My Journal

Writer's Block: What if calories didn't count?

2009-09-21T13:15:36Z

If a magic genie told you your calories wouldn't count for 24 hours, would it change what and how much you ate that day?

View 1264 Answers

Oh yeah~! Chocolate here I come!

Leaving the 5th of Sept

2009-08-29T11:35:48Z

One week to Ireland!!!!

SNOOPY DANCE

2009-07-14T12:19:39Z

Got my tickets to Ireland!

See This

2009-06-15T23:07:15Z

Everyone please check out Project Gutenberg! It's a very important site devoted to making literature free for all!

WRITING A MOVIE!

2009-05-17T07:17:54Z

Being very bored, I have the Saturday night/ Sunday morning SCI Fi "original" movies on the idiot box.

I have figured it out:
Take an already used plot, but changed the name, i.e. Hunter vs Prey.

Add a cast of characters that include a male trying to prove something, a strong woman, a minority who is either the smartest person in the group or shown as an hysterical wreck.

Now, add the superfluous person who is either the first to go into the woods, cabin, lake, room, etc so we all know who is the first to die.

Make sure someone is going to touch the alien artifact, cursed object, unknown item, magical totem, etc so we know who is the object of whatever rampage the alien, supernatural creature, mass murderer is after

Viola! Instant Sci Fi Channel movie! I could make a million!

Writer's Block: Grab and Go

2009-04-07T12:14:52Z

Scenario: For exactly 1 minute, you get access to all the databases of all the intelligence agencies in the world (CIA, FBI, KGB, MI-5, etc). What do you want to find out before time is up and you're caught and jailed forever?

View 503 Answers

I want to find out how to get into area 51, wherever it is now!!!!!

Catching Up

2009-03-30T02:43:21Z

Well, my daughter's visit is over and she had to go home and get back to work. I miss her and her sister so much! Yes, they are adults, yes they have their own lives! I DON'T CARE!!! It's a mom thing okay?

I really enjoyed our visit. We had a great time. She's been through a rough patch lately and handled it with a grace, dignity, and maturity well beyond her years. I couldn't be prouder of you, Courtney.

You are a joy in my life!

Now, however, I am BORED! BORED! BORED!

I can't wait till my trip to Ireland later this year. I swear I am going to enter a fairie ring!

MAJOR SNOOPY DANCE!

2009-02-11T22:42:18Z

My youngest daughter is coming later this month on vacation to visit for two weeks! I am so happy, happy, happy!

TAG 20 Questions

2009-01-27T20:16:35Z

1. Where did your LJ handle come from?

I just like the name Devon, but had to add the number to use it.

2. How do you style your hair?

Curly, frizzy salt and pepper mop. I usually tie it back in a pony tail or straighten it!

3. What is making you happy right now?

Talking with my kids!

4. What are you currently reading?

The Tanya Huff books again!

5. Do you need music to study/write?

No, but I play something all the time as background noise. i guess I use it as a white noise generator of sorts.

6. What is the last song on your play list?

Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers! I love them!

7. What was your first hair dye job?

18 went coal black. I think with my very, very pale skin I invented the Goth look.

8. Do you have a crush at the moment?

Nope

9. What is your favorite movie genre?

Action films! plot, what plot? Blow something up! Adventure films and I love the old 'B' sci fi movies!

10. What was the last thing you ate today?

A ham sandwich.

11. What is your favorite color?

Red

12. What websites do you visit daily?

Live Journal, MySpace, Gothador

13. What's your favorite food?

Chocolate

14. Which languages do you wish you spoke?

Gaelic

15. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Rude children

16. Do you have birthmark?

No

17. Who was your childhood idol?

Batman! I love the Dark Knight still today

18. Where would you like your next holiday to be?

I'm going to Ireland in September for my birthday!

19. What is your favorite chocolate from a box of chocolates?

Chocolate filled chocolates!

20. Tell me something you love about the person who tagged you.

Not tagged but got this from Suki_blue. I love her writing!

A Triumph

2009-01-21T20:20:20Z

Yesterday, a man took the oath of office as President of the United States. He was freely elected by the people of my country to serve this term in office. In four years, if he so desires, he may ask the country for the chance to stay for another term.

People went to the polls in November to vote. There were no political officers standing there to ensure people voted 'correctly'. There were no police at the polls with lists of people to arrest. After voting, no one was arrested, imprisoned or 'disappeared' because they voted for John McCain.

Yesterday, people went to work, played, watched the proceedings or went to the Capitol in person to see the inauguration. No one had to flee the country or go underground to hide in fear of their or their families life.

John McCain and his family continue their lives without fear. No members of the Republican Party was arrested. Passports were not revoked, businesses went on as usual.

Every four years in this country we have a revolution. Whether we decide to vote the same people back in office or to remove them, we go to the election booths and express our opinions freely. The revolution is usually quiet, unnoticed and unremarked on.

Is American democracy flawed? Yasureyabetcha! Are there problems with the process, such as the Electoral College? There are problems six ways from Sunday. BUT, it works! Every four years, we as a nation triumphs!

That is the true essence of the American democracy. I am proud and honored to have been a part of it every time I've voted and will continue to be a part of the process.

No Wonder They Lost An Empire!! (I couldn't help myself)

2009-01-15T15:27:34Z

Man solves Rubik's Cube after 26 years

PORTCHESTER, England (UPI) -- A Rubik's Cube enthusiast in Britain said he has finally solved his puzzle after struggling with it for 26 years.

Graham Parker of Portchester, England, said he first bought his Rubik's Cube in 1983 and has since spent more than 27,400 hours struggling with the colored cube puzzle, The Daily Telegraph reported.

"I cannot tell you what a relief it was to finally solve it. It has driven me mad over the years -- it felt like it had taken over my life," Parker said. "I have missed important events to stay in and solve it and I would lay awake at night thinking about it.

"When I clicked that last bit into place and each face was a solid color I wept," he said.

Ray Hodgkin, a representative of the World Cube Association, the governing body for Rubik's cube competitions, said Parker's struggle with the puzzle may be the longest on record.

"I am impressed by Graham's dedication -- the Rubik's Cube can be a very frustrating thing. The WCA would like to congratulate him on his achievement," he said.

Hodgkin is easily no threat to break the world record for solving a Rubik's Cube, held by Erik Akkersdijk of the Netherlands, who finished the puzzle in 7.08 seconds, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

There is so much I want to say here. But it's hard to do anything without being sarcastic or stopping to laugh my ass off.

Maybe it's just me but if I had 27,400 hours to waste, I don't think it would be on a Rubik's Cube. Nope, I'd spend that time hunting down Johnny Deep and being served with a restraining order! Now that is an appropriate use of extra leisure time! J/K Johnny.

Well, maybe this explains the lose of the Empire; they were too busy playing with their...wait for it.... cubes! Hey new term for slash writers! "Oh, you big hunk of guy you! Just look at that CUBE on you!" "Yes and it's all lined up properly!" Insert a leer here!

Ok going away now!

FACEBOOK & MYSPACE MUST DIE!

2009-01-06T13:15:29Z

I badly need a life! I need to stay away from these sites, especially the Apps! I need my Prozac increased, obviously!

And when in the hell was it decided Pluto was no longer a planet?!?

2009

2009-01-01T01:22:24Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

My lovely youtube fan!

2008-12-30T22:36:30Z

I heard from my youtube fan again! Gosh, golly gee, wow! I...I am just so thrilled!

He wrote a comment to my profile page: you are a disgrace, a silly woman who supports terrorists killing innocent people, a comrade of republicans, be very proud dear of it!

My reply: (I needed a laugh! Being the sweet, kind genteel southern woman I am, I did reply)

I am proud of my support for a United Ireland. You say I support terrorists, again, I have never supported violence. You seem determined to say that I do. Feel free. If you are harassing me at least you are too busy to add to the gene pool.
I can support the goal without supporting violence. You seem unable to grasp that. Why? Do you agree with everything a politician you support does? Do you support every act you see? Do you support every single action of any one you agree with? I would say no, but I am not allowed the same? Curious. (Never enough room on youtube to comment)

I can, and do support a united Ireland. I do not and have never supported violence. Do I agree with every political stand Irish Republicans make? No.

I don't agree with all the stands the politicians I vote for in this country makes. A minister once told me if everyone agrees with everything I say and do, I need to take a real close look at my life cause somewhere something is wrong for me to be able to please everybody at the same time. I agree with that. Bless you Paul Cook for a piece of advice I've never forgotten.

I do support this goal. Period. I will not back down from that stand.

I've been called a lot of names on the web because of that. HA! These people were never a lowly private in the military! Feel the love in the room!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T21:53:39Z

Happy Holidays whatever you may be celebrating! If I don't write before New Years, here's hoping the best for all of you in 2009!

Comp Yo!

2008-12-17T16:45:11Z

After a few days without my desktop, it's working again thanks to the most wonderful brother-in-law in the world! Thank you Jamie! I had the laptop, but it went wonky also. I had to restore it to factory specs. Both are working now!

Wonky. Is that a word? It's just so descriptive, isn't it.

Off to surf the web!

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

COURTNEY

2008-12-12T23:00:28Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COURTNEY! Mom is very proud of you and loves you! XOXOXO

Personality Test Results

2008-12-10T15:23:48Z

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test ...

NBPS - The Idealist

Nature, Background, Big Picture, and Shape

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.

Writer's Block

2008-12-04T04:07:08Z

We live in uncertain times. Earthquakes, hurricanes, the ever-present threat of zombies—do you have a disaster plan ready in case one of these things happens to you?

Okay, I lived in California for over twenty years so I've done the earthquake thing.

I currently live in Georgia so deal with hurricanes on a regular basis.

I guess that leaves the Zombies. I have 4, yes 4 very sharp authentic swords and two really cool super knives that over over 6 inches long and very wicked! Guess I'm set.

Forget the flowers! Give me sharp, shiny weapons if you want to win my heart!

A Response

2008-11-29T08:04:43Z

I have a page on MySpace. In the personal area, there is place to list your heroes. I listed mine and recieved a very nasty e mail about it. Here is my response. Please feel free to answer.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Ireland
Current mood: contemplative

Normally I don't get social-political on these pages. But now I feel I have to.

Under my lists of heroes, I have the name of Bobby Sands. Most people outside of Ireland under the age of 30 probably don't know who is he. I highly recommend you check him out on the web.

After someone saw this, I received a very nasty e mail from someone who wanted to know how I could admire a murdering terrorist. Of course their words were not as polite.

I started to ignore it and then decided not to.

To begin with, I am not Catholic. I have problems with the Catholic Church stand on some issues. That said, please understand I also have disagreements with the church I was raised in. I walked out of the church house doors when I was 18. I never returned to what I was raised in. The only church I have ever been comfortable and happy in is the Congregationalist. My mother still believes I am headed for Hell because of that.

I am not the most political being on the planet. I do vote cause if you don't vote you don't have a right to bitch when things do not go the way you want. I have been involved in my political causes over the years, including marching, running for public office, signing petitions and calling the public number of the White House where one may speak to a live person to rant and rave. I do write my representatives and when my kids were in school was very active in the education system where we lived. I fully expect if the President ever gets within 25-50 miles of where I live, I will be one of those people the Secret Service interviews.

My family votes Democratic and Republican. We disagree on issues, people, taxes, etc. That is our right as guaranteed by law, tradition, and plain old ornery attitude that most Americans have when it comes to government but rarely admit to.

American politics are dirty, sneaky, underhanded, conniving and we love it that way.
Yes, I am an American and love my country very much. Dirty laundry, social problems, etc aside, I am proud to be a citizen of the United States,

I'm former military, USMC, and spent several years as a civilian worker in law enforcement. I have been a nurse, clerk, customer service rep so I can honestly say I have dealt with a diverse spectrum of people.

I was taught to observe and listen not only to what was being said, but to hear what wasn't being said.

I've seen the worst and best people people can be in stress situations.

I watched the Vietnam protests and riots. I lived through the Civil Rights movement and the Womens movement. Have the problems been solved? No, but there are women in high places of power in this country that 20 years ago never stood a chance. Ask Condolezza Rice, not only a woman but a minority woman. In January, an African American will become the leader of my country. A descendant of abused and mistreated people has risen to the highest position of power one may attain in the US.

Being a child of the 60's and 70's HAS made a strong impression on me and helped to define who I am.

Am I perfect? No. I have my faults and prejudices that I see every time I look in the mirror. I can be arrogant, have a nasty temper as many people who have been on the receiving end of it will be glad to tell you, when my heels are dug in it might take an act of God to move me. I am not always a nice person. Period.

I have had to fight the prejudices that I was taught and raised with. Do I succeed? Not all the time, but I do try to work on them.

Now that one has an idea of where I am coming from, I'll get back to my response to the nastygram I got.

I do not attempt to say I understand the country of my mother's ancestors. The problems there run centuries deep, crossing all lines, social and economic. I personally feel the hatred runs too deep for the problems to be solved in my lifetime, my childrens or my grandsons. I sincerely hope I am wrong about that.

My best friend and I have decided to visit Ireland next September. It is a birthday to myself from myself. I've always wanted to go there because being of Irish descent was a great source of pride for my grandmother (She was a McKinney McClure), but also my mother.

In preparation for that trip, I decided to begin brushing up on Ireland's history, traditions, and people. Like most Americans, the 'Troubles' were not something I was very familiar with. They were not widely reported in the press here at any great length for a long time, and quite honestly I don't recall the press being concerned. What coverage we did get seemed to focus on the violence and not the underlying causes. What most of us knew at that time was Ireland was a place to avoid.

So being the netaholic and bookworm I am, I began reading and hunting the web. What I found left me shocked. I was appalled at how terrible the violence was, but not as to what I came to see as the underlying causes.

I attempted to contact people on different sides to get their viewpoints. Reading them is one thing, talking is another. I tried to reach Protestant websites and received no answer. I tried to join an IRA forum and was politely declined.

Religions, economics and power over others has long been ways for people to get and maintain control over others. It's a sad thing, but so very human. From what I have been able to find, these have been used against Irish society as a whole for centuries, by the English.

A people whose faith was outlawed along with their language and customs, whose economy has been used to keep them under control, and who had all political power stripped from them was bound to fight back. Human nature will not allow us to do otherwise. Look at the history of any nation and you will find people fighting for equality. It's awful that it's still continuing around the world, but it's a fact of life.

From what I've read, both peaceful and violent attempts were made over the centuries
to address the problem. And yes, there were problems. Instead of attempting to try to take care of the issues, a minority was even more dehumanized by official edicts in Northern Ireland.

To the e mail writer:
Interment was wrong. If this had been happening in England to Anglicans, would you still believe it to have been acceptable?

Denying people jobs, better housing, the right to vote because they have a different belief system than yours is wrong. No argument you can make will ever support the right to do these things.

Forcing people out of their homes, and jobs in some cases is morally corrupt. Again, no one can make a reasonable justification for this.

I was taught God is no respecter of person's meaning we are all loved equally. For people to set themselves up as judges over others scare me. That is an arrogance that looks as if you are setting yourself above God himself and I believe that is an arrogance that you will have to answer to.

I abhor violence. I know that may sound strange considering some of my employment record, but it's true. Violence accomplishes little most of the time, except more violence and a loss of believe in your cause. My opinion only.

That said, I can understand how violence erupted. You can only push people so far before they respond. England brought these problems on herself, fully abetted by the RUC, the British Army, and those in authority.

Violence, to me, is never an answer, but sometimes it seems to be the only language some people can understand. Did it get out of hand? YES, on all sides of any issue. All who participated share blame in the death that occurred.

I am not defending the IRA, but I am defending my choice.

As for Bobby Sands, yes I do admire him. I don't admire any violence he was involved in but I do admire his willingness to not only say what he believed, but carry through on his convictions. The man took an stand, something to few of us are willing to do, and proved his belief in his cause. How can one not respect that?

Many of us say we believe this, that or the other, but when push comes to shove the majority back down. This man didn't. Maybe if more people in this world followed through on their words, the world would be a better place.

Would I have the courage to follow through on mine, even if it meant my dying? I don't know. I would love to say yes, but the truth is none of us do until we are in that situation. I don't know if 'the call' will ever come to me. I hope I have that strength. I would like to think I do. I just don't know if I am that strong.

My question to you, e mail writer, is Do you? Again, easy to say yes, but your words prove that wrong.

I am going to visit the country of my grandmother next year. I will do all the touristy stuff, but will talk to anyone I meet. I'm going to eat the food, meet the people, visit places of history and try to learn more about who I am.

As for the writer of the e mail. Please feel free to respond. My email address is narabitzdottycrucis@yahoo.com.

Goodnight everyone.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T03:32:08Z

Here's hoping all had a great day with friends, family or whoever you may have been with!

aqeldroma

2008-11-14T00:12:48Z

Happy Birthday to one of the nicest people I've had the privilege to meet! I hope you had a fantastic day sweetie!

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T13:18:58Z

"FROM GHOULIES AND GHOSTIES, LONG-LEGGEDY BEASTIES AND THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT, MAY THE GOOD LORD DELIVER US"
(Unless they have fangs and look like Angel! Better yet are Angel!)

I'm going as a Crow tonight! yes, the Crow was male in the movie but ehhh!

Be safe, have fun!

Snagging

2008-10-10T23:27:19Z

Snagged from </b></a>emella

Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be
real places, names, things..nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Dorthy
4 LETTER WORD: Drum
BOY'S NAME:   David
GIRL'S NAME: Dru (Way too much time watching 'Angel' and 'Buffy'
OCCUPATION:   Doctor
A COLOR:   Denim
SOMETHING YOU WEAR:   Dungarees
FOOD:   Dutch Apple Pie
PLACE: Denmark
REASON FOR BEING LATE: Didn't hear the alarm (I probably turned it off!)
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Damn!

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

2008-10-07T04:35:43Z

Well, the ongoing saga of the elder daughter continues. After making arrangements and buying cross country tickets twice, (Never, ever ask what her dad has spent. The maiming will commence!) then having her not use then to go back to the abusive mother!@#$%^ that is the baby's father, she is now whining "I should not have gone back. This was a mistake. I'm so unhappy!"

Four freaking years of this song and dance with her. I am worn out from worry and stress, not just over her but my two year old grandson.

I want to shake her till her bones rattle like die and then hug her half to death.

Now my sister is in the process of taking one of her grandchildren from her eldest. I am seriously considering doing the same. My grandson has watched his mother be physically abused, once while she was holding him to protect him.

Any thoughts, comment, suggestions?

God, I hope I can sleep tonight without dreaming about them.