When I'm Not Vixen Strangely...

 

I don't know how much of an explanation this is, but it'll have to do. Maybe someone will find it useful. Maybe it'll make sense to you. Maybe it won't. I don't think it will hurt. 

 Being me sometimes hurts. Not in a big way--just in a "wake up feeling as good as I'm going to" kind of way. My knees started to sound like bubble wrap popping back when I was unloading pallets of copy paper over a quarter of a century ago. They hurt when it rains. So do my hands. So do my ankles. Not in a big way.

Usually. And different things would just rattle or seize up or feel weird sometimes, but it would pass. Or I'd be run down. 

This isn't going to be a post about an awful diagnosis. I really sort of checked out and never followed up because it wasn't bad. My problem was I was in my thirties and full of stress and could stand to lose some weight. Then it was I was in my forties and full of stress and could stand to lose some weight. And more recently, well, my birthdate is on my driver's license, and I buy my own pants, so no one could tell me a damn thing I didn't know. Maybe it was from having mono in my teens. Maybe it was just getting old. 

I just figured I would pace myself--and I self-medicated. 

Yeah. It's that kind of post.

Apparently, I Wasn't Back

I refrained from blogging a little bit because it turns out, my job also involves sleeping and eating and doing self-care things so I can function, so I made a kind of choice to not blog until the need to scratch the blogging itch was as much of a relief as not-blogging turned out to be.  I don't know that that really needs an explanation or if anyone was worried that I stepped off a cliff or anything. I did set myself on fire today (entirely minor kitchen incident, really) and have my right hand swaddled in gauze and salve with a judicious amount of oral application of flavored spirits enabling my relative comfort, so I am, in some sense, back on blogging form. 

It seems like many things did come to pass in the last few days, and I'll try to summon up my piece(s) about them.

Thankful

I think taking the time to take stock of your blessings in life is a great thing. The troubles of the world weigh on us, sometimes lighter than they should. If I am thankful for my full plate, I have to also know that there are people whose larder has been bare. If I am thankful for my heat and light and access to the world through the internet, I also have to understand what it is to be without these things. If I am thankful for my health, I have to also remember those who are without health care, or who soon could be. If I am thankful for the safety of my home, I have to also think of those who might have no home, or might lose their home. If I am thankful for the love I have enjoyed in my life, it needs to be balanced by knowing the love that has been denied  (and is still being denied). If I am thankful for my education, I need to acknowledge that getting a good education is still a struggle for so many.

What I am thankful for, and humbled by, is the gift of perspective. I could be unhappy about the things I do not have, but find the only desire I should by rights want is the ability to work to make anything better for anyone else because of the gifts I do have. And understanding that creates purpose to me, and a better appreciation for all of it.

I could almost pity someone with no perspective, or empathy, or appreciation of the power and wealth dumped in their lap, lacking all capacity to better the life of a single deprived soul because knowing how isn't in them. But of that particular knowledge and blessing, I find myself bereft. And perhaps, it's just as well. Recognizing obstacles that need to be removed is also a kind of perspective.

Before the Immigrants Take it All

I don't usually recount personal stories here on the blog, because I try to keep my real life and my blog persona separate. You might have an image of me--cool. I mostly tell the truth on myself, when I do talk about myself.  But today (of all days) there was an exchange that left me a little disconcerted, because it was entirely offhand. It was a conversation an older lady had with a slightly-less older lady in the elevator in my workplace.

I'm outspoken enough online--that much you might have noticed. I try to keep civil with folks I disagree with, but I find it easier to link to bolster my argument than just state it, because people believe what they believe for reasons. Maybe they just don't drink from the same wells I do. I don't know how they get their ideas. I want to believe examples or published data help, even if some studies and published data have told me, they don't, necessarily.

And work is a different thing than any other kind of interaction--if I don't know a co-worker from my outfit well enough to know how they will take me, I know I have no reason to attempt a conversation, let alone try out a correction of my elders. 

But this lady said something so ignorant I kind of did not know where to start. She replied to a question about when she was retiring with "I have to start taking my Social Security before the immigrants take it all."

This person had no fucking idea how anything the hell worked. She just thought there was a sloppy pool of benefit money that randos were able to siphon off of at will. That immigrants paid into Social Security and never were able to collect because they didn't have legitimate SS numbers, was not anything she had logically taken into account, although it was true. That Social Security for her was paid by workers who came after her, just like her contributions were paying for current retirees, was something she did not seem to be aware of. That Federal budgets really shouldn't take Social Security contributions into their scope when talking about what budget money is available, was not on her mental horizon.

She was happily blaming immigrants for a lack of benefits she was not even going to experience. 

All the arguments were at my tongue-tip. She got off at her floor "Have a blessed day" and I took my alone time until I got to my floor to say out loud to no one at all "That wasn't correct in any way." Because I had to say something out loud, to no one at all, or I might scream. 

And this was not even a likely Trump voter. This was just the kind of stupid prejudice people have about other people because they feel like having prejudices against people, I guess. It made me mad. So I place it here. 

I don't know when we attack that kind of fucked-up wrong concept about how things work, but I suggest the elected leaders of The Left try it. Put on record how things work. Because I am not sure some of the GOP elected know how all the things work, either. 

Strangely Blogged is Ten Years Old

Although this may be hard to believe, I've been blogging for 10 years. I suppose there are worse things I could do. I set out with the idea, on this blog, to be blogging for me, with whatever interested me at any given time, and while I didn't explicitly set out to be a mostly politics blog, well, that was bound to happen. I've concentrated at times on the environment, social justice, atheism, feminism, reproductive justice and race, and occasionally I've reviewed books and movies (not quite as much as I originally thought I would). 

Anyway, I'm still going to do it, even if 10 years is a little long in the tooth in blog-years. I've enjoyed putting thoughts out there, and the people I meet in this weird thing we do. 

The Jon Swift Memorial Roundup 2015 at Vagabond Scholar

Once again, our host, Batocchio, has rounded up a year-end harvest of the Best of the Blogs as selected by the bloggers themselves, in the time-honored tradition begun by the lamented Jon Swift/Al Weisel, whose blog blended satire with a great blog-link as you would be blog-linked-by concept crucial to the furtherance of smaller and newer blogs.  This great tradition, as continued by Batocchio, by Skippy the Bush Kangaroo,  by Tengrain of Mock, Paper Scissors, and by Mike's Blog Round-up at Crooks and Liars, has meant the world to small blogs like mine for spreading the word that we are out there and writing some pretty good stuff, if we do say so ourselves.

So I encourage you, my readers, to go take a look at what the latest round-up has to say. It's a wonderful tour of old and new blog-faces--a walk through of posts you may have already come across combined with an introduction to new faces. It is one of our interwebs' finest traditions, and I am pleased, as always, to have been a part of it.

Enjoy, and if you find some writer strikes your fancy--give 'em a follow or a link to your own blog. This community we create online can be a beautiful thing. Connect! Respect! Keep blogging!

Happy Hiatus--

I've been enjoying a kind of weird "Christmas in July in December" weekend, with temperatures in the high 60-low 70's Fahrenheit the last handful of days. The spouse and I have sat on our front step in shorts playing with his Christmas present to himself--a remote-control truck. In shorts, no less! This weather (although it's rained a little bit every day this past week, and will for the week to come) and the requirements of the holiday rounds, has given me something like "spring fever". Nothing lately has quite motivated me to actual writing. And yet--

The lovely (ahem--muggy and wet and warmish) weather I've been having hasn't been enjoyed elsewhere, like the deep south, that has been having flooding and tornadoes (with loss of life, property, and security for so many) or California, which is still having wildfires--as is Australia, and then again, more brutal flooding in the UK.  It is hard to be cheery while knowing so many people are being endangered or inconvenienced to such an extent.

So, I shall endeavor to get back in the swing of things as soon as possible, but in the meanwhile I definitely wish my readers wherever you are safety, peace, and a better New Year.

I Had Jury Duty Today

I wasn't doing my usual obsessive news-pondering today because I was in town doing jury duty. Some people think very little of jury duty. They think it's an annoyance, and they hope they'll get out of doing a trial. Me--well, I guess I'm a little different. I sort of like it. Now, I don't like getting up at six because I'm far enough from City Hall that my bus trip takes an hour and a half to be sure I'm there on time. (I surely do not drive down to Center City--maybe it's semi-convenient for some people, but that's a trip of basically rush hour I-95 driving and then figuring out where to park my car, and then probably a rush hour trip back--thanks, no.) And taking a lunch is stupid and eating fast food is trash, so I fasted today (until I went home--y'know). But in theory and in practice--doing jury duty is directly participating in our legal process.

How is that not awesome? Think about it--you are just some random citizen doing your thing, and you are offered the chance to review a court case and see how you think the law applies. You get an opportunity to see how the law works from a nearly front-row seat. Your law--the laws that pertain to you and other citizens. And your opinion and good judgment as a functional adult is appreciated and welcomed.

Sorry about the sparse posting--

This is one of my workplace's busy periods, and while I don't take on extra hours, this week I came home extra tired. I should be able to pick the posting schedule back up straightaway, and appreciate your patience. (Although tomorrow is supposed to be lovely so #springfever may set in.)

Not too Late for Christmas Cheer

I've been slacking because for me, this has been a week, but here's a neat little video of President Obama showing that toys aren't really easily sorted as "girls'" and "boys'":



I was all about anything I could throw, catch, shoot, or build (my emptied-out Idaho-powdered-mashed-potatoes canister repurposed as a LEGO container was my go-to favorite thing--I mostly made castles) as a little girl, and my dolls were usually "patients" for playing at being a doctor. I'm not too sure why things kids play with get so gender-segregated, myself.

Also this:

Reminds me of all the daddies who have ever perched on too-tiny chairs to drink imaginary tea from too-tiny cups, or patiently endured a "make-over". Too cute.

Christmas is a neat time for getting back on the floor watching kids open toys and just seeing the spirit of play all over again. My little nephews and I turned stuffed animals into footballs and tried not to mess up Nonna's living room. It was a good day.

Administrative Note--Moderation

As my readers may know, Strangely Blogged is a one-girl shop, so I admit, it is necessary for me to moderate my older posts because unfortunately, I am, like a lot of other blogs, subject to the spam that is not in a can. For that reason, as we get to posts about a week old or more, your comments are going to go to mod. On the plus side, for me--I have a sort of 9 to 5-ish job, but on the down side for you, that can mean your comment might take awhile to post. On the plus side--for you, gentle readers, is that if I know you are a real person, I will probably just approve your comment as-is once I get to it, because I'm all about freedom of speech (although if I see racial or gender slurs, I may just assume you need a timeout and bounce your post) so, so long as you are civil, you get to speak your piece. It's just that I may be slow on allowing comments to back-issues because--real life. I will re-post this disclaimer as needed, because your patience is appreciated. And I do appreciate the back-and-forth of a good comments thread.

And yes, if your ID link is selling software or light bulbs or whatever, the likelihood that your post gets bounced goes up. Sorry Spamulators.

Happy Holidays!

Now I know that not everyone is sold on the value of "Happy Holidays", and some people actually might reject this fantastic seasonal offer, but I am here to talk about the virtues of the Happy Holiday package. For the same price as one "Merry Christmas!" (free), the "Happy Holidays" package is offering one "Merry Christmas" (to keep), throwing in a "Happy New Year" (good for a whole year!) and throwing in at least one other holiday of equal or lesser value! But in all honesty, you can have as many happy holidays as you like!

Sounds to good to be true? Wait, there's more! If for any reason you aren't satisfied with your "Happy Holidays" package, you can simply return "Happy Holidays" to the giver--entirely free of charge! Or you can keep the Holidays of your choice--and let others keep theirs. It's a really great deal!  Start enjoying happy holidays today!

Spring Fever

I don't know where my compulsion to confess things comes from, but because I like to explain myself, essentially, I've been playing blog hookey because finally, the weather seemed sorted this past week. It was like spring decided to be itself for a little while, instead of doing impressions of other seasons like an uptight dinner companion who has to be "on" ("Okay, weather, I've seen you do "winter" and I've seen you do "summer"--now just...you do you!"). So I've actually gotten out of doors a bit, tending to my garden literally and figuratively, and managed to exchange my winter prison pallor for a bronzy glow.

I regret nothing.

But now that it's going to be pissing down rain all weekend, I think I'll try to remember how this blogging thing works, because give me another week of fucking off, and I'll likely forget how.

Damn, Internet, I Miss You When You're Gone...

You know, it seems like it was just Sunday (because it was!) that I was mentioning getting back into the swing of regular posting. I think fate saw that as a challenge, because Monday, after a long day of sitting in front of a computer, I cranked up the old laptop to enjoy my hobby of sitting in front of a computer and I discovered I was fresh out of intertubes. My DSL box had blown. I did all the resuscitate-y things, like unplugging it, letting it rest, doing the reset button thing, you know the drill, but it was to no avail. So the spouse and I called Verizon (because technical service calls go better with teamwork).

I only note the particulars because it struck me that they still ask if you turned the box off and on, unplugged it, and did the reset button thingy.  It always strikes me as a little like the AAA person asking "Is there gas in the car?" or "Did you start it in 'park'?"  Although I guess they do have to ask. Oh well. Got my new modem this evening and am hopefully will get right on top of this here blogging thing.  You know, after I've seen about a dozen YouTube videos of adorable animals I somehow missed over the last two days.

Sorry about the Hiatus.

I know! It's been a week since I've blogged, and blogging just beforehand was a little sparser than usual. Partially, it was about my work/home/blog divide (not a coincidence my last post was tax day), but also that current events just blew out my blog circuitry (no coincidence my last post was about the Boston Marathon bombing). It wasn't even that I "could not even", it was like I "would not even".  Not in a "now I will crawl in a ditch and work on my creative liver destruction through t-bird and tussin project" way, but more in a "why not just try going to bed at a reasonable hour if staring at a stagnant blog is just making me anxious" way.  Which is definitely not indicative of a "do or die trying" spirit, but is reasonable self-care.

Anyway, I'm going to try and get back into the swing of things, but I figured it wasn't a bad idea to explain my absence a bit in case it was noticed.

Implausible Deniability--

The White House has sort of walked this back, but I don't think you can put the toothpaste back in the tube on this one. It's 2012, and I just don't know how anyone who is concerned with the civil rights and equal protection under the law of all people can deny that the relationships of gay people absolutely deserve the same equal treatment to those of straight people--a lifetime commitment, to have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, 'til death is marriage, and the biological sex of the participants in that vow has no bearing on the meaning and the reality of the journey those partners set off on. It's the committment, the vow, the loyalty, that forms the family there, not the fleeting erotic bits. I've always considered this thing a no-brainer, and kind of fail to understand how anyone else doesn't.


Some people believe that Vice-President Biden is somewhat gaffe-prone, but I don't. I think he suffers from a case of something a bit rare in politics: an honest intellect. What some people view as unpolitic statements, I actually view as a sign of an active intelligence, and, more often than not, a fair and a kind one. For that reason, I take what he said today on its face: he is comfortable with gay marriage, and wants to see gay couples enjoy the same rights as straights. For what it's worth, I've always thought Obama's "evolving" position was just code for "can't say it out loud yet, but has no real opposition to gay marriage",

Maybe this is just a straight-married bi-girl's civil libertarian projectionism, but having known hope, why shouldn't I expect change? I don't think this was a trial balloon to see if maybe America was socially ready for marriage equality, but if it was, I think most of us are, and I think it's time the Obama Administration bust out of the tolerance-closet. I know it's an election-year, and I think it's important to be forward about it because Obama's opponent is not, and will never be our ally, but I think Obama could be.

Conscience and poll numbers doth make cowards of us all--if we let them. Leadership sometimes creates the change you want to see in the world. I kind if hope this is a signal that the administration that saw the end of DADT, will recognize marriage equality, and put on the record that what fate has brought together is not the government's business to keep asunder.

I've neglected to mention I am co-blogging at Rumproast

And yet this is entirely true. I still don't entirely believe it myself. In fact. I was largely of the opinion that anyone who read me, already knew of Rumproast and knew I blogged there because--I did. But just on the off chance I have any actual followers who did not know--my stuff can also be found at Rumproast. Except more stuff is here.  That is all. I will X-post here for whatever I post there, but I'll still post things here...it's complicated, yo? But it seems to work pretty well.  In other words--still come here, because I post stuff I don't post there, and go there because it is still one of the best polisnark sites on the web. Which I think answers everything. 

Fundraiser for StrangeAppar8us

I'm not used to soliciting on my blog because with my low traffic, I'm not really sure who I'm soliciting....to.  But if you stumbled onto my humble pages in seach of topical snark, then you will love (or probably already love) RumpRoast.  As you may have heard, one of their own, StrangeAppar8us, has had a serious brain injury, and could use some help.

You can follow this link to donate what you can--there's a handy PayPal link and a PO box has been set up for checks if, like me, you try to avoid plastic. He's one of the Internet's good guys, and entirely worth it.

Self-care.

Not blogging about every political thing that gets on my nerves is a form of self-care.


But honestly, I really need to get off my ass and post something. Maybe tonight. I'm feeling much more "Om" and stuff.  Stopped drinking booze and eating grains. Actually sleeping at night, too. It's been surprisingly positive.

Disablism--it's really about any of us, isn't it?

My father is disabled. He's the smartest, handsomest, strongest man I have ever actually known, my first great role model (aside from Mom) and he has rheumatoid arthritis, which is warping his joints and has been making his life a pain in the ass and everything else for several years now. He doesn't look disabled. He looks like a tall, muscular, distinguished man who would otherwise meet any convention of "This is privileged guy".