Accepting the tag ... here's mine: (corrected mistakes)
Four Jobs I’ve Had: - video arcade clerk - Dianetics auditor - dental office manager - dental assistant
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over: - The Color Purple - Fight Club - The Matrix - As Good As It Gets
Four Books I Could Read Over and Over: - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - anything by Jane Austen, but especially "Sense and Sensibility"
Four Places I’ve Lived: - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Atlanta, New York - Ankeny, Iowa - Gloversville, New York
Four T.V. Shows I Watch: (I'm not into any TV seriously, but I watch these when I feel like it ...) - House, MD - Lost - CSI - Nip/Tuck (I am addicted to this one)
Four Places I Have Been on Vacation: - all over Maine - Washington, D.C. - Minneapolis, Minnesota - Miami, Florida
Four Websites I Visit Daily: (I don't visit anything daily, but if I did ...) - my daughter's blog (when she takes me) - blogger blogs - my bank - eBay
Four Favorite Foods: - french fries/potatoes - burgers - steaks - chocolate
I have time to kill and am actually bored so one of Mrs. T's posts spurred me into writing 50 things people don't readily know about me, myself, and I.
1.) I enjoy watching gory and/or action films ... 2.) but abhor violence. 3.) I love bone china ... 4.) but don't own a complete set and eat on stoneware. 5.) I hate computers ... 6.) but have an affinity for my laptop. 7.) I enjoy sewing ... 8.) but only do it out of necessity (repairs, curtain projects, to save money). 9.) I'm not a fan of modern literature ... 10.) yet read at least 2 modern novels a month. 11.) I am not a fan of pizza at all ... 12.) because I hate red sauce. 13.) My hands are cracked from cleaning the old fashioned way -- with a bucket, a brush, and a rag. 14.) I hate to clean ... 15.) but don't like germs, mess, dirt, or chaos so do it often. 16.) I absolutely cannot stand rap music ... 17.) yet have reached the age where all music can be "just too loud." 18.) I think dogs with "regular" snouts are just plain ugly ... 19.) and truly believe pugs/bulldogs are superior. 20.) Even though I believe mutts are the smartest of them all. 21.) My favorite color is khaki ... 22.) especially when it's paired with navy. (boring or what?) 23.) I always listen to new music just to stay current ... 24.) even though it usually gives me a headache. 25.) I'm a Republican ... 26.) but not a bible thumper. 27.) I married my high school "sweetheart" ... 28.) but he was really just my high school best friend. (not the other way around for him though) 29.) I am proud of the fact that my husband has never missed a day of work in our entire 18 years of marriage ... 30.) yet when I'm sick, I do just want to rest and get better. 31.) I do a ton of heavy physical labor ... 32.) and really don't enjoy any of it. 33.) I've wanted to go to Africa since I was a small child ... 34.) and for some reason, have a dream of ending up living in Greece. 35.) I'm neither African nor Greek. 36.) I'm German ... 37.) and have no desire to see the motherland. 38.) I know enough about hair and make up to be a professional make up artist for the stars ... 39.) but rarely wear make up or do my hair with any finesse. 40.) I'm smack dab in the middle of my 30's ... 41.) and still feel like a kid most of the time. 42.) I lost my love for Christmas a few years ago ... 43.) and really never got it back. (I fake it) 44.) I have sex maybe 3-4 times a year ... 45.) and wouldn't want more of it. 46.) I am not a fan of musicals ... 47.) but love to sing. 48.) I only watch American Idol until all the "bad tryouts" are over and then not for the rest of the season. 49.) There isn't one television show I consider "must see" in my life ... 50.) and I read more hours than watch TV. (I don't and won't have a TV in my bedroom)
Well, that wasn't so bad ... and I killed about 15 minutes. =)
My father was a proud racist and bigot. No doubt about it. If Archie Bunker were allowed to curse, he'd be my dad's twin.
Growing up, I daily heard exclamations like:
"That goddamn nigger is funny."
or
"I don't like that chink food. Don't make it anymore."
or
"Goddamn queers. They should be round up and shot."
As a young kid, I thought my dad was just plain ignorant. I didn't have a bigoted bone in my body. I believed it wasn't someone's "fault" if they weren't white and straight at the same time.
As a teen, I didn't think of these things as faults. I thought peoople were pretty much the same regardless of what god they prayed to or what color their skin might be. I carried this into my adult years. I firmly believed it. And I no longer believed my father was ignorant. I believed he was raised in a different time where his parents, his peers, his teachers ... everyone believed this way and thinking any other way was just plain ignorant to them. I appreciated my father much more after coming to this conclusion.
However, my generation and some before, haven't been raised with broadband hatred of races or lifestyle choices. Hell, I even feel like the world could be a little less politically correct. I never thought saying someone was black was a bad thing, but now I say African-American and kind of feel like a fraud. Especially when I've been told by a black person, "I'm not from Africa. I'm black." Well, okay ... what the hell do I say to that?
Still though, I am always surprised when I hear someone speaking outwardly against any group. Surprised because I think even the KKK doesn't have any guts. I mean, come on, you're fully covered up during the parades. A person can't even see your clothes to be able to identify you as "Cooter, the mechanic" down the street or "Bob, your friendly deli clerk." No, you pretty much would have to memorize a whole lot of shoes just to be able to call someone out of the line up.
"I'd know those size 13 Converse anywhere! Marvin, is that you?"
You get the point.
When I first moved with my family to western NY, we were immediately called over to have "porch talk" with our next door neighbors and the neighbors next to them. I don't like "porch talk." It isn't for me. I'm reclusive, I hate gossip, and I'd rather be relaxing at home ... NOT on someone else's porch.
I did, however, do my husband proud and go on over. Within 5 minutes, one of the new neighbors mentions someone being black and another neighbor decides to trump it and say "nigger" instead along with some great new racist joke. My husband looked right at me and when the neighbors quieted down enough to realize my husband and I weren't laughing I said, "Yeah, we're not racist. We don't get into that kind of humor. I hate fucking cops though." (new neighbor was a trooper)
Being greeted by silence, I said it was time to go back home and we left. It's years later, I live somewhere else, and I've never forgotten it because I knew it would have been easier to say nothing. I must admit, although I was a magnet for the neighborhood, I can't say they didn't think of my "free thinking" ideas as a bit radical.
It was just a couple years before the year 2000. Yes, I'm surprised people are still racists or bigots and talk about it in polite conversation, but I'd much rather prefer to know if someone were or was not right up front.
This morning I felt like I had the answer and it is this: If you're racist against certain groups or you hate "the gays", perhaps you could wear pins on your lapel or put a little sign right up at the door. (the picture above IS an actual example of this) Swastika if you hate Jews or a slash through the continent of Africa if you hate blacks. Two cartoon men holding hands with a slash through them if gays aren't your cup of tea. Just display your hatred proudly for everyone to see. Take those mental white hoods off and wave your rebel flag high.
Give people like me a break. People who wouldn't even talk to you if we knew, but would pat you on the back for letting us know up front. The enemy you don't see is worse than the one you do sort of thing.
Like Martin Luther King, I have a dream. It isn't as naive or perhaps optimistic as believing we'll all hold hands, but that you at least would have the knowledge beforehand of the mind connected to that hand. Hey, it's just a thought.
I've been busy every weekend and every time I think I'm going to see this film, I don't. Today I looked up at the clock, saw it was one minute to 4pm, went outside and told my husband I was going to the theater to see "Brokeback Mountain." The movie started at 4:05pm so I had enough time to grab a jacket and leave.
It was worth it.
The performances were raw, the filming (actual shots) were captivating, and the landscapes were beautiful. I don't really know what to say about the film, the plot and such ... because it felt like I was watching real human beings. It didn't feel like a Hollywood event, but a slice of true life.
I have to give the actors credit. They really pulled it off. I went in rooting for Jake and was mesmerized by Heath. In my opinion, they both deserve Oscars. I'm glad they both got a nod for them.
I've grown up with two gay brothers and still learned a whole lot I never even thought about before so yes, I recommend this film highly.
Ever since I was a child, I have had this affection for seals. I even believe my love of pug dogs stems from it. Pugs look like seals with ears.
As a member of the Humane Society, I received an update of a huge seal hunt, which will happen in March in Canada. Basically, seal hunting is done off season. Fisherman earn a small fraction of their incomes by killing seals. The pelts are sold to primarily European markets.
In dollars, Canada's fish market earns about 3 billion, while seal hunting contributes just a few million. Due to the connection in Canada between fishing and seal hunting, the United States Humane Society is asking people to sign a pledge online to boycott Canada's fish.
If it means nothing to you, think of this ... many seals are skinned alive just so some douchebag can wear its pelt. Skinned alive. Yes, it's an animal, but we're not even talking of using it for meat or anything else. It's torture and what if it were your pet or your child?
Please, take a minute to sign the pledge and read all other pertinent information here:
http://www.protectseals.org/
I'd really appreciate it. They have a link to tell your friends as well. Thanks so much.
