monarchy_rules's Xanga

Paragraphs are sooo last month...

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:33:56 GMT

Let's see, what have you missed?

We are considering expanding the empire westward. Hoping for a new place that is pedestrian friendly - friendly, in general, with breathable air, etc.

(There is a cooking show going on in my right ear. It's a bit distracting. This lady isn't engaging me. She's having a party with herself. And her orzo.)

If I had my own cooking show, I would have a party with you. Don't you worry. You would feel so engaged, you'd check your finger for diamonds.

And no "tossing up orzo". I would not make you fat. We would toss up quinoa or something better (thank you, Christina, eternally grateful).

In case you were wondering, I still haven't gotten bangs. This week it will happen - either by divine appointment or my own hand. I know how to do it now. I've researched. And the key is TRIANGLE.

Today is: grocery shopping and dominoes with Grandma Kay. (She beats us EVERY time. She says it is all "luck of the draw" - but I'm onto her skills.)

I want to visit Tulsa (heads up, Debbie!). Because that is where God is a lot. And tame squirrels. And Whole Foods.

I am going to enjoy the rest of this day. You too!

Current: Clear

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:15:23 GMT

64°F

Current: Clear
Wind: SW at 0 mph
Humidity: 78%

Fri

79° | 52°

Sat

79° | 54°

Sun

83° | 59°

Mon

86° | 63°

Have some perfect weather!

Happy Friday!

Passion that pays

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:09:51 GMT

Joan Rivers (sigh) inspired me yesterday - getting quoted in (lordhelpus): The USA Weekend (heavens). She says that most rich people have two things in common: they work hard and they love what they do.

I know this is true. (Wait! What happened to my "baby kruffy" font. Oh well...)

Anyway, I pretty much hate the word "passion" because it's another once-wonderful thing that has been ruined by popular culture (and marketing).

Here is what Webster says about it:

passion

(copied from www.dictionary.com)

–noun

1.	any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.

2.	strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor.

3.	strong sexual desire; lust.

4.	an instance or experience of strong love or sexual desire.

5.	a person toward whom one feels strong love or sexual desire.

6.	a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: a passion for music.

7.	the object of such a fondness or desire: Accuracy became a passion with him.

8.	an outburst of strong emotion or feeling: He suddenly broke into a passion of bitter words.

9.	violent anger.

10.	the state of being acted upon or affected by something external, esp. something alien to one's nature or one's customary behavior (contrasted with action ).

11.

(often initial capital letter) Theology.

a.	the sufferings of Christ on the cross or His sufferings subsequent to the Last Supper.

b.	the narrative of Christ's sufferings as recorded in the Gospels.

12.	Archaic. the sufferings of a martyr.

Personally, I was starting to wonder if I had used up all my passion. I remember telling people: "You are a waste of my passion." (If I said that to you, you probably got it anyway.) After perusing this list, I can't believe I thought I was running out.

I think I am "an extravagant fondness". Maybe my passion is to BE passion in this world [of apathy]. I think I love certain things so much that I could win a contest.

A contest of love. There are things [foods, colors, smells, environments, oogie-booable creatures] that provoke dancing. And singing, poetry even. I think the south calls this "the shouts".

(Izzy is licking my foot. She is a small black poodle puppy with no concept of personal boundaries.)

Mayhaps I shall print some business cards and consult. My being is an undervalued asset.

(Okay, now I am going to go rearrange the bedroom.)

Final thought: if you don't love what you're doing, STOP IT - you are draining the universe. We all need you to be what you are meant to be.

BE DO MAKE FIX.

Happy Monday.

Greenest

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:34:04 GMT

The other day, I read something that mentioned "green banking". Really? (I think Dr. Austenfeld would have a brilliant criticism of this.) So, what makes banking "green"? - I assume (by the popular definition) that this sort of banking must be efficient (non-wasteful), environmentally friendly (???), not contributing to climate change, etc. (We love online banking - is that what they mean?) And I trust that my bank(s) recycle; and I can only hope they don't order styrofoam coffee cups for their employees, oh and non-fair trade, nonorganic coffees (probably made in America though!) Does anyone really prefer Maxwell House coffee? I can't even imagine...but it would probably be someone who isn't "green" and who puts waaaay two much creme and sweetener (probably unnatural) in his or her subpar coffee. (And I don't even know if the employees of Maxwell House are unionized, but they probably are - because they make terrible coffee.)

Ouch.

Anyway: banking is banking is banking, and perhaps some of what has, over the past several years, passed for banking should not be called banking at all, but rather: government scamming, or simply: fraud. And an apple is an apple and should have never become a genetically altered, chemically sprayed, prematurely picked, gassed and waxed piece of "produce".

Putting "green" or "smart" or "organic" in front of something to reassure that the thing is in fact the uncorrupted thing, rather than passing off the chemically altered, subpar, and potentially criminal as legitimate competition - well, it's just WASTEFUL.

Additionally, un-"green" employers should admit upfront that they don't recycle, that they order styrofoam (and overpay for it at office supply stores!), that they are not green. We do not need "green employees" dispersed from new "green industry" (lordhelpus) running tattle-tale-ing tabs on everyone's ungreen activities. Why create unnecessary new [non - or, rather, anti-] industries when we can destroy old corrupt ones? Here's a new "green" idea: instead of hiring a bunch of people to "be green" - the FDA and the EPA could actually stop politicking and do their jobs: protect us from all the chemicals and hormones and garbage that is making everyone sick - by declaring them ILLEGAL. Oh, and our wonderful government could also help by not continuing to pour millions into development of new chemicals (pharmaceuticals, industrial/ agricultural chemicals, etc) - in addition to subsidizing industrialized farms - which happen to be some of the nation's biggest polluters and users of harmful chemicals. Of course, if you ever accidentally ingest any of these, before you induce vomiting, you may just spend a few moments researching federal grant offerings - this is likely to produce the same reaction.

We all want to live in a "green" world - a world that is free of harmful chemicals and corruption. No person should ever think that he or she cannot afford "organic" - that they must purchase the chemcially-laden subpar version for his or her family. All food should be organic - and not because it is certified by some special organic certification or the FDA, but because it is what it is: an apple, a cut of meat, a box of cereal, a carton of milk.

I remember a particular children's message at our church in Tulsa: the children's teacher put a drop of green food coloring in a clear pitcher of water and asked the children if they would still be willing to drink it. And, of course they didn't want to drink it. (I've heard a similar example with dog doo and chocolate chip cookies).

Anyway, it is ridiculous to think we can make a better, cleaner, healthier world just with a smattering of "green" prefixes - especially when the artificial green food coloring and doggie doo is already mixed in (and has been for years).

Declaring war on doggie doo,

Checking in:

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:26:36 GMT

Well, here we are in Springfield, MO.

Since my last note, N and I packed and moved everything to storage and drove both cars 16 plus hours (avec le chat) to our native land - with only a brief stop in Newark, OH (because there was no room in the inn - ANYWHERE ELSE.) Poor Kee-kah had to sleep in the gramoidial car with windows cracked. She has been - miraculously - a contented traveler. Was it prayers or At Ease or both? We will never know, but she only meowed the madcat meow a few times before we drove off from Pomfret Street, and then it was easy riding the rest of the way.

I've been recovering from the move (up for 24 hours+) and travel-lag all week and as of now am not completely my whole self. I am quiet and my eyes aren't quite the right shape - rather sleepy-piggish. (My eyelash curler is working overtime.)

Thus far, we have done not much else in Springfield other than futilly searching local grocery stores for things we usually eat. I have optimistically shopped at least thirty times in the last few days. (I had forgotten about those charming people who sit on the benches next to the carts and flex their toothless jaws...as, I suppose, they are waiting for some bus or relative or police to pick them up.)

Springfield seems to be under construction. Roads are all orange-coned and detoured from north to south, and somehow twice as many people are [attempting to] drive on them.

N's interview in DC went well last Monday. Pray that we hear something promising SOON.

Tomorrow includes church (somewhere?) and RibCrib. Oh yes. Giant plates of slow-roasted meat! Yes, it is good to be back in barbecue land - even if only for a little while...

Happy Friday. And Happy Birthday Tara! (I don't think I'll ever forget.)

Before there were blogs...

Sat, 23 May 2009 21:16:09 GMT

...there were journals and diaries that I'm [right now] thinking about throwing out.

Should I? (We're moving soon - WHERE? Ask me in about a week or so.)

I've kept them since I was about thirteen, really until about age 21-ish. I journal much more occasionally now - in fact, my current one I've been writing in for the past four years. I won't throw it away - it has ILLUMNIATION in it. And I also have an electronic one that gets filled just about as often. I thought-transfer more in type now than handwriting. And I despise my handwriting. I meant to improve it a few years ago and have since lost interest.

My old journals have some amusing drawings and quotes from British authors and professors and friends that I thought repeatable. And still think so. But so much of the rest of it is sadtimes or insanetimes.

Who wants to remember that? (Or have their children or grandchildren discover how I almost went out of my head and used way too many adjectives, many of them abusively?)

There are also photographs of my past. If they make me laugh, I will definitely keep them. If they make me sad, into the recycling. (--Interrupt to see if photo paper can be recycled-- We are unsure.)

I think if I ran into anyone from my past, it would be pleasant. There would be delight and possibly hugs. I am at peace with people, but my dreams have been horrific lately. I want to think it's a cleansing of sorts.

And perhaps that is why I am thinking of tossing out a lot of old stuff that doesn't make me smile. That, and we're moving, and I don't want to move anything I don't want to keep.

I like the idea of a life that only requires sandals, a Bible, and a rosary. (And I wouldn't even need the rosary because I'm not Catholic.)

Then, it would be so easy to move.

Moving mountains, presently,

Dainty Carbon Footprints

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:52:38 GMT

What do we think of this dress made of soy?

I've never worn soy. (Although, I have socks made of bamboo.) I'd rather wear soy (if it's breathable) than polyester anyday. The question is: does this make my tofu more expensive? I've noticed a fluctuation of tofu and soy milk prices as the gas prices have gone up and down. Currently, both tofu and petrol are what I would consider just above what they ought to be.

The ultimate answer: lose the heels and walk. Human energy! THE SOLUTION IS MADE OF PEOPLE! It's PEOPLE!!!

Happy Monday.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:47:53 GMT

Happy Holy times to all!

If you do not have Easter plans, please join N and I at Grace United Methodist Church (corner of West and Pomfret) this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. - I am greeting that day, N will be reading the liturgy and we both will be performing with puppets (one of us will be a chicken, the other a rabbit, we don't have the details all worked out yet.)

And now, a somewhat related observation:

Noah blessed Shem and Japheth for covering his nakedness and cursed Ham for exposing it, including that Ham would always be a servant to Shem and Japheth (Genesis 9).

And every Easter, Ham is served.

Let your thoughts [and faith] be provoked,

Tea and Validation...

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:40:30 GMT

To Actndiva: yes, we could both write more often. That is, if we have something to say. It's not that I haven't had anything to say. Usually when I don't write it's because I'm living my things to say. I'm not too busy or at a loss for words - I'm just doing without reflection. It's like when I'm visiting someplace and I just want to experience it and not try to take 1,000 photos to "capture it" - I just want to capture all of it without a camera on my eye. Refraining from blogging is capturing life without a keyboard at my fingertips.

What I love: when a headache leaves. And my new tea (Yogi Meditation - it has lavender in it. I love the idea of ingesting lavender. At Camilla's Sin - two doors down - one can enjoy a brownie that has lavender in it. Glory!) And in case I never told you, this is now my favorite chocolate (and has been since last October):

These are so hard to find! If you see them, please purchase and send my way, por favor.

I'm so happy that the sun is out again. I think I just might start a new song.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

...there is no try...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:03:03 GMT

Loving the Big Byrd...