The Little Life

Still rantless. Don't worry, though... one is aways churning under the surface.

Today I took G-Rex out on a date. She chose to go to the mall. Hmm. Malls at Xmas. Lots of hipsters/emo kids. That's fun to watch. I thought they were too cool for such suburban destinations. heh Apparently they think they are too... which is why they slouch and scowl while waiting in line at Sabarro. And I'm loving the disenfranchised would-have-been-goth girls sporting Twilight gear.

Speaking of Twilight. May I please just point out how scary it is for me as a feminist mother to see that teens' concept of love and romance is just as idiotic as it was when I was a kid. Our marketers are wicked good. (Yes, I realize many teens have a better head on their shoulders, but I'm guessing those would agree with me, more often than not... ah hubris, thy name is (me).) But COME ON. How can a controlling stalker vampire really be considered so fabulous? Blech. Pining is so overrated.

One funny people-watching moment... Middle aged man accompanying young teen (probably 13 or 14 year old) girl in the food court wearing a T-shirt with DAD in big letters on the back... included smaller print details about fixing stuff with duct tape and other such things. I wondered if this was strategic. I've never really thought, before, about what it might be like to be a Dad accompanying his teen daughter. I remember, when I was about 14 or so, going out to breakfast with my Dad. He mentioned, as we were leaving that the waitress had been giving him the stink-eye throughout the meal. He wondered if she thought I was his girlfriend or something. At the time I found that quite amusing. Now, not so much. Yikes. Anyway, I wondered if that Dad in the food court had planned ahead and wore his "Dad" T-shirt to protect him from harsh judgement.

It points out to me, yet again, how the sexism in our culture hurts both the sexes.

Anyway... it's been a nice day. G-Rex had fun at Sephora and is now all be-glittered (thank the flying spaghetti monster for makeup people with kids of their own... our wonderful warpaint guide successfully steered G-Rex away from the clown makeup and captivated her with clear gloss and discrete face glitter... ah!!!). I was able to usher her through the gauntlet of kiosk salespeople (AAAAAArgh!) without having to be too gruff. Hopefully G-Rex is picking up on that. But it's a pain and I suspect if they (especially those stupid scented pillow people and the stupid fingernail lotion people who come awfully close to assault) don't back off a little, we're going to see a rash of salespeople being beaten to death with their own fingernail buffers. We bought fudge and ate caramel apples.

And that, as they say, is that.

Goddesses and Wiggles

First, just too cute not to share with everyone... This afternoon I played Memory with Bayba the Dynamatrix. I went a little easy on her (yeah I'm a sucker for that whole "kid" thing when it comes to competition). She was ecstatic. Literally. Jumping, giggling, wiggling, VIBRATING with joy. I need to spend more time focused on her. She so RAWKS.

And the whole "goddess" bit of the title: No, I don't believe in goddesses, per se, but I do love pondering the values, imagery, etc. of various goddesses. From time to time, one will strike my fancy and so I examine myself and my place in society (and the world) through the lens of archetype. My favorite to date has been Saraswati. I grew up afraid of the notion of goddess. To dwell overmuch on female deity was blasphemy. Such a taboo. Maybe when I've healed all those wounds I won't need mythology to help me adjust my misfit brain to the rest of the world. Until then, I enjoy pondering what women are, and what has been expected of them both in the mundane and mythological realms.

Bah Humbug

Missing atheist sign found in Washington state (CNN)

I would like to point out that, "An atheist sign criticizing Christianity that was erected alongside a Nativity scene was taken from the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, on Friday and later found in a ditch." is not correct. The sign did not criticize Christianity. It criticized religion. But I can see how monotheists might assume incorrectly. The text of the sign read:

"At this season of the winter solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

I hear it has since been replaced, complete with attached note citing, "Thou shalt not steal." I haven't verified that part, though.

I just don't get why this is an issue. Remove ALL religious paraphernalia from government buildings. Duh.

If You've Run Out of Rant and You Know It...

Pass a meme! lol

I'll get back on my atheism rant wagon in the next day or two, now that I've shrugged off a couple of days of pretty dark depression (a whole other rant: "break-through" depression... and people and doctors that think the "right" pill will prevent it altogether), but for the moment I'll take a mental break and pass along Possum Momma's meme. Which is to say I'm shamelessly stealing her idea because I'm feeling creatively impotent. (Creatively Impotent - that's almost as good an alter ego as Anomic Entropy!)

What makes you happy? The rules are simple: list ten things you're happy about or thankful for. Tag ten people who you're happy to call friend at the end of the meme.

1. I am thankful for the www. I learn so much EVERY STINKING DAY from brilliant, thoughtful people... mostly in the form of reading "real" blogs by people who didn't go crazy and drop out of college. Every day I gain insight into my own intellectual weaknesses and illogical/prejudicial ways of thinking. This makes me a better person and a better mother. This makes me happy because it's free and I can gain knowledge from the comfort of my own home, regardless of emotional/social capabilities.
2. Being "old" makes me happy. I've pretty much become my Self and am finding it easier and easier to discard old angst and baggage.
3. My stand mixer makes me happy. A couple years back I bought a refurbished Pro series Kitchenaid mixer. It kneads my bread dough... even the pizza dough that has to have the holy hell kneaded out of it (quite a long process). It mixes cookie dough, cakes, and makes Swiss meringue buttercream do-able.
4. My new coffeemaker makes me happy. I finally bought one with the thermal carafe. I just had a cup of coffee. At noon. It was still hot and not scorched. A moment of beauty. Ahhhhh...
5. My dog makes me happy. She's a pain in the butt and sheds all over the place. But watching her interact so gently with the kids interrupts even my pissiest moods. Plus, she lets me stick my perpetually-cold feet on her furry belly in the morning while I check my email. Best footwarmer ever.
6. My cast iron skillet makes me happy. I cook everything in it. Even the stuff I probably shouldn't. I didn't roast the T-day turkey in it, though. It wouldn't fit.
7. My relationship with my geeky husband makes me happy. There's something to be said for hooking up with someone whose neurotic baggage complements your own.
8. My children make me happy. Even when they're trying patience I never knew I had, I can't help but admit that becoming a mother catapaulted me into a whole different, richer life than I had imagined for myself.
9. Strong friendships make me happy. Through every twist and turn of an all-too-often tumultuous life, the variable that tipped the scales into surviving and thriving where others too often do neither is the support of the strongest friendships ever. Always better than I deserve.
10. I am happy that, ten years ago, give or take a day (or month, possibly, I have a few chunks of time missing right around there), I made the decision to save what Self I had left and walk away from an abusive marriage. None of the happiness I have now would be possible if I hadn't. Sometimes I have little bouts of anxiety that blogging or in any other way being visible will bring my current life to his attention. So I'm also happy that hasn't happened yet. Ten years. Still have the souvenirs. But I'm here, dammit. Yup. Pretty happy about that. :o)

How's that for being able to Debbie Downer a happy list meme? heh

I tag Western Warmth, Urban Princess, Tamar, Sarah Free, Butterfly, Rob, Wendy Darling, Aimless, Woozlefreak and Eunice. :o)

One of the Few Things...

...that could worm it's way through the depression muck I'm stuck in:
Proposition 8: The Musical

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Nice.

If Someone Were to Make a Movie of My Life....

;o)

Candlelight Blues

This is the first birthday in recent memory that leaves me feeling... meh...