Blargh.

Have some cuteness instead of content.

Michael: (holding up my new and jealously guarded cell phone) I’ve got your phone! I’ve got your phone!
Michelle: (look)
Michael: I’m putting your phone down now.

Jeri posted a question about Geek Women & Clothing, and my first thought was, “are you kidding me?”

Jeri’s questions were raised by this essay on Clothes & Geek Feminism, which addresses the question in a slightly different manner, but still, it bothers me.

I am who I am. I dress in a manner that makes me comfortable, and I feel makes me look approachable–after all, my job is to help people. I rarely wear make-up, because that’s who I am and it’s the way I’ve always been.

This question puts my hackles up, because I’ve spent a great deal of time getting comfortable with myself in my own skin, and I don’t see why I should have to dress in an manner as dictated by anyone just to properly classify myself as a true geek.

In my opinion, what people see when they look at me is shown as much by my projected attitude as by what I wear. My goal is to look competent, approachable, and helpful, and in my opinion, I show that through my attitude. I do not dress to conform to anyone’s ideas and attitudes of who I am, I dress to be comfortable and to do my job.

For me, the point of being a geek is taking delight in who I am and the things that make me happy. If a geeky t-shirt makes me happy, then that’s great. If a silk suit makes someone else happy, good for them.

If people think I lack “geek cred” because I dress–or fail to dress–in a specific manner, that is their problem, not mine.

Why? Because I’m staring at Kit right now and nothing else came to mind.

Today’s word: fur

Reality in Science Fiction and History via Dr Phil)

Periodic Table of Irrational Nonsense

Fun & Intrigue with the Periodic Table of Elements

electric boogaloo

Indistinguishable from Magic

Sorry about last week, but with company and all, I completely neglected you.

Today’s word is in honor of all the time I wasted watching these videos. I love it when people are silly. It makes me very happy.

Today’s word is: baritone

These are the graphs from the software that comes with my pedometer. Orange is aerobic steps, orange and blue (or just blue if there was no aerobic) shows the total steps for that day.

Hooray for progress!

Here’s May. (Note that this chart also shows that I was having a hard time with my depression, and skipping the gym when I should not have.) Can you tell what day I broke my ankle?

Then June:

Now July. (On the 7th I forgot to put on my pedometer. on the 10th it accidentally went into the washing machine. Oops.)

That’s right, this was the big one. I’m now 40!

Does it feel any different? Oddly enough, yes. However, that is not due to my age as much as to the life changing experience of breaking my ankle and being off my feet for six very long weeks.

Several years ago I decided that my goal for my 40th birthday was to feel comfortable in my own skin–to like myself for who I am. I’d started on this goal before that (years of therapy will do that to you) but I still had to work myself up to it.

The first big hurdle was accepting my hair. Do I still sometimes wish I had more manageable hair? Of course. But it is what it is, it’s not going to change, so I learned to deal with it, and be happy with what I have.

Once I got past that, everything else seemed pretty easy in comparison.

I already had a regular exercise routine, and I continued with that routine–right up to breaking my ankle–but by taking care of myself physically, I take care of not just my physical health, but my mental health as well.

I also came to the conclusion that enjoying life was far more important that worrying about stupid stuff, such as my weight. If I want to eat a ridiculously high fat calorie laden dessert because it looks really really really delicious, then it doesn’t make sense to deny myself the occasional treat.

Of course that circles around to accepting myself for who I am. I am never going to have the skinny body I had at 18, but that’s a good thing. Because I’m not a teenager anymore and I feel far more comfortable in my curves than I did when I felt as if I was all bony elbows and knees.

Interestingly, my injury made me realize that I am in really good shape. I’ve always felt that because I don’t run or partake in more assertive forms of exercise that I’ve been cheating myself somehow. After discovering how quickly I am bouncing back from my injury I realized that what I have been doing is just fine for my–I don’t have to be able to run marathons I simply need to keep myself in shape and healthy. I’ve done that, so no more guilt about running or anything like that.

The hardest part has been accepting my screw-ups–and believing that not everything is my fault. Everyone messes up. When I do, it’s my job to own up to it and move on. It does me no good to beat myself up over what is past. I can hope that I won’t make the same mistakes, but I also know that my mouth often works faster than my brain, and so stupidity WILL occur. It just isn’t the end of the world.

The last thing I learned is that it’s okay to do things for myself. It is important to me to care for others, but I cannot do that if I’m a wreck myself.

Mind you, this doesn’t mean I think I’m perfect and done growing. Because I’m not (on both counts). But I am who I am. I accept that. I other people don’t like me–that’s their problem, not mine.

So happy birthday to me! I can’t believe I’ve made it 40 years!

If you haven’t already seen it, go read today’s Non Sequitur comic.

Got it?

Now read this news article I came across this morning.

No, I didn’t watch the video. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Michelle (whining): I want something sweet. What do we have that’s sweet? Wait a sec! I have chocolate! HEY! Where’s my chocolate?!
Michael: (evil laugh)

It’s Wednesday! It’s finals week! The traffic in Morgantown is improving on an hourly basis! Thus, this week’s word: exam

Last night on Twitter, Janiece made the following comment:

The thing I don’t like about FB: Finding out the RETARDED political opinions of people I otherwise like or care for. TMI, baby, TMI. LALALA.

This gave me the idea of creating Facebook groups and fan clubs for ridiculous politics. I enjoyed it so much, I thought I’d invite y’all to play along.

Here’s what amused me last night (you can see my thought process progress):

…I have joined the Millard Fillmore fan club

Teapot Dome: HARDING WAS FRAMED!

Michelle is now a fan of Aaron “Hamilton Shot First” Burr

Michelle has joined the group Did Washington Really Cross the Delaware: Dry Boots Say NO!

Michelle has joined the group Strange Women Lying in Ponds Distributing Swords Is A GOOD Basis for a System of Government

Michelle is now a fan of Watery Tarts Throwing Swords

Michelle has joined the group Standing Tall for Napoleon.

Michelle is now a fan of Justice for Olympus! No parole for Prometheus!

Michelle has joined the group Was Balder Really Shot by Holder? Loki’s Part in the Conspiracy.

Michelle has joined the group Justice for Finnegas! Make Fionn mac Cumhail Return the Salmon!

May as well add this to the mix.

Hell, let’s just go ahead and wallow.