Dear Mr. President

August 01st, 2012

Dear Mr. President,

It's a funny (as in weird) time right now, don't you think? All this insanity with your upcoming election (I am confident in your abilities as you can see) and the world is all a stage (as Shakespeare once said) set with chessmen. In the end it's kind of like that, a political checkmate with more than a chessboard at stake. Of course chess players don't usually play for keeps.

Mr. President, I am going to be honest, I'm not sure why I am writing you. My previous letter (before I was married I sent you a glittery Paris themed card) had a point. I wanted to tell you how much I supported you. I still support you (and not just because you were the first president I got to vote for). But this wasn't really going to be about that.

We're moving, not just as a country. Moving towards something ill-defined and frightening. I'm afraid, sir. Afraid that we're moving not for the better. We (the collective "we") have grown so lazy, prejudiced, paranoid and irrational. I feel like I'm trapped in the collective body of a rabid dog. I resist, but get pulled in again. It seems insane because it is.

Frankly, Mr. President, I could care less about your religious beliefs. The constitution (last I checked) said nothing about religion. I care that you have morals; compassion, honesty, etc. I don't care if you were born overseas or not (not that I believe you were, but I hear this ALL the time at work) because you were born to American citizens so it wouldn't matter anyway.

What I care about is you visiting the Colorado victims. I care about you paying the same amount of taxes I do. I care about you donating your Nobel Peace prize money. I care about you fighting for equal pay for equal work.

I care about you standing up for GLBTQ rights. I care about those things, Mr. President. I don't care if you worship Buddha or Krishna or Zeus for that matter. I do care if you use your power for good rather than "evil." Be Luke not Vader (well at the beginning Vader, you can be Vader overthrowing the Emperor. Huh, the Emperor could be Romney or big business and you could be Vader throwing them over the railing... Somehow I don't think I'll be getting a job creating your ads any time soon).

I'm sorry I ramble so, Mr. President.

I'm sorry I don't have more money. I want to donate. I want to have a chance to have dinner with you. I want to be more than one voice, but it's very hard being an adult, don't you agree?

I want so many things! I want my freedom. I want my health. I want my liberty and to pursue my happiness. I want to be a part of this so-called "Great Nation."

In truth, I just want to be happy. I want more than what I've been told I should want.

I hope I haven't bored you to tears, sir. I hope you and yours are doing well. I hope you continue the good fight, even if letters from supporters stop coming. Even if it looks bleak. There are people, like me, who can't afford Mr. Romney, sir. Especially those who think he is a good option.

Please beat him. Please continue to be the kind and wonderful human being you are. And please say a prayer (if you believe in that, I don't really anymore) for me.

In all sincerity and with great respect,
Sarai Smith
(formerly, Sarai Lillie)

A Dragon in the Year of the Dragon

Happy New Year Everyone!

As always, there are many regrets and sweet memories from the previous year and new resolutions for the new year. I have so many things I want to accomplish this year!

When I was younger, my friend, Kendra, and I made lists of all the firsts we did in the New Year. So here is a short list of firsts on this first day of the new year.

First Food eaten: Raspberry Mousse Whipped yogurt
First Drink (non-alcohol): Sam's Choice Cola
First Song: A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
First Phone call made: To my mother.
First kiss received: Exactly at midnight, from my wonderful husband!
First Website visited: Facebook

Super short, I know. What can I say? Its early enough! There is so much day ahead of me!

I also have a short list of resolutions:
- Be completely awesome forever (Thank you, Donnie)
- Finish writing "All of Her"
- Lose weight (always)
- New and Improved Reading Goals (which I'll expound upon in a moment)
- Focus on improving my writing
- Finally get into college!
- Get a new car
- Move (again)
- Spend more time with my sister
- Enjoy life.

New and Improved Reading Goals
All things considered, I actually did really well with my resolution to read more last year. I made it all the way to October before I completely gave up for no apparent reason. The reasoning was actually I was super busy and spaced it mostly. Though I did try to read. However, as Yoda says "Do or do not, there is no try."

The new reading goals are going to be divided by months. Each month will have specific goals to be met regarding reading. So bear with me!

January
- Read 1 book from my list.
- Read 1 book I haven't read in a while.
- Read 1 book I have had suggested to me.
Total: 3 books.

February
- Read 1 Sci-Fi novel.
- Read 1 Non-fiction.
- Read 1 Historical Fiction.
Total: 3 books.

March
- Read 2 books from my list.
- Read 1 book I haven't read in a while.
- Read 1 book that I randomly found at the library.
Total: 4 books.

April
- Read 2 books from my list.
- Read 1 book my sister suggests.
- Read 1 book my brother suggests.
Total: 4 books.

May
- Read 2 books from my list.
- Read 1 book that was turned into a movie.
- Read 1 book involving a topic I've never really explored before.
Total: 4 books.

June
- Read as many books as I want. This includes books I've already read.
Total: ?

July
- Read 2 books from my list.
- Read 1 book of Historical Non-fiction.
- Read 1 book of Historical fiction.
Total: 4 books.

August
- Read 1 book about someone I admire.
- Read 1 book that is a sequel to a book I loved.
- Read 1 book about an animal.
- Read 2 books from my list.
Total: 5 books.

September
- Read 1 book about something I would I like to do.
- Read 1 book written about someone I hate.
- Read 1 book that I found randomly.
- Read 2 books from my list.
Total: 5 books.

October
- Read 1 Romance Novel.
- Read 1 Fantasy Novel.
- Read 1 Children's Book.
- Read 2 books from my list.
Total: 5 books.

November
- Read 2 books from my list.
- Finish 1 book I haven't finished.
- Read 1 book by Ayn Rand.
- Read 1 play by Shakespeare.
Total: 5 books.

December
- Read 1 book about Holidays. Fiction or Non-fiction.
- Read 1 book written 100 years ago.
- Read 1 book by Dr. Seuss.
Total: 3 books.

Approximate Total for 2012: 45 books.

Landlocked

This week's country is Burkina Faso (also known as Burkina) and is brought to you by the letter B and the number 4 (ha ha, Sesame Street references are awesome). It is also a completely landlocked (being that it is completely surrounded by land) country on the African continent. It is surrounded by Niger, Mali, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire (also known as the Ivory Coast).

The official language of Burkina Faso is French, though More, Gourma, Fulfulde, Dioula and Tamasheq are also spoken. Fun fact, I have never heard of those languages.



Deviating slightly from what I did with Albania's first blog, I am going to post some pictures Burkina Faso's landscape and architecture. I'll also post some random facts in-between pictures.



Burkina Faso has a Republican Government, meaning that they are a Republic, not that they are strictly voting Republican.



Burkina Faso won its independence in 1960.



The capital of Burkina Faso is Ougadougou, and I have no clue how one would go about pronouncing that... Just sayin'.



The Musée de Manega was established by Frédéric Pacéré Titinga. It features a random collection (if you will) of pieces important to the history and culture of Burkina Faso. These pieces include funerary pieces (the Boura Flutes), terracotta jars, bracelets and various others which were used for rituals.



There is no official state religion in Burkina Faso. Islam, Christianity and indigenous religions are the most practiced. If I was the Burkina Faso government, I would be most proud of their religious freedom. They take this particular freedom very seriously. It seems to be better under control than other countries, like the USA for example.



Burkina Faso's independence day is celebrated August 5th (That's when Donnie and I started dating).

Albania Week (Day Four)

Let's look at some fashion from Albania, shall we? That sounds like fun!

This particular piece was designed by an Albanian designer called Mimi in 2008 for the Albanian fashion week.


This piece is also from 2008. It is by a designer named Rezarta Skifteri.


This one is by Geraldina Sposa from last year.


He popped up on my picture search and I realized he had some gorgeous eyes and was pretty damn smexy... therefore, he is here specifically because he is hot. That is all.


This particular piece was designed specifically for pregnant women (and the men that can't get enough of pregnant bellies) by Merita Tocila two years ago.


And I know absolutely nothing about this particular dress other than it was published in an article on Daily Times Pakistan!

March of the Stripper Clowns

Welcome to your fucked up childhood revisited and even more twisted!
Welcome to March of the Stripper Clowns. For those of you who are afraid of clowns, you may want to avert your eyes and cower in fear. Partially because these are half-naked people with, often, scary clown make-up. Just for you!

Why, you may ask? Why would I inflict you all with these fiendish monstrosities? Because my brother and Phil were talking about them at random and I am a blog whore. Yep, that's right. I love blogging and when I need material someone always gives it to me. *insert sex joke here*

Of course, the major questions are:
* How much do they charge per hour? Are the balloon animals free?

* How many come in a carload? Are we talking mini-cooper or VW bug?

* Does the wig come off as well during the strip tease?

* Do they dye their pubes to match their crazy wigs/hair?

* Are these regular circus clowns? (More will fit in the car if they are)

Well, enough questions, let's get to the pictures! Are you ready?

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am the ringleader of Lunacy. Want to join my circus?


How about this? Is this better?



No?



Or this, maybe?



Well now that your childhood (and nightmares) have been destroyed (or fueled, depending on who you are), that is all for now.

Seriously though, Clown Strippers are fun!

Snakes at Work

The other day while at work, I hear over the walkie that there is a snake.



As in that little guy. He was trapped in our store and accidentally was killed when a fixture ran over him. Poor little snake.

May you catch a hundred mice in snake heaven.

Also, there is nothing funnier than a snake in a department store full of unsuspecting customers.

I was in the Newspaper!

By Christy M. August 29, 2011

A man who had smoked bath salts and fallen asleep in a stranger’s van woke to police handcuffing him early Sunday morning on *.

Timothy H, 42, of * first struggled with officers when they found him about 1 a.m., police Sgt. Scott M. said.

He tried to flee the van but was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, resisting law enforcement, criminal trespass of a vehicle and public intoxication.

A woman had originally called to report two people inside her van, but when police arrived, they found only Timothy H.

When questioned, Timothy H. told police he had smoked bath salts earlier in the day and must have passed out in the vehicle, according to a report.

Officers found a clear container in Timothy H’s pocket that contained some leftover bath salts.

He remained in the County Jail Sunday night on $4,000 surety, $500 cash bond.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A * has replaced the place of origin and I have changed the names to protect the guilty.

Also, this newspaper article got it wrong, both people were arrested not just Timothy H. Just sayin'.

Another point, this journalist needs to work on her writing skills. There are numerous grammatical and punctuation errors. Honestly, someone who, presumably, went to school for this shit should at least be able to get both the facts and the basic English correct. Seriously.

The Albanian Song of the Day!

As part of Albania Week (also known as Sarai's Country of the Week) I am posting a song from Albania. For your viewing pleasure, here is a song from Albania performed for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 by Juliana Pasha. In Albanian it is called "Nuk mundem pa ty", in English it is "It's All About You."



I really like this video, its got a very strange and dark atmosphere. But it is definitely interesting, at least to me.

Sick Nurses

Pretty much everything I'm going to say about this movie is a spoiler, therefore, if you have any interest in watching this Thai horror film you might refrain from reading about it. Unless you really want to see it after reading about it.

This movie was hilarious. Fucked up, but hilarious.
We begin with a not quite thoroughly explained premise. That being that the nurses and doctor are making their living from selling dead bodies on the black market. We only get a hint in that the main character is murdered shortly after threatening to tell the police how they "make their living" from dead bodies.

Each nurse has a vice of some sort. And each vice is used against them in the end.

First we have the murdered girl herself, Tahwaan, who is actually *SPOILER* a homosexual man who fell in love with Doctor Tar (the only other man in this whole film) and had a sex change to be with him. *END SPOILER*

Then we have the murdered girl's sister, Nook, who is *SPOILER* pregnant with the doctor's baby after a sexual rendezvous in a place full of corpses that her brother/sister watched because she was going to surprise the doctor.*END SPOILER*

Next we have Am and Orn who are twins in love with each other. They even have a lamp that has Narcissus written on it. Narcissus is a character from Greek Mythology who fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away because he couldn't bear to leave it. The incestuous feelings the sisters have for each other is very apparent in their scene on a bed.

Next is Yim who is determined to have a perfect Vitruvian based body. She has a projector that she turns on and then uses a marker to mark what needs to be fixed on her body. She is constantly working out trying to be perfect.

Then there is Jo who is bulimic and constantly eating because of it. There is one scene where she is brushing her teeth and there is a half eaten donut on her counter. She can't resist it, so she eats it with all the toothpaste foaming in her mouth. Of course it doesn't matter, she'll throw it up and then weigh it later. Bulimia is terrifying enough without weighing your own vomit to see how much you threw up compared to how much you ate.

Lastly there is Aeh. Ah, Aeh. She is obsessed with beautiful material goods. So much so that one of her punishments is having her beautiful handbag sewn to her head and neck.

Oh and how could I forget good Doctor Tar? The master of mayhem in this movie all because he didn't keep his promise to Tahwaan and slept with every single nurse. Feeding their various addictions and obsessions. Well, and in the case of Jo, literally feeding her.

Best Scene
Nook is standing on a long square spiral staircase and suddenly all these faceless people with gas masks made of hair flood the stair case on either side so that she can't escape. And what does she do? What does our brave heroine do to escape this clearly inescapable situation?

She whips out a used pregnancy test and starts kicking ass.
That's right ladies and gentleman, she whips out that pregnancy test and begins fighting off this horde with it like its a fucking knife. Seriously, I've never seen such a hilarious scene in a movie, my entire life! Who uses a fucking pregnancy test (a USED pregnancy test no less) to defend against a zombie like horde?

Second Best Scene
Am and Orn's arms are being controlled by Tahwaan so that they are sawing off all of Orn's limbs in a lovely tub filling with blood. The look on Orn's face is as if she had just won a trip to DisneyLand. And right after I made that joke we all noticed that Am was wearing sparkly Mickey Mouse earrings.

And that look doesn't leave Orn's face until she is completely dismembered and drowning in a pool of her own blood.

Third Best Scene
Aeh getting beheaded by her purse. I'm not saying anymore than that.

Worst Scene
Where Jo makes her slop that she uses to make herself vomit (because she is bulimic) and she then throws up in a bag and WEIGHS IT! Not to mention she is starving her cat as well.

Second Worst Scene
Jo's demise. Seriously, aborted babies in formaldehyde flying into the gaping and bloody maw of a jawless woman and kittens eating tongues is the stuff of nightmares. Not mine, of course, but somebody's somewhere.

Albania Week (Day Two)

Today I have decided to present some interesting facts about Albania for, what I have now dubbed, Albania Week!

Some fun facts about Albania include:
* Due to some "difficult historical conditions" Albania was a little late in the literature game. The first book published in Albania was written by a priest called Gjon Buzuku in 1555. It was titled "Meshari" and was, apparently, written in Latin.

* Albania is the home of the historic city (and archaeological center) of Durres, which dates back to the 7th century BC. Along with Mbjeshovë Castle, which was built somewhere between the 4 and 5th century AD.

* Kristaq Antoniu was an Albanian Operetta singer, as well as actor. He was born in Korca, though for some unexplained reason was exiled to Romania. He was a tenor as well as a baritone.

Ah, dismemberment

In a story fit for a psychotic fairy tale comes this little gem called "Attached" a five minute horror film from Lindsay Penn and Mary K. Fetter.

Enjoy!

Yoü and I

I am what some people would call an indecisive music lover. Sometimes I will absolutely adore everything an artist has ever done (Gackt), I'll absolutely hate everything an artist has ever done (Taylor Swift) or I'll like some of it and hate some of it. Which is where Lady Gaga comes in.

I am all for being original and unique. I'm all for trying to be yourself. I'm all for pushing the proverbial envelope and making yourself be heard. I'm okay with that, which is why I have to have some respect for Lady Gaga. I get that she is trying to be original (failing miserably, by the way) and that she is trying to get everyone to think she is fabulous. Which, admittedly, seems to be working quite well. I like Gaga, but I'm beginning to think that she has lost her damn mind.

Her latest video, "Yoü and I", made absolutely no sense to me.
For one thing, why does she have a trema (also known as diacritic and umlaut) over the letter U in You? It doesn't make any sense to have it there, because it doesn't change the word at all. You isn't transformed into something spectacular (like a semi-naked superhero come to save you from a sexless sex-life) it is just You with two dots over the freaking U (like a hobo with a bow on his head. He is still a hobo, just with an extra accessory)!

To be fair, I kind of liked the song. I thought it was kind of interesting. However, it didn't fit the video at all. In the video, Gaga is wearing her usual revealing and elaborate outfits. Nothing unusual there. Until you start to notice all the S&M stuff going on while she is in those outfits. She is being sexually and electrically tortured by some guy. Who she seems to be marrying in some of the first frames of the video.

I am all for being open about what you like sexually, but there is a freakin' limit! I really don't want to see her being tortured and fucked. If I want to see someone having kinky sex I have access to the internet and, as we all know from listening to Avenue Q, the internet is for porn.

The scene in the piano field with her as a guy on top of the piano and as the woman playing the piano makes me feel like I'm watching something slightly incestuous. Or like she is two people performing some strange form of masturbation due to being the same person while still technically separated. It just made me feel very strange. However, Gaga does make a decent looking man. Not going to lie.

There were several images in this video that confused me. For example: the partially cyborg Gaga, the ice cream truck man with the doll, the mermaid for pete's sake! Why is Gaga a mermaid? Why is her boyfriend/former lover/husband raping/experimenting on her? What is with all this medical stuff and creepy electrocuted references? If it had been a horror film with some substance I would totally have enjoyed the hell out of it, but it was a music video that had no frame of reference for me.

I don't mind the song. In fact, Fawn doesn't even mind the song (which is weird because she doesn't like Gaga at all). Except I don't really like the video.

P.S. Mermaid sex does not work like that at all. Which makes me feel like I just watch some bestiality porn.

So, for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure depending), "Yoü and I" by Lady Gaga.

Batman's Shoe-Mobile Fetish

I found this picture at random and thought it was hilarious! I love that shoe shaped go-cart and really want one now. I think even Batman would be jealous, because what crime fighting hero doesn't want to be seen in some classy red pumps? (There's a pun in that last sentence! *giggle*)

This is the shit, just sayin'!



Also, speaking of shoes, I love these heels.


In fact, I own a pair of them myself and am now debating on whether I want to try to walk in them for my wedding. They would go with my colors perfectly, however I have to walk up some stairs so I may end up killing myself attempting this.


And now, your hideous shoe of the day! (Which is something completely random and that I suddenly decided to do because I am crazy!)


I have no idea what these are called or who designed them. All I typed in was "hideous shoes" and this is one of the things that came up first. Absolutely horrifying, not only for the animal cruelty aspect, but also for the random gun for a heel and the now golden colored hooves (plural for hoof, for those who are curious). Not to mention that they look like they would be a pain to wear.

In the Heart of the Mediterranean

Just for shiggles (also known as shits and giggles), I've decided to blog about a special country, carefully chosen, for this week.

This week's country is Albania. That's right kids, Albania! This week's country was specially chosen by Phil. Thank you, Phil.

Albania, as it's official website claims, is in the heart of the Mediterranean. It is considered a part of the European continent and is actually rich with history and beauty. More so than you would think. Poor Albania is one of those forgotten countries, a lot of the time.

And to start off Albania Week, I have decided to present some delicious recipes. Apparently, Albania has a thing for meat dishes, because the very first page of recipes I looked at were all meat related. I did manage to find a recipe for a Spinach Pie and a Walnut Cake. For my culturally involved audience, I present this interesting recipe for Spinach Pie first.

Spinach Pie (Byrek me Spinaq)
1 cup oil, preferably olive oil
1 1/2 packets (or about 30) pastry leaves (Filo dough)
1 1/2 pounds spinach, chopped
1 cup diced feta cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 eggs
salt, half teaspoon

( NOTE: A medium-sized, round baking pan is recommended because it's more authentic but any medium-sized baking pan will do).

Brush the baking pan with some of the oil, and start laying the pastry leaves inside. First, lay two leaves, sprinkle or brush with oil, then lay two other leaves, and repeat the procedure until half of the leaves are laid. Make sure that they cover the pan by hanging them about one inch over the edges of the pan.

Sprinkle spinach with salt, then mix well by hand. Add the feta cheese, oil, onions, eggs and salt, and spread this mixture over the already laid pastry leaves. Finish by covering the spinach with the rest of the pastry leaves repeating the first-half procedure and then roll the hanging edges of the bottom leaves over the pie (think of a pizza crust), sprinkle top with oil and bake moderately at 3501_F for about 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot, accompanied with buttermilk, or beaten yogurt, thinned down in cold water or with chilled stewed prunes. Sometimes a green salad adds to the meal!
Serves 4-6.

Walnut Cake
Ingredients
Cake
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup Sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup buttermilk (or additional 1/3 cup yogurt)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon rind
1 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
Glaze
3/4 cup water
1 cup Sugar
1 cinnamon stick (or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 dash ground cloves

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
cream together the butter and Sugar until light and fluffy, and then mix in the eggs.
Blend the yogurt with the buttermilk.
Sift together the cake dry ingredients and add them alternating with the yogurt mixture into the egg mixture.
Stir in the lemon rind and walnuts.
Pour the batter into a buttered 9X13 baking pan and bake for 30–40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake will still be moist.
Make the glaze by simmering together all the ingredients, covered, for about 15 minutes.
Remove the cinnamon stick.
When the cake is done, remove it from the oven, turn off the oven, pour the glaze over the hot cake and return it to the oven for about 10 minutes.
Cut the cake into squares and serve it warm or cool.

Throughout this week expect to see blogs about Albanian fashion, fun facts, music and other interesting (and slightly random) things!

Ah, Yes, I think of it fondly...

Dear Drunks that randomly broke into my van at 12-something AM,
HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IN?! MY DOORS WERE LOCKED!!!
I'm sorry I had to call the police, but your husband/boyfriend/whatever was passed out in-between my seats and there was no way we could get him out. Also, you were drunk and breaking into my van!
Sincerely,
Sarai
P.S. PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!! For the love of God!
P.P.S. You better be happy that the nice officer fixed my door or I would've been SO PISSED!

I'll Oil You Up

So, last night I was texting my friend Megan M. to see whether or not she was still wanting to carpool to work this morning. The following awkward, and hysterically funny, texts followed.

Me: Are you wanting to carpool to work tomorrow?
7:27PM Fri, 26 Aug.

Megan M: Sure if you want. I still need to check my schedule, haha.
7:35PM

Me: Nice. We don't have to if you don't want to. I work 10:15.
7:52PM

Megan M: I don't mind. I can oil you up at 10ish..I think I go in at the same time.
7:52PM

Megan M: OMG pick not oil!
7:52PM

Megan M: Fucking autocorrect.
7:52PM

Megan M: I'm dying right now. So are my DnD buddies.
7:54PM

Megan M: Did I scare you off?!
7:57PM

Me: Lol. No, I've been laughing hysterically.
7:59PM

What the Water Gave Me

I am sure that some of you have figured out, by now, that I love Florence + the Machine. And that is entirely true! Also, I blame my sister for that.

Anyway this is Flo's latest song. Definitely another gorgeous and haunting song from her and I am totally in love with it. I think it is mostly because Florence has one of the most beautiful and honest voices I think I've ever heard. She has a truly amazing range, a talent for lyrical descriptions and the music always has this touch of the haunted in it. I love that, for, I too, am haunted.

"Lay me down, let the only sound be the overflow, pockets full of stones."



"Oh mother, don't forget me, when I let the water take me."

A Cry for A Change

I know I have blogged about the plight of those who are homosexual, bisexual or transgendered. I have protested the horrific behavior and advocated for equal marriage rights. I have posted songs and articles. But I don't think anything has ever hit me as hard as what I am about to post now. Thank you Pomegranate for sending this to me. Everyone should read this. It is hard to read, it is hard to believe that this happens, but OPEN YOUR EYES!

This is going on everywhere, all the time, all over the world. Gay bashing, bullying, intolerance and prejudice, it just needs to END. What kind of society are we?! What kind of people call themselves civilized and free, but we deny the basic rights of living and happiness to the people a few moments before we called friends, brothers, sisters, aunts, mothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, daughters and sons?

This is a cry for it to end! Raise your voice! Speak up, because if you don't, no one else will. And if we never speak up, nothing will ever change!

It Gets Better, RAISE YOUR VOICE AND BE HEARD!


Since some of the writing is small-ish, here is what this powerful picture says (I also corrected some of the spelling errors):

I was the victim of a very harsh gay bashing.
it will have been a year this saturday...

I am not gay.
My best friend is and therefore by association this obviously mean I am gay as well

No one knows,
I can't bring myself to tell anyone or even report it.
It'd be easy to report I know who the bashers were, I still have a shirt that has some of their blood on it (I wasn't going down without a fight), those bastards even filmed it, evidence is just everywhere.

I don't want anyone to see the scars they left,
I don't want to have to take off my shirt in a courtroom so the jury can see the word "faggot" permenantly burned onto my chest

I'm pissed that I'm the one this happened to!
I hate my best fucking friend.
I hate him for my scars, I hate him for my jacked up body,

I hate him because everyone believes my b.s. biking accident story for why I walk with this stupid limp,
I hate him because I'll never be able to hang-out with all our friends again at the pool again,
I hate him because no girl will ever love a guy whose chest says faggot
I hate him because he'll never know what I took for him...

I hate myself for feeling this way

But even with all these bitter hypocritical feelings...

I'd take the bashing all over again so he wouldn't have to.

A Bear-y Text

Bear: So, I think you should slather some honey all over you tonight.

Me: Why should I do that?

Bear: Because it will give your skin some extra moisture and... stuff?

Me: Or is it because you think I'll taste better with honey?

Bear: What?! What are you accusing me of?!

Me: I don't know, being an omnivore who might decide to feed its omnivorous nature by consuming my all too tender flesh slathered in "moisturizing" honey?

Bear: That's just insulting! Why would I suggest you slather yourself in delicious and delectable honey only so that I could then devour your mouthwatering-ly (is that a word?) sensationally moisturized flesh? I may be an omnivore, but I have standards.

Me: Are you insulting my flesh? Are you saying that I am not tasty enough for you? Is that what this is about?!

Bear: No! You are taking this all the wrong way! I'm just suggesting that you moisturize! It is good for your skin and good for your sense of well-being. Jesus, you'd think I was insulting your deliciousness or something!

Me: I think as soon as I have my back turned you are going to maul me and then slather me in honey and eat me. I can practically see you salivating from here! Also, is it cannibalism if you eat me, since you are a sentient bear? Doesn't that make you kind of close to human?

Bear: ...

Me: Nothing to say?

Bear: ...

Me: Hello? Are you still there?

Bear: ...

Me: Fine, if you're going to be a cub about things...

Bear: (suddenly behind me: screams) OM NOM NOM!!!

Me: (drops phone in a state of panic and flees)

Bear: (starts laughing hysterically and departs with my cell phone to wreck his terrible sense of humor on others)

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This blog was inspired by Kyle M. I hope you are happy Kyle. I blogged about bears.
This is also partially inspired by the following blog post by Fawn (http://namonakimichi.blogspot.com/2011/08/oh-my-fuck-fawn.html) about a girl whose mother listened to her get eaten by a bear.

Dali's Jewels

Last December I went with Fawn and Trent to a Salvador Dali exhibit. All three of us are huge Dali fans (Surrealism being something I hold near and dear to my heart) so we were incredibly excited.

What I didn't know about Dali was that he also created surrealist jewelry. Including my favorite piece:

The fully articulated Starfish Brooch.


Not only is this a fully articulated Starfish (as in it was designed to be able to wrap around your hand/wrist), but it is made with a stunningly huge pearl, rubies, emeralds and diamonds for a one of a kind gorgeous piece. I've never seen such a beautiful starfish.

This is my favorite piece for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because even though it is completely made from jewels it manages to not be gaudy and ridiculous looking. Plus it is able to be moved and wrapped however you may want. A famous actress once wore this piece, provocatively, on her breast.

This is a drawing of the design and the articulation of the brooch as done by Dali.


In my search of Dali Jewelry, I discovered this piece by one Elsa Schiaperelli.


This lobster brooch is definitely Dali-esque in my mind. Not only in its relation to the sea (as the Starfish), but in its simplistically complex and beautifully realized design. It is the concept of creating beauty out of something that is generally disregarded by the public as common place and ugly that most attracts me. Personally. And, as it turns out, Ms. Schiaperelli was a fan of Dali's surrealism, which may or may not have inspired her to create this particular piece.

Whilst looking at some other pieces by Ms. Schiaperelli, I discovered these Leopard Skin Booties. If they weren't real leopard skin (which I don't believe they are) I would actually considering wear this particular pair. If only because I think of them as simplistically designed. I like simple.


And, because the internet is a strange place and I started thinking about other types of jewelry and beautiful things, here is a delicate piece by Fabrege, creator of Fabrege eggs.


He, too, apparently found under sea life worthy of jewelry pieces as you can see from this Sea Horse.


While we are talking about Fabrege, what is it about Fabrege's eggs that makes them so beautiful? What is it about Eggs themselves that makes them beautiful? I don't really understand it myself, but every since I was young I've loved things that were egg shaped. I have a little glass jewelry egg decorated with painted roses that holds my change. I have a little egg shaped perfume bottle that my Aunt Peggy gave me when I was 10 or so. Well, for that matter I have a pineapple shaped perfume bottle she gave me too, but that has nothing to do with eggs.

Maybe, for me, it just goes back to the simplicity of it. Or maybe it goes back to how we all come from some type of egg and the beginning of life? For whatever reason, eggs are beautiful.


This particular egg is Jade. One of my favorite precious stones. Except that I prefer White Jade.


I don't know why I like this one. Except that I think it is pretty.


I am done rambling for the moment. I'm starting to get tired and I think it is nap time for this blogger. I hope you enjoyed my randomness on jewelry, sea creatures and eggs. I'm off to try to get "Jack Sparrow" by the Lonely Island feat. Michael Bolton out of my head.