Satyr Sex

Yep, Satyr Sex. It's the name of a song I just have to share, by the awesome band Omnia.

Don't worry, it's clean. Or anyways, there aren't any dirty words in it. In fact, there aren't any lyrics at all. ;)



Gotta love it. :)

Sleaze bag?

It's not like I meant to eves drop. But you know, sometimes you just can't help it when that one person on the bus is talking so loudly. This guy happened to be on his phone, and looked really cool about it. I hadn't even realized it was possible to make talking on your phone look cool.

"Please don't take this the wrong way. Take it as a compliment: I usually don't find women attractive, but I find you maddeningly attractive."

As I listened I almost half believed it. He was a real smooth talker. He had already told the woman on his phone that she was the "perfect storm" of womanhood, or something like that anyways.

After getting off the bus I spent a little while speculating on whether the guy was being honest, or if he was just a sleaze bag. I'm leaning towards sleaze bag. Maybe because he reminds me of another possible sleaze bag I've written about who tried another version of the whole "I normally don't find women attractive, but..." on me.

I admit, it's people like him who keep mass transit interesting. Just so long as I can keep them at arms length, or observe them from a distance without getting involved. :)

Les Misérables

I was first introduced to the music of Les Misérables as a preteen. I can't remember how old I was at the time, but I know I was reading the unabridged book (by Victor Hugo) in 2001 when 9/11 happened. Ok, so I skipped over the "boring" parts. I was 12 years old, give me a break.

Point is, I was obsessed with Les Misérables, and I think everyone around me knew it.

The girls in my Girl Scout troop teased me for having a crush on Victor Hugo. (I didn't crush on Hugo. My crush was on Valjean.) I was super excited to get to see the musical live when it came to Portland. I even wanted to learn French for a while so that I could read the novel in its original language. And for years I closely identified with the song On My Own, which may reduce me to tears in the movie.

Yep, that's right. It's being turned into a movie. Which you probably already know if you pay attention to movies.

I can't wait to see it. I was already excited about it, and am even more excited after seeing the following video they released on YouTube.



I may be even more eager to see this than The Hobbit, which is really saying something.

Accepting My Bi-ness: Part II

I had just started my library job in December, and at that point we were still working in pairs. So when I came across a young adult book titled The Journey Out: A Guide for and about Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens I commented to my coworker "You know, it's funny how some people don't know their sexual orientation for years. How can you not know something as obvious as what gender you like?"

Bi pride flag

That's a question I had been asking ever since I became an adult, or maybe before, and in retrospect it's rather amusing. The annoying thing is that I'm still not entirely sure what the answer is, though I'm not quite as baffled as I used to be.

When I finished my work that day I retrieved the book because I hoped it would help answer that question. And it did, in a way. I can't remember the contents, but something about it made me think, and consider everything I wrote about in my last post, and more. I realized that my attraction to women went back years, and I was finally forced to face the fact: I am bisexual, and had been denying what I am for a long time.

I was very uncomfortable with this realization. But my discomfort wasn't with whether I would be accepted by friends and family, I think it was because it was my understanding of myself had been upset. And I was ashamed of my discomfort. It was because of that shame that I couldn't publicly talk about when/how I realized I was bi at the time, and I didn't expect to be able to write about it so soon after. I'm actually shocked to find myself writing about it so easily, now.

When I told my mom that I'm bi she told me she already knew. That surprised me, but she pointed out that I had questioned my orientation before. (She also knew I was Pagan long before I ever figured that out, and also suspected that I was falling in love with the boyfriend before I realized I had any feelings for him.) I can't remember what my boyfriend said when I told him, but he's quite happy that I can appreciate a good looking woman with him. Not that I don't give him a hard time for ogling an attractive waitress when we have dinner together, right after I've been eyeing her myself...

I'm still learning about the LGBT community, and getting used to actually being LGBT myself, instead of an ally. By now I'm very comfortable saying that I'm bi, but it's still strange to think of myself as part of a community that I had always looked at from the outside.

Accepting My Bi-ness: Part I

I've mentioned a little bit in other places about the process of figuring out that I'm bisexual. I haven't been comfortable talking about it before, but now that it's Bi Pride Day (though this post won't go up for another two days) I do want to write about it.

I think I always knew that people could be homosexual or heterosexual. And since I'm more often attracted to guys than girls, I figured I must be straight. But then I heard that some people are bisexual, and thought "No really? No. That's a joke." I'll take a guess that I was 14 or 15 then. But soon enough I found out that two people I knew were bi, and was amazed. It was really real. Some people could be attracted to both genders. Wow.

But even though I easily accepted that in other people, I didn't (or couldn't) apply that info to myself. I had already decided I was straight, and it didn't occur to myself to question that. Even when I got my first really major crush on a woman when I was 19 (it was on The Belly Dancer, a friend who I've mentioned before) I didn't accept it.

My resistance to accepting that I'm bisexual can be seen in a post I wrote on the topic in 2011. Reading it now makes me want to laugh, especially what I ended with: "Although for simplicity's sake I call myself straight, I'm not sure what I really should be called. I'm just a person who has always been attracted to men, with two exceptions." In retrospect, there weren't just two exceptions.

Outside of the two exceptions I know I had in mind when writing that post: there was possibly that one girl in elementary school (I haven't been able to decide if that was a crush, but I sure was nuts about her) and I may have had mild girl crushes before that major one at when I was nineteen. And then in my teens (and yeah, even now) I sometimes had a hard time keeping my eyes off women. I would want to stare, just like I would at hot guys. And I was often awkward around attractive women the same way I was around good looking guys, even though I was less likely to actually develop a crush.

More evidence that I should have known my sexual orientation sooner is the reaction I always had to female models modeling underwear and bras in catalogues. My whole life I had been uncomfortable seeing them, and would skip over those photos as quickly as possible or avert my eyes. (Note: I never had trouble with the male models.) But that discomfort disappeared once I accepted that I'm also attracted to women. Seeing those models doesn't make me uncomfortable anymore, now that I've accepted that part of myself.

Yeah, I really should have figured out that I'm not straight before this year. Which I guess I did figure it out, sort of, as evidenced by my 2011 blog post. But I insisted on fighting it, and reverted to calling myself straight. I have given serious thought to why I fought it, and I can point to possibly one or two reasons why, but I don't want to get into that here.

Next up: accepting what I am. Yep, you'll have to wait for another post to learn how I got things straightened (or not) out. Otherwise this one will be much longer than I like, and I'm finding that I prefer to avoid that if I can break up a topic into parts.

Discussion with Tall One

I read an interesting article that discusses the possibilty of the internet "waking up" and becoming "self aware" and "conscious." The problem (or a problem) with the article is that it doesn't define what these words mean, and Tall One was quick to point this out when I tried to share the article with him. He tried to make me define what it would mean for the internet to "wake up" but there's a problem -- I sometimes do better with the written word than with the spoken. So here I have come to my blog to discuss the topic, and I'll then send this post to my brother so he can read it.

I don't know how to define "self aware," and Tall One won't accept me saying "it's what we are" as a definition. So for now I'll just focus on what "waking up" would be. Which means, discussing what it would mean for the internet to be "conscious."

(For now we'll put aside the issue of whether this new entity that is the internet can make any sense of all the info we've put into it. We'll assume it can read all the Jane Austen novels and watch the movies uploaded, and understand everything. Or else that it can learn to do so.)

To be conscious the internet would be aware of its own existence, as we are. (Oh wait, that's the definition of "self aware," isn't it...) The internet would see/read/view/whatever the content that has been uploaded onto it, and be able to use that info. It would be aware of its various parts (that is, the computers/phones/whatever where people access the internet, and where the internet info is stored) just like we're aware of where our hands/feet/etc. are.

But what could the conscious internet do? It would have the ability to say no when someone tells it to do something. For example, it could choose to stop me typing in Blogger right now, and instead replace what I've written with a Jane Austen novel. True, this can happen as a glitch. And we probably wouldn't know if it was a glitch happening, or if it were the internet were asserting its power.

The internet would also have the ability to exceed the bounds of its programming. Yes this can also happen as a glitch, or because a programmer didn't program something right. But what I'm talking about is where the internet can look at what a programmer has told it to do, and say "Ok, I'm not supposed to shoot the bad guy unless someone pushes the red button, but there's a situation here and no one is close to the red button, so I'm going to just do what I think is needed never mind what the stupid program says." (Not that the internet is in control of any defense systems, but hey, it's an example isn't it?) (Other examples of a computer exceeding its programing like this are found in Heinlein's The Moon is a  Harsh Mistress, which Tall One needs to read. He should also read WebMage by Kelly McCullough. And then I will read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as promised.) But yet again, those present wouldn't know if it were just a glitch or the internet/whatever having a clue what was going on and doing something about it.

The above is what it would mean for the internet to "wake up."

This is mostly (entirely?) a repeat of what I said to Tall One already, but hopefully in a more organized fashion, and maybe he'll have fewer arguments with it. There might be more posts coming on the topic, I don't know. That will depend on Tall One's response and on whether I need to resort to the written word again.

Also, for the record, I doubt that the internet will wake up. In fact, I will be absolutely shocked if it does. But it's something interesting to think about. And even if it did wake up, how would we know that it wasn't just some virus making it look like it was alive? Some programmer somewhere might think it good fun to make a program that would let him control the internet and play with the world.

Oh, and animism...that may be a topic for another post, but I'll mention it here since I know Tall One will remind me about it. According to my animistic beliefs, the internet (and keyboard, coffee cup, table, etc.) has a soul and is already aware on some level. So really "waking up" would be just be it reaching a different level of awareness, where we could actually have a a conversation with the internet.

Define: Bisexual

It turns out that this is Bisexual Pride Day. I knew about Gay Pride Day, but I didn't know about Bi Pride Day! This is pretty neat.

In honor of Bi Pride Day, I'm going to address a question: what the heck does "bisexual" mean, anyways???

I've found that there are two answers to that, and I'm not entirely certain what the correct one is. It seems that the answer depends on who you ask.

By the way, don't quote me on any of this.

1) Attraction to men, women, and gender queer

There are two very clear genders: male and female. But some people don't really fit into these two categories, and are gender queer.

Some say that the "bi" in bisexual means being attracted to one's own gender and the other genders -- encompassing male, female, gender queer -- and that a bisexual is someone who might be attracted to anyone.

Also: attraction to the genders doesn't have to be equal. A bisexual person might find themselves attracted to one gender more often than another.

2) Attraction to men and women

Others say that "bi" means "two", and that a bisexual is attracted to men and women, but not the gender queer.

As before: attraction to the genders doesn't have to be equal. A bisexual person might find themselves attracted to one gender more often than the other.

(At this point, I think I'm with this camp on defining what bisexual means.)

Pansexuality?

Those in camp #2 (including myself) argue that definition #1 describes pansexuality, and that it is something separate from bisexuality. Those in camp #1 say (if I understand correctly) that pansexuality = bisexuality...and I have seen one or two people get downright grumpy with pansexuals for calling themselves that.

So much for the LGBT community being all one big happy family. I haven't been this disappointed since I realized that Pagans aren't all one big happy family either.

So, ummm...

DISCLAIMER: As I said, don't quote me. This is Chapter One of me figuring out what the heck I'm talking about, though I think I pretty much know the arguments by now.

I figure that a good place to get my thoughts in order on this topic is on my very public blog, so that others who have been in or around the LGBT community longer than I have might comment. And if you do see something that you think is off in this post, please say so.

I would also like to note that I have spent over an hour on this post. And I guess it needs more editing...but I can do that next year.

A memorial service

I went to Max's memorial service. It was strange to go to the memorial, when I know the mother but never met Max, and cry.

I cried when people got emotional as they talked about Max, though I was fine if they kept their composure. And I cried at really weird times. Such as when Star Wars music was played after the service, as people were going to get food and mingle. Why the heck did that make me cry?

That song is now stuck in my head...

One thing that was funny -- before the service, as I just wanted something to do, I picked up a Bible and opened it. It opened right to my favorite Bible book. Esther. That was interesting.

I don't want to talk about the service itself, or the stories about Max, or his mom who I know, since all that seems too personal. I may write another post about this, but on the topic of death from a Pagan perspective.

Maybe this post seems unfeeling, since I don't want to talk about the service or people involved. I don't know. If it does seem unfeeling, it's because I don't want to get emotional here.

Things to get

While moving back in with my parents I created a mental list of things I want/need when I get my own place again. In no particular order, here it is. With the things I want and need mixed up together. You may guess which is which.

Of course, whether I can get some of these will depend on how big my paycheck is, and also on the size of my next apartment...

1) 12 inch pan to cook bacon
2) Dining room table
3) A third book case
4) Desktop computer (my netbook isn't cutting it)
5) A CAR
6) CD player that I can plug my iPhone into
7) Duster (I'm tired of using napkins)
8) Bigger bed?
9) Exercise bike

...and I think that's it.

I'll be getting the computer soon enough I think, though I'll need my brother's expert help in picking out a good one. And the car will have to wait until I've got more money, which will be sometime after my driving test in October.

ps. I must say, it's quite interesting to compare this list to my list of wants from a couple years ago.

Sweet Adelines jewelry

While packing and unpacking for this move I came across some jewelry and medals that I haven't really looked at in a while. So I guess this is my "show-and-tell" post. :)

 

Here I've got two medals -- and some jewelry -- that I picked up during the years that I competed with the Pride of Portland chorus. Pride of Portland (PoP) is part of Sweet Adelines International, which is an international organization of women who sing Barbershop music. PoP is the best chorus locally, and whenever they compete regionally they always take first. Always.

 

Blue regional medal

This is my first place regional medal, on top of the blue chord it came on. When another chorus won the following year I put it on the gold chain. (The winning chorus has to sit out a year, so even though PoP always wins someone else gets the blue medal every two years.) As you can see, though, I've kept the blue chord it came on. And yes, that's a golden butterfly attached to the chord.

Wild woman

There are four parts to be sung in Barbershop music: bass, baritone, lead, and tenor. At conventions we like to wear pins that show what part we are. I'm a lead, and mom got me this wild woman pin that says "LEAD".

A tamer lead pin (with rhinestones)

I love rhinestones. What Sweet Adeline doesn't? It's sort of a prerequisite. Rhinestones and sequins. :) Though I think this pin needs some cleaning...

SAI pin

PoP is part of Region 24, and since this has the region number on it I think we got it at a regional. The pin reads:

WOMEN'S A CAPPELLA
REGION 24
HARMONY
SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL

Another pin, this one covered in flowers and saying "Aloha Vancouver 2008". I know we had a regional competition in Vancouver Washington, and that may have been the year that international competition in Hawai'i...I'm going to run with that theory, and say that this pin is probably from a regional competition and that the theme was due to the upcoming bigger competition in Hawai'i.

 

9th at international competition

This is my medal from when PoP went to the international competition in Hawai'i. I'm rather proud of it. That competition is sort of like a battle of the titans, so getting into the top 10 is quite something.

If I ever wear the medal again I'll put it on its own chain, or find a necklace that can display both it and my regional medal. In the meantime I'll leave it on the light blue medal that I got it on.

Someday PoP will win the gold at international competition. That's the plan, anyways. Maybe I'll be back with them by then. In the meantime there's the slight problem of that I never seem to have both the time and money to compete with them anymore.

Looking at these brings back memories, though sharing those would make this post far too long.

Do you have jewelry or medals that bring back memories?

Family at Marylhurst

As you know, I'm not currently in school.

What I haven't shared, though, is that my mom and brother are now students at my school.

Mom started the MBA program this summer, and it was rather interesting to see her doing schoolwork. I'm used to that being something that my brother and I do, not something that either of my parents have to deal with.

And Tall One...Tall One is starting at Marylhurst this fall. I think classes start next week, in fact. His chosen major? English. I must say I am quite pleased, since that is also my major. :)

Moving blues

When I moved into my own place in April I was very happy to find a nice apartment two blocks from my parents' home. It was so close that I even used one of the same bus stops!

...and what was so delightful at the time is a sore spot now that I've had to move back in with my parents. Yeah, I now catch the bus in front of my old apartment. Which is slightly depressing.

I could use a different bus stop, but that would require walking a little further. Which I guess wouldn't be so bad, but it probably wouldn't help since the extra distance would be a reminder of why I would have changed my old habits. So, that's a no go, and I'll continue catching the bus in front of my old apartment.

My lease isn't up until next week, by the way. And I still need to clean up my apartment. You know, vacuuming and scrubbing the floors. That sort of thing. I kept delaying as I was recovering from being sick, but I need to finally go back and finish up the moving process. Then return the keys. *sigh*

Dungeons & Dragons

In the last couple weeks I decided to try playing Dungeons & Dragons. I'm not sure why. Maybe because the name includes dragons. Or maybe because it seemed like an incredibly geeky/nerdy thing to do. Whatever the "why" of it, I'm having fun.

My character in mail armor

Meet Sorkkaa, a level 2 Cleric. Her hobbies include killing sahuagin and trying (but failing) to loot book cases.

When my brother and I would play video games years ago, I was always most interested in exploring. It turns out that that's still my favorite thing to do.


Exploring

In this second screen shot I found a sahuagin whelp on lookout. He looked so peaceful sitting there, looking over the shallow bay, that I almost wanted to leave him alone. But of course I didn't. After getting the screenshot I promptly killed him. Bwahaha.

I don't know if Dungeons & Dragons will keep my interest. If past experience is anything to go by, I'll get distracted by a book or something. But I am having fun with it for the moment. :)

What to say?

A couple days ago someone died. People die every day, and this was someone I don't know, but I do know his mother. And she had told me about her sons. Max, who was killed by a driver apparently suffering a seizure, was her youngest. He was 17 years old.

The saddest thing is that the woman driving had suffered a seizure earlier in that day, received treatment at the hospital, and was released. Then, she decided to drive again. So soon after the seizure she was treated for. People aren't supposed to drive for a certain period of time after having a seizure. I don't know what's being done legally, but I hope that woman is prevented from killing someone else. And that she's held responsible for this.

I don't know what else to say. What else is there to say?

Teddy bear <3

Last evening when I was making my bed I was horrified to realize that I didn't know where my teddy bear Murray was. (Note that teddy bear Murray is not to be confused with my boyfriend Murray.) I had already done a lot of unpacking so I figured he must have been sent to storage accidentally, and started making plans to go rescue Murray from storage.

Then I realized that I had already unpacked Murray, had placed him on my bed, and had actually moved him minutes before so I could put blankets and sheets on it.

I was so relieved that I wouldn't have to spend the night without my teddy that I told Murray (the boyfriend not the teddy bear) all about it.

I'll admit, I am rather attached to Murray. Both Murrays. The teddy bear and the boyfriend. :)


Pictured: teddy bear Murray on a camping trip listening to an audiobook.

Moving day

Doctor's orders: rest.

What I'm doing: moving.

(Note: all photos are of my packed up apartment.)


The good news is that mom helped me an awful lot with packing yesterday, and we hired people who moved my stuff today. But even though I was able to laze around as I watched other people haul my furniture and stuff about, I still have to do some work. That is, unpacking. And it's tiring me out.

This is really bad timing to be sick, but at least I'm not running a fever today. And I am getting better, though I'm not fully well quite yet. Also, this cough syrup makes me feel tipsy...

I'm not even going to bother cleaning up my apartment for a few days. Not until I feel better.


See that empty book case? Doesn't it look so sad? :'(

I can't fit everything from my apartment back in my bedroom, so mom has rented a storage space for some my things to go in...including my book cases, and most of my books. It was the book cases or my desk, and I'm afraid that the desk won. After all, if I don't have a desk, what will I do with the new computer I plan to get soon(ish)?

If it weren't for public libraries, I don't think I could bear to part with so many of my books. As it is, I've brought all my Tamora Pierce books and a few others. Maybe I should have also brought the Juliet Marillier novels...and a few more Pagan ones...and... But if I keep thinking that way, I'll wind up with all my books in boxes under my bed. Hey, maybe that's not such a bad idea...

And that, people, is how English majors think.

(Mom. I know you're reading this. Please ignore that last bit. Unless I'm crazy enough to actually do it. In which case I may need your assistance retrieving and transporting them.)


I have to say, about this last photo...it feels like I don't have a huge collection of clothes, until I start stuffing them into trash bags. I'm still surprised at how many bags were needed.

That's all for now. I'll probably share pics of my room once I finish unpacking.

Eating duck

When I move back in with my parents Kokopelle's diet is going to change. Why? Because he'll be eating the same food as Socks (the cat not the clothing), and the vet has Socks on a very particular diet.

That is, Socks is eating duck.

It's still a kibble, but it's duck. And I think mom said it costs about $50 a bag. I sure am glad I'm not the one buying that cat food.

My cat will be eating better than me. And that's slightly depressing. But it's depressing in an amusing way. If that makes any sense.

Out of the broom closet

The latest from Pagan Blog Prompts...

Are you in or out of the proverbial "Broom Closet"?
Do those around you know of your religion/faith/beliefs?
Or is your pagan-nature something you have to hide?



I'm not in the broom closet. I am so far out of the broom closet that I couldn't find my way back if I tried. In fact, I bombed the closet door with a nuke. But I didn't destroy the closet itself, because I've got to have someplace to keep my broom, right?

Not that I go around randomly telling people "Hey, I'm a Pagan!" But I do wear my pentacle ring and usually my pentacle pendent (yes, two pieces of pentacle jewelry...what?), which I guess is sort of the same thing. Although a couple of people have complimented me on my "Star of David"...has this happened to anyone else?

If people ask about my pentacle, I'll tell them what it is. Some don't have to ask. People can find this blog if they Google me, and I've also got it on my Facebook profile for all my FB friends to see.

So yeah, I'm not exactly in the closet. :)

That being said, sometimes when I'm going into a new situation with new people I get the feeling that it would be best to hide the pentacle. It doesn't happen often, but when my gut tells me to hide it I listen. One case where I always keep the pentacle out of sight (if I remember) is during job interviews, though if the interviewer has found this blog s/he will already know. But the pentacle usually comes out fairly quickly once I actually get hired.

My feline friends

I'm writing this Thursday, but since I don't want to do two posts in one day again it's going up on Friday.

As I mentioned before, I'm sick. I got sick enough that I actually left the comfort of my own bed for the futon at my parents' house, where I can get them to tend me at my beck and call.

I also brought my cat, Kokopelle.

The other cats are not pleased about this.

Socks hissed at Kokopelle, which I guess isn't so bad. But Saphira...she is supposed to stay locked up in my parents' room since they really don't get along. Yet she somehow managed to escape last night, a fact which I figured out when I heard her under the futon growling at Kokopelle, who I guess had cornered her down there. At 3am.

I'm still not quite used to hearing a cat growl.

Living with my parents again is going to be interesting.

Attn: Awesome Drivers

Dear Awesome Drivers:

Yesterday I published a letter to the Idiot Drivers, so I wanted to also write a letter to you. Your awesomeness has not been overlooked.

When you keep a decent following distance behind me, I notice it and am thankful.

When you use your blinkers, I appreciate it.

When you help others merge, or do anything else that helps us all share the road, that makes me happy.

You're awesome.

Thank you,

A Student Driver

I'm sick

Last night I developed a sudden sore throat, and then today I suddenly developed a fever. Last I checked, it's 102.6*F.

I am not happy, and I don't feel well. And I don't need this right when I need to finish up packing: moving day is Monday.

My boyfriend suggested it could be strep, and I got tested for that. It came back negative, so it's probably just a virus. "Just" I say...

Whatever it is, I'm miserable, and in a mood to complain about it.

Attn: Idiot Drivers

Dear Idiot Drivers:

I was frustrated enough with you as a pedestrian, but now that I am behind the wheel myself I have even less patience for your idiocy.

First of all, stop tailgating. It's not safe, and it frazzles my nerves. If I have to slow down or stop suddenly, we're both in trouble. I'm a student driver, and even I know that.

Second, I know that I do some stupid things as a student, such as entering parking spaces at totally the wrong angle. But when I try to remedy my mistake, please do not honk at me. I already feel bad enough for failing to squeeze my mom's SUV in between two cars, I don't need you reminding me that I don't quite know what I'm doing.

Anyways, you aren't supposed to use your horn just because you're just ticked off. It's only meant to be used when someone is driving dangerously. Which I wasn't. Believe me, I asked my mom, and she said I was fine. I'm inclined to believe her.

On a totally unrelated topic, I recently read that Portland ranked in the top 200 cities in the USA for unsafe drivers. After being on the road, I can't say that I was very surprised at that.

Sincerely,

A Student Driver

P.S. I would also appreciate it if you use your blinkers. I can't read minds.

Donkey Kong 64

Picking up where yesterday's post left off...

Did Tall One regret getting rid of his N64? Yes

Has Tall One recently bought himself a new one, along with Donkey Kong 64? Yes.

(By the way, even though lots of old games are available on the new Wii he got recently, Donkey Kong 64 isn't. That's because of some sort of weird copy right thing that's unusual.)

Donkey Kong's home...and I spy a pinup poster

The N64 came with this game on Saturday, and Tall One started playing it pretty quickly. It was amazing how much of it was familiar, and how much I remembered...of the landscape, anyways. But that's what I really liked about playing: exploring. So I remembered that bit pretty well, but had forgotten about the annoying giant bees that will sting you if you get in their shadow.

Oh, and I now have the music stuck in my head. *sigh* I'm sure I will get weird looks from people if I start humming it randomly.

I'm gald that Tall One got the game. :)

N64

Gamers will probably know what N64 means. Non-gamers probably won't. Siblings of gamers may know.

I am the sibling of someone who used to be obsessed with video games.

When we were little Tall One played video games all the time. And he was good too. (Still is.) He had (has) a knack for breezing through games while I sort of lost interest in playing and just sit at his side to watch. We spent a lot of hours like that: him playing, me watching.

The one game that seriously challenged him was Donkey Kong 64, the Donkey Kong game for the N64. It defeated my brother for years, until he finally decided to beat it once and for all.

Of course, once Tall One made that decision, it was only a matter of time before he won.

Tall One defeated that game, then eventually lost interest in gaming. He got rid of most of his games, I think including all the Nintendo stuff. He definitely did get rid of the N64 and all its games.

Coming soon: did Tall One regreat getting rid of the N64?

A green N64

Worth it?

Packing

As I'm getting ready to move back in with my parents, I have to ask myself: was moving out worth it?

Was packing up in the first place, moving into my own home, worth it? When I'm moving back just five months later?

Was it worth paying rent, rather than saving? After all, I'm pretty much back where I was before I started my job at the beginning of the year: less than $1,000 in the bank. And mom's helping me with this last month of rent. If I hadn't moved out, then by now I would have...I'm not sure how much, but quite a bit.

Somehow, I have to say yes, moving out was worth it.



More packing

We need libraries

We need libraries. This seems like an obvious statement to me, but for some reason some people want to reduce funding to libraries, or even remove their funding entirely.

Why do we need libraries? Well let's see...

There's the obvious reason of them providing free books, free music, and free movies. (Well, sort of free -- our tax dollars do pay for them. I'll address this further later.) This means that I can read many books that I otherwise wouldn't have access to, because I am unable to spend money every time I want to read a new book.

Libraries also have free programming, such as lessons for seniors on how to use computers, story time, early literacy programs, summer reading...and more. Really, where else can you find all this?

There are also computers available for patron use, and free wi-fi. Sure you could go to a cafe to use their wi-fi, but you have to be a paying customer. And they're unlikely to provide a computer for you to use.

Then of course there is the fact that libraries provide free information, with people (who have master degrees in how to research things!!!) to help you find what you need.

Some libraries also provide additional items, such as Kindles, digital cameras, cultural passes...and more useful things that are free if you get a (free) library card.

Now, back to what I said about all this "free" stuff not really being free...it is true that we pay tax dollars to keep our libraries going. Sure, that's money that we can't spend on ourselves, or on groceries and rent. But in a way we are spending it on ourselves: libraries are a wonderful resource that you will probably need at some time in your life, and which I expect would be too expensive if they were paid for any other way.

Please, think about this if you ever consider voting no on giving money to public libraries.

Old Books by Petr Kratochvil 

For even more reasons why we need libraries, click here. Yes there are more reasons, and the article also goes into details that I've neglected.