5 ways to smile

Painted House 52 tagged me for a meme. 5 things that have made me smile this week.

1) My conversation with my Mom this week. In my family therapy class or as we Students like to call it SW851, we are required to do a family genome project, which is just a family tree with layers. Its not just the names and death of family members, but education level, careers, substance history, divorces, you name the thing you don't want to tell your Professor and its required. Anyway, Mom and I are planning me coming home and going through the family "history". The family secrets are already coming out. I found out that my Aunt who I thought was married 6 times, twice to the same man, had in fact lied. Apparently, she didn't want my Grandmother to know she was "living in sin." Mom and I laughed at this together. Not about her lie, but when Mom mentioned it she said, "Mothers are good at making their children feel guilty." I responded, "I hear you on that one." We just started to laugh. Then Mom got quiet suddenly and said, "I'm sorry for making you feel guilty". It just made us laugh harder.

2) The way winter stains the cheeks with a grainy sting of cold. I love the smell of the cold, though not too deep because once the nose hairs freeze it can be painful. Snow, cold, and freezing winds brought a smile to my face this week. Okay, partly because chapped cheeks have a natural grinning factor to them.

3) A coworker turned friend of mine I use to work with emailed me this week to say hello and check in. She heard I did not get my promotion, which was her job, but wanted to remind me that sometimes when we do not get what we want, it is the [universe] making room for better opportunities we cannot see yet. I believe this, but it was nice to be reminded. This person is a good friend and wise sage in my life. My job is currently being restructered and I may have to look elsewhere for employment because of many things I have absolutely no control over. Not a drop. Anyway, her words reminded me that I can let go of the stress and know its okay. I smiled while reading it. I miss working with you, Tan.

4) Coffee. Brewed fresh in the morning with the blanket around me and the newspaper on my lap.

5) Julia Sweeney's CD, Letting Go of God.

I tag 3 folks I've never tagged before:
Renovating the Heart
Ruminating in the Roses
JTL

meme squared

Good twilight,

I have two memes to address tonight. Beansprout sent me the first one and Ruminating in the Roses sent me the second one. I am suppose to tag folks, but am going to say anyone who wants to can consider themselves tagged.

Meme 1

This is how it works:

1. Find the nearest book.

2. Name the book & the author.

3. Turn to page 123.

4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page.

5. Copy out the next three sentences and post to your blog.

Richard, H. (2006). Advocacy Practice for Social Justice. Lyceum Books; Chicago: IL.

"The degree of content detail you can put into your presentation (whether in-person, on the telephone, or in a written manner) will vary in strict correlation with the amount of time you have to present. In a meeting of five or more minutes, you can probably do a thorough job if you are well prepared. However, in a very brief meeting (going up three floors in an elevator, for example), you may have only one or two sentences for each of these points or you may have to combine important points in one sentence" (Hoefer, 2006, p.123)

First thought when I read this - Are you serious. Interpretation of text: The amount of detail you put into a presentation varies depending on the time you have to present. My second thought - I really have to read this for class? Excuse me, I have to practice my elevator presentation skills.

Meme 2

1. If you had to choose one vice in exclusion of all others what would it be?
At this moment, not reading dry and what I believe to be self-evident books for class. Just not reading them and B.S.ing my way through the discussion part of class. Okay, I’m going to do that anyway.
2. If you could change one specific thing about the world what would it be?
I always feel like questions like this are hard. My end result I’d want is world peace, harmony, etc. So, I guess what I would change are the precepts of one God and mine’s better of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
3. Name the cartoon character you identify with the most.
Calvin from Calvin & Hobbs. That or a mix of Bucky Katt and Satchel Pooch.
4. If you could live one day in your life over again which one would it be?
I haven’t had that day yet, though there have been many days that I love very much.
5. If you could go back in history and spend a day with one person who would it be?
This is too hard. One?! Empress Wu. You should check her out.
6. What is the one thing you lost, sold or threw away that you wish you could have back?
My red bike if you mean by lost it was stolen. If not, then there is really nothing missing.
7. What is your one most important contribution to this world?
Uh...um...I’m a cool big sister and aunt. No pressure with this question, aye.
8. What is your one hidden talent that nearly no one knows about?
I’m a fantastic shower singer. Tehe. Everybody already knows I can read palms.
9. What is your most cherished possession?
My journals.
10. What one person influenced your life the most when growing up? My grandmother.
11. What one word describes you better than any other?
GoGo.

I totally cheated, didn't I.

memememememe

I got tagged! Thanks Ruminating the Roses. My brain is fried tonight, so its not all that funny.


Three things that scare me: spiders (I’m trying to appreciate you), gossip, jumping my car.
Three people who make me laugh: Ellen DeGenerous, my friends (I can’t pick just one), and that guy from My Name is Earl…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Three things I love: Coffee, a good story, watching a movie with a close one.
Three things I hate dislike: dust bunnies, Teletubbies, being tired.
Three things I don't understand: denial of civil rights, homophobia, how to make links with blogger.
Three things on my desk: laptop, two huge mugs of pens, vase of sunflowers.
Three things I'm doing right now: in class not doing what I am suppose to be doing, writing out this meme, waiting for my prof to come over and answer my question.
Three things I want to do before I die: learn to fly a plane, live in another country, and publish a novel…okay publish many novels.
Three things I can do: crochet, make a great meal, and talk to a stranger. I just saw a commerical where kids were reminded to not talk to strangers...and I thought to myself, "I'm glad I get to talk to strangers now. :)
Three things I can't do: Remember people’s names the first time I meet them, get through a bike season without getting into an accident, and eat cooked spinach from a can by itself.
Three things you should listen to: your inner voice, people you trust, the wind and water. I totally stole these.
Three things you should never listen to: hate speech, insults, George W. Bush on an empty stomach.
Three things I'd like to learn: Fly a plane, paint the human form, play a guitar.
Three favorite foods: Peas, “American Chop Suey” from Happy House in my hometown, fresh salad complete with fresh picked peas.
Three beverages I drink regularly: water, coffee, Tea (a variety).
Three TV shows I watched as a kid: the Muppet Show, Growing Pains…I’ll admit it: Night Rider.

Um, who to tag? Bug and Stonetree.

All right, I have to focus on class now!

did someone say O?

Ooh crap, Got busy these last two days, and look I got another tag. I hope I’m not too late.




10 wonderful things that start with O:
October. It’s a good month.
Olive oil, I love cooking and I love using different oils – sunflower, peanut, etc. – but my fave will always be Olive Oil….and lets not forget about Popeye’s gyrlfriend…she’s totally cool.
Oxygen, seeing that most species are addicted to the substance and cannot live without it, I guess it’s a wonderful thing. Especially in those moments after running when the body presses hard for more. The magazine's not so bad either.
Oprah. I just saw this lady on the cover of her own magazine and all I can say is: She micken rocks. I mean come on, her own TV show, zine, AND television network…absolute respect. Not because she is a huge business success, mind you, because through it all she represents growth, love, insight, education, integrity (the real kind), and inspiration.
Onions. Hey, I’m a cook and love the various kinds of onions out there. I’m like that guy in the movie Best in Show, but instead of repeating nuts, I can tell you onions…red onion, white onion, sweet onion, vadallia….
Ooh, used to express amazement or joy. I just love it when in a conversation someone goes, “ooh,” with such sheer surprise, and in particular when more then one person does it at the same time.
Operation game. When the guys nose lights up, I’m all a giggle. Unless it keeps lighting up….oye, I hate it when it keeps lighting up. Its sucks when it keeps lighting up…okay never mind. I’m taking it back.
Oboe. It’s a nice instrument. The delicate sounds, the squeaks, the fact that the cute little duck from Peter and the Wolf was represented by the oboe.
One, the song by U2. It’s a good song.
Orgasm. Of course, I was going to say this one and leave it for last.

Five bad things that start with O:
Oil spills. This includes spills that come from boats, PIPES, cars, trains, and planes.
Obtuse, the word itself. It just reminds me of one time in high school, when folks learned the definition in a math class and then everyone went around saying “You’re so obtuse.” Group think has ruined the word, forever…they were so obtuse. ;)
jell-O Let face it, without the O, its just Jell and that sums up the whole deal. So, here I think the whole problem with jell-o starts with the O b/c it takes away the focus from what we are really eating.
Operation. Though the game is fun, the actual event is not, unless you’re a surgeon. And let’s not forget when the nose keeps lighting up.
Obey. Unless you’re into that kind of thing…who wants to be the one who has to obey anything or anyon. OR be the one to get obeyed. Just not my thing.

Okay, so bug tag someone for P, but if in case it does fly, I’m tagging

P Bending Peak (I just want to see if the puffy dress is on the list)
Q Daring to Write (if anyone can do Q, its you!)
R Ruminating in the Roses (Your name, says it all)
S Two Dykes and their cast of Thousands (Yeah, your it).

meme: five things feminism has given me

1) Given me a language to understand why all the classic novels I loved had males as the hero and the female as an underdeveloped character. I use to get so frustrated. Feminism validated that there was something more to this frustration then this self not understanding my role as wife and mother. Language to understand social construction that perpetuates sexual assault, the fashion industry, and George W. Bush as president.
2) A foundation to understand how I participate in oppression and perpetuate oppression.
3) Freedom from having to genderize my personality or character for either main stream America or lesbian America. Cause I find both heterosexuals and homosexuals expect me to be packing when I leave my home. I think anyone who has been caught in Fem or Butch gender roles that don’t fit would understand this statement.
4) The understanding that feminism is a theory evolving and not a theology that some confuse it to be. It did not give me equality, reproductive rights or the power to vote. Women made this happen, just like it is up to the people of the US to get Bush out of Office and for us to choose alternatives to oil dependence. Theory and belief won’t do it for us! People change things, theories give us a foundation for conversation.
5) The space where I could see a city/Fesitval built by women, ran by women, and sad to say perpetuate social constructed rules by women. and the experience of watching those social constructions change and be questioned by the same women. It gives me hope.