ambivalence.

I don't know why I've been neglecting this blog so much.

It used to be that it was my writing outlet, because I was too lazy to sit and actually write something more than a 4 minute blurb about something. I've always had to have some sort of creative outlet in my life to keep me (semi) sane...whether it be writing, art, music...whatever. Just something that I'm actually CREATING.

And for a while there, this blog was that.

But, now I've been actually, really, honest-to-God writing (Like in WORD! OMFG, amazing!!) and I haven't really needed this outlet that bad. What I've been doing probably isn't that great, but it's still mine, and I'm still creating...even if it's horrible.

I also used to blog to keep track of all my friends I've made in bloggy-land, but now Twitter has pretty much taken over THAT little necessity! (Because, honestly, what BETTER way to keep track of people than 140 character blurbs??) Ha.

I used to post photos here, but now I have Flickr to do that.

My poor blog has been outsourced. Which is really, really ironic, actually.

So, here I sit in my darkened living room, listening to the sound of the washing machine playing behind Mat Kearney playing through my earbuds....staring at a half finished manuscript on my computer, and neglecting my poor, pathetic blog.

I honestly don't know how I feel about that.

Tattooed Thoughts?

So, the written part I already have tattooed. I have it just below my neck, between my shoulder blades.

It translates to "Write."

The rest of it, I want to have added. A book with blank pages. Telling me to hurry up and fill them, already!

This is just a rough sketch, and will be much better once actually drawn on me. The book will be further up, on my neck, and the stars will look better, probably smaller and more stylized - cascading down my neck and around the writing.

What do you all think? Yay? Nay?....

Scarily True.

Your Slogan Should Be

Between Love and Madness Lies Adena

The Slogan Generator

Ghost Forest

So, every once in a great while, the Coast has a big storm that is strong enough to wash away significant amounts of sand from the beaches.

And, sometimes, when that happens it uncovers something ancient.


This is called a "Ghost Forest", and it's the stumps of trees that are around 2000-4000 years old and were suddenly buried in some sort of cataclysmic event. It buried them so quickly that it preserved them in their normal positions.

Usually, they are covered by the sand, with only the tops of one or two of them poking their heads out....but, with this last storm that blew through, it uncovered an entire forest.

I have more pictures here.

The pictures don't really do justice to how cool it was. Some of the stumps were almost as tall as me, and with all the water rushing around them, it was very surreal, and very, very beautiful.

So, we spent a gorgeous day at the beach, but my camera ran out of juice by the end. Somehow, the camera gods were smiling at me, and I caught this picture in a split second moment:


I freaking love it. I may blow it up and have it framed.

I love the beach, and although I only live about 45 minutes from it, I don't go nearly enough. I need to change that, I'm thinking...

Drawing

Colored Pencil Drawing
Originally uploaded by deenerann

I haven't drawn in ages, and I have a zillion sets of colored pencils around. I hardly ever use them, usually preferring Graphite...but, tonight I pulled these out.

One thing about colored pencil. NO ERASING!!!

This whole thing was drawn w/o erasing, which is why her eyes are all wonky. I want to erase one of them and fix it right, but I can't. So here's the final, imperfect drawing.

The scanner didn't pick up the correct color...her hair is actually a lot blonder, and her skin is a warmer peach...but, I can't get it to scan the color correctly. Alas.

Dramaz!

Okay, semi-serious post. I didn't sleep well last night, and I'll probably just wind up rambling incoherently, but I'm honestly curious.

So, without further ado....

MAN, there's a lot of drama going on in the blog-o-sphere right now! (And, no, I won't link to any of it...this is just a generalized statement, without pointing fingers.)

I'm as guilty as anyone in reading it all when it happens (kind-of the train wreck mentality, ya' know?)...but, when it comes to jumping in to any of it, I tend to stand WAY back at the far end of the room, and just watch. I don't really want to be involved in all that.

One of my bestest friends does it all the time in chat rooms....does it for fun...and I think it's hysterical sometimes the way she can get people to completely FREAK out by just writing...but, personally, I tend to steer clear of it. Maybe I do that in real life, too.

I mean, I can fight with the best of them. I'm a redhead, and I've got a lot of Irish/Gaelic in me, and when I fight, I FIGHT (as anyone who really knows me can attest to)...but, it takes a huge amount of crap to get me to that point.

Normally, the main thing I do is I jump in with quiet sarcastic / snide little comments directed at people, and I know I do that a lot. That's actually probably worse than just openly freaking out on someone...but, I HATE confrontation, for the most part. (Although, that all goes out the window if we're talking about relationships. Then, confront away!! I'm ALL about the big fight if you're actually in a relationship w/ someone. MUCH better than silently stewing.)

So, I guess...I just want to know why some people seem to feed and thrive on causing as much shit as possible online? Personally, I come online to escape all the crap and drama of my real life. I don't know as it would make me feel any better to have it going on all around me online, too.

I don't blog a lot of personal stuff. Yeah, I post about my kids sometimes, but mainly I try to be entertaining and funny on the blog, or just write quick little random thoughts (although, Twitter has taken that away from my blog. Much easier to Twitter all that.) Anyhow, I just never thought anyone wanted to hear about my everyday dramaz shit...so, I made the decision to not really blog about any of that.

I have made some real friends online, and if I'm having a bad day, or whatever, I usually get emails asking about it. I'm totally fine with that. If you're openly ASKING about my shit, I'll tell you, but I won't just force it on the unsuspecting reading public.

Which is probably exactly why I've been neglecting the blog so much. If I have nothing amusing to write, I won't do it. If I'm feeling insecure and shitty about myself, then I won't have anything amusing to write. There's the rub. I've been in a bit of a downward slump as far as how I feel about myself, my writing...everything. I'd rather just read about other people's lives than bore you with my own.

So, here's the question...for those of you that like jumping into all the drama, and stirring the proverbial online pot....why? I'm not trying to be bitchy...I just honestly want to know. Maybe it's something I should do more of....I don't know. I'm an opinionated bitch in my own mind, believe me...and my brain is always going a million miles a minute about things, but I tend to monitor what I say or do very carefully. Believe me, there is an INORDINATE amount of catty stuff going on in my head that most people will never know about. Maybe that's a problem I need to address? I dunno.

I'm not trying to start a flame war, believe me. Just be honest, K?

That's it.

Forum's open. Have at it.

Bored, Ver. 2.1

The weather here is schizophrenic. Two days ago it was snowing. Today it was about 65 degrees and sunny.

My poor flowers in the front yard are so confused.

Also, change of subject, but...

I love FireFox...I really do...but, after so many years of using IE ingrained in my brain, I totally forget about the tabs in FF.

And, when I DO use them, I instantly forget they're there and move on to other things, with tabs still open in the background.

So, um...if some people are looking at their blog stats, and wondering why the hell there's an IP from Salem, OR hanging out on their blogs for HOURS....um, yeah...sorry about that.

You don't have a stalker.

I'm just an idiot.

Dear Shopper at Wal-Mart:

Maybe you should reconsider this outfit:



That is all.

Love,
Me.

MOVIES!

Got this from Hilly...and, as promised...another Meme!

* Pick 15 of your favorite movies
* Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie (or quote them from memory because you are that bad ass)
* Post them on your blog for everyone to guess
* Fill in the film title once it’s been guessed

These are your rules:
* No Googling or using IMDB search functions (Don’t cheat!)
* Leave your answer(s) in the comments

And here they are....in NO particular order...

1. "Yes! You taught me that people will do anything for a potato."

2. "There can be no victory here... why do you smile?"

3. "I can't help thinking that at some point someone is going to produce a piglet and we'll all have to chase it."

4. "Gentlemen, good luck. If you need me, I shall be in Australia."

5. "Just look at the face: it's vacant, with a hint of sadness. Like a drunk who's lost a bet." -Lucretia (aka GeekMommy)! "Shaun of the Dead"

6. "I know what you would say, and it would seem like wisdom, but for the warning in my heart."

7. "A man tells so many stories, that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal."

8. "It's the end of the month, they're out of toilet seat covers!"

9. "She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen." -Hilly! "Say Anything"

10. "Nah. The last tour I did was ten years ago. It was Aerosmith, but they've gone and cleaned up their act. It's all wheatgrass juice and fuckin' pumpkin seeds. I hope you guys are still crazy, or I'm outta here."

11. "I had two heart attacks, an abortion, did crack... while I was pregnant. Other than that, I'm fine." - Dave! "Amelie"

12. "Back when I was picking beans in Guatemala, we used to make fresh coffee, right off the trees I mean. That was good. This is shit but, hey, I'm in a police station." -Kapgar! "The Usual Suspects"

13. "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife. But after what you just said, I'm not even sure I want to be that any more." -Again, Kapgar! "The Princess Bride"

14. "I swallowed a bug."

15. "It's hell out there. Matthew's trapped with an evangelist from Minnesota."

There you have it!! Have fun!

Plea.