Another Consequence of the Immigration Issue

So, I had the opportunity to go to this Democratic big-wig thing, which I will say more about later, if I can think of anything coherent to say about it.
I must learn Spanish; it’s painful at this point.
But here’s what I heard that I have to tell y’all about right now.  Okay, so you know [...]

Look, Universe, I am Knocking On Wood. My Fingers are Crossed. I have Seven Four-Leaf Clovers. Back Off!

Really, what is up with this week?!
My dad has “something on the back of his heart.”
It’s almost Saturday, right?  I mean, seriously, this week is almost over, right?
—-
I don’t know any more than that.  He’ll get down to Champaign on Monday and they’ll be able to tell him something and, if they need to go [...]

There Are Some Punchlines So Good…

There are some punchlines so good that, even in the absence of the joke that spawned them, they can still make you laugh.
Sadly, I have no memory for jokes, so, even though I distinctly recall giving Mack my favorite jokeless punchline, I now cannot remember what it is.
“Why?” you may ask.  “What could make a [...]

What I’m Too Embarrassed to Show You In Real Life

I used to dream all the time that I was either drowning or suffocating.  It wasn’t unpleasant.  I’d just be under water or smothered with pillows and I would stop breathing and… nothing.  It would be warm and dark and nothing.
I would tell people all the time about my dreams and they would say that [...]

Plez Leavz Message after Snorz

1.  Argh.  It hurts my heart it’s so cute!
2.  I’m just going to admit it.  I don’t get Twitter.  To me, it’s like standing in Central Station shouting.  Everyone hears you but…  I don’t know.  I keep doing it, waiting to understand what the big deal is and feeling kind of stupid because I don’t.
3.  [...]

People Without Status

I wish I knew more about the anti-immigration movement in this country, because I’d love to know just exactly when it was that illegal immigration was reframed from being a crime you committed when you crossed the border–you immigrated, i.e. entered and settled in this country, in a manner contrary to the laws of our [...]

If I Believed in Astrology…

I’d believe that Mercury being in retrograde explains everything about how weird and grueling these last two days have been.
Instead, dear friends, I believe I’m going to have to suck it up and talk with someone about my panic attacks, which have become so terrible I about can’t stand it.  I missed a meeting last [...]

And I Bet Not One Talking Head Brings It Up

Now, with Edwards calling it quits (maybe), white Democratic men will be in the unprecedented position, for the first time in American history, of choosing between their race and their gender!
Line up the fainting couches!

In What Ends Up Not Being a Defense of Elvis

I saw this post by Donna over at The Silence of Our Friendsand was about ready to launch into a spirited defense of Elvis when I followed on of her links back to Theriomorph’s and read this comment by Kai:
More importantly, however, I just want to note that POC and/or anti-racists hear this kind of [...]

I’m Pretty Sure the Roof is Supposed to Prevent That

I’m laying here reading my Google reader and listening to what sounds like water descending from upstairs and making its way through pipes in my wall.  It’s a nice sound, if you can imagine it, the refreshing OOOooossshhhhhooohhhssshhhh of running water.
But world, there is no bathroom or kitchen above me.  There’s not even any upstairs.  [...]

I Should Have Just Stayed Home and Sniffed the Air

I swear I’m having the kind of day where I’d really just like to sit in the back of a coffee shop with a friend and make bitchy, bitchy comments about all the people I hate until said friend has me laughing again.  I want to punch people.  I want to run over signs for [...]

‘God Bless America’ Water

O thin men of Haddam,
Why do you imagine golden birds?
Do you not see how the blackbird
Walks around the feet
Of the women about you?
–Wallace Stevens, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird
Today, over at Pith, there’s a photo of two bottles–one is an unopened bottle of “God Bless America” water and the other is a [...]

Too Bad about that Work Stuff

Because today would be the perfect day to just stand outside and breathe in the air.

What the Bright Blanket Illustrates About Feminism

I swear, I’m just about to move on from this for now, but I wanted to say this.  When I was in the process of making the squares for the bright afghan, I folded the large squares in half and then in half again.  The medium squares I did the same for.  It was easier [...]

You Can Get Change, But Good Luck Dictating What Shape It Will Take

I have to ask you something, and please don’t answer, “You need to stop right now!”
How do you know, though, when to stop, when to step aside and let the new folks take over?
I’m thirty three.  I’ll be thirty four this year.  I’m not expecting to be a great feminist thinker; I’m not expecting to [...]

I Was Right about the Bright Afghan!

If you double the pattern, it ends up being a pretty good size.
I spent the evening arranging and rearranging afghan squares.  I think I’ve got it just how I want it now.  Here’s the size the afghan pattern makes:

You can see why that wasn’t going to do.  I know children that afghan would have been [...]

One of My Favorite Libertarians

I was wondering why Exador wasn’t around doling out his usual brand of libertarian orneriness, and it turns out that he was in a horrible truck wreck.
Yikes.

Buying Multiple Copies of the Same Book

I did not know this, but when dealing with some publishers, if a bunch of you are all wanting to read and own the same book, you can have one person order all the copies directly from the publisher, and they will give you the non-returnable discount (you might have to contact Marketing to see).  [...]

I Made the List! I Made the List!

Oh, y’all, I forgot to tell you.  You know how I’ve been pissing and moaning and flouncing all over the internet complaining because Progressive Nashville never includes me in the list of progressive Tennessee blogs?  Well, I met Jim who blogs over there who graciously informs me that it’s not Progressive Nashville who puts out [...]

The Halo

I don’t know if they still call it that–the halo–but the best I can explain, it’s the other stuff that goes with having a headache–the dizziness, the feeling like time is all funky, the extreme sensitivity to different sensations, a kind of hyper-sensitive mellowness, the trouble focusing your eyes–that takes a back-seat to the headache [...]

I Always Laugh When Mrs. Wigglebottom Sneezes

Mainly because it’s the world’s longest sneeze (with the exception maybe of elephants, having never witnessed elephant sneezes), starting way back near her brain and working its way down her snout so that she’s got to shake her head and curl her lips to finally get it to let go and come out.  It’s like [...]

Random Things that Have Been on My Mind

1.  But I’m sure this time is different.
2.  I’m not Catholic and my familiarity with Catholicism comes from an a-typical (maybe) situation, but I thought the point of a Catholic school was, in part, that all Catholics could attend.  There’s a post somewhere about what it means that the crowd at Father Ryan is 99% [...]

Poor Butcher

The Butcher is so sick I about can’t stand it.  He’s doing a little better this morning, but yesterday, I was seriously worried.
But I also don’t want to hang out here with Mr. Sick Boy, so I’m getting him some clean dishes, some chicked soup, and he’s on his own.

Yes, I Do Tease Mack about Boxing not Being a Sport…

…and yes, I believe wrestling and ultimate fighting to both be legitimate sports.  Who says a girl has to be consistent?
Anyway, Martin Kennedy picked me up and took me over to the Father Ryan-MBA meet and it was great!  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed wrestling. 
Two brothers coach the teams, but their teams’ approaches [...]

This Explains So Much

This week, after Rep. Rob Briley made a heartfelt apology for his well-publicized drunken behavior, Rep. Gary Moore, the straightforward Joelton firefighter, made the excellent point that everyone battles secret demons. But the way he made it was hilarious:
“Some of us are alcoholics,” Moore said. “Some of us are thieves. Some of us are adulterers. [...]