Once again the old blood of my Scottish ancestors, still coursing through my veins, sings out in tune with my favorite time of the year…Samhuinn...the beginning of the dark season.
And much as I did as a child, I long to go forth into the world and create a little mischief and mayhem just to keep the old traditions going, and finish by building a large bonefire to burn a sacrifice of grain (grain alcohol that is) upon, and reflect upon life. And should, indeed, the barriers between realms thin and blur and I should find myself learning something about my past, or present, or future…so much the better; knowledge is always welcome and useful.
In Mexico, this time of the year is call Dia de los Muertos, meaning, Days of the Dead. (Some add a more plural meaning to the term.) Many flowers are sold, much food is prepared, and every necropolis is full of people spending time with those who have gone on before, sharing food, and drink, and laughter, and reflection. I was able to be in Mexico about four years ago during this time and be included in this celebration by some friends of mine down there. It was magical and spiritual and I can only think this must have been how the ancients celebrated almost 2000 years ago.
So enjoy! Be merry! Create a little chaos… And ponder that which is on your mind…
10.31.2006
10.18.2006
Could You Pass The US Citizenship Test?
| You Passed the US Citizenship Test |
 Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct! |
My Celtic Horoscope
| You Are An Ash Tree |
 You are vivacious and impulsive, which makes you extremely attractive to many. Intelligent and demanding, you don't care much for criticism. You have a ton of ambition and talent, and sometimes money rules your heart. You like to play with fate, and you can be very egotistical and restless. Demanding of attention, you need love and a lot of emotional support. |
No Tag At Recess
OK... I'm really starting to think that I was either born in the wrong country, or maybe I was just born in the wrong century. I can't help but notice periodically the asinine changes in our society that take place, often due to liberal minded (i.e. Politically Correct) stupidity, or sometimes just because of how litigation happy this country has become.
My most recent observation comes from a news story out of Massachusetts with the tag line: Not it! Mass. Elementary school bans tag
It seems, according to the school principal, that recess is “…a time when accidents can happen.” So, in order to help keep the kids from getting hurt, and also to minimize any liability the school might have, the school has now banned tag, touch football, or any other unauthorized game where kids might run and hurt themselves.
WHAT!?!?!?!? Is this freaking America, or did I step into a damn George Orwell novel? Let’s see… It’s a simple fact that our children are fatter (yeah, F-A-T-T-E-R… As in porky, tubby, chubby, chunky, obese, [insert your favorite non-politically correct synonym for lard-ass here]) than they used to be due to poor eating and exercise habits, yet we’re going to limit their physical activity on the playground by banning time honored traditional play because, um, someone might get hurt??? and then some so called parent might sue??? OK then… Please let me off at the next alternate reality…
To be fair to this particular school, according the article, they aren’t the only system doing this, nor do they carry the distinction of being the first. But there is just something SO WRONG with this entire picture that should have every average American doing a double take. When schools started banning dodge ball because it could be dangerous getting hit with a flying object, most people could sort of understand the reasoning. (However, I maintain it should still be permitted if it was on a voluntary basis. ) But telling a kid that you can't play tag because you might hurt yourself while running around?? That has to be one of the most ludicrous things I’ve heard so far this year…if not the most.
I, as a parent, am sick of our schools, and our governments, trying to tell me how my child should grow-up and what is or isn’t best for them. I’m totally sick and tired of these lame excuses for parents I too often see who won’t take the time or the responsibility to raise their own children and therefore lend credence to the continued abuse of these entities as they strive to assume more and more control that simply should, no, SIMPLY MUST be exclusively reserved for the parents…or at least for the parents who take their responsibilities seriously and actually have the desire to parent their child(ren).
Do you like the school telling your children: That God has no place in the classroom? That having pre-marital sex is OK as long as you use protection? That homosexual lifestyles are perfectly normal and whatever your religious belief on the subject might be is wrong if it states otherwise? That it is more important that you feel good about yourself than actually being able to learn the material being taught and pass a test on the subject? That we should accept everyone and what they believe in and stand for? That you can’t defend yourself if you’re getting the crap beat out of you without getting kicked out of school too because of a “Zero Tolerance” policy? That only liberal thinking is good and conservative thinking is bad? Anyone care to add to the list?
I guess maybe I really am living in an Orwellian society after all, and if so, this is one Snowball that has no intentions of being easy meat.
I just hope enough sane, rational people are left out there who notice things like this and will refuse to be silent about the stupidity of it all. Scream out and be heard… Refuse to be cajoled into accepting this path towards Socialism… Use the greatest gift you have in being an American: The right to be an Individual with a Voice…
DISCLAIMER: As a fat-ass myself, I am fully qualified to use objectionable terms when referencing someone else’s state of being a fat-ass. If anyone reading this post was offended by my diction........GOOD!
My most recent observation comes from a news story out of Massachusetts with the tag line: Not it! Mass. Elementary school bans tag
It seems, according to the school principal, that recess is “…a time when accidents can happen.” So, in order to help keep the kids from getting hurt, and also to minimize any liability the school might have, the school has now banned tag, touch football, or any other unauthorized game where kids might run and hurt themselves.
WHAT!?!?!?!? Is this freaking America, or did I step into a damn George Orwell novel? Let’s see… It’s a simple fact that our children are fatter (yeah, F-A-T-T-E-R… As in porky, tubby, chubby, chunky, obese, [insert your favorite non-politically correct synonym for lard-ass here]) than they used to be due to poor eating and exercise habits, yet we’re going to limit their physical activity on the playground by banning time honored traditional play because, um, someone might get hurt??? and then some so called parent might sue??? OK then… Please let me off at the next alternate reality…
To be fair to this particular school, according the article, they aren’t the only system doing this, nor do they carry the distinction of being the first. But there is just something SO WRONG with this entire picture that should have every average American doing a double take. When schools started banning dodge ball because it could be dangerous getting hit with a flying object, most people could sort of understand the reasoning. (However, I maintain it should still be permitted if it was on a voluntary basis. ) But telling a kid that you can't play tag because you might hurt yourself while running around?? That has to be one of the most ludicrous things I’ve heard so far this year…if not the most.
I, as a parent, am sick of our schools, and our governments, trying to tell me how my child should grow-up and what is or isn’t best for them. I’m totally sick and tired of these lame excuses for parents I too often see who won’t take the time or the responsibility to raise their own children and therefore lend credence to the continued abuse of these entities as they strive to assume more and more control that simply should, no, SIMPLY MUST be exclusively reserved for the parents…or at least for the parents who take their responsibilities seriously and actually have the desire to parent their child(ren).
Do you like the school telling your children: That God has no place in the classroom? That having pre-marital sex is OK as long as you use protection? That homosexual lifestyles are perfectly normal and whatever your religious belief on the subject might be is wrong if it states otherwise? That it is more important that you feel good about yourself than actually being able to learn the material being taught and pass a test on the subject? That we should accept everyone and what they believe in and stand for? That you can’t defend yourself if you’re getting the crap beat out of you without getting kicked out of school too because of a “Zero Tolerance” policy? That only liberal thinking is good and conservative thinking is bad? Anyone care to add to the list?
I guess maybe I really am living in an Orwellian society after all, and if so, this is one Snowball that has no intentions of being easy meat.
I just hope enough sane, rational people are left out there who notice things like this and will refuse to be silent about the stupidity of it all. Scream out and be heard… Refuse to be cajoled into accepting this path towards Socialism… Use the greatest gift you have in being an American: The right to be an Individual with a Voice…
DISCLAIMER: As a fat-ass myself, I am fully qualified to use objectionable terms when referencing someone else’s state of being a fat-ass. If anyone reading this post was offended by my diction........GOOD!
Buffy Meets Nickelback
If any of you happen to be fans of the T.V. series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and also happen to like music by Nickelback, then check out the video adaptation of encounters between Buffy and Spike set to the tune of Figured You Out.
10.17.2006
Why I (Mostly) Like The Fall
Having lived the first part of my life in the mid-west, I became very accustom to there being actual changes in the seasons. Spring gave way to summer, summer to fall, fall to winter, and winter to spring. And, there are aspects about all of the seasons I like and dislike. For instances, I love snow…
However, I always looked forward to the fall. The cooler days and nights (especially good for sitting around a fire pit), the changes in the leaves, the smell of burning leaves, the fields being emptied of their fruits, going to the orchards for apples, the beginning of squirrel and dove hunting seasons… It was great!
I still like the fall, for most of the same reasons. These days I mostly enjoy the cooler weather, and a good change in color of the foliage. Where I don’t get out as much as I used to just to tromp around in the woods, I still like getting out and taking a walk and just seeing all of the changes. This is what I missed most about living out west where the seasons did not have such a marked difference. (And if you’ve seen one Aspen change to a different shade of gold, you’ve seen them all.)
I guess a few things about the fall I don’t enjoy is the extra dust coming out of the fields, and the allergy aggravating foliage that comes out right before the frosts and freezes kill them, and the turbulent weather that wreaks havoc on my sinuses – which has been going on for about a week now.
But still… It’s fall… And I’ve been to the orchard, and I’ve been able to get out and take some walks, and enjoy the cooler weather and the changing color of the leaves. And sinuses be damned, I’m still glad to be here to enjoy it all.
However, I always looked forward to the fall. The cooler days and nights (especially good for sitting around a fire pit), the changes in the leaves, the smell of burning leaves, the fields being emptied of their fruits, going to the orchards for apples, the beginning of squirrel and dove hunting seasons… It was great!
I still like the fall, for most of the same reasons. These days I mostly enjoy the cooler weather, and a good change in color of the foliage. Where I don’t get out as much as I used to just to tromp around in the woods, I still like getting out and taking a walk and just seeing all of the changes. This is what I missed most about living out west where the seasons did not have such a marked difference. (And if you’ve seen one Aspen change to a different shade of gold, you’ve seen them all.)
I guess a few things about the fall I don’t enjoy is the extra dust coming out of the fields, and the allergy aggravating foliage that comes out right before the frosts and freezes kill them, and the turbulent weather that wreaks havoc on my sinuses – which has been going on for about a week now.
But still… It’s fall… And I’ve been to the orchard, and I’ve been able to get out and take some walks, and enjoy the cooler weather and the changing color of the leaves. And sinuses be damned, I’m still glad to be here to enjoy it all.
10.13.2006
Curious Goods
Friday the 13th (of any month) has to be one of my favorite days of the entire year. Along with the fact the I personally always purchase a lottery ticket, it always reminds me of one of my most favorite television programs - Friday the 13th: The Series.
Basically, if you don’t remember the show, two cousins take over their now dead uncles antique shop (Curious Goods) and, with the help of their uncles partner, Jack, try to recover all of the cursed items that he sold to people over the years.
This program had some really good cursed item concepts, some really great stories, and pretty darn good acting for television. Oh, for the record, and contrary to popular belief, the fact that Micki was a hot red head had absolutely nothing to do with my watching the show!
10.10.2006
Some Enchanted Evening
If you have never had the pleasure of attending a dinner theater, I highly recommend that you take the opportunity if and when it becomes available.
I, and a very special companion, had the opportunity to enjoy a delightful evening last Saturday at the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. Aside from the excellent meal and the general atmosphere, we were regaled with an excellent performance of the Rodgers & Hammerstien musical, South Pacific.
Being one of my all time favorite musicals, it also held the special distinction of being something special that my companion and I shared from many years ago, and I can only surmise that this particular musical being performed at this time and place must fall within the purview of serendipity.
Whatever the reason, it most certainly was…an enchanted evening.
I, and a very special companion, had the opportunity to enjoy a delightful evening last Saturday at the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. Aside from the excellent meal and the general atmosphere, we were regaled with an excellent performance of the Rodgers & Hammerstien musical, South Pacific.
Being one of my all time favorite musicals, it also held the special distinction of being something special that my companion and I shared from many years ago, and I can only surmise that this particular musical being performed at this time and place must fall within the purview of serendipity.
Whatever the reason, it most certainly was…an enchanted evening.
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