Roll call

If you’ve followed me since VOX, dear readers, you might remember my “Roll Call” posts.  I can’t remember if they were all titled “Roll Call”, but… that is what I will call them now.

I’m overdue for one of them.  No, it’s not where I ask “Hey, if you’re lurking, comment!”  Instead, since I’m doing a lot of commenting lately, and not so much posting of my own here.  I’ve been overwhelmed with life, and it’s been harder to get my creative juices going for Monomyth subjects.  Yet I realized I could share what blogs I’ve been following and the discussions I’ve been engaged in at those blogs.

It’s not a comprehensive list, so I hope you won’t be offended if I don’t list your blog!

Aussa Lorens is HACKER. NINJA. HOOKER. SPY.  I admit that this blog is a guilty pleasure of sorts, as it’s about equal parts dishy, dark humor, and comic disaster.  What drew me in was her thoughts on working in the psych ward, and I have first-hand experience as a patient.  Sometimes, you’ve just got to tell it like it is!  Also, she seems like a lot of red-haired women I know: memorable, personable, and NEVER dull.

Hessiafae’s blog: Aspienation is the musings of a woman concerning her dealings with Asperger’s syndrome, both in herself, and her husband, and also about other aspects of her life.  Asperger’s is now referenced by autism spectrum disorder.  I have a son with autism, so I appreciate her feedback, as well as thoughts on being an imporvished, but well-educated parent.

Rarasaur is a WordPress superstar, having been featured Freshly Pressed a number of times.  I am not sure how to sum up her awesomeness, but her contributions to geek culture is a nice start.

Consider the ways of SingingTuna: R is an old friend from the VOX blogging platform.

My kids are not yet teenagers, but C.C., a.k.a. Bizigal, has given me a lot of insight and wisdom concerning their special needs, especially in regards to their schooling.

I met Steph Rogers by way of a guest post at Rara’s blog, concerning Australian lingo.  She writes about parenthood, gay identity, and Catholic upbringing at her blog She Said What?  We have talked a lot about acceptance and people just being people: in regards to my own orientation (and my wife’s), we have experienced some of these issues, too.

Kenneth Justice is The Culture Monk.  He writes about Christianity from a perspective of social equality, compared to the perspective of harsh moral authority he has encountered.  He often notes that his musings are enhanced by a cup of coffee.  I have felt much freer to discuss religious issues at his blog– I have been reluctant previously as I have met so many that have been bitten by aforementioned attitudes of moral authority.

Christie Tate is Outlaw Mama and writes about her adventures in law school and in parenting.  I am sure there is a little bit of talk about her job now, but hey, I’m sure you all understand that moms like to talk about their kids.  As a dedicated disabled SAHD myself, that’s fine by me.  We’ve shared plenty a chuckle.

Wow.  I’m tired now, and I’m not done yet.  I will put up a Part 2 Roll Call soon!

 

Writer’s Block: Auld Lang Syne

For those who are into such things, this might be the biggest party night of the year. Other people like to keep it a little more low key. How do you plan to ring in the New Year? View other answers

First Night Tri-Cities, WA

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Writer’s Block: Untimely Passing

RIP John Lennon. The list of sudden and unexpected celebrity deaths is long—Princess Di, Heath Ledger, Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe, and many more. Which one affected you the most on an emotional level? View other answers

Jim Henson.

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Writer’s Block: Physical Education

Call it gym, P.E., recess, or pure hell, most people have participated in a class at school that focused on games and athletics. What sport or game did you hate the most when you were a kid? What sport or game was your favorite? View other answers

Time to put Ron Redden to an open shame…

<i>What sport or game did you hate the most when you were a kid?</i>

It was much less <i>what</i> I hated as to <i>whom</i> I hated.  Ron and Karen Redden ensured that I despised huge swaths of physical education throughout middle and high school.  Never mind that Ron was a much-lauded football coach, and the outdoor track at Kamiakin High School in Kennewick was rechristened with his name; he was a bit of a jerk in my book, and in my estimation, he did a piss-poor job at inspiring kids who were less than athletically gifted for lifetime physical fitness.

He retired three years ago.  Good riddance.  There is more to life than great high school sports teams.

<i>What sport or game was your favorite?</i>

I liked sports that either forced one to compete against oneself, or emphasized social aspects, like camaraderie.  For that reason, I enjoyed weight training, tae kwon do, and rugby.  My particular favorite would be the martial arts in general.

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Writer’s Block: To the Mat

If you were a superstar of professional wrestling, what would your wrestling name be? And what finishing move would you use to get to Wrestlemania? Submitted by userinfo.gif bige20 View other answers

I would be The Stealth Bomber with the amazing S.B.D. (Silent But Deadly) gas cloud!

Imported to VOX– now this is a fine example of how fun a QotD should be.

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Writer’s Block: Eat, Drink, Be Merry

Thanksgiving is almost here in the U.S., heralding the start of the holiday season and the first of many meals where you might be confronted with a traditional dish that you happen to find disgusting. What holiday food do you hate to see on the table? View other answers

I have never been fond of sweet potatoes or yams, which are actually different but seem to be regarded as almost the same in the way many people refer to them interchangeably or how they cook them (although I suspect more often than not, people use sweet potatoes).  I do not like them as they are traditionally prepared for Thanksgiving, or at least in the traditional, mainstream, W.A.S.P. manner.

We do get canned sweet potatoes from food banks this time of year, and my preference is to mix them with chicken breast chunks, brussel sprouts, and raisins in a Moroccan style.  The recipe is from Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution Cookbookw, although my use of canned sweet potatoes is definitely a deviation.

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Writer’s Block: Department of Stereotypes

One of the most popular gender stereotypes is that women ask for directions while men would rather be lost than ask for help. In your personal experience, does this stereotype hold true? View other answers

No.  The only stereotype that would hold true is that I prefer to drive rather than be a passenger, and Cimmy happens to like it that way.  I do have an expectation that the driver's side passenger help out– to look both ways at intersections, to look over maps, and things like that.  Now I would also prefer to follow a map, but I'm not above stopping and asking for directions.  Now that I think of it, I don't quite understand how the stereotype is propagated.  Is it perceived to be threatening to a man's masculinity?

Imported to VOX, because some of my Neighborhood might find it amusing.

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Writer’s Block: A Conspiracy of Beards

November is National Beard Month. Muttonchops, Van Dyke, goatee, soul patch, ZZ Top–style—tell us about your own wild and woolly facial fuzz. Even better, post a picture. Submitted by userinfo.gif cwcsonichu View other answers

classic goatee

Full beard

Currently, I am clean shaven– I shaved my head, face, and eyebrows for an Uncle Fester costume for Halloween.  The rest of the time, usually, I go from a full beard in the winter months, to a Van Dyke in the spring, and a classic goatee in the summer.  I have a beard trimmer that sees plenty of use; I found it's much better-looking to have a well-trimmed beard than to let it go all wild, wooly, and Grizzly Adams.

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Writer’s Block: Secret Crush

Everyone knows having a crush at the office or in class can make the time pass a little bit quicker. Is it better to keep your crush a secret or tell them how you feel? View other answers

Oh, my sweet little Orange Crush, you are most delicious, even though I have no office nor classes to be thinking of you.  I promise that I will be true… enough, and will not dally too much with that Sunkist, nor with that hussy Mountain Dew Livewire, although it is sometimes tempting.  I shall be thinking of your effervescent charm, although I wish you would put on some nice cane sugar instead of that skanky corn syrup.

I will sing your praises much more sonorously than that baldy Michael Stipe, for I shall always have you… in mind.  I've got you, my Orange Crush.

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Writer’s Block: Reconsidering Children’s Books

Have you ever gone back and re-read a book you loved as a child only to find it incredibly disturbing now that you're an adult? Like The Giving Tree, for example: a terrifying tale of self-sacrifice or a reassuring story of maternal love? View other answers

No.  I always found Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree macabre and disturbing, and I'm relatively sure that was his point– to be a biting commentary against abuse of natural resources.

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