When I was 6 or 7, I was at a Thanksgiving at my Great Uncle Manson's house (I used to call him Uncle Mansion...he had a big house). All the children went out when it got dark and were playing flashlight tag. At some point, this got boring, so they decided to play a different game. I don't know what you call it, but one cousin grabbed my hands, the other my legs, and they picked me up and started swinging me.
this, sans black guy jumping around.
This was probably the most terrifying thing I had experienced at that point in my life. I don't know why, but probably because I gave neither my consent, nor would they let me go when they heard me screaming and crying. They just laughed. I should mention they were all quite a bit older than me, 10 or 12 maybe. When they finally put me down I'm pretty sure I ran to the grown-ups, sitting with them the rest of the night. I remember feeling shame at being so helpless, and rage at their ridicule. Rage at the way the grown-ups dismissed what I felt was a great indignity.
I saw that GIF the other day and it brought that terror and shame back to me in a perplexing flash.
Looking back on this, I realize the only reason I reacted that way was because I was singularly unused to other children. I was an only child still, I had no close relations my age around, and my friends were church kids. Every childhood indignity was deeply traumatizing to me because of my lack of interaction with other children. Now that I'm older, I can set it on a grander scale and say I probably still struggle with this as an adult. Which is just a little ridiculous, I think.
Saturday was a long freaking day. I worked Friday overnight, so just stayed up all day since the way everything was scheduled would make sleeping an impossibility. I did accomplish a decent amount, however, so I guess all's well that ends well.
First, Kari and I got our hair cut, then had some Lomitas(yum!). Then we trekked to Algona and got some pretty sweet tattoos from Jesse Willison. So glad he's already super good. Also, so sorry we took ten freaking years. Don't know how that happened. Pretty sure he hates me now for all the tiny fucking lines.
palm sized.
Then, next door at the Afterlife was Battle of the Bands, where I got super trashed trying to battle my severe sleepiness. These bands were the highlight of the night for me:
Twenty 2 Salute is always a good time (if you know what I mean *winkwink*) (I mean they are good with their hands) (on guitars and such) (this is so much dirtier than if I had just said nothing) but I was also glad I caught Smoothwood because I've been into classic punk sounds recently. I think we got back to town around 2ish? I was mostly off my face at that point. So of course I went to an afterparty to annoy people. At least I saw Clinty there, love him. Think I got home at 5am or so. Halfway through a slice of pizza, I finally passed out.
Anyway, I think being out and about was good for me as I haven't really socialized in a long while. Mostly I've just been too lazy. Think I'm returning to lazy because now I'm just at this point where I should do dishes and laundry, but won't. All I've done the past two days is work and watch Hemlock Grove. And my back hurts. And it feels like someone shot me in the arm. I mean, I paid someone to basically stab me in the arm a bunch of times, but still. Why you hurt so much, little heart?
It appears that I am finally going to Lazerfest this year. For the first time. WTF? I know. I've just never really felt like it/had to work every other time. This year, my Cathy's BFF, Katie, is coming to town for it, so I'm really excited. For Katie. Not so much for the musical line-up (I've not been as into rock as I used to be)...but, that's what this mix is for. To get me pumped. I guess.
Spring has finally arrived! I'm not a huge fan of spring in general, but I will acknowledge it's much superior position over winter. I know, nothing's more annoying than someone bitching about winter. Especially when you live in a snowy region. It happens every year, get over it! Right? But I seriously hate winter. I also seriously hate extreme heat, so, no I will not move to a southern state. I will deal with the Iowa winter, and just bitch about it like everyone else.
I don't know if we had an especially long winter this year, but it felt like it. Which means I am just so fucking thrilled it's not snowing and ball shrinkingly cold, that I will accept whatever other weather the year throws at me. Just not more snow. Minimal wind until the peak of summer would also be nice. Weather Gods.
Anyway, I'm in a bit of a summer mindset right now. I cannot stop thinking about swimming, sunbathing, concerts, walking, and biking. And my bank account is soon to hate me for all the summer things I want to buy: Short pants, bright shirts, light nail polishes, suntan lotion. Also a bike. I have been obsessing over this idea. It burns in me. I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike...but I need one first. And I'm looking at them all and I just can't decide between a cruiser and a mountain bike. I mean, the mountain bike would be more practical...but the cruiser is so cute...and it has a basket. A basket!
So, as with all tough decisions, I'll probably just eenie-meenie-minie-moe that shit.
Currently it is raining and grey outside, but that's okay. I like the rain. I just have to remember not to wear my Chucks and I'm good. Just know that I'm dreaming of the summer...
These are my favorite creatures and why I find them so fascinating.
1. Jellyfish
I've always found these creatures so fascinating because of what they look like, obviously. They are gorgeous and weird and alien to me. They float hither thither, gelatinous umbrellas with long electric kite strings instead of handles. Wikipedia tells me they are the "oldest multi-organ animal" having been around for "possibly 700 million years or more," which is just a little creepy and awesome.
This is a beautiful bird that I've always admired for it's fragility. They drink nectar because they love sugar for energy, but also eat insects for nutrients. Most interesting to me is the way they fly, their figure 8 pattern. This is an egocentric fascination because 8 is a recurring and defining number in my life. They are also the only bird that can "hover" and fly backwards.
3. Octopuses
Equally cool and terrifying to me. They have 3 hearts, 8 arms, and are fairly smart for an invertebrate. Other neat attributes of the octopus include the ink sack, which can be used as a decoy or as a sensory inhibitor, and their camouflaging color/texture changing abilities. They can also employ arm autonomy as a distraction. Should an octopus ever get it's tentacles on you, it would also taste you via it's suction cups' chemoreceptors. What a perv.
Anyway, I'm afraid of the ocean, and the octopus is a big part of that. Or maybe it's just Disney's fault for basically making Ursula one.
Fucking Disney.
4. Cats
Revered in Egypt long ago, not much has really changed with their status. No matter how many people claim to hate them, the internet still clearly worships at their furry altar.
I don't really need to tell you about them, everyone knows the pros and cons of cats. I will say I am a cat devotee, ever more so than to dogs in my adoration. Though they have been "domestic" creatures for about 10,000 years, they still manage to be less irritatingly needy than their canine adversary. This is what mostly endears me, their stand-offish "fuck you" attitude, which may actually say a lot more about my own nature than theirs. Because when a cat does confer it's attention to you, you feel important and special.
Cats are why I like assholes. Sorry "nice guys."
Too bad I am allergic to cats. It is the greatest of my #firstworldproblems.
5. Bees
The majority of my childhood summers were spent in fear of these incredible creatures. Mostly due to being traumatized by the movie My Girl.
I have still not experienced a bee sting, and I still dread the possibility of it happening. However, I am also more respectful of the occurrence. The bee's social structure is perhaps the most notable thing about their behavior and it has always interested me. Also, the honey factor. Then, of course, there is the school-born love derived from a music class where we rocked out to "The Flight of the Bumblebee" on a variety of instruments. Welcome to my nerdy childhood.
The declining number of Bumblebees is of great mystery and concern to our generation. It is most likely due to humans being dicks, like most other ecological concerns. As the Einstein quote (that may or may not have been from Einstein) implies, the loss of these fabulous little insects would be devastating. I love honey, is what I'm trying to say here.
