24CrayonsInTheDryer

It’s scary how appropriate this still is, when will we ever learn?

1988 vintage interview (Alternative Views)

Part 1

Part 2

Part3

I can’t figure WP out – well I can, but it’s goofy and more complicated than I wanted it to be.

I do like this template though because it changes with the time of day, and that’s rather cool.

My in-laws visited for quite a while already this summer. The kids have done a lot of swimming and have, in general, been having a great summer.

Elyssa is getting ready for soccer, and Julian is almost to his black belt, well almost is relative, another year at least, but they’ve talked to him about (assistant) teaching once he gets his black belt which is cool.

Also we’re lucky enough to have been invited to share a beach house at the end of August, which I’m actually really looking forward to now, in fact I wish I were already there!

What’s new with you guys? Oh I know, I’ll go check your blogs

Getting from the Shangri-la’s to Rasputina in 10 videos..

The Shangri-las

Wanda Jackson

Janis Joplin

Heart

The Runaways

Pat Benatar

Joan Jett

L7

The Donnas

Rasputina

… I am very aware I skipped on some fabulous female rockers.  I tried to stay with ‘all female band’ types, but I couldn’t resist a few of them.

This is the most generic looking ‘theme’ I could find – it’s a work in progress for now.

For anyone who happens to still read, or stumble across this blog, I have a question.

Why is it, that if you’re not completely miserable or having some sort of drama, that you create it, or shine a huge beacon of attention on the one small thing that does suck? No, I’m not meaning YOU specifically you, I mean in general. If someones life is too easy, or something terrible isn’t happening it’s like they can’t help but just do something stupid to make it worse, amplify every small stupid thing that is wrong with their lives, or just feel empty inside or angry – ABOUT NOTHING.

This honestly sounds insane to me. I realize that my life sucks sometimes, and I have my hard days, but I really don’t do this. There are other silly things that people find lame I’m sure that I do, but not this. I have been told that my life is ‘perfect’ and many other things that it isn’t – but because I don’t make a production out of the things that really bother me in my life, it means – to them – that everything is hunky dory. Really? Like anyone wants to hear the stupid crap that goes on in my head? No, because I don’t really want you to be the brunt of my exhaustions, drama queen outbursts and tirades about how I have it so much harder than anyone else – because no, neither of us probably has it THAT hard.

I whine about things that don’t matter as much to me. Which seems backwards to most people, but because I know those things are stupid, it’s easier for me to say something about it, speak aloud about how lame I am and how I should just get over myself – and carry on.

Why wouldn’t I do that with real problems? Well, because either A. No matter what my problem is, someone else has it harder than I do – without a doubt, or B. I don’t want to put my shit on everyone else, because I’m sure they have enough real crap to deal with on their own..and why anyone would want to watch me systematically choose misery over sanity is beyond me or C. Making a production out of it isn’t going to solve anything, and in the grand scheme of my life, does this one thing REALLY have to affect me enough to proclaim it to the world in various forms of agitation and annoyance? No, usually not.

Just because you’re having a bad day, month or year, or things don’t seem to be going your way, does not make you a victim. In fact, a lot of the time, it was probably something you did, knowingly that perpetuated your misery. No, this doesn’t apply to people suffering in Darfur or those who have real problems, like cancer or whatever. This is for those people who’s problems are not nearly as bad as they seem, and these people need to get a grip and stop whining because it can’t rain all the time. Furthermore, STOP THE MADNESS and get off the crazy train people! If things are looking up, the last thing you should be doing is looking for the worst part about it, or being dramatic about your paper cut.

So fine, everyone breaks and cries blah blah blah, so what? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and stop doing things to perpetuate drama and crises in your life.

The kids are completely ready for the summer and vacation. I really don’t know that I’m ready for them to be on vacation!

Even Mr.T was trying to squirm his way out of taking classes this summer!

All the while, I’ve gotten my ass in gear, and tried to get things (things being myself) in better working order. Coincidence? Maybe.

OH and I discovered Bean Brownies!!!

Sounds disgusting, but I promise you, they’re not bad at all! Add some peanut butter chips and they will rock!

One can of black beans
One brownie mix

Rinse the black beans thoroughly.
Put them back into the rinsed can, then add water till the can is full (with the beans inside)
Puree beans
Stir into brownie mix
Add the extra 1/4 a cup of water (most mixes I’ve found it’s been 1/4 a cup)
Blend
Pour mix into pam sprayed brownie pan
Time per usual directions

You’re basically replacing the eggs and oil, and adding fiber and protein!!! They taste like brownies, they smell like brownies, they ARE brownies, but only 2-3 weight watchers points each!

Today, I picked up my daughter from school, as usual. I asked the same questions.

“What did you eat for lunch today?”

“Uhm, chicken nuggets!”

“Where they good?”

“Oh yeah!”

“How was your day?”

“It was good, we had another SCA meeting today, and voted on prizes.”

Pause

“What kind of meeting did you have today!?” – confused

“Uhm an SCA meeting.” – like duh, didn’t you hear me?

“So does your whole class get to go to these meetings?” – me thinking maybe they rotate the kids in and out for the experience etc.

“Uhm, no, just Dhruvil and I go, and guess what’s the best! We voted for a week of no homework for the winner! Wouldn’t that be so great!?”

“Yeah… ” – stunned – “So uh, how long have you been having these meetings?”

“I dunno, like from the beginning or something.” – obviously has no idea

So there you have it folks. Proof that I’m obviously not paying enough attention! Here I thought we were so close… I mean she tells me when she forgot to stop biting her fingernails, and that one time when she picked her nose in class…

So… don’t let the picture fool you!

EDIT: My dear friend Reagan has pointed out, ever so eloquently, that this is all Mr.T’s fault. Saying “It’s the Karlan in her. Wouldn’t he be on some committee at work and then tell you later only b/c y’all ran into someone on the same committee and that person mentioned it?”

Green everything!

Salad – of course

Green Pork chops mmmmmm

And you can’t forget the green jello!!!

All green except that Elyssa wouldn’t take off the orange sweatshirt to show her green shirt with a cute fairy on it and Isis refused to be dyed and hid in a box in the pantry…

This is about the time where all you hear from me is dial tone… not that many of you come around often anymore – not that I blame you

The weather is amazing outside and it makes me want to go outside. Funny thing is, next Saturday, it’s supposed to snow.. global warming is totally not real.. right!? So I get all of these urges to detail clean window sills and all the while it’s just a ruse… a sick joke played on us by Mother Nature.. but hey, lets face it, we made the weather, and now we’re all standing in the storm and complaining about the rain.

So, totally bored with my conspiracies.. I wish SOME of them had more credibility, it would make them far more interesting. I’m still wanting to hold on to the alien theories though!

Speaking of which, do you all know why Art Bell disappeared? http://www.seancasteel.com/artbell.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Bell I always thought he was fun to listen to at any rate..

Totally worth the watch.