Friday, November 15, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The origins of Heterosexuals. NSFW or people who get offended easily, or who don't enjoy silly adult humor, or for people who only get outside of their little village once a year.
Funny skit : click here - http://gawker.com/clever-comedy-sketch-explores-the-origins-of-heterosexu-510263245?autoplay=1
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
http://deadspin.com/wolf-blitzer-asks-atheist-tornado-survivor-if-she-than-509150402
Hello friends....been a while. i have been a busy bee, writing an e-book, raising my children, going stand up paddle boarding often, and creating some oil paintings that are going to be publicly displayed next month. In the meantime, I came across this today. What does God have to do with acts of Nature, and why do so many people invoke spiritual generalisms when something awful happens. I am not being redundant or snarky, this is real humanity in action, all of it's spectrum- from my growing number of atheist friends to my shrinking number of people who call themselves Christians. I want everyone I care about to find happiness in whatever form they can.
I do have specific ire for "religious" types that care about people when those people go to their church, or take Bibles from them in exchange for food, shelter and water. Those people, those supposedly charitable folks of the faith, are not Christians, they are posers who use the good parables of Jesus to push their small minded agendas of anti-intelligence, who find fear in all tragedies and who lead the poor into their gilded mega churches with promises of miracles in exchange for pocket change, their children's open minds and their dedication. In other words, most big churches are just as cultish as Scientology. But that's another discussion isn't it little marchers?
Ah well, this humble Methodist can sleep well trying to teach my children to stay away from people who only surround themselves with fellow "church members" and people who seem to label everything "mainstream" or "secular". In the same way, I don't really give any real estate in life or on social media anymore to people who have this elite sense of all knowingness, who are not up for a good old fashioned debate or who do not dare hang with anyone not like them (hello Obama lovers circa 2008).
trust me, there are a larger group of friends I have found who are just happy as clams being somewhere in the broader spectrum, who love a good political laugh, who like to learn new things, who listen to ideas and who do not stand on some monolithic platform, unwavering and unmoved. So, what is it all about? That Wolf Blitzer assumed that everyone in OKC was praying to God afterwards. Maybe he just did it without thinking, but journalists are supposed to think. I loved this video and hope people share it as much as the one about the dog who survived the rubble. All the survivors are due compassion, our love and support, and all are lucky to be alive. Mother Nature is a beast.
I do have specific ire for "religious" types that care about people when those people go to their church, or take Bibles from them in exchange for food, shelter and water. Those people, those supposedly charitable folks of the faith, are not Christians, they are posers who use the good parables of Jesus to push their small minded agendas of anti-intelligence, who find fear in all tragedies and who lead the poor into their gilded mega churches with promises of miracles in exchange for pocket change, their children's open minds and their dedication. In other words, most big churches are just as cultish as Scientology. But that's another discussion isn't it little marchers?
Ah well, this humble Methodist can sleep well trying to teach my children to stay away from people who only surround themselves with fellow "church members" and people who seem to label everything "mainstream" or "secular". In the same way, I don't really give any real estate in life or on social media anymore to people who have this elite sense of all knowingness, who are not up for a good old fashioned debate or who do not dare hang with anyone not like them (hello Obama lovers circa 2008).
trust me, there are a larger group of friends I have found who are just happy as clams being somewhere in the broader spectrum, who love a good political laugh, who like to learn new things, who listen to ideas and who do not stand on some monolithic platform, unwavering and unmoved. So, what is it all about? That Wolf Blitzer assumed that everyone in OKC was praying to God afterwards. Maybe he just did it without thinking, but journalists are supposed to think. I loved this video and hope people share it as much as the one about the dog who survived the rubble. All the survivors are due compassion, our love and support, and all are lucky to be alive. Mother Nature is a beast.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Hello cats and dogs.
Good afternoon friends. I am writing a quick missive to let you know some things going on in JTown here lately. We have several things in the works right now and I am taking about a week off from this site. Please check back with me soon for some very good new posts. Or at least entertaining posts. I am actually writing a book to be sold via Amazon and through social media outlets. This is not for some vanity project but just to put my toes in the sand with making some of my writing official, as it were. More importantly, I am doing it to leave something funny/entertaining/interesting for my sons to have, as a personal reminder of their parent's lives, their mom's thoughts and other helpful tips.
This book will be the first of several I have been working on (ending in a preposition there, not good). I have had dozens of articles already bought for other people's websites and now am ready to do something that is not "for" someone else (although I totally enjoy writing, in any capacity). So, the next few days I will be doubling down, editing, self editing, mentally thrashing myself for editing, and in general, having minor fits over what words have to go (sorry words, I love you sooo..). I will be back, probably within the week, but in the meantime am creating my new book from posts on here, along with several new ideas that will be "new to you". So, when I come knocking at your wallet door, be ready to shell out the big e-book bucks, about $3. Times are tight, so start putting those pennies away and use them to support your friend's quest for personal bucket list item crossed off! Love you to all, fearless bold and wonderful friends!
This book will be the first of several I have been working on (ending in a preposition there, not good). I have had dozens of articles already bought for other people's websites and now am ready to do something that is not "for" someone else (although I totally enjoy writing, in any capacity). So, the next few days I will be doubling down, editing, self editing, mentally thrashing myself for editing, and in general, having minor fits over what words have to go (sorry words, I love you sooo..). I will be back, probably within the week, but in the meantime am creating my new book from posts on here, along with several new ideas that will be "new to you". So, when I come knocking at your wallet door, be ready to shell out the big e-book bucks, about $3. Times are tight, so start putting those pennies away and use them to support your friend's quest for personal bucket list item crossed off! Love you to all, fearless bold and wonderful friends!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
In honor of Pablo Nerudo and his loved ones, as they exhume his body to look for evidence of poisoning. One of my most beloved poets, I discovered him while in high school and, like many poetry lovers, love most of his poems and find others to be only adequate. If you understand this, then I have found one more friend in the big world. Enjoy my friends.
Here I Love You
Here I love you.
In the dark pines the wind disentangles itself.
The moon glows like phosphorous on the vagrant waters.
Days, all one kind, go chasing each other.
The snow unfurls in dancing figures.
A silver gull slips down from the west.
Sometimes a sail. High, high stars.
Oh the black cross of a ship.
Alone.
Sometimes I get up early and even my soul is wet.
Far away the sea sounds and resounds.
This is a port.
Here I love you.
Here I love you and the horizon hides you in vain.
I love you still among these cold things.
Sometimes my kisses go on those heavy vessels
that cross the sea towards no arrival.
I see myself forgotten like those old anchors.
The piers sadden when the afternoon moors there.
My life grows tired, hungry to no purpose.
I love what I do not have. You are so far.
My loathing wrestles with the slow twilights.
But night comes and starts to sing to me.
The moon turns its clockwork dream.
The biggest stars look at me with your eyes.
And as I love you, the pines in the wind
want to sing your name with their leaves of wire.
In the dark pines the wind disentangles itself.
The moon glows like phosphorous on the vagrant waters.
Days, all one kind, go chasing each other.
The snow unfurls in dancing figures.
A silver gull slips down from the west.
Sometimes a sail. High, high stars.
Oh the black cross of a ship.
Alone.
Sometimes I get up early and even my soul is wet.
Far away the sea sounds and resounds.
This is a port.
Here I love you.
Here I love you and the horizon hides you in vain.
I love you still among these cold things.
Sometimes my kisses go on those heavy vessels
that cross the sea towards no arrival.
I see myself forgotten like those old anchors.
The piers sadden when the afternoon moors there.
My life grows tired, hungry to no purpose.
I love what I do not have. You are so far.
My loathing wrestles with the slow twilights.
But night comes and starts to sing to me.
The moon turns its clockwork dream.
The biggest stars look at me with your eyes.
And as I love you, the pines in the wind
want to sing your name with their leaves of wire.
Pablo Neruda
Saturday, April 6, 2013
http://io9.com/snowpiercer-passports-shows-us-all-what-life-on-the-pos-470884491
Tilda Swinton is one of my favorite actresses/artists/modern performers. Besides her recent stint at the MOMA sleeping inside a glass box while museum attendees watched, I have to say I've loved her in every single role she has played in films. She even made "Constantine" standable. Looking forward to this interesting looking film! (If you've never seen "I Am Love", then your life just isn't fulfilled).
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/fighting_words/2012/08/christopher_hitchens_mortality_the_unpublished_jottings_of_the_late_great_writer_and_thinker_.html
Take the time to read this article and remember how delicious is was to have Christopher Hitchens around. I discovered him in high school and followed his up and down public life along with his more personal questions about politics and his own following of the right/left crowd. This bothered many people, his changing of the mind after 9/11 but I was proud of how willing he was to be human enough to check out the other side, to see how it fit his mind, and to not bow down to his constituents. I think this made him more of an enlightened writer in the end, having traveled the path of questioning things, and his writing as he died reflects his brutal honesty. I still miss his writing in Vanity Fair, the only reason really I kept their subscription for a while and still read it online. His older essays and more modern ones speak of a person who was really more relateable than he was in his earlier disco era hipster days. But aren't we all...RIP Christopher Hitchens - we are still enjoying you. And isn't that was writing is all about, leaving something behind.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Play Stefon with me.
One of my favorite SNL characters in the last ten years is Stefon, the arm sleeve tattooed club boy who is this close to bringing back glow sticks and 1996 warehouses rages, in fact may have been there just got plastic surgery. He shows up to the SNL weekend update to tell us all what the new hip hotspots are and they are always funny skits. Please take time out of your busy day saving the whales, harnessing the bales and building sustainable mud homes for rich white tourists in Africa who want to shoot animals and feed the poor and watch some Stefon skits on You tube sometime. In the meantime, its fun to make up your own Stefon dialogues in your head, perhaps while your children are torturing each other in the background with merciless teasing or perhaps while a new spring storm rolls overhead as it is right now in our peaceful abode.
"New York's hottest new club is called Malick Terrace located underneath the MoMa's recycling bin, and features long periods of extreme silence while large indoor screens show images of falling leaves and rain drops. In between the long periods of silence, you will enjoy the latest new groove by DJ Skittle who will amaze you by playing Backstreet Boys songs backwards while you dance on a floor covered in blue cotton candy and Cheetos. Bring a friend. Everyone who gets there before 2 a.m. takes home a stuffed unicorn that plays lullabies. The password is 'Red Rum' and everyone will be there."
"New York's hottest new club is called Malick Terrace located underneath the MoMa's recycling bin, and features long periods of extreme silence while large indoor screens show images of falling leaves and rain drops. In between the long periods of silence, you will enjoy the latest new groove by DJ Skittle who will amaze you by playing Backstreet Boys songs backwards while you dance on a floor covered in blue cotton candy and Cheetos. Bring a friend. Everyone who gets there before 2 a.m. takes home a stuffed unicorn that plays lullabies. The password is 'Red Rum' and everyone will be there."
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
A Few Words
Running to Stand Still is one of my all time favorite U2 songs. This may be considered an Irish thing, but I have a special memory of a great guitar duo playing this at The Swamp (formerly Chaucers in Gainesville) just for me upon request, and also seeing U2 live in Tampa (in all places, weird huh) it was a swamp there but they did a great show amidst a very suburban metropolis area). My best memory of this song, besides listening to it decades ago and enjoying it personally, was that my roommate's friend played this in their home in Gainesville, knowing I was a true U2 fan, and playing the songs they knew I loved. Music is the maker of memories.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made: Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee; And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet's wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart's core.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15529#sthash.TfzERYgd.dpuf
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling...
After many days of being very much under the weather, and trust me I am not for one to get sick easily but GOD WOW that was some bad sickness we had going down in our home last week ( which is totally cleaned and bleached top to bottom thanks to my own special OCD DNA) . I hated not being able to write anything...you may think that's silly but trust me it's not. It is my code that I write- my great great uncle had poems published and many relatives of mine in both families seem to share the same need to dwelve into the words and the oil paints to express themselves.
In the meantime, I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy weekend. I have had a very interesting and hard week, so sleep is a priority the next few nights. We went to the beach today at 10 a.m. and by the time we were leaving, there was a line to the bridge. My best advise is..get up early and go to bed by midnight on the weekends. I love me some Craig Ferguson so he's my treat during the week about twice. I would also suggest listening to the Lumineers sometimes- we all have loved them for a while as do my friends from Bay County who moved to Denver Co.
"Took a bus to Chinatown..." Good night friends, and take good care of yourselves. I would highly suggest also to read WB Yeats when you can. My first book of his poetry was given to me in 1989, I bought another in 1996 during college and he is my personal alma mater. Forever the swans, the golden apples and the Innisfree. Yeats, the Irish man for those of us not Irish.
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Where My Books go
All the words that I utter,
And all the words that I write,
Must spread out their wings untiring,
And never rest in their flight,
Till they come where your sad, sad heart is,
And sing to you in the night,
Beyond where the waters are moving,
Storm-darken’d or starry bright.
And all the words that I write,
Must spread out their wings untiring,
And never rest in their flight,
Till they come where your sad, sad heart is,
And sing to you in the night,
Beyond where the waters are moving,
Storm-darken’d or starry bright.
William Butler Yeats
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Tori Amos & Metropole Orkest - Winter (Rotterdam, NL 2012-10-01)
"When you gonna make up your mind? When you gonna love you as much as I do?"
This is a great way to send off the winter as the gusty winds of cool spring air come into our north Florida home today. I have had a fever for 24 hours now, a lovely gift from my sons who have been bug riddled this weekend poor things. So, if I ramble a bit the next few posts you know why.
But don't pray for me, just listen to this wonderful video. Tori Amos was my first true "idol" if one could call being in love with a modern composer and piano player that. Listening to her music old and new ("Scarlett's Walk" is wonderful too) I am always amazed at how she has changed and adapted to the past few decades, never trying for radio hits but always bringing some fresh and inventive sounds to her music, such as her last album which combined some Gregorian and Baroque tunes to suit her own words. A true talent. We are still waiting for the time I can see her live.
In a world of pop, people who really play and who really sing are always nice to come home to. (ending with a preposition..)
Monday, March 11, 2013
Russell Brand wrote something down that is actually really good.
Russell Brand, ex husband of Katy Perry's feminist flame spewing breasts, wrote what I think is a very wonderful article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2013/mar/09/russell-brand-life-without-drugs#start-of-comments
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Say Hello to My Little Friends circa 1988
During this annual spring cleaning and donation weekend I came across 4 large boxes of "stuff" I've been toting around for about 10-20 years now. Some of it report cards from Lucille Moore Elementary School, my talent show programs, playbills from plays I've seen, concert stubs, weird poetry (LOTS OF THAT), homecoming banners, plastic bags of 8 dusty dance/prom corsages which sadly had to be thrown out before I died of mold poisoning, and various other school and youth related items. It has been fun but now I have two boxes instead of 4. These boxes contain my forever past - the stuff i am keeping forever and ever amen. They are slightly organized so that my kids can peruse through them someday ala "Bridges of Madison County" and think "Wow my mom was really strange God bless her".
Many things got thrown out, which means they are in bags ready to be burned during our next outdoor fire this week. Many things stayed - a few mix tapes from boyfriends, the penciled in song titles fading, a keychain that says "Woman of the Year", tickets to Gator games, maps to state parks near Gainesville, airline stubs to far places, very funny notes and cards from my oddball but very smart girlfriends, and some school folders with grades and directions to keg parties on PCB on the sides...guess what else stayed? My Converse high tops from 8 th grade. Yes these were my first babies, my second black pair lost to history during freshman year at Bay High but these were my Jinks Middle School twins. My friends and I covered them with "I love so and so" ,crossed out and my wonderful skater girl art work and puffy paint intact. They are staying. Some things just beg for a "forever home", and my Converse have seen some STUFF people. If only those laces could talk. Some of you reading this would be in big trouble :)
Love, JUJU
RIP 1988. It was a very good year in fact.
Gators vs. Legends of The Fall
Top of the morning to you friends and freaks. I just returned from a 9 am. walk on our local beach and although the sun was out, the wind was gusty as warmer weather and rain comes tomorrow- ahh spring, the most bipolar time of the year. Anyway safely back in my little black computer chair, I have a few minutes to spare before the second half of the day begins - the time I call the better half (always on the weekend, always the clock pointing towards 5 pm.). As you know, we have "free tv" which means weekends are not made for tv in our house - it's pledge week on all the PBS channels, which is great if you are willing to sit through "remembering the 50"s- doo- ops and bee-pops" and pay $500 for a 3 CD set. normally we watch PBS all during the week and the evening programming is fantastic - but pledge week is campy, all over the place and yes they need everyone's support. So- our options are limited further by 3 networks and what I call the "Jerry Springer" channels, plus about 10 Christian related channels which is fine but the level of bad production is hard to take seriously in any way.
Right now- we have Gators vs. Kentucky in hoops- Gators ahead by 7 at this moment. Great game, I don't have anyone to watch it with right now since everyone else is out too, but I know we've got some Major Gator fans and family that are glued to their tv's right now. Let's go Billy's Boys!
On the other hand, while flipping through I found some very old school drama from our film past- "Legend of the Fall". WOW> I forgot what a melodramatic over the top matyr driven story this was. It has great acting from Anthony Hopkins and cast but WOW Brad Pitt and his pouty lips. Let's take a moment.
Let''s also recap how incredibly torturous this movie really was, and me and all my girlfriends LOVED it when it came out. We would rent it and watch it even though we knew this happened:
Samuel the little brother (the E.T. child actor) gets tangled up during the war in barbed wire, is blinded, and is shot and killed while his brother Tristan tries to untangle him.
Then - Tristan cuts Samuel's heart out of his dead body. To keep for future use- which is this:
Tristan then retreats to a tent, cooks his brothers heart and smears his blood on his face, emerging as a reborn Native American even though he is obviously Brad Pitt and still very much a white boy.
Upon returning home to his dad's huge cattle ranch (a dream house) Samuel's new widow falls for Tristan and his long flowing hair as they ride around on horses and she talks and he listens -always looking off from her and avoiding conversation but still having sex with her. In fact, Brad Pitt says about 5 words this entire part. But his long blonde hair speaks volumes.
Huge bouts of anger erupt from Tristan, dealing with his brother's death and feeling responsible, so he packs up to leave and was going to do it without saying goodbye.
He leaves, reutrns later with Native American love in tow, and Samuel's wife has married Tristan's older brother Alfred (yes there was another brother). Chaos ensues. No one is happy.There are babies. There are more deaths. No happiness in sight.
Tristan is killed by a large grizzly bear, probably the one he should have shot years ago on the ranch, and this death is narrated with empathy by the Native American narrator which gives it a mystical quality, but still he is mauled to death.
Alfred's wife with the really pretty long curly hair who loved Tristan the entire time, shoots herself out of extreme grief. THE END.
GO GATORS! This game is getting tight now- I'm going to pretend like Legends of the Fall isn't on right now and get back out of the house, keeping track of Gator score. There aren't any tissues in the house, and my high school dreams of unrequited love are OVER.
Right now- we have Gators vs. Kentucky in hoops- Gators ahead by 7 at this moment. Great game, I don't have anyone to watch it with right now since everyone else is out too, but I know we've got some Major Gator fans and family that are glued to their tv's right now. Let's go Billy's Boys!
On the other hand, while flipping through I found some very old school drama from our film past- "Legend of the Fall". WOW> I forgot what a melodramatic over the top matyr driven story this was. It has great acting from Anthony Hopkins and cast but WOW Brad Pitt and his pouty lips. Let's take a moment.
Let''s also recap how incredibly torturous this movie really was, and me and all my girlfriends LOVED it when it came out. We would rent it and watch it even though we knew this happened:
Samuel the little brother (the E.T. child actor) gets tangled up during the war in barbed wire, is blinded, and is shot and killed while his brother Tristan tries to untangle him.
Then - Tristan cuts Samuel's heart out of his dead body. To keep for future use- which is this:
Tristan then retreats to a tent, cooks his brothers heart and smears his blood on his face, emerging as a reborn Native American even though he is obviously Brad Pitt and still very much a white boy.
Upon returning home to his dad's huge cattle ranch (a dream house) Samuel's new widow falls for Tristan and his long flowing hair as they ride around on horses and she talks and he listens -always looking off from her and avoiding conversation but still having sex with her. In fact, Brad Pitt says about 5 words this entire part. But his long blonde hair speaks volumes.
Huge bouts of anger erupt from Tristan, dealing with his brother's death and feeling responsible, so he packs up to leave and was going to do it without saying goodbye.
He leaves, reutrns later with Native American love in tow, and Samuel's wife has married Tristan's older brother Alfred (yes there was another brother). Chaos ensues. No one is happy.There are babies. There are more deaths. No happiness in sight.
Tristan is killed by a large grizzly bear, probably the one he should have shot years ago on the ranch, and this death is narrated with empathy by the Native American narrator which gives it a mystical quality, but still he is mauled to death.
Alfred's wife with the really pretty long curly hair who loved Tristan the entire time, shoots herself out of extreme grief. THE END.
GO GATORS! This game is getting tight now- I'm going to pretend like Legends of the Fall isn't on right now and get back out of the house, keeping track of Gator score. There aren't any tissues in the house, and my high school dreams of unrequited love are OVER.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Iggy Pop - Candy
"Geez it's been twenty years..Candy" In my opinion the best love song ever written in modern pop.
Mix Tape
I have recently recovered a big plastic bag full of cassettes I used to listen to in my childhood room and in my very awesome Toyota Tercel back in the day. No sentimental love notes here folks, just some laugh out louds at the highly eclectic mix of music I loved. Here are just a few: Yes it's pretty bad mixed with some good- just like the fashions of high school in 1991.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Lighten up already
Hello friends from far and near. Wow it's been a tough week out there, especially for women, homeless people and women. Also, I have noticed a HUGE increase in terrible grammar and spelling on the news and on the internet, among comments, scrolls and even on the morning news (GMA). Yes I know we are much more concerned with Hot Topics like Jessica Simpson and her big ole milk teeth but can we not even get the spelling correct on something that MILLIONS of people are reading (or maybe they aren't....) Sigh. The world is going to Hades in a cheap knock off man purse real fast folks. I need a tissue.
Anyway, How is it going for you all out there? Are we still holding on to our careers, our dreams or just happy to settle for some bad reality tv every night, our dreams out there are not in our hearts anymore (God I really hope that's not the case for any one you).
In this country of easy food, cheap entertainment and low rent insults, I would like to advise every one of you to get the heck out of your home and job today, tonight and tomorrow and breathe in mother nature. I mean GET OUT> Turn off the tv, the interwebs, turn off the voices of people you don't really care about (FB) and get back into what is real and who you are. You might say "Well I have never really liked the dirt anyway, I'm a mall girl" ...Well after my short meditative prayer for your sorry soul, I would say "Hello sunshine..you are made of dirt, you are made of the dust of stars, all carbon and blood and gristle and such so get back to nature and say hello to your one celled ancestors." Or I might say something less "all in my head" like
"Hey friend, it's all good, how about just going outside in barefeet, or digging a garden up, or putting on the jogging suit for a nice run in the sunshine for a while and just ignore all that snow- because I'm in Florida and I forget about The North sometimes. "
Last weekend was turn it off weekend, I tried hard. We watch some stuff via Netflix but truly don't watch alot of tv shows anymore. Internet is just as invasive, so sometimes i just get on here and write, or use good old Office to add to millions of documents and ideas I have created over the years (to be heralded as the better and female version of Hemingway and the better and male version of O'Conner when I die as happens to all great talent hee hee). Jonathan Franzen wrote his wonderful works in a room with the internet turned OFF. No wonder why his work has been obviously edited to death and offers up such a clear vision of characters and plot (ok there are not really plots with him but there is an arc) - they were written in a vacuum, without the online comments, the constant chatter and the interruption of other's opinions.
Get back to Real, get back to you. It does a person good. It has for me. Yes, I write alot on this space of things that bother me, but then I go out into the real world and try to do something about it. life is not a discussion board, it's action. And it's Out There.
Anyway, How is it going for you all out there? Are we still holding on to our careers, our dreams or just happy to settle for some bad reality tv every night, our dreams out there are not in our hearts anymore (God I really hope that's not the case for any one you).
In this country of easy food, cheap entertainment and low rent insults, I would like to advise every one of you to get the heck out of your home and job today, tonight and tomorrow and breathe in mother nature. I mean GET OUT> Turn off the tv, the interwebs, turn off the voices of people you don't really care about (FB) and get back into what is real and who you are. You might say "Well I have never really liked the dirt anyway, I'm a mall girl" ...Well after my short meditative prayer for your sorry soul, I would say "Hello sunshine..you are made of dirt, you are made of the dust of stars, all carbon and blood and gristle and such so get back to nature and say hello to your one celled ancestors." Or I might say something less "all in my head" like
"Hey friend, it's all good, how about just going outside in barefeet, or digging a garden up, or putting on the jogging suit for a nice run in the sunshine for a while and just ignore all that snow- because I'm in Florida and I forget about The North sometimes. "
Last weekend was turn it off weekend, I tried hard. We watch some stuff via Netflix but truly don't watch alot of tv shows anymore. Internet is just as invasive, so sometimes i just get on here and write, or use good old Office to add to millions of documents and ideas I have created over the years (to be heralded as the better and female version of Hemingway and the better and male version of O'Conner when I die as happens to all great talent hee hee). Jonathan Franzen wrote his wonderful works in a room with the internet turned OFF. No wonder why his work has been obviously edited to death and offers up such a clear vision of characters and plot (ok there are not really plots with him but there is an arc) - they were written in a vacuum, without the online comments, the constant chatter and the interruption of other's opinions.
Get back to Real, get back to you. It does a person good. It has for me. Yes, I write alot on this space of things that bother me, but then I go out into the real world and try to do something about it. life is not a discussion board, it's action. And it's Out There.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Florida House of Representatives - HB 395 - Abortion (JIMMY PATRONIS)
Florida House of Representatives - HB 395 - Abortion
I would like to take the time on my teeny tiny blog to say thank you to all those big men over there in NW FL (some of whom I went to school with in Panama City) for being so considerate of us little women. Thank you for Thinking For Us, For Guiding Us in Life's Big Decisions, For Leading us Out of the Depths of Our Despair Because We Just Don't Know What To Do With Ourselves and Need Your Educated and Wise Advice On What to Do With our Bodies.
Thank you, Politicians as you fight the good fight and take time to work on the important issues like the high illiteracy rate in NW FL, the high child abuse rate, the massive need for higher paying jobs with benefits, and the need for intense pill mill regulations and drug abuse rehab centers for those less fortunate than you who cannot afford to "get better" and go to a good four year party school like we all did. Amen for fighting the fight that means so much to you. Thank you for selling your souls to the polls that tell you joining the conservative movement (or what is left of it, because it's been taken over by truth deniers and paranoid people) is the thing to do now. I am surprised, truly, because I thought some of you were actually Smart. But Smart doesn't get you to Washington, does it Not So Young Men from the Panhandle with an eye on that ladder to DC?
No, Choosing Sides does. mm mm mm.
Well, my life's decisions less worrisome now, as some men across our country have once again decided to take it upon themselves to make decisions for me. WHEW!! I guess I'll join the Quiverfull cult and just let my 20 children do the rest...the important stuff like laundry, baking, and quilting.
Oh well, nothing against quilting...
I would like to take the time on my teeny tiny blog to say thank you to all those big men over there in NW FL (some of whom I went to school with in Panama City) for being so considerate of us little women. Thank you for Thinking For Us, For Guiding Us in Life's Big Decisions, For Leading us Out of the Depths of Our Despair Because We Just Don't Know What To Do With Ourselves and Need Your Educated and Wise Advice On What to Do With our Bodies.
Thank you, Politicians as you fight the good fight and take time to work on the important issues like the high illiteracy rate in NW FL, the high child abuse rate, the massive need for higher paying jobs with benefits, and the need for intense pill mill regulations and drug abuse rehab centers for those less fortunate than you who cannot afford to "get better" and go to a good four year party school like we all did. Amen for fighting the fight that means so much to you. Thank you for selling your souls to the polls that tell you joining the conservative movement (or what is left of it, because it's been taken over by truth deniers and paranoid people) is the thing to do now. I am surprised, truly, because I thought some of you were actually Smart. But Smart doesn't get you to Washington, does it Not So Young Men from the Panhandle with an eye on that ladder to DC?
No, Choosing Sides does. mm mm mm.
Well, my life's decisions less worrisome now, as some men across our country have once again decided to take it upon themselves to make decisions for me. WHEW!! I guess I'll join the Quiverfull cult and just let my 20 children do the rest...the important stuff like laundry, baking, and quilting.
Oh well, nothing against quilting...
Monday, March 4, 2013
These Aren’t Your Average Snapshots: Bill Gekas’ Portraits of His Daughter as Classic Paintings
These Aren’t Your Average Snapshots: Bill Gekas’ Portraits of His Daughter as Classic Paintings: Bill Gekas loves taking pictures of his daughter – but these aren’t your average dad’s snaps. Beginning in 2010, the Australian photographer has created a series of portraits inspired by classic paintings, like Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. What originally was intended to...
Saturday, March 2, 2013
This is how we roll...
Our sons wake up at around 6:30 every day..including weekends. So, after an afternoon out in downtown Pensacola with a lite bite at Hub Stacie's (a great landmark bistro with live music) and enjoying music drifting in from the nearby Seville Square, we came home, put our little ones to bed and enjoyed some old people fun with two episodes of "Justified" and called it a night by 11. OLD PEOPLE FUN. Anyway, being an early morning news buff, Saturdays are kindof a downer since the news we have on NBC sucks (sorry Lestor Holt and co.). In exchange for this cultural vacuum, my husband hooks up the youtube on the large screen t.v and peruses funny clips to brighten the day. Lo and behold I have discovered Key and Peele. We don't have Comedy Channel (who needs it, You Tube.) and this clip i found very funny. If you're game for some un p.c. fun or just love sports humor- this clip is too funny. And oh yeah, good morning. We are hunkered down, waiting for spring, temps will hit low 30's tonight but that didn't stop us from going to the beach twice this week after work, one for just checking in on it to say hello and holy cow the waves, and the other day to watch my man surf. It was awesome. The one thing I love about clear cold nights in the upper FL is the vast amount of stars we could see last night...it was amazing. Camping days ahead for sure. Love to you all, and keep checking in for more worldly insight and wisdom ;0
ENJOY CLIP BELOW - I'm Ready for some SEC football aren't you???
http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/5fndtz/key-and-peele-key---peele--east-west-bowl
ENJOY CLIP BELOW - I'm Ready for some SEC football aren't you???
http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/5fndtz/key-and-peele-key---peele--east-west-bowl
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Gawker Sucks: 6,000+ pageviews
Gawker Sucks: 6,000+ pageviews: Thanks again to the people who have checked out this blog so far. Also, thanks to the Daily Dot for providing this blog with its very firs...
Surf and turf.
Hello friends far and near and in between. In Whoville around here we are a busy little family. Not busy in the walking and texting kind of busy in which people pretend to be busy by answering non urgent text messages from other friends while walking into traffic and/ or forgetting to hold their child's hand while crossing the street- no, the real knd of busy. The busy kind of busy- spending half of your day in a vehicle transporting, picking up, and moving your family members around as needed. Then, in our case spending the last two afternoons at the beach watching my husband learn to surf. The waves are brawling and nasty, calming now but menacing as the front turned our normally aqua and white beaches in to a pit of brown froth and wind that makes sand enter one ear and fly out the other. this is the panhandle in late winter- the locals venturing out, taking advantage of warmer days (above 40 but below 60) to fight the elements of weather that come to us via Texas and the Out West. It teases us and we take the bait. We drove out there the minute after picking our D up from school- us scouring the blasted white sand and finding tons of shells, eating picnic dinner and squinting into the wind watching my husband paddle hard against the waves, riding them in, attempting to stand and trying again. I love this thing- this learning thing we have in common. Trying new things has always been a part of me and I am blessed to find a soul mate in that particular trait. I'm never one to stay "still" and love doing new things and having new experiences. P got his board last year and now a wetsuit, braving the cold and joining the other tribes of local surfers to enter that cold inspiring water. This is a surfing town - SURFING TOWN. There are surf clubs, surf shops, surf heros (Yancy Spencer who has a statue on the beach now) and surf documents filmed here. It is a place of rad people, craft beers, centuries old buildings, gourmet food, and inspirational artsy fartsy kind of things. And it breathes live into me- that feeling of large sprawling college towns, this one with the hills, the bayous and the intense green everywhere due to the canopies of oaks, magnolias and azaleas.
For now, this post will stand as a reminder that I will return later to finish. I have just returned from a family trip and was told by several older second and third cousins who follow this blog that I have a gift. I would call it a love simply because I love to write. However the timing was great because as I was encouraged by many friends the past year, I am currently writing two different types of books that they can enjoy, from me, to be published soon. Be on the lookout- I may get back on Facebook if only to show them off. After all- that's what FB is for right?
For now, this post will stand as a reminder that I will return later to finish. I have just returned from a family trip and was told by several older second and third cousins who follow this blog that I have a gift. I would call it a love simply because I love to write. However the timing was great because as I was encouraged by many friends the past year, I am currently writing two different types of books that they can enjoy, from me, to be published soon. Be on the lookout- I may get back on Facebook if only to show them off. After all- that's what FB is for right?
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Please fellow readers, take the time to read this great clip from Gawker. I grew up in the era of 1980's AIDS paranoia and I remember this great Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. He was like our wise old uncle, the elder tribesman who led many people out of the confusing time of the AIDS outbreak and into the light of educated advice on how to prevent the spread of AIDS, how to deal with the spread, how to approach victims of it (not by quarantine as some more fearful people suggested back then) and demonstrated with tact and steadiness the way to disseminate the TRUTH about AIDS.
It was a time, the 80's. It was not the best of times, and not the worst. But definitely a time worth revisiting if only to remember how far we've come in the era of mass information and how best to spread truth instead of paranoia and fear.
Link here : http://gawker.com/5986875/remembering-c-everett-koops-groundbreaking-controversial-aids-introduction-brochure?post=57779522
PLEASE READ :)
It was a time, the 80's. It was not the best of times, and not the worst. But definitely a time worth revisiting if only to remember how far we've come in the era of mass information and how best to spread truth instead of paranoia and fear.
Link here : http://gawker.com/5986875/remembering-c-everett-koops-groundbreaking-controversial-aids-introduction-brochure?post=57779522
PLEASE READ :)
Seth MacFarlane killed it at the Oscars.
If you did not see the live Academy Award show Sunday night, you didn't really miss much. I mean, do we ever really miss much when we don't watch these shows, except maybe for some common conversation at work or with friends on Facebook? But I was very glad I did, for one reason - Seth MacFarlane.
Like the past few years, I have been anticipating the chosen hosts (Ricky Gervais who also killed it despite Hollywood's dislike for him) with glee because i appreciate their particular intelligent sense of humor. I can't stand the catering silliness of Billy Crystal, the wacky zaniness of Hugh Jackman and those types. They carefully tip'toe around the egos of Hollywood - the directors and actors who act like kids not chosen to be on a side in "Red Rover" when picked on in any way.
Seth has been somewhat picked on the past few days but thankfully the sensible people who have no dog in the fight are standing up and saying 'Chill the heck out, and get your sense of humor back America." He was witty and sharp. He made a joke about boobs being shown in film and I got what he meant. Despite being put in the framework of a silly song, the song "We saw your boobs" was a very sharp point about the fact that actresses willingly put their tatas on for everyone to see, get paid millions for it, and then cry for women's equality in their industry. I get it- people get naked for film/art and I appreciate that, but the hypocrisy of humans in Hollywoodville is astounding - and they don't like it pointed out to them.
The jokes kept coming, about Chris Brown, Mel Gibson, etc and I was delighted at the way MacFarlane poked fun at his peers without that tinge of bitterness that Gervais seemed to enjoy. MacFarlane came to fling poo at his peers, taunting them while they squirmed in their satin covered seats, but he did it like the nerdy kid in the room of cool people, throwing antics around to see what would fly and what wouldn't.
I was very glad to see that Charlize Theron openly supported MacFarlane's hosting act, laughing with him afterwards and it seems from interviews that she likes that type of dry humor. I am glad he has some people in his corner - the job of Oscar host these days is more like a witch burning trial. People are so sensitive, looking for that next homophobic slip, that bigoted slur and sometimes, I have a feeling - finding outrage when there is none to be found. I think this is definitely the case with MacFarlane. His show The Family Guy, while obviously inspired by The Simpsons, is always peeling back the layers of human stupidity, especially among the very rich, the famous and the supposedly educated elite in our country. The tons of anti- MacFarlane articles following the show reveal another important reality- our writers (Salon, Slate, etc) seem to care more about calling a comedian "tasteless" (like Carson was so angelic) and less about writing about real stories (like the supposed journalists they are).
MacFarlane has said he would never do that show again. too bad. It got great ratings and at least some of us GOT what he was saying, the rest need to be led by the hand, cradled in organic down and fed little silly lies that life is great, we should all feel important, and that directors need not have a sense of humor because they are making movies that twist the truth to win Gold (Affleck, I'm talking to you.)
Good times, and great show - the fashions were all boring as everyone is too scared to take chances anymore. "How to Survive a Plague" about the emergence of AIDS and the San Fran's community's fight during the 80's and 90's did not win for best doc, and it should have. That's all.
Like the past few years, I have been anticipating the chosen hosts (Ricky Gervais who also killed it despite Hollywood's dislike for him) with glee because i appreciate their particular intelligent sense of humor. I can't stand the catering silliness of Billy Crystal, the wacky zaniness of Hugh Jackman and those types. They carefully tip'toe around the egos of Hollywood - the directors and actors who act like kids not chosen to be on a side in "Red Rover" when picked on in any way.
Seth has been somewhat picked on the past few days but thankfully the sensible people who have no dog in the fight are standing up and saying 'Chill the heck out, and get your sense of humor back America." He was witty and sharp. He made a joke about boobs being shown in film and I got what he meant. Despite being put in the framework of a silly song, the song "We saw your boobs" was a very sharp point about the fact that actresses willingly put their tatas on for everyone to see, get paid millions for it, and then cry for women's equality in their industry. I get it- people get naked for film/art and I appreciate that, but the hypocrisy of humans in Hollywoodville is astounding - and they don't like it pointed out to them.
The jokes kept coming, about Chris Brown, Mel Gibson, etc and I was delighted at the way MacFarlane poked fun at his peers without that tinge of bitterness that Gervais seemed to enjoy. MacFarlane came to fling poo at his peers, taunting them while they squirmed in their satin covered seats, but he did it like the nerdy kid in the room of cool people, throwing antics around to see what would fly and what wouldn't.
I was very glad to see that Charlize Theron openly supported MacFarlane's hosting act, laughing with him afterwards and it seems from interviews that she likes that type of dry humor. I am glad he has some people in his corner - the job of Oscar host these days is more like a witch burning trial. People are so sensitive, looking for that next homophobic slip, that bigoted slur and sometimes, I have a feeling - finding outrage when there is none to be found. I think this is definitely the case with MacFarlane. His show The Family Guy, while obviously inspired by The Simpsons, is always peeling back the layers of human stupidity, especially among the very rich, the famous and the supposedly educated elite in our country. The tons of anti- MacFarlane articles following the show reveal another important reality- our writers (Salon, Slate, etc) seem to care more about calling a comedian "tasteless" (like Carson was so angelic) and less about writing about real stories (like the supposed journalists they are).
MacFarlane has said he would never do that show again. too bad. It got great ratings and at least some of us GOT what he was saying, the rest need to be led by the hand, cradled in organic down and fed little silly lies that life is great, we should all feel important, and that directors need not have a sense of humor because they are making movies that twist the truth to win Gold (Affleck, I'm talking to you.)
Good times, and great show - the fashions were all boring as everyone is too scared to take chances anymore. "How to Survive a Plague" about the emergence of AIDS and the San Fran's community's fight during the 80's and 90's did not win for best doc, and it should have. That's all.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
wish list.
As we move on from Grammy season (did anyone watch that show...it was pretty amazing mostly for being super cheesy but there were a few bright spots like the collaboration with Mumford and Jack White's spot.) I am creating my personal wish list for the next music festival we go to see. I have seen many many live music acts and there are still a few that I'd like to see before I retire to the condo in the sky. Here is my wish list:
Foo Fighters (for the third time)
Mumford and Sons (sooo hoping to see this incredible band this year)
Tom Petty - singing about ole 441 would bring back so many memories of PCB and Gainesville too. (after many near misses, hope to see him too)
Fleet Foxes (I would "camp out' for this band, like we do for our extra worthy must see performances)
fun. I know this band draws some ire for not being alternative and too poppy but the members are from indie groups and together are super talented. Nate's voice is like Queen's Freddie Mercury tone mixed with a touch of younger anxiety. Plus, I love "Some Nights" and have listened to it for months now. It's a great anthem.
Alabama Shakes - "come on BRIT-NAY!" I love how she sings the blues and have been touting this band for a year now. My kids sing every word and the first riff gets everyone going. Waiting for a full length album from them and hoping they are on board for some summer fests this year. Talent from the South always makes me happy.
The Black Keys- I can't help it, this band is somewhat over hyped but I recognize their full blown rock and roll and it sounds fresh as heck. Similar to my love for Jack White, the deep growling rock sound they have would be great to see live, finally.
Jack White- he made it to the Hangout Fest last year, just an hour away from us, but the time of year is bad for us and during that weekend I had to be content with the fact that he was playing literally down the beach. Ouch it hurt. Come back Jack White! Our college town needs some pasty white rock and roll goodness!
That's it for now, my true career as a parent is calling. You hear it- so do I. Hungry boys and declarations of potty words. Excellent time to start dreaming of the next big fest. Bring it on!
Foo Fighters (for the third time)
Mumford and Sons (sooo hoping to see this incredible band this year)
Tom Petty - singing about ole 441 would bring back so many memories of PCB and Gainesville too. (after many near misses, hope to see him too)
Fleet Foxes (I would "camp out' for this band, like we do for our extra worthy must see performances)
fun. I know this band draws some ire for not being alternative and too poppy but the members are from indie groups and together are super talented. Nate's voice is like Queen's Freddie Mercury tone mixed with a touch of younger anxiety. Plus, I love "Some Nights" and have listened to it for months now. It's a great anthem.
Alabama Shakes - "come on BRIT-NAY!" I love how she sings the blues and have been touting this band for a year now. My kids sing every word and the first riff gets everyone going. Waiting for a full length album from them and hoping they are on board for some summer fests this year. Talent from the South always makes me happy.
The Black Keys- I can't help it, this band is somewhat over hyped but I recognize their full blown rock and roll and it sounds fresh as heck. Similar to my love for Jack White, the deep growling rock sound they have would be great to see live, finally.
Jack White- he made it to the Hangout Fest last year, just an hour away from us, but the time of year is bad for us and during that weekend I had to be content with the fact that he was playing literally down the beach. Ouch it hurt. Come back Jack White! Our college town needs some pasty white rock and roll goodness!
That's it for now, my true career as a parent is calling. You hear it- so do I. Hungry boys and declarations of potty words. Excellent time to start dreaming of the next big fest. Bring it on!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tesla and Iron Man AKA Elon Musk fire back
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/02/14/broder_vs_tesla_data_and_the_new_york_times_on_electric_cars.html
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Mardi Gras! And the King Cake (and the little baby Jesus thing they bake into the cake...explained)
King cake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Louisiana-style King Cake: a cinnamon-roll like cake inside with sugary icing with traditional Mardi Gras colored sprinkles on the outside. The baby figurine is seen in the middle of the roll | |
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Alternativename(s) | Kingcake, kings' cake, king's cake, three kings cake |
| Type | Cake |
A king cake (sometimes rendered as kingcake, kings' cake, king's cake, or three kings cake) is a type of cake associated with the festival of Epiphany in the Christmas season in a number of countries, and in other places with the pre-Lenten celebrations of Mardi Gras / Carnival. It is a popular food item during the Christmas season (Christmas Eve to Epiphany) in Lebanon, France, Belgium, Quebec and Switzerland (galette or gâteau des Rois), Portugal (bolo rei), Spain, and Spanish America (roscón or rosca de reyes and tortell in Catalonia), Greece and Cyprus (vasilopita) and Bulgaria (banitsa). In the United States, Carnival is traditionally observed in the Southeastern region of the country, particularly in New Orleans, Mobile, AL, Pensacola, FL, other towns and cities of theMississippi Gulf Coast, on the southeast Texas island of Galveston, and Louisiana. In this region, the king cake is closely associated with Mardi Gras traditions and is served throughout the Carnival season, which lasts from Epiphany Eve to Fat Tuesday.
The cake has a small trinket (often a small plastic baby, said to represent Baby Jesus) inside (or sometimes placed underneath), and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations.
Contents[hide] |
[edit]History
The "king cake" takes its name from the biblical three kings. In Catholic liturgical tradition, the Solemnity of Epiphany - commemorated on January 6th - celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. The Eve of Epiphany (the night of January 5th) is popularly known as Twelfth Night (the Twelve Days of Christmas are counted from Christmas Eve until this night). The season for king cake extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Twelfth Night and Epiphany Day), up until Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday;" the day before the start of Lent. Some organizations or groups of friends may have "king cake parties" every week through the Carnival season. In Portugal, whoever gets the King cake trinket is expected to buy the next cake for these get-togethers.
Related culinary traditions are the tortell of Catalonia, the gâteau des Rois in Provence or the galette des Rois in the northern half of France, and the Greek andCypriot vasilopita. The galette des Rois is made with puff pastry and frangipane (while the gâteau des Rois is made with brioche and candied fruits). A little bean was traditionally hidden in it, a custom taken from the Saturnalia in the Roman Empire: the one who stumbled upon the bean was called "king of the feast." In the galette des Rois, since 1870 the beans have been replaced first by porcelain and now by plastic figurines. The gâteau des Rois is known as Rosca de Reyes in Mexico.
Samuel Pepys (whose wife was French) recorded a party in London on Epiphany night, 6 January 1659/1660: "...to my cousin Stradwick, where, after a good supper, there being there my father, mothers, brothers, and sister, my cousin Scott and his wife, Mr. Drawwater and his wife, and her brother, Mr. Stradwick, we had a brave cake brought us, and in the choosing, Pall was Queen and Mr. Stradwick was King. After that my wife and I bid adieu and came home, it being still a great frost."[1]The choosing of King and Queen from the pie, usually by the inclusion of a bean and a pea, was a traditional English Twelfth Night festivity.
It is sometimes baked into a traditional style cake, rather than a braided cake.
[edit]Gulf Coast king cake
In the southern United States, the tradition was brought to the area by colonists from France and Spain and is associated with Carnival (also known as Mardi Gras). Celebrated across the Gulf Coast region from the Florida Panhandle to East Texas, it originated in French Louisiana and King cake parties in New Orleans are documented back to the eighteenth c of the Louisiana tradition comes in a number of styles. The most simple, said to be the most traditional, is a ring of twisted cinnamon roll-style bread topped with icing or sugar, usually colored purple, green, and gold (the traditional Mardi Gras colors) with food coloring. In 1972, a small bakery in Picayune, Mississippi, Paul's Pastry, started adding fillings to king cakes - the most common being cream cheese, praline, cinnamon, or strawberry. A so-called "Zulu King Cake" has chocolate icing with a coconut filling, because the Krewe of Zulu parade's most celebrated throw is a coconut. Also, some bakers have now taken the liberty to offer king cakes for other holidays that immediately surround Mardi Gras season, such as green and red-icing king cakes for Christmas, red and pink-icing cakes for Valentine's Day, and green and white-icing cakes for St. Patrick's Day. Others have gone a step further and produce specialty king cakes from the beginning of football season for Louisiana State University and New Orleans Saints tailgate parties, then for Halloween, then Thanksgiving - and do not cease until after Mardi Gras season with an Easter holiday king cake. It has become customary in the Southern culture that whoever finds the trinket must provide the next king cake or host the next Mardi Gras party.
[edit]King cake in Spanish-speaking countries
The roscón de reyes in Spain or rosca de reyes in Latin America is traditionally eaten on January 6, during the celebration of the DÃa de los reyes magos (the "Day of the Three Wisemen"). In most of Spain, Mexico and in Latino communities in the United States, this is the day when children get presents from the Three Wise Men. Before going to bed, children in Mexico leave a shoe outside their home, filled with hay or dried grass and a bowl of water as a present for the animals the reyesride, along with a note for the reyes. The rosca de reyes has an oval shape to symbolize a crown. For decoration, people sometimes use dried and candied fruits such as figs, quince or cherries. The fruit symbolizes the many jewels that a crown would have.
The tradition of placing a bean, candy or figurine of the baby Jesus inside the cake is followed. Whoever finds it must take it to the nearest church on February 2, DÃa de la candelaria (Candlemas Day), which celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. According to the Jewish tradition, an infant was to be presented to God in the Temple forty days after his birth. The use of candles on Candlemas represents the light of Christ presented to the world. In Mexico and the Mexican diaspora in the United States, people who find the baby Jesus figurine in their piece of cake usually agree to host a party on February 2 and to provide the guests withtamales and atole.
In Argentina, the tradition of consuming a rosca on January 6 is also followed, although no figurine is included. In addition, a similar version with whole cooked eggs on top of the cake is also served on Easter as rosca de Pascua.
In some places, the rosca de reyes is replaced by panettone.
A traditional galette without figurine or crown is served at Elysée Palace in January.[citation needed]
[edit]French king cake
The cake traditionally celebrating Epiphany in France and Quebec is sold in most bakeries during the month of January. Two versions exist: in northern France and Quebec the cake called galette des rois (which can be either circular or rectangular) consists of flaky puff pastry layers with a dense center of frangipane. In southern France - Occitania, Roussillon, Provence, Catalan where it´s called tortell - the cake called gâteau des rois or royaume, is a torus-shaped brioche with candied fruitsand sugar, similar in its shape and colours to a crown. This later version is also common to Spain and very similar to New-Orleans king cake.
Tradition holds that the cake is “to draw the kings” to the Epiphany. A figurine, la fève, which can represent anything from a car to a cartoon character, is hidden in the cake and the person who finds the trinket in their slice becomes king for the day and will have to offer the next cake. Originally, la fève was literally a broad bean(fève), but it was replaced in 1870 by a variety of figurines out of porcelain or—more recently—plastic. These figurines have become popular collectibles and can often be bought separately. Individual bakeries may offer a specialized line of fèves depicting diverse themes from great works of art to classic movie stars and popular cartoon characters. The cakes are usually sold in special bags, some of which can be used to heat the cake in a microwave without ruining the crispness of the cake. A paper crown is included with the cake to crown the "king" who finds the fève in their piece of cake. To ensure a random distribution of the cake shares, it is traditional for the youngest person to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of the share which is indicated by the person in charge of the service.
Formerly, one divided the cake in as many shares as guests, plus one. The latter, called "the share of God," "share of the Virgin Mary," or "share of the poor" was intended for the first poor person to arrive at the home.
The French President is not allowed to “draw the kings” on Epiphany because of the etiquette rules. Therefore, a traditional galette without figurine or crown is served at Elysée Palace in January.[citation needed]
[edit]See also
Friday, February 8, 2013
IT'S Time for Beads and Debauchery (Mardis Gras)
Besides that, I have a wonderful educational tool to share if you are a weather buff like me...thefuckingweather.com is the most fun. Please visit and put in any location you like to see if the Snowpocolypse 2013 (because now there is one every year either due to climate change, due to fact that they have always happened but people are just big giant babies these days and live in states of mild hysteria due to media hand wringing or a combination of both). It's a fun site and was brought to my attention through Gawker. In the meantime, if you're not hunkering down for another Snowpocolypse, we in the general vicinity of New Orleans (or 4 hours away) are getting ready for a weekend of Mardi Gras fun. My house has always been into Mardi Gras fun, and I have fun memories of New Orleans over the years. If we ever had the chance to live there (and have same income) I would in a heartbeat. It is gritty, it has problems, it smells like low lying salt water, river mud, spicy seafood and cheap beer. I'm in!
I don't do the whole gumbo thing in our home but we like to get out to events like the 12th Night Parade, the parades and really enjoyed the one Krewe Ball we attended last year (tickets sales buying books for the schools). This area of the Gulf of Mexico including Pensacola, Mobile (site of the first Mardi Gras parades) and New Orleans goes all out for the season, with beads on trees in front yards, door decorated, and the streets lined with bedazzled Krewe Court Members during Gallery Night and other events before the big weekend. In our family, we chose a long time ago to get out and see the sights in every city we have lived in, and this is no different. Life is too short to stay inside and let the t.v. lull you into a day of numbness...in any account, even before we had kids we were like this and now no different.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
I don't do the whole gumbo thing in our home but we like to get out to events like the 12th Night Parade, the parades and really enjoyed the one Krewe Ball we attended last year (tickets sales buying books for the schools). This area of the Gulf of Mexico including Pensacola, Mobile (site of the first Mardi Gras parades) and New Orleans goes all out for the season, with beads on trees in front yards, door decorated, and the streets lined with bedazzled Krewe Court Members during Gallery Night and other events before the big weekend. In our family, we chose a long time ago to get out and see the sights in every city we have lived in, and this is no different. Life is too short to stay inside and let the t.v. lull you into a day of numbness...in any account, even before we had kids we were like this and now no different.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
No, I really don't like guns at all anymore and think the rise in gun ownership is a sign of something truly ugly in our country.
Also, I know I'm not the only one who is in awe at the sheer high number of scared white people buying guns and ammo these days? Our local Walmarts and Academy Sports (which I've renamed Academy for bubbas and redneck princesses without brains) are selling out of ammo and I have seen long lines at these places for such items. It's weird. Perhaps having a black president for a Second Term has really scared them into paranoia justification for buying these weapons. Perhaps all the crazies who are shooting innocent people therefor sending the current administration into some tighter gun laws (you know, like just doing mental health background checks and putting some restrictions on guns that should only be found in war??) are what is driving up gun sales. All those scared people, their fear is making me scared in return, not of Obama, but of them.
I'm ready to hunker down...against the scared white man who has lost control of reality. I am officially anti- crazy white people. They are the ones to fear, the ones who think taking target lessons is "cool" and packing heat is the trendy new thing (you know, because it IS the Wild West out there). Those are the ones to be wary of, walking among us. Better watch out whose homes your children play in, better watch out for those walking dead among us - the ones with fear in their eyes but rational reasons for their gun ownership - they are really just wanting to hunt deer. They are ready for the unknown comming POCOLYPSE.
You were warned.
I'm ready to hunker down...against the scared white man who has lost control of reality. I am officially anti- crazy white people. They are the ones to fear, the ones who think taking target lessons is "cool" and packing heat is the trendy new thing (you know, because it IS the Wild West out there). Those are the ones to be wary of, walking among us. Better watch out whose homes your children play in, better watch out for those walking dead among us - the ones with fear in their eyes but rational reasons for their gun ownership - they are really just wanting to hunt deer. They are ready for the unknown comming POCOLYPSE.
You were warned.
In other news
This! http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/europe/richard-iii-search-announcement/index.html?hpt=hp_t1#
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
"Justified" Is the best new/old show on tv right now. Watch it or I'll come find you!!
Link via Salon. com here: “Justified’s” Joelle Carter on breaking bad but don't read it if you care about spoilers (we are only into season two and I don't mind spoilers that much...it still leaves alot to the imagination. Anyway, short memo to people who love good writing and witty entertainment- "Justified" is your show. For two years, we kept ignoring it on Netflix instant, but I couldn't resist the temptation to fill a void left by "Sherlock" until they release new seasons and I also kept seeing the online buzz about it. Timothy Olyphant was always a big deal to us since we loved him in "Deadwood" (ooh how I miss that great show!). So, you take a few actors, producers and writers from "Deadwood" and give them some time on AMC and there pops out "Justified" which I would say is like Deadwood Light, but really that woudl be doing it a disservice. It takes place in small town Kentucky and Olyphant plays Rayland, a Fed Marshall who has some bad history. He is back home and with a quiet zest for trouble goes about dealing with all the bad elements in town. This sounds too simple, believe me it's not. The writers are great at weaving more complex stories together and the characters that live in this town are not some simple rednecks. They are people who walk the fine line between good and bad, they are survivors in bad economic times, they justify their bad behavior and they mirror Rayland's inner demons. The show is great, it has very strong roles for women (in case anyone was wringing their little hands over that overwrought topic) and every episode has gotten better. Don't write it off as some watered down "Sheriff's in town" type show, it covers more cultural ground that most PBS shows do in one weekend, touching on race issues, economic issues and the most important ones- human issues that anyone can relate too. More importantly, it's all done with the most humorous writing I have seen in a long time. It's Very Funny. And that's hard to find sometimes. Adult humor spread throughout some serious storylines, made for adults who are smart enough to read into the subtext for intelligent and funny entertainment.
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