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Thank God I'm not allergic

July 3rd 2009 02:51
Most people I've spoken with have never been stung by a bee or a wasp or a hornet in their lives. Good for them. I, on the other hand, seem to pull them in like a tractor beam.

It was less than a month ago that a hornet got me right on my right butt cheek. Of course, I did sit on it. I suppose I'd react similarly in that situation. I've probably been stung about 8 billion times in my life (rough estimate) and today was just another hash mark on the tally.



I went for a walk by the river, enjoying nature, everything was beautiful. The weather was perfect. As I passed by a bench where a couple of kids were eating icecream... it happened.

A terrible burning pain on my collar bone. I looked down, and sure enough, some kind of little black and yellow jerk face decided to pass up the kids and slam right into me, digging in the stinger. I swatted it away and probably spazzed out a smidge, because the kids started laughing. I'm just your dancing monkey. Here to entertain.

Here is an artist's rendering of precisely what happened. (Click on the image to get a better view of the incident!)



Ok, so perhaps I took a few liberties, but this is basically what went down.

So, now I have this big welt on my chest. But it was a very nice day otherwise!
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A few more pics from around town

June 30th 2009 07:26
I realized that there were a few pictures that I neglected to post in my last entry: My Photos from My City So without any fanfare introduction, here are the missing pics.

Another day...another train


Beautiful old building that my friend lives in, surrounded by trees.


A longtime landmark of our city, this smiling water tower is now set to be demolished.


Funhouse at the Fairgrounds


The Kennedy Bridge. Another route from ND to MN.


I find this monument very disturbing


Entrance to the Down Town Arts Pavilion...with a rather interesting character standing in front.


I took this shot while driving. I live on the edge, darlings.


City hall. Another driving shot.


This shot taken in the park came out with a purple hue. I can't prove it, but I think it had something to do with fairies!
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My photos of my City

June 29th 2009 00:11
I recently invited you into my home for a look at some of my assorted junk. If you missed that post, you can find it here:

Stuff in My House

Well, now that you've seen my assorted crapola, I thought I'd give you a tour of some of the finer points of my city. Now, as with my home photos, these are just photos of random things that caught my fancy. I love taking pictures, and all of these photos were captured just this afternoon. Some of them are a smidgey blurry because it was crazy windy outside today, and I nearly got knocked off of my feet a few times.

Sooooo, here we go! Please keep in mind that these pictures are all really big, and can best be enjoyed if you click on them to enlarge.

First of all, for those of you who have heard me talk about where I live, you may sometimes hear me say North Dakota, and sometimes Minnesota. This is because I literally live on the border between the two States. To illustrate the point I took the following photos, and labeled them accordingly.

First, you'll notice the proximity of the two State Flags.



Next, I'll show you the literal border. This photo was taken less than a block from my house. Not bad, huh?



Ok, now hopefully there is no more confusion. My literal address in in Minnesota, but until a few years ago, I lived in North Dakota my whole life. And, while my home may be on the MN side of the river, I spend most of my time on the ND side.

Ok, let's get in the car and begin our journey around town.

Go ahead. Take a good long look at my rear end! Haha! This is the car that we're going to use to scoot around the town.


My city is a crazy combination of really new industrial complexes and really old architecture. This ancient looking home is where my best girlie lives. I believe it used to be a hotel and is now apartments. Don't you just love the gigantic overgrown tree in front? You could literally climb right into it from her balcony.


Because we are home to a lot of industry, the town is literally covered in train tracks. Here's a train I caught just as it was crossing the street in front of me.


This is a small art store in town. It's best known for the crazy metal sculpture of a patriotic bra sitting on the front lawn. WEIRD!


We really love those Canadians here! And since the Canadian Border is just over 100 miles away, we built them their very own hotel to stay in during their visits!


Speaking of those Crazy Canadians, sometimes it's necessary to keep them in line. Thankfully, our friends from the Border Patrol keep an eagle eye on them! You may also notice that they're hiring, and I hear they pay pretty well. So...if you ever feel like heading North for a while, I could probably hook you up with a sweet Government job!


One of the unique features about North Dakota is that you can be smack in the middle of town, and find yourself staring at a newly planted cornfield, or a giant patch of prairie grass. These pictures were both taken from different sides of one of the busiest streets in town! Right near the Canada Inn, actually.
Corn Field


Wild Prairie Grass


What's this? Deep in the heart of an area of town known as Industrial Park, we find the friendly business center of Amazon.com. This is a place where I spent many years as a dedicated employee. My city is home to one of only a handful of Amazon.com centers in the world. Aren't we special?



An outside look at the Fairgrounds. I love the clouds in this picture. A storm was beginning to roll in.


This never fails to crack me up. We North Dakotans are multi-taskers by nature. Therefore, we need to be able to wash the car and the laundry at the same time. Luckily for us, there is a place that can make this dream a reality.


The following are some pictures of our beautiful University Park. We may have been complaining about all of the rain, but look at how green everything is! Lovely.






Isn't this the saddest little evergreen tree you've ever seen? It is severely in need of a hug!


This is my favorite building in the whole town. It used to be a convent, and is reported to be haunted. See that bell tower? Apparently a nun plunged to her death from that very spot, and legend has it that her tormented soul still haunts the premises. In fact, so many people have reported supernatural occurrences, that access to the bell tower was completely boarded up. The building was converted into a hospital, and is now a home for the elderly.


Alright, let's head downtown, shall we? The buildings in the downtown area were mostly destroyed when the Red River flooded in 1997, but renovations have been slowly bringing these historic buildings back to life.
Cute little organic food store "Amazing Grains"




An Irish style pub and a neighboring martini lounge




"The Toasted Frog". A great place to enjoy a glass of fine wine and frog legs!


A sculpture built in remembrance of the 1997 flood.


The Historic Empire Theater


Standing in Minnesota, looking at North Dakota


And finally, I thought I would share with you the view from my living room window...isn't it lovely? Ah...the joys of downtown living. You'll notice that I'll never need to own a clock as long as I live here. And I think it's very funny that although we are now well into summer, we keep the graphics of snowflakes. We're a cynical bunch!


Well, thanks for joining me on this journey around this place that I call home. Come and visit anytime. There's always room at the Canada Inn!

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In pusuit of pleasure

June 26th 2009 03:30
It is possible that I indulge myself a little more than I should. When I look at all of the things that I do on a day to day basis, I suppose it would be fair to say that the largest percentage of them are designed to bring me pleasure. Whether it is intellectual fulfillment or hedonistic self gratification, I find great inspiration in the words of Voltaire, "Pleasure is the object, duty and the goal of all rational creatures."

Simple pleasures are often the most rewarding. I take deep pleasure in a bubble bath. I like to spoil myself with an overflowing bath complete with music, candles, and hot tea. Can you think of anything more delicious? Don't answer that! But a yummy bath is right up there with my all time favorite ways to unwind and indulge. I can soak in a bath for hours, using my toes to turn the knob and let more hot water trickle in if the water begins to get cold. For best results, turn off the lights, get some soothing aromatherapy candles, and listen to some jazz music.




"Simple pleasures are always the last refuge of the complex." Oscar Wilde

Taking a drive in the country can be a blissful act of self fulfillment. I did this just this morning at about 6:00 am. I couldn't sleep, so I put on my most comfortable clothes, left my shoes at home, and got in the car. I headed out on the open road, and drove for miles, just enjoying the new day. Early morning is a beautiful time to just appreciate nature. I may complain about where I live, but we do have some things that are just breathtaking.

It takes me exactly 5 minutes to get outside the city, and immerse myself in rolling prairie and endless fields. This morning I saw two bald eagles perched on a fence post as I drove. I saw hawks and falcons. I saw deer grazing. I saw farmers walking with their dogs. My window was cranked all the way down, and I stuck my left hand out the window, letting the cool morning breeze pound against my hand. At one point, I pulled over, got out of my car, and just sat on the hood, admiring the vast grass fields all around me. Then I just closed my eyes and listened to the birds and the wind. It was magical.



"Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure." Lord Byron

Writing gives me unending pleasure. I can find myself wrapped up in writing for a whole day without realizing that a moment has passed. This isn't just blogging. Working on my novel has been like submitting to that inner voice that tells you stories that beg to be shared. Do you know what I mean? My whole life, I've created stories in my mind. I can see something that pleases me, or troubles me, or excites me... and instantly formulate a story around it. Perhaps this is simply day dreaming or fantasizing, but writing it down with the intent to share the results is the height of self indulgence, as it requires a measure of certainty that someone else would be fulfilled by reading it, which perhaps is an exercise in self love, in a way.

To value ones own insights and creative instincts to the point that you want to share them.... whatever it means, it gives me such joy. Beyond the desire to share, the sense of accomplishment that comes along with writing a heartbreaking fight, an emotionally charged sex scene, a mournful death, or a piece of amusing dialogue....if you can read it back to yourself and become convinced that these are moments in the life of a real person.... this is exhilaration.




"I am pretty sure that, if you will be quite honest, you will admit that a good rousing sneeze, one that tears open your collar and throws your hair into your eyes, is really one of life's sensational pleasures." Robert Benchley

Some of the greatest moments in life are spent in fits of laughter. I love to be amused. I love being entertained with silly, stupid, or sarcastic humor. I am a fortunate soul who is capable of cracking myself up, even if no one else is laughing, so I'm always in stitches.

Life is funny. All of the moments of pain and sorrow and confusion and heartache...there is some golden comedy in there that begs to be released. Something that I'll often be caught saying is, "Lighten up, buttercup!" There is amusement and silliness all around us!

“That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.” Edgar Allen Poe

Whether staring at art, listening to a violin revealing its soul, or gazing at a gently flowing river... I allow myself to be given over to the rapture of life. Moments of sadness creep in. Moments of self doubt rear their ugly head.... but recapturing that feeling of abandon that comes from the appreciation of the beauty that is all around us is the quickest way to pull yourself out of the muck. Surrender to it. Give yourself over to those moments that make life worth living.

I've shared my pleasures with you...well, the ones that are legal and appropriate to post and I feel that even this was an exercise in self fulfillment. There are many other things that give me pleasure, of course. These have been a few. I leave you with this....


“As I bit into the nectarine, it had a crisp juiciness about it that was very pleasurable - until I realized it wasn't a nectarine at all, but A HUMAN HEAD!”

Jack Handy
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Hooray for Weird Girls! Awesome musical find!

June 25th 2009 03:13
I have a friend who shares all of his latest musical discoveries with me via email or as MP3's. They are hit or miss selections, as we don't always jive musically. But, the one he sent me last night is WONDERFUL!!!!

For maximum listening potential, I burned them to a disc, and listened in the bathroom as I shaved my legs. (What? Manners are overrated. I'll fill your mind with whatever impolite visions I wish!) Anyway, it's a damn miracle that I didn't cut myself, because I LOVED this music! Loved it, loved it loved it LOVED it.

Perhaps you've all heard of this gal and I'm late to the party once again, but incase you haven't, I found two You Tube clips highlighting the music of Marina & The Diamonds. What appeals to me about this selection is that A. The girl is so quirky and weird. I love finding a kindred spirit. There's a little Regina Spektor here, no? B. The music is just different and great.



Listen to it. Love it. Tell me what you think.

Obsession. I have to say I love her outfit in this video. I would totally wear it. I'm not shitting you, that is right up my alley!



I Am Not a Robot. Sadly, this next one I could only find in non embeddable form on Perezhilton.com. But it is such a cool video, I hope you check it out.... Lovely! Love the makeup, love the sound, love the weirdness. LOVE IT!

I AM NOT A ROBOT CLICK HERE!!!!

Mowgli's Song. Very cool performance of very cool song aired on BBC.

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A cure for the blues...

June 24th 2009 04:25
As generally cheerful and bright as my sparkling personality is....sometimes I get into a slight funk. I think it happens to the best of us, but being the emotional person that I am, I have to be careful not to allow my funk to spin into a swirling vortex of self doubt and despair. My problem is that I dwell on things. If something is bothering me, I stew in it, let it fester, swim about in it, consider and reconsider it, and then revisit it once I've managed to free myself from it.


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A random assortment of stuff in my house!

June 21st 2009 10:23
I was feeling particularly bored this evening, and my brother left his fancy camera laying around, so I had no choice. I started to take pictures of random things laying about my home.

These are just very unnecessary pictures, but I thought it would be kind of fun to give a little bird's eye view into my life. But there is no rhyme or reason as to why I took pictures of the things that I did. Welcome to my cluttered and complex mind [ Click here to read more ]
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You got to know when to hold 'em....

June 16th 2009 20:16
Woohoo! After weeks of being sheltered and shackled....I'm free to indulge myself in all of my favorite deviant activities! Before your mind delves deeply into the gutter....

I'm going to the Casino today! Fun fun fun! The only downside is that I'm the one driving but the upside is that I just know that those penny slots are going to make me fabulously wealthy this time! I JUST KNOW IT


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There's no place like home! (Except perhaps Belize)

June 15th 2009 04:56
I am finally home after my couple week stint as my grandmother's caretaker, and I am soooo happy! I'm having a drink(s) to celebrate. Join me? Yay!

The last few days with g'ma were rough! I mean B-A-D! She is so scared about moving, and I don't blame her. My heart breaks for her every moment. But, as her nerves were at an all time high, my nerves were shot to hell


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I don't take meds, I don't make beds: Reasons why I'm Insufferable

June 12th 2009 03:14
I can tell that my Grandmother is getting a little tired of my face these last few days. It seems that literally everything I do is annoying to her. Sure, I have my quirks, but damn it...I think I'm basically easy on the nerves (not to mention the eyes..lol).

This may as well be a picture of my brain right now!

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Final Excerpt from my novel before publication

June 10th 2009 09:23
In a wave of inspiration, Lilith's story poured freely from me over the last hour. Here's an unedited snibbet from Lilith's journey, which is rapidly reaching it's pinnacle. I didn't proof read it or spell check it. It just is what it is for now.

The amazing thing about creating a fictional character, is that you become so attached to her...you want to start changing things in her story because you feel sorry for her. You don't want her to suffer...and yet to remove the suffering would also lessen her joy, and change her personality, and diminish her appeal...and humanity. Here again, is a piece of "I am the Wreck of the Hesperus


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It's Decided...I'm going to have fun!

June 2nd 2009 06:41
This evening, I am terribly bored. Trapped in my Grandma's house with nothing to do! Can't smoke, can't leave...what should I do???

Here's the brightside...I found the internet, and while originally the only hotspot to be found was in the bathroom on the floor...I've now discovered that if prop the laptop on my pillow right where I'm sleeping, badaboom! More internet, less toilet


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Another excerpt from my novel

May 29th 2009 03:50
As I approach the final stages of my novel, I decided to post another excerpt here for anyone interested. If you missed the first one, you can read it here: An Excerpt from my Novel


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I KNEW IT! Shenanigans with the American Idol Votes

May 28th 2009 02:43
I just knew there was something stinky about the way things went down on American Idol. My conspiracy theorist mind went immediately into overdrive as I heard the news that Adam Lambert did NOT win American Idol.

Now, my suspicions may have been confirmed. A-holes


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