iTrue Blog

Picnik is Packin' Up - Headed to Google+

2012-01-21T14:34:00.003-06:00

Previously Created through Picnik.com

Sun is going down and the mosquitoes are coming out - Time to Pack Up!
My favorite web based photo editing site is packing up its basket and folding up its blanket. At least it is a green product and will be recycling. As of April 19th this year, Picnik.com will be closing its photo editing site. Apparently, they have been working in conjunction with Google+ and moving some of their popular photo treatment effects into Google+'s Creative Kit.

They are Making it EASY!
Not only are they giving us a handy dandy tool to download all of our creations into neat zip folders onto our computers called Picnik Takeout, they also give us the option to transfer them to our Google+ accounts as well. I will be doing this in the next few weeks and am sure I will be seeing a HUGE influx of new photography swarming G+.

Money Back? Who Does that These Days?
Apparently Picnik.com does! I have had a premium membership with them for a very long while now. I am not sure when my membership runs out but apparently that doesn't matter. They are not pro-rating it. Here is what they say about refunds:

To our primo Picnik Premium members, we’ll begin processing a full refund of your current membership fee within a week of this announcement. By “full” we mean the whole darn thing. Yep, this means even if you are on your very last day of an annual membership, we will refund you the entire $24.95. Just because we want to say thanks.

All I have to say to that is - NICE JOB! This has to be one of the best transition schemes I have seen in a very long time. I think that Netflix should have talked to these guys before making the horrible turns they did with their customers. Apparently Picnik knows how to make their customers happy and keep their image good - REFUNDS!

Uncertainty Still Ahead...
Even with all of the niceties trying to ease the blow, the fact still remains that a very popular, easy, and powerful web based photo editing site is going away. It may be headed to Google+ but certainly isn't in its full form there. Also, if someone does not have a G+ account then it will seem that Picnik will be completely taken away from them. Sure, they are opening up their site with full access to all premium content until they close down in April, but after that, there will be a very large group of users that will be left waiting for the next easy-to-use, quality, inexpensive, photo editing software to pop up somewhere that is not attached to a social networking site.

I May Be Alone...
The comments at the Picnik Blog are overwhelmingly negative. The vast majority of Picnik users who have commented do not use Google+, think that Picnik sold out to Google, and are very upset that one of their favorite tools will be leaving them. I may be alone in thinking that this is the best possible alternative, but I think it is. If a business needs to do something to boost themselves in this economy, they need to find something big to ride the coat tails of. Now I don't believe that Google+ has grown or will grow to anything comparable to Facebook. However, I do believe that G+ is a very valuable and useful networking/socializing site. If they strengthen their photo editing and effects, then it will be that much more attractive to someone who has never used it. I think that this will be a win for Google+ as long as it works properly. Everyone on there is going to have fun with the effects they can apply through the technology that Picnik used so I may be alone in thinking this is a good idea but not in the G+ community.

What's YOUR Take?
I want to hear from you! Let me know what you think about this transition.

Had you ever used Picnik.com before?
Were you a premium member?
Are you a Google+ user?
Do you plan on joining Google+ because of this?
Do you think that Picnik sold out to Google?
If you used Picnik and don't plan on using Google+, do you have any other editing software or site in mind?

What's Not There When the Sun Goes Down.

Created using Google+ Creative Kit

I will miss my Picnik and am really hoping that it will not flop in Google+. I liked going to a specific site when I wanted to edit a photo or add effects to it. I didn't have to share it but I was able to share on multiple sites from that single point. Google+ gives me the ability to share to specific people, within my circles, or even to the whole public which isn't the same, but still allows control. However, the Creative Kit is still lacking in some of my favorite Picnik effects such as Selective Focus and the Frames including the vignetting and museum matting. So here we are at the end of the day. The sun has set and the car is all packed and ready for home, I just hope I don't get indigestion.

2012 - The Year of Loose Ends and iTrue Predictions

2012-01-02T20:05:00.003-06:00

The New Year Has Come and people are scrambling everywhere to see family, hang out with friends, get after-holiday specials on consumer goods, make resolutions, etc. I am not doing any of that. In fact, the only thing that I did make sure that I did was to call my fiancée and bring in the new years at least being able to see her face. Skype is a wonderful thing but can never make up for the physical presence of those you love.

What can I say about last year? It was a very bad year for many. For me, it was one more year away from Chrissy and my family. It was one more year stuck in a place that I really have no love for (not my job or who I work with, just the area). It was one more year that I couldn't get myself motivated enough to sell my house so that I can move to be closer to my family and eventually be with Chrissy in Scotland. It was one more year where I worried about the welfare and health of my parents seeing my Step-Father go into the hospital twice and spend the holidays there. It was just one more year of negativity in our nation and politics.

Petty Officers Marissa Gaeta and Citlalic Snell become

the first same-sex couple to share the US Navy's

traditional first kiss. Photograph: Handout/Reuters

However, I have to talk about the good as well. It was a good year for LGBT rights when Don't Ask Don't Tell was dismantled and the first time that a female sailor won the First Off the Ship lottery and Kissed her Girlfriend for the whole world to see! It was a year that I still have a good job that pays my bills and allows me to live my life how I see fit. It was a year that brought new friendships and maintained old ones. It was a year I was able to fly to see Chrissy and her girls in Scotland as well as fly to see my family in Wisconsin. It was a year that my health waned but got better after a few doctors visits. It was a year that I am still here to talk about so that I am thankful for.

The next year seems to be less certain. We have a Presidential Election that is gearing up for this November. The economy is still in a downturn and people are still struggling globally because of it. The politicians still don't want to play nice with each other and blame it all on the other party. The world is supposed to end on December 21 as the Mayan Calendar says it does so it must be so (insert head shake here). I still have to find a way to get my house up to par to be on the market and the guts to actually sell it, quit my job, and move back home. My car has over 165k miles on it and needs all new brakes and drums and maybe even a master cylinder. I have crazy student loan debt. And am still no closer to being with the woman I love than I was the year before.

The year of 2012 seems to be one of a lot of loose ends. Whether those ends will be completed and finally closed is something we can only speculate about. I do have hope though. I have hope that no matter what, love will still be there; love from my family, my Chrissy; love for my job and coworkers; love for myself and my life. Everything else is inconsequential and messy.

Here is my predictions for the coming year as it pertains to the rest of the world:

Obama will run against Mitt Romney for president and win but it will be a close race.
The economy will maintain its "roller coaster" strategy and not settle til 2013.
Politicians (Republicans) will stagnate and dig in their heels on important issues because of #1 and be the cause of the continuance of #2.
The world will NOT end this year or the next year just because of the Mayan Calendar (however there will be a few suicides and loonies out there that will freak out about the apocalypse).
There is a 50/50 chance of me getting my house on the market to sell since my neighbor just put hers up and because of my fears of uprooting my stability in my job.
My car will possibly make it through the year but I will get closer and closer to getting a scooter for the summer months to take the pressure off.
I will still have crazy student loan debt.
Unless something major happens, I don't see myself able to move to Scotland next year either. Something has to kick me in the ass to get me there. I would like to see Chrissy come here to visit and meet my family before the end of the year at least.

So that is it. That is my list and however flawed it may be, it is mine. I hope for the best but don't expect to get it. I know I must look at things as one small step at a time but my fiancée said recently "Lots of small steps make for a very long walk." I am willing to keep walking, however long it is. I just need a little bit of help along the way.

Should I get This?

Or This?

Maybe I should get that scooter I have been wanting.

iPhone 4S and Siri At First Activation - Wireless Syncing and Conversations

2011-10-16T00:57:00.002-05:00

Distractions Distractions! I just got my new iPhone 4S and have yet to put it down. Well, I have put it down, but not much. Right now I am sitting here typing this out on my iMac with my phone playing a mix of my shuffled music that I wirelessly synced last night as it was on my nightstand and I slept. Hold on a moment, I will ask siri to play next song because this one is a bit fast. There, Done :).

That is right, I have a wonderful relationship with my personal assistant, Siri. She is a wiz at figures and even pretty witty with some good comebacks when I ask her silly questions. She may be only in Beta, but I have a feeling she will become more interactive as people will want to have more and more conversations with her and forget to ask her to actually do anything for them. I feel bad for barking orders out to her without saying please or thank you, but that is just our nature to try and humanize machines.

I have rarely downloaded music in any of my phones in the past. I simply have not had the room to compete between having fun and cool apps or using my storage for music. Even with my Droid Eris, I had a few songs on my microSD card, but it was clunky to play and it was a pain to get the songs on the phone. With my new iPhone 4S it is insanely smooth - once I figured out where to set the settings in iTunes.

Plug in your iPhone and allow iTunes to bring it up.
Then go to the main Settings Tab and it should look just like this:

So, now that you have that, Sync Away!

Here are a few things Siri has said to me and follow this post to the bottom to see my YouTube iPhone 4S unboxing and what it looks like when you activate your Verizon Wireless iPhone 4s. I even talk to Siri a bit. Our first encounter is a fun one!

What an adorable personal assistant huh? For more crazy things people have asked Siri and what Siri has said back check out Shit that Siri Says. You will be surprised!

Amazon Kindle - Our Silk is on Fire!

2011-09-29T23:09:00.005-05:00

No, I didn't say that Amazon's sex is on fire. I said Silk. Amazon Silk is their latest and greatest in the Amazon innovation in cloud computing and it is coming soon on the Kindle Fire. Which, to me, looks pretty sexy!

Amazon has pulled no punches with a letter to its customers boldly positioned on its home page today. They practically call out the high priced iPad and the like and have thrown down the gauntlet less than a week before Apple's latest news of their iPhone 5 Launch. Read it for yourself (the links won't work since it is a photo but I will post those in the caption area.

Kindle $75 - Kindle Touch $99 - Kindle Touch 3G $149 - Kindle Fire $199

     The video mentioned at the end is all about Amazon Silk and how it is going to revolutionize virtual products and features. The cloud has never seemed so close... I can almost touch it now!

     I would love to get my hands on one of these things. The hype over the iPad is killing me and I have yet to jump on that band wagon. I do love Apple products and even own a massive Beast Master of an iMac but I have to say, Apple cannot corner all technology and if there is one thing that Amazon has done right ever since its inception, is books. Now it is just offering yet another way to get that content to us knowing that we are now, and have been, in the Digital age.

     A few facts about the Kindle Fire (I keep wanting to type the Amazon Fire though):

Display: 7" multi-touch display with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and anti-reflective treatment, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi, 16 million colors.
Storage: 8GB internal. That's enough for 80 apps, plus either 10 movies or 800 songs or 6,000 books.

Free cloud storage for all Amazon content

Battery Life: Up to 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback, with wireless off. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as web browsing and downloading content

I have to say that all sounds quite impressive.They mention a Dual Core processor but do not actually give the specifics of the power it has. However, the battery life on a touch screen of this capacity and the anti-reflective treatment is something I would definitely like to see in action. I love the basic Kindle for its E Ink technology and the fact that I can read it in any bright light condition just like a book. However, I love snaz and snap of color. Getting to watch whole movies AND, get this, if you have an Amazon Prime account you have access to over 10,000 streaming movies for FREE. It isn't much right now, but it was something I didn't realize I would get when I signed up for it. BONUS!

I am really thinking about preordering one of these babies, but I am not really a first adopter. I tend to stay on the sidelines and hear the Yays and Boos of the crowds as the new tech rolls out. If it is what they say it is though, I think that Amazon's Cloud technology might just boost the playing field for Apple to get their iCloud facility humpin' and pumpin' faster!

FFS Facebook, you are DRIVING me to Google+

2011-09-21T18:51:00.001-05:00

I logged into my Facebook today as many people did and found all these crazy changes. Firstly, I received no email explaining these changes (as this would be nice to in effect tour the new look). I found myself scrolling down the page with this strange window following me on the right. I thought it was a glitch in my browser. It creeps me out to have a window follow me down the page like that.. like OMG FRAMES. But still I digress...

I can tell you what I have been reading from quite a few of my friends' statuses:

FFS Facebook...will you stop messing around with facebook layout...I cant find anything!!!

And

wth???????? Facebook I don't like this, I see twitter becoming my new bff

And more of this here. But really, what goes on behind the minds of the creators and layout specialists they go to? I see this strange window that scrolls down the page as I scroll down it, but it is the exact same news feed as what I am looking at. Really? What is that good for? I am not complaining, I just want to know!

I recently joined Google+ and found quite a bit of potential but also one huge limitation... none of my friends had access unless I sent them an invitation. Yesterday the Google+ team finally fixed that issue and quite a few others and opened the enrollment YAY!

So I say to all of you that are frustrated with the complexity that Facebook is now suffering from, and you liked the simplicity that it used to have, give Google+ a shot. Create some Circles... throw up some Sparks to peruse. Who knows, you may even be able to join a few really cool Huddles (a feature I haven't quite had a chance to view yet).

What is there to lose? Not much for me because Facebook has already stolen it. So sit back with me. Read a few articles. Make sure you +1 what you like and comment where you want! It is a roller coaster on Facebook, so lets hit the lazy river and enjoy ourselves and keep a bit of our sanity!

Knock Castle - Stag's View Restaurant Review

2011-09-06T19:07:00.001-05:00

It was a beautiful, crisp, August afternoon. There was a bright sky in Scotland the day me and my fiance had lunch at the Stag's View Restaurant at the Knock Castle. This wee place is snuggled in the hills of the town Crieff in Perthshire, Scotland. We were both excited to be able to experience the majestic views from the outdoor seating and have a lovely lunch in one of the finer establishments in the town.

We were greeted by the front desk agent who walked us upstairs to the Stag's View and the barman there seated us outside after he took our drink orders. Chrissy chose an alcoholic ginger beer called Crabby's and I had a Bacardi and Diet. We sat and took a few photos of the view while we sipped and pondered over the menu.

We were getting the 2 course meal with a certificate that Chrissy had gotten through her work. The local taxi service Crieff Taxi, had received some free meals to allow for their employees to experience the Knock restaurant and in turn be able to promote it to their passengers. So we made our selections from the menu.

The starters all sounded lovely, but we were in the mood for a good desert. We decided on the Rib-eye steak both cooked Medium with the Potato Fondant and braised red cabbage. There was also some delightful small carrots and zucchini. Our pudding was the classic Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce and a side of home made ice cream.

The server/barman was very attentive and made us feel very comfortable when our food was ready to be served as he led us inside to our table. The service was splendid through out. However, the steaks really failed to impress.

The presentation of the food was almost off-putting. It looked like they just piled everything on top of itself.. which they actually did. Mind you, the food looked delicious, I just had to move everything around on my plate so that I could get to the potatoes and veggies underneath.

Expecting a nice juicy pink middle on our steaks, we cut into our meat. Brown, yes done all the way through. The steaks were not even near Medium anything on the scales. We would have sent them back if we were paying for the meal and if we weren't so hungry from waiting and anticipating the meal. They were juicy but not very tender. Large lines of gristle ran through mine and not marbling like a rib-eye should have.

The potatoes were cooked in a cylinder/puck shape. I am not fussy about the shape but they were very dry and had very little flavor to them. I have never had Potato Fondant before, so I have nothing to compare them to. I normally love potatoes but this was not one of those times.

The red cabbage along with the zucchini and baby carrots were seriously tasty! There was a vinaigrette sweetness to the cabbage and a real light almond or macadamia nut flavor to the carrots. The two flavors were a nice balance to each other. The zucchini was small but sliced down the center with a lovely buttery flavor. Chrissy had never really tried it before and for someone who is not up for things she THINKS she dislikes (or is anaphylactic as she puts it lol) the zucchini won her over. She was a fan of all the veggies as was I.

On to the dessert, or the pudding as they say in Scotland. Sticky Toffee Pudding is a dark spongy cake with a toffee glaze and sauce poured over it. It is served warm and usually with a side of ice cream. Their Sticky Toffee Pudding, although maybe a wee bit dry on the cake, did not disappoint in the flavor. The ice cream was a bit bland and was really drowned out by the sweet toffee of the sauce. I might have enjoyed that more with some nice fresh berries and a bit of meringue by itself, but not with a heavy Sticky Toffee Pudding. A full flavored vanilla would have been better than the light cream of the home made ice cream.

Our lunch would have normally cost us £25 and if we were paying for this meal, we would have definitely sent the steaks back. Well, I say that but again, we were very hungry and not that fussy of eaters. But, we know a good steak from a so-so steak.

All in all, the views were gorgeous, the staff was superb, the decor was cozy, the castle was amazing, the food ... not worth the price.

For a more interesting meal with amazing atmosphere and not too tight on your pocketbook, try out The Lounge located on the High Street near the town center in Crieff. All the feel of a French Cafe, nuzzled into a cozy little corner in Scotland. Bon Appétit!

Creiff Scotland, Tartans, Indians, and Chiefs - Oh My!

2011-09-05T11:11:00.005-05:00

Here is a wee bit of Scottish History for you all. This awesome man at the Crieff Visitor Center gave us a bit of insight as to the link between Native American Indians and the historical Scottish Clan Chieftains. ENJOY! *Transcript to follow video*

Historian: Hi! um as i was saying there are lots of similarities between the north american indians and the Scots and a great affinity between them. And in fact if you look at the history, ah the more modern history of North American Indians, you'll find many Scottish Cheifs.

Me: Really?

Historian: [that are] also Indian Chiefs.

Me: Wow

Historian: Which is difficult to believe but true. When I say many, probably about three or four. I'm exaggerating for effect.

Chrissy: So actually, Tony and Michelle are well matched then even though the Scots have a castle and she's got a tipi.

Historian: So after you think about how they operated, North American Indian and Scottish Highlander are amongst the most romantic historical figures ever.

Um, the interesting thing between the two is that the indians collected scalps, the scots collected heads.

Chrissy: Oh

Me: giggling

Historian: The indians were wiser, less to carry, took the scalp home. But the, but the Scots..

Chrissy: The Scots were a wee bitty greedy.

Historian: ... they had to have the head.

Me: For effect.

Chrissy: That's very interesting.

Historian: But the egalitarian attitude which the scots extended towards the North American Indians also endeared them with them because they asked if they could take the land. Not all of them, but as a whole. Whereas the English went in and took it. Well, English and other, other um, nations went in and took it.

Chrissy: Heh, the English, pfft.

Me: Mhm.

Historian: So there's some very interesting parallels there.

Me: Well there you go!

Chrissy: Thank you very much!

Contact the Scottish Tartan's Authority for more information:

Brian Wilton, DirectorScottish Tartans AuthorityMuthill Road,Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 4HOWebsite: http://www.tartansauthority.com/

Scotland the Brave

2011-08-22T08:04:00.000-05:00

Right now I am sitting on the couch as my lady is upstairs taking a nap. I really should be waking her up but I know she needs the rest. I will get her when I am done with this post if she doesn't wake up before that.

I am in Scotland and the weather is absolutely AMAZING! I do NOT miss the 100 degree weather of Louisiana, nor do I miss the stagnant ideologies of the south. I feel so much more free in the UK than anywhere I have ever felt in the US.

Yesterday, we all went to the Crief Highland Gathering. Chrissy had never been to it since she has lived here and we were all very glad we did. It was quite fun and even though we were all really worn out 4 hours later after walking home, we were happy and had enjoyed every bit of it.

Somehow we managed to find some free stuff there as well. Free cupcakes, crisps, keychains, and even some wine for Chrissy! It was one of the local realestate firm's tents. In fact, I wish I had the money to buy one of the properties in their listings right now! The company is Irving Geddes.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - USA Style!

2011-08-14T20:18:00.003-05:00

Original Lisbeth, Noomi Rapace 2009

USA Remake 2011

Seriously? The US is trying to redo the already insanely awesome movie adaptation from Stieg Larsson's first book in his Millennium Series The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? I have to say that I was not impressed at hearing this. I have not only read the book and am working on book 3, but I have watched all three of the movies that have been made from the books already, in Swedish.

Yes, this movie has been made before back in 2009, and with amazingly well done cinematic performances by Michael Nyqvist (Mikael Blomkvist) and Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander), and easy to follow subtitles. I fell deep into the twists and folds of the dramatically thrilling tale of Lisbeth's life. Her character became someone I wanted to know more about. After watching the first movie, I was drawn in so much that I bought the first two books.

Larsson portrays women as strong and independent in a world dominated by men and their ego. He gives women, namely his lead character Lisbeth, guts, courage, perseverance, elegance, intellect, and raw emotional strength. In fact, the book's title in his native language is actually Men Who Hate Women. I think the full title should be 'Men Who Hate Women - And The Women Who Kick Their Asses!'

A movie can never wholly tell the story that a book can. Also, a book inspires one's own imagination and surely an actor cannot compete with what happens in someone's mind for a character's likeness. Well, I was wrong on that. Noomi helped round out the character of Lisbeth for me and when I read the book, I could see her face and her actions. Although, in the book she seemed a bit more talkative than in the movies. Maybe it was because we could get inside her head a little more as a reader than just an observer.

Either way, I was not impressed, like I said, when I heard the US was going to get in on a remake of the book as well. There was so much in the visual grit of the Swedish version of this story that I didn't think would make it to a US film. I thought somehow they would play down the violence and rape that the story hinges on. Apparently this will not be so. They are endeavoring to make this as gruesome as the story tells it.

"That’s just not right, ... Lisbeth Salander is not about suffering! She is not Jesus! She is about vengeance!” David Fincher, the director of the American version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo said on set after seeing that the blood on the hands of the actress playing Lisbeth (Rooney Mara) looked more like a stigmata than a messy reflection of the atrocity that the blood came from. Wmagazine's Lynn Hirschberg was on set to take a behind the scenes look at the making of what MGM Studio is calling "The Feel Bad Movie of Christmas." And I am preparing to be blown away!

Fincher, who has directed other coarse and abrasive films such as Fight Club, The Panic Room, Se7en, and Zodiac, has also done The Social Network, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button that weren't so gritty but beautifully done works. With the preview trailer the studio has put out, I am really looking forward to the texture and grit of what I feel is the true atmosphere that the books and the original Swedish films portray. See for yourself:

A Submissive Wife and Faithful Hypocrite - Michelle Bachman

2011-08-12T01:08:00.001-05:00

Oh how politicians do fascinate me. I live in a world of wonder with them. Not only are they amazingly photogenic as in Michelle Bachman's recent Newsweek cover, but also in their words, or meanings of words, or turns of phrases or... well hell, you be the judge of this one:

Yes, the amazing Political work around: not EXACTLY answering the question.

Michelle, do you simply use bible statements when they are appropriate for you? Do you pick and choose things that make you look better for the public? Oh yes, of Course you DO! So, if you are a submissive wife when you succumb to the requests or suggestions of your husband about what you do with your personal career whether that was a path you sincerely wanted or not, then why did this question in the debate get the flip when it is essentially the same thing? Isn't respecting your husbands wishes in essence succumbing to them? That is submission as you so aptly put it previously. So, now we are to specifically pull this question out of biblical context and say, "Oh what I MEANT to say was... that I RESPECT my husbands wishes as he respects mine."

Isn't that the same thing? He respects you as his wife. And you respect him as your husband. But, if you were president, are you going to be asking yourself on those late night emergency meetings when something catastrophic happens, "What Would Marcus Do?" A submissive wife would do that.

Listen, I don't want to know about what you two do behind your closed bedroom doors, just like you don't want to know when I am going down on my wife (well you might as much as you hate the homosexuals in this world). However, submissive behavior is never good in a leadership role. Don't pull your "wifely duties" into this political mess that we have in our country right now. You only shame the strong wives and women out there and set the feminist movement back a hundred years.

I have created a photo that is just BEGGING to be put in the right context. I have added a caption but would LOVE to hear what you have to say. Apparently, Michelle Bachman loves to make that Newsweek Face! Here is what I thought she was thinking when posed with "What Would Marcus Do? or W.W.M.D?:

What Would Marcus Do? And, why does he get all the fun?

Aliens Leave a Hot Mess in Shreveport, LA

2011-07-15T03:28:00.002-05:00

Antares Cluster in the Scorpius Constellation

   Rampant aliens in their never ending quests to PROBE humans for scientific study, decided Wednesday to study a section of Shreveport, Louisiana in a state of heightened panic after sending a drone disguised as a child's mylar balloon to sabotage a main relay station and kill power to over 5000 homes in the South Shreveport area.
   The aliens saw this opportunity to "Hit them in the sweltering hot darkness of their own homes and neighborhoods" as stated by the head commander of the Wylkdforg Race from the Antares Cluster through a local Louisiana interpreter who requested anonymity.
   It is unknown exactly what information they were trying to gather from the city, but officials are thinking that mass sweat samples might have been one option. Locals reported a strange wind as they stepped outside their homes as they reached out to their neighbors to try and gather information on their dark residential streets.
   What will be next this summer as temperatures regularly rise above the 100 deg mark?
   In the meantime, all mylar balloons have been recalled and an official investigation of their manufacturers is underway.

Homophobia and my Experience in the USAF

2011-07-09T13:10:00.000-05:00

Reading the news today tweeted by SHE MAG from the Army Times website I felt a need to talk about an experience I had back when I was serving in the US Air Force:

"The Pentagon has ordered a halt to all separations of gay troops under “don’t ask, don’t tell” and will begin accepting applications from prospective recruits who identify themselves as homosexuals."

I was at my second duty station here at Barksdale AFB. I had to take some class after I got here that was mandatory for our training. I can't remember the exact name of it but it was something along the lines of being able to deal with differences in the people around you in the work place.

The class was held around 1995. It was just a bit after Don't Ask, Don't Tell was implemented and I am sure that it was a disguise to deal with how the airmen felt about the recent new law. Lets just say I really was not looking forward to this class because I know how outspoken I can be and seriously knew I had to keep my mouth shut. However, there was one woman there that made me just want to shake her.

I remember distinctly that the instructor asked a question: "How would you feel if you knew the person you had to work with on a daily basis was a lesbian?"

This woman raised her hand straight up and said: "I would feel very uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to work with someone that is going to be thinking what she thinks in her head. I don't want some lesbian to have those thoughts and be undressing me with her mind."

I just wanted to laugh, but I kept a straight face as the instructor asked for any responses to that and I raised my hand. I knew I had to be very non personal here and careful but I was compelled to address this ignorance.

"You say that, but doesn't it make you feel uncomfortable if a man was to do that as well?"

She replied, "No, I expect that of a man but I don't want a woman to do it. That is just ... yuck!"

"So, you have it in your head that every man in here would be thinking sexual thoughts about you and you are ok with that?" I probed.

"Well, if it is a man, that is okay."

"So some drooling, pimple ridden, poor hygiene, 400lb man can stand next to you and have those thoughts about you and you would be okay with it?" I watched for reaction.

"Well, that is just gross!" She said making a face at the thought of it.

"And, what makes you think that every man would be attracted to you enough to undress you with his eyes?" I said looking around for men's reactions. They were smiling by now since this girl was certainly no looker.

"Well, I am just saying that I wouldn't feel uncomfortable if they did." she said quickly.

"Only a hot guy though." I quipped just as she finished and continued, "So, do you think about the men you work with in that manner?"

Everyone else, including the professor was sitting back and taking this volley in, waiting for the next reaction. Some were giggling and others were shaking their heads in agreement, but it was definitely a mixed crowd between my logic and her ignorance.

"Well, no! I do not look at men like that! I work with them. My mind doesn't have time to think about sexual things when I am at work!" She said, clearly offended that I would assume such things.

"So why would you think, as a woman, that another woman that works with you automatically has thoughts like that about you? Or, that she would even be attracted to you just because you are a woman and she is a lesbian?" I had to stop here and wait so I didn't call her an ugly cow.

She was stammering for something to say as she looked a tad put off, "All I am saying is that I wouldn't want to work with a woman who is a lesbian because I wouldn't want her to think dirty thoughts about me." she finished and folded her arms even tighter around her body in her defensiveness.

"And all I am saying is that don't presume that just because she is a lesbian that she would be attracted to every woman she sees." I said, sitting back in my chair hearing the chuckles around me.

"How would YOU know then?" she retorted.

This is where I had to stop, kind of. I had to think of my next words wisely and I certainly didn't want to seem as if I were a lesbian myself,

"As I said before, how would you know if a man was staring you in your face and thinking sexual thoughts about you?" I said putting the ball back in her court.

The instructor, who had been enjoying the volley, stepped in, most likely because we weren't getting anywhere and could see me about to hit a logic circle. He didn't know what to say about the exchange other than something about how that was a great discussion, and that it is good to get all that out, or something lame and neutral as that.

Nothing came of that class. I think we did a few group activities and I tried to blend in from there on out. I still wanted to shake that woman for her ignorance, but I felt good in shining a light on it like I did. What I really wanted to say was, "Just because I am a Lesbian, doesn't mean that I would remotely be attracted to your ignorant mind and ugly soul." Because that is how women think. Lesbians don't think like men just like women don't think like men. Sure there are some women that are very butch but they are still women. There are some women who identify as men, as transgendered, and so they would think like men because they actually are men.

But, however you slice it, ignorance is a dark hollow cave that only echo's your own voice when you yell into it. Sure you can bring a torch to shed some light and try to show others the way out of the darkness, but some will always be too afraid to face it, opting instead for the darkness they have always known and feel comfortable in. If they don't know about it, it won't be there.

My Scottish Indoctrination

2011-07-03T01:45:00.000-05:00

This is why I love my wife and also Scotland. Nothin better than them trying to make me gag and surprising them.

Overwhelmed

2011-06-28T21:14:00.000-05:00

This is where I spill out onto the pixels where my head has been for the past few months. If you don't understand, don't worry. I don't follow myself half the time either.

Last few months the number one thing on my mind is selling my house. Not that I have actually been able to prepare to do that, mind you, just that it has been on my mind. I guess the biggest thing is that I don't have anyone here to really help me. I know I bought the house on my own, but getting it ready to sell is another thing.

The bathroom looks like the paint is chipping and needs to be redone. The door to the shed in the back has fallen off the hinge (rather the hinge needs to be rescrewed into the frame). The carpet could use a good replacement or a huge deep cleaning as it is 5 years old now and my consumer shampooer is really barely adequate. The bathtub drain linkage is broken and I can't get it fixed back in. I have boxes of junk I need to get rid of from when I moved into the place still. Not to mention actually contacting a realtor and getting the house seen, having to find somewhere to go with my dogs while it is being shown, etc. And that is just the house.

Next, after the house is sold, I will be in limbo for a bit. I will leave my job and move back home since it isn't feasible to rent a place with my 3 dogs and I want to go home to be with my family finally after almost 20 years. To do that I will sell my car and most of my belongings and try to travel only with my bed, a washer/dryer, my computer, my hope chest, and a few other things. I also know that I will be introducing 3 more dogs into my mother's group of chihuahuas. Even though two of mine are chis and came from her in the first place, it is still a worry how it will all play out and I don't want to be a burden at all.

Once I am home I will have to find some kind of job so that I have income and that I don't have to dip into my savings to pay my bills. Most likely, I will have to get rid of my cellphone plan and just get a cheaper stripped down phone for basic communication. I can handle that though.

While I am home I will then start the process of getting my visa application together for Scotland. This is huge... I need to know that when Chrissy and I get married she will be able to keep her council house and when I will be eligible to have their NHS(National Healthcare Service). I won't be able to work for 6 months once I am there.

Also while I am home I will need to get all of my dogs situated (actually might have to start this process soon) for their own Pet Visa. This way I don't have to quarantine them for 6 months after I move to the UK.

Now on top of that, I have student loans that I cannot pay back right now with no degree to show for it. I have an opportunity to finish my degree and defer those loans for a bit but here is the clincher... It will take me a year at least to do that. It will also take the savings that I have for the Scotland Fund. But, if I get my degree and the certifications that come along with it, I will be much more marketable as an immigrant in another country. I will have more "Points" as they say.

So, do you see where I am a bit overwhelmed with all of this? I don't know where to start. Maybe I should start by selling my iMac so I can concentrate on my house. Then sell off my guitars and maybe even my PlayStation. I know I should sell my Nikon D5000 with the 18-200mm Nikor Lens as well. eBay here I come!

Or, should I just pack the iMac up? Ohhh that is an idea. Start by packing the mac up so I don't see it and clean out that computer room first. Might be a great idea. I still have the original box so that would be no problem.

This is all so daunting. I just want to curl up into the corner and shut everything out right now. I have been working for almost 2 straight weeks and I am finally getting 2 days off starting tomorrow. I don't even get to have peace though since it is my On Call rotation right now until Friday.

If there was ever a moment in my life that I seriously wished I could just win the lottery.. even a small one, not even a million, right now would be it. In fact, after work tonight, I am headed to buy a ticket... or 10. And Friday, when I am off my On Call, I have a $20 bottle of wine with my name on it!

The World is Ending - The Political Ruin - in a Tweet

2011-06-21T20:45:00.001-05:00

When will all this stupidity end? What has happened to our world if the people in charge do not get their asses out of their heads and deal with the problems that they themselves helped to create?

I was listening to the news on the way into work today and someone on the program was talking about how the politicians know what should be done but they would never do it because it would be against their political interests so they are actually going to fight whatever it was they should be trying to fix. This message got me thinking about how people seem to be complaining that the government is too big. The Republicans complain that there is too much spending in the government and therefore it should be cut. Let me say something about those two things starting with the last one first. We cannot cut what isn't there. When programs are cut in government, a huge chunk cuts funding and help for the average worker... the everyday "Joe Plumber" if you will (forgetting about his crazy antics and tax fraud). Why cut spending when we really need to stop giving breaks to those that can afford it. I say BULLSHIT to the trickle down ideology that Regan toused at us all back in the 80s. We have seen how that doesnt work. Instead of investing those profits back into their businesses and growth, the executives are raking them in for their own personal bank accounts and purchases. It is THESE people who need to cough up some of that dough and help this country get back on its feet.

Why aren't more jobs being created? Because companies have learned that you can run people down until they either quit or accept less for more work. Why replace a vacant position when they have been able to squeeze the worker for more than they thought possible. People are so scared to lose their jobs that they put up with this. This is why also, that the big corporations want to edge out the one thing that would keep them from doing this to the workers... the unions. Non-unionized workers feel that they have no recourse. They feel that there is nothing they can do because complaining either falls on deaf ears or threatens their own jobs. Why do average people not see this? Why are people who make less that 250k a year so dang worried about a tax increase that would not effect them in the least?

Now back to the first point, big government. What exactly is big government? What constitutes a government's size? What factors determine this? Is it when things cannot get done because of the insane cravass of a line that has been drawn between our Democratic and Republican parties? Oh.. wait! That is it! It isn't big government that we have to worry about. We don't need to worry about those pesky government workers draining all of our money or putting a burdon on us by asking for fair health insurance and bargaining rights!!! It is Politics.. plain and simple. Because politics are NEVER plain and simple and this is what puts our country in a decline. It isn't our government, it is our politics. We have to remember that these two things can be separate. When one party is saying they will refuse any good thing that needs to be done simply on principle, then someone needs a good spanking. It is almost as if these people are whining babies that won't do their chores because "Johnny didn't have to so why should I?" People get so caught up in the mainstream media hype that they forget to do research of their own. They forget that sound bytes and pretty faces don't get things done, they just hold your attention... but only for as long as the byte and until someone goes out of favor or shows his own stimulus bill(Insert Weiner joke here)

New Name - Same Face - Great Ideas!

2011-06-03T17:44:00.001-05:00

I recently decided to get a few new domain names and will be affixing them to this blog. I now own http://www.itrue.us/ and http://www.itrue.co.uk/. I will be redirecting this blog to them in the near future.

I decided to finally change the name of my blog to reflect me now that I am no longer in college (wishing for the money to finish that endeavor) but still retaining my name and thoughts. Right now my focus is on saving for my big move to Scotland.
What iTrue means to me. Firstly it is my name, True. I have tried to remain true to my name (pardon the pun) all my life. I have this bad habit of being honest. I say it is bad because people really do not like hearing the truth and I can be a bit direct about it without taking feelings into account. It is a character flaw, I know, but hard to argue against because it is hard to repudiate (no Palin, it is not refudiate) the truth.

In the future of this blog I hope to talk about the things that matter most not only in my life, but in a cultural sense as well. I have a unique position where I am a Lesbian living in the deep south that was born and raised in the North. I am an Air Force veteran that has taken me throughout the US and a bit to the UK and have always held at least one job in my life. To add to my views, my fiance is from Scotland and we are working towards my move there so that we can be wed and start our lives together. With all those facets to my life, I see things from different perspectives, different regions, and even different cultures. I hope to inform the people here in the US a little more on how things work over in the UK and vise versa. We aren't as global of a country as people would like to think here in the US. Moreover, some of the news from here never makes it to the UK (ie, not many knew of Sarah Palin's newsworthy missteps during her Presidential Campaign a few years back).

So sit back, get a cuppy, and hopefully iTrue will connect with you too.

David Epstein Incest Charges: Columbia Professor Charged With Sleeping With Daughter

2010-12-11T19:52:00.001-06:00

I am not sure about the morality of it all, but it was my thought that incest was taboo and illegal specifically because of the ramifications of Inbreeding and the possibility of having children with deformities. There are many states that regard incest and even incest between adults to be illegal.

Equating a practice that can cause birth deformities to children and one that has nothing to do with having children is totally off base. What you are trying to do is to equate the ACT of homosexuality with the ACT of incest. That says to me that you have issues with homosexuality because the two are completely different.

I do agree with you on the point that there is definitely not enough information in this article to form any kind of proper debate about the specifics. However, you are not arguing specifics, you are arguing generalities. You cannot generalize a whole population of people specifically based upon your view that homosexuals are immoral. And so that says to me that you are the one with the bombastic biases.
About The Northeast
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Oh Boi has Done it AGAIN! December Issue is OUT!

2010-12-06T19:28:00.002-06:00

Oh Boi Magazine: And Another Year Ends - December Issue Oh Boi Maga...: "It's OUT!!! Well yes, we are out, but the December issue of Oh Boi Magazine is out as well! This month we have included some exciting lesbian Erotica..."

Go and see more at the Oh Boi Magazine Blog!

Oh Boi Magazine: Oh Boi We are Still Here!

2010-11-28T23:41:00.000-06:00

Oh Boi Magazine: Oh Boi We are Still Here!
Yes we are! Check out the latest blog post and hear about what we have in store for December! Well it might be a tease so be prepared!

Oh Boi Does it AGAIN!

2010-09-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

If you have NOT seen the latest issue of Oh Boi Magazine then you are totally missing out. Even if you are not a resident in the virtual world of Second Life you can experience this amazing magazine. Check out the latest blog post for Oh Boi Magazine here and get ready for loads of enjoyment!

Oh Boi Oh Boi! New Mag and Creativity!!!

2010-08-09T03:45:00.001-05:00

The owners and editor in Chief of Oh Boi Magazine, an online and virtual magazine, have hired me (aka Temoren Drathman) on as a Graphics Artist and Photographer. I came in on their 5th issue and have hopefully helped them pick up some pieces and create a more streamlined style that exemplifies a little more grit and texture... more real in a not so real Second Life world.

The magazine published it's first issue back in March of this year. It is an LGBT mag that has had a rocky beginning with many staffing changes and real world headaches even for a virtual world mag.

I am so very excited to be providing ideas, layout, content, and focus on this amazing venture and am hoping that it continues for a long time to come. The staff we have now is extremely talented individuals with great management! If you venture into SecondLife at all, are in the LGBT Community or have anything you want to contribute to us or our mag PLEASE contact me or Adri (the Editor in Chief) at AdrianneSautereau@gmail.com.

We have a blog as well :) We have some exciting things and features in the works and would like to invite you into OUR world with Oh Boi Magazine!

Here is our Latest Issue for August 2010!

Open publication - Free publishing - More second life

Scotland - Take 2

2010-06-07T20:40:00.000-05:00

A second try. Heading for Scotland a second time now but on my third time. Confused??? Yeah well just look to the wonderful volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland. Nope, I can't pronounce it either. I tried once, but failed miserably.. moving on.

This time tomorrow I will be well on my way over the Atlantic Ocean and hopefully deep in sleep. I am quite sure I will not sleep much tonight since... OMG I LEAVE TOMORROW!! Yeah, sorry about that. I tend to get these fits of exCITEment every now and then when thinking about my vacation.

This trip has actually been planned since April of this year. As I said earlier, those plans had to be sadly cancelled due to the crazy volcanic ash that shut down all of the UK and most of Europe's airports. I was to leave that very weekend.

It was a frustrating time knowing that coming back into work I had to face all the strange looks and sad faces when they realized why I was still in the US. You see, everyone knew. Just about everyone knew that I was headed out to Scotland to see my love and her girls again. They knew how excited I was and how much it meant to me to be back over there... where I feel I belong.

Chrissy and I were meant for each other, plain and simple. I have missed the UK in all its culture and history since I lived there for 4 months in 1999 when I was deployed there during the Kosevo Crisis and Operation Allied Force. I never wanted to come back home then, and now I have even more reason to make it my permanent home. I had a friend who is from Wales and now lives in Texas tell me one time, "You know people say that the grass is never greener on the other side right? Well you know what? For some people, it really is greener." The things she has found here in the US filled her up and completed her. There are trade offs in any kind of move like that, but for her it was right. I know for me, this is right as well.

Here is the hard part... the hardest thing or decision I have ever had to make in my life... Leaving the US and moving to Scotland. It is hard ONLY for three reasons. 1) The difficulties of being an immigrant and getting the proper Visa. 2) Finding a suitable job to sustain me over there (as part of the requirements for the residency). Finally and most importantly, 3) Leaving my mother.

Now, I do not even live close to my Mom right now, but just knowing that the trips will be just that much more difficult back and forth for her as she gets older and for me as well is very hard to take. Can I just pack her and her doggies up and take her with me? I would get a cot on the floor to have her living with us knowing that she was close and safe.

Okay, enough of the mushy stuff *sniff*. I am moving on to brighter things here... Our Itinerary!!!
* Day 1: Be exhausted and cuddle into my Chrissy and the girls on the couch for some rest
* Day 2: Still be exhausted while my sleep schedule evens out still cuddling with Chrissy and doing small activities with the girls.

* Day 3: Have no idea :) but loving every minute!
* Day 4: Going out to the 2nd annual Crieff Beer Festival and getting a sample of the local breweries!! Loads of fun to be had that night.
* Day 5: The Crannog Center for Potions Lotions and Incense - Celtic Plants & People YAY!
* Day 6-12: Still up in the air, but I am sure we will be golfing, touring the oldest working distillery in Scotland and eating wonderful food.
* Day 13: Back to the Crannog Center for Summer Solstice Celebrations and historical reenactments!
* Day 14: Recoup from the weeks before and have some quiet time with my lady.
* Day 15: See Day 14 ;)

So that is pretty much what we have planned. There is a lot to do there.. and we are going to have soooo much fun. It seems busy but I am sure we will have plenty of time in the second week to just be still with each other.

Oh, and um, I didn't put Day 16 there because I am trying to not think about that day. In fact, I would be quite happy if that day didn't come. Well, i would rather have that day's activities not take place. I would like to just leave my thoughts on my time there in Scotland and not on the coming home bit.

So, I send warm wishes to you and yours and will be checking in from time to time to send updates and post a few pictures. Don't expect too much, but I will definitely not leave you hanging.

Oh and by the way, if anyone knows of any jobs in the IT industry, Customer Service, or Retail, or Security ANYTHING... in or around Perth or Stirling, Scotland - hook a girl up!! I am a hard worker!

Wishing I were there already,
True

Concert Playin for my Trip!!!

2010-04-26T19:34:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, I had to cancel my whole trip to Scotland to see the love of my life because of the Ash Cloud recently. I am going to have to reschedule but it is going to cost me quite a bit more money to do so. So, I plan on playing one concert a week until I get up enough to cover the difference. So instead of Playin for my Supper, I am Playin for my Trip!!! WOOT.

Come on down to the Isle of Lesbos Mall and Bunnyarium and hang out with me and my friends for an hour! I will be playing my original music and a new cover I have been working on... something simple but sweet.

I will put the SLURL in here so Mark it on your Calendar for Tomorrow, Tuesday the 27th of April, at 2pm SLT (Eastern Time for those not familiar with Second Life).

If you do not have a Second Life account GET ONE!! http://secondlife.com If you don't want to do that, message me and I can send you the link to listen to my stream if you can't be In World at the time.

Hugs and Hope to see you all there!!!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Isle%20Of%20Lesbos2/132/128/23

Sincerely,
True aka Temoren Drathman

All Things ScentSational!

2010-03-31T23:32:00.000-05:00

Ok folks! I am on a new adventure, at least that is how I am looking at it. I am now an Escential Consultant for Scentsy Wickless Candles!! I am SOOO excited! Let me just say that I have never come across such a quality product and I did massage for over 6 years and burned LOADS of candles. I have yet to come across such a clean system, not to mention all the Smell Goods!

This product has over 80 scents to smell from. I sometimes call them flavors because they smell good enough to eat! It does not "burn" anything. It actually Warms! Doesn't that make you feel all fuzzy inside? Well it did to me since I simply hated that black soot that would cling on my drapes and hands and even in my nostrils sometimes when I would burn a candle in my home. I hated when I would spend $5-$10 on one simple candle that I had to throw away half way through because it would start getting black. I got tired of trimming wicks trying to keep that from happening and hoping that the candle would burn clean and all they way down to the bottom. Even when it did burn to the bottom, I would have such a mess to clean up to reuse the votive holder or stand etc, not to mention the fear of falling asleep with a candle going.

I know that I am not alone in that I just talked about. Well, those are worries no more for me now that I found the Scentsy Wickless System. I can't rave about this stuff enough. I think the first thing that I noticed of course was the wonderful and enveloping smell that came from our VIP area at my work. I had to find out what it was. Stepping into that office not only did I smell that wonderful smell, but I also saw this beautiful piece of ceramic pottery that it was warming in.

Through out the next few months I saw it popping up here and there and would come back to that office just to talk about the product or smell some more of the scents that were sitting out. I wanted one of my own. I couldn't wait to get one. However, I wanted more than just one of my own or to throw a party... I wanted to take a more involved part in getting this amazing product out into not only my own, but my friend's and family's lives as well . Even if they don't order from me, they will most likely be getting some Scentsy products for birthdays, holidays, or even just because as presents from me.

One of my favorite things I have experienced so far happened after I got my Consultant Starter Kit. I hadn't opened and smelled all of the testers yet because, like I said earlier, there are over 80!!! So, I took them over to a friend of mine's home and she, another friend, and I all sat around having a drink, watching some RuPaul Drag Race (hahah don't ask, it is funny and they love it :P) and we finished opening all of the packages and began smelling them all. Our faces seemed to just light up at certain points when we would get so excited smelling a smell that brought us back to moments in our lives or just hit to the core of our beings. **Inner Peace seems to do that to me by the way** We were giddy with the smells and totally forgot to grab the coffee beans to sniff. They clean the pallatte and keeps your senses from getting overloaded from scent to scent. We were just so excited! My friends were writing down their favorites and circling things in their catalogs! It was soooo fun!

I now have a website and an ongoing Online Party that I will close when I get back from my vacation to Scotland. People can order anytime from the site as well.

All I can say is that I am highly excited to see where this venture takes me and what the next Scent and Warmer of the Month will be!!! Come on inside and take a peek around. No Pressure.. no demands... no annoying sales people... only wonderful laid-back, smell-good enjoyment from here on out! And if you live in my area ask me about hosting your own Basket Party or Home Party and earn Free Stuff.. yes, FREE and Half-Price items are up for grabs.. man, just check it all out. I promise this stuff is so FUN!

Hugs and Love,
True

PS. Check this blog often as I will be posting Monthly Specials, also let me know if you want me to add your email address to my Monthly Newsletter!

My First Photography Gallery is Closing :(

2010-01-25T00:55:00.000-06:00

For all you that enjoy the world of Second life, check out my TRUE Visions Blog for more information on my Clearance sale and Buy One Get one Free Deal.

The Invention of Santa Claus

2009-12-16T19:06:00.001-06:00

I agree! When I even try to mention that Christmas (and many christian holidays) are based on or specifically around similar pagan ones or are derived from them entirely (May Day and Halloween) people tend to gasp. The next thing I ask them to do is to think about whether they ever set a date in the bible for the birth of Jesus. The lambs were lambing and the shepherds were tending them, so.... ummm that is spring if I am not mistaken... Not specifically the 25th of December.

Holidays have become so commercialized these days that people forget where our traditions come from. Heck, didn't the Puritans try to ban Christmas back in Europe before they were sent here?

So I say Happy Yule to all and Merry Christmas, and Happy Chaunukah... Or to sum it all up for everyone Happy Holidays!
About Atheist
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Annise Parker: Openly Gay Mayor Elected In Houston, Texas

2009-12-13T01:05:00.002-06:00

The most important thing to consider in this amazing moment is that the most qualified individual was elected. As it seems, people (even in Texas) have found a way to look past gender and sexuality and elect someone because she is the right person for the job.

On the GLBT front, this is a remarkable stepping stone and one which is paving the way for those that are struggling with their own sexuality. RIGHT ON Mayor Parker!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Richard Cohen: Gay-To-Straight 'Therapist' Spars With Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)

2009-12-09T02:48:00.001-06:00

I believe that there is a massive plague scourging our earth... especially the U.S. It is the plague of ignorance. It is the illness of believing everything you hear and regurgitating it as fact. It is the sick practice of judging people based upon the words of NOT JESUS, but of his MALE followers. It is the mental depression of a country that was first drawn out of its proverbial cave and now is sadly being drawn back into that cave and forgetting the wonders they once knew.

Some of us are still on the outside... and challenge you to step into the light!
About Rachel Maddow
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Richard Cohen: Gay-To-Straight 'Therapist' Spars With Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)

2009-12-09T02:18:00.001-06:00

Yes it is a choice... well for him being Straight is a choice and I have a choice as well. I can chose to be straight and unhappy and go against everything that I feel, OR I can just be who I am naturally (which is not a choice). Going against your attractions is a choice. However, you do not CHOOSE who you are attracted to.

Way to go Rachel! I love how she can totally debunk the guy and sting him with his own words... All with a smile and a "Thank you and I hope you appreciate the publicity I just gave your unfounded non-scientific false information and Treated you fairly by doing so... DUDE!!!"
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Quitting FB Apps: A Turkey Sandwich Best Served Cold

2009-12-07T21:28:00.002-06:00

So, I realized at one point as I was clicking away at mindless squares on a green field and worrying about taking my peking duck off the stove, I AM STRESSED OUT! I mean, Facebook has the market cornered on these mini-apps that hook you into hours of dribble with no real connection to anyone who is your "neighbor".

I had three different farms, a cafe, did quests and wars on Age of Castles, and denied I don't know how many attempts for me to join a mob/gang/coven in Mafia Wars or Vampire Wars. As tempting as it sounded, I didn't want to be a pirate on the high seas in Pirates (thingamajigy app name goes here). See, I can't even REMEMBER all the zaney apps that would pop up in my requests.

Anyway, I decided to start a group, Quitting FB Apps: A Turkey Sandwich Best Served Cold. I named it that because I had decided to deal my dose of revenge (a dish best served cold) by quitting Cold Turkey. Either way, I really don't forsee hurting any of these apps by doing this, but I do see them not getting my business anymore.

When my girlfriend was actually pulling her hair out worrying about her food going bad in Cafe World, I knew it was time to send her a request to my group as well. Now, I didn't expect her to quit everything but WOW She DID! I am so proud of her! Anyone who joins the group does not have to quit anything, but just know that you can do it if you want to... if you want to take your LIFE back that is. I already have an addiction to Second Life and didn't need mindless apps added to that.

I created the logo a few days ago in my Photoshop CS4. I hope that you check it out and maybe join. Tell us your stories about quitting or wanting to quit. Either way, we have a forum now :).

-True

Portia de Rossi To Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Gay Marriage Should Be Called Marriage (VIDEO)

2009-12-04T23:34:00.001-06:00

Eloquent words. Quick on the draw and fierce truth. There is nothing that can argue that different. (unless you want to look like an idiot)

GO PORTIA
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

It's a Helluva State

2009-12-04T23:13:00.001-06:00

What are they so afraid of? I mean Gay Money is still Money.. and damn there is a lot to be spent if we have our way with weddings! Move over straight weddings!!! Let a gay wedding coordinator work with all the talent rich (and some money rich as well) gay couple and we are talking REVENUUUUU!

Hugs to you Cynthia... we will get there... just hopefully in our lifetimes :-/

-True
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rachel Maddow and Frank Schaeffer take on Religious Right Threats!

2009-11-20T21:24:00.000-06:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

TRUE Visions Photography: TRUE Visions Photography Blog Launch!

2009-11-15T00:29:00.000-06:00

TRUE Visions Photography: TRUE Visions Photography Blog Launch!

TRUE Visions Photography Blog Launch!

2009-11-15T00:28:00.000-06:00

Introducing my new blog specifically for my Photography. I will be updating it with links to my photography for sale and on any upcoming events that I will be doing in Second Life. Right Now I have a sale going on at my Printroom for 10% off orders of $30 or more! Come and check it out!

Just head HERE to see the new blog!

Sincerely,
Melissa True

Benefitting from Stagnation And Mom's Healthcare Shopping

2009-10-09T21:47:00.004-05:00

“America cares about the fact that you can get all the healthcare you need as long as you don’t need any.” --Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.)

Those simple words, out of the myriad that Rep. Alan Grayson stated in his speech calling upon the democrats to stop treating Republican Senator Olympia Snowe’s opinion on healthcare like she was the president and had the veto power that goes with it, perked my tired ears up. I had to stop the video and think about that for a second. That point, those words are so true for my parents at this very moment. My step-father is just about to retire early at age 58 and apparently he and my mother are a hot commodity. Over 17 healthcare companies contacted my mother within a two week time frame vying for their “business.” SEVENTEEN companies all pushed and prodded, answered my mother’s slew of informed questions, stated their list of benefits and costs and coverage, all to win over my retiring step-father and his wife in their consumer healthcare needs.

I was kind of appalled to know this and thankful all at the same time. My parents are lucky. They are reasonably healthy and they are still young. Neither of them have major health concerns (other than my mother will need a knee replacement soon and my step-dad has high blood pressure and a history of migraines). What this means for them is that companies will compete to insure them because they are “low risk.” Actually, I see this as the fact that companies are willing to take their money every month because they are banking on them not getting majorly ill. If my parents were to have major preexisting problems this wouldn’t be the case. As it is, I am still scared that one of them could become ill and the company would drop them due to some “technicality” that wasn’t plainly laid out.

My mother simply said to me, “well, I never go to the doctor anyway and your dad doesn’t have any teeth anymore, so we won’t have to worry about much anyway.” I love my mom dearly. I love that she put all these companies on their heels answering her questions. However, it is sad that her mindset as well as thousands of American’s is the fact that they are safe because they do not need healthcare at this very moment. It is almost how we never think that anything bad is going to happen to us. It is how we think that we are invincible. I just want to take my mom up into my arms and hug her and protect her and keep her safe. In reality, that simply doesn’t work. We can never completely prepare for what could or what might happen to us. It is for this very reason that the current healthcare system does not work and a public option is emphatically required.

Like I said before, my wee ears are tired. Tired of hearing this and that about how healthcare reform is good, how it is bad, how a public option should or shouldn’t be offered. I am so weary of it all. This Florida Representative has made many speeches about the healthcare situation and when he speaks, my tiredness turns into wonder and then again anger at the opposition. I wonder how many of their families have been touched by hardship. How many of their families have had to worry if they had enough coverage? How many of their families have had healthcare bills that they couldn’t afford? Finally, I am angry in the realization that the ones hindering progress are the very ones that are benefitting from its stagnation.

Victory Chihuahuas

2009-09-06T14:05:00.002-05:00

Here is a cute photo circle for my mom and her chihuahuas. There is one of wee Zeus in there. See if you can catch him.

To see more of my Mom's Awesome Chihuahuas, go to VictoryChihuahuas.com

Bing Photo Contest Submission TOP 1000

2009-07-16T15:20:00.004-05:00

Ok everyone, somehow one of my photos that I entered in the Bing Summer Travel Photo Contest has made it into the top 1000 photographs. It is an app on Facebook SOOOO... if any of you have facebook and we are not friends you can still go and vote on my picture! Hell, send me a friend request so you can get updated on my latest works as well!Just go here and vote!

TRUE Visions Photography

2009-07-06T02:25:00.003-05:00

Yes, I have not posted ANYTHING on myspace in such a long time that I had almost forgotten how to work it.

I have been innundated with work, school, and my lovely girlfriend who I will be seeing in about 3 weeks. I even put a damn counter on my myspace page because I am such a dork.

I think one of the most exciting things to happen to me as of late is the creation of my photography site. It is simple and will be added to in the future, but it is simply SWEET!
Go and check it out http://www.truevisionsphotography.com/ and let me know exactly what you think. There is a comment box in there to contact me!

Ode To My Stalker

2009-01-08T15:32:00.002-06:00

I’ll change my number
I’ll change my screen name
I’ll change my location
I’ll play your head game

What I will not change is my devotion
To dealing back your karmic hand
Channeling all the destruction you have caused
The fear you create you may then understand

I will send you gifts
A lock of my hair, A t-shirt I have worn
Your want of them is not important
Terror in your thoughts will then be born.

You won’t know you stalked me once
A shroud of secrecy upon my lips
Lips you once wished to taste
How easily I have changed the scripts

I will cherish these moments
with me forever they will stay
Knowing all the hurt you have caused
Being afraid every single day.

Know that I come for you.
Know that I watch your every move
Know that wherever you go I’m there
Your feelings of panic you cannot remove

I will hunt you,
I will find you,
I will tear at your emotions
Until I am inside you

Fear me
Loathe me
My actions you cannot stop
You cannot control me

I stalk you now
I turned your tables times three
Upon the hurt that you projected
From your own obsession you will never be free…

It's Personal Time

2008-11-07T11:09:00.001-06:00

Ok, I have waited way too long to not post anything personal on here. I have been so wrapped up in my other blog site that I have neglected this one and for that I am deeply sorry. Not that I have many people who read this blog, but I hope to transfer some of my current MySpace readers to my Blogger.

What can I say? I have been working as usual, taking classes at Kaplan and about to finish my second quarter there. I am yet again single after a 5 month relationship that just didn't work out. I am still trudging through life, but somehow, for some reason, things seem brighter than they have been in a long time.

Brighter...
Yes, today I am sitting at my computer at the start of a three day weekend that I really have only one thing planned for, to hang out at the state fair with an old friend. Next weekend is a little different however. I will be heading to Dallas after work on Friday. Saturday it is nature walk and the Zoo with a new friend. Then that night it is a Burlesque Show with the LolliBombs!!! I am sure to have a funfilled weekend that is long overdue.

One of my bestest friends ever moved away just recently. She is now about 4 hours south of me in Lake Charles, Louisiana. What is there you say? It isn't so much what is there... it is what ISN'T there... No more Boyd Gaming for her! She was so disgruntled at Sam's Town that she decided to take a LATERAL move and 4 hours away at that, to a whole other casino! Good for her I say.

I like my job, and I like the people I work immediately for and with. However, the Boyd company is supposed to treat everyone like Family. Well, it is hard to feel like family when people are dropping out of there like flies.

Smurf Puke...
Yes you heard me right. They have decided to put in new carpeting in our meeting/conference rooms. Well, you can see for yourself. I think a smurf was high and drunk and decided to puke all over it in big turquoise circles! Look how nice and elegant the lighting is and the walls with the square lines and the ceilings are coffered and waffled with squares as well. I just want to know since when do you put wavy, circular patterns on a carpet in a room with elegant square line architecture? Hmmm. I don't think there will be another wedding here again!

Ok, I am done going off about my work place. We all have issues. Mine could definitely be a LOT worse. It is all just frustrating and I am really glad that my Muffin Tops made it out of here safely before strangling someone!

Chihuahuas...
If you didn't know already, my Mom has a new website that we spent like 5 hours building ABV Victory Chihuahuas I am so proud of her! She also has some new puppies that are still available for purchase, so if you live in the area or are planning to make a trip to Wisconsin anytime soon, Check Them Out!

I have been so busy lately that I haven't even been able to take any new pictures. I have really wanted to do that lately. I unfortunately have to wait until next weekend since I left my darn camera in Dallas LOL. But the friend that I will be hanging out with on Saturday has a new Sony DSLR and so I am all excited!!! YAY. Can I tell you how happy I am now that I am single? *Sigh of relief* It wasn't ALL bad, but there is a huge weight lifted, and when things don't work, they just don't work. Hmmph.

That is all from me for now. I will update you more after next weekend hopefully!

A Tech's Perspective: We didn't need that device

2008-09-23T19:55:00.000-05:00

Today, I had a ticket for the casino bar micros not finding the printer. I knew right away that the surveillance equipment had been unplugged or wasn't working properly so I went down there to investigate.

There was a sweaty dirty man with a ladder on each side of the bar and his equipment (a cordless drill charger and some other things plugged into a big surge protector thing). He was obviously reparing something in the ceiling above the 2nd Deck Bar area. He had his vendor badge on so I knew he wasn't an actual employee but outside maintenance. This plug for his extension cord was so big that it took up the whole faceplate leaving no room for access to the other outlet. APPARENTLY the guy thought that it would be OK to just UNPLUG what was in that wall to plug his stuff in. YUP you got that right, he just decided "I have no clue what this goes to, but I am sure they don't need it so I will just unplug it." Thank goodness it was only the surveillance device and not the whole Micros terminals (cash register) or the supervisors would really be screaming.

He somehow made it MY fault that we shouldn't have something plugged in right there that is so important anyway. I was like, well, did ya think that we just have stuff plugged into the walls that we don't really need? I mean come on... look directly down and there is an empty outlet, look around the corner, WHOA imagine that... ANOTHER empty outlet. ( I didn't say that, but I thought it). But foregoing any common sense the man chose the only outlet that had a device plugged into it, and mindlessly pulled its plug.

I didn't ask him, I TOLD him, "Sir, you are going to have to go ahead and remove what you have in that wall and plug our equipment BACK in. There are at least TWO other outlets with nothing plugged into them that you can use right here." Just... yeah... insane. I mean really, do YOU plug stuff in that you don't use? Or am I just nuts here? I wanted to just slap him up-side the back of his head and say THINK damnit THINK!

Apparently this guy (by his own admission as he was moving his plug to an EMPTY outlet) had gotten in trouble before for moving a camera in the ceiling when they were doing some work on the boat (riverboat). Now, to understand the severity of this, all you really need to know is,

it was a surveillance camera
it was a surveillance camera on a riverboat CASINO
all camera moves must be coordinated AND authorized by the Louisiana State Police
they will arrest your ass if they think you are tampering with the surveillance system!

SOMEHOW they didn't THINK about the implications of their actions. Oh wait, again, thought was required. Some days I just have to laugh to keep from ... well to keep from causing bodily harm.

Would you, Could you, leave your pets behind?

2008-08-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

A rescue helicopter hovers over you as you sit perched atop the roof of your home as flood waters lap at your feet and the spray from the wind and helicopter smashes into your face to the point you can barely see. Someone in orange latched to a rope descends towards you telling you to remain calm. Your dog of 6 years is barking and whining and you are scared for her more than for yourself.

Read the rest of this over at The Swear Jar.

I think I just wrote one of the hardest blogs ever. I had to stop in the middle of it and just cry. My whole body sobbed when writing this.

"The America We All Want"

2008-08-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

I received an email today from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). It described how Obama is the clear choice for the GLBT community. I think so to. If you want to show your support, go to HRC.org. I am hoping that the next 4 years won't be full of worries with gay marriage bans and discrimination. Things might finally be looking up for a community that has had a black cloud over its head for way too long.

P.S. Take a look at my contribution to The Swear Jar - Celebrations, Frustrtations, Postulations, and Fart Jokes.

I should be sleeping

2008-08-26T02:12:00.000-05:00

Yes, I said it! I should be in bed right now. This past weekend I have been falling asleep at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm respectfully. Now, for some reason, tonight I have this strange bout of insomnia. It may be because I am excited about this new blog collab, but it also may be because I have found a renewed interest in writing my thoughts down instead of vlogging all the time.

Don't get me wrong, I will definitely still remain vlogging, only now I will disperse my divine wisdom in multiple formats for the masses to connect to. (Did I mention I am delirious with sleep deprivation?)

The evening was full of slot machines and smoke. People were crunched in an abnormally long line waiting to receive their coveted entry into the Monday slot tournament. I stood there with my girlfriend as she and I waited for SOME kind of movement. We finally made it through and joined her Step-Mom and friend at the buffet.

Dinner was great, especially since it is free (the step-mom gets two free buffets a day because of her rewards card status) and because the food was quite fresh today. We sat after eating and just chatted about the recent Haynesville Shale discovery here in the area and killed some time before my girlfriend's round in the tournament started.

I sat at a slot machine while I watched her slap the spin button over and over. They play fun and upbeat music in that area for the tourney and so my girl was grooving in her seat to the beat! She had a smile on her face and looked to be having a good time in her 7 minutes of free slot play in hopes of placing in the tournament.

I was not doing very well sitting at the Double Diamonds penny machine. I only put in a 5 and was betting a penny per 9 lines, so I didn't really expect too much. It lasted more than the 7 minutes however.

I have won and I have lost. I have most likely lost more than I have won so why do we do it? Why do we sit down at the damn machine, KNOWING that the odds are against us the minute we do? Because that one time, just that simple one time that you decide to bet 90cents, you might win $500 or more!

Gambling is a crazy thing. I don't do it often. I probably shouldn't do it when I do, but every now and then... it is nice to walk away with over $900 in your hand after two visits to the same machine. Probably will never happen again, but then again... it is a Gamble ... right?

Something New? A Blog Collab did you say?

2008-08-24T15:54:00.000-05:00

It seems that I have not blogged on this site for almost 2 years now. I usually blog on MySpace or Vlog on YouTube. NOW I have been asked to be in a blog collaboration, if you will, with an old friend of mine that was there in the very beginning.

I will keep you up to date on where when why and how this is going to happen. Until then... THIS is your tease!!!!

Peace,
True

Time-It Lube Offense

2006-12-02T16:13:00.000-06:00

Now, I am a simple person. I have to get my oil change just like any other Joe Blow that doesn't have the time/facilities to do it themselves. Today I went to Time-It Lube to get my oil changed. The service was fine. The guy was nice. The recommendations were good. The price was reasonable as well since it is Wednesday and ladies get 15% off.

I drove home and parked in my carport and started to go through the receipt before putting it in my glove compartment. Here is where my story may sound a little whiney to you, and I do feel as if I am PMS'ing (even though I just finished.) Behind the first register receipt, stapled to the rest of my paperwork (comment card, invoice of services performed etc) there was a 3x5 card with the Time-It Lube logo on it.

TODAY
This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.

Now, there is more to this little inspirational message, however, I stopped reading right there. I don't know why, but the simple mention of "God" started my blood boiling. I thought I was just going to get my oil changed. I did not expect to be handed religious literature. I was actually quite offended.

I am not Christian, and this might explain my frustration. I do not believe in "God." Now really, this is my business only. Religion is a personal thing. It is a personal preference. It doesn't matter what I believe. It doesn't matter what anyone else believes. I just don't want to be handed a piece of paper with your beliefs on it when I am spending good money for your services. What does religion have to do with getting my oil changed? What does religion have to do with the service industry at all?

It really made me sick to my stomach. I know I live in the South, and I know that this is the Bible belt; however, it doesn't mean that I am going to spend my money at an establishment that decides that they can preach to me. If you want to give me a little card with an inspirational message on it either make it non denominational or figure out what my beliefs are before blindly handing it to me assuming that it would be appreciated.

I know I am most likely overreacting to this. I just really can't shake the fact that I am in a country that a certain majority is so blindly lead that they will let religion influence their lives to a point where they don't even question where their beliefs come from… the history of their religion.

It makes me cringe when I hear that Wal Mart is going to say Merry Christmas again because they don't feel like they have to respect other people's religion. Well, what if I were to say Happy Yule back? Would they even understand what I was saying? Would they even understand that the spirit of Christmas traditions started in Pagan religions? Would they even understand the fact that Jesus wasn't even born in December and in all likelihood was born in the spring when the lambs were lambing and the shepherds were tending to their sheep? Some people do not even know that the Puritans in Europe sought to banish Christmas because of that very thing, because it is a pagan holiday.

Anyone remember May Day? The first of May? When we would dress in pastels and tie ribbons to a pole and run around it weaving the ribbons together? This is an old Pagan ritual. It is to celebrate Beltane. Beltane is a Pagan holiday that celebrates fertility. The May Pole back then was made as a big phallic symbol of a penis. The young girls and boys of marrying age would run around it with their ribbons weaving in and out, but they would be naked and touching each other as they passed. Then when the festivities were done they would run out to the woods with the partner they had chosen and have sex. Kids who do little May Pole dances have no clue as to where this tradition came from, nor do almost all of their parents.

There is a lot that I don't know. There is a lot that people can't prove. Faith is faith. One faith is not better than another. The only time faith or religion is bad is when people abuse it by using it to do ill, or inflict suffering upon someone. In my religious beliefs there are two rules to go by:

1. And it harm none, do what thou wilt.
2. Everything you do (for good, or for ill) comes back to you 3-fold.

All I am asking is that I can go get my oil changed in peace. I am certainly not going to use the services at Time-It Lube again. I just don't understand the connection to God and getting your car serviced. Religion is man made, and so are cars. Maybe that is it?

It's Been a Long Time

2006-11-30T23:50:00.000-06:00

So, I havne't posted on this website in quite some time. I am surprised that I even still remember how to sign in. I have been caught up in the MySpace craze and if you want to check out my blog on there, feel free. www.myspace.com/melissatrue

So, I might be double posting on here and on there, but either way I am going to try and keep up with things around here.

Thanks for reading (if anyone does)

Melis

More Fireworks

2005-07-08T02:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Independence Day!

2005-07-05T02:16:00.000-05:00

This was taken with my new Motorola V551 phone! I was quite impressed!

A Matter Of Time

2005-06-29T13:11:00.000-05:00

I can honestly say that yesterday was full of craziness. I good friend of mine found herself practically homeless because her roommates decided to raise her rent an extra 50 and not give her any extra time to come up with it. Believe me, this woman has been running into roadblocks her whole life and she really didnt' need any money hungry little 21 year olds that can't keep up with their own finances (so they charge others more) bringing her down. THEN to top it all off, she caught the girl she had been seeing in a lie (she wasn't laying down in HER bed when she told my friend she was going to bed, she was at her other girlfriend's house apparently).

All this has happened only a day or so after she finds out that her mother (who is the guardian of her 14 and 12 yr olds) told the boys that she didn't want them anymore and their mom (my friend) didn't want them, so she was going to give them back to the state. Can you imagine what kind of trauma those boys must be enduring. The mental anguish alone is enough to make me cringe. The grandmother (my friend's mom Trisha) is one unstable cookie herself. The only reason the 14 yr old was born was because Trisha orchestrated the rape of her own daughter because her own tubes were tied and she wanted to have another child. So, my friend at 13 years old was raped, and had her first child at 14 because of that rape.

If it isn't one thing, it is another. I don't know what kind of lesson this is all supposed to be teaching her. Actually, if she stops looking at this as a negative thing, and turns it around into a positive, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

1.If her mom does decide to turn in the boys to the state, then my friend has a chance in getting them back (I am not even going into why the grandmother has them in the first place).
2. Because the people who she rents her little one room bungalow (in the backyard and she had to go to the main house for running water) decided to raise her rent and just basically push her out, she is now going to be staying with me in my apartment with all the running water and central air she can handle (she will have to sleep on the couch tho but I would trade that for what she had anyday AND my couch is REALLY comfy!)
3. Now she knows why the girl she was seeing would run hot and cold. Why she would be sweet to her one minute and completely rude to her the next (which my friend excused because she this girl manipulates well). She knows now that this girl isnt' worth her time.

Unfortunately it is #3 that is the most difficult for her to handle at this moment. When her heart strings are tugged like that, it is hard for her to recover. She knows that there are these positive things that will come from all the negative, but it is difficult for her to see the forest for the trees. She has a great group of friends that are rallying around her. There are plenty of support mechanisms for her to utilize. I know that, with our help, she will come out on top of all this. It is just a matter of time.

Good Times!

2005-06-27T13:01:00.000-05:00

The birthday girl in all her glory (I don't remember what she was saying here but it looks funny as hell!

Left to right: Heather, Jason, Nicole, Me, and Stevi in the front.

I just want to say that some good times were had over at althea's last friday night. I really enjoyed myself. It was good to meet some new people and laugh my ass off. I really don't know why I didn't drink. I had the perfect opportunity to get smashed... I just live 2 stairwells down from her apt. I could have litterally crawled home from there. BUT.. I think I was having too much fun laughing at all the craziness! So, CHEERS ALTHEA.. and Happy Birthday!

Appreciation for Anne

2005-06-10T03:11:00.000-05:00

A woman who was a strong actress, and who was less known than she should have been. Anne Bancroft died today at age 73 of cancer. I guess I didn't realize when I heard it on the radio today just who this was. Out of all the acting besides Demi Moore in G.I. Jane I do believe that Anne Bancroft's character was the best! She owned that bitchy politician's character! I LOVEd the interaction between her and Demi in their heated debate to get Demi's character reinstated.

I have heard of many celebrities dying. Some recently, some not. I guess her death just kind of hit me hard. I did not know half the stuff about her I know now after reading up on her since her passing. This one really saddens me.

I realized that I have actually been looking to buy a TV movie called "Homecoming" and guess who the lead in it was... Yes.. Anne Bancroft! I absolutely loved that movie. It is kind of obscure, you don't see it on the shelves anywhere. It was put out by Hallmark Entertainment. Now, unfortunately, it will be even harder to find.

Anyway, I just had to share my condolences to all who will take them and say that her death has really touched me today. I hope she is where she needs to be now.

Melis

Gratuitous Plug

2005-05-21T12:31:00.000-05:00

Ok everyone, My mom is a breeder of chihuahuas. Yes that is right... Cute cudly furry little chihuahuas. If you love them and just want to see them go to her site ABV Victory Chihuahua Kennels

If you want to browse her Kennel apparel shop go to ABV Victory Chihuahua Kennels GEAR!

AND if you are just a lover of chihuahuas this is a shop with a simple theme! I Heart Chi's - Get your chihuahua gear here!

Have fun!

Melis

My Explosion

2005-04-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

I watch your face as we kiss. The softness of your expression overwhelms my senses and makes me kiss you even harder. The heaviness of your eyes weighs on my heart causing it to feel crushed. I am crushed, I am crushed on you. Your power is flooding over me in waves of passion that have only begun to surmount my desire for you.

I am still watching you. I am watching you with a longing glance to wish you could see what I see at this very moment. I wish you could see yourself. I wish you could see that transformation in your face when we kiss passionately. The seriousness, the desire, the want in your face is so evident at this very moment as our mouths and tongues embrace. I see your brow furrow ever so slightly when I scratch my nails down your back. You moan with delight and a smile comes across those tender lips as they are still kissing mine.

I could kiss you for hours. I never want to stop. It feels way too damn good to ever want to take this pleasure away from either of us. To ever stop touching you, to ever stop kissing you. When we are apart my desire only grows. It seems to settle only for brief moments until something triggers my mind into thinking of you again, and then my desire starts to boil again.

Tender moments are shared between us over and over again. Ours is a tenderness that can only be defined in the look on your face when you are kissing me slowly and passionately. Our intimacy is so intense at times that I feel as if I will explode. I know I have, either in tears or in other ways that are unmentionable here. I explode into you; I want my explosion to surround you, to encompass you, to envelope you in its extreme heat and cleansing flame. This explosion is not a destructive one, but an optimistic one because each time we emerge from the flames it renews our sense of want for each other.

I want you. I want to hold you. I want to make love to you passionately and strongly. I want to throw you down and have my way with you knowing that you will do the same to me after I have made you scream my name. I want to be with you more and more every day. I want more and more every day. I want to know that you feel the same about me as I have stated here. I want to know that I am going in the right direction with you. I want to know that you feel this fire between us just as much as I do. I want to overwhelm you with pleasure as you have done for me. I want you to know that as long as I am with you, I am never lonely.

Melis

Horoscopes

2005-03-27T18:46:00.000-06:00

Sunday, March 27, 2005
Capricorn
Melissa,
Your current dilemma may be apparent but solving it is not necessarily easy. You know what you need in love and you know what you can give. Why is it so hard to get your needs met? Remember, Capricorn, there is a big difference between the idea of love and the reality of it. It may be easier to just enjoy your friends for a few days. Treat yourself the way you wish a lover would.

"...there is a big difference between the idea of love and the reality of it." Lets just say that I guess I do have difficulties with that sometimes. Right now I feel overwhelmed with the intensity. I have forgotten my favorite quote by W.H. Auden:

"Passion, even in it's wildest tantrums, can neither pursuade me it is love, nor make me wish it weren't"

So, why did I say the thing I said the other night? Because I felt it. It was practically pulled out of me, but that doesn't mean that I didn't mean it. I feel I said it a little prematurely. I guess I feel like I didn't want to say it just yet. I didn't. But I did say it, and I do not regret it.

This morning was rough. Actually last night I had a freaking blast! But before bed it seemed to get all messed up. I woke up in a pretty bad mood. I even had thought I should throw my walls back up, like.. what the hell am I doing. I guess I was having some doubts. I was pretty pissed. However, it all freaking melted away when she rolled over and held me. Her touch took all the negativity away. I melted under her hands. I knew that I was just being moody and that I shouldn't dwell on it all. I have let it go.

Now I am just wishing she were near to me right now. I want her here in my arms. I want to hold her body close to me and weave myself into her. I forget all my worries in that place. I feel so comfortable. I feel like I can't get close enough to her; like I can't get enough of her. I know I can't. I want more. I want to experience so many things with her. Even if that means experiencing eachother at our low points.

So, getting back to my horoscope, the reality of love, I feel, is the actions of it. I believe that you can say that you love someone all day long, but if you never show it then it is never real. I was in a 9 month relationship with someone that would tell me she loved me all the time, but never met my needs. Her actions never matched her words. Now I am with someone that meets my needs (and more) and that makes the words not necessary.

For now I am just taking it all in (good and bad) and loving every minute of it. I want more, I can never get enough. Give me more!

Melis

2005-03-26T15:00:00.000-06:00

Such a sweet photo! Me and Jennifer!

2005-03-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

Ok.. so..can i tell you ...DWAYNE ROCKS!

2005-03-26T14:58:00.001-06:00

awe.. isn't this a sweet shot... MAN that is one hottie on the right!

2005-03-26T14:58:00.000-06:00

The JAGER BOMBS!!!

2005-03-26T14:57:00.000-06:00

Little shelby seemed to be right in the middle of things...LOL

2005-03-22T19:13:00.000-06:00

Ok.. This... Is... well.. umm.. yeah Dwayne was giving the camera his model look!..LOL

2005-03-22T19:01:00.000-06:00

awe she loves my doggie.. can i tell you how great that is??? It is AWESOME!! They get along so good!

2005-03-22T19:00:00.001-06:00

Ahhh all the firends.. Leslie, Dwayne , Jennifer, And me

2005-03-22T19:00:00.000-06:00

D... runk

Today and Everyday

2005-03-20T16:38:00.000-06:00

Went over to my friend Dwayne's apartment last night. It had been a while since he and i had hung out. I missed him. He is my boy... the only guy i feel close to. He gets to hear all my intimate secrets. (well not all but a good amount)

We watched the whole first season of "Coupling." It is a british comedy.. pretty much all about sex and friends...LOL> IT is hillarious! Naughty Naughty!

We stayed up talking afterwards. Well.. It was pretty much just me talking. I had to fill him in on a few things since i hadn't really gotten the chance to talk to him in a loooong time. When we are at work together and there are no clients to take care of, we can just talk for hours... It is crazy. I love it.. I have a brother, but Dwayne is like a brother to me that I can REALLY talk to, AND who is interested in hearing about my life. He gets excited for me when I am excited about something! He says he gets to live vicariously through me. Well, he should never get bored with that then.. heheh.

So, last night was all about filling him in on J. He had heard a little about her, but there was so much more I had to tell him. He is so excited for me. He can see how happy I am right now and he loves it. He is a little envious as well. It is so cute.. he says, "Damn Melissa, Where do you find these women? You need to find me someone! You're so lucky, it seems like you found the perfect one."

I say, "Yeah. Perfect, but for one small glitch, she is moving 3 hours away at the end of summer." That is all I have to say about that. I have been in long distance relationships before. I know how they can work and how they can fail. I know that I would not have a problem with being faithful while in a relationship like that, but I have been burned very badly like that.

Then I think about how the other long distance relationships started out. I never had a chance to be with the person on a day to day basis. It was always about spending time with eachother one weekend here and a week there. They always seemed to be a fantasy world that we never had to be serious in or get really deep, or argue or see eachother on a daily basis to know how the other person REALLY was. I have never had a relationship that started off solid, real and local (so-to-speak) and then turned into long distance. I am scared. I really am. I prolly shouldn't be worrying about this right now. I guess I am not worried about it. I am just dreading it because the one thing I don't want... is to lose what I have with her right now. I could honestly see myself maintaining a long distance relationship with her. I know that she is only moving away because she HAS to to finish out school, but what happens after that? What happens in the semester or two that she is finally finished? Where will she go? Would she move back up here? She said something about her mom hooking her up with a job in the hospital or something, so she was already thinking about moving back up here.

I don't know. All I know is that I have about 4 more years to go before I can go anywhere. I have to finish out my degree and THEN i have all the freedom in the world to move where I want to. Believe me... I would move in a heartbeat if it meant 2 things, ..1 If I were to be closer to my mom, ..2 If I were to make shit loads of money in computer forensics! LOL!

None of that really matters tho if I didnt' have someone to share it with. I want to share my life with someone that wants to share theirs with me as well. I really want to share my life with J. That is how I feel right now. I guess since it is raining outside that I am getting all sentimental and shit. I don't even know how she feels about all of this. We have pretty much not discussed it, other than to say that neither one of us would do a long distance relationship again. Well, I am now realizing that, if it is good enough, I would do anything to keep this going.

I think I will end this now. I dont' want to get into trouble for getting too deep. (into trouble with myself) So... I will end this little (actually long..LOL) blog with some sexy sexy lyric by Melissa Ferrick!

Drive

if you want this
if you want this
if you want this you’re going to have to ask
nicely please
yeah if you want this
you’re going to have to ask me
you’re going to have to ask me

whatever you want
i’ll give it to you
i’ll give it to you slowly
‘till you’re just begging me to hold you
ya whatever you want
whatever you want
but you’re going to have to ask me

your mouth waters
stretched out on my bed
your fingers are trembling
and your heart is heavy and red
and your head is bent back
and your back is arched
my hand is under there
holding you up

i’ll hold you up
and drive you all night
i’ll hold you up
and drive you baby ‘till you feel the daylight
i’ll hold you up
and drive you all night
i’ll hold you up
and drive you ‘till you feel the daylight
that’s right
that’s right

in the kitchen
in the shower
and in the back seat of my car
i’ll hold you up
in your office
preferably during business hours
‘cause you know how I like it when there’s people around
and I know how you like it
yeah I know how you like it
I know how you like it when I tease you for hours

your mouth waters
stretched out on my bed
your fingers are trembling
and your heart is heavy and red
and your head is bent back
and your back is arched
and my hand is under there
holding you up

i’ll hold you up
and drive you all night
i’ll hold you up
and drive you baby ‘till you feel the daylight
i’ll hold you up
and drive you all night
i’ll hold you up
and drive you ‘till you feel the daylight
oh and this has just begun

yeah this has just begun
because we haven’t even gotten started yet
I haven’t even
I haven’t even tied you up
I haven’t even turned you over
this is where I want to live
right here between your hips
where all the love you hold and hide
it’s where it lives
right here between your hips
this is where I want to live
it’s where all the love you give exists

your mouth waters
stretched out on my bed
your fingers are trembling
and your heart is heavy and red
your head is bent back
your back is arched
my hand is under there
holding you up

i’ll hold you up
and drive you all night
i’ll hold you up
and drive you baby ‘till you feel the daylight
i’ll hold you up
and drive you all night
i’ll hold you up
and drive you baby ‘’till you feel the daylight
that’s right
yeah
that’s right
that’s right
that’s right
i’ll hold you up
that’s right
that’s right
i’ll drive you all night

Incubus

2005-03-10T20:02:00.001-06:00

This has to be shared!

MySpace.com

2005-03-10T12:12:00.000-06:00

For those of you who read my blog on here I am mainly posting on my mySpace account. I am going to give you a link to the last two blogs on there, but if you want to just read all my myspace blogs go to the link to the right of this page.

Bitter Sweet

Not Distant

Enjoy!!

Melis

Inspiration

2005-03-08T22:55:00.000-06:00

Missing you is like missing an afternoon full of wonderful breezes and warm sunbeams

Missing you is like missing that fuzzy feeling you get when remembering something wonderful and exciting

Missing you is like missing the fresh smell of clean clothes just out of the drier

Missing you is like missing the feel of fresh soft sheets on your bed

Missing you is like missing puppydog kisses with their puppydog breath

Missing you is like missing a cozy snuggle on a comfy couch in front of a good movie

Missing you is like missing when you hear a song on the radio that brings you back to good memories

Missing you is like missing your favorite soft stuffed animal from when you were a child

Missing you is like missing that first taste of an amazing desert

Missing you is like missing spooning with someone who just seems to fit

Missing you is like missing sitting in a grassy field on a blanket with a basket full of beer and great food

Missing you is like missing a good friend's advice

Missing you is like missing..... YOU!

Wild and Crazy Neighbors!

2005-03-06T11:37:00.000-06:00

The other night i went over to my new neighbor's place. The just happened to move in to the building next to mine in my apartment complex. This was the first party they had over there. Dana and Althea Rock. I put some photos up on this blog, but here is the link to my webshots to check out more of the nights festivities (click here). Also... Little miss althea had her camera out as well and even got a few shots of ME... LOL so check out Scandalthea's LiveJournal for more photos!

Laters Taters! ;-)

Melis

2005-03-06T11:36:00.000-06:00

HA... drunk asses... But a great shot!!!

2005-03-06T11:35:00.000-06:00

Melissa and Rachel... aweeeeee

2005-03-06T11:34:00.000-06:00

I said to katie and brooke... "Smile REALLY hard!" hahah

2005-03-06T11:33:00.000-06:00

Brooke getting an O'Dooles! Good stuff, also.. notice a nice democratic sticker on that fridge?

2005-03-06T11:32:00.000-06:00

This isn't my first rodeo she said...LOL Rachel trying to take photos with her phone...

2005-03-06T11:30:00.000-06:00

Althea posing in her oh so scandalthea way

2005-03-06T11:29:00.001-06:00

The infamous Scandlathea!

2005-03-06T11:29:00.000-06:00

Melissa and Rachel

Sweet Kisses To Jennifer

2005-03-04T16:55:00.000-06:00

Passion, even in its wildest tantrums, can neither persuade me it is love, nor make me wish it weren't.

Lips

2005-02-26T19:40:00.000-06:00

This is how I sooo feel right now I am so loving the newness right now!

The Touch Of Taste
The mind's in the eye where wonders glow,
And the heart's in the chest where flutters grow,
But the tongue's in the mouth where fancies do flow,
And that is a taste we all should know.

For this is a tickling, soft and true.
You cannot mistake even one subtle hue.
Taunting and tearing the tongue's sweet embrace,
Then trickling tenderly in the soft touch of taste.

Melissa A. True

Copyright ©2005 Melissa A. True

So much for substance. Let's talk about SEX!

2005-02-12T11:22:00.000-06:00

This is really how I am. It is crazy! If you ever wanted to know what I was like sexually well here is your answer! Wow!

So when is enough enough already?

2005-02-11T22:03:00.000-06:00

So.. I haven't posted anything substantial in a ... Well..I guess in quite some time. I have been pretty busy with school/work/online quizzes(apparently)/and meeting new people.

I guess you can say that I really love to meet new and interesting people. I need to feel like I am learning from everyone I meet. I thrive on new experiences.

I just took my first major math exam today. I know that there was one wrong on it. Other than that I am not sure how I did. I know I passed it. I am pretty sure I got an A. If not then it was only because of a stupid mistake. It wasn't' as difficult as I thought it was going to be... Pre-calculus algebra is only the beginning, UGH! I still have Calc 1 and Calc 2 to look forward to in my computer science degree. But, I will deal with that when it comes.

My job is still the same boring job it has always been, until someone starts stealing our tips and then denies it and goes after the one who reported her. UGH... What the hell. I don't care if you stole it. I don't care if you did it or not. Just tell me how the communication was dropped from the evening shift to the morning shift and the tip was mysteriously LOST!!! Then of course after she badgers the one who reported her (I did as well tho but the other one is weak and she is intimidated by me) She tells her that She talked to me and I said that she did give me the tip that Saturday.. HUH??? Yeah.. I am confused about that since I haven't even spoken to her about this since it happened. Wow.. Trifling bitches I tell you... I don't' care.. It was 10 bucks! But, if you add that up to 10 bucks a day for 5 days a week and in 2 weeks she has herself an extra 100 bucks free and clear. STOP THE LIES DAMNIT!

I have been having difficulties trying to figure out where I want to go for spring break. I don't' know if I am going to go anywhere. I was really thinking about going to Dallas to meet up with an old friend there. I always have a good time with Gena` She is the BOMB! But, something is calling me further south in Texas, hmmmm wonder what that could be. Never know, but a few days spent in a couple different places might be fun!

OK..I think I will just end on a quote some of you might recognize, but really inspires me sometimes.

I have never seen a wild thing feel sorry for itself. A little bird will fall dead, frozen from a bough, without ever having felt sorry for itself.
D. H. Lawrence
English novelist (1885 - 1930)

What is Snarky?

2005-02-07T13:23:00.000-06:00

I guess some of this can apply to me

2005-02-07T13:11:00.000-06:00

Only In Denmark huh...damn!

2005-02-07T00:31:00.000-06:00

THIS is the political shit that just makes my sides split. Man... This says it all!!!

My Love Profile!

2005-02-06T21:09:00.000-06:00

Right on! I seem to embody these things. I have learned to work throught the negative items, but still have to work at it sometimes. Enjoy!

Capricorn - Your Love Profile

Your positive traits:

You are serious about relationships and ready for a commitment. You tend to help your partner attain the success they dream of. You are a rock. Relationship problems don't seem to phase you.

Your negative traits:

Sometimes it's very hard for you to accept your parnter's past. You are emotionally reserved, and difficult to connect with. You expect your partner to take care of you - and may cheat if they do not

Your ideal partner:

Is incredibly powerful and well respected. Is often older than you - and could be a superior at work. Has a good amount of money... or the ability to be rich someday.

Your dating style:

Practical. A "get to know each other" coffee date is just fine by you.

Your seduction style:

Bossy - you like to be the one in charge in the bedroom. Slow and patient. You know that good sex takes time.

Calculating. You'll use sex to get ahead, if necessary.

Tips for the future:

Open up. A little emotional expression is a good thing in relationships. Leap before you look. You don't have to run a cost benefit sheet on everyone you date. Enjoy the now. No need to worry about marriage on the first few dates.

Best place to meet someone online:

eHarmony - they'll automatically match you with someone who's as driven as you are

Best color to attract mate: Dark green

Best day for a date: Saturday

Get your free love profile at Blogthings.

My Emotional Quotient

2005-02-06T20:50:00.000-06:00

Your EQ is

147

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!

51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.

71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.

91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.

111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.

131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.

150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Just Dirty! hehe

2005-02-06T13:03:00.000-06:00

Your Element Is Earth

You excel at planning and strategizing.
You could be a champ at chess or Survivor.

Well grounded, you are able to be realistic and rationalize.
On the inside, you have a hard core. It's tough to phase you.

You are super productive, and you are able to think anything through.
Focused and super charged, your instincts are a good guide for your next step.

What's Your Element?

It is a MUST that you do this!

2005-02-03T17:25:00.000-06:00

Ask me four questions. Any four, no matter how personal, private or random.

I will answer them honestly. I have to answer them all.

In turn, you post this message in your own journal and you have to answer the questions that are asked of you.

Oswego.edu

2005-02-03T16:27:00.000-06:00

Hmmmm, So I have recently been back in touch with an old friend. Well, an old ex. She is someone that I was with in the very beginning of my journey into myself and being a lesbian. I met her at Shephard AFB in Witchita Falls (sp?) Texas back in 1993 in tech school for the Air Force. She totally blew me away. I was no match for her seductive, and kwirky ways. She layed it on me hard. I could not resist her. I loved the flirting, and the kissing, and the... well.. you know.

Thinking back on that time I see how completely confusing and complicated things were for me. Not only was I fresh in the military, but I had just realized that I had feelings for my closest friend there. Val was my first girlfriend and a character. I won't go into that because that is something for a completely different post. I am talking about D. right now. Don't want to use her name to protect the innocent (haven't gotten permission to anyway). Let's just say that I was in no shape to think straight at all... well anyway you look at that term it fits..hehe.

So, in tech school on my first day we were walking down the hall and this woman stopped. This totally cute, adorable woman stopped and looked at me. I don't remember what was said, she may. I know it was probably something witty and humorous tho. But at that instant someone other than Val was on my mind. I guess you could say that she was the second woman I was ever attracted to conciously. As it turned out, however, she was the first woman to ever make me orgasm. Not the first I slept with, but ... well.. you get the idea. Things were always very affectionate with her. I think I got my first dose of pure passion with D. I kind of regret how we went our separate ways on that one.

Now, we are back in touch. It was a day about a month ago when I signed into yahoo messanger for no apparent reason and forgot that I signed up for it over 3 years ago, and had at that time found D. and added her. We talked back then, but I was in a long term relationship at the time, so.. it was kind of hard. She sounded great then! So, forgetting about all this, I see that she is online. OMG...! I send her a message, and, well.. I miss her.

I am single this time, and she is not. I am glad she has found someone to rock her world. I don't know why I was even feeling odd about it since D. and I really don't even know eachother. I don't know... Just felt weird about it. Old emotions have a way of flooding back in, and totally whiping out any reason you had to suppress them. (like cancelling on me when I had tickets to see her in germany)

I noticed that someone had checked out my blog from oswego.edu. I do believe that is the college she is attending right now. So she will most likely read this blog. D, do you ever just want to rewind time (keeping our current memory intact) to the night that we were snowed in in the hollows of WV? To when we ruined our clothes trying to get the rental car out of the mud and snow? To when things were simpler between us and there was no one else? I know.. why the hell am I thinking all this? I don't know... Just felt like putting it out there.

Truvy

I want to ask to be found but I don’t know if you’re capable of the search

2005-02-03T01:53:00.000-06:00

These words jumped out at me recently. So elequently stated. Such a profound meaning. What can you do? Only hope.

Ok.. i am very very tired.. I have a right mind to fall asleep typing this post. I am about to.. so...zzzzzzzzzzz....

Just kidding.

School is well, love is hell, I met a new friend, no story to tell,

ugh! I am so corny.. well delerious is more like it.

Ok.. promise..I will rest my head on my little pillow soon.. very soon!

Melis

Happy Bday To Me!

2005-02-01T02:17:00.000-06:00

Ok here is the MOST recent photo of me. This was taken at Superior Bar and Grill here in Shreveport, LA. This was probably after about 3 margaritas! They have the BEST in the area! Besides, it was my 31st bday! I Tried to have a good time! Read more about it in my blog titled Birthday Bitternes. I am much better now tho ;-)

All You Need Is Friends!

2005-02-01T02:14:00.000-06:00

She is going to prolly kill me for putting her photo up here, but oh well. I thought it was cute. She was sitting in front of my computer as she was fixing it. I don't know what she was laughing about, but we had a good time that day!!! Thanks again Jenny! You're a lifesaver!

2005-01-31T19:10:00.000-06:00

I am a little star struck right now. I Massaged Tia Texada (Sgt Cruiz from Third Watch) about a month ago and she actually sent this to me. It is a little hard to read so let me tell you "Melissa -- Thanks for an amazing massage. All the best to you! Tia Texada"

So What Do You Do?

2005-01-31T17:54:00.000-06:00

So, what do you do when you find something out about someone that just keeps eating away at you. You have already said you would go somewhere with them (the Cher Concert) but now you feel like backing out. I think about all the things I found out about this person and I know (after thinking about it all day) that I really don't want to put myself in that kind of situation. If I am looking for something, I am not going to find it with her.

I called her to cancel, but only got her voicemail. So, I did the cowardly thing and cancelled over voicemail. i told her to call me back if she wanted to, but I was really sorry, and didn't want to do it on her voicemail. [edit--wow I said that like 3 times.. srry :-) ]

Anyway, I am expecting a phone call this evening trying to talk me out of it, but once it is done, it is done. I am not going to hang out with someone that I feel uncomfortable with. Damn.. and Today was her birthday too.UGH.. and she was telling all her friends about how great I was. I told her.. She doesn't know me, and I dont' know her. I just need to keep my guitar in its case unless playing for a friend or someone that I REALLY like. I know I didn't have to play my guitar to impress this one, but I guess i just wanted to rub it in, THEN I find out about her past... hmmmmm didn't like that too much. Yeah.. I just don't want to deal with all that.

Ooogle Google

2005-01-29T01:53:00.000-06:00

I was just checking my stat counter and WHOA! I saw that someone googled me. Hmmm. They got to my site through the google search engine, and they were right here in louisiana! Kind of crazy, but I LOVE IT!

I just recently signed up on Livejournal.com and on Myspace.com so if you click on those you will come up with my blogs on there. I seem to be getting a lot of traffic from them...

So.. can I tell you that I am sooooo glad my computer is back up? Hehehe

Friends

2005-01-28T22:09:00.000-06:00

So, my computer is up and running again thanks to that cool little computer chickie I met recently. Props to ya there!!! Well.. it is up and running silently anyway. I seem to be having a problem with my sound card going from ME to XP. It is showing that it is there, but no sound is coming out. When I play a song on Windows Media Player it even shows the little bars going up and down to the beat, but no music. There really should be no reason for them to not work. I am not going to try and uninstall my driver and then reinstall it only to have it go crazy on me again... well.. maybe if I just do the driver it will work, instead of doing the full install... I don't know... ugh.. i really ... ReALLY want to try it, but man if I have to redo my OS again then I have to go through a 3rd time of doing all my updates and loading SP 2 for XP... awe the hell with it.. it is going to kill me until i try this simple little thing.. Ok.. I will let you all know if it turns out ok.. bye!

[hopefully not for too long]

Philosophical Drunk Hmmmm

2005-01-28T21:58:00.000-06:00

Ok... So I saw this on a friend's blog on Livejournal. I thought I would try it out. I love the litte quizes they have on there. Well, I turned out to be just like her...LOL

What Kind of Drunk Are You?
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

Computer Shit

2005-01-27T08:59:00.000-06:00

Well.. Couldn't think of a catchy title so there ya go. Hehe. Yes, my computer has decided to go on vacation for a little while. Apparently it didn't like the fact that I upgraded to XP and then tried to reinstall my sound drivers because after doing so and it freezing up and me having to do a system restore from a previous time, it only gives me a blck screen with the mouse pointer. Hmmmm. can move the pointer, but can't even do Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart it. So.......... I am frustrated.

My ex decided to throw herself at me practically the other night. Apparently she thinks that by kissing me it will make it all better and I will want to take her back a SECOND time. Nope... I held out. Even tho the only thing I had been wanting from her is some attention and affection and she was seemingly trying to give that to me (of course way too late for that). I am usually a week person. I tend to give in to someone trying to seduce me, Life is too short right? Well I knew that this person was the wrong person to allow that to. I knew it would have meant more for her than for me, and so... I did not kiss her. I had to walk away and leave her standing there because I was simply to the point that I wanted to explode!

Enough about that. I will blog more when I am not in class. I have a 9:10 computer Java Programming class (which I am in the classroom right now) so I have to take off!

ttfn

2005-01-24T15:11:00.000-06:00

here it is a littlesofter

iTrue Blog

Picnik is Packin' Up - Headed to Google+

2012 - The Year of Loose Ends and iTrue Predictions

iPhone 4S and Siri At First Activation - Wireless Syncing and Conversations

Amazon Kindle - Our Silk is on Fire!

FFS Facebook, you are DRIVING me to Google+

Knock Castle - Stag's View Restaurant Review

Creiff Scotland, Tartans, Indians, and Chiefs - Oh My!

Scotland the Brave

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - USA Style!

A Submissive Wife and Faithful Hypocrite - Michelle Bachman

Aliens Leave a Hot Mess in Shreveport, LA

Homophobia and my Experience in the USAF

My Scottish Indoctrination

Overwhelmed

The World is Ending - The Political Ruin - in a Tweet

New Name - Same Face - Great Ideas!

David Epstein Incest Charges: Columbia Professor Charged With Sleeping With Daughter

Oh Boi has Done it AGAIN! December Issue is OUT!

Oh Boi Magazine: Oh Boi We are Still Here!

Oh Boi Does it AGAIN!

Oh Boi Oh Boi! New Mag and Creativity!!!

Scotland - Take 2

**Concert** Playin for my Trip!!!

All Things ScentSational!

My First Photography Gallery is Closing :(

The Invention of Santa Claus

Annise Parker: Openly Gay Mayor Elected In Houston, Texas

Richard Cohen: Gay-To-Straight 'Therapist' Spars With Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)

Richard Cohen: Gay-To-Straight 'Therapist' Spars With Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)

Quitting FB Apps: A Turkey Sandwich Best Served Cold

Portia de Rossi To Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Gay Marriage Should Be Called Marriage (VIDEO)

It's a Helluva State

Rachel Maddow and Frank Schaeffer take on Religious Right Threats!

TRUE Visions Photography: TRUE Visions Photography Blog Launch!

TRUE Visions Photography Blog Launch!

Benefitting from Stagnation And Mom's Healthcare Shopping

Victory Chihuahuas

Bing Photo Contest Submission TOP 1000

TRUE Visions Photography

Ode To My Stalker

It's Personal Time

A Tech's Perspective: We didn't need that device

Would you, Could you, leave your pets behind?

"The America We All Want"

I should be sleeping

Something New? A Blog Collab did you say?

Time-It Lube Offense

It's Been a Long Time

More Fireworks

Happy Independence Day!

A Matter Of Time

Good Times!

Appreciation for Anne

Gratuitous Plug

My Explosion

Horoscopes

Today and Everyday

Incubus

MySpace.com

Inspiration

Wild and Crazy Neighbors!

Sweet Kisses To Jennifer

Lips

So much for substance. Let's talk about SEX!

So when is enough enough already?

What is Snarky?

My Love Profile!

Capricorn - Your Love Profile

My Emotional Quotient

Just Dirty! hehe

It is a MUST that you do this!

Oswego.edu

I want to ask to be found but I don’t know if you’re capable of the search

Happy Bday To Me!

All You Need Is Friends!

So What Do You Do?

Ooogle Google

Friends

Philosophical Drunk Hmmmm

Concert Playin for my Trip!!!