ARRRG!

Today is Glenn's and my 12th wedding anniversary. Since we dated for five years before we got married, I think of it more as our 17th anniversary. Our second child, Zoe Rose Franxman, was born nearly a week ago. To paraphrase Seuss, my heart grew three sizes that day. My life is filled with blessings, and I couldn't be more grateful.

I don't facetweet or mybook or twitterspace, but if I ever do, I'll post a link here. Glenn does, but then most of you who know him already knew that.

In random news, MeBeth spent the whole summer singing songs by The Bangles to Miss Zoe in utero, thus my choice of "music".

Take care.

Haven't posted anything of substance in a really long time. Not to say that this is anything of substance, but it's a vehicle for journaling what's happening in my life right now. There's a nostalgia for the 1980's; what does it say about us that we're jonensin' for the simplicity of the Cold War? But, as a lover of eighties music, I've benefitted from at least that aspect of it. The oldies radio station in town was changed to the all-80's station, which is to say that it's still an oldies station, but no one wants to think about the fact that it was twenty years ago or more that we first heard any of these songs. Hell, I don't want to think about the fact that it was twenty years ago that I first met RevSphynx which eventually somehow led me to livejournal which eventually somehow has brought to this post. Not that I'm sorry we met, it's just...twenty years ago? Really?

So, because there is entirely too much eighties music to choose from, I took the Movie Soundtrack Meme route and just applied it to an 80's movie. I included three songs in the playlist which weren't actually released in the 80's but, for all intents and purposes, might as well have been. I should also mention that my awesome Robin Sparkles icon is from someone who'll never read this post named CutePoison89. If I could've found a complete version of the song, "Sandcastles in the Sand" (google it) would totally be on this playlist. The playlist provided talking points for my personal update.

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It was good catching up.

Thanks virtually_chuck. That was fun.

Anything accompanied by sticky rice, but specifically today, Korean Food.

Inspired by an episode of No Reservations, I decided to investigate Korean food, something I've never tried. On "No Reservations", Bourdain has terrible jet lag which is seemingly alleviated by a spicy, hot bowl of something. I thought, "Maybe Korean food can help my cold." I don't know if it did all that, but it was delicious and served with kindness. I had beef bulgogi, kimchi, seasame bean sprouts, cucumber kimchi, marinated sesame lettuce salad, cold potatoes, miso broth and my beloved sticky rice. It wasn't as much food as it sounds, but it was enough. This was accompanied by a citron tea which was divine: hot ginger tea, fresh squeezed lemon juice, a heaping tablespoon of candied orange peel, and honey. In Korean food, like German food, there's an emphasis on strong flavors, slow and thoroughly cooked meats, and pickled products. The whole thing goes against the current taste for fresh vegetables, subtle flavors, and small portions of barely cooked protein. I like both styles, but Iron Chef Korean got my vote today.

Kaya Korean Restaurant in Knoxville, TN I salute you!

_wastrel and I have been riding the same brain wave this week. Here's a comment a posted in response to the aforementioned subject matter.

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Reply in the comments, then post on yours, etc.

1. Do you have a tattoo?
2. How old are you?
3. Are you single or taken?
4. Fish?
5. Do you dream in color?
6. Ever seen a corpse?
7. Hipsters or Hillbillies?
8. How did we meet?
9. What's your philosophy on life and death?
10. If you could do anything with me, and have no one know, what would it be?
11. Do you trust the police?
12. Do you like musicals?
13. What is your fondest memory of me?
14. If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?
15. Would you cheat ?
16. What are you wearing?
17. Have you ever peed in a pool?
18. Would you hide evidence for me if I asked you to?
19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
20. Which do you prefer - short or long hair?
21. What's your favorite day of the week?
22. What's your favorite color?
23. If you could bring back anyone that has passed, who would it be?
24. Tell me one interesting/odd fact about you?
25. What was your first impression of me?
26. Have you ever done drugs?
27. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you?

...has been wonderful.

Been busy and failed to mention that Thursday was The Man's and my ten year anniversary of marriage and fifteen year anniversary of all around togetherness. Tempest fugits as my old history teacher used to say. luckeyisis and revsphynx set the bar pretty high as far as ten year anniversaries go, but we did alright.

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Revsphynx's post about Michael Vick "finding Jesus" has gotten me all fired up.

Anybody who does sees dog fights - or animal death matches in general - as being relatively benign needs to read this bit of satire recently published in the Knoxville Voice. I went to post it earlier, but it so utterly disturbed me that I thought better of it. However, since there are some out there who think that dog fighting isn't that bad, I thought maybe this would be useful in showing them that they are utterly full of shit. Still, a warning, particularly if you are a parent, that this will freak you out. In fact, quite honestly, I really wish I hadn't read it. It's Jonathan Swift visits hell.

Considering the perspective that what is being presented in the satire is probably actually happening somewhere in this piss pot of a planet, some might say maybe dog fighting isn't that bad. Relatively. Well, fuck relatively. I'm really fucking tired of the truth of matters being "relative" things bent this way or that in order to repress outrage. The truth is my dogs rely on me just as much as my child does, maybe more. My dogs are helpless, completely trusting, and completely innocent. Michael Vick is no different from a pedophile, a child rapist, or a child pimp. He saw no value in the lives of these creatures and simply used them up for his own profit and sick enjoyment until they were dead. If there is any justice, he will someday soon be mauled to death.

(steps off soapbox)

Got this quiz from blindwolf. It shows you where in these United States you are best suited to live. Supposedly. Knoxville, TN (my current residence) was number two on the list, and Cincinnati, OH (former residence, close enough to it anyway) was fourth. Carlisle, PA and Duluth, MN were first and third respectively. Sigh. Anyway, it was a fun quiz, but the inevitable name, address, favorite cheese type questionnaire appeared at the end. Of course, I gave it faulty information, most importantly telling it that I lived in Oxnard, AL. I like words with "nard" in them.

'Twernt the summer of love, that's for damn sure.

Die Gedanken Sin Frei - The Brazilian Girls
Sly - Cat Empire
Pompeii Am Gotterdamerung - The Flaming Lips
Into The Ocean - Blue October
1-2-3-4 - Feist
Signal Fire - Snow Patrol
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Ah Mary - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Hold On - KT Tunstall
Better Way - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Better Than That - John Butler Trio
Missed The Boat - Modest Mouse
Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie
Big Wheel - Tori Amos
I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Not Too Late - Norah Johes
Gravity - John Mayer
Time is a Runaway - The Alternate Routes

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