Blah... Blah... Blaaaahhhhg. That's Right; I Said Blog!!

Free speech (But only if we're willing to use it!) A great excuse to post beautiful naked women exercising their right to free speech. And KS thought a pair of panties 'shopped over her head was bad!!!)
Blog craziness. People are freakin; out! I mean, I'm lovin' this whole bloggin' thaaaang, ya know?? Shheee. Write about what you know, right?? What you love. And is it soooo cool ('scuze me, that would be: "kewl") that peeps will actually stop by. Check out what a gal's got to say. And me?? I love to read; to learn.
And is this super good form. Good habit, good practice? Yup. Good stuff, this. Write every day. Read alot. Maybe too much. Kinda funny really. Addiction is addiction. Obsession. Still, what the fuck, right?
30 something killed in VA and everybody's got some kinda bullshit to write about it. Op/Ed. Idiots.

Then I'm cruising around today, and there's this like, plague of despair among alot of really GOOD bloggers!!! What's up with that?? It's because if we care... we care. Hmmm.

Are the Flamers and Trolls, the haters and idiots having a crisis of identity? Of hopelessness?

NO!!

Because one thing that the idiots know is that:

Propaganda works!!
That's right. It works.

If you keep saying something enough people will believe it. The hate mongers and Dominists and religionists... The Jerry Falwells, and George Bushes... the Rush mother-fuckin' Limbaughs. They know it.

They just keep spewing crap. Do they wonder if it's helping, if it's working?? Nope. They just keep on keepin' on.

And that's what we do, too. We have to. We must. Because there are more of us. Really; it's true. There are more of us who are against the hate, the poison, the violence.

Problem is we're sensitive souls.
Gentle spirits.
Pacifists, tree huggers, pussy fucking liberals.

And we feel. We hurt for the people who are tortured, who die and suffer loss needlessly. We feel despair and hopelessness of the constant, ongoing protest. Because we're not using poison as our fuel. We don't have the raw hate to sustain us that those assholes do.

We have love. And empathy. And conscience. And heart.

And these things are NOT self sustaining and self perpetuating the way hate is. These things are fragile and defenseless. So we need to nurture and protect them, and each other. We need to allow our love and light to feed and sustain us; those of us who would see change, who would educate, inform, help bring about peace and awareness.

And it's hard and sometimes lonely and thankless work. But we are all connected in it and we just keep goin'. We keep feeling it, and voicing it.

Because if I'm not part of the solution I'm part of the problem.
Because it's what we can do.
Because it's what we do.

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’
It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

Not ready To Make Nice
--Dixie Chicks


Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I’m not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting

I’m through with doubt
There’s nothing left for me to figure out
I’ve paid a price
And I’ll keep paying

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I know you said
Can’t you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’
It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I’m not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting

A chatty interlude including but not limited to:

... the Blog Against Theocracy

Really, there are entirely too many great bloggers participating in this blogswarm, and an incredible wealth of opinion, perspective and information, but I just have to mention a few of my personal favorites. I have found a few of these folks to be so charming, smart, witty, talented, etc. that I'll be adding them to my blogroll (I hope I'm using that term correctly as the list of blogs I'm linking??!!) in the coming days.
I've delightedly found some blogs that are similar to my own in that they are personal and public, and present a variety of topics. I think I'm going to enjoy interspersing these with my regular issues blogs. (Sometimes I get so angry and depressed after reading those that I feel quite defeated before I've really even begun my day!!)

So, a couple of links:

writ-small.html

is a well written, thoughtful glimpse into personal responsibility. I was incredibly moved by this piece.

OneActInTheEternalPlayOfIdeas

Is a thought provoking statement in an unique (to this blogswarm) voice; fiction. A stupendous read. The author writes with a simple eloquence that is undeniable. Look for this gal in future on the NYT Best Sellers' List.

Parishioners Wanted
This one is great. The creation of a brand new religion to support the blog and make the blogger as rich as any Jerry Falwell. NOT!!! Really though, a bit of sincerely funny (funnily sincere??) concepts for a great web-church! I tried to sign up, but the comments were closed and I couldn't find the slot in my laptop to insert the bills.

MockPaperScissors
A number of witty, creative and powerful pieces here

Then there's Bob (or "Bubba", as I affectionately call him) who is sure that we are all doing a Hit Job On Easter
This is an interesting (if only to sorta help us "know thine enemy") site that appears to be dedicated to spreading the word about the BATS as he terms the BAT and the Blog Against Theocracy Conspiracy to undermine Easter and christianity in general. Bubba also has disabled comments, (to those outside of his flock) so don't anybody think he might care to engage in actual dialogue about his opinions. He saves that for the spam he leaves in the comments boxes at OUR blogs. Stay tuned, as one blogger said Bubba seems to search links to his blog on a regular basis so he can find outlets for his vitriol in higher trafficed places than his own blog. Yippee! He might grace us with his glory! ( This one is filed under: Things that make ya go "Hmmmm".)

I could go on and on about the great stuff I've found amongst the participants of BAT, but this particular entry speaks to my soul in a way that so much of what is going on in this country does. I really don't know whether to laugh or cry. My laughter these days has a bit of an hysterical ring to it, and my tears could damn near drown me if not for that ark I'm building out back.

On a lighter note, and nothing to do with BAT (wellll...I suppose it almost could be...no. Sorry! Hahaha) check out relentlesslyoptimistic for a cute and totally irreverent take on Happy Easter. (THIS is funny... I don't care who you are!!) Love it!!

And this one (you tube) is for my GLBTQ family, although some of you straight folk with a sense of humor might like it, too.

If I can stop my head from spinning (yes... it's almost to the pea soup stage), and stop this manic surf I'm on (FEED ME SEYMOUR!!! Must have information, more data!!) I'll eventually get around to doing my own post for BAT later today. (After we string up the sacrifice and enjoy our burnt offerings for this auspicious day).

It Must Be My Birthday!!!

Cuz I've already been spanked, twice! First the blogger in the previous post with his/her not so subtle commentary on my lack of blog-ettiquette (to put it kindly), then I'm lazing around, watching the SE Match Women's Finals, (Justine had Serena the first set, but Serena rallied with that primal desire and power of hers and pulled it out! Great match, really), when I get an email from my Webmaster regarding my addition of a Technorati link. He was unhappy (to say the least), about the return link to the site which lists the blogs which have linked to An Artist's Journey, one of which included the following:

That night I remember him cumming. I did not cum by the way. I only remember him cumming because he blew his load up my fucking nose!! He must have pulled out and pulled off the condom and then just started jerking aiming for my stomach or tits as most men do. I was so out of it I dont remember, but this seems like the most logical conclusion. I mean I hope he didnt have some weird fetish about shooting up a girl's nose, but what do I know.


I'm sorry, I know it's gross; but I had to laugh (the whole while I was removing the technorati link from my INKBLOG). Seriously, I don't want that kind of stuff linked to my professional blog. My Webmaster and I already agreed that my personal life and politics are not appropriate parts of my business, but I really thought technorati was a good tool for checking out how many ppl were linking to my INKBLOG. What I didn't realize was that return link could get me in trouble!! Ha-ha on me!!

I'm really just trying, in my fumbling, non-blog-savvy way, to generate some traffic and interest in my blogs. It's turning out to be more difficult than I thought to keep traffic only going one way. I mean, there is no reason that my personal links shouldn't potentially generate business toward the INKBLOG and my website; we just don't want potential clients going to Phoenix Rising Tattoo Arts and then running away screaming with their hair on fire..."OMG, SHE'S A LEFT-WING, LESBIAN, WITCH!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh"

Oh, another spanking!!

Happy birthday to meeeee....

I posted this apology at the journal referenced in my earlier post today:

My apologies. I'm not really sure what I did wrong; I'm pretty new to
this BLOGGING thing, and thought I was posting links appropriately. On
the human side, I've been enjoying your journal for quite awhile, just
haven't yet managed to get a link up on my regular BLOG site. href="http://phoenixrisingtattoo.hartjoy.com/thornesworld.html/">Thornes
World BLOG I seem to be having some trouble with the LJ interface. (I
have an active, if not often updated LJ acct. which was primarily a
personal BLOG) I'd like to comment Open ID but haven't been able to
figure that one out yet, either. Anyway, sorry again. Love your BLOG!

I then went on to post that same entry at my LJ: LJ ThornesGarden. You know, the post where I ask for comments on blog-ettiquette?? here's my first response. I'm so grateful for this helpful criticism.

So, after reading your own LJ, I have a few comments:

Firstly, SilverAdept is definitely male.

Secondly, "blog" is not an acronym or initialism, and therefore is not
all capitals. "Blogging" doubly so, since it's a verb-form modifier.

I've not seen your original post, and therefore cannot comment on how
spammish it looks.


(Is it just me...? Am I sensitive today...having a little upsurge of the old Menopausal Blues? Or are people just rude??)

Okay, I'm going to go edit my pronouns, now.

Happy Holiday Musings

Yule was lovely. A made it home after driving from LV in time to enjoy the day, B joined us for the day and was his usual fun, charming self. My Tam went to spend some time with her Mom (last minute guilt tripping by T's Mom, but T and I made it through it with no game playing or hurt feelings. Yippee! I have to admit that as much as I detest family drama, I do so enjoy not participating in it.)
My Mom joined us for parts of the day, popping in and out in her PJ's (pretty cute, really) and sharing her somewhat eccentric enthusiasm at the opening of every gift. Tam and I made a simple meal of baked ham, mashed taters w/gravy, and steamed zucchini. It was nice to have only a small kitchen mess for a change!
B spent the night so my F could use his truck to go to her OB yesterday. The ultrasound was done and DR. is reasonably sure it's a girl. If F is disappointed she's hiding it well. I of course, am overjoyed that she's having the 6th generation in a matrilineal line of first daughters.
The worst thing about these holidays for me is that I've pulled my head out of the sand once again to start paying more attention to what's really going on in our world. I have this habit of doing this. I go along for months playing ostrich because I just can't stand it. The war, hunger, disease, human suffering and cruelty, ignorance...
I remember during the so-called "Gulf War" (isn't this just the same ongoing war without end??) I broke out in shingles. From the stress. Big ol' tough woman like me, and I'm a freaking marshmallow. In the past I have become physically ill when I allow myself to pay attention to the truth. The horror of the truth of american politics, of hate and bigotry, of the crimes perpetrated in the guise of religion (no matter what religion), of ignorance, of persecution and separation...
So anyway, it seems that I have decided once again, to see if I can live in awareness without the horror of it all overwhelming me. I'm spending alot of time at Clipmarks.
I'm hoping that I can do some small good by clipping bits here and there, taking action and helping spread the non-main-stream-media truth, without getting buried in it. I'm also posting alot of my clips at Yahoo 360, but I'm not really sure where they're ending up. I haven't really figured the site out.
This might be nuts, but I'm going to see if I can somehow separate my politics from my life. I mean, that's always been my problem. I get so caught up that I get ill. So I just go along, doing what I can, (recycling, reusing, speaking my truth and refusing the silence that implies consent whenever physically confronted with hate, ignorance, bigotry and so on; living my life openly as a woman, a lesbian, a witch). What I'm going to do/try this time that's different, is continue to BLOG my life here in my journals, while being active elsewhere. Occasionally I may post political bits here, but overall I'm thinking if I can force myself to separate things, I may be able to avoid the overload that always eventually makes me run and hide my head in the sand.
I don't know. I may only be kidding myself. But I want to try, again. Of course, if it works, my non political readers will never know, because my BLOGS will just go on (or on n off) as usual. And if it doesn't, only my Clipreaders and such who check in on my BLOGS from time to time will know, because I'll disappear from the political postings and readings and activism.
An experiment for the New Year!!!

My New Year's Resolution:

To seek and find balance. Balance between my inner and outer lives. Balance between living my life and the responsibility of living as a fully present human being. Balance between planning and doing.