Swap Stuff

Here’s some extra info for anyone who might be swapping with me on Ravelry.

Need to knows-

-I hate Chocolate.  I don’t have anyone to take it off my hands either.  So please don’t send chocolate. This includes anything with chocolate in its name.

-Please don’t send chocolate!  I have said this before and still get packages full of chocolate so I have to say it again.  Please don’t think about sending chocolate.

-I do have a kitty cat.  She is picky about her treats so I would resist the urge to send cat treats.  She does like wool and acrylic.  Don’t know if she would play with anything other than a blanket made from these fibers.  She is a serious kitty and doesn’t play with anything other than laser lights, yarn, and imaginary bugs.

-If you are thinking about making something to wear, here’s some data.  I have a fairly small head and small frame in general.  I’m not too sure about a hat size but I don’t wear hats all that often.  Maybe I’ll find a hat I like one of these days.  I’m about 5’1″ish and 5’3″ish with heels.  I’ll say my waist is 34″.  It’s been known to be as small as 32″ and as large as 34.5″.  My bust size is a 34B.  If that helps.  My arms are long and I do like rolling sleeves up so don’t worry about the length.    If you need my arm width, I’ll figure it out.

-I don’t expect a large handmade item.  It takes me forever to finish a garment so I can’t and won’t expect the same.

-I like tea and drink a variety of them.  I wrote more about that down below.  I’m okay with coffee but I prefer tea.

Likes-

-Nesting dolls.

-I’m a gamer at heart.  More of a Mario Kart, Brawl, Zelda, Sega Genesis type though.  I don’t play that much these days.   Tails is my favorite character.  He’s tattooed on my back.  I do like Toad and Ganon as well.

-I love tea.  I prefer black and white teas.  Followed by red teas and herbal teas.  I’m not the biggest fan of green teas but SO loves Oolong.  I tend to get loose for home use and tea bags for work consumption.   I live near a few tea companies so I would be very happy to try teas from your area.  My favorite “brands” are Twillings, Gypsy Tea, and The Tea Table. I don’t mind Celestial Seasonings but I live close to headquarters so I likely have a larger selection locally. I also have a small tea cup collection.  And some mugs.

-I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I am a fan of Laffy Taffy and Red Hots.  I like Nerds, Skittles, and Gobstoppers as well.  Other “treats” don’t travel well.  But if you find raspberry-filled powered donuts from Hostess.  By all means send them.  SO is always looking for those treats.  I sometimes bake so gingerbread mixes are an idea.

-I love anything Clue.  I’m not kidding.  I play as much as I can.  I prefer the original 6 and collect boards.  Miss Scarlet is my favorite character.  My favorite solution is Miss Scarlet in Ballroom with the Revolver.  I collect them and usually stop myself from buying the ones I want from ebay.  They are generally under $10.

-I read a lot!  Mainly non-fiction.  I just can’t get into or like most fiction.  I mainly borrow from the library or order books from Amazon.  I also have different tastes than most people.

-I like most warm colors.  Yellow is my favorite color but I don’t think I look good in yellow and don’t have a lot of yellow things.  Red is a second favorite.  I can’t pull the color off so I don’t have many red clothes.  Green, black, and brown follow.  And I can wear these colors.  I’m not the biggest fan of blue.  If it’s a turquoise or dark blue, I’m usually alright though.

-Beaded things.  I researched beaded handbags and dresses a while back and fell in love.  Except stitch markers.

-I eat a lot of pasta.  A lot.  I also like soup mixes.  Potato soup for the win!

-I listen to most types of music.  I prefer ska.  Especially European ska.  I like other genres.  Well except acoustic and emo.  It’s like nails slowly scratching on a chalk board but worse.

-Richard Hammond! And Top Gear.

-I like poker.  I have a pretty lame deck of cards though.

-Daria and I dream of Jeannie are my favorite TV shows.  Community as well as documentaries are just a touch behind.

-I enjoy sports.  Especially tennis and baseball.  Maybe dance can count too.  Not a fan of basketball.

-I like LSG things.

-I like Coconut-Lime fragrances.  As long as it’s subtle, I don’t mind more scents.  I like the idea of candles but with a cat, it’s not the best item to have them.

-I love looking up at the stars at night.  I do like books on the universe and documentaries.  I am the typically gemini and like depictions of this constellation.  I prefer the inner planets to the outer planets.  I don’t really have a favorite since it changes from time to time.  And Pluto is not a planet.

-I mainly drink European beers.  I sometimes drink wine but it’s a rarity.  I have a few charm markers for stem glasses.   But no glasses to use them with.  I prefer Czech beads.

-Texas stuff.  You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of the girl.

-I’ll like to try knitivity’s yarns one of these days.

-I want to try handdyeing.  I don’t like stripes so this would be my way to avoid strips but have color. Maybe try to do ikat!

-I am trying to cook more.  I don’t have a place for all my recipes.  Maybe you could help by decorating a journaling book or the like.

-My favorite flower is the tiger lily.  But lilies make kitties sick.

-Tin boxes are fine.  I like vintage or vintage-looking ones.  Medium ones are the best.

-I like some necklaces.  I prefer simple ones or nicely colored ones.  I like Art Nouvaeu ones.

-I do love older books.  I am picky though.  Check with me (via PM or wishlist) first please.

Dislikes-

-Chocolate.  I’m serious.  No chocolate or you will get some qqs.

-Most Sci-fi things.  I don’t like Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly, and so on.

-I’m not a movie person.  It’s rare for me to watch a movie in one sitting.  And not be knitting or reading during it.  To ignore the movie.

-I don’t like stories about my interests unless in book form.  And even then it’s not the best idea.  I don’t like when my grandma does it, so I wouldn’t like it when you do it.

-I don’t like stripes.  Or Fingerless gloves.  I just don’t get it.

-Some wools.  Sometimes I break out if my skin does like what I’m wearing.  It’s pretty random.  For this reason, I stick to cottons.  Some wools are okay and it’s fine if I plan on wearing something underneath.

-I like knitting toys but I don’t like making them for myself.  I might make some nesting dolls one of these days though.

-I’m not a huge comic fan.  Garfield is the only one I sometimes read.

-I know many swaps emphasize packing something local, but I’m meh about that.  I don’t mind if it’s useful, like a mug.  Not so much for pamphlets ect.

-Not a fan of big earrings or big jewelry.

-No chocolate please .

-I have never liked gum. It is likely to go to co-workers or sit in a drawer than be eaten.

 

Writing on a keyboard

If you are anything like me, you secretly wanted to write a well-read book.  As I got older, this dream (for a lack of a better term) became less important to chase.  It might be because one’s hands can’t come up with all the ideas they brainstormed.  Or one wrote themselves in a corner.  Or tried to get out a romance/chick flick rut.  And let me tell you, those ruts are hellish and come out of no where. Or my favorite, can’t think of a good connector sentence.  Like now.

I also gave up on this dream by accident.   You know, they old I got busy with school, work, or life gig.  After writing for school, I expected that the only things I would write that others might read were historical non-fiction.  But not having a job, being finished with school, and reading fiction for the first time in too long.  I was reading a book on Agatha Christie’s most famous works and got inspired.  What if some one tried to apply the lessons of Agatha to their own life.  The quick imagining in my head made the girl who rarely laughs crack up.

Hopefully I can collect my thoughts and put my thoughts on to the screen via this blog.  With a keyboard that I have to force to type the letter f.  Maybe get some feedback.  Maybe as a reminder of another project I would like to get back to.  I’m going to let the writing on the keyboard lead the way.  Oh that was too corny.  Ignore that last part.

Characters I have thought of and will try to develop.  I need to get to know these characters.  Let them drive the story instead of plots that are thrown in just to have them.

• Vivianne White:  Usually called Viv by her sister Veronica and their friends. A college freshman who is not exactly sure what she wants to do as a career.  She is up for volunteering to figure out what she wants to do or taking random college classes because it sounds fun.  She is currently working for the college bookstore to help make ends meet.  Agatha Christie is one authors in her English lit class.  Lives with her fraternal twin sister Vera.  A bit naive and has a cooky view of how things works.  Understands the value of work experience as opposed to only knowing theory.  Tries to use the techniques in Christie’s books to solve mysteries.  Usually fails.  She thinks she isn’t doing it right or misinterpreted detective techniques.  All she needs is practice.  Known as the cook of the group.  Has brown hair and very ordinary brown eyes and is more interested in her schemes than the boys.
• Veronica White, or Vera for short.  Viv’s fraternal twin sister.  A horrible cook and a practical freshman.  She constantly has to remind Viv what is appropriate behavior and what is not.  Tries, and usually unsuccessfully, to get Viv to think things through.  A bit cold at times but she has Viv’s interests at heart.  She loves music and would like to share her love of music with others.  She’s not the best singer but she knows it.  Her real talent is with the xylophone.  She broke her arm in a car accident and her doctors suggested using music as therapy.  To Vera, this is a logical career choice.  She is more interested in boys than her sister.  Started to date childhood friend Michael during their senior year of high school. A dark blonde with brown eyes.
• Michael Green is Vera’s boyfriend.  He and the twins have known each other since they were ten.  A by-the-books kind of guy.  He is working at his uncle’s business to save up some money for college.  The business is not doing all that well and Michael expects that he will need to look for another job.  Too bad very few are hiring.  Because many of the employees are older and he is not in school, it’s difficult for Michael to make new friends in a new town.  He tags along with Vera and Viv for this reason.  Actively searching to enlarge his social circle.
• Dr. Jane Hastings is Vera’s English lit professor and a bit odd.  She seems to be stuck in the 1940s in her style.  But don’t worry, it’s coming back in fashion she says. She likes mysteries especially Christie.  Very few in her class like her teaching style by Viv can’t wait until TTH 11 am – 12:15 pm arrives.  Encouraged Viv to come to the book club on campus but only Viv, Vera, Michael and Jane are there.  Tries to get Viv to become an English major and only read books.
• Roger Leach is Viv’s boss.  Finds it strange that Viv is more concerned with books the store does not have compared to books she is trying to sell.  He keeps an eye on Viv when her Christie obsession starts to effect her work.    Is worried that Viv is focusing too much of her time on Christie and not focusing on coursework.  Concerned about Viv.
• Officer John Blake is an investigator that is happy that a freshman is interested in law enforcement but mystified by her efforts and techniques.  Tries to convince Viv to take some criminal justice classes and to drop those “silly notions either found in a time long ago or in a book.”  Blake is struggling with the loss of his wife.  The reader never knows if she was killed or she left him.

I will have Viv research Christie and try to apply this “knowledge” to life.  I’m not a big fan or anything like that.  I’ve read our Christie books but I will be researching along with Viv.

 

Where are my…

For some reason I can’t find XXX when I need it. Usually it’s something like a phone charger, keys, or mp3 charger. It’s quite funny really. It’s something I see two days before I need it and suddenly can’t find it. As soon as I don’t need it, I find it. And it’s usually in the place I always keep it. What’s up with that. =p

 

Time Machine

Just in case you are under a Martian rock, you know today is the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon.  I wasn’t alive back then.  I can’t remember my first space memory.  Well beside visiting Mission Control in Houston during some shuttle mission.  Can’t remember which one and likely couldn’t guess.  I remotely remember when Rick Husband went up on first mission and had heard a mention that he was on the 2003 Columbia mission.  Apollo 13 and a 5th grade science project really is my connection to space.  Even with this stacked against me, I love space.  Never wanted to be an astronaut but knowledge of the cosmos makes me happy.

Even with all of this being said, I do have a memory of Apollo 11.  Wait what?  That’s right, I have a memory of Apollo 11.  For various projects, I’ve had to read newspaper headlines from the 1960s and 70s.  The latest project is no different.  While searching for a needle in a burnt haystack, I loved reading what the people said, felt, focused upon.  Often events like Apollo 11 are isolated from their time.  John F. Kennedy’s comments are often seen as this heroic speech.  We had to make it in time to honor our fallen president.  The funny thing is this speech barely made headlines in 1961.  Sure a two paragraph might make it to page 5, but it was not an earth-shattering speech.  Projections for landing on the moon during the Eisenhower administration was 1970 or 1971.  How much support Eisenhower wanted to give NASA is debateable.  What is clear is having a projection off by a few years happens.

Like with Apollo 8 (another big step for mankind), other events occurred in that year and around that time.  It seemed like the public was caught in Apollo fever to go to their normal lives during the day.   That’s what I like about newspapers, at least from the past.  The context is not as lost as a when viewing a video clip.    You notice things that have been forgotten or seen what people were thinking at that moment.  My view of the moon landing has been at least less hindsight because of these “time machine” articles.  I only wish it could be done more often.

 

Transformers 2 yah!

So I’m sure if you found this post, it was because you love the cartoon, the toys, the first movie ect. Well this post is not exactly for you. I’m sure you have already made up your mind to see it or wait until it’s available to rent. No, this post is more intended for those of you that might know of the series but are not die-hard fans. Well I was sorta dragged to see it last night by some friends. I’m the type of person that hates going to the theater to see movies. I get too bored. Only when I know the ending will I not be checking my watch every 20 minutes. Maybe I’m not the person to review this movie but I figured if some one didn’t want a review from someone that is obsessed with the franchise, I would give them a review.

The movie is about two and a half hours long. I would say that’s about average for action movies. I did check my watch a few times but I can only think of four movies in my lifetime I haven’t done that. The pace of the movie was typically alright. I actually preferred the non-action scenes. Okay I recant that. I was most bored with the robot on robot action. When it’s a hunk of metal, it’s to tell what side each vehicle is on. Sometimes I would see a clue to what disguise each robot is outside of battle.

The plot has plenty of plot holes.  Like why would someone fly from LA to New York on a whim.  Or would border control let someone in just because they said they were from New York.  It’s a very cliched movie. To be fair the cliches bother me more now than when actually watching the movie. It’s definitely a mix between a teen movie and an action movie. It’s simply nothing more and nothing less.

I did like the dorm building. I’m currently researching a building that is a smaller version of that building. Another thing I liked was the Air and Space Museum cameo. As a public history girl, I approve of museums. No matter the form. I never really got into this movie. But I’m not really the target audience. I liked most of the characters, but I didn’t think they were memorable. Don’t know what I thought of the Obama comment though. Way to date the movie.

The movie was entertaining but I wasn’t expecting anything. Maybe I’ll give it a 2.5 out of 5 star rating. If you are looking for a mindless action movie, you’re going to love it. Otherwise, it would be better than rent. I’m sure not remembering the cartoon, toys, and seeing the first one was a disadvantage, but it was okay to follow. I don’t think I felt too lost to at least enjoy this movie.

Spoiler fun– my interpretation/retelling of the movie

Basically it’s a revenge thing for the Decepticons (the bad guys). To bring destruction to Earth, they need to find this key and bring their ancestors back to life. Enter boy-about-to-go-to-college who happens to have a shard. He mistakenly touches it (yet he’s had it in his possession for two years…) and gains secret powers. Optimus Prime, the leader of the good guys, as well as the boy’s car fight off evil toasters and other randomness. For some reason most of the kitchen electrics are indifferent. After this and that, the boy’s girlfriend basically thinks he’s going to leave her for another 18 year old that doesn’t work in a garage.

Sam, the magical boy, then meets his roommate. Who of course thinks the events of the first film (I guess) are a sham and a cover up. ::eyeroll:: At this point the movie was getting to cliche for me. But oh well. A “hot” freshman tries to sex up out hero-boy to later be caught by the girlfriend who traveled across the country to bring him a pet Decepticon. He is of course caught with the “hot” girl who turns out to be a Decepticon. How she knew what door and how to get there so fast after renting a taxi bugged me. The dorms were monsterous and even if she knew what room, it would be a maze to find it. Optimus Prime dies and the leader of the Decepticon is brought back to life. The Magical boy (who can now disprove Einstein), his forgiving girlfriend, the clueless roommate, and another guy they find go find someone that might be able to read the symbols Sam has been writing. They turn on a Decepticon by mistake (which I guess is signified by the symbol I thought was for the Transformers), but he decides to switch sides. They are transported to Egypt and Sam, who is a wanted fugitive at this point. Sam does convince the army to drop Optimus in the dessert and Sam is suppose to use the ancient key to revive him. Of course a long fight occurs and the good guys win. YAH!

 

What is Indie?

Every once in a while, I’ll hear about an Indie band, film, radio station ect.  In my younger days (like when I was 18), I took this radio production course.  The final class project was to create sweepers, identification, promotion ect. for a new radio station with a group.  I was placed in a group with a senior who somehow made it through his career without taking this class until his last semester.  He also happened to host an “Indie” show.  We didn’t have to come up with playlists but he thought it would be a good idea to revolve the project around his show.  I may have been a shy timid 18 year old in college (read freshman with enough dual credits to be classified as a sophomore), but I did protest this idea.  I suggested a jazz station since one did not exist.  He rejected that by saying young people don’t listen to jazz and no new artist s come out of jazz.  I knew other wise but the I was the only one that objected so we went along with it.

Fast forward to us “pitching” it to our professor who was really fair and the head of the department who likes to be on a power trip (ot: the longer I am away, the less I dislike her, I’ve run into a professor worse than her.).  Of course the only criticism of ours is that she didn’t agree with our definition of Indie.  I may not have agreed with this professor on a lot of things, but I do think her definition is true.

It is near impossible for something to be truly Indie. Instead it’s a marketing scheme to make it seem like one is not listening to mainstream.  It’s about image.  Unfortunately people think its an escape from Alternative music.  It’s become too commercialized for its name they say.  Alternative is music that is influenced by ska, punk , or grunge.  At one time these genres were far from mainstream for the most part.  Indie is not a response to Alternative not living up to its name.

Indie in media suggests that the product is not produced by a main company.  Hahaha.  Unless it was done in someone’s basement, it’s not Indie.  Record companies, movie studios, newspapers, television companies, and other media companies are all tied together.  Think of this way.  The Daily Show, Daria, Letterman, and randomness on MTV was removed from youtube because all of these channels are loosely owned by Viacom.  Record companies are the same.  X company is supported by company Y.  Radio stations are the same.  College stations are typically owned/supported by the college.  The college is a corporation.  True they are further removed and more willing to give freedom, it is still a corporation that owns the station.  Other stations (minus religious in some cases), are loosely tied together.  That’s why some stations play the same song over and over.  The playlists are similar.

Think about doing projects independently as well, you are influenced by previous experiences and mentors.

So maybe instead of the tradition definition,  the term would describe how loosely connected something is to its controlling source.

 

Sandwiches

So I’m not the best cook because I really don’t like monster meals.  I’m happy with steamed veggies on pasta or pasta with canned tomato sauce with cheese on top.  Every once in a while, I actually do something more than just “cut-corners” pasta.  The recipes that I do use are mostly in my head but some I’ve done enough that I can share them.

“Grilled Cheese” Sandwiches – I put grilled cheese in quotes because it is grilled cheese and started as such but I added other ingredients that it is really a grilled sandwich with cheese.   Many of the measurements are to personal taste.  My sandwiches are different from the ones I make for others that I know their preference.

Ingredients-

2 slices of bread for each sandwich you plan on making.  I typically eat two for a meal.  I like breads with seasoning like basil, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, ect.  I think spicier works but others like other types of bread (like Wonderbread). Also keep in mind I’m petite.

a slice of Pepper jack cheese for each sandwich.  Usually I tear each slice so it fits on the bread and covers more area.

butter.  This will depend upon personal taste.  You could use non-stick stray but the Southern in me says butter is unbeatable.  Fake butter works so much better and gives more taste than the stray.  I cover most of the slice of bread when I “grill” these sandwiches.

onions.  I like a lot of onions while others are hit-or-miss about it.  I typically use white since that’s what’s in the fridge.  Red works as well but I would use white the first two or three times that you cook this recipe.  Chopped or sliced works.

peppers.  I would use two long-wise cut slices for each sandwich to begin with.  I have used bell as well as baby peppers.  Keep in mind that baby peppers can have more of a kick.  The pepper jack cheese will make it kick some more.  I prefer orange or yellow baby peppers while the boyfriend prefers red bell peppers.

pepperoni. How many slices you use will depend upon the size of the pepperoni and the size of the bread.  Two to three should be average.

Some sort of sauce.  What sauce I use depends upon what the sandwiches will be served with.  I usually use mustard.  Garlic spread and your favorite tomato sauce works wonders as well.  I’m not a fan of mayo so haven’t tried it.  You can also go sauce-less.  It’s pretty good.

Heat you stove top to about medium heat or level 3-4.  For some reason I feel medium on ones with numbers burns too quickly.  Spread butter on the bottom side of the bread.  If you are using a garlic spread, apply it now.  Be careful not to use too much of the garlic spread.  Once you lay the bread onto the skillet, apply the sauce.  Then add the onions and peppers.  How many slices or chopped onions will depend on personal preference.  Then add the cheese.  Cover most of the bread with cheese slices.  Add the cheese.  Apply sauce again if desired.  Usually one side is enough.  Place the top slice on the sandwich.  Cover this slice with butter.  Let the sandwich grill for between 5 to 7 minutes on one side.  After three initial minutes, check the bottom of the sandwich.  The more you grill this recipe, the easier it will be to judge when the sandwich is done without looking at it even minute of so.  Once the bottom achieves the desired color, flip it over.  The cheese should bind the sandwich together so onion ect won’t fly around when you flip them.  Repeat the grilling process on the other side.  You can grill multiple sandwiches if the skillet is large enough.

I’ll post pics later.

 

A concern I have

Click on any news/magazine/provider site and you see Jon and/or Kate. People either love the show, hate what it stands for, love the kids but hate the parents, hate Kate but love Jon, or admire Kate. I typically don’t watch this show but my mom loves it (or at least she did before the controversy). I might watch clips here and there. I don’t hate Kate for her attitude like some people. Likely because I’m a lot like Kate in personality. And who knows how she is off-camera. Of course people will defend her with this statement, well you don’t know what kind of stress she is under unless you have had 8 kids. C’mon. Teachers have kids in their classrooms for 8 hours a day. And it’s maybe 25 kids.   Apparently she hasn’t even been home, but instead promoting a book she most likely ghost wrote.

Talking about this show isn’t the main purpose of this entry, but it’s a reminder to me why I’m leaning toward not having kids in my lifetime. I am one of those crazies that believes that a lot of the issues we as humans are facing could be more manageable with a smaller population. There would be less people to provide for, less resources need, less pollution, and more of a connection to where necessary goods came from. The hope would be that with fewer people would be more respectful of each other and the world around them. Think of small communities. People know each other and are more willing to help when someone is in trouble (but maybe it’s overwhelming for a “city” girl like myself). They are so isolated and in theory value other’s talents. Granted if you are different than the majority, it can be tough. In large families like Jon and Kate, Octomom, and the Duggars, they hint at creating a family-driven community.

Since I believe overpopulation is a key problem in the world, I would much rather see an extended “family” and not multiple large families. There is a comment that mothernaure did not want them to have children. For a “Christian” (and I use that term loosely for describing the Gosselins), they are not trusting “God” who would not have wanted them to reduce the amount of children in th womb by going through treatments in the first place.  Just Christianity only works when it fits ones wants and is faux identity.  And then people say, it like using medicine. Well marijuana is like medicine as well. And marijuana isn’t creating a litter of five to eight kids. Too bad mothernature couldn’t do that to some of the “breeders” who use a child as an object to save their marriage, keep them company, or make them feel important when they do not have any money once they “forget” to use some sort of birth control. Not that stopped Octomom. At the same time there supposedly is more people going through this process. There are people who really want kids (and usually for the right reasons), and there are those that want things. I can see more cases of this in the future. Infertility can be genetic, so kids conceived through IVR or IUI might have these same issues that caused their parents to turn to infertility treatments. Unless there are tighter regulations, there will be more Octomoms and Kates who push for more kids than recommended.  Basically a certain number of folicals, eggs, ect. are used/”woken up”.  Here’s a hint, it’s typically 4 and unless one or more of these split or produce an extra egg, you don’t come up with 6 or 8.  People scream that it may not take with four (which plenty of times it doesn’t), so they push for extras.  Maybe if doctors said that they would do more than 4 if the parents sign a form that says that they will reduce if there are more than 3, people would not push for more than 4 so much or think it is worth the risk.  Then again the “Christian” community would scream that they were forced to sign this contract or the big mean doctor was just making sure the patient was not aiming for more than 3 kids.  I know there are families that have one kid or none through this process.  The reduce count would still produce a child, which is the purpose of this procedure.  There are just so people who think they need “one more.” Sounds like nothing satisfies them and they think a child would automatically fill that void over night. At the same time, every once in a while there will be a tale of a breeder having another children to get more money from government programs. These programs are great if you have fallen on hard times and seriously intend to make your life better. I wish (I know it would never happen) there was a cap on kids you can have once you are on these programs. Maybe a freeze. If you can’t care for yourself, a child won’t make it easier. But they get the right amount of freebies to feel important. Large families on these reality shows get freebies and it develops a horrible cycle. Another blog if I feel inclined.

I hear from parents that kids are a “gift.” Part of me is happy that they are happy (if they are, plenty of parents and non-parents are not), but isn’t wanting more than one set of kids through IVR begging. It’s like me receiving a car as a gift (like I’ve been working hard and someone picks up the last couple of payments) and turning around a year and a half later and asking for another one because I enjoyed the first one so much I want another one. The “gift” argument is lost on me. Then again, I am not a religious person.

Maybe if the adoption process was easier, people would be more willing to adopt. Then again I hear people saying they want their own biological children (even if they already have 2 or 3 biological children). Then if there are kids from multiple relationships, a kid has to symbolize the current relationship. Sure a child represents that union but how about making sure you want that relationship to last.  Then it’s about the abuse adoptive children go through because they do not feel wanted. Maybe I’m naiive but all children are moody and if you parent them, the child will evidentially respect you and love you adopted or not. Don’t use them as objects and a symbol. Too bad the process to get pregnant is not harder across the board.

Overpopulation would be helped greatly if unwanted pregnancies were minimized. Birth control (in any form like condoms, pills, natural family planning which is birth control despite the pretty name Catholics put on it) is one way, education, less social pressure to have sex, less social pressure to have a baby for self worth, or abortion are forms that also minimize unwanted pregnancies. How much it helps is up for debate. Personally abortion should be last option and not a cop-out for being stupid. At the same time, people should be ready to have kids.  Too bad some use the kid as an accessory or object.  Then the parents claim they had no idea what it would entail.  You look at a house and car before buying it.  You at least talk to a supervisor and research what you will be doing at a job before talking it.  Why should having a kid be different.  These are all forms of investment.  If  “all your friends are having one,” maybe babysit that kid several nights in a roll.  Then find older kids to be around.  Sure you could argue that they are not “our” kids so it would be different.  Yeah, you can’t give them back to their parents at the end of the day.  If you feel confident you still want kids, go for it.  Just do it for the right reasons and think seriously about the world your kid might be growing up in.

With fewer kids in the adoption/foster care system, in theory, there would fewer people. But at the same time, the process might get harder because there are fewer kids in the system so people will want their own biological kids more. One of my colleagues mentioned that we should all be test tube babies and only have kids if we want. Haven’t explored how I feel about it. Some parents think the moment of conception (which if you are doing it multiple times, don’t know if it stuck until latter you won’t know at the moment of conception you are thinking about the past in rose-colored glasses, or slept with multiple people and don’t know who the babies daddy was) is special. They likely mean that the connection felt by two people around the time the baby was conceived. But people I know that say the former seem to think the latter is incorrect. Test tube would take this away from this of course.

I’m sure the people who are in denial and think overpopulation is a con will say the business owners want to control a smaller population. Well they would have to compete for customers and make less profits. It would be like after the Black Plague. Farmers who were abusing their serfs, slaves, and other help couldn’t any more. The cost of living for most everyone improved. Those who were managers and not doing the bulk of the work but receiving a large amount of the pay saw their living standards decrease. They had to actually work. And then the population boomed in the 19th century with stability and then boomed after World War II. In non-Western countries, a population boom also occurred. Business owners would not be able to control their workers because of lack of business opportunities. They want to support the notion that a marriage should produce a lot of children (even though it wasn’t a sacrament until centuries after the New Testament was finally written down but that’s other topic). Mommy items are big business. Complaints of quality are ignored (but then again they were ignored in the 1920s as well). Fewer people who want or need your goods doesn’t help business.

I’m sure others will say too bad my mom wasn’t child-free. I appreciate my mom but she doesn’t see the world as I do (mostly because she’s Catholic and I’m spiritual). If you want to suggest that my mom should have been child-free, I’ll say I wish your great grandmother would have been as well. I do wish there were not pressures and statements that you have to want your own biological kids to be considered normal. This won’t change for a while. Maybe more environmentally friendly fuels will be in place so people don’t end up consuming more than they are now because the population is smaller.   Shrinking populations is a process.  It doesn’t happen in a generation on purpose.

And to those who say well what about when the human races dies out — people will continue to have large litters, I just wish there were fewer of them. I understand that’s their beliefs and I have mine. I just hope to get others to think about overpopulation a little bit more than they are now. Maybe adopt a child after they have had a biological child.  The kid is already born.  Promote wanted pregnancies and discourage people from creating an unwanted pregnancy. And besides I can see the human race dying out because of overpopulation before it dies out because people refuse to procreate. For some people overpopulation is something that is a justification, but for me it drives a lot of my beliefs. I like a discussion. =p Go ahead.

And maybe I should go bowling tonight since a friend of the boyfriend’s in is town.

 

Blogs

So I’m sure almost everyone that has started a blog has hit this problem. And from the looks of it, so many people have some form. They want to do a blog for whatever reason. For some it may be that someone is moving and living abroad, going through a process, or share their hobby with the world. I’ve done a few blogs with the first, but what happens when you get busy living or the blog dies out after the trip or experience is over.

So this time I decided to have a general one. I just hope people will read it. =p What tips do those with successful blogs success and what topics are worth reading?