During the school year my time for my own pursuits are severely limited. And I mean severely. So during the summer I like to dedicate myself to something done strictly for myself. This year in particular, I haven’t read a book that doesn’t have SOMETHING to do with my classes since start of quarter (which was Helen of Troy by Margaret George. So I have a reading list I’m working on for summer vacation. Here is what I have so far, as well as a few stats that may help in case anyone would like to suggest their own favorites!

Brains Are Sexy!

SUMMER READING LIST

*The Good Earth

-Pearl S. Buck

*Madame Curie

-Eve Curie

*Candide

-Voltaire

*The Book Your Church Doesn’t Want You To Read

-Tim C. Leedom

*The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty

Beauty’s Punishment

Beauty’s Release

-Anne Rice

*The Giver

-Lois Lowry

*Perfume: Story of a Murderer

-Patrick Suskind

FAVES

Genre: Historical Fiction/Realistic Fiction, Fantasy, Politics, Philosophy

Themes: Birth/Death, Heroism, Truth/Deception, Journey, Hope/Hopelessness, Betrayal, Power, Judgment (NO book similar to the Left Behind series please), Sense of self, Survival, Individualism/Conformity

Books to Date:

            *Wicked

                        -Gregory Maguire

            *Grania

                        -Morgan Llwelyn

            *Harry Potter

                        -J.K Rowling

            *The Red Tent

                        -Anita Diamant

            *Helen of Troy

                        -Margaret George

            *Divine Secret’s of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

                        -Rebecca Wells

            *Incarnations of Immortality

                        -Piers Anthony

R A I N B O W  L I N K S

I am a bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad college student.

I am fucking tired. I skipped class today because I have about a billion things to complete for my classes so I needed to skip my classes in order to get this shit done! ARGH! ADULT HOOD REEKS!

I mean that with all my heart. It was so much easier being an irresponsible teenager. And I find myself getting a little jealous of my coworkers who basically do whatever the hell they want because they still live with their parents and…

Okay never mind. ADULT HOOD ROCKS!

It’s just stressful right now. A lot of things have to be done soon and I just feel like I don’t have anywhere near enough time to get it all done.

Z-Day has happened. Man-kinds worst fear, the Apocalypse, has become a reality. The cities are over run with the walking dead and those few who survive are now wanderers in what was once a world rules by science and law.

You however…are lucky.

When the Apocalypse happened, you were no where near the cities. In fact you were out at your great grandmothers funeral. In her will, she left you control over the two hundred and fifty acre farm she and your great grandfather has run for the past sixty years, but has recently started to dwindle due to consumerism. This property is yours entirely, to do with as you will, and as you watch the news and see only a few sad hundred fleeing from the far away metropolises, you start to wonder what you can do to survive.

Your farm consists of:

-175 acres for roaming

-50 head cattle and 4 bulls (two of which are gelded)

-10 chickens and 1 mean rooster

-5 sows and 1 boar

-two fresh water ponds

-50 acres of hay fields

-25 acres of woods

-three large barns

-hay loft

-one tractor

-1 acre family garden

-milking machines

-‘Chuck’ the old Border Collie

-the old farm house which should have been condemned 10 years ago

Still, watching the horror unfold, you can’t help but feel there must be something you can do. Slowly it begins to dawn on you. Sitting less than a five mile walk is a property that can sustain at least a few people. You head out into the night, knowing by now that the undead are few and far between way out in the boonies. You convince a few of the locals (who knew your grandparents well) to come with you and set the farm up with better protection.

You Gain:

-6 allies

            * ‘Tim’ the pharmacist

                        --adds mostly painkillers and antibiotics to stock

            * ‘Clara’ the Sunday School teacher

                        --religious but can shoot straight with a rifle

            * ‘Edgar’ the local mechanic

                        --has fixed everything from tractors to BMW’s also owns axes as he cuts own fire wood

            * ‘Shane’ owner of Guns, Guns More Guns and Knives

                        --brings stock pile of 10 semi-automatics, 6 .357’s and sufficient ammo for about a week

            * ‘Becky’ owner of Becky’s Bar and Cue.

                        --food and alcohol supplies to last a week

            * ‘Felix’ the hotel manager

                        --blankets, pillows, and food stocks from hotel to last two weeks

With your small troop you move quickly out of two, killing three or four zombies from local incidents and one with slash marks across it’s wrists. You make it to the farm and begin making repairs to the house and fortifying things up as best you can. One of the very first things to go up is a series of barbed wire fences and alarms around the perimeter (with Edgar and Shane’s help).

By the end of the first week, survivors begin showing up, some from in town, some from the smaller cities in the area. The first group that shows up consists of twenty people, but your little farm can only support five more. Winter is coming and you have a lot to do before the first snow.

Who Do You Choose:

            1) ‘Lisa’ your high school girlfriend, now widow with two kids

                                                            Alternately

            * ‘Brian’ your high school boyfriend, now a widower with two kids

                        -gasoline in back of old Ford pickup

            2) ‘Niel’ Brian/Lisa’s son (10)

            3) “Casey’ Brian/Lisa’s daughter (6)

            4) ‘Carl’ gun toting Rebel flag man from outskirts of town

                        -excellent shot and White Lightning manufacturer

            5) ‘Miguel’ owned furniture shop

                        -wood crafting and carpenter skills

            6) ‘Rosita’ Miguel’s wife

                        -excellent cook and gardener

            7) ‘Maria’ Miguel and Rosita’s daughter (17)

            8) ’Lt. Matherson’ Lt. for one of the troops sent into the city

                        -good shot, army supplies, long wave radio

            9) ‘Dr. Phearson’ psychiatrist

                        -moral knowledge and medical knowledge

            10) ‘Laura’ artist/graphic designer Kalynn’s spouse

                        -wheelchair bound excellent computer knowledge

            11) ‘Kalynn’ PreK teacher Laura’s spouse

                        -was at school, managed to save two students

            12) ‘Anne’ PreK student, parents whereabouts unknown

            13) ‘Greggy’ PreK student parents undead

            14) ‘Daddy G’ arrested for burglary and assault

                        -knife and unarmed fighting skills

            15) ‘Johnny’ college football jock (19)

                        -unarmed fighting skills and Eagle Scout

            16) ‘Karmel’ stripper with farm girl upbringing

                        -knows animal husbandry and can drink anyone under the table

            17) ‘Ramone’ firefighter and odd jobs man

                        -nicknamed “Mr. Fix-It” by truck buddies

            18) ‘Michelle’ mother of five, all undead

                        -good with crochet and sewing machine

            19) ‘Sammie’ film student

                        -camera permanently attached to hand

            20) ‘Peter’ grocery store night watchman

                        -keys to local Shop-O-Mart

RULES:

Remember to post your choices in the comments in order to find out your scores on Feb. 6^th and see if you survive the winter. The LEAST amount of points possible is 5pts. The MOST is 25pts. The outcome of the next episode will depend upon the AVERAGE scores from all the comments bellow. 

 Ex: Lets pretend you pick 3, 6, 7, 15 and 20 and their level of value totaled is 18. This means that your group has a good chance of surviving the winter. HOWEVER, lets say the next person picks 4, 6, 8, 12, and 19 and their level of value is totaled at 5. This will drive the average down to 11.5, which means less of a likelihood of your entire group making it through till spring. (!!NOTE!! These examples are NOT a reflection of actual scoring numbers)) ((!!NOTE 2!! This game is not based on any survival guide or poll. Just common sense and chance. So stop looking for a code or secret and just have fun!))

Who’s an idiot that forgot schools are closed on Martin Luther King Day?

*point to self*

Got up, got dressed, put on make up, triple layered myself for the 4 degree weather. Even got all the way up to campus before I realized…NOBODY IS FUCKING THERE!

So at least I got to come home and soak up the warmth. And after I chill for a while, I’m going to take care of my extra work and then settle in for a mid winter nap. Probably won’t take the channel off MSNBC all day cause I wanna see all the Inauguration news.

Can We Do It?

You better hope so.

I am an Obama supporter. I believe America has the rare and delicate opportunity to rectify nearly eight years of poor policies, aggressive tactics, and just in general bad leadership. We have the chance to once again become the nation of progress, honor, and freedom that we were once hailed as. We have a man heading into office who (gods forbid) actually thinks we can effect positive change in this world if we strive for the values that have been upheld as an American standard. We said we wanted change. We said we want a president who cares, who understands, who hasn’t been anchored in the pockets of the rich but brought himself up from the same lower-middle class houses and public schools that dominate the landscape. We asked for a guiding star, and Obama said “I’ll do it.” In the most unassuming and humble tones. He never said “I’ll make it better.” He said “We’ll make it better. You and me and all of America together.”

Holy crap I actually feel American spirit.

It’s been so long I think I’m a little dizzy.

What I’m basically trying to say people is that if we fuck this up it’s our own faults. The kinetic energy of this administration is present and lingering, waiting to be used and give us the forward momentum we need to rebuild ourselves. Personally, I’m already hoping for a 2012 election in Obama’s favor. But then again lets see what change we can effect in 4 years.

Hi. My name is Kalynn. And I’m Fat.

I am 5’8 and 215lbs. My hips are 52 and my waist is 47. My BMI is 32.7. I have a family history of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and other weight related poor health. I am tired to squeezing into jeans and having to order on-line from my favorite stores because I know they won’t have a 24 in store. I am tired of not being able to run more than a few feet without needing my inhaler and feeling like I’m going to choke. I’m tired of feeling greasy after a meal and regretting every bite I just took.

I just joined Discovery Health National Body Challenge 2009.

My goal in 8wks is to weight 207-199lbs. I have cut soda out of my diet. And I’m forbidding myself to eat out unless I can get a salad (minus crispy chicken and gobs of dressing) or something likewise low-fat. I did the recommended work out for myself and added 15 mins of walking because my dog needed to go exercise to. ;)

Some of it seems straight forward enough. They have videos and weight loss plans that help the health inept (yours truly) figure out some of this. I can keep track of my progress and they even have a group blog which you can write into and get advise and friends. Some of it, like the meal plan is a little harder. Not because the meals don’t sound appealing, but because my budget can’t handle Halibut and Shrimp Bisque right now.

This is all experimental. I don’t even know if it’s going to work and I’m as scared to fail as anything. I’m hoping to get Laura on track with me even though she’s a lot thinner than I am. (size 16.) I know with her being wheelchair bound an exercise routine would probably be beneficial as well.

Biggest Potential Problems

            -I work at an artisan bread shop complete with lovely glazed bakery items

-I watch Food Network religiously. Not because it makes me hungry, but because I love the meal ideas.

-I am returning to college where the cafeteria serves mostly fried food and quick meals with so much sodium it’s like licking a salt stick. And even just a cup of carrots and celery is like $3.75.

Must...keep...playing...SPORE!

Sorry I haven't written in a while. I got Spore for Christmas and am consumed by it's addictive awesomness!

Christmas was great. We had a lot of fun and it was really nice to see L's grandad home for the holidays instead of sick in a hospital bed. Laura and I were both really happy with our gifts. My family was really thrilled and hers loved their new doodads and diddlybops.

More good news, I'M GOING BACK TO COLLEGE! It was a stressful back and forth of money money money and practically no FAFSA assistance, but fuck it all I'm going back. I miss the classes and education and conversations with people who have a brain. And now of course that I'm settled in my ECE major, I feel like I actually have a sincer purpose. I feel bad at times for flittering around my first year and taking a class here and there with no real plan. I wish a lot of time time I'd settled and not wasted that full coverage I had.

But that was then, this is now. Ready, set, set go. A few more days and I'll be going back. And from what I understand we'll be working with children on day 1. *nerves* It's a community college, so a lot of the students have family and bring their kids to the day care center which is offered pro bono. Essentially all you have to do is sign a waiver saying your child may be used for education purposes. And then I have to pay a lab fee in case something unspeakable happens to the munchkins on my watch.

I'm so excited!thrills* And I've manuvered a few things so that I can still have time to work and give my L all the love she deserves. Thats always a concern for me. Am I still going to be able to give her the affection she deserves? Am I going to be home so we can be together and still have a good relationship? And between her work, my work and now college I was really scared that having that time with her would be impossible. But I get out of class at a semi-decent hour, so we'll still have our evenings together to eat and talk and watch TV and...*grins* Yeah...my fav part.

Sometimes I honestly ask myself why I try.

Why do I get into gay marriage debates with youtubers? Why do I argue and explain and try to a make them understand that love knows no gender? That God’s love is boundless and eternal? That love itself is a gift meant to be shared by all peoples and the right to express that love through ceremony is a basic human right, deserving of recognition by state! The soul, I believe, is genderless and sexless, retaining only the experience of life and the knowledge it has gained. To me, love is a transcendent expression, moving in cooperation with the natural flow of the world. Love moves beyond time, space and gender.

So why is my love a sin?

Why do I have to debate this with people who will never ever listen?!?!?!

Because sometimes they do listen.

1 out of 50 people I talk to don’t change their minds, but they listen. Some of them occasionally even tell me I’ve given them a little more perspective. Have I ever completely rerouted a persons opinion into a GLBT Rights Advocate? No. And it’s better that way. If I could do it so easily, it wouldn’t be that hard to drag them back.

Some people out there just need to know us as humans. See us as people and independent thinkers, not Bravo show hosts and L Word stars. These shows, this media blitz, that isn’t us! They are the thing that got us in the press and made us popular culture. I can’t thank them enough for bringing us out of the closets and into America’s living room. But they are our bane as much as our blessing. Their scripted drama and L.A. glitz made us popular, not pragmatic. America can’t tell the difference between TV gay and REALITY gay.

But sometimes, talking, discussing, just having a chat helps. It lets them see the gay behind the GAAAAAAAYAAH!

Have you ever wondered how far things have to go, how much has to be taken from people before someone finally stands up and takes action?

Recently (as in yesterday) the U.S halted when it came time to sign a declaration given at the U.N. asking the world to decriminalize homosexuality. Citing matters of state vs. federal government as the problem, U.S. officials refused to sign the ban along with 50 other countries, including China, Russia and all of the Arab nations.

The draft of this document urged states to prevent discrimination against a person based on their sexual preference or gender preference on an international level. Penalties cited included execution, arrests or detention of homosexual or transgendered people. The statement (which was non-binding) was based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which arose from the atrocities of World War II. Part of this includes the idea of Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly. Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want. These were proclaimed as the highest aspirations of the people. Paragraphs involving faith in fundamental human rights, dignity and worth of all human persons were included. The Declaration also included that ‘all individuals’ and ‘organs of society’ should (by teaching and education) promote respect for these rights and freedoms and secure their universal and effective recognition and observance.

This took me and internet connection and twenty minuets to find out. If anyone cares to look up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights you may want to take particular interest in Article 16.

So why is something based of a document that embodies of that America once held to be it’s truest values being rejected? The UDHR doesn’t say “Everyone else accept the GLBT community.” It just says everyone. Was there a point in time where we stopped being human? Apparently 66 countries feel we deserve the same rights guaranteed to all people everywhere.

I was never so aware of how hated we are. 66 out of 192 still leaves 126 countries that believe imprisonment and execution are the solutions to homosexuality. Now, I can’t do anything about China or Russia. But what in the hell are we going to do about the U.S? It feels like we’re all still waiting patiently for Obama to take the throne and assume all of our problems along with giving him the bill for eight years of Bush.

Patience is a virtue, but sloth is a deadly sin.

There has to be something We can do NOW! Not everyone can afford to move to another country. Imagine a mass exodus of gays and lesbians, all leaving America? L.A. alone would become a ghost town and San Francisco would worm hole. What is our recourse? What is our strategy for this? This isn’t just about marriage rights. This is about preserving basic human dignity. This is about being recognized on an international scale and proving our strength even to those who would dismiss us. 

I was proud to be an American

Cause I thought that I was free

And I realized

The men who died

Got fucked by their country

Anyone who stands up

For their rights

Is told “Shut up.

No one cares.”

You given me great cause

To hate this land

This once blessed U.S.A

Seafood Gumbo

12-20 shrimp (shelled and deveined)

8 large sea scallops (halved and then split into six pieces)

6 oz crab meat (shredded)

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup chopped spinach

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup diced tomatos

½ cup chopped mushrooms

½ cup chopped red onions

½ chopped green onions

6-8 cups beef stock

1-2 small cans tomato paste

5 tblsp chopped garlic

4 tblsp olive oil

3 tblsp brown sugar

3 tblsp onion powder

3 tblsp cumin

3 tblsp paprika

3 tblsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp parsley

2 tsp thyme

2 tsp savory

2 tsp basil

2 tsp bay leaf

4 cups rice

1)      Partially cook seafood with olive oil.

2)      Add veggies and spices, cover and steam for five minuets.

3)      Add beef stock and tomato paste.

4)      Start rice.

5)      Cook on high heat till a nice roaring boil happens.

6)      Lower heat and allow to simmer.

7)      Serve with 1 cup rice to 2 cups gumbo mix ratio.