Open Call

Any of my lovely bloggy buddies out there in the blog sphere have a good meme floating around, waiting to be played with? My blog has been creeping into the serious altogether too much lately (though I, personally, thought Breakfast On The Go was quite amusing – I think it got pushed aside by the post that came after it). Either way, I’m in a meme-ing (not to be confused with miming :-) mood now. I know I had one nice meme emailed to me recently, but , of course, I can’t access that from here. I’ll go ahead and start the meme-ing with a random one I found through some not-so-creative Googling:


When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
I don’t think a whole lot while I’m getting ready in the morning, but I did notice that my skin has been looking really healthy lately (and my hair has been looking crazy in the mornings since I’ve been having such trouble sleeping thanks to the joys of progesterone, I’m glad I wake up before MacGyver).

How much cash do you have on you?

After this weekend, $0.75.


What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

More, wh – oops, nevermind ;-)

Favorite planet?

Um, Earth (that’s where I keep my stuff)

- It’s funny that should come up, too. I just said almost this same line, quoting the Tick, to MacGyver in the shower this weekend, only do discover, much to my chagrin, that he did not know who the Tick was.


Bright or Dark Room?

Depends on what I’m doing in the room. For instance, I hate eating in the dark.


How many drugs have you done in the last three days?

Very few, thanks to Pip. I had a half a pop today, so a little bit of caffeine, and a couple sips of the wonderful Sangiovese Chris bought for one of my recipes last week. Goodness, I miss wine!


What was the last thing you said to someone?

Something about the London Doctrine and Geneva Protocol II.

If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

A million dollars really isn’t that much now, but I still think I’d take the money. I have student loans, a mortgage, and family members who I’d love to help out more.

Where did you live in 1987?

I believe that was our first year on Hooker Rd in MI

Where were you when 9/11 happened?

I was in French class in New Orleans.

- And when Katrina hit New Orleans, I was in Law School in Manhattan. And since we’ve left VA, they’ve been pounded with (I’m told) over 30 inches of snow.


If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

Interesting. I was thinking about this a lot a year or so ago. Tattoos have been a big area of conflict with me. I was around 17 when my mom first told me she’d let me get a tattoo (I went with her when she got hers, a beautiful palm tree on her ankle). But I couldn’t decide what I wanted and wanted something with meaning, so I decided to wait. My dad always wanted me to get a Marine Corps tattoo, but I had to wait until I was commissioned, but then I was thinking about getting the Marine Lawyer symbol, so I had to wait until I finished law school, and, by that point, I was waffling on a tattoo at all. I still love the idea of getting a little praying mantis holding an M16 and wearing an 8 point cover, but I don’t know where I would get it, and that’s big, too. On a lot of summer outings over the last couple years, I’ve checked out tattoos on various women (MacGyver makes fun of me because I check out women at the beach way more than he does, mostly because he wouldn’t do that in front of me –wonderful hubby). And my overall decision? Tattoos look tacky on women over 30. Not always, no one should get offended out there if they have a tattoo, but, in my opinion, as far as whether I would want to have the tattoos I see on these women on me, I see them as tacky. I happen to have a build that allows me to wear backless dresses and plunging necklines (please, Pip, don’t take that away :-), and I feel that those look better without the Invader Zim I thought was so cool when I was 20 peeking out. I came very close to getting a tattoo a number of times over my life. And you know what? I’m very glad I never did.

Would you move for the person you loved?

Please, no more moving, PLEASE! Ha, but yes, I think MacGyver more than deserves that from me once we get out of the Marines.

Name three things that you have on you at all times?

At almost all times I have my wedding ring, my phone, and a pen.


What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

Fair Trade/Equal Exchange Cranberries and Pecans at our new church


Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

He was thinking about dropping a snack off for me at school since we have a really late night tonight.

- Yes, I was in a long term relationship before MacGyver, but I never really loved him, I was just stubborn. Last I heard he had gained a lot of weight and had a kid with his girlfriend, but didn’t live in the same state as them.


Does anything hurt on your body right now?

Haha, this is funny. I’m pregnant - it may only be 9 weeks (tomorrow), but my lower back already hurts most of the day, my knees feel funny, and every time I eat something, I feel uncomfortably full. Not that any of that is meant to be a complaint. Still super excited. It just sounds like a complaint ;-)


Have you been burned by love?

- I’ve been burned by being stubborn and stupid. But having someone turn violent against you isn’t love.

Have you burned others with love?

Well, if they thought they were in love (which I’m sure they did), then yes. Probably quite a few.


How old do you look?

I’m not really sure, but I’ve been lead to believe, especially lately, that I don’t look 27. Yay!

Are you waiting for something?

I’m always plotting waiting for something

Have you ever thought about converting your religion?

I haven’t really been a part of any religions that require “conversion,” so to speak. But I was raised attending a Baptist church, which was a scarring experience, and in my adulthood, have become a Unitarian Universalist with Pagan/Earth centered leanings.

What was the last thing you drank?

Water, ugh.

Who do you most look like in your family?

I look a LOT like my mom, though I’m told I have a lot of my dad’s personality traits.


Have your parents ever smoked pot?

Ha, I don’t think it’s really my place to out my parents on the internet.


What do you order at the bar?

What a mean question, lol. Usually wine – Riesling, Piesporter, or White Zin. It wasn’t that unusual for me to order rum and coke with cherries or SoCo and ginger ale before pip as well. Now I order just straight up ginger ale.

What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter?

Apples, celery – but only with peanut butter with the following ingredients list: Ingredients: Peanuts. I recommend Crazy Richards.

Where were you on July 4th, 2008?

Hmmm – that was a month before we got married. I should be able to remember that. Buuut I don’t.

Aaaaannd, even though I typically don’t do this, I’m going to tag a couple of my lovely readers in an effort to force people to produce a better meme for me to do. I would love to tag everyone who’s commented on the blog in the last 30 days, but that would be a lot of work to put together. If you’ve commented in the last month, consider yourself tagged. But, just to make it stick, here are a few specific tags (all well worth a visit, if I might add):

Alicia at It Ain’t Easy Being Cheesy

Karen at A Peek at Karen’s World

MiMi at Living in France

and, my newest follower,

Tornado Twos

On War

I don't generally lay out a whole lot of my thoughts or opinions on War, The War(s), or current military policy today.  But reading an entry from Redleg Dispatches, a very good blog written by a good friend of mine (Mike) who also happens to be an Artillery Officer in the Army (*gasp* the Army!), got me thinking about something that has been running through my head here and there for a few months now. I encourage everyone to read Mike’s post before reading mine, as his is a little more on point, and mine will make a little more sense following it (I also posted a response there along these same lines). My post doesn’t really boil down to my thoughts on War, nor any real opinion. I think this is more a feeling that I was reminded of yet again reading the recent post in Redleg Dispatches.


* * *

Last week, MacGyver and I went to lunch at the clubs, and we were sitting at the bar. I was indulging myself in their delicious French fries (I know, how terrible! But I had the worst ketchup craving), and my eyes wondered up to the TV behind the bar. They had the History Channel on. I friggin love the History Channel. I get especially excited about documentaries on ancient cultures and religion. But that day when my eyes settled up on the screen, they were filled with graphic images from conflicts in our nation’s past. Nothing new or special. These were vary graphic images, but nothing more extreme than those I routinely see at work, and saw on an almost daily basis the whole time I was at TBS.

And I was immediately filled with sadness and revulsion. I, for one, have not been desensitized to these images. If anything, I’m more sensitive to them now. In these images, I see human beings. I see needless pain and suffering. I see bereft families, dealing with pain I can only imagine. I find these images sickening and grotesque, and am all the more bothered by those around me who don’t.

How can you not see that that is a person? Someone’s child, someone’s spouse. Someone’s sibling, friend, loved one. How can you not think about the pain of that wound? The fear that that person suffered? The pain their loved ones probably struggle with today. How can you just overlook that?

When I lived in Bed-Stuy, it almost became an internal game with me, waiting to see if there would be blood on the stairs of the G train station in the morning on my way to school (I lived in a very bad neighborhood). I can’t imagine that now. Ok, that’s not true. That was a different situation, a different environment, and I had to play it off because there was no way for me to process that in my own front yard every day. But still. Blood on the ground means so much more to me now.

It’s not just phantom blood. It’s violence and pain. Needless violence and pain.

I hate those images now. I have had my fill of violence. I have had my fill of death. Yeah, yeah. I’m a Marine. And don’t think for a minute that this means I am not willing to do my job. I will viciously defend that which is mine to defend. Believe me. But I would rather help people. And I certainly don’t want or need to look at those images to be able to do my job.

Sitting there, having a nice lunch with my husband, I had this feeling again. Of annoyance, of disturbance at these images. An annoyance that I don’t know that I could ever adequately express to someone who hasn’t been exposed to them in the way I have. AND I HAVEN’T EVEN BEEN TO WAR. I have merely been indoctrinated into it. And I don’t think it’s wrong. But I still hate it, and I have had my fill. There is something about spending that much time in that sort of environment, thinking, really thinking, about all sorts of violence and death – death of the enemy, death of comrades, and the very worst in my opinion, deaths of innocents in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Not just being aware of it, not just seeing the images, but thinking, contemplating, discussing, even planning. For months on end. There’s no way I can explain it. It’s just different.

It makes me want to run home and hide in my garden for a year and hang out with the earthworms and the ladybugs and make things grow. I spent this weekend reading, planning, and plotting the garden I want to have when we get to our new place. Self therapy.

The long and short of it? I don’t like images of violence. Not exactly going along with Mike’s blog entry so much at all, but there it is, nonetheless.

Real uplifting for my 300th blog post, eh? Lol.

Now, I know there are at least a couple of my Marine fellows out there who drop into my blog here and there. Do any of you get this feeling ever? Feel free to shoot me an email if you’d rather not comment. And, of course, I joyously welcome all comments from non-Marines as well!

I promise the next post will be something a little less obnoxiously serious.

New Ticker

Mostly just wanted to post this new ticker so I wouldn't forget to update my stuff with it later.  Gotta get back to the game!

Go Saints!

Hermaphrodites, Really?

The other day I was listening to some of the debate over overturning Don’t Ask Don’t Tell that has heated up so much since ADM Mullen spoke out in favor of overturning the policy the other day. I won’t go too much into my personal opinion on the matter, especially not on a semi-public blog because no matter how much I disclaim it, people will want to take my personal opinion as in some way reflecting the opinions of or in the Marine Corps. And, even if my opinion is a very common one in the Marines, I am not in any way authorized or inclined to speak or make representations for the Marine Corps.


All that said, I was listening to the discussions on NPR the other night, and a former Marine came on ranting about how strongly opposed he was to overturning Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Without going into my opinions on the matter at hand, I will give my opinion of this guy’s argument:

It was asinine.

I don’t care what your opinion is, this guy just came off as an ignorant homophobe. What was this asinine argument? Basically, it was, “If we let the gays who are already in the military serve openly in the Marines (he specifically mentioned the Marines), then we will have to start letting hermaphrodites in.”

Really? No, NO, REALLY? Are you freaking serious?

Hermaphrodites? That’s your argument? Hermaphrodites. I’m sorry. One more time. Really? You must be screwing with me. I am absolutely dumbfounded (ok, I’m not – that rarely happens to me).

*ahem*

1) Do you even know what a hermaphrodite is? A hermaphrodite (or, more appropriately, intersexed person) is a person with an actual physical medical condition whereby they do not fall clearly into one category of biological sex. Some ignorant individuals (like you, sir), view this as a horrifying, terrible sickness or view it as making these individuals less human or “freaks.” While it can be very emotionally painful for the individuals in question, especially if not dealt with by informed or somewhat enlightened caretakers in early life, it is not some horrifying sickness and certainly does not make those people any less human, intelligent, or valuable. And I see no reason why a person with ambiguous genitalia who is otherwise perfectly qualified for military service should be denied that opportunity. In many countries/cultures around the world, hermaphrodites are treated *gasp* like regular people, or even honored. Some countries/cultures even recognize a third sex for these individuals. I strongly encourage anyone with limited knowledge on this issue to read further. It is interesting and, in my opinion, will make you a more understanding person to know about. I know exactly how I would deal with it if Pip was born with an ambiguous sex. Do you know what you would do facing such a situation? Are you sure that’s the right thing by that child? At the very least, if you learn about this you’ll never sound like quite such an idiot on the radio.

2.) What the F does a hermaphrodite have to do with whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to serve openly? Someone please explain the connection to me. Are you trying to make some sort of point about genetic mutations? Please, please tell me that’s not the case. Because that is really, really stupid. Then again, I can’t think of any connection between allowing a person with ambiguous genitalia into the military and allowing a homosexual to be open about who they are in the military. Certainly not any connections that aren’t really, really stupid.

In conclusion:

That is one of the most asinine That is THE most asinine argument I have ever heard on either side of this argument. Ever. Please feel free to punch yourself in the face. And maybe think for a second before you go on the radio representing yourself as a “former Marine” and then act like a complete jacka*&. K? Thanks.

Confession Wednesdays: Predator

(Image from http://www.soulpix.com/animals/mantis/praying_mantis.jpg)

Karen over at A Peek at Karen't World posted a Wednesday Confessions today that I couldn't resist joining in on:  Dating Confessions.

We've all done things we regret (or at least should regret) in the dating arena.  Karen's were largely sins of omission - as in omitting acknowledgement of these boys' existances, ha.  Mine, quite humorously regrettably, were probably a little worse.  Before the most amazing man in the world won my heart and lured me (thankfully) out of the dating world, I was downright cruel not the nicest girl in the world.

MacGyver referred to my dating personna before I actually grew up a little and got serious with him as a sexual predator.  OF COURSE NOT IN THE SAME CONTEXT AS CHILD PREDATORS.  Ew, gross, wrong.  But I may have, in fact, been a little bit predatory - but that was only if someone was stupid enough to class themselves as prey!

I never went out hunting for idiot guys to be mean to.  I told them.  I warned them.  In some cases, I even had my friends warn them.  I did not want to be anyone's girlfriend.  I was not a nice girl.  I would carry on a relationship with you without any concern at all for your feelings.  Because I warned you ahead of time.  But did they ever listen?  Of course not.  I seemed so innocent.  I could never hurt them.  Or they were going to "rescue" me.  Gag me is more like it, ugh!

Now, I could delve into the possible reasons from my past that I so joyously wrongly treated these boys the way I did, and there are some biggies.   But really, I just found it interesting to see how much you could tell a person straight out that you were going to be mean to them and watch their own ego completely prevent them from taking you seriously.  This is a tactic that works out pretty well in court, too.

Apparently, I'm supposed to give specific examples.  Hmmmm . . .  There are oh so many to choose from.  My best friend from undergrad, the Producer's absolute favorite is this guy I had been dating for a couple weeks, to whom I had made the status of our relationship PERFECTLY CLEAR.  We are  not serious.  We will never be a "real" couple.  If you try to "relationship" me, I will come down on you with all due cruelty.  We will just go out, have fun, no emotional attatchment, it will be laid back and fun.  Did he listen?  OF COURSE NOT!

One day, The Producer and I are sitting in our favorite Anthropology class, and this guy walks up to me.  Shocked the heck out of me.  In the couple weeks we had been dating, I never noticed he was in this class!  Probably because The Producer and I sat off in our own corner and actually discussed class topics as opposed to the bubbly sorority crap that always seemed to be going on around us in that class.  Seriously, if you don't want to take a challenging class, DON'T SIGN UP FOR ONE.

So, anyway, this guy walked up to us. We had a little strained small talk (strained because in the back of my mind I was already annoyed with guy talking to me like he was my “boyfriend” or something, introducing himself to The Producer- who, by the way knew exactly who he was- and so on). And then, he asks (quite presumptuously, if I do say so myself), “Don’t you think we should sit together?” (implying that either The Producer or I should move). Well, considering the circumstances, the answer to that seemed pretty clear and straightforward to me:


“No.”

A look of shock with a tint of confusion followed up with a glimmer of hurt feelings. The Producer almost lost it laughing. He always found my straight rational approach to relationships highly amusing.

That guy and I went out a few more times, but he kept trying to relationship me, so that was pretty much the end of it. Remarkably resilient ego, though, that one. He never held the above scenario against me. He just acted like it had never happened.

That is just one example of many similar situations. All of them amuse the hell out of me amused me at the time and still do even though I now know I was mean. Ha, I could go on and on with these stories. I know that sounds pretty harsh, and it really probably was, but I had a rule of honesty and rationality, and felt that that meant these guys couldn’t get mad at me for doing exactly what I had said I would.

Ultimately, though, MacGyver ruined my game. He never fell into the trap of not believing I would do something I said I would or of not taking me at my word. And for some reason, I didn’t want to do mean things to him, and I didn’t want to think of me as a person who would. At one point, I did anyway and pulled one very mean tactic on him (to find out my heartless move, see the paragraph labeled A Year In Limbo in Our Story).  But in the end he won.  I finally recognized that maybe being a b*&^% wasn't quite as much fun as I thought it was, at least not if I wanted to keep MacGyver around, and I really, really did.  I let him relationship me.  And have been quite happy ever since.

I know it's not Wednesday anymore, but lets hear those confessions anyway.  What sort of cruelties did you pull in the dating world?

Breakfast On The Go

I’m not a huge breakfast before work person. I don’t typically get hungry until around 09:30, which is almost always well after I’m at work. I’ll usually bring some fruit, yogurt, veggies, or something with me to munch on then. Lately, though, I’ve been much more hungry much more often than in the past. Shocking, I know. (What sucks about it is that I can’t eat very much at any given time. Eating anything close to the size of a regular meal makes me immediately uncomfortably full and often nauseous.) So a couple mornings a week now, I want breakfast before I actually leave for work. Usually, I have time, but sometimes I get distracted by other things. I’m sure that’s enough said. On mornings that I get distracted, it’s even more likely that I’ll want breakfast. How’s that for a catch 22?


On those mornings that I get distracted and want breakfast early. I generally end up eating in my car. Yesterday, I had a lovely bagel with cream cheese and strawberries in the car on the way to work. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I can tell. This morning in the car on the way to work?

Pancakes

(whole grain, of course)

Yes, I ate pancakes in the car this morning on my way to work.  Don't worry - I didn't have to take my eyes off the road or anything, I cut them up before I left.  And they were delicious.  I only wish I had had berries to put on them!

Dressing Myself

I get dressed in the dark every morning so as not to wake MacGyver.  It's not really a big deal since I wear the same uniform to work pretty much every day.  It's pretty hard to screw up.  But not impossible. 

I put my undershirt on this morning, and it felt funny.  Tight against my neck, like it was backward.  I pulled out the collar and looked, but no tag, so I figured I had just pulled it on funny and proceeded to put my sweatshirt on over it.  But it still felt funny.

I walked into the bathroom to do my hair and looked in the mirror.  And lo and behold there was a big white tag sticking out at my throat.  My shirt wasn't merely backward - it was inside out, too.  Apparently, I need a little more practice with this dressing myself thing.