Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Dysfunctional, yes- but I recognize it!

Thanks to all of you for your nice comments in response to my "core" post. As you can see from my lack of posting, the laptop doesn't work, the cord was able to boot it up once, and now- nothing. I am not sure what to do, ebay it? fix it? (it already has a problem with the hard drive, so why invest more?) If I am to continue to blog I will need a laptop so I can be in my room and hotel rooms to blog, I am just not finding the inspiration...well, that is until now.

Oh Charles. A month or so ago I told him I loved him. I thought it would be a very romantic moment where he hugged me and said "I was worried to say it- I am so glad you did" (I had complained of men saying it too soon) but thats not how it happened. I was learning Kiisi, his regional language, and I asked him how to say "I love you" he told me, and I said it to him. He said it back, but then continued to talk about the linguistic aspects of it, I felt disappointed but not shattered. But at the end of the day he didn't say "I love you" and of course I was not going to start saying it if he didn't. I called him an hour after he left, when I realized what had happened, and let him know I knew he wasn't comfortable with it. We had a big talk the next day and he said a lot about not wanting to make commitments he couldn't keep (re: getting married) and his worries about not having enough time for me, and I calmed him down, pointing out that he was bringing in a lot from his last relationship, that I didn't want a commitment, nor to make one, and that I liked the space I got from his busy life (I too often have long distance romances.)

But I am hurt that he doesn't love me. And since he doesn't, my heart is hardening up, and trying to protect itself. I opened myself up and allowed myself to feel deeply for a man who I have potential with, but I had bad timing, and I regret that so much, because not getting back what I was feeling felt like a spell breaking, I felt punished for the hard work I am doing to try to trust men and to let myself care about someone, especially a man.

What my instincts want to do is turn back into bitch-vixen mode. The cruel woman who teases the man with sex, but punishes him the whole time by being cold and distant. That is how I have treated men my whole sexual life, and I don't want to fall back into that. I have no idea what to do to make these feelings go away. Telling him wont help, he will just feel guilty, which is unfair because he was honest with me- the right thing to do. If I hold onto the feelings, what good would that do? I can see them festering into passive agressive anger, and that I WILL become the bitch-vixen.

I guess what I will do is ask him again where he is at this point, if he sees us as short or long term. But I think I am thinking about the future too much. I don't want my entire present to be spent thinking about my future.

And there is the whole chemistry thing. I don't feel the way with him sexually that I have with men in the past. But of course I dont. there is not one shred of degradation in sex with him. I think I, pathologically or not, get off on the degradation. Maybe it is because of my low self-esteem. Maybe it is because it allows me to keep my heart at a distance. Maybe my brain and sexuality has been warped by American porn (absolutely.) Maybe that dominance/submission kind of stuff is just primal and very normal. Probably its a combination of all of those. My big fear is that it is just we have bad chemistry. (but that would only be on my part- he is definately hot for me) Oh- and I forgot, my anti-depressants have dampened my sex drive substantially. Ah what the hell- I am just hoping the chemistry is an unsolvable problem so we can break up and I can go back to being alone and self-loathing.

One thing that I am doing is joining Weight Watchers. He calls me beautiful, I think I look like a white trash cow. It is time for me to stop abusing myself with unkind evaluations of my beauty. I AM beautiful, all 200 pounds of me, but I don't feel at my best, and I need to take control and get to where I want to be.

Uh! I am very tired. I have gotten up before 5 both this morning and yesterday, and flying just takes the piss out of me. I need to sleep before I make any rash decisions, like breaking up with him because he doesn't love me after 2 months. But when are you supposed to love someone? Uh! I need to go to bed.

OH! and I forgot- I just flew a trip with the captian who left me at the hotel 6 months ago. He was exceptionally nice, but I am sure being with him for 4 days could have put a little damper on my mood. Ah! Glad I realized that.

Monday, April 03, 2006

the core

I just visited my favorite blogs for the first time in months. I feel right now like I used to feel when I wrote on here. My inside is tapped. Lately in my life I have been operating on a surface level. Since roomie is nearly always home I am continuously in "public" mode, the mode where I am focused on expressing myself verbally & responding to the environment, so I don't ever get a chance to "zone out." I can't even relax in front of the TV, because she will start talking to me, forcing me to interact.

I have been sitting here for at least 10 minutes writing and deleting, just trying to put into words what it is that I am needing but am not getting often enough. I wouldn't say I succeeded, the message is still trapped in my head, I havent found the english to explain it. But in a way I just said it. That is the process that I love. I love having abstract ideas, and going through the process of understanding it, and then recording it on my blog. With Tera here I can't get the focus I need. I am really excited to be getting the power cord for my laptop so I can start writing in my bedroom. And I am excited to be feeling the blogging bug again. I have made a point to post now and then, but lately it has just been a recording of events, not an exploration of thoughts and ideas. I am excited that I might get that, and perhaps myself, back.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Yay Ebay!

I just won a powercord to recharge the laptop that Francis gave me. If that works, I plan to get a WiFi card, and hopefully have my blog up and running again. I think there are plenty of reasons of why I haven't been blogging as much, but I think the number one reason has to be my roommate's mouth. She loves to talk during movies and TV shows, so as you can imagine, she loves to talk to me when I am trying to turn my thoughts into words. It wouldn't be as bad if what she was saying had a purpose, but I got so sick of her interrupting meaningful moments of writing with comments like "that is such a stupid commercial", that the habit has been broken.

I imagine part of my distance from the computer is healthy, but most of it is me, not wanting to hate the person I live with, so I avoid activities with her that will drive me crazy (watching TV, or movies with her, or doing anything that requires concentration while she is within a 15 foot radius)

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Ima big shot

I am at a hotel about to head to bed.

Today I went to a union steward training class, and I went out to a restauraunt afterwards with the group, a lawyer paid for our meals, and good thing...I think mine must have come to $60!!!

I chatted with a Union bigwig who's nephew is a well known Senator. He liked me because I didn't kiss up quite as much as everyone else, and I asked him advice on how to order a meal from a crazy restauraunt that charges for asparagus what I would pay for an entire meal at my kind of restaurant. The union leaders seemed very impressed. They raved about how they loved me. I enjoyed that.

Bigwig was very persistant that I contact this guy in my home state about a political organization he is starting. I know to succeed in life its not what you know its who you know, and I just got one hell of a contact, but I do NOT CARE to follow up. I will though, because I think it would offend him if I didn't (and I will see him at the next union things)

What a night. I have my opinions about one of the Vice Chairs of the union, and it's fair to say that the group is a little wild and crazy, but I want to see if I can get past the judgement and personality differences, and work together towards the greater cause, making my company a better place to work.

I don't know how I feel right now. I feel a little wary, like I am going to be pushed to be more involved than I want (this happened in my political incarnation of my life) It's really a compliment that I get pushed like that, it means people see something in me, but I need to know how to assert my limits.

What a night. A fun one, I can say that much at least.

mood: very uncertian

Hey thanks!

Thank you to those of you who still read and comment, even though I haven't been good at reading and commenting on your sites, or responding to your comments.

They are noticed, and really appreciated :)

Saturday, March 18, 2006

My Liberal White Brethren

I just returned home from a screening of the film "Water" by Deepa Mehta at the museum I just quit. The theme of the movie was to let your concience and compassion win when it conflicts with your faith. It also demonstrated the way people use faith to benefit themselves. The movie took place in India in 1938, it had very tragic elements to it, but it was easier to swallow since there have been 60+ years for things to improve. The director was there for the screening, which was a nice surprise. At the end she took questions.

As soon as I got there I felt uncomfortable right away. People have SUCH attitude there. I saw the ushers telling other people to go to the other door, so as I approached the door I looked at my ticket to see if my seats were at this entrance or the other. I cant explain it, but I just hated the way the ushers were. They, like so many people there, just acted SO self-important. I found Emma (yes! my old roomate Emma) and sat down, looking at the group I was surrounded by. I felt like I was floating on an ocean of egos.

During the film you could hear huffs and groans at the appropriate parts, as if people were announcing "I am aware that that was a tragic moment." I overheard a woman whispering to her friend "I already knew what was going to happen" a feat that was not spectacular enough to announce. When the Director was answering questions, heads nodded furiously, so they could properly display that they knew and aggreed with what she was saying.

The most embarrassing of them all was, to me, the announcer. The over-defferencial way she addressed the director, to me, seemed condescending. She tried so hard with her questions, with one she went on and on about a young actress, when the appropriate thing, in my opinion, would have been to ASK about the actress, and let the director rave about her.

In the end, I think the Director came out on top. Someone asked a weird question, like (paraphrasing) "What other issues are there in India?" she basically said (very politely) "how about instead, focusing on the problems in your own back yard" to which a Hindi speaking audience member followed with Bolly-Bolly (or Bali-Bali) whatever that means.

I felt so embarrassed about the behavior of my people, the white liberals. Geez, you don't get to be celebrated for being not-ignorant. I am hopeful that what I was witnessing was the attitudes of my parent's generation. Perhaps they are the next step of progress from their parent's generation. The 60's was a big step, but we still have a way to go, and my generation is just another step forward.

In the end it will be hard to remove American whites' feeling that they are somehow more special than anyone else. Why? Because take away that specialness, that feeling that we have our shit together and the rest of the world (including other Americans) just can't get it together, thats why things are as they are, we have nothing. When the Europeans came to America they were told to throw away their culture, that their identity was now "American" nothing else, so now all that whites have is our consumer culture, and that intoxicating feeling that we are special. And, just in case the people around us arent aware of that specialness, we will nod our heads vigorously to let them know.

mood: special

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Dear Tera,

When you moved in, I worked really hard to make you feel at home. I tried to play music that both of us like, politely bantered with you when I had no interest in socializing, and said "yes" to your suggestions, so you could feel like it's your place too, since a person could possibly feel like a guest if they move into a fully furnished apartment.

I let it go when you used our shared Netflix to order "The count of Monte Cristo" both discs, so there were no alternative movies to order. I let it go that you wouldn't return "Rize" or "Hustle and flow" becuase you wanted to watch them 3-10 times, meaning no other movies in our queue could come until they were returned. I even let it go that you moved my excercise DVD down the list. But for you to return my excercise CD, before I could even use it, is beyond insulting. The worst part is you owe me $900 dollars, I am PAYING 100% of the Netflix, and you had the audacity to return the DVD I chose, and havent even used yet.

You should feel so lucky you weren't here when I got home. I was so enraged that I would have probably said things you might not forgive me for. I am starting my period, and I went without medication for 4 days, but they are only the catalyst that has brought out feelings I have had built up.

I have decided to assert stronger boundaries. I should have done this right away, but I was afraid you would read it as unfriendly (perhaps a sign that I perceive weak boundaries in you.)

1. I want rent and utilities on the first of every month. It was my fault for not asking you to pay me, but if I were in your shoes I would have asked a few days before the 1st how much I owed. It's just common courtesy.

2. I don't want to pay $100 a month for full use of your car. I think you should still let me use it to get groceries, if not, you should pay for 1/2 of the internet costs.

3. Please refrain from unconstructive complaining. Saying "America Sucks" doesn't accomplish anything except impose your foul mood onto me. When I reframe things you say from negative and hopeless to empowering, it's not to cheer you up, its to protect myself from absorbing that unhealthy thinking.

4. P.S. I am not going to say this to your face, but miss, you are a student with a part time job, what the fuck are you spending $20 a month on face wash, and using MAC makeup and Aveda shampoo for? Earth to Tera, you arent rich, you cant afford that kind of luxury.

-------turns out it was under a blanket! Sure glad I didn't blow up at her!

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

:)

It's probably the sixth or seventh evening I have spent with Charles, and while the sex has gotten progressively better each time, this time was very good! The biggest part is thanks to a birth control I have found so I am not freaking out every second worrying about the condom breaking. I relaxed, and it was nice.

I feel so hopeful. I was afraid that every thing was there except that crucial chemistry. I felt warm fuzzies when I would think of him but not butterflies. I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to muster up enthusiasm forever for being with him. Turns out, I just need to RELAX. And I am going to be patient with myself. OF COURSE I am going to have a hard time relaxing with him. He has long term potential. He has love potential. Thats freaky. No need to push myself any faster than I can naturally go.

AAAAAAH!

mood: glowy, a little anxious

Monday, March 06, 2006

Kirby Puckett, Rest in Peace

Sunday, March 05, 2006

She runs hot and cold

Last night myself, my "sister" Linda, and her co-worker participated in an event where we raced down a hill on an inflatable mattress to raise money for an organization that helps people in transition with furniture, especially beds.

We wore our pyjamas with several layers underneath. Over the pyjamas we wore bathrobes with wing-shaped wire hangers covered in white pantyhose pinned to the back, and black pantyhose stuffed with crumpled newspaper as legs pinned to the front. On our heads we wore wire with foam balls on the ends, with our hats holding them in place. We were dressed as bed-bugs. Yes, you were supposed to dress up.

There were four of us, but one came down with a 102 degree fever on race day. We went to the event without a 4th team member, and solicited a replacement when we arrived. Many people acted as if we were trying to sell them something when we asked them, but in only minutes we met up with Alexandra, an outgoing 22 year old who was with another team participating in the race.

The first time down the hill was very fun, we spun in circles, and got last, or second to last place. We were to get a second turn down the hill, but we had to wait for all 148 teams to finish their first heat. I stayed relatively comfortable until the last half hour, but Linda and her colleague were really suffering. At one point we decided if they didnt call our number (58) in the next 10 minutes we would leave. Only a minute later they called up teams 50-100 and we immediately trudged up the hill for our anticipated second trip down.

When we got to the top they were calling teams 68-72 for a heat. We had just reached the top of the hill, and they had skipped us already! Teams 59 and 60 were in the same boat. We let the people in charge know what happened, and they said "We'll get you a heat." We watched two more heats go down and we reminded them we were there. They said they would let everyone go, and then let us go. We said to each other "thats only two more heats before they reach 100, when they call a new group up." All of a sudden they were calling 102, they were intending to make us wait for all 148 teams go before we got a chance! My teammates were close to frostbite so we headed back down the hill, on foot, not on a matress.

Staying as long as we did was not without entertainment. Apparentely our adorable Alexandra acted shocked to find out that none of the three of us, approaching 30, had children, and found out (seperately) that she had been proposed to 4 different times. I also got to enjoy a man yelling down at her saying "I'm going to find you yellow" and her dancing down the hill saying, "you can't, I'm leaving now" and sharing it loudly with the group when we got to the bottom that a man was flirting with her. FYI she wasn't a babe. Hee hee.

Could my day today be any more different? I deadheaded in the afternoon from my snowy home to El Paso. I enjoyed a 3 hour conversation with a man who owns a lighting firm. When I arrived at the hotel, I gave Angel, a very nice employee, a keychain from my state, (he collects them.) I put on a long sleeve shirt and pants, and ran/walked outside for 20 minutes, then walked for another 45 minutes. I walked through a residential area which was quite nice, despite the bars on all of the windows, and a stove in one front lawn. I got so hot that I decided for safety to get a large water, it was a good thing becuase I was feeling minorly hazy.

As I was walking back to the hotel I took a short cut through a parking lot. It turned out to be a dead end, blocked off by a high wall. I considered walking back but said "I'm still young Damn it!" I climbed a grate to the top of the wall, and jumped a short 6 feet to a concrete block. I walked through the high grass, and down a steep edge. I felt satisfaction that I was not yet an old white lady.

For dinner we went to the very popular "Carlos and Mickeys" and I am proud to say I ordered the cheeseless "Flacos Enchiladas" and drank water, no margarita. After we ate we watched mariachis play, and enjoyed an impromptu rendition of "Have you ever seen the rain" by the bartender. As we left the bar the pilots talked to the Mariachi performers about their guitars, and I topped the night off with a soak in the Hot tub.

My days are very full, I cant believe I fit so much living into one day. It is time to go to bed, so I am ready for a full tomorrow.

mood: good

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Honesty

Yesterday at my therapy appointment Dr. T. said "Something isn't right- you are saying you are so happy, but I can just sense something that doesn't match what you are saying." It's true. My life is so much different, but the depression is back, not fully, but it's there.

I feel regularly that my life leads me, I am not leading my life. I think a big part of it may be my roommate. She is an extrovert, she is very close to her siblings, so she really likes attention, and she is not gone on the days I am off, so I am not getting the time alone I need.

I have gained weight. The scale has said 200 pounds lately. I am upset about that. Prince Charles has NO problem with it, but I do.

I was just sorting through a bag of school notes from the semester that I had done so well, because of a successful anxiety medication, and then halfway through became suicidal. That was the semester that I, and my life, changed so much. I had tears welling in my eyes, I was feeling very emotional. My roommate came home, and I just mentioned how I missed school. She invited me to sit in on a class and I said that I wanted more than just a lecture, and as I was saying what it was I missed I heard "I look so good in boy shorts, see?" It was sort of a funny moment, she isn't as self centered as she sounds, but it just goes to show how I am feeling lately. I have included her into my life, but don't know how to assert that I need more autonomy. (She doesn't need it...she was born into a life shared with others) I was feeling really centered until she came home

And my last complaint, I haven't been blogging. I am not as dependant on the computer any more, things change, thats okay. I am going to go back to my old strategy "It doesn't have to be good...just write" I don't think that my posts lately are ones that I would be interested in reading if they werent about me, but at least I am writing something.

Off to bed, I was having such a calm night, enjoying the quiet, the ability to retreat deeply into my brain, not having my thoughts interrupted by responses to the news stories and comments on the evening party plans. This is life. Part of life is listening to people tell you that the polar bear club sounds like hell to them. I wish I lived alone, but if I am to get married one day, I think I should practice.

mood: agitated

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Kevin Federline kissed my hand

Today after leaving the plane on the way home I was blocked on the moving walkway by three young men. They moved sexily and fluidly, and smelled faintly like cologne. I knew immediately that they were dancers.

As I approached them from behind I said "can I pass you on the left?" the shortest one moved aside, and as I walked by asked me "Do you know where we can smoke?" I said "I'm going that way, I will show you." They were young, they looked 19 or 20, and I wondered if they were going to have time to smoke and still make their connecting flight. I asked them where their connecting gate was, and when they didn't know I looked on the screens and found it for them. It was on the way, they had time.

I walked with them and chatted. I asked them where they were going, and they said LA for an audition...for a movie and as backup dancers. The were coming from Montreal. We joked around a little bit, they said something and I said "Hey! The American educational system isn't THAT bad" The one who looked like a well dressed Kevin Federline (except handsome) with shoulder length hair asked me if I knew where Canada was. I said "South America" the shorter one asked me if I was kidding I said "of course" but KF didn't catch on. He was like "Canada is North" and I said "Yeah, in the northern part of South America." Eventually I was like "come on, of course I am joking- I'm a better actor than you are" but he forgot and picked on me about it a few minutes later.

When we got to the area that I was to keep going they invited me to come with them. I said sure and stood outside with them. KF decided to start quizzing me on the two letter abbreviations of my states. I got one or two wrong, and he said "I know more about your states than you do." He was being playful, but I still called him on it, I said he was deciding I was an American stereotype and bullying me unfairly. He asked me what country I hated the most. I said I don't hate any countries, so he said what government do you hate the most. I said Sudan. He asked me what I thought of the Iranian government, I said that all I know is they say they want to wipe Isreal off the map, and I don't approve of destroying entire countries. KF and the tall boy with high hair were Iranian (Persian) and the shorter boy was Eritrean.

After their smoke they invited to come with while they got something to eat. I was excited, I loved being around them and their big personalities. As we walked KF asked if I spoke french. I don't so of course they started saying french things. Of course they were making jokes, but I don't think they were unkind.

The shorter man INSISTED I got a slice of Pizza, so I finally relented. We sat at a set of tables by the gate and I asked KF to tell me what I should know about Iran. He was very smart and articulate, especially for a sexy 22 year old! I learned about Eritrea too.

Why do I have this life? How cool was my evening? How lucky am I? Very. On the way home I talked to Charles (Did I mention he is my boyfriend now? :) ) and he told me about a childrens book he is going to write a critique on becuase of it's cultural mistakes and stereotypes. And I get to have him as a boyfriend!

And tonight I got to write to a favorite e-mail buddy for over an hour. I have a great life!

mood: ready for bed!

Friday, February 17, 2006

I can't believe this is my life!

Yeah so tonight we got a ride home from the D.J. Yeah, the D.J. drove us home. We left the bar with him, went into the booth while he got his equiptment, and all loaded up into his truck, with my roommate draped over the three of us in the back seat. We were going to hang out with his brother, him, and a few others but the night sort of fizzled, so they dropped everyone off.

So I know its not THAT big of a deal, but 10 years ago that would have been my DREAM COME TRUE! I wanted to be a DJ when I was in college, and just to hang out with one would have been so cool. I just like looking at my life and reflecting on what my fantasies of what I wished it could be and comparing them. My life really has over time become what I wished it could be, the funny thing is, now I am old enough to not care so much about such things.

So since I havent been posting much lately, maybe I can describe what my life has been. It has been a lot the same, but on thursday nights my roommate and I go to a reggae night at a nearby bar. There is a Reggae band playing upstairs, and then a "den of iniquity" downstairs playing dancehall and a little hip hop. The concert is where I met Charles, "The Kenyan prince" oh, and did I mention, he is my boyfriend now, and he treats me like gold.

Charles is the big deal in my life. I talk to him daily, and I really enjoy and respect him. Just yesterday we were laying in bed and he was telling me about a book he heard about on NPR. This is another dream come true! He is so considerate, and SOOOOO smart, hard working and just UH! So great. He seems to think I am pretty great too, last night he said "It's hard to find a woman who is both beautiful and humble" and I thought that was so great, since I think I am beautiful, but hardly enough to be at risk of affecting my humility. It sure is nice to have someone think that of me!

I guess I have a lot to write. I miss my blog. I have felt life sweeping me along lately, so I havent been reflecting as much, since I have been so busy just letting it all happen. Some might say thats a good thing, I think it is something I would like to change a bit. I value my blog, it has become a part of me. If my life is now much more fun or active, than why not commemerate it as much as I did my tortured feelings? And I have felt plenty of stress lately, stress that could be dissapated by writing.

I visited the psychiatrist for a follow up. He mentioned a Orthodox jewish tradition of saying a prayer of thanks before your feet hit the ground. I need to continue to say thinks for not being depressed. To not let this become a state I take for granted. And I must continue to work to ward off depression coming back.

Oh, and I forgot to mention...I quit the museum today. It was a long time coming. I wasn't willing to do the homework to be at the level I needed to be at. As I continued I just felt like a fraud. (I had been touring adults lately) It was a VERY hard thing to do, but I feel relieved that I did it. Really relieved.

It's 4:30AM. I should go to bed. I got a ride home from the D.J. tonight. TEE HEE HEE HEE HEE

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Sex toys

I havent written much lately. Life is good even though I am feeling a bit of anxiety over a full social calendar and some tension (possibly unfairly) directed toward my roommate.

I just thought was important that everyone know that today I was at a sex toy store with my roommate, helping her buy a dildo and learning of the dangers of latex and rubber sex toys. BTW I was wearing my work uniform.

Just thought you should know that.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Slept half of the day

It's 4PM, I just woke up from a nap that started at noon. There was nothing that could have gotten me out of bed during that nap. I thought I was working today, but it turned out I don't work until tomorrow. Thank god. This is me first day alone in a month and a week. I have been dying for it.

I am stressed out. I had sex with Charles. (what I have decided to name the Kenyan prince.) Of course it was too soon. I told him I am not ready to do it again yet. He has been really cool about everything. I even told him about the Depression. But that doesn't stop the fact that the sex was really disappointing. He treats me like such a gem with my clothes on, I figured it would be the same with my clothes off. Instead he was ready to penetrate me before my shirt was even off. He didnt look into my eyes, and he bit my nipples too hard. He's not that great of a kisser either. After sex like that I am not real eager to sleep with him again, which makes staying together for long seem less realistic.

I am also stressed about the museum. A man in my last tour seemed to have distain for me. Like he was on to me that I am a huge fraud. I am not a huge fraud, I know plenty about the art, but I do not have a good tour planned. I need to pick, fast, what I am going to do. I really think the answer is to quit.

And the rest of the stress is I just need to decompress, to be alone. And fortunately I am today. Halleluja!

mood: blah, but not awful

Friday, February 03, 2006

A good bad job

I just gave a good bad tour at the museum. What I mean by that is I did a great job of doing a tour that I am NOT prepared for.

I really need to quit. I am doing this half-assed, and I need to either put the work in so I do a respectable job of it, or I need to quit, because the winging it that I am doing is a disservice to the museum and the artists.

So? Am I going to quit or not? I need to make a decision. "Not" doesn't mean not quitting but doing nothing different, "not" must mean I get to work and craft a good tour.

I really want to quit, everyone tells me I should... "If it's not fun, why do it?" So why dont I just do it? It's because it will mean I failed. I didn't rise to the challenge all the way (I did quite a bit...but I need to do more) But maybe now I want to persue school, weight loss, housekeeping, or being a better friend. I gave it a good shot, but not enough to be a success at it. I have really lost interest though.

What to do? (quit of course)

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

I met a Buddhist Monk

He was wearing a grey robe, I asked him about it and he told me it was a monk's robe. Some monks only eat the food that is donated to them, so I offered to buy him dinner. He said yes, but then declined when we left the plane. I walked him to the gate and chatted with him. We sat down at the gate, and he actually said powerful wise stuff! Just like you would hope chatting with a Buddhist monk would be!

He was so nice. He invited me to visit his monastary. YAY!

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Not a good blog post- doesnt bother me

When is the last time I wrote a post I was proud of?...awhile. Since my anti-depressant was increased I haven't felt the necessity to empty out my brain onto the page, life has felt pretty good. It isn't a struggle to get through the day anymore, in fact, I am able to coast through days that a year ago would feel like a ton of work.

I suppose I can count my blessings. So I am not quite as deep as I am when I am depressed, who cares? When I am depressed I can't accomplish anything so what good is the most creative mind if nothing comes from the ideas.

I am also not quite as driven, that is a shame. I finally have the energy to put my ambitions to work but now the push to accomplish them is less. Then again, my biggest ambition right now is to buy a condo, and I have the confidence to do it now, when before it felt like a far-off fantasy, so maybe it just seems like I am less driven because my goals seem much less lofty.

One big downside of the medication increase is I am much more forgetful. I think things must be moving faster in my brain so they are quicker to slip away if not committed to memory. It could be that my anxiety is increased with my brain activity, it is just in the form of being hyper, instead of extremely worried. It's a small price to pay I imagine, especially since I will have to learn post-it note skills for old age anyway.

This, and many of my current posts, lack the structure that comes naturally to me in many of my posts. Partially because I don't have a specific idea of what I am going to write. It's my journal so I am not beating myself up for it, especially since I know that I will have something to be happy about during my depressions. They make me deep. There is a lot of growth that can take place during the depressions, and then during the not-depressions I can relax and enjoy the growth and rest period. It would be great if I could one day see the depressions as "just a phase" and blow off the feelings of low self-worth and extreme worry. I will have to learn some way to cope when they happen, it doesn't do me any good just hoping really hard that they wont.

mood: fine

Friday, January 27, 2006

The Kenyan Prince

It has been one week and one day since I met him. I was dancing on the dance floor at a reggae concert when a man stood in front of me and started dancing with me. He was 5'11' solidly built, with glasses and a chin that jutted out slightly.

I smiled and politely danced with him, he was far from ugly, but he didn't look like a model like the man in the corner with the tight grey shirt and short dreadlocks, what did I care anyway? Rafael might show up tonight. He was wearing a beautiful decorative tunic, I asked him where he got it, he said Kenya.

He had a very warm, gentle smile, with a dimple on his left cheek. We started synchronising our dance moves, and we would look at each other and laugh when one of us or the other wasn't able to match up. I enjoyed being around him, and thought he would be a good person to stay close to, so I could avoid the pushy people I often run into at this club. We chatted and I gave him my number without the tinyest bit of worry that I might be making a mistake.

I wanted to go downstairs, where they play more upbeat, dancehall style music. It was so dark down there that all you could see was flashes of gyrating bodies, moving to the music that you could feel vibrating through your feet as clearly as you can hear. The sexy atmosphere and music, mixed with my enjoyment of this pleasant man allowed me to let out the sexy moves I rock in my living room. He of course began the "penis-on-butt" move, annoying me as much because it interfered with my moves as because it was so ungraceful. I kept enough distance to keep me comfortable, and backed away when he tried to kiss me. I felt nothing, in a sexy den of iniquity while dancing suggestively. I knew I just wasn't attracted to him. He tried to kiss me on the stairs on the way up, I said "I am really sorry, I just don't feel attracted to you. It's not like something is wrong with you, you are GREAT, I just don't feel it." He was unbelievably nice about it. I asked if he preferred I dance differently, he said he understood it was dancing.

He called me the next day, I rolled my eyes, but when I heard him speak on the message I smiled. I decided, just to be polite, to call him back, and I chatted with him a bit, a huge smile on my face the whole time. I knew right there that I was more attracted to Rafael, and that I would have to be very careful not to tease or lead on the prince, because he was such a terrific person. On the phone I promised (why?!) that I would call him when I got to El Paso.

The next day I stretched out in the hot tub outdoors at the hotel. First thing I called Rafael, left a nervous bubbly message, and waited for him to call back. I started to call the prince but hung up, I was feeling disappointed to not hear from Rafael. The prince called "did you just call me?" I stumbled over my words, not having an explaination, I just admitted I suddenly didn't feel like talking and then got on with the conversation.

I told him I was in the hot tub and he said he wanted us to make plans to go in a hot tub. I said "absolutely not, I really don't want to lead you on" He said to stop worrying about that, he thinks I am fun and it's okay if we are friends. We chatted and I said I would see him on thursday (we had plans to meet at the same club) I spent the rest of the trip in agony waiting for Rafeal to call, then in fumes when he did- at 11PM.

I called the prince on the way home, to be polite of course. And somehow I ended up making plans to go to the gym with him on Wed (since he was so excited about the hot tub) even though I was going to see him on thursday (my idea BTW.)

My ethnocentric and sexist mind kept wanting to underestimate him, and he continually proved me rediculous for it. He even had the ability to point out some peculiar or ignorant "American" thinking of mine, with humor, not at all shaming me. He is smart as can be, very good natured, just a prince. After he dropped me off I gave him a peck on the lips. He thanked me, tee hee, and didn't push it any farther.

I am afraid I can't write all of the considerate, thoughtful, bright, wonderful things he has said and done this last week. I don't have time. Last week I had decided I could "put up with" dancing with him, while waiting for Rafael to show up to the club. I am so glad I have developed into such a polite person!

Oh, and my uncooperative vagina. I think it might be on board. We re-lived the scene in the club basement yesterday and I realized he is not a the best kisser, and his "penis-on-butt" dance was just annoying, thats why I felt nothing the night before. I think I feel something, because I am very eager to get the 3 dates out of the way so we can get in bed. I also had a sexual fantasy about him that warmed me more than I can remember feeling for years. I can imagine making love with this man, the only thing I have experience with is fucking.

Oh, and unlike Rafeal, the one who used a double negative...The prince is working on a PhD in english. HOT. And he says in my ear "you are so smart."

mood: warmed

OH OH! And...He danced sexy with me and OBVIOUSLY lusts after me, yet still treated me like a complete lady...I am yet to get that from a "Modern" American man.

OH! OH! I told him that tonight I wanted to get laundry done when he asked what I was doing, obviously interested in getting together. Instead of mocking me or guilt tripping me for it, he said "okay."

OH! OH! P.S. I think I have a crush on him

OH! OH! And he was raised in a mud hut as one of 9 children in a village in Kenya in a cattle farming family, yet he is open minded about the morality of homosexuality! (I was not expecting that!)