A Most Interesting Case...

Videos, mostly of our furkids

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:06:58 GMT

The other day when I was looking through our digital camera trying to get the pictures off that I needed, I discovered that there was a short video clip of our new puppy, Grissel, at six weeks of age that was accidentally taken when we were visiting her and trying to take pictures. Then last night archangelq started by doing an update on the puppy on video, then went crazy with the camera. So, here are the clips that we made last night for your enjoyment or something:

Grissel, 6 weeks (video keeps randomly being unavailable)

Grissel, 13.5 weeks

Bastien, 8 years, terrified of puppy

Bastien, 8 years, purring like a mad man

Ada, 11 years, about to kill puppy

archangelq and I, May 2008, WARNING: Much with the sappiness ahead

Iron Man

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:24:20 GMT

So, we went to see Iron Man this weekend. It was definitely a good movie, very engaging, and from what I hear (not being a big comic book geek myself) it was fairly true to the character of Tony Stark. I really wish that they would have gone a little deeper with some of the characters and explored Stark's emotional journey a little more, and I do have to say that I am really sick of Middle Eastern people being the default villain in many popular movies these days. Because of these few things it comes off as a little "yay America" which I think we all are little sensitive to right now. I am certainly proud to be an American person, but I am not proud of how our country is presenting itself to the world right now and it is certainly nothing to dramatize as a cool thing. However, it was certainly not the worst movie that I have ever seen by a long ways in any regard. The costumes and technology looked amazing, and the art and character design was very well done. We had a lot of fun, it got my husband talking a lot about comic book characters and how they relate to pretty much everything. We went to dinner afterwards at our favorite Italian restaurant and sat talking for quite a while. I am looking forward to the rest of the Avenger series of movies, as well as the upcoming Batman movies!

Our cats

Sun, 11 May 2008 23:05:08 GMT

P9020039
Originally uploaded by msjennylin

I love how our little calico queen, Ada, always looks very put out when our sweet but ambitious big orange furball boy, Bastien, tries to be friendly. This is her "please get it away from me" look. Poor guy just wants some snuggles!

Yesterday

Sat, 10 May 2008 22:36:21 GMT

After over a month of being away from the gym, I finally got back to working out yesterday! I am, of course, feeling sore today but it is a good sore. It was definitely not easy to get back though. I kept setting aside time, and then making excuses all week even though I had reliable attendant care and all of the health concerns that had been holding me back were no longer relevant. I just needed to get off my butt and go! And go I did. I was so sore after the first set that I could barely lift my arm to drive my chair to finish out my routine, even though I was taking it easy. I nearly drove myself into the machine. *laugh* Losing that much strength is definitely not good! No wonder I've been having a hard time moving and breathing in the last week or so even though I have lost a lot of weight. *laugh*

After I got back from the gym and ran through the shower, archangelq and I went out for a long walk through the park with the puppy in tow. It was her first time going through the park, and she had to smell every plant and meet every person. I imagine it was something like having lived in a gray box your whole life then coming out in to a brightly colored world. It was probably very overstimulating, but other than making archangelq's arm sore she did really well! We even decided to continue walking over to the Hawaiian restaurant near us that we thought had an outside table to get dinner. They had actually gotten rid of all their outside tables unfortunately, but we persuaded them to drag one of their tables outside so that we could sit there with the puppy. Then of course everyone passing had to say hello to the cute puppy who ate all the attention up.:) I had to laugh when one woman asked if she was mean. I know she is a big puppy, but about the worst a 13-week-old puppy would do is maul you with kisses! It was a wonderful day, warm and breezy, and a very relaxing dinner despite a hyper puppy. Yay for good, if tiring, days.:)

My first MDA event

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:11:26 GMT

As I said in my last post, I went to my first local MDA event yesterday. It was in many ways a bizarre event for me personally, though all in all not a bad experience by a long ways. It was a fundraiser for the local MDA called "Locked Up" where volunteers are put in a mock jail and people take pictures of them, and people coming through the event pledge money to "bail them out" at whatever level the volunteer decides to set their bail. It was a clever idea, and made for cute pictures and what seemed to be a good time for the volunteers. The volunteers also seem to be treated very well, getting free lunch and lots of other swag for their troubles. There was an amazing amount of volunteers and people attending such a local event. It must've taken up almost half of the restaurant. My PCA and I were treated in a friendly manner, and some of the people even assumed that I was a volunteer and not a "client". It probably helped that my PCA that day was a friendly, outgoing person as I tend to not be in crowds of people, but I actually ended up talking to a mother of a 10-year-old with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. She thought that I was much younger than I was (I admittedly have a baby face) and was shocked when I told her that I was married, but I didn't feel disrespected or dehumanized in any way.

Mostly what I struggled with when I was sitting there surrounded by all of the MDA literature was feeling conflicted and confused. I was flooded at times with feelings that seem petulant now when I was looking at the pictures of children at the MDA summer camps. I felt bitter for never having a community of people that I could relate to that way when I was a child. Having been undiagnosed my whole childhood meant that I could never be involved with summer camps without my family around because I couldn't take care of myself independently, but could never be involved in special needs summer camps or other such events because I didn't have a label put on my disability that most of those organizations required. Frequently I was the only person in a wheelchair at any school I ever went to. That was, at times, an extremely lonely place to be. What I felt growing up at most times was completely invisible. Like I was just a consciousness floating around that nobody ever knew was there.

Another thing that I struggled with was that they mentioned the telethon on literally every piece of literature on the table. I know that the telethon makes the MDA an enormous amount of money that they actually do very good things with, so I am not surprised that to them it is a very good thing. But the damage done by how people with disabilities are portrayed on the telethon is something that I have experienced myself. Depending on people pitying people with disabilities in order to raise money is very sad. I know that it works and that it does good things in the end, but the damage it does to public perception of our community is horrific. Seeing that mentioned on every piece of literature was a slight slap in the face every time. That is something that I will need to come to terms with if I intend to attend further events, which I likely will. I will likely not bring up my feelings to others there unless the topic is already brought up or if I am asked directly, but it is something that I have to keep in mind.

Me and MDA

Thu, 08 May 2008 18:30:38 GMT

So somehow this year I have become a member of the MDA. A "Jerry's kid". When I was younger my mother applied to the MDA for me and I was rejected because my disability was undiagnosed. My disability is still technically undiagnosed as of yet (though I know it's definitely not muscular dystrophy or ALS), but either their scope is changed or I just met the right people last month and am now magically a member of the MDA after 30 years. I am really not sure how I feel about that. As a low-level disability activist for much of my life the whole concept of being a "Jerry's kid" is somewhat repugnant, and after 30 years of having a severe disability without an identity or an organization to back me up I feel somewhat like I imagine people who are diagnosed or injured later in life feel when they suddenly have an identity that is different from the identity they have had thus far. However, the MDA does have some very good benefits that would definitely be of use to me, including the ability to meet some local people at their gatherings and events. We just moved to this area about two and half years ago and I still haven't made many local friends or developed much of a local network. I can't say that I am a particularly outgoing person when it comes to being social, but I definitely have a need for community and being social that I often neglect. Last week I got a call from the local MDA office inviting me out to a fundraiser lunch that they were putting on at the local Red Robin. They wanted "us" more involved and so are offering us free lunch. I think I will be brave and go and give them a chance. Maybe they won't make me squeamish. One never knows. I will blog more about it when I get back.

the anniversary of a woman

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:49:13 GMT

Today marks the anniversary of the day that this world lost a very important woman. I was thinking of her yesterday not remembering that today was the anniversary of her death. I was talking to someone about how violated a woman feels when a male thinks that he can come up and touch her body without her permission. Even thinking about someone doing that makes me feel angry, pissed off and violated. It makes me angry that people think they have the right to do that. Then I remembered a story about what this woman had done when someone had done that to her when she was standing in line to watch a movie and having fun with her friends. The person who chose to violate her did not understand that she was several degrees up in her black belt and had taught many other people karate. He did not understand her life and what she had to go through, or her inner strength and her inability to let someone take advantage of her anymore. Moments after groping her breasts in front of his little friends, her hand had a tight hold on his penis and she explained to him exactly what he did and how he should treat women in the future. I envy her that, not taking that shit from anyone. Just thinking of her doing that and embarrassing him in front of all of his friends the way that women are embarrassed in front of their friends when someone violates them gives me strength. Perhaps that's vindictive of me, but at least it doesn't make me feel helpless. It makes a power grow within me. It makes the idea that I can have control over my own body and my own psyche blossom with the knowledge that if anyone truly does violate me that I have a recourse. That I don't have to just let it happen. That I can do my own version of holding onto someone's proverbial dick while explaining exactly what they did wrong is a very powerful image for someone who has been violated.

I miss you very much today Barbara. Breast cancer took you from this world entirely too young, but your strength and your spirit and your ideas of what it truly means to be a woman are with me always. I love you.

But on the other hand, puppy!

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:46:46 GMT

P4060101, originally uploaded by hunterangelq.

We brought our little Grissel home almost three weeks ago. She is a pure bred English Mastif and is growing like a weed. This is her at eight weeks with Mr. Yak (which has since been shredded and needs replacing!). Both of us have fallen madly in love with her and her big floppy ears.

GimpGirl Presentation at Dreams Community Fair, SL

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:59:47 GMT

This is a screenshot of myself presenting (aleja was presenting as well, and that is confoozion in the background there) at the Dreams Community Fair 3 on Second Life for GimpGirl Community (gimpgirl). It went wonderfully and got one of the best turn outs for a support organization. Go us! You can see more pictures on the Flickr GimpGirl Community and read the transcript under "Event Transcripts" on our website.

Geek Girl Dinner @ Google Video

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:56:41 GMT

Oh dear

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:57:10 GMT

YOU. WILL. PAY!

And now, time for something completely different...

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:59:16 GMT

Awesomeness

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:20:31 GMT

That is one happy dog!

Article on Relationships

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:36:35 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6711071.stm

This is such a true article. I think a lot of people are brought up thinking perfection is the goal, especially in a society where there is so much neglect and abuse in families. I think a lot of kids grow up seeing atrocious behavior and don't ever learn what it means to really communicate or work shit out with other people. They just get overwhelmed by abuse, unhealthy treatment and retreat, dreaming of the perfect Prince Charming who will come rescue them from their shitty life. They vow to never act like their parents. That they'll do it right or better and find out that they have no idea how and get really frustrated and overwhelmed at what life is really like. Then blame themselves for how their life turned out, not realizing they were on a path to failure from the beginning. Its really sad and I see it time and time again. In my own life as well.

Chinese Official Gets Death Penalty

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:12:37 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6699441.stm

Ok, the death penalty may be a bit harsh, and it is really sad it took American pets dying for them to take any action when their own people were dying in many different ways, but I can understand why China did it. I mean, they are in some serious eat crow and kiss ass time right now to avoid some pretty serious trade embargos that could threaten their already shaky economy. They needed to send a fairly serious message that would make headline news. Now will they actually carry through with the seniment behind the sentence and not just use this as a scapegoat? Who knows.

Kick ass letter to the First Lady

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:43:54 GMT

The Nation Article

Lovely Cold Water!

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 18:00:20 GMT

So, this may seem highly pathetic, but I am SO fucking happy because I decided this week to start getting water delivery!! I was so fucking sick of trying to conserve our good water (which we either had to haul ourselves or get khinderer to graciously help). I have enough issues with drinking enough without worrying that I'll end up drinking gag-inducing tap water. I was really worried about having to pay $30-40/mo for water delivery, especially if I wanted to get the cooler dispenser (which I REALLY wanted because I LOVE cold water but hate putting it in the fridge where it ends up tasting weird and archangelq likes room temperature water). So I did some research and called all over and found these people who gave me a FREE cooler, FOUR free 5 gallon bottles, DIDN'T charge bottle deposits, have NO minimums to buy, AND have the cheapest prices and best filtering method in town! Squee!! That cuts the price in half and that is SO totally worth the price! Plus they are nice and deliver every two weeks instead of monthly. I have water. SO so happy.:) :)

Woot!

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:59:19 GMT

I *finally* got my mailbox down below 500!! Over 3,500 emails processed and deleted this weekend. Yay!! Thank goodness for pine. ..Or thank the UW anyways. *le sigh*

Woot!

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 15:06:46 GMT

I'm gunna be an auntie!! archangelq is going to be an uncle! Yay!! I had a dream that my sister-in-law had a boy and it grew up and had long hair and played guitar and was very sweet. Now she is finally pregnant after trying for a while. They'll be giving birth while living in the lakefront mansion they are housesitting while they rebuild their treed house. Not too shabby a way to enter the world. Woot!!

Video

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:41:57 GMT

Interesting disability video...

Saw on angille's journal

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:17:01 GMT

Ok, so I suck at games, but I find this highly amusing...

I died in the Dungeon of Jennylin

I was killed in a cobwebbed hall by Oquawka the troll, whilst carrying...

the Crown of Kajafoglio and 0 gold pieces.

Score: 37

Explore the Dungeon of Jennylin and try to beat this score,
or enter your username to generate and explore your own dungeon...

Oquawka the troll!!! Hehe.

Hair

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:09:06 GMT

So, yesterday I had hair all the way down to my waist. Today it doesn't even reach my ears in places. I chopped it all off! Hahaha!

In other news, my ears can hear within normal ranges according to a very tiny, spunky Audiologist. However, she wants me to get a central auditory processing evaluation done because when I really struggle with hearing is when there is ANY background noise (if you ever wondered why I'm really quiet and unresponsive in restaurants or group gatherings, that is part of it). I get to go in to NW Portland for that eval at Good Sam, oddly enough. I wonder if it is the same chain as the Good Sam I practically grew up in.

Ganked from rabid_pickle...

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:02:32 GMT

I Am A: Neutral Good Elf Ranger Druid

Alignment:
Neutral Good characters believe in the power of good above all else. They will work to make the world a better place, and will do whatever is necessary to bring that about, whether it goes for or against whatever is considered 'normal'.

Race:
Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they simply pass on to the next plane of existance.

Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.

Secondary Class:
Druids are a special variety of Cleric who serves the Earth, and can call upon the power in the earth to accomplish their goals. They tend to be somewhat fanatical about defending natural settings.

Deity:
Mielikki is the Neutral Good goddess of the forest and autumn. She is also known as the Lady of the Forest, and is the Patron of Rangers. Her followers are devoted to nature, and believe in the positive and outreaching elements of it. They use light armor, and a variety of weapons suitable for hunting, which they are quite skilled at. Mielikki's symbol is a unicorn head.

Find out What D&D Character Are You?, courtesy ofNeppyMan (e-mail)

Ultrasonic Ring Test

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 16:43:44 GMT

You're not a hoopy frood

You thought you were really with it and in with your younger colleagues but they just laugh at you because you can't hear beyond this!

The highest pitched ultrasonic mosquito ringtone that I can hear is 14.1kHz

Test your own hearing at Ultrasonic ringtones

Well, I'm glad I'm going in for a hearing test next week.:>

Hot Weather Tip

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:33:11 GMT

My friend Corey gave me a tip on how to keep cool in this overly warm weather. It worked, so I thought I'd share: Put a wet towel in front of your fan (in a shallow bowl or on something). It will drop the room temperature by 10-15 degrees because the heat will be going to the water to evaporate it. It is basically a cheap swamp cooler, and man does it work! Our living room is vastly cooler than anywhere else in our apartment.