My Japanese Name

Okay, it's a myspace thing, but it's too dang funny not to take over here...
Mine is: Tekikatoka -- Why does it make me think of bongloads? Takee ka toke-ah (Japanese weed? never heard of it!)
Hayden: Rekafutekuto (Where the fuck you'd go?)
Oh my, I crack myself up!

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

What is your Japanese name? C'mon be brave and leave it in my comments!!
Take each letter of your name and substitute it with the Japanese sound to the right of the letter. Names might be kinda long...
* A- ka
* B- zu
* C- mi
* D- te
* E- ku
* F- lu
* G- ji
* H- ri
* I- ki
* J- zu
* K- me
* L- ta
* M-rin
* N- to
* O-mo
* P- no
* Q- ke
* R- shi
* S- ari
* T-chi
* U- do
* V- ru
* W-mei
* X- na
* Y- fu
* Z- zi

Go See Sicko!

Oprah only gave Michael 20 minutes, I'd be upset 'cept I bawled for about 18 of those minutes. Sicko is the movie every single HUMAN in America should see. Pharm Industry Drug Pushers, Hospital Administrators, Ambulance Drivers (still a for-profit venture in Sioux Falls!), Volunteers of any kind, Doctors, Lawyers, Insurance Adjustors, Politicians on every level, and the rest of my fellow Uninsured Citizens.
Costa Rica is sure looking good...

I'm a Gold Medalist in the Human Race

Humanitarian Republican. That's my new working label. With the possibility of having Crazy Liberal added to the front of that. Maybe I'll even throw in Theist. Yeah, Crazy Liberal Theist Humanitarian Republican. Just kinda rolls off the tongue... right into the sewer, alas a different post.
I found this on the GOP.org site:
I'm a Republican Because...
I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of *skin color*, creed, sex, age or disability.

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.

I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.

I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

There is one more line included in this, on the website ~ FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government. I just cannot stomach that line. Not in today's United States. I don't believe any single candidate for the Republican Nomination for President of the United States represents ANY of the above statements.
How do I know this? Just listen to the soundbites from the debates. No self-respecting TRUE Republican (I ♥ Barry Goldwater) would ever discuss factors such as those listed below. S/he would cite the constitution and remind others that it must be applied without mitigating factors (don't matter if you're Paris Hilton or Po'dunk Joe or Jesse Jackson)
Furthermore, I BELIEVE the Constitution must be blind to all factors outside of one's citizenship to America. (This belief eliminates the Abortion debate, Skin Color Prejudices, Gender Prejudices, Sexual Preference Prejudices, etc)
I BELIEVE medicine in America should be socialized, much like public school education, fire departments and police departments. For profit organizations in this realm should be eliminated. (EVERYONE should run out on June 29 and see Sicko! I love Michael Moore's Prescription for Change)
You should check out this page ('specially you Republicanphobes!) And see where the GOP used to be and hey, maybe we can redirect our country there again! We may have to pick a new name, one less cumbersome than my own :) In the meantime, I'm not voting for a single candidate who stole our label. They all suck. Earlier this week, the GOP Candidates were asked "Which of you would support openly gay persons in the military?" .........................silence............................... the crowd boo-ed, as well they should. All of those men should be ashamed of themselves! What kind of Human Being, especially an American in Politics, doesn't know to answer: to speak to someone about their Sex Lives on the job constitutes Sexual Harassment. Period.

Looks like I'm an Obama Girl ♥

I make milk, what's YOUR superpower?

Maggie Moo
My hope: If this is the first boobie you've ever seen, I'm glad it's doing it's job!

Dear Conference Goddess,

I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to make one of those VooDoo Dolls at the LIG Conference. I wanted to and I certainly meant to. I musta been doing something REALLY fun with the wee ones while the sculpting was going on.
While unearthing the clay to make Dragon Claws and Devil Horns for Eli and Hayden, I decided NOW would be a good time to recreate myself in clay form. So I did. Aren't those tatas amazing? The face was cuter til I smushed it with a rolling chopstick - I had to leave it, as this is the first understanding of Punch Drunk I've ever had... That face is one of a vetran unschooler, overwhelmed with the Joy and Lightness of her tribe!
I hope you enjoy it in person (once it finally gets sent out from here!) as I did making it.
Much Love,
Me

Grapefruit connection (It's still my birthday!)

Instant Karma: Invite the niece and nephew over preemptively = Gift arrives from Body Shop!
Background: Last week, I was on a quest for my super-effective Kiss My Face Liquid Rock Peaceful Patchouli deodorant. Hy-Vee isn't carrying it and neither is the closest health food store. Knowing the dangers of stinking out everyone I meet, I went ahead and purchased a new kind (maybe this one will keep the onions away for 12 hours!) made from Grapefruit and Wild Ginger. Boy Howdy! It sure smells good, until overtaken by ME, that is :( So I slather it on every six hours to renew the freshness of my pits!
Yesterday, Hayden was happily plugging away at his new Guild Wars game. He asked if Brittany could come over to revel in it and I said, YES! I called to arrange a pick up (of both Bryce and Brit) and we talked about inviting them to Spezia's for dinner. I could feed them without the usual resentment and grumbling of feeding other people's kids (tytytyty Robin!), this time would be a joyful event. We were laughing and talking in the car as we pulled up to our house at the exact moment the UPS truck pulled up with a package for ME! ♥ I laughed and laughed as I opened the package to find a "summer gift package" of their, yep you guessed it, Pink Grapefruit scented line!! As I slather myself in the body butter, I'm giggling Now my whole body smells like my pits!! sans onions thankfully! I was excited to shower for the first time in a loooong time ;) just to try out the PG body wash! My excitement, I thought, peaked there, I was so giddy and happy, just dancing around... I had to know who send this delight my way... I pull out the packing slip only to discover an incredibly generous gift card attached - Oh wait! There's more to enjoy?? Oh yeah! 10 minutes on line this morning and it's gone! On it's way is yet another box of amazing goodness, including a Satsuma kit (yay Mitchard and Hanners) complete with an oil infuser thingie to make my whole world smell like Satsuma! (for literary reference, check out HP6, Mr. Weasley is peeling one at the Christmas dinner) and another gift package of Pink Grapefruit schtuff! Deb, your gift just keeps on giving! Thank you so much ♥ ♥ ♥ It's an amazing thing to be glad you were born and even more amazing to realize others are too! Namaste, baby, Namaste...

Rental Agency Meeting Notes

There's nothing like being expected to be filled with angst, only to ooze sweetness and charm ♥ That's what they got to see at the meeting today. The landlord was available on the phone for a couple of comments (H throwing rocks in the pond (duh!) and late-night partying, too many cars). I clarified all of it. Including the fact that I told Mom upstairs that I would be having folks over during this time period.
Bottom line: I'm shut out of the backyard because I have a kid. Liability issues they say.
Now, we all know that gives me legal standing. Bait and Switch ('specially on an adorable widow who just lost one of her kids) is not looked upon pleasantly in our legal system. I've got BOTH legs to stand on. The agency knows they don't have a one. I rented one place, as advertised. I live in a different place. It's the responsibility of the Agency to clean up this situation and make it okay with both (all) parties involved.
I paid my June rent. With the caveat that I will update them in one week. At which point I will either complete my move in or they will find me another place to live (and help me move!). I will refrain from lighting incense when Mom is home upstairs (Pop doesn't seem to care. In fact, he and I have had a couple of lovely conversations over the past few days).
Scott (rental agency owner dude) thanked me for my refreshing attitude and not holding them solely responsible for the new home troubles.
I assured him I will not take this personally. If it's not a good match, then Hey, it's not a good match. No harm, no foul. This will work out, regardless of where I live. I think I should start a new trend of not signing a lease until you live somewhere for at least two weeks. See if it fits. I wouldn't sign a lease at this point. If they're willing to work with me, I'm willing to finish moving in and making this my home.
Looks like I've got a week off from heavy lifting anyway ;)

Keith Richards: Pirate for Christ

or Looting for the Lord; Hijacking to Heaven; Pillaging for Peter...
Hayden and I went to see the amazing third installation of the Pirate trilogy with Kelli, Abbi and Kyra while they visited last week. There were many happy surprises in the film, not in the least, Keith's portrayal of Cap'n Jack's father (though they never introduce him, the hype did a great job-we know who he is). My surprise in the scene was the plethora of silver crosses (not celtic or ancient as one would assume) woven into his dreads. They were a bit too shiny and obvious to fit the aarrgghh matey persona I was looking for. Maybe it is the thought of being pillaged by a pirate that thrills me (take me Captain Jack!); though one wearing so much Xian Paraphernalia would send me running for the hills (don't beat me with your bible!). Who would Jesus rape and pillage? What would Jesus do for enough gold? hmmmm.... I wish I could find a better picture, you'll have to see it for yourself and let me know what you think. (no one else in my group noticed...)
On Keith and his dad's ashes: The Rolling Stones' guitar legend Keith Richards has revealed that he once snorted a line of his own dad's ashes.
Speaking exclusively in this week's NME, the star, notorious for his decades of substance abuse, admitted he gave his old man a unique send off after his cremation.
He said: "The strangest thing I've tried to snort? My father. I snorted my father. He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow.
"My dad wouldn't have cared, he didn't give a shit. It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive."
I remember Ben and Cameron, running up that hill (you know, the one with the big signs "stay off this hill") at the AZ/NM border to sprinkle some Hannah ashes. They didn't check for wind direction. When they threw her out, she came right back at 'em: up their noses, in their eyes, coating their mouths... what do you do? You can't spit her out, you can't blow her out into a kleenex... so you swallow and snort. At least a dozen (desert living) prairie dogs have consumed her remains. I wish I had thought to bring some with me to put in my tattoo (next time!). I haven't done coke in a million years, should the opportunity arise, I'd be tempted to follow in Keith's example ;)

Uh, yeah

Gemini: You may be feeling very optimistic about your relationships,
but you could be glossing over an important fact.
You can unconsciously ignore anything that doesn't fit into your ideal picture.
Keep reminding yourself to consider the validity of information just outside of your comfort zone.
You can effectively handle most any situation now as long as you aren't in a state of denial.

New Home Mojo

Breathing deeply...
the lady upstairs says "the rest of the yard is off-limits"
the man upstairs grumbles about "kids who stay up all night and sleep all day, I never heard of such a thing" to poor Eli, who was foolish enough to park in the driveway.
Hayden's bedroom door is locked and it's a key lock. I have no key.
The rental agency called me today. We're gonna have a meeting. I want the advertised backyard with a pond (I'll happily always supervise Hayden back there) and access to the hot tub and fire pit. I warned them of my company for the weekend, for my birthday. Folks have been popping by to see the new place and enjoy my beginning. The fresh unto summer vacation kids have been over ~ and up all night ~ not loud, away from the upstairs bedrooms. If my incense and smelly oil-burning thingamadohickey (gift from DeLila) are overwhelming them with scent and *smoke,* I will happily abstain from lighting them (though I must say the burger I fried was much, much worse on the pollution scale). It was also advertised that smoking was acceptable on the deck, where we smoke. I did notice when their kitchen windows were open and moved accordingly.
Tabby's gonna get some facts straight (true parameters) with her boss man and the landlord (the son of the folks upstairs) before we actually meet. I gave her my perspective. With a great spin of making it work, cooperating.
She says not to worry.
I'm not worried.
And ya know what? I'll even move out.
If it's just not a good match, it's just not.
Give me two weeks (preferably rent free); I'll finish sorting my crap at the other house and I'll move into the next most perfect place.
This was fun.
It still could be.
So could somewhere else...
All is as it should be.