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November 29, 2005
Activists Taken Hostage
ABC News reports that four peace activists have been taken hostage by a group called The Swords of Righteousness Brigade.
Arab television broadcast an insurgent video Tuesday showing four peace activists taken hostage in Iraq, with a previously unknown group claiming responsibility for the kidnappings.
Not to sound crass or anything, but I hope the hugs the hostages are offering their hosts work a little magic.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:06 PM | Comments (4)
Barbara Walters Cracks
The most fascinating person of 2005, according to Barbara Walters, was Camilla Parker Bowles.
Walters must be smoking crack or something if she considers Bowles all that and a bag of chips. (The kids still say that, don't they?)
Basically, all it takes to be "fascinating" is inspire someone to want to be your tampon. While my lovers haven't used those exact words, they have expressed a desire to know me as intimately as possible. And some of them have. One or two lucky ones know me better than anyone else ever has. I've never had one want to be my tampon, though. I still don't get how that could ever come across as affectionate or sexy.
Sigh.
Camilla Freakin' Parker Bowles. Yeah. Right.
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:52 PM | Comments (8)
Ted Rall Hates Us
Sometimes speaking out is necessary. I'm sending this email and/or letter to every site or newspaper that published Ted Rall's recent attack on our military and their families.
The current Ted Rall strip depicting our military as rapists and torturers is so completely offensive that I literally lost my lunch upon viewing it.I am all for free speech and my former husband, my father, and boyfriend have bravely served in our military and fought to protect that very right. Not only are these men honorable, but they are the type of men who would look upon Rall's work as despicable, and still fight for his right to express himself freely. They deserve much better than how Rall has characterized them.
That said, I am shocked that this saw the light of day on your website. If this strip were attacking a minority group, there would have been no hesitation to withhold it. However, it seems our military is fair game for Ted Rall and his cohorts, despite the fact that they do the hard work that men like Rall refuse to do.
I don't believe I'll be returning to your site and will let others know that you allowed such a horrific smear campaign to impugn the honor of our valiant troops and their families.
You can complain, too.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:17 AM | Comments (3)
Winners
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:34 AM | Comments (4)
Yellow
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah they were all yellow
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called yellow
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2005
Reluctant
I've been asked to delete this image by Little Dude. I kind of like it.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:56 PM | Comments (7)
November 22, 2005
I Order One For Every Guest
I order spectacular sunsets for all my guests. Sometimes Nature actually cooperates.
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:35 PM | Comments (5)
November 18, 2005
Catching Up
It's been a very busy week around here.
- Monday - Pain. Just nothing but pain. Yuck.
- Tuesday - Greg arrived from Chicago.
- Wednesday - Greg has interview in Los Angeles. I can combine his drive up there with a trip to see Craig Ferguson, right? Right. More on that later.
- Thursday - I'm exhausted and sleep in. By the time I get up, I have time to shower and go pick up Little Dude. Greg's hungry, I'm hungry, LD is hungry...we decide to go eat. After that, we headed home so that LD could do non-existent homework. He goofed off for a bit. Then, time for Scouts. Watch his skit and then drive over to sister's house to drop off paperwork.
On Wednesday, Greg and I also got to hang out with Clark and his lovely wife. We talked with Mox on the phone (she wasn't feeling well). And, we got our front row seats for The Late Late Show. After a very funny taping, we met up with the Angry Yellow guy for dinner. He's a doll. At dinner, we saw my buddy Luke Wilson, and...Jack Nicholson.
Once I was able to pry Luke off my breasts, I returned to fabulous conversation with Greg and AY. Scintillating stuff. You gotta love being able to dine with two good looking men in the middle of Hollywood. I was the envy of every woman and even several of the men. What can I say? I'm privileged. Pampered and privileged. That's what happens when you guest on late night talk shows. The world is your oyster.*
There's no telling what will happen next around here. I'm really tired and heading to bed. I just wanted to update you on all the amazing things going on here.
* [Obviously tongue in cheek]
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:31 AM | Comments (8)
November 12, 2005
The Goddess of Balboa Park
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:15 PM | Comments (13)
November 10, 2005
Valour-IT Fundraiser Update
You all are so awesome! As the Project Valour-IT fundraiser approaches the final day or so of the campaign, you've donated $22,238.00 to Team Navy alone.
Total donations for all teams combined are now over $65,000.
YOU ROCK!
Thank you!
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)
Like, "Toadally", Dude
Back in the day, I was a bit of a Valley Girl (before the term was actually used outside of San Fernando). I was, totally, like, you know, all talking like this, and stuff. Fer shure! Oh my gawd!
Yeah, well, like your lunch after developing food poisoning cases, it passed. But, one thing remained - the memory of trying to teach my very proper English friend how to speak Val.
Juju couldn't soften the second "t" of totally and I finally had to show her a photo of a toad. I taught her to say "toadally" instead. It worked.
All that to share this bit of silliness.
I don't make this stuff up.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:20 AM | Comments (5)
November 07, 2005
Valour-IT Update and Offer
Project Valour-IT Fundraiser Update!
Team Navy can't let Army win. No, we're far too proud for that.
Beginning today, donations of $25 or more are eligible to receive a professional quality autographed 8x10 photo of Mrs. Smash. Donations of $100 or more - from anyone in San Diego County - are eligible to receive a photo session* with me. Donations of $200 or more - from donors in Southern California - are eligible to receive a photo session* with me. Additionally, any donor of $30 or more may request a photo of their choosing** from my photography site, or from my Flickr orExpMan galleries.
This offer does not apply to donations made prior to the timestamp on this post. Proof of donation is required (forward your paypal confirmation email or other receipt, with your personal info - other than name - removed) and may be sent to [Citizen.Smash] AT [gmail] DOT [com].
Yes, all this and your Soldiers' Angels coin is available to you, just for donating. And, don't forget, all donations are tax deductible. Make a donation in someone's name for the holidays!
* Photo session includes one and a half hours of shoot time, a CD of images, and one printed 8x10.
** Based on availability. [Special note on ExpMan Galleries: The first 14 galleries shown on ExpMan only.]
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:15 PM | Comments (3)
November 03, 2005
It's Official, I've Joined the Navy
Despite the fact that I was once married to a Marine (and maintain a deep and abiding affection for them), I am the daughter of a former sailor. One of my closest friends is a sailor. So, with that in mind, I've joined the Navy. Team, that is.
Help our troops! Join in Valour-IT's fundraising efforts in time for Veterans Day and the holidays. It's the right thing to do.
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:48 PM | Comments (1)
November 02, 2005
The Valour-IT Fundraising Competition
When you think of the sacrifices our troops make for our country and countries around the world, securing freedom and ensuring those freedoms remain intact, it's not too much to ask that we give back.
Veterans Day is approaching - what better time to help our injured military personnel? As well, many of these troops will be unable to travel home for the holidays. Their families may not be able to travel great distances to see them. Voice-to-text software and computers can close that gap.
Be a part of the healing.
********************
Valour-IT's online fundraising competition is here! Let's see who can raise the most money to help reconnect our wounded warriors with the world!
WHAT: Friendly fundraising competition for Valour-IT.
WHEN: November 2nd through Veterans Day (the 11th).
WHERE: Based in the blogosphere, spreading everywhere else.
WHY: Because giving wounded warriors with hand and arm injuries access to a computer supports their healing and puts them back in touch with the world.
HOW: Blogger teams will be divided along military branches, with civilians "up for grabs."
Additional information: every donor during this time will receive a Soldiers' Angels Coin. We are also working on providing T-shirts for larger donations.
What Valour-IT Needs From You:
- Join a team
- Donate!
- Blog regularly about Valour-IT and the competition
- Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Valour-IT
- Put up these flyers around your community
- Help us purchase T-Shirt incentives if you can (Valour-IT is committed to spending all direct donations on the voice-controlled laptops and Soldier's Angels is in a financial pinch. So, we are looking for people willing to make a donation directly to Soldier's Angels expressly for use in purchasing T-Shirts to use as incentives. Please email FbL if you can help).
To get team credit for a donation, you must donate via the "To Donate" button on the website of your team leader (This takes you to the proper Valour-IT PayPal donation page). Donations made via the regular Valour-IT website will not be part of your team's official competition total, though they will still go to the Valour-IT program. Any blogger (military or civilian) can join any team. Just visit the websites linked here:
Team Leaders are Holly Aho (Marines), Blackfive (Army), and Mrs. Greyhawk (Air Force), and Mrs. Smash (Navy).
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:34 PM | Comments (1)
Panic Room
I have one room in my house that serves as the only place in which I can grumble, whine, or cry. I've done so for a reason: if I don't confine myself to one place to do those things, my entire home would be filled with seriously bad vibes.
With all the challenges that I'm currently facing, I need a place to let it all out. I can't keep my frustrations inside, it's not healthy. My head, my heart, and my back can't handle it. As it is, I haven't been sleeping much. I think this is a direct result of not releasing my pent up emotions more often. Or maybe it's because things continue to pile on the enormous heap and I'm beginning to think I'll never be able to dig my way out.
So, I head into my special room and cry. Or yell (obviously not at night). Or sometimes I simply stand there and create lists of what the problems are and possible solutions for them. Then, I take off all my clothes and turn on the shower. Yes, my bathroom is my special place.
The only other place I ever let it all out is in the doctor's office. Today, as I sat with the surgeon, I related what I've been going through. I told him two of the worst manifestations of my stress, aside from the pain, are sleeplessness and forgetfulness. Forgetting appointments, deadlines, you name it. The doc thinks I'm taking too much medication. I told him I don't think I'm taking enough. To prove my point, I whipped out my bottle of Vicodin. He filled that on 9-12. Thirty pills. There are 18 left.
I told him I can't take the meds when my son is around. I have to be responsible. I have to be safe.
And, I started to cry. Massive deluge of tears. He asked what the exact stressors were. I told him to get his pen ready.
- Finances, obviously. Ten months of work comp do not make ends meet as much as I'd like. I've applied for long-term disability and Social Security benefits. I'm now reapplying for Social Security. And, long-term disability is pending.
- Loss of activity. I'm not able to do many of the things I enjoy.
- Loss of job. I'm not released from his care until January, at which point, I will have been off work for a year. My employer is not required to hold my position after one year. And, of course, with this injury/surgery, working in the hospital isn't much of an option upon my return. After he releases me, I have to be cleared by the primary doc on my case.
- P&S rating. At a year, California tends to push for a "permanent and stationary" rating by physicians on their patients. This law was put into action at the beginning of 2005. Oh fucking joy of joys. I think I need a lawyer.
- Continuing health concerns. Surgery has stabilized one part of my back, but two other areas continue to plague me. Mid and lower back pain remain issues and have yet to be adequately addressed. Again, I think I need a lawyer to help me navigate this.
- Moving. My landlord is selling the condo. I might not have to move if she sells it to someone who wants an investment property, but the reality is, on work comp, I can't afford to stay here. I really should move. That brings me back to finances - where the hell is the money for the 1st, last, and deposit going to come from? And, moving means I'll have to find a way to get all my belongings from A to B. I can't lift anything over 10 pounds.
- My damn car. Two months in a row of expenses for it and I know more are looming. I still owe my dad money for the repairs last month.
- Computer. I'm still using the borrowed laptop for many things. It's been a lifesaver. However, I can't do everything on it and have to use the desktop for several vital tasks. I'm down to 7 gigs of space, the monitor is about ready to give out, and I can't back anything up. All my photos are on it, too. The CD burner is dead. It has been for a while now. I can't replace anything because of finances. Yep. It all comes back to that.
- Sleep. I miss sleeping. I can usually manage two hours at a time, max. The sleep is restless and I wake up very uncomfortable. I can't medicate often, and what little medication I can take, isn't appropriate for those times when I need to be fresh and lucid after a nap.
- I can't remember shit. I know I mentioned that...I scrolled up and saw that I did.
- Kids. I'm busy with Little Dude, but we often tailor our activities around my energy and pain levels. He misses out on a lot. My daughter, thankfully, is receiving plenty of attention from my sister and brother-in-law and is happy where she is. I just don't get to do much with her.
- Career. I'm repeating myself, I know. It's a big concern. I'll likely end up with a job that pays less and requires me to work more frequently than a hospital job. That will put a serious crimp in my time with LD. It will also likely be less fulfilling than hospital work. I liked what I was doing before I got hurt. I liked my patients. I liked my coworkers.
- Loss of intimacy. Not just sex, either. I miss being able to talk things out with someone who cares about me. It's not like I'm great dating material in this condition.
- Avian flu and/or the West Nile virus. Just checking to see if you're still paying attention.
By the time I was done with my appointment today, I had cried more tears than I have in the last three and a half months since my surgery. My doctor hugged me. Is he sweet or what? He also gave me a prescription for Lexapro. Yes, an anti-depressant. It has the potential to relieve some of the anxiety and to interrupt some of the neurotransmitters that are responsible for pain. With any luck, I'll be feeling a bit better in a few days. However, I worry about the side effects, especially since I've had problems with many medications that have been given to me since my injury. My kidneys aren't metabolizing new pharmaceuticals properly. Great, another stressor.
I'm holding out hope on the Lexapro. I have to believe in something. Something other than my panic room and the doctor's office, that is.
[/kvetching]
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:03 PM | Comments (16)
November 01, 2005
Cruise - New Child-Bearing Expert?
Move over Dr. Spock, Tom Cruise is the new expert on all things child-bearing and -rearing. What a wanker!
The last time Brooke Shields had a baby, her battle with...postpartum depression inspired her to write a book about the roller coaster ride called motherhood...announced this week that she is with child again and expects to give birth in the spring. The news must have Tom Cruise foaming at the mouth. The actor slammed Shields over her use of anti-depressants during her postpartum depression period. Since he is now promoting "silent" births for all future mothers, including Katie Holmes, to make sure that newborns enter the world in peace and silence, it won't be long before he takes on Shields again.
Can we make this "silent" birth thing retroactive? Or should we just duct tape Tom's mouth shut? His nose, too.
I'm with Tony Danza:
The talk show host says, "I'm a little upset about this. Here's a guy out there lecturing people about drugs, but out of wedlock births don't seem to bother him."He's never [appearing on] my show, so it doesn't matter."
He adds, "I'm happy for them, but we're going to send them to Maury (Povich's show) for a DNA test.
Tommy Boy is such a freakin' putz. I'd like to see the results of that paternity test. Any wagers on the DNA?
I'm so over Cruise. Not that I was ever under* him, but you know what I mean.
* Bonus points for the person who knows from whence the quote came.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:50 AM | Comments (14)