A Survey, if you Please.

I've been wondering about what direction in which I should take this blog, and I thought to myself, "Who better to ask for opinions than the people who actually do all the reading?"  So, friends, if you wouldn't mind, would you please take the survey below?  I promise it won't take very long and I really value your opinions.

Click here to take survey

And so this post isn't pure solicitation, here's an awesomely awkward picture taken of me with a bust at the Santa Fe College of Art and Design (formerly the College of Santa Fe, my dad's alma mater).

Guess What?!

Rob and I have a NEW HOUSE.

YES. IT HAPPENED.

On Wednesday Megan and I checked out our first apartment at around 7:45.  The neighborhood was iffy and when we spoke to the tenant, he said something like, "Our mountain bikes were stolen from the yard and there are heroin needles on the roof."  I was a little afraid that it had set the tone for our future visits.

As we were chilling out in Starbucks I rediscovered a place that I had sort of looked at on and off for weeks.  I called them and we went up immediately.

And you guys...it was AWESOME.

It's a casita (Spanish for "little house," if you took French in high school), meaning it has one bedroom and one bath.  I was always looking at bigger places (2- and 3-bedroom) and had hardly even looked at 1-bedrooms, so I am feeling so glad I didn't pass over this one.  The house was built by a Mainer, has wide wooden floors, a little kitchenette, built-in bookshelves and a jacuzzi tub.  Plus it has an amazing view, access to trails, and sits right at the foot of a mountain. Though it's a little smaller than we previously had planned, it just fit.  Luckily the landlords agreed and we got the place!

I made this little video walkthrough for Robbie that I thought you'd enjoy.  Sadly I didn't think of recording horizontally so it's pretty tiny; for that I apologize.  But you'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

Note: It's a mess because the kitchen is being renovated and there are still some furnishings that we will not personally have.

So as you can see, our kitchen will be very wee and we will have minimal storage space.  Does anyone have any advice for maximizing space?

I'm Going...

...to Santa Fe!

And Robbie, that video is for you.  

My sister and I are currently in Phoenix, slowly making our way to Albuquerque and then Santa Fe.  We'll be in North America's oldest capitol until Saturday and I may or may not be readily available in the land of blerg.  

Wish me luck and please cross your fingers that Rob and I will have a new address by Saturday!  Have a great week, all!

Look What I Got!

Yesterday during our going-away festivities with our families my good friend Jess posted this amazing photo she made on my Facebook wall:




Isn't it amazing?!  I'm going to get it printed once we settle into the new house and hang it up proudly :)

I'm seriously so happy to have such awesome, thoughtful friends, and glad that blogging has allowed me to meet people I would not have known otherwise.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Bumper Sticker or Custom Paint Job: An Open Letter to Lisa Khoury from Nova

First of all, thank you Caitlin for allowing me to post my rant on your blog. People like the young woman I'm about to talk about cause my blood to boil. And it really does take a lot to get under ol' Nova Rella's skin like this.

Lisa Khoury wrote a purposefully inflammatory article in her university newspaper's opinion section about the lack of sophistication and morality tattooed young women have. She's getting quite a bit of undue attention, and so both Caitlin and I felt the need to put our two cents out there in the internet world with our own views on the issues she brings up.

I see that since I first read the article, they've posted a 'counterpoint' article, written by a young lady with two tattoos. She's cute and she means well, but she hasn't quite hit the nail on the head with the problems in the original piece.

Before you read my response, please click HERE and read her article "Why Put a Bumper Sticker on a Ferrari" in its entirety or you won't have any idea what I'm talking about. Yeah, you can tell by her title it's a real page-turner. Anyway, here is my response:

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Dear Lisa,

Congratulations on becoming internet famous in a matter of days! It must feel amazing to denigrate an entire population of people different than you for your own benefit. You've already received so much undue attention for this article that I almost hesitate in writing this response, but I realize that there are people out there who will take anything printed in any newspaper as the truth, and I am not having that.

The opinions you've put out there for the whole world to read are the same mindless banal remarks I hear all the time. You've memorized them by rote. You sound like you're reading off a script. How will a tattooed woman ever catch a husband? Why would they do that to themselves? They used to look so pretty. How will they ever get a job? Are they a slut or a rebel? They must be dumb. Guess what Lisa, we've heard it all before.

What you've written is not new or compelling. You've basically just said the exact stereotypical crap that I, as a fairly heavily tattooed woman, have to deal with from lowbrow classless assholes on a day-to-day basis. In your article I hear echoes of the uneducated, the judgemental, and the closed-minded. What I don't hear is a single original idea.

Tattoos are not new, rebellious or "vandalism" of the body. Period. They are an expression of one's inner self and of one's societal status, and have always been. I'm sure you didn't bother to do any research on the historical front, so let me tell you for a fact that human beings have always tattooed themselves all over the world for many different reasons, mainly spiritual and societal, and they always will. It's part of our very being, as humans are by nature categorists and compartmentalists.

The fact that you refer to your body as 'a temple' and being 'blessed' gives me an insight as to where your opinions may be stemming from. Not to get too religiously controversial on somebody else's blog, but the oppression of this innately human desire to decorate and change one's body probably, at least partially, comes from our weird colonized pseudo-christian culture. Fortunately this mentality is gradually fading away and becoming outdated in many facets of our society. Unfortunately people like you are still living with your head in the 19th century clouds and refuse to acknowledge the winds of change.

And since we are on the topic of outdated ideals, Lisa, I have to ask why you don't tear into men who have tattoos with all the voracity you used against women. Don't they deserve the same public scrutiny? Shouldn't they be running to the mall and getting their hair done too? There's a definite sexist undercurrent running through this article and I can't understand how a modern day aspiring journalist such as yourself is even suggesting that we subscribe to such a thing. It is unfair and nonsensical to drag tattooed people through the mud to prove your antiquated moral code.

I see that you mention 'class' and 'elegance' repeatedly in your article. How do you define class and elegance, Lisa? By slagging other people's physical appearance? By working out a lot and having "a nice body"? Shopping a lot at the mall? You think these things give you more 'class' than someone like me? I wouldn't give a person as superficial and judgemental as you the time of day.

By the way, what is with all this yoga and working out and shopping nonsense? Keep your capitalist misogynistic worldviews to yourself please. I am not and have never been interested in wearing heels, they destroy your feet. Long painted nails are impractical. I hate going to the mall. I'm not overly concerned with making "guys drool" over me or holding 'serious power' over other people because of my beauty. I value my brain and my creativity miles above others' opinions of my sex appeal. I feel like those who seek others' approval, and modify their habits and physical appearance to please others are missing something essential: self esteem.

You blatantly proclaim that "Nothing comes out of getting a tattoo." How can you say that? To imply that getting tattoos has no meaning, when clearly you have none yourself and thus have no evidence to the contrary, is straight-up ridiculous. Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it invalid. Do you also consider yourself above people of other cultures? People who chose a different profession than you did? How do you feel about other religions? Do you not consider that there are people of every kind on this earth and there is room for all of us?

You say "Instead of getting a tattoo, a more productive use of your time would be improving and appreciating the body you have been given," to which I reply "Why does the body need to be improved?" or conversely, "What makes you think tattooing a body isn't improving it?" I am seeing several references to going to the gym, working out, getting a 'hot body'... why do you consider that to be the polar opposite of getting tattoos? I can't wrap my brain around your logic.

On a personal note, I am extremely offended that you took so much time out of your life to write such an insulting article about something you know nothing about. There is nothing about my own tattoos that says "I am trying to prove something to other people." I do not relish being judged by my appearance at all. I never have. I get tattoos because being a tattooed woman is who I am. I've always known it, as cheesy as that may sound. It is me, and I can not change that. I love it and tattoos are a large part of my life. Hairstyles? Not so much.

And how dare you bring children's morals into this article? Who the hell are you to even imply that a tattooed parent or grandparent isn't as good as one without any tattoos? This drivel is absolutely offensive for so many reasons. I fear for your children's morality a thousand times more than my own. "God knows" that you have no fucking idea what you are talking about. I'd love to know what makes you, a student in her early 20's, think you have the right to morally judge people in their major life decisions at all. What do you know about life?

So, Lisa, in conclusion, It's none of your business how intelligent, happy, educated, classy, attractive or well-off I am, but I'm going to let you in on a secret, Lisa. I'm probably more of all these things than you are. And I know for a fact I'm a better writer.

The world you are living in is a shallow superficial nightmare, and I genuinely feel sorry for you and hope you grow out of this stage quickly. I promise you, you will be ashamed of this article when you grow up because it shows a real lack of empathy, kindness, positivity and the depth of spirit a human being needs to have genuine relationships and a happy existence.

Hope we never hear from you again,

Nova.

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You can click here to see Caitlin's response to Lisa's article on my blog.

I'd like to encourage more of you tattooed ladies to post your own response on your own blogs as well and leave us a link here in the comments section. You can also email it to Lisa herself: 

lisa.khoury@ubspectrum.com

Today is a Good Day.

Today was just one of those days that make me smile.  For the first time in weeks, I feel relaxed and thankful and awesome, thanks to some of the amazing people I'm lucky enough to have in my life.

First of all, Nova and I are planning a pretty bad-ass guest post situation for tomorrow. Be ready.

Second, I went to therapy today to totally unload my brain of all the stress that's been building up these last few weeks.  I literally rambled for a straight hour about "Hoarders" and "Intervention," my fear of losing my job, some minor family issues, and of course, moving stress.  My therapist banned me from perusing Craigslist rentals until Monday, and as soon as she said it I felt a huge weight lifted off.  Funny how I respond so well to authority.

After therapy Rob and I drove to Auburn to drop off some of our unwanted furniture with Safe Voices, a local domestic violence shelter and advocacy group.  It felt good knowing that the stuff we don't want will potentially help a woman (or man) in a tough spot get back on their feet again and set up a new place to live.  I didn't even know that donating to a domestic violence group was an option, but I'm glad to know now.

I took Rob out to a restaurant in Lewiston called She Doesn't Like Guthries, which is a weird little artsy hipster oasis in the mill town aesthetic that dominates in Lewiston.  I had a yummy fiesta bowl (kind of like a burrito bowl at Chipotle) and a  smoothie, and Rob had a delicious burrito.   Expensive but totally worth it to have a little lunch date with my husband.

 

When I got home and checked the mail I found that I had a package from the AMAZING Deanna. As I opened it Rob said, "I think this girl has a crush on you." AND HE'S RIGHT.

First of all, she decorated the package with awesome stickers and semi-threatening messages.  Do that and you have my heart forever.

I also got two adorable necklaces from F21, and a valentine from the very famous Gage of Gage Says, and as we all know, he doesn't just give out valentines to anyone.  So, you know, be jealous.

The piece de resistance, though, was the note I got from Deanna, in which she promised me that the note had been "smothered in her breasts." Best friends? Check. Online girlfriends? Check.

This is why I love friends, both online and in real life.  Deanna, you are amazing.

Later tonight our awesome landlords are taking us out for a farewell dinner.  I'm sure after that we'll snuggle on the couch (Rob and I, not our landlords), watch the Thursday night NBC lineup, and maybe even have a few drinks.

Plus this weekend we're having a going away party with our parents! A wonderful ending to the week.

How has your day been?

Mid-Week Bits & Pieces

I know these "list" posts are probably really boring...I just don't have it in me lately to form thoughts.

1. I smashed my car into a snowbank the other day.  Rob was getting tattooed and I was going to bring him a sammich from Subway since he'd be there for most of the day.  It had been snowing all day and apparently our town lacks the funds to pay the plowmen overtime, so the roads were pretty slippery.  As I was getting ready to hang a right into the mall where Adam's shop is, I noticed that the 18-wheeler behind me wasn't slowing down at a rate that I deemed appropriate given the weather.  Rather than get rear-ended by a giant truck, I decided to take the turn a little faster than I should've and whammo, snowbank.  Interestingly this was my first time getting stuck in a snowbank despite having lived in Maine for my entire life.  Thankfully some people I didn't know who had a truck and a chain came and pulled me out.  I was fine and the car is fine, I was really more embarrassed than anything and kept apologizing. Afterward Rob asked me "Did you take a picture?!" because he wanted me to write a blog post about it.  I didn't, because of aforementioned embarrassment, and for that I'm sorry.

2. The stress from moving is getting to me.  I know it's particularly bad because I haven't been sleeping well, and let me tell you, I am a champion sleeper.  In college I'd nap from 4-6pm every day and still fall asleep in minutes that night.  Rob always laughs at me because of how quickly I fall asleep, but not lately.  I've literally been staring at the ceiling. I'm writing this at 11:20pm and I feel like I could run a marathon.

3. Guess who's getting a skull tattoo on Valentine's Day? This guy girl.

4. I've been feeling really awful about my blog lately.  I want to write this crazy big post that's super awesome and coherent, but all that comes out are these lists.  I think because my thoughts are so absolutely scattered.

5. Because of the increased anxiety I've found myself disassociating a lot more.  I plan on talking about it at length in therapy tomorrow but in the meantime I'm trying some of the grounding techniques I mentioned in my vlog below.

6. The chick who does the voice for Marcel the Shell with Shoes on is about to be on Conan.

7. Tattoo is officially in the itchy stage and I hate it.  I do not hate it enough to avoid getting a skull tattoo on Valentine's Day (see point #3).

8. Does anyone have any plans for Valentine's Day?  I'm getting a skull tattoo (not to belabor the point or anything) and packing and working. Exciting, eh?

9.  I love you all. And thanks for reading and embracing my insanity as though it were your own.