Dress for Success...

So on my Google homepage today there is this WikiHow:

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Glamorous-1940s-Femme-Fatale

Before I go on, let me say, I love WikiHow. I love the idea of a daily how to improve or change your life. I love the idea of a small step by step guide on how to be new or different. I love Wikipedia.

I do not love the idea of people actually trying to dress like its the 194os everyday.

Dont get me wrong. If theres a thing, I will be the first one to donn the duds. Ask around. This chica does not need an excuse for a get up.

But this particular how to lists a couple of must haves that I simply cannot support.

Number one: Ditch your jeans. - And do the house work in what? Your skivvys?? This is not Stepford.
Number two: Donn a marlin spike. - Unless it is October 31, i dont think so.
Number three: Wrap yourself in fur - I say, if you are going the Golden Corral, you can leave the fur coat at home.

I guess my point is this, I am all about women looking feminine. I am trying to add more dresses to my wardrobe rotation. Looking pretty makes you feel good about yourself and towards the world.
If you want to adopt some of the more classic looks from the 40s (black eye liner, red lipstick, dark hair, chic clothes) I am all about it.

I just have to tell you Wiki, if you were a chick and I saw you in Evansville in an evening gown at the local walmart. I would have to mock and jeer.

Where have all the Conan gone?

Heard an interesting interview on NPR the other day on my way to work. A man, a retired military man (20 years active) has written at big thing (book, essay, something) about how the use of the word HERO is overwrought in America today especially amongst the military. He went on about his theory and what not and it was an interesting perspective but what got to me was this.

The definition of a hero goes something like this:

- a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
- a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability
- an immortal being; demigod

So we use this word today, HERO. And what does it mean? Nothing like that. It might be appropriate to say that someone acted heroically. But that someone is a Hero?
I am always amused by the changes in words their connotations and evolutions.

So why do we say that someone is a hero? Because we need them to still exist? I can't think of the last honest to God hero. Moses? Samson? The Apostles? Maybe just Jesus?
Is this one of those attempts to believe there is a little divinity in all of us? That any of us can be a hero? That a mere mortal might gain the title simply by choosing a more dangerous occupation?

Im kind of rambling I know. Its just a thought. Wheres the divinity? Wheres the honor? Wheres the calling? Where have all the cowboys gone?

Sing me a new song...

Do you know what I mean when I say I've lost my umph...? Its so very frustrating. Im not really sure what happened. It was there, and then it wasnt.
And I dont just mean my energy. I mean my joie de vive. I dont cook. I dont sing. Or if I do these things hold no pleasure for me. Even coming up with something to write about on here seems painful like a chore.

If I wasnt me I would say I'm depressed. I cant bring myself to use the word';im not really unhappy. Im just un-empassioned. My life lacks mania.

I am a straight un-ending line. I am the horizon.

What is Rock and Roll?

Do you ever stop to think about rock and roll?
I dont mean heavy metal or grunge rock, I mean the original rock and roll, the kind our parents listened too when they thought their parents were out of earshot.
Ever since I was little my did would stay up late with his albums (I really mean vinyl) and his headphones and listen to Bob Seger and Neil Diamond and Led Zeppelin.
I remember those times vividly because he was so engrossed in those songs, those times. I have to wonder what is it about rock n roll that was so life changing?
Now a days we have rap, gangster and otherwise, r & b, softrock, classic rock, alternative, ska, blues such a myriad of sound that it is impossible to even know what comes out on a regular basis.
Was music better in the says of Janis and Jimi and Dylan??
Do we not cling today to the hits of yesterday because they stopped making good music?
Will we sit with our CD's and listen for hours to the musical stylings of Marshall Mathers or the Killers or Kenny Chesney?
So few songs today have the staying power of The Watchtower or Bobby McGee.
I just wonder, did rock n roll die? Or is it just so dilute today that no one really cares.

Admiral Nelson

My cat is named after a horse. George Washington's white horse. The one in all the paintings.
While one name is often as good as another and being named after a horse has no bearing on my kitty, I often laugh at the choice.
Because my cat is not a cat. At least, I dont think he learned to be a cat. He is a cat that grew up with prairie dogs.

Nelson likes to talk - prairie dogs are very vocal
Nelson sits on his hind legs and surveys the land - essence of prairie dog
Nelson likes to play fight and will chase his own tail if left unattended - have you every watched p.d. cubs play?

In fact there are very few cat like things that Nelson does do.

Nelson drinks tomato juice.
He likes to roll in the dirt. And then not clean himself.
Nelson chews on shoes.
He likes to go for walks.

People get a cat because they want a cat who does cat like things.
It figures I would get a cat who doesnt even know how to do that...

Tuesdays with Morrie

Povich? a girl from my bio class asked. Ha!

Well if you haven't read the book join the club. Oh wait. Dangit!
So I have to read Tuesdays with Morrie for my Gerontology class.
I never wanted to read this book. I purposefully avoided reading this book. And now here I am, reading the book.
Why, you ask, do I feel so strongly about this book?
Well its about a man and his battle with ALS.
Its not even a battle so much as him looking at death and giving it a hug.
So he knows hes going to dies and he spends all of his time with friends and family and has a really positive out look on what is coming.

Ick.

Sun and Soil

Do you have a desire to grow things? I do. Something about the communion with the dirt. The sweat while your digging and eating things that you grew with your bare hands. And its the silliest thing because we all know what a short attention span I have. I kill things, I dont grow them.
But here we go again with a garden and my husband is humoring me.

Its probably because we have decided not to move from our terrible little apartment, for the duration of our lives in indiana and he wants me to be as comfortable as possible. Or maybe its as nostalgic for him as it is me. He had a garden when he was a kid too. We didnt always have a garden but I remember planting tomatoes and radishes with my dad a couple summers. It was always fun checking the plants together and waiting for the first fruits.

Ryan and I jest about moving to Uruguay to be farmers. They still have ranchers and farmers there that can support themselves. I told ryan I will go anywhere if it means I can have horses.
They still have cowboys in Uruguay. And its on the coast. Now if only I could learn to speak spanish.