Off-Topic Discussion

Fifteen-year-old Laurel posted a photo of a cake she made for her parents as a way of announcing that she is a lesbian. Loud and proud in bright green frosting, the cake reads, "I'm gay." ... http://news.yahoo.co...-225145896.html

Well, we survived the winds, although I confess I have not yet been outside this morning to check the roof. It's really cold, snow and mud covered, and I just am not ready to go through that door yet. Doors are funny things. There is a big purple door (I didn't do that, it came purple, the same weirdly ugly purple as the living room, although the bleaching from sunlight has done it some favors and it's less ugly now) between me and the world. Sometimes I resent the hell out of that door, and sometimes it's my best friend. Funny how I externalize my internal stressed onto an object like that, make it some sort of huge symbol in my mind and focus all the feelings I don…

Just went to the library and picked up the autobiography of Dick Proenneke. Wow, to have his knowledge and philosophy about life. To live the life he had. Yea, I guess I am a mountain man at heart. Hey, I still remember the theme song from Grizzley Adams. What can I say? I am an old fart.

So I took a risk. My Mom's birthday was yesterday. We do have a good phone relationship, but my Mom is one that has never given me a pat on the back. So, I took a risk. Where I am getting into photography, I sent her a card and sent her a sampling of my photos. What I expected to hear was, "Why did you send me this? What am I supposed to do with this? I'm sending them back." Instead I heard, " Thank you for sending me these beautiful pictures. I can't wait to show all the girls. These are amazing." Wow. That is a first.

I came across this posting on Medium (which I love) this morning: https://medium.com/productivity-in-the-cloud/6-links-that-will-show-you-what-google-knows-about-you-f39b8af9decc I think it's valuable to know that Google (and of course, FB, Yahoo, and all the rest) are tracking our every move. I don't worry much about it but here again, good to be aware. Emma

Saw my Dad today, and I love to hear him talk about how things were when he was growing up. I think about how much history is being lost because the old stories are not being passed down or people are too busy to listen. My Dad was telling me about a relative that had a big farm on the border between Vt and Canada. How he used to take a big horse team through the woods into Canada, load up with booze and then bring it into VT and NH to sell. And how the local sheriff used to try to catch him. I enjoy hearing all those stories.

Learning the difference between THEN and THAN THAN Unlike then, than is not related to time. Than is used in comparative statements. EXAMPLES: ~He is taller than I am. ~Other than the interest on a small inheritance, he had no income. ~Today's students certainly do seem to read less than students in previous generations did. ~We learned more on the playground than we did in the classroom. ~Despite their lack of flavor, the hothouse tomatoes cost far more than those from the farmers' market. THEN Then is used either as a time marker or with a sequence of events. EXAMPLES: ~I took all of the exams in the morning, and t…

I hope you don't mind my posting something entirely unrelated to transgender topics. Just wanting to share some books and ideas with you. I love to read. At times it's a wonderful escape into the unknown or unknowable. I'm now thoroughly enjoying "The Hummingbird's Daughter" by Luis Alberto Urrea. It's about the author's real great-aunt Teresita, who lived in the late 1800s in Mexico. It's so much fun to be immersed into what life was like back then. Very brutal in many ways especially if you didn't happen to be part of the aristocracy. In case you like books such as this, here's a few others that I enjoyed: "Dune" by Frank Herbert I read this science fiction…

Politics is the art of looking for trouble; finding it everywhere; diagnosing it incorrectly; and applying the wrong remedies!.... Groucho Marx!

Back again Its been 3 or so looooong years but i'm finally back (no I didnt get run over by a certain mod's motorcycle 😛) and I don't intend to take off like that again (without leaving a note) Chat has seemed to change quite a bit but i'm still seeing some old friends 😄

There actually is a rare occurrence of justice.😳

Q. Who was the most famous French skeleton? A. Napoleon bone-apart. Q. Which building does Dracula visit in New York? A. The Vampire State Building. Q. What do Italian’s eat on Halloween? A. Fettuccine Afraid-o. Q. What do goblins and ghosts drink when they’re hot and thirsty on Halloween? A. Ghoul-aid!!! Q. What is a Mummy’s favorite type of music? A. Wrap!!!!! Q. What do you get when you cross a black cat with a lemon. A. Sour-puss. Q: Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road? A: He had no guts. Q. Why do demons and ghouls hang out together? A. Because demons are a ghouls best friend! Q. What’s a monster’s favorite bean? A…

Made me laugh!!! Video Hugs Caroline x x

https://www.facebook.com/TransgenderGuide/posts/3949945738348786

http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/us-canada/69726-emma-watson-gender-equality

I have always loved blacksmithing. Specifically bladesmithing. I had to give it up a long time ago due to circumstances that were beyond my control. Now I've been watching Forged In Fire, and it has brought me back and given me that spark to go at it again. Adrianne bought me a forge for our anniversary. Now I need to find a good anvil, vise, tools (tons of different kinds and purposes), a power press, and a power hammer (Big Blu would be great). I also need to clear out my garage so that I have a place to work in. Once all that is taken care of, and I have the different grades of steel to work with, I'm back in it. I even have a name. I'm going to name it RatLady Forge. …

This appears like a good test http://www.kgw.com/s...tness/24076407/ If you first just read the article it sounds like "what the heck", does this really give an idea on if you will live five years more. Watch the video and note that many had issues completing it. I was not going to try it as I do similar actions when teaching but did it anyways, perfect 10.

Did anyone get to see the planets this morning (7-19-20)? I was up at 3:30 AM to see it, but just my luck. The entire area was completely cloud covered. We even drove several miles out of town trying to find a spot to see them, but nothing without driving 100 miles was going to work.The entire CeMO area was blanketed. I did manage to get a quick glimpse of Jupiter and the comet, but that lasted all of 2 seconds. A once in a lifetime chance to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in the sky all at the same time in one night, and I was cloudblocked. I even borrowed some telescopic binoculars to see it, but they ended up a moot point since the only thing to see in t…

Non-sequitor? I say nay, these are some Heavy Metal or other metal songs I found to make me feel better when gender dysphoria is striking out at me. Whether you are having a rough day, doubting yourself, feeling depressed, or whatever I hope these songs will uplift your spirit and remind you to be free and happy. 1. Want to be a heavy metal queen? Sorry Doro has that spot already taken, but it doesn't mean this song won't feel somewhat relatable. 2. Sometimes we all need a refuge of our own, someplace that makes us feel at home, sometimes that place is music. 3. This song maybe a little intense for some, but I feel the song has a dark an…

:D HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!!!!!

I haven't even made it thru the video yet myself, but had to post it. If you need a laugh you're gonna love it. And to the lawyers here, have a sense of humor. As the tag says there is the occasional word and risque comment, but it's clean for the other 97%, so I thought it would be acceptable to post. If not, I would like to ask the Admins to just remove the link instead of the post, and for people to PM me for the link. But I'm still pretty sure it's ok to link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwcfRM96oS0

I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all my beautiful sisters and brothers out there. May your holidays be wonderful and glorious.

ANTI-GAY CARTOONIST SELLING HOMOPHOBIC CALENDAR ON AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE http://www.glaad.org...on-barnes-noble