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Post by stepper on Apr 11, 2009 2:19:31 GMT -6
Several of my friends have had tats and piercings including tongue and, well, other places. The funny thing is that I'm conservative in my views, and I don’t get it. Of course I don’t object to pierced ears, although even that seems to be going excessive with some people. Why do you need 5, 6, 7 chain and looping earrings on at the same time? To me, it’s not attractive at all. Yes I know, that’s my personal view and you can do what you want with your own body, but what’s the point? You “can” carve your name in your arm too, but being able isn’t a reason to actually do something. I don’t understand the need for some dangly thing in your bellybutton, but I’m not going to object either. The lip, cheek, eyebrow, etc., piercings are unattractive. And those stupid little studs in the nose look like a snot bubble. What kind of body image do you have if you have to poke all kinds of holes in skin to feel better about yourself? Personally, I think some of it is nothing more than a desire to be radically different and get in your face about it, but I’m hoping there’s more to it since that’d be a poor reason for what some people do to themselves. Same with tats. While some of them are okay, turning yourself into a tat canvas only qualifies you for a freak show at a circus. I’m not intolerant about all this, but like I said, I’m conservative in my views. You’re entitled to decorate yourself as you feel is appropriate; we all do it. As far as I’m concerned, taking a good thing to excess is not excessively good. What do you think about men with pierced ears, etc? Please feel free to object or express your own opinions.
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Post by katina2nd on Apr 11, 2009 20:43:16 GMT -6
I need the industrial variety to keep these puppies on a leash! I thought you were a Cat person Siren, didn't know you'd acquired some Puppies, what breed are they, and what a novel idea to keep them in a bra I must say. And those stupid little studs in the nose look like a snot bubble. Hey I'm a bit offended mate, I think my nose ring is Tres Chic. ;D If I can get serious for a moment [ can I? ] "lacing" seems to me a form of self mutilation, and I agree with you Lady P that anyone responsible for allowing or doing it to a fifteen year old should face some sort of charges. Maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy but enough is enough, especially when it comes to minors.
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Post by stepper on Apr 11, 2009 21:01:11 GMT -6
Dictionary time..flip..flip...flip..Tres - three....flip..flip...flip..Chic - short for a chicken, a baby chicken, slang: a girl, or, an abreviation for Chicklet chewing gum.....Hmmm. So, you have 3 chewing gums? Just pulling your nose ring, er, chain mate! Gently of course.
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Post by katina2nd on Apr 11, 2009 21:10:00 GMT -6
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Post by stepper on Apr 14, 2009 23:33:04 GMT -6
By coincidence, I got an email at work that applies here. It shows a girls face close up from just below the eyes to just under her chin. She has two studded diamonds, one under each eye about half way down towards her upper lip. Her mouth is open and she is sticking out her tongue which is literally split in half, and the split tongue is studded to resemble a gold zipper. I don't mean a couple of zipper clips on each side of the split, I mean numerous large, heavy jacket sized, pieces. And yes, way back but still visible is a thing that looks like the the joiner, or what ever it's called, that is used to zip the sides together. I can not understand why anyone would do this to themselves.
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Post by Phalon on Apr 15, 2009 6:19:14 GMT -6
Ick, Stepper. That's an e-mail I hope doesn't make the rounds and end up in my in-box. I'm getting grossed out just imagining it.
Pull up your rocking chair next to mine, Katina. I'll make a cup of tea for you while you grab my knitted shawl from the closet. Then we can settle in and watch reruns of "Leave It To Beaver" together. Wake me up when it's over, cuz I'll probably fall asleep half-way through.
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Post by Siren on Apr 15, 2009 7:07:11 GMT -6
Is there room for another rocking chair? And a few "Carol Burnett" re-runs, please. Remember that skit on Carol's show where she and Harvey were an old couple in rocking chairs? He'd reach over and grab her knee? Lol!
At any rate, I'm a fuddy-duddy, too. My pet peeve is provocative clothing on young girls. I wonder who first thought it was a good idea to print a word across the seat of a young girl's pants? Perhaps the same person who tarted-up the Bratz dolls?
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Post by stepper on Apr 18, 2009 1:57:38 GMT -6
The Carol Burnett Show was great. Watching Tim Conway and Harvey Corman was always fun. I loved the "Mama Family" skit where Tim went on this tangent talking about elephants stuck together at the trunk! And of course, the Dentist skit is great too. Is the idea that Barbie wasn't enough so now they have to dress up the living dolls? I don't get it either Siren.
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Post by Phalon on May 1, 2009 21:56:58 GMT -6
Remember this?
The magazine went out of publication since my article was printed; the issue my article was in was their last. Coincidence? Ha! I wonder. Was it that bad?
But the article lives on.....
My A-cups are to make a public appearance. ACK! The small writer's group I belong to is going to perform live at the book shop here in town. (eye-roll) I was safe, though! It was scheduled for a Saturday afternoon, and I work Saturday afternoons. Because of this, I only attend the group meetings during the winter when the nursery's closed. I lucked out, I thought - the appearance is in May; no way I could get off a Saturday in May, one of our busiest months.
But, feeling bad I could not attend, they rescheduled to accommodate my work schedule, and now the performance is to be in the evening instead of the afternoon. Damn, damn, damn. And they voted, (while I was not present), that I should read my "bra story", and that I should go first to start off the night in a humorous tone. (I'm thinking I should have been present at this meeting.) You all know by now how much I hate, hate, hate to get up and speak in front of a group. It's by far my biggest phobia. Not to mention all eyes will be on me.....and probably my A-cups. Even the local newspaper will be there. I can only imagine the headlines.
I'm doomed.
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Post by katina2nd on May 1, 2009 22:16:44 GMT -6
Come on, chin up, shoulders back and chest out Lady P, I'm sure you'll dazzle em.
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Post by Phalon on May 1, 2009 22:25:27 GMT -6
I shall try to appear brave, Katina. I fear it's all a front though....but hopefully, the support will be there for an uplifting (and separating) experience.
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Post by katina2nd on May 1, 2009 22:30:17 GMT -6
Your cup runneth over with support from yours truly Lady P.
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Post by stepper on May 1, 2009 23:11:25 GMT -6
Wish I could be to to cheer you on...from the back of the crowd of course. But, I'll be there in spirit!
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Post by quettalee on May 2, 2009 9:23:22 GMT -6
I think the occasion definitely warrants a pretty new A-cupper for the distinguished speaker. I know my girls always feel a certain spiritual uplifting when they get a new "ride".
Yep. I think it's just what you need to take care of that stage fright. (Which I don't really believe you have. Methinks it's just a plot--kinda like the "I don't cook" line--and used strategically to get out of said situations.)
In other words, I'm proud of you, sis, and know in my heart that at the end of the night all the girls will walk away riding high on your performance!
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Post by Phalon on May 3, 2009 7:45:08 GMT -6
Nope, TG, there's no plot involved here, (kinda like my article). It's for real - I'm glossophobic; I suffer from the fear of public speaking. It's not just nervousness; it's a near panic I work myself into before getting up in front of a crowd.
It's gotten better over the last few years, probably because I voluntarily force myself into situations where I know I'll have to speak. (It's the reason I joined this writer's group a couple of years ago actually - the ad in the paper stated the basis of the group was to share your work with others.) I figured by forcing myself to do it, I'd be more comfortable when I had to do it - like giving classes at the nursery.
I've got two weeks left to work myself into a state of basket-caseism before the "big night".
Dang, I hope so. Can you imagine what would happen if one of those girls decided to ride shotgun? Maybe I should get a push-up to keep 'em riding high. Much better than a low-rider.
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Post by stepper on May 3, 2009 15:35:54 GMT -6
I went back and read the original post that started this line. What a strange thought...responsible parenting...teaching children that who they are is more important than what they look like, or even more importantly, what someone else thinks they should look like. When you read your article, remember that you aren't faced with "public speaking". You're talking to a slightly larger group of scouts who are already friends and really do want to hear what you have to say. You are doing them a favor, they know it, and there is no rejection - they want you there. Really.
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Post by Phalon on May 6, 2009 6:47:51 GMT -6
Thanks for your vote of confidence, Stepper. Sheesh, with all this support from you guys, I won't need to wear a bra. Uhm....no, I need to appear perky....in attitude, anyway.
But the article - I keep calling it that, but it's really more of a personal essay - is about nothing as honorable as responsible parenting. It's purely fluff - a humorous look at shopping for that perfect bra.
And bit more stress has been added to my A-cup which runneth over....I can't find the original piece! I edited heavily to meet the magazine's word limit, and they edited a bit further to "get it by the censors", (imagine what you can do with a little bit of breast and some bad puns). I want it the way it was - that's the one I read previously for the writer's group, and the piece I want for the performance.
Live and learn - I shall not edit without first saving a copy of the original.
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Post by Mini Mia on May 7, 2009 0:02:37 GMT -6
Yeppers, Gams ... I too wish I had saved each version of drafts when I first started, but didn't. Thankfully, though, I usually print out each draft, (major rewrite mostly), so I do have them in hardcopy. Now I add the the date to the title:
Misery 09 05-07 Title YY MM-DD
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Post by stepper on May 7, 2009 21:17:24 GMT -6
I stand by the statement Phalon. They want you there. They want to know they aren't alone questing for something between the Grand Canyon and a belt. Back ups? Did you email copies to anyone? Your out box or their in box? Do you do point-in-time back ups of your system? Do you have a disk where you intended to mail it and didn't quite get around to it? Did friends or relatives purchase a copy of the rag, er, magazine with your article? And with that, I'm out of ideas for the moment.
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Post by Phalon on May 17, 2009 8:46:15 GMT -6
Last night I bared my bra in public; it was the night of the "performance". I was there on time, fully-dressed, and had in my hands what I intended to read instead of BP's math homework - things couldn't possibly go worse than the nightmare I'd had earlier in the week which contained, (but was not limited to), all of the fore-mentioned mishaps.
No, to all of the above, Stepper, (I have a copy of the rag, er, magazine, but it's the edited version). Or at least I thought not. After the program, a few people in the group asked if I'd changed the story - 'you left out the part where....'. I couldn't believe anyone remembered; heck, I wrote the thing, and I couldn't remember. I had tried, but I couldn't get it back to its original form. Then someone mentioned they requested a copy when I first read it over a year ago, and she saved it. Drat, I had forgotten that too.
But the reading went very well; people actually laughed in all the right parts - strange to me when my weird sense of humor is actually funny to normal people. The audience contained only about fifteen or so strangers; the rest of the people I knew and was comfortable with - including LX and her friend, who were my metaphorically-speaking bra, there for support.
I was proud of them both. LX asked if she could come, but I figured they'd be bored to tears listening to two hours of older people talk about life stories. At nearly forty-five, I am by about ten years the youngest in the group - most are in their sixties, and one of the writers is close to ninety. I guessed two thirteen year-olds wouldn't relate to anything being read. I was wrong. I was honestly surprised at how attentive they were, and at the comments and questions they had that showed they were truly listening to what was being read. Many of the comments from the readers at the "after the performance" party, expressed the same: the girls were being "watched" by others, and the watchers had notions of prejudgement based on, not only their age, but how the girls look.
This thread started with LX, (my, how she has grown since then!). It started because too often people are judged by their appearance, and not what is inside. LX and her friend are "Scene", (see hair thread to follow for explanation). They have a look that causes people to prejudge. It's their statement of individuality.
"Mom, you've always said you love my individuality. Everyone at school looks the same - same clothes, same hair, same everything. I'm unique - you've always told me that too. This is my way of expressing it."
How can I argue with that? A book should not be judged by it's cover; a woman by the size of her chest.....and a teenager not by the freakish style of her hair. LMAO....OMG, I wish you all could see it.
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Post by quettalee on May 17, 2009 9:20:49 GMT -6
And here come my morning smiles, sis. I'm proud of you and LX and I know you're just proud that it's over. Summer is like LX--and Mare always encouraged both of them to explore their individuality. Summer loves attention and loves living outside the box to solidify her spot at center stage. In her earlier years, it was eating dandelions out of the yard. She finally moved on to being content to eat any and all vegetables, dry Raman noodles, and frozen chunks of any fruit (except bananas, of which she has never liked) when all the other kids would turn up their noses. Then it was coloring her hair. She never wanted a short, spikey, uneven, or otherwise different cut, but I think we had tips and streaks in red, purple, and green before that stage ended--not all three at the same time. Now, it's just chains hanging here and there, "cool" belt buckles, and lots of jewelry. I finally gave her my class ring and she wears that all the time, but the rest changes daily. She still wants her belly pierced, but that must wait until she's 18. Hill always wants to look just like everyone else and keep a low profile.
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Post by Siren on May 17, 2009 9:34:10 GMT -6
Yay for you, Gams! Congrats on the writing, the performance, and the positive response you got. Clearly, the piece made a big impression on your audience, or they wouldn't have remembered the earlier version. Well done!
TG, I wore my mom's class ring, back in the day. It started with wearing it for '50s Day at school (my mom and dad were Class of '55). I wore it along with her letter jacket, one of my dad's white dress shirts, jeans and saddle shoes. Wore the jacket from then 'til I earned my own. But the ring remained. Wore it for years and years, 'til I started wearing silver jewelry exclusively. Honestly, I don't know where that ring is now. I'm afraid I lost it in a move. I hope, hope, hope it turns up one day. My mom says I wore it more than she ever did.
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Post by stepper on May 17, 2009 20:36:10 GMT -6
I enjoy reading your posts. Guess I'm strange too. Congratulations on a successful reading! Just to ask, did you get a copy from the someone who got a copy of the original?
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