Don't worry---I promise not to dissolve into a dissertation about how women are unfairly judged on their appearance from birth 'til death. Just an interesting occurence today while during a conversation, one of my bosses (the female one) said, "I bet you were pretty," referring to "way back then," whenever that was supposed to be, and obviously commiserating in the "fact" that this was no longer the case.
Instead of coming out with the appropriate response of "I'm pretty now, bitch," I bit my tongue and gave her a quick talk about how I never defined myself by my looks, be they good or bad. Doesn't mean that I am unaware of the impact, or lack thereof, or of the views of society---just means I am so much more than that.
Not many will believe this, but where physical attributes are concerned, I never see ugly people. I see people who are considered unattractive and truly, honestly don't think that in my head. It's like thinking that there's an ugly animal, when how can any animal be ugly?? They are what they are, and humans are too. Is someone worthless because of extra pounds, a scarred body, missing or diseased parts, no hair? Do we, or all species, have a built-in barometer of like-ness that narrowly defines the parameters for living within that species' community? Sounds nazi-spooky.
I have read where albino animals are often initially ostracized and excluded, but if memory serves, they are often accepted after time. We fight against many biological urges and drives all of the time---and that's where learned behavior must kick in.
Though my mom (and dad) died in 1992, on this day that is her birthday, allow me to thank both of them for teaching me the true meaning of acceptance.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Bambi interrupted
Why are all the deer out foraging today in the mid-afternoon heat? someone asks.
Because the prairie turned a bit of a whore today in allowing a "duathlon" to trample its tender trails early in the misty morning, sending the natural inhabitants scurrying for cover. I am ashamed for those who made this decision---what part of "preserve" did they not get?
Monday, September 1, 2008
chicken wings with t & a
I once heard someone say that the true measure of equality was when a black man was allowed to fail. In other words, he could fail simply because he was just another human being, and not have it blamed on his being black.
On the same train of thought, I suppose I should look at the Republican's female veep nomination as a measure of equity in that she is just another ultra-conservative, evangelical, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps asshole, and it has nothing to do with her being female. Not.
The prevailing perception about how Democrats need to battle her "softly," because it will appear too harsh an attack on a "woman" makes me urp. It lets me know that double standards are still firmly in place, and that females remain quite willing to use whichever trait proves most expeditious (and yes I do admit that this is a response born of necessity---but may not serve us in the long run.)
On the same train of thought, I suppose I should look at the Republican's female veep nomination as a measure of equity in that she is just another ultra-conservative, evangelical, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps asshole, and it has nothing to do with her being female. Not.
The prevailing perception about how Democrats need to battle her "softly," because it will appear too harsh an attack on a "woman" makes me urp. It lets me know that double standards are still firmly in place, and that females remain quite willing to use whichever trait proves most expeditious (and yes I do admit that this is a response born of necessity---but may not serve us in the long run.)
I want to take them all home
When the latest storm lashed through the prairie, there was a little less lash and a LOT more water. Electricity went out in most of the park buildings and we closed for a couple of days. Since I am a no-work no-pay employee, I was happy to see that the old horse barn, which is half-barn, half office/storage, did have power, and I made my way there to catch up on an old filing project.
Sporadic bands of drenching rain and high winds were still bustling through, and from the safety of the stalls (horses not in there...they are safer in the pasture) I watched as a very sudden squall descended upon the cracker cattle. I thought maybe they would sit, or go under the pole barn, but the entire herd made a startling run toward the fence, their backs to the now sideways rain. I realized without the fencing, they would have made a bee-line for the wooded area at the edge of the pasture, where trees would have afforded some relief from the stinging rain. But they were stopped, and there they stood, silently enduring.
A couple of the calves sought and found protection on the leeward sides of their mothers, and I even saw several adults gather closely, shielding this one or that one. A youngster couldn't settle, looking confused--not a baby, but not experienced enough to handle it himself. I urged him forward, though he could not hear me, nor would he have understood, but he finally lined up a little better behind some adults, and stood fast.
It was over in moments, and in only a few moments more, the entire herd had moved almost out of sight to the acreage hit first by the squall. Made sense.....if the storm came from that direction, then presumably to them it was going away from there. Though there might have been one or two old enough, most of this herd had not experienced the repetition of circular bands of hurricanes.
Sporadic bands of drenching rain and high winds were still bustling through, and from the safety of the stalls (horses not in there...they are safer in the pasture) I watched as a very sudden squall descended upon the cracker cattle. I thought maybe they would sit, or go under the pole barn, but the entire herd made a startling run toward the fence, their backs to the now sideways rain. I realized without the fencing, they would have made a bee-line for the wooded area at the edge of the pasture, where trees would have afforded some relief from the stinging rain. But they were stopped, and there they stood, silently enduring.
A couple of the calves sought and found protection on the leeward sides of their mothers, and I even saw several adults gather closely, shielding this one or that one. A youngster couldn't settle, looking confused--not a baby, but not experienced enough to handle it himself. I urged him forward, though he could not hear me, nor would he have understood, but he finally lined up a little better behind some adults, and stood fast.
It was over in moments, and in only a few moments more, the entire herd had moved almost out of sight to the acreage hit first by the squall. Made sense.....if the storm came from that direction, then presumably to them it was going away from there. Though there might have been one or two old enough, most of this herd had not experienced the repetition of circular bands of hurricanes.
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