The Insanity Of Society

Most humans today are certifiably insane. Yes, I said it. The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting a different result. In fact, society’s definition of sanity is actually insanity. Society tells us to get a job, make money, buy the house, the car, eat this, do that…while we sit back and wonder why we aren’t happy. So we do more of what society tells us, expecting that it will make us happy. And it hardly ever does.

So what do we do? We watch mindless tv to reassure ourselves that we are just like everyone else, that we are normal, that we are doing as expected. We accept mindless drivel as truth, without ever questioning that maybe its wrong. Doesn’t that sound insane? Is that really all there is to life; getting a job, getting married, having the required 2.5 kids, retire, die? Sounds like a hamster wheel to me.

Think I’m wrong about the mindless drivel? Take a look at the email scams that go around all the time. If you believed all of them, you can’t live. You can’t eat anything, breath the air, wash your body or live in your home. But people believe them as truth all the time, until some scientist says on national tv that there isn’t a scrap of truth to it. And then they believe the scientist blindly. Until the next scientist says differently then the first, then beliefs change in the blink of an eye. Isn’t that insane?

We drug ourselves to hide anything that might be considered abnormal, that doesn’t fit with the social norm. Then we hide the fact that we are taking drugs to correct an imbalance that society told you that you have. Hmm. What result are you expecting? Society is telling you that you have to take drugs to be normal, then telling you that taking those drugs is abnormal, so to be normal you have to not admit that you are taking them.

Doesn’t it make more sense to do what feels right for you? Regardless of what other people think. You are the only one who has to look at yourself in the mirror every day, the only one living in your mind and body, so why is it so important what everyone else thinks? Try being “certifiable” for just one day, it can be a lot of fun.

How I Got Lost - And Lost Myself In The Process

I mentioned in my earlier post New Revelations some of how I got off track, but I feel it necessary to continue down that path.

As I stated in that post, my first defining moment came when I got married to my ex. The poor man. Since I only gave a broad overview, let's get down into the nitty gritty shall we? For one thing, I was very much pregnant with his child, scared out of my mind, and 1200 dollars a month sounded really good. This was extra money mind you, above and beyond his pay. I was also 19 years old and fresh out of the military. I got out due to the child in my stomach...being a girl is GOOD sometimes.

The man had been asking me to marry him since week 2 of us seeing each other, and I finally consented. I was pregnant by then. Long story there. I wanted a long engagement, seeing as how he hadn't met my parents yet, I hadn't met his, and he was due to ship out for 6 months to go to training...quite a long time period for the newly wed. So I figured that we would have a good period of time to prepare, and also to ensure that this was really what we wanted. I was one of those "married for life" people. Still am actually. I don't make my commitments lightly.

I already kind of knew that I didn't love him, but he adored me, was a great guy, and heck, I was carrying his child...and I'm definitely not the sort to separate a father and his child without great cause. I was kind of counting on that way out after 6 months I think. But the best laid plans of mice and men...we ended up doing a pro/con list the night before we were wed, and on paper it seemed like a good idea. Logically, I knew I could do a lot worse. But something inside me screamed that this was a mistake, and I ignored it, figuring it was jitters.

I continued to ignore it, even when my fight or flight response kicked in while we were saying our vows. It took all I had to remain standing there, I wanted to run so bad. My gut was screaming at me, it even took over some bodily functions, yet I stayed. I got through it, made it through the chatting and family time (it was a JP wedding), but barely. I no longer felt whole at the point where I said I do, so the rest of the night was a murky haze. I was literally screaming inside at a few levels, but I kept my smile firmly attached to my face. I got married, isn't that great? I held it together until it came time for bed...and that's when I broke. Every sensation came rushing to me, and I knew that I had separated myself. I was literally split in two, one part of me was there crying on the bed, the other had gone in the other direction.

It was the single most painful thing in my life. To have one's soul torn apart is not something I hope anyone else ever feels. Try explaining what's going on to a man who is wondering why his new wife is crying uncontrollably on the bed. I finally just chalked it up to pregnancy hormones and decided to make the best of it. But I knew I was living a lie. And not only that, but a half life, as that piece of my soul was gone to who only knows where. We eventually split, for many reasons, and we both refer to that time as our "dark period."

My second shift was when I met the man I can only refer to as my mate...I can think of no better term for him. While not as painful as the first, it definitely shook what soul I had left at this point. Soul shattering perhaps is a better way to describe it. It was (and still is) a very unique experience.

After these two things, and several minor day to day dramas, I had had just about enough with it all. I retreated into myself to protect what was left of me, and my soul...my entire essence if you will. It also was a protection feature for my darling mate...my essence is often hard to handle, as experience has taught me. So normal became my goal, my way of life. I retreated further and further into myself, closing myself off from the world, limiting my very nature in order to protect what was left. Life had no meaning for me anymore, save how I was going to survive from day to day. I was not depressed as such, although to an external source it might seem that way, but I wasn't letting anything effect me again.

The downside to locking down the fortress was I cut off that which was most important to me, and locked away my very nature. I don't know about you, but I found that to be almost worse then death. I denied my nature, which made me angry, violent, morose...all in all rather uncharacteristic. The longer I did this, the worse it got. Eventually I had done it so long that I rather forgot much of what my true nature even was...I'm still seeking that out today. Finding myself again is my most important job right now...without me, there is nothing else.

A Glimpse Into My New Direction

To get a glimpse of my "new" direction, take a peek at this article I wrote for Associated Content. Feel free to leave any feedback, either here or on the article itself. I'm taking baby steps to live more congruently with my purpose and life path, instead of just floating along in life. But I'm still refining, tweaking and playing. :)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1194507/what_is_holding_you_back.html?cat=7

New Revelations

Boy, have I been lost in my head. I've been doing a lot of thinking, planning, and thinking some more. There has been a lot going on upstairs to say the least. I'm not sure what turns my life will be taking right now, but I'm sure it will be much improved from where I have been.

One thing I've figured out is my life purpose. Well, I should state rediscover, as I knew it before, although not in so many words. When I was a teenager, I lived my life based upon my purpose, although I didn't quite know it at the time. Then over the years I lost it. I wasn't quite out of my teen years when I experienced my first (and worst) life shattering experience. I got married. Shouldn't be such a big deal, people do it every day, whether they should or shouldn't. But the night I bound myself to my ex, I cried uncontrollably for hours. I literally felt like I had split in two. One of those moments where you realize that listening to your intuition was non negotiable. I wasn't quite sure what to do, and its carried over the past five years...it just left me lost.

But now I'm getting back to being who I am, and who I was meant to be. My life purpose is much bigger then I am, but I'm willing to tackle it. I think part of the problem is being unable to fully put into words the entire thing. The basic is to heal, but what that actually means is huge...it doesn't mean go to med school and be happy. Its more of a holistic approach, the mind/body/spirit thing...but even that limits it. So I've basically said screw defining it, and just roll with it. Why limit what you can do?

So things might get a bit strange here and there, but that's okay...no one has ever accused me of being normal. Although I will admit, for the longest time that was my greatest wish...recently though, I think I must have been hit on the head too hard at some point. Normal sucks.

30 Day Challenge Temporarily Paused

I am pausing the 30 day challenge as of today. I'm not giving up, merely reaccessing what I must do. The past few days I have been in a contemplative mood, and have discovered a few things about myself that I either didn't know to begin with or had forgotten about. Its lead me to really think about what I desire and where I want to go, so I am taking some time to plan better.

It has come to my attention that I don't plan well enough. I always thought it was my follow through that was lacking, but it would seem that is not the case. I get these half-formed ideas, and I instantly go to implement them, instead of allowing them to simmer and really get an idea of what I want to do with the idea. If I want to do anything at all.

I have left a lot of unfinished projects behind me. And much of that is due to going off half-cocked at the first spark of an idea, before I even know if its something I want to do. It sounded good at the time, you know? Granted that makes me a far more spontaneous person, but it leaves a pervasive air of failure as well.

So I am taking a step back and really thinking about what I want to do, and how to get there. I feel led to do more then just babble nonsense at people, and I am finally seeing a depth I had been missing for years. In this time I will not be implementing too many changes, I want to go with the flow, but in a more sedate manner. More then likely the only blogs I will be updating regularly will be this one and my cleaning blog, as I decide what exactly it is I want to do with the rest. Basically I will be living with much more conscious thought, and moving with a purpose. I knew the Army was good for something.

Quitting Smoking - Day Two

Image via WikipediaDay Two

I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was stuck in that half awake/half asleep time where your dreams happen, but you are still awake and aware of what goes on around you. And when it that phase I always have the most vivid dreams, though they aren't what you would call normal. Its hard to describe, I suppose the easiest way would be how meditations often happen...only you have no control over anything, and its like your dream has overlaid your reality. Perhaps lucid dreaming? Although that implies that you have some control over it.

I have failed to remain smoke free. This is far harder then it would appear at the surface. One of my biggest downfalls is my violent side, usually it is tucked away nicely, but when I attempt to quit smoking, it kicks in to where I actually fear for the safety of those around me. Including my own child. I think it gets amplified by the lack of nicotine and the normal side effects of quitting. Then it gets to the point where I am barely controlling it and that's when I cave to the nicodemon. Smoking seems like a small price to pay for not killing someone dear to you.

I was foggy for most of the day, as the physical symptoms were kicking in. As usual, my gut goes into hyperdrive and I start getting sick to my stomach. I sometimes wonder if that isn't my intuition, as it is the same feeling I get when I make a bad decision, or when I am about to do something that can harm me.

Perhaps I haven't laid the groundwork well enough to quit yet. I am exceedingly restless tonight, and its driving me batty. I cannot concentrate on any one thing, because whatever it is I am concentrating on isn't the thing I need...but I am unsure what I should be doing. I haven't been working on myself as much, more treating symptoms, and there is an obvious dissatisfaction with my life. Besides the inherent dissatisfaction from smoking. There are far deeper issues at hand here, but I am stuck in a cycle of shallowness, and unsure on where to begin.

The last time I quit for any length of time, I was confident in who I was and where I was going. Not bad for an 18 year old. And I successfully quit for 6 months, with no cravings, not even a thought in my head about going back. Perhaps I should endeavor to seek out why I went back to begin with, because based on the immediate thoughts in my head, I see a pattern here. Perhaps it is time to take up my journal again, and dig deeper beyond the obvious.

Seeking to remain smoke free...

Quitting Smoking - Day One

Image by Trinitas Imaging / Udit Kulshrestha via FlickrDay One -

I started at the stroke of midnight last night, and I started leaning over a toilet. I had chain smoked three cigarettes in a half an hour. My body can't handle that much nicotine.

I got through most of the day just fine, although I wee bit distracted. I only had the odd sensation that I wanted a cigarette, usually when my emotions would peak due to external stimulus. I felt more clearheaded all day, although I did start getting tired around 5pm. I've also gone through some periods of irritation and anger.

Right now my body has hit craving zone, I REALLY want a cigarette. And no matter what I seem to to, my body won't let go of the craving. I keep having little thoughts like "you don't really want to quit" and "we can get some tomorrow". My brain is trying to convince me to smoke again...but the sad part is, it tends to be effective.

I have a really hard time shutting my brain off, the mental part is the hardest part for me. Its far less the physical craving vs the mental craving. I need to figure out why my brain desires it so badly, and find ways of distracting it, otherwise I am not going to make it 30 days. Any tips out there?

Quitting Smoking

Image via WikipediaIn honor of Halloween, which for me is also the natural new year, I have decided to do a 30 day trial of quitting smoking.

Quitting Smoking

I have been struggling with quitting smoking for months now. Its something I really want to do, but its much harder then it would appear at first glance. Nicotine is an assiduous little beast, worming its way into your thoughts, dreams, and even your very body functions. According to many websites out there, quitting smoking is akin to detoxing of heroine. It truly is a nasty drug.

Yet, even with knowing all that I know, I still find it hard. Part of the problem is it has become so ingrained into my daily life that I am unsure of what to do when it is no longer there. Then there are some immediate physical symptoms as well.

Why 30 Days?

For one thing, it takes about 28 days to form a habit. For another, 30 days is not permanent. If I find that quitting smoking is not for me, I am free to go back to it. I really want to see if it makes any significant changes in my day to day life. I need to know for sure that this is the right path for me, even though in my head and in my dreams I am always a nonsmoker.

So November 1st is set as the beginning of my 30 day trial. I am committing myself to go 30 days smoke free. I will be blogging a daily recap for accountability. I plan to measure any weight gain/loss, appetite differences, energy levels, mental clarity and any fears I encounter. Tomorrow will be spent reading up on various methods of quitting, as well as writing out a basic plan for how I will avoid the common pitfalls. In between all the festivities, of course.

An Intriguing Conversation About Christianity, Lucifer and Creation

Sometimes you're the teacher, sometimes you're the student.

I had a very interesting conversation last night with my friend Draco. Not that all of our conversations aren't interesting, but you can only take programming talk so far. Kidding, we actually discuss a wide array of topics, with religion and the secrets of life being the most prevalent. Well, besides programming of course!

Draco and I have a very interesting dynamic. He is the Dragon, I am the Tiger, and like all the myths and legends state, we are at a constant stalemate. We both share a love of knowledge...okay, more like an addiction...and we share that knowledge, to some extent. Our dynamic is basically the love of friends with the awareness of mortal enemies. Interesting, no?

As I stated above, religion is a heavy topic for us. He grew up in churches, studying the bible, family is heavily into the clerical side...while I was raised a loose Christian, and broke away from that path many years ago. Though I must say I never truly followed it, my poor Mother. We enjoy the give and take of sharing thoughts and opinions about that sect, and digging deeper into it.

My opinion on the bible is that its one really good story book, and nothing more then a history book. But I will agree with Christianity here for a moment and say it was probably heavily influenced by a deity. That doesn't mean I think the book is divine, merely that I'm sure divinity had some say on it, just like other numerous texts. But its more historical and scientific in nature then divine. I'll put more of my thoughts on that in another blog post, simply because I can wax poetic on it and become extremely verbose.

We got onto Lucifer, Lilith, Adam, Eve, the creation story and I'm not sure what else. We tend to skip around a lot while making our points, since we pull from many different avenues. We both have some pretty strong opinions on these things, and tend to bounce ideas off of each other and develop new ways of looking at things that way. Usually I'm the one who gets sent off into "I think I figured something out land", but this time it was Draco.

We started talking about how Lucifer was seduced by pride and how that brought upon his fall and the fall of his house. We had already touched on creation, evolution, the Greek gods and a bunch of things before that. We started talking about how the angels were created without free will, and Draco mentioned how that meant that something else had to be in play here. I pretty much just laughed and told him it was a lover's spat. I've been a believer in the dual God/Goddess since before I could walk. Even as a christian, it made no sense to only have one.

At first (being a typical Scorpio) he started to argue with me about how it couldn't be that. Then I clarified what I meant. That I wasn't talking about God and Lucifer having a relationship. Then it dawned on him what I meant. The man hates it when I have a point.

This is where many will call me all sorts of vile things, but just listen for a moment. The Bible clearly states that "the Earth is your Mother." It also clearly states "we" in Genesis. There is also strong beliefs in both a God and Goddess in most of the belief systems we have on earth.

Now think, for one moment. What is the most reoccurring theme on earth? Remember that there is nothing new under the sun. Man takes woman for mate, does something stupid, woman retaliates. We've even seen it play out with divinity. Every major pantheon has something similar, for example, Zeus and Hera. So for the sake of argument, the God and Goddess have a little tiff. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned remember. And frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the little tiff is about Earth, God darling is rather busy playing with his new toy. So Goddess decides to get even, she's had about enough of his neglect. And here is charming Lucifer, second in command, most powerful angel, very attractive...just perfect for the revenge scheme unfolding in her head. So she charms him, fills his head with nonsense about how HE should be God, he's smarter, better looking blah blah blah. And she has the power to allow him to do this, after all, he has no free will, so the bonds that bind him have to be loosened for him to rebel. And the rest is history, I'm sure you know the story.

And I feel blog #10 coming on...

Why Do You Blog?

Why do you blog? Its a question that circulates around the blogosphere constantly, everyone seeking that one thing that might make them go "aHA!" Its also a question on everyone's mind when they set type to the page. Don't shake your head at me, its there. It takes the guise of "Why am I doing this again?" or many other questions of a similar nature.

So lets get to the good part. Oh, am I being narcissitic again? Kidding. But since you are here reading, why do I blog? I could get into all sorts of stories, stories of trying to be a better person, narcisism (or why I'm just that cool), some voyueristic need, money, I could go on for hours on the many reasons.

And none of them are truly wrong. But the main two points of why I blog are simple. The first one is experimentation. I'm constantly in a state of change and experimentation, and an online blog is perfect for that. Which leads to reason number two: To develop my voice. This is really where the above reasons fit in. Let me explain.

For many years (well, many to a 25 year old) I've been listening to society's dictates. They dictated how I should look, how I should dress, how I reacted in situations, right down to the nitty gritty of who I was. First it was my parents, then my brothers got in on the action. Then finally it was my friends and later my employers. Everyone I came into contact with had certain ideas of who I should be.

At the time, that was okay, because I knew who I was, deep down inside, and I kept that precious "me" locked away where they couldn't touch her.

Well guess what, after so many years of that, she decided that enough was enough and went on vacation. To parts unknown. And let me tell you, that surely left poor 25 year old me floundering. Okay, 21 year old me, but it only really hit home this past year. I managed to mostly ignore it for years.

Have you ever encountered that moment? Where the bottom literally drops out from under you and you wonder what the Hades you are going to grab ahold of?

Yeah, it was kind of like that. But I still have the memory of what I was, once upon a time. I also have the ideal of what I want to be hovering. The two are not at war, though the conditioning I've taken over the years sure doesn't like them. It wants me to stay happily (really unhappily) stuck in this nice little rut it has become accustumed to. It doesn't want me to see the truth, because truth hurts.

The past few years in particular I consider my dark years. From 19-21 being the darkest, yet still dark after that. Now I've hit the murk. I've always been a take charge kind of gal, believing herself fully responsible for the choices and decisions she's made. Not realizing, perhaps because I didn't want to, that many of those choices were taken out of my hands. The gal who always prided herself on her self-control and the control she had over her life...realized that she had given up some vital controls.

How does this apply to my blogging? Quite simple really. It gives me a chance to have that voice, to work out things, to break my conditioning. It helps me gain my control back. I have never been considered the most emotional person (okay, cold hearted is usually used, or at the very least, controlled), nor have I ever been the most open. Alright, so I'm locked down like a fortress! Which was never a problem for me before, still isn't completely. Because I do not believe that everyone should get everything that someone is. But here's the problem that I've run into: when you do run into someone who values and deserves your all, without some practice, that relationship remains far shallower then it should be. Ah, there's the rub. While I still do not believe that every Tom, Dick, and Harry should get everything, there are people in my life that deserve far better then the shallow relationship that I offer. And I am shortchanging myself by only offering them that. How does that show someone that I value them as a person?

Then I wonder why I'm restless, annoyed, and left feeling like there is no depth in my life. Good ole Homer Simpson said it best..."Douh!"

How does a blog help me cultivate those relationships? Easy, by giving me practice on getting myself out there. Not the mask that I wore for so long (though that will come up, I guarendamntee it), but the real me: the intellegent, deep, thoughtful, questioning individual that I am. I am unique, but for many years I feared that uniqueness, as it cut me off from the whole. But now I find that I value it. It might not win me many friends, but the ones I do have love me for it, even though they don't get to see it shine, they know its there. And they deserve to see it, and I deserve better then to hide it and suffocate that which I am.

Still Miserable

I'm still sick, and still unhappy. I don't think I'll be going to work tomorrow either, as the dizziness hasn't left me yet. And being dizzy during an hour commute just isn't pretty. I have no desire to become roadkill, not yet anyway.

All the blogs are complete, well, they're created. Obviously they are rather lacking in content. But that will all change as I progress. I'd have to be crazy to expect all my blogs to have hundreds of posts overnight. Well, I suppose I could do that, but then there wouldn't be much REAL content, now would there? And it would rather defeat the goal.

Frankly I'd rather have blogs without much content then spam blogs. The goal here is to show various sides of myself, not run rampant over a part of cyberspace. There might even be some cool pictures! I am stopping here at creating blogs, I think I have way more then I need currently. I'll decide if I want any more later after I get a feel for each blog.

It Has Not Been My Day

I absolute detest being sick. Especially when I am sick enough that I cannot go to work or get much else done.

Today was one of those days. But it wasn't a total loss, as I spent my time before the spawn got home from school researching various things online. Nothing too exciting, mostly on blogging and writing in general. I'm always looking to improve my skills. It also led to a couple of new blogs, like I needed them. But I will eventually, and at least none of my blogs will be cluttered with nonsense. I still have two more to create. And then I'm done for now, until I get into the habit of touching base on them daily.

Of course, because I am sick, the spawn is going insane. What law dictates that the hell-raising abilities and annoyance factor of a child rise in direct proportion to how crappy the parent feels? I need to find that law, and hope for a loophole. Its just not nice.

Well, I'm off to create two more blogs and brainstorm blogging ideas, wish me luck!

I've Been Published!

I've been published on Associated Content! Check out my new poem and my Halloween safety tips. :) Feel free to leave any comments or feedback you might have.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/331983/raiscara_avalon.html

Stealing, Part Deux

Again, don't do it.

Someone attempted to get away with "mis-scanning" at the self-checks. Again on my watch. She didn't get away with all of it, though its possible that a can of Spam got away. I did not see it in her bags. But I did catch the bagels, mayonnaise and tuna that she thought she could get for free. I understand that the economy is hard and that money is tight, but why continue to make it harder for yourself and others?

Maybe I'm just too honest to understand this rationale. I've made mistakes, we all have, but to do it deliberately? Especially in today's society, where chances are good that you won't even make it out the door with the product. And if you do, your actions are forever immortalized on a security tape somewhere. Is it really worth it to save a couple of bucks?

Seriously, the woman was willing to possibly go to jail for $6 people. Maybe a bit more. What is that going to buy her? Is $6 going to make that much of a difference in her bills? Considering her type of payment, I doubt it.

Could someone please enlighten me?

Restless Tonight

I am feeling so restless, but the sad part is I am not figuring out what is making me so. It could be a whole host of reasons as long as my leg. Unfortunately nothing is really jumping out at me. Its driving me crazy though, as I feel like I should be doing something...but have no idea what that something is. Have you ever had nights like that?

Been journalling a lot lately. In fact, I usually am ignoring everything else in order to get things down on paper. Though not everything, somehow I'm managing to get some housework done! Am I the only person who does this? Gets lost in contemplation so much that the world fades away? I have a lot to figure out about myself, the downside of being a 25 year old I guess. Everyone talks about the teens being rough, but they failed to mention the 20s! I don't know how they missed it frankly.

Been thinking about my blog situation. I have several, and have left a long trail of them behind me. And I think I sort of have a reason for that. I never really give any blog time for me to really figure out what I want to do with it. To develop a voice. And that's a shame really. But I get all caught up in how dull mine sound, or how I've gotten into this trap or that one and poof! Off I go to hope some other blog will do the trick. Basically I get stuck in the "growing pain" phase of each and every blog. So my goal is to stick with the blogs I have. No switching after a couple of months.

I will more then likely be adding a few more, because I think one of my issues is that I get frustrated trying to stick myself in one box. So I think "next time will be different." Ha. I just need to separate myself, since everything is so compartmentalized in my brain. That might help each one to develop its own voice as well, and none of them will get cluttered up by random nonsense...which sends me running each and every time.

My goal is to keep each and every blog for one year.

Yes, that is an accomplishment. I don't think I've ever done that. Nor do I think I have a single blog with more then 100 posts on it...and that was my 360 blog from like 2 or 3 years ago. Yup, rather pathetic isn't it?

My second goal is to write daily. In each one.

There will be crossposts. I can guarentee it. Sometimes I'm just lazy like that. But this way I can do what I set out to do, which was show the world who I am. I hope. I might bore you to tears, but that's that. Enjoy the ride either way, and if I haven't bored you yet, feel free to peek at my other blogs. They're all about my main interests. And maybe some other links.

Restlessness has me random I see.

Stealing

Its a crime. Don't do it.

Unfortunately, many folks believe that they are somehow entitled to their "five finger" discounts. Apparently these same folks also do not understand that their actions are a direct reason why prices are so high. Then they whine that they cannot afford anything, so they seek out the "five finger" discounts again. Round and round we go.

Someone stole today. On my watch. If I had seen the guy in the parking lot, he was going down. I tend to cover the self-checkouts, and this guy thought he was being sneaky by stealing a whopping $33.10. Guess what buddy, your face and actions were on video tape. Do people NOT think that we are going to catch them? Seriously.

With prices the way they are, this is the worst time to steal from anywhere, especially from large chain stores. They will find you and prosecute. And then the rest of us will be paying their lawyer fees in higher prices. With gas prices the way they are, and the economy itself, big stores are more aware then ever. They are also going after even the smallest offense, and trust me, they can pay their lawyer fees.

Yeah, I'm sure it seems like a great idea to stick it to them, but you are only hurting yourself and the people you love.

Confessions From A Blog Addict...

I am a blog addict. I cannot have just one blog that covers everything in my sphere, I must have a blog for each and every one, and a few that are simply for the overflow. If asked if I could keep myself content on a mere one blog, I would have to laugh, and then continue on my way. How do you folks out there do it?

I start to feel confined to one blog, one screen name, one facet...so I have to rebel, break out of the box and start anew somewhere else. Only this time I'm running with the fact that I have many facets. My interests are as varied as the stars, so why cannot my blogs be so?

Of course, that does tend to lead to eventual neglect, even if only temporary. Like my poor Holiday blog, its over there in cyberspace just floating in the wind. I shall have to run over and resurrect it. But not tonight. Some of these blogs are going to take far more brainpower then a little bit of random mental blabber. And I like it that way.

Look for my slightly extreme list of blogs here soon. Or just click on that wonderful Blogger profile to get a brief idea. There's more then what's shown there people.