Roger Federer completed his career slam today, which was a beautiful thing to watch.  I don't know why I'm posting, except tennis has pretty much held this blog together over the last 5 years-- that and bizarre LJ prompts.  There are other things going on in my life, probably more important, but it seems like this needed commemoration.

OK-- finally something I know something about. Of course, my two favorite limericks consciously defeat the form.
This one's attributed to W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan)

There was an old man of St Bees
Who was horribly stung by a wasp.
     When they said: "Does it hurt?"
     He replied: "No, it doesn't—
It's a good job it wasn't a hornet!  And this one is from a book I just discovered (at the suggestion of a friend) "Shuffle and Breakdown," by Cody Walker:  A new class of antidepressants Is targeted at adolescents: They lose track of time, Of meter, of rhyme, It's really sad.

Escuela de Calor! 

Warning: women are treated poorly in the video.  It has nothing to do with the song itself.  If you're sensitive to images of men oppressing women, don't watch it.  Consider yourself warned.

...I didn't even know this was a thing.  Greg did this morning.  I am wearing green now.  I learned.

Yes, and yes-- and when positive, disease-curing, results prove valid, those who are opposed can choose not to participate in these procedures. The opponents can watch the ill be relieved of physical suffering and go on thinking that those who have been cured will be punished by the Lord.  Those opponents who are ill themselves or have ill family members or ill friends and will not waver in their opposition, even to save themselves or those they love, can die and watch those who are dearest to them die. It's fine.

I'm confident that many of the opponents to (embryonic) stem cell research do not understand that these embryos are created for the express purpose of in-vitro fertilization, and that not all of these embryos are implanted.  While some of these people may also be opposed to IVF, I can't name the number of holier-than-thous who can overcome their opposition to it if it means a baby for them.

This is a quote from this discussion board on religion/spirituality regarding Christianity and IVF:

"After chatting with another woman at my church who is also TTC (3 years now) she also battles the same thoughts - Christianity vs IVF. She seems to think that providing its Gods voice that your hearing when you use IVF, then it is okay."

True, there's no indication that these women would be opposed to (embryonic) stem cell research, but it demonstrates a certain self-centeredness in this view-- God is telling this woman "Well, normally, I'm absolutely ripshit about the destruction of embryos, but for you..." ?   What?

I don't believe in a talking God.  I don't believe in a God who is concerned about these matters, who makes "just this once" personal exceptions.  I do believe in a force that governs the universe, that keeps things in order, that gives and takes.  This other stuff is just self-serving crap.  A baby is not a miracle of faith.  A baby is a miracle of science.  All of our bodies are. 

And if we're talking about blocking the use of umbilical cords and foreskins, and medical waste that holds no real controversy and you're still opposed, please stop breeding.  Please.  For all of us.

No, really, I am asking.

Mine's probably the Minotaur, but it might be a Gorgon--
mostly because when Greg just said "Oh, the Gorgons," I said "OH, the Gorgons."

Go!

FIVE?  You don't know me.  Ok:

D'Aulaire's Greek Myths and Legends (My favorite book since I was 8, which is totally at my parents' house.  I need a copy here.)
The Wake Forest Book of 20th C. Irish Women's Poetry
Inferno
The Collected Works of William Shakespeare
Jane Eyre

My desert island book bag would actually be huge and hold way more than 5 books. 

Why can't we leave the house ever without the threat of poop, Ricky?  WHYYYYYYY?

Ronald Reagan.  Or spiders. 

Ok, this is like one of those fucked up "I love all my kids equally" kind of things.  Right?  I'm not answering this.  They are both special. 

IT IS THE PUPPY BOWL BECAUSE SUPER BOWL MAKES ME THINK THE BOWL MUST BE SUPER BECAUSE IT IS FULL OF FOODS, BUT IT IS NOT.  IT IS FULL OF FOOTBALL.  THE PUPPY BOWL IS NOT FULL OF FOODS EITHER BUT PUPPIES ARE GOOD.  I LOVE MATILDA BEAGLE.  I WOULD GIVE HER HALF OF MY FOODS.  NO.  JUST KIDDING.  I WOULD NOT BITE HER IF SHE TOOK MY FOODS THOUGH.

-- RICKY

Well, I don't know if I have ever done it intentionally, though I do have one of those "spoiler" t-shirts that list every spoiler ever, thanks to Maggie, but everyone knows those spoilers by now...

Also, in response to the second part of the question, YES.

When I was 10 and asked my mom who killed Laura Palmer (because Twin Peaks was just so huge, you know?  It seemed like one of those questions you just asked), she TOLD ME. 

And I never forgot.  

Bender Bending Rodriguez.  By a long shot.

Being the worst president in our history with the least regard for the principles in which this nation was founded.  NEXT?

DEGRASSI.  End. Of. Story.  Also, sadly, I am closer to 30 than 20.  This might be sad. 

Bergson's! I miss their shakes in the big wax paper cups so much. They were those sort of iconic 80s paper cups with orange and yellow flowers on them, and they smelled stongly of the waxing...I don't know why, but the packaging of food and the flavor it imparts is weirdly important to me...like how the best pizza in the world but taste faintly or cardboard, or how fried fish wrapped in paper is way better than not wrapped in paper...I'm such a weirdo.

Savory! I mean, sweet breakfast is good and nothing can scratch the waffle itch (that sounds like the unfortunate returns on a vacation in SE Asia), but savory breakfast is the most delicious.

Pancakes are okay. Bacon is the king of meats. KING OF MEATS.

Also, as an example, I am eating pizza and edamame for the first meal of this fine Sunday.

Judge if you must.

Well, I guess I don't really post here anymore. Seriously, I remember when I was posting daily, sometimes twice! I don't even know who reads it anymore.

Everything's good! I have no new ways to whine about being lonely!

Greg and I got engaged over winter break! This is an exclamation point heavy entry! We still live in Arkansas, still have a beautiful old-man beagle, and still have a guinea pig who won't let us eat salads in peace!

I'm still writing, though I've had a hard time forming ideas right now. I think my ideas are outsripping my capabilities. This semester, I'll be in a form and theory class, and that should help me articulate what I am trying to do. Nothing sounds musical enough right now. Really, I need to hear more poetry. That should help.

We're starting to get ideas for our wedding and have no idea what we're doing. I haven't been doing this in my head since I was twelve, which is a relief, because I am well away from my princess phase when forming the details.

If only I was out of my dinosaur phase! Jurassic Park 5: Jen and Greg's Wedding!

Not really. I am terrified of velociraptors.

I VOTE BEAGLE. ALL 100% BEAGLE ALL THE TIME THOUGH I THINK I AM A MIX MAYBE. DOES THE WINNER GET FOODS FOR THIS? I AM PROMISED FOODS USUALLY AND WILL GET THEM ALL FOR THE RICKY DOG.

-- RICKY

This is the first time in my voting life that my candidate's won. Even in (inexplicably) conservative Fayetteville (we'd been considered "blue" for so long-- I think the difference in this election was that all of the very conservative young students from very conservative hometowns and churches actually registered), Obama supporters outnumbered the McCain supporters at the bar where we watched the results come in, 20 to 3.

Even when the excitement dies down, remember there's still work to do. As progressive as our country has been in casting the majority of its votes for an African-American president, we've still managed to make lives more constrained for gay Americans, especially in the states of California and Arkansas. So many of my friends say that they feel like a part of the process for the first time. Keep at it.