Have I told you lately, I love Michael Moore?

~~The diana disclaimer: I really hate the terms "Liberal" and "Conservative" I'd hope that as human beings we're ALL Liberal with our Love and Understanding and Conservative with our Judgment and Scorn. Name calling isn't right, even if done on the High Road.
I've rewritten the Pledge to remove divisive language. It's here in it's original, signable form. ~~

Originally: Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:
Alternately: America's Pledge to Disheartened Citizens:

To: Conservatives and Republicans Fellow Citizens

I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:

1. We will always respect you for your conservative differing beliefs. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.

2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be "different" or "immoral." Whom you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love -- it's a wonderful gift.

3. We will not spend your grandchildren's money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It's your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.

4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.

5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we'll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.

6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority people, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.

7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.

8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.

9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren't much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.

10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you -- and your employees -- that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative ALL women that wage, too.

11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don't put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your the most radical religious beliefs (i.e. from Christianity: "Blessed are the poor," "Blessed are the peacemakers," "Love your enemies," "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn't just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism -- starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.

12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.

I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans -- and for the rest of the world.

Sincerely,

the People of America,
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Speaking of CSUN

Lookie what Scotty found!before glasses, before Mitch, before children...

Ken & Barbie are Republicans

How would I know? Bear with me, by the end of this post you, too, will understand...
Because I registered to vote as a Republican (to vote for Ron Paul in the primary)
I received this piece of mail: My assumption was therein would be pictures of dead babies in garbage cans.
How nice they were actually concerned for how that picture may warp a child's mind forever.
I was completely unprepared for what followed... Your support of this organization will ensure children never, ever have information provided for them that may shift their view of sexuality to a perspective of healthy and happy and whole. They might encounter someone who will tell them that sexual pleasure is *gasp* a divine gift, perhaps directly from G-d!
♥ that'd be me ♥ My curiosity is peaking here... I happen to love Planned Parenthood and am eternally grateful for the services they've provided for me over the course of many (sexually active) years. Never once did they recruit my heart, mind nor soul. I was an adult who went there of my own free will.
So it's time to open the envelope... in front of my only small child, of course!I *just* recommended this very book to over 1,000 unschoolers, as a great way to "strew" sexual development information to a child who may not want to have "the talk." One human's comprehensive sex ed is another human's view of sex as a sin. Maybe this is what they want their kids to see when they look down -- a big blur. Maybe they live their lives as though nothing below their chin actually exists? How do they have kids? How do they think *they* came to be (yep, your daddy put his penis inside your mama's vagina and moved around until he spurted semen filled with sperm inside her, which then swam to her egg to create YOU -- godly, apathetic, and godless alike!!)Note: these pictures portray activities that only work if you have actual *genitals* --
Blur on Blur doesn't work, not even in fetish porn! I don't think the creators of Ken and Barbie *really* wanted to create a world of people
who wished for nothing in their panties.
I'd really like Republican to mean what it used to mean
-- no government in my bedroom nor my doctor's office --
I scoured their website, there is no official Republican Party promotion of sexual dysfunction.
I shall pray for an earth-shattering orgasm to visit each of the repressed folk
responsible for this piece of trash recycling.

Our Gifts, addendum

along the trail of sharing our gifts...
I'm an ASL interpreter. It's not what I do, in large part, it's who I am.
I became interested in signing 30 years ago (yes I was 10), found uncommon ways to grow in proficiency (language immersion with Deaf community & classes directed at adults) and began interpreting at 16 (when my friends earned $3.35/hour at McDonalds, I earned $6.50-$10/hour interpreting in the community).
Upon arriving in SoCal in 1986, I found great opportunities to continue interpreting (adding some Spanish/ASL/English interpreting to my repertoire) and grow as a professional. I worked at High School and College level interpreting, which I much prefer to community work (predictability? relationship? yeah, both!). Eventually, I worked at CSUN with amazing pioneers of our field (Gary Sanderson) at a time when there was little respect for interpreters as human beings. I'm glad to have been part of the movement toward better pay, minimum hours and humane treatment.
When I returned in SD in 1994, I was horrified!! I'd had 10 years professional experience since I'd left, though with the new legislation requiring certification (test administered by the monopolizing interpreter referral agency) and me without certification, I was offered $7.50/hour (yes, I pointed out to them that was a $1 raise for 10 years experience -- they pointed to the blank spot on the wall where my certification *should be*). I got a job for better pay at SD School for the Deaf, in the dorm, direct care of Deaf children ♥ The Joy!!!
Eventually, Life's Path lead me again out of the Deaf Community, to an educational secretary -- less skills, more pay, better insurance :D (perfect timing -- as Mitch was dx with his brain tumor while on this better insurance policy!!)
There came a point, however, when the neglect of my gift was more guilt than I could bear. I sought ways to take the certification exam and give back to the Community I loved & missed so much. I got a great score, though I feel the results were tainted by the examiners' knowledge I would not be working for their organization. Be that as it may, just weeks after Hayden was born I began my first real venture into community interpreting, with a far more ethical organization. I found a care-giver for my kids, whom I would pay the same 2 hour minimum pay that I was receiving. Between jobs I would stop by, nurse my babies, and head out to the next assignment. (Mitch was just returning to work after his radiation treatments, a split shift with a nap in between)
Along this path, there came a time when having a job with insurance benefits became a dire necessity... I met an interpreter who was working at an elementary school and looking to delve more deeply into community interpreting -- We traded jobs!!
By now, Mitch was home full time on chemotherapy and was willing to be primary care-giver to his kids ♥ I Loved, Loved, Loved my job!!! The entire 3 months I was there...
When Mitch died, I quit immediately, and became a full-time mama ♥ the bestest job in the universe ♥
And now 7 years later, I sit with this amazing gift I'm once again not using...
In the planning for our move to Oregon, I did some cursory searches for what may be required of me to venture back into interpreting. There was no state legislation to be found and I ended my search, in favor of part-time baking and occasional public speaking for pay! In the back of my head was a voice saying, As soon as it lands in my lap, I'll pick it back up again.
The first universal nudge came when someone commented there were two interpreters for our local Vagina Monologues performance. There was some discussion about volunteer vs paid jobs (the Code of Professional Conduct prevents an interpreter from volunteering for a job that would normally be a paid position-- it's stealing money from our colleagues and promoting a less than professional view of our work) and the spark of realization: There are Deaf Consumers in our community!! There was another nudge when I was asked to share my ASL with the unschoolers in our community. And yet another nudge when I met a friend, by accident, in a local restaurant who shared another friend of hers is soon to be working at OSU (Go Beavs!) as an interpreter. **hint, hint** I reiterated my *landing in my lap* philosophy and went happily on my way.
It was just an hour later that I was giving Victor and his dogs a ride to Philomath, thinking deeply and passionately about Gifts and their use.
When I woke up, I called OSU.
I have an appointment/interview on Friday afternoon.
The Gift shall be utilized in the community I so dearly love.
Wow! Life Is Good ♥

Abe Lincoln knows George W. Bush?

He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.
--Abraham Lincoln

Happy Zombie Jesus Day

Free Pictures from DrewpyDraws
Join us tomorrow for Happy 1/2 Price Easter's Bunny's Chocolate Day ♥

Dear Heather,

Paul once wondered, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?" We got the answer. (insert evil thought filled with vile name calling here) And let me just say, we're none too happy with your response of "No, but I'll divorce ya and do my best to take you to the cleaners, just as your loved ones predicted I'd do, but you were too blinded by my amazing somethingorother to see my gold-diggedness." (let's face the girl must have had something super amazing to lure and trap Sir Paul, he wasn't gonna choose just any ol' plain jane to fill the void left by the Amazing Linda)
Feeded and Needed, it's all the guy asked for. It was too much? Really? You got to have his baby. Yeah, you got to. How honored are you? Not enough. Not even close. He's honored enough for you both, Lucky Bea ♥
Did you hope, ala Yoko, that he would suddenly begin, ala John, taking so many drugs he would forget about his first family (the ones who were actually there while he earned his fortune)? And that you would be the only family he needed?
Or maybe you were hoping that someone would just come along and shoot Paul, ala John, and you'd get the entire fortune, ala Yoko? And maybe, unlike Yoko, we'd come to love you? HA!
I'd rather have Paul divorced than dead, so thanks to all the gods for not allowing that dream to come true.
As for you, m'dear, I'd suggest you give a big chunk of Paul's money to your Land Mine organization, to make up for the donations they will lose maintaining you as spokesperson. I can't imagine there are very many folks (and even fewer with finances and influence) who will align themselves with a Beatle F*cker.
Someday, I'll find compassion in my heart for you as Beatrice's mother. Not yet. Not for a while...

Sincerely,
me
**I'm so proud I was able to write that whole thing without once mentioning my overwhelming desire to rip off your leg and beat you with it!

The War

Who's winning?

Not US Military, they're still dying:
U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3991
U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 1
Total: 3992
Latest Coalition Fatality: Mar 19, 2008
(not counting American civilians who have died working for mercenaries,known as Black Water, et al.)
-------------------------------------------------------
Not the Iraqi People, they're still dying:
Civilian Casualties 82,000 - 89,000
-------------------------------------------------------
Not the American People, we're still paying:
$110/barrel crude oil -- reaching $4/gallon gasoline -- out of pocket expense
$4 TRILLION and counting-- tax dollar expense
(not counting widow and orphan benefits paid to families of our dead)
-------------------------------------------------------
I work hard to avoid war talk, I don't want to lend my energy to WAR.
That said, I need to think of what's happening, our apathy becomes the excuse the warmongers need to continue profiting while human lives are lost -- in vain. There are few things worse in this universe than a life/death in vain.
All of the humans who've died were once tiny babies inside their mommies.
All of them bled red when they died.
All of them are missed by someone who benefited from their life.
All of them deserve to be remembered. All of them.
It's been a difficult shift for me to think of soldiers as humans in uniform; to think of terrorists as humans with deep beliefs; to think of our leaders (even the profiteering warmongers) as humans with Karmic Consequence beyond this lifetime. These are the thoughts that force me to humanize this conflict and renew my stance of Peaceful Resolution and an open, welcoming heart to those who put their *self* aside to do their *job* -- whatever that may mean. I'm a Peace Mongering Soldier Lover -- I want them never to have to do what they're doing right now, I envision a world where their job is digging wells and building bridges, fostering a human connection and compassion wherever they go.
--------------------------------------------------------
I saw a PSA the other day... I think it was about discouraging drug use. It sounded to me like they were discouraging all kinds of things, including the military and public schools, with their tagline of something like When you give up the right to think for yourself, you give up your SELF.
hmmmmm I don't think they're saying what they think they're saying....
I agree, though, the kids should listen :D much to the chagrin of the commercial makers

The bigger the pipe, the happier the St. Patrick's Day

Happy Green Day!

My Om Aha!

March 17, 2008
Tending The Emotions
Having A Breakdown

Most of us have had the experience of holding back our emotions for such a long period of time that when they finally come out, we have something resembling a breakdown. For a certain period of time, the overwhelming flood of feelings coursing through our bodies consumes us, and we stop functioning. Often, these outbursts take us by surprise, welling up within us as we drive to or from work, watch a movie, or engage in some otherwise mundane task. We may feel like we do not know what triggered us, or if we do know, it does not make sense of our overpowering emotional response. This is because we are releasing feelings that have accumulated over a long period of time, and whatever inspired the release was just a catalyst for a much larger, much needed catharsis.

When we find ourselves in the midst of such an experience, it is important that we allow it to happen, rather than fight it or try to shut down. Wherever we are, we can try to find a private, safe place in which to let our feelings out. If we can not access such a place immediately, we can promise to set aside some time for ourselves at our earliest possible convenience, perhaps taking a day off work. The important thing is that we need to give our emotional system some much-needed attention. It is essential that we allow ourselves to release the pent-up emotions inside ourselves so that they do not create imbalances in our bodies and minds.

When you are feeling better, make a plan to find a way to process your emotions more regularly. You can do this by employing a therapist or making a regular date to talk to a trusted friend. Journaling can also be a great way to acknowledge and release your emotions, as can certain forms of meditation. Making room in your life for tending your emotions on a regular basis will keep you healthy, balanced, and ready for life.

The answer my friends...

is blowing 'round the stars! Today's Gemini Horoscope:
Even your most serious feelings won't hold you down long as your moods change often today, pulling you back and forth without giving you much time to adapt to each shift. Don't project your instability, frustration or anger onto anyone else. No one is out to make your life any tougher. Accepting full responsibility for your own state of mind now will make a big difference in your life.
*****
Get me out of me, I'm such a fuckin pain in my ass! ~thanks Amy ♥

Ode to Wumpus

Just thought they'd appreciate knowing Oregonians (the cool ones anyway) drink the Official Beer of Wumpus.

Crabby Pants of the Year Award

What is the point? Really.
I'm just wondering if this crabbiness in me, this burr under my saddle blanket, will reveal it's purpose soon...
So, yeah, I get that I'm uncomfortable and life is a'changin' and I'm not sure what to do... maybe it's nothing, though doing nothing has probably created this funk instead of quieting it...
So I need to do something...
What?!?!

I've been Alphabatized!

on the other blog :)

Cheated-on-45

I grew up without the Beatles. We lived in Elvis Country. I assumed that meant one or the other, we had Elvis til he died. Literally. His last concert was in South Dakota. We also had Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. Not to mention Hee-Haw every Saturday night without fail.
I don't think the Beatles ever made it to Souf'akota; I don't think they'da been welcome.
I remember the titillation of hearing a certain record hit the airwaves, "Stars on 45" ~ oh yeah, snippets of the Beatles ♥ I ran right out and purchased my own vinyl copy! I had their entire (forbidden) anthology in 15 minutes!
Elvis who?
hey, I think I left that record at Danette's house in 8th grade! Can I have it back?

Fast forward 25ish years Scotty and I are sharing one of 10hundred-kabillion shared childhood memories, this record in particular. First thing, we hit YouTube ♥ and nope, that can't be it. Keep looking Beatles Stars on 45... we keep landing on this bizarre Dutch cover group who are impersonating the Beatles. We want the real thing, like when we were kids.

Oh. Fuck.



We were tricked.



Big Time.



I fell in love with the Beatles, much to the chagrin of my Dutch grandfather, an Elvis lover.
Who's chagrin would have been lessened if he'd known it was a Dutch Trick.
He'da been proud of his countrymen. He probably would have let me play the 45 at his house.
He probably woulda let me play regular guitar, instead of slide guitar all the time.


I'm a bit chagrined right here, now, myself. Tricked. For 25 27 years. Whoa.
It wasn't even the Beatles. Not even good Beatles wigs.
I don't know if I'll ever get over this discovery.
I feel "Milli-Vanilli-ed"
I need a bath.



That said, they also do a pretty cool Stevie Wonder medley :) It's on my phone.

Life is short, Memory isn't

...because there are just never enough reminders.

I'm speaking at the OHEN Conference, at the end of this month. My talk is entitled, "Life Uncommon, Love Uncommon" and will be a fun-filled tour of my mind and the human connections in my Life, especially as provided by Unschooling. Another amazing opportunity to ponder what I've learned in these 40 years as diana, in the big relationships and in the smaller ones; how exactly to communicate what I mean, as I speak from a moving train of relationship evolution*...
I am compelled to share Lisa Heyman with this crowd. To impress upon them the only neural pathways that matter are the ones carrying the signals of Comfort, Safety, Love and Joy from the humans to whom we matter most in the World.
A calculator can replace the times table, nothing in the world can replace mama times. I hear Lisa's message ringing in my heart, it's one of Love and Beauty, of the Here and Now, of Urgency and Abundance... this I am meant to share. Thank you Lisa, for your story I can weave into the quilt of my history, to surround my soul and feel your warmth, still.
As these stories tumble and roll, through my mind, arranged and tossed about, my talk takes shape... still sounding like diana, in a far more cohesive form than usual ;)
Another adventure takes my breath away, stretches my heart and strengthens my resolve...
River drowned in the ocean.
River was a new friend of ours. His mama is married to Scotty's good friend, Jack Lazer. Dustin, Sarah and Miles moved here to be nearer River. The past 6 months were joyous as bonds were made and relationships forged. He was a happy, happy boy.
They're one sad family right now.
This is as hard to witness as it is to experience.
It's way too soon. It's just the right time.
It's totally fucked up. All is as it should be.
Whatever. Amen.

*okay, honestly I'm doing this prep for *me* and my own realizations, most everyone is gonna be hanging out with Mary Griffin ~ I would be too! Now I know how Broc felt, having his funshop scheduled at the same time as my sex talk...

Thursday 13, Song Covers

Thanks Ronnie for having 13 other things to talk about today ♥
♥ and makin' this one easy for me! 13 of my all time favorite Covers:

1. Hallelujah
(Rufus Wainwright for Shrek/Leonard Cohen)
2. I'm a Believer
(Eddie Murphy for Shrek/The Monkees)
3. You Belong to Me
(Jason Wade for yep, Shrek/Sue Thompson)
4. Sweet Jane
(Cowboy Junkies/Lou Reed)
5. Pinball Wizard
(Elton John/The Who)
6. Nothing Compares 2 U
(Sinead O'Connor/Prince)
7. Hurt
(Johnny Cash/NIN)
8. Hit Me Baby One More Time
(Bowling for Soup/Britney)
9. I Ran (so far away)
(BfS/Flock of Seagulls)
10. I Will Always Love You
(Whitney/Dolly Parton)
after careful consideration, I like Dolly's better afterall!
10. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
(Elton John/The Beatles)
11. Open Arms
(Low/Journey)
12. Land of Confusion
(Disturbed/Genesis)
13. Mad World
(Traaseth Family at L&L/Gary Jules for Donnie Darko/Tears for Fears)

Feelings, nothing more than Feelings....

Ah! Life without feeling anything has been a welcome relief this past week or so...

or so I thought...
After investing lots of time and energy into an emotional trainwreck, I've withdrawn myself into the eye of the storm. So Chaos still reigns, though I've stopped the Rain of Chaos ♥ First, all of my feelings were vying for time in my head, where they stuffed my nose, throat, ears and chest, when they couldn't have my attention. As a good human, I stuffed even deeper still, so now my misery lives in my guts -- not a fun day!

With Lisa's transition just the day after Hannah's anniversary, I've not let myself feel what it is my soul is begging me to feel after losing my good friend. I simultaneously want to pull my still-living friends close to me and protect them from the boogie man called Death *and* I want to push them away so the pain is not so acute when they leave.
We spent Sunday afternoon with a local hs group and I met lots of really cool folk... and the inner commentary was filled with you're fine for lunch and meeting at the park, I don't think I want to invest any deeper here -- and NOT because I couldn't find 1,001 commonalities, because the pain of having dear friends and then *not* having dear friends is too too too much for my mind... (though obviously not for my heart and soul or destiny, it seems)
Y'all are gonna die and I don't like it, not one bit. Just so ya know.