.

*sighs*

Mmmm almost done with my mocha. Feel pretty much awake now.

Oh!! Last night SilverShadow hit 61. Woot!!

Hrm, getting hungry even though I had that bagel. Wonder where Pat and I will go to lunch.

Kestrel mentioned something in his journal that made me think. He mentioned that one of the things he's having to deal with is not really his 'addictions' but the 'persuit' of his addictions. Is that typical for most addicts? If so, then... does that mean I'm not really an addict? Maybe I'm not. Looking at the things I am 'addicted' to... they are all my escape mechanisms. Books: I read anything I can get my hands on and escape the bonds of this world and submerge myself into the world I'm reading about. Computers-Internet: Forgetting the pressures of life around me and losing myself in the vast imformation avaliable to me. Computers-Games(wow): While I play, again, I can ignore my surroundings and live in the game world. What else am I addicted to? dunno. Maybe that's why I've never been all obsessed with 'gotta get the next book now' or whatever. I'll get it when I get it. Now or 5 years from now. Thoughts?

almost time to pick up Pat. Enough rambling for now.

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Not much going on..

Last weekend was ShadowCon and was lots of fun. Got to see synamontwist, ladyalexis, tatianamikhail, devlyn_moreland, lostboydv, and even internetbrain showed up despite saying she wasn't! Got all sorts of things too. synamontwist gave me "Archangel" by Sharon Shinn along with the new Elfquest series. I made the mistake of saying "I'm just going to read a few pages while i'm sitting here waiting for the rest of them" and got completely sucked into the book and couldn't put it down for the rest of the con. >_< There are a couple more books, hopefully one day I'll get them. For now they areon my Amazon.com wishlist.

Let's see, got the "Art of Discworld" and "A Tourist Guide to Lancre" which is a map of the kingdom of Lancre in Discworld. Also got the In Nomine sourcebook. It's a pretty easy system... quu kinda wants me to try my hand at running a game, methinks it is more of a try to get me to be more social and interact with people than a real urge to play the game. *shrugs* I dunno. Either way I'm reading the book and looking around.

Not much else to say. Forgot to post this yesterday. Thank god for autosaving of drafts in Semagic. *sighs*

Guys cry because...

1. Girls screw them over...
2. They just got hit in the balls...
3. They're about to die...
4. Their heart is broken...

GIRLS:
If you see a guy crying, hug him close and hold him up as he gets over the pain of getting kicked in the nuts. Tell him he's not going to die, and if he's crying over a girl... hug him and kiss him and let him know you won't screw him over and break his heart like the last girl did. Guys just want to know that our girls will be there for us to support us when we need them and help us get our mind off the pain of heartbreak, getting kicked in the balls, and knowing we're gonna die.

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Girls cry because...

1. They're sad...
2. They're scared...
3. They're nervous...
4. They're frustrated...
5. They're missing someone...
6. They're alone...
7. They're PMSing...
8. They're pregnant..
9. Their heart is broken...
10. They're in love...
11. Their souls have been torn...
12. THEY MET A BOY THEY CANT HAVE...
13. They fell in love with a boy...
14. They hurt so bad inside...
15. They're mad...
16. Something bad happened...
17. They are happy...
18. JUST BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE CRYING

BOYS:
If any girl you know is crying and you see them, don't just stand there and say you're sorry. Hold them and tell them everything will be okay keep your mouth shut, even if you have no idea what is wrong with them. Girls just want to be held and know that someone cares about them.

--

I've updated this with my own personal experience. I mean it when I say keep your mouth shut! If you do what the original instructions say, you'll more than likely make them just cry harder.

Georgia Aquarium:Just did a check and the Anual Passes for the Georgia Aquarium are on sale.

Ok, Halloween is over and X-mas is just around the corner. I was thinking... how does a secret santa gift exchange sound? If people want to, I'd be willing to orginize it. Collect names, assign people, etc.

If you have private questions, feel free to email or IM me, see my profile for all my contact info: lethann

Note: This isn't just for local people here in ATL. If you're elsewhere in the country and still want to participate that's aok with me! Just testing the waters right now.

Please fill out this poll:

Poll #859983 Secret Santa
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 8

Want to do a Secret Santa gift exchange?

How much would you be willing to spend? (Max amount)

How would you like to get your gifts? (check any you're interested in)

Comments, Suggestions, etc.