Assigning Blame

Oliver Stone blames Alexander reception on American youth

But... the fact that it was a crappy --- movie had nothing to do with it. Of course.

Poking the Dog

It's a phrase we use around work to let someone know to let something or someone alone. "Don't poke the dog...."

Well, I think I'm going to poke it just a little... see what kind of reaction/advice I can get... because many of y'all are definately smarter than I am.

Preface

I don't necessarily hold the point of view the question is asked. It came up in a coversation I had a long time ago and had it sitting in the draft folder for weeks.

Question

What does the Bible really have to say about sex? We know there is a wholesale endorsement of it via the Song of Solomon. Is it supposed to be within marriage only or do long-term committed relationships qualify? Marriage was a religious institution long before the state decided to make it a contractual agreement between parties. Marriage also occured at much younger ages than it typically does now. What does one do as they get older (when the message of True Love Waits starts to sound a little old and hollow)?

How much of our contemporary Christian views of sex are really found in the Bible? Is it possible to be sexually liberated and a Christian? By sexually liberated I mean to be aware of and comfortable with one's sexuality - I don't mean just wandering around and sleeping with who ever says 'yes.'

In her book Real Sex, Laura F. Winner puts forth the idea of chastity as a spiritual discipline and hints that discipline in general is missing from the modern church (not explored further in the book but my guess is that it makes fodder for a future volumn). She became a Christian yet did not stop having sexual relationships with her significant others. She wasn't willy nilly screwing guys from bars a la the Sex and the City girls but it was in a relationship she was committed to.

I found her book to be more helpful than most. I have often expressed great frustration of the Christian response to just about any question "Well, you just need to pray more."

Ok.... sure. And why don't I poke my eyes out with a stick while I'm at it. But let me beat you with it first because that sounds so HOLLOW! Just a pat answer that someone gives when they don't know what to say. Like at a funeral when someone says "they look peaceful" or "don't they look good?" No. They don't. They look dead and now move along. Move along.

That is if they don't turn beet red and run away for the fact that you dared to mention sex at all. That you might want it/need it/miss it. After all, good Christians don't talk about such things... pfft.

It helped me to see that it was WHAT I was praying about that needed to change. Instead of focusing on the desire - whatever it may be: anger, lust, greed, etc... - as well as what I think may be lacking from my life, I shifted to praying and giving thanks to God for His grace and the gifts He has given me. It made a tremondous difference in how I responded to temptation.

However, as a healthy young woman, the need does present itself more forcefully on occasion. What boundries should one place on a relationship with a significant other? What is the context of sex? Where do masturbation and fantasies fit into this when one isn't involved in a relationship? Why is it that people (particularly Christians) think that your sexuality switch is going to magically flip on when you get married? That you will just automatically be comfortable being naked around your spouse?

This is a heck of alot of questions for which I have few good answers. Lets here what y'all have to say.

Revenge of the Torch Singer

Tonight, I went back to TPAC. Some of you might remember the last experience I had there... if not, here's the post to refresh your memory.

It was much much much more pleasant tonight. I had a fantabulous time. Michael Buble is great. Not my favorite of the revenge of the jazz/torch/lounge singers but still... it was like being sucked back into a 1960's Las Vegas lounge for a little while.

I loved every minute of it! His voice is outstanding... even the attempt to kick Josh Groban's you-know-whats-its by singing opera. And Maroon 5. And Michael Jackson. The highlight of the show had to be at the very end when he put the mic away and sang acappella in Jackson Hall. Just his voice filling the hall... *sighs and smiles*

Very happy birthday to me!

Aside: of my three favorites, two are Canadian. Seems that Canada is doing something to produce awesome jazz singers, eh?

Also, thank you everyone for the well-wishes! I very much appreciate them!

Today is the day...

It is officially my birthday!

Yippee.

When it's ok to yell at the movies

When you are the only one in the theater enjoying a final-week run of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith... probably the last time you will ever see a Star Wars movie on a big screen.

And I mean the only one. Just me.

Questioning Padme's intelligence (OH COME ON! Who says that crap?!), Obi-Wan's reasoning capabilities (Absolutes? Didn't Palpatine say earlier that good and evil were points of view... so the Sith aren't dealing in absolutes...), swooning over Anakin shirtless.. and pretty must whenever Obi-Wan was on the screen. The man is hot.

Happy Birthday to me!

Deb: "What are you drawing?"

Napoleon: "It's a liger."
Deb: "What's a liger?"
Napoleon: "It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic."

Except that in this story, liger is apparently a trademarked word or something.

Caption Contest Winner

In the non-Monty Python category: it's Elena with Bush: Wow! Diet Dr. Pepper REALLY DOES taste like regular Dr. Pepper!

In the Monty Python inspired category, it's: Digital Cowboy with
Chirac: "None shall pass."
Bush: "I must enforce this UN Resolution."
Chirac: "Then.. you shall... die!"
(skip down)
Chirac: "The French Knight always triumphs!"
Bush: "You're a looney."
Chirac: "You yellow bastard! Come back here! I'll bite your knees off!"

Though Sharon Cobb's Bush: Wow. I thought the G8 Summit was about the velocity of the African swallow, not about African debt relief. So, can anyone tell me the veolcity of the African swallow? was very very close.

Hahahahaha! Congrats!

Notice the Resemblence?

That's SCOTUS nominee John Roberts on the left...

Larry Linville as Maj. Frank Burns from M.A.S.H. on the right.

Freaky.

Caption Contest - World Leaders Edition

I found a pair of pics that I think are good fodder for your creativity. Pick one. Use both. Just.. please.. safe for work entries! Much obliged! Entries due the morning of Tues July 26th.

But.. you would think the French wouldn't commit such an obvious fashion faux pas - Chirac's pants are about up to his waist. That's just awful.

Update: Challenge - how many Monty Python themed entries can we get?

The only good thing about the state...

Since I don't want to go to jail, etc... I have to have a driver's license. The least the state could do is make it easy for me to renew it....

Tennessee Department of Safety - Renew License Online

5 minutes and I renewed my license online. THAT totally made my day. I know. It is completely against my libertarian principles but I didn't have to go stand for hours at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Freakin' sweet!

Smurf-tastic!

A CGI Smurfs movie will be out next year.

I, for one, will pass. I hate the Smurfs. Annoying, preachy, self-righteous, European trolls. Some little blue thing came to him in a drug induced haze and said "Dude... it's all about the Smurf" and a show was born.

GI Joe.. that was a cartoon I could get into. Besides, could one play "smurfs" outside? GI Joe, you could take outside. Yay... I'll be Baker Smurf! That's like saying I'll be Swedish Chef from the Muppets... Salad a la boom-boom and BorkBorkBork!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

or "Observations on Turning 30"

With my birthday - one of those milestone birthdays - now 7 days away, I've spent a little bit of time thinking about where I've been, where I thought I would have been, and where I am going.

Today, we will start with where I thought I would be when I turned 30.

At 15, I thought I would be old and life would be over at 30. I also thought that I would be the world's greatest singer and/or music promoter. I would be married out of college.

At 17, when I was an intensely liberal angry person (not they always go together), I thought I would be in the state House or Senate on my way to being the first female President. Or I thought I would be in the US Foreign Service department, working in a consulate overseas on my way to being Secretary of State.

At 20, I went into denial and annouced that I wouldn't deal with anything at the present time. "I will deal with that in therapy when I'm 30." Still wanted to work for the US State Department. Comfortable with the idea of not being married but instead living together with boyfriend... not having one at the time didn't stop me from adding that to my plan.

At 22, I thought I would be well on my way in an academic career. I should be finished with graduate school by the time I'm 30.. have an assistant teaching position and on my way to tenure.

After the age of 25, I kind of stopped thinking about where I would be at 30. Of those goals that I set at various ages, I have achieved none of them. Life kind of works like that. Is it that depressing? Not really and I will talk about that in other entries.

Today's Useless Study

Men with more money have more sex

The findings, from an online survey conducted by the BBC, offer fresh evidence for the theory that women tend to be more attracted to men with money and resources, but that a woman’s wealth does not much affect her sex appeal to men. “Men accumulate resources, which they use to attract women,” John Manning, Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, who analysed the results, said.

Because testosterone leads to a strong libido... and having more testosterone tends to make people more competitive (in many areas of their life). If they are more competitive, they are likely to be out there and looking for more opportunities to "score" - the deal, the hot chick.

And that competitive side is definately a more masculine trait. Generally, women are attracted to more masculine men. And the more masculine a woman is, the less likely she is to be attractive. I'm grateful that the BBC did this study so I could know what human nature has been doing for ages.

To the typical female mind: more resources=more security.

But having money doesn't work for the Czech lawyer who had over 5000 marriage proposals declined.

See also: CNN.com - Third of study results don't hold up

Thank you, researchers! It's almost as earth shattering as the realization in the final season of Sex and the City "Well, he's just not that into you."

Southern Exposure

I'm late in chatting about this particular topic. It hit Sharon Cobb's blog, Nashville is Talking and Pith in the Wind a few days ago, but I didn't see the video in question until yesterday.

I'm talking about Jessica Simpson's remake of "These Boots are Made for Walking." (See the video there). It will forever be linked in my mind with fem bots from Austin Powers. However, someone decided that it would be a great song for the new Dukes of Hazard movie.

First, I'm not going to comment about Ms. Simpson's clothing or lack there of other than to say: she has one great brazillian wax person. Wow. That is one freakishly small bikini.

Second: Her dancing has improved. Not great but much improved over previous attempts to dance in music videos. Not that many guys will be paying attention to her dancing.

Third and my real beef with the song: it isn't good. At all. It sounds like Jessica is having the Big O for 4 minutes. Heavy breathing and stunted words like she is having some sort of seizure. While subjecting myself to this unmitigated piece of crap, I asked "PK - why are you watching this? Turn the freakin' channel! Save yourself 3 minutes! PLEASEEEEEEEE!!!" But no....

Willie Nelson (who plays Uncle Jesse) is in the video and mumbles his one line and looks like he has other things to be doing rather than shooting the video.

Is it 4 minutes of my life that I will never get back? Yes but on the plus side, it did lead into blog fodder.

More pictures from Iraq

OIF 3 Pics 706
Originally uploaded by pink-kitty.

My brother must have had access to a computer recently. I received a CD-Rom with over 700 pictures on it - going back to last September.

This one is his favorite. The little girls blow kisses at every convoy that goes down the road. Click on the flick photstream and then look for "Operation Iraqi Freedom." All of the photos are there.

I take it back....

Dear Faith,

I said many horrible things about your love of all things fashionable and East and West coasty after Breathe took off like gang busters. You really hit the big time with that song. Country radio. Pop radio. VH1 and MTV played the video a million times.

Thing is - the rest of Nashville said horrible things too. You really lost your country cred. So much so, you had John Rich write you a song proving to us that you are still a country girl when Gretchen Wilson showed up all the pretty-pop-princess-but-stuck-in-country-music wannabes (I'm talking to you Shania!) by being her (packaged) Redneck self.

You did the movie - Pearl Harbor and then Stepford Wives. And some commercials. I forget what else. I pretty much quit paying attention after Breathe was played to death and then beaten like a dead horse. You know it made it when Cledus T Judd parodies it. And we will leave your metrosexual husband out of this discussion. The only man in country music that has more stylists than Tim McGraw is Keith Urban.. maybe Jeff Bates. But we can talk about that some other time.

Well, Faith. I take all the mean things I said about your over-stylized hair and couture clothing back.

Please... for the love of all things fashionable and within your purchasing power: take off the mumu and get back into Gucci (or other label of your choice).

With warmest regards,
Pink Kitty

P.S. Did anyone else notice that Nicole Kidman's last couple of movies have been remakes of TV shows or movies? Hollywood has truly run out of ideas.

Update: Seems as though people think I'm making this photo up. Here is the source. It is Faith Hill and I pulled it from Yahoo News Photos.

Quote of the Day

"There is so much cheese in that I have orange powder under my finger nails."
- Duke Diva

Lunch Time Conversations

What I overheard isn't particularly funny... it's particularly sad.

Woman #1: When I started dating him, he wasn't divorced yet. I still don't know if he's divorced.
Woman #2: Have you talked to him about it?
Woman #1: Yes. He got real quiet and wouldn't say anything for a long time. When he finally said something, he said he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

[later]

Woman #1: And then he (same married fellow) got mad because I had some (I am assuming dried) flowers in my living room that were given to me by [unidentified ex-beau]. He told me to take them out of the house.. that he didn't like them. I said that I liked them because they go with my color scheme not that they have any sentimental value.
Woman #2: What did you do?
Woman #1: I got rid of them. What else could I do?

---- PK's thoughts ----

Keep your flowers? Get some self-respect and tell him to go back to his wife?

A Nursery Rhyme

in the style of StrongBad

There was a little girl
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle
Of her forehead.

When she was good,
She was very very good.
When she was bad,
She was awesome.

* StrongBad email inspiration found via Elena *

Mis-diagonsed Eras

The seller described the above eBay item as "Vintage, Victorian, Elegant,1920's dress,Cocktail Dress"

How does PK describe it?

"Vintage New Jersey 1980's prom"

I was good....

I've known for a week and I didn't spoil Miss O'Hara's big news...

That she will no longer be Miss in a few months but a Mrs!!!!

And she called to tell me and she let me prattle on about house hunting and estates for a HOUR before telling me! Can you believe that? Well, regardless, blessings to the happy couple!

Just in case anyone else had big news, I've been asking people at the beginning of conversations "what's going on" like 3 times to be sure.

*sniffle* I'm so happy!

Shopping!

DISAPPEARING CIVIL LIBERTIES MUG from Uncommon Goods.

Seems to be appropriate after the last few weeks don't you think?

I ordered one.

Nate is right....

Man faints, dies after seeing epidural

I believe Nate says that the man's place during childbirth is out in the waiting room smoking... if this fella had listened to that, he would still be alive.

Thursday's Random Thought

Inspired by LILEKS (James) :: The Bleat

Thoughts on Padme's Pregnancy

Padme really wanted to be the first intergalactic warrior princes and make Xena quake in her boots... because Xena wasn't nursing twins at the time she was kicking ancient booty...

If Padme was decieving Anakin because she knew he was going bad then..

* Anakin's power to sense what others are thinking sucks.
* She was planning to leave or hide the babies after birth.
* She was really in love with Ewan McGr... I mean Obi Wan Kenobi. That's why Leia and Luke get to call him Ben in Episode IV. Because no one else calls him Ben.
* If she was leaving, she would be the poster child for single women/single mothers in the Rebellion.
* If she did become a single mom, Dr. Laur-wan Schles-adokala would have chastised her on behalf of The Empire for abandoning her husband even though he turned to the Dark Side of the Force. Because we know that the Empire is all about family values....

Passive-Aggressive Office Mates

In the office downstairs, a sign appeared on the window this morning asking people to not stand in front of the window and talk... because there are people working in there, you know.

Months ago, a sign appeared on the door asking people to not smoke in front of the same window. Just so happens there is a bench and the ashtray just outside this door - so talkers and smokers tend to congregate there on their breaks.

So far today, everyone who has walked inside the building through that entrance has been making a scene to spite that sign. One girl stood outside of the window and yelled "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!"

Announcement!

Everyone, I have an announcement to make...

My birthday is coming up. Not just any birthday.. my 30th birthday. And because I like y'all so much.. I'm issuing an invitation to my little corner of the blogosphere to my birthday party.

Thing is: you have to e-mail me to RSVP in order to get directions and stuff. I may be in the phone book but I'm not sticking it up here.

It's a BBQ at my house. So if you plan to be in Nashville on Saturday, July 30th, shoot me an email (pink_kitty_post @ yahoo.com - remove the extra spaces) for more information.

Beer, pulled pork, etc... what could be better? And if its too hot outside for even a late afternoon/evening party, we will figure out a way to make room in the house.

Ramblin' Ramblin' Ramblin'

Disclaimer: This post is likely not to interest anyone... please consider it as talking outloud to oneself.. except for the freaky story in the middle. That might be amusing.

When one is attempting to close multiple estates, with multiple real estate locations.. the burden of deciding what goes and what stays laying squarely on your shoulders... and after a year and a half, it because... heavy, tiring, and just down right dull.

With the end in sight, I have one last decision to make... the Pink House... my grandmother's house in very desirable Berry Hill. Why it's the cat's meow, I dunno. I like her house. It's cute. It's in good shape. So I've spent the last year wrestling with the question: do I keep it or do I sell it? If I keep it, do I live there or should I set it up as a rental property?

Last week, basically on a whim, I decided to buy a house. Really - who decides to buy a house on a whim? Me, I guess. I saw one I liked and called my realtor and off we went. When I told the Associate Pastor's wife about it on Sunday (they've stepped up and are the best surrogate parents a girl could ask for), she was insistent that I remodel (that's because when they bought their house, they remodeled.) Remodeling it might be good if I plan to live there for 20 years.. or if I could do it myself and keep costs down.

Before I finish that story, I should tell you this story....

One of my best friend's came down from Clarksville for the weekend and she wanted to see the house I was interested in. We were going to eat a late lunch first but the place was closed so she insisted on driving by before we went to another restaurant. "Fine. I'll show it to you."
We get there and another realtor is taking a couple through. Girl hops out of my truck and runs up to the porch to ask if she would let us walk through very quickly.
Realtor is dumbstruck and couple viewing the place just doesn't know what to think... until....
"Do you have a realtor?"
"Yes, we do. We were just driving by and saw it was open... thought we would ask..."
And.. then that look... the realization that she had just said.... we. Fortunately, they were hippies and probably didn't think anything of it. Have I mentioned that I hate hippies?

Back in the truck I said "Like I need any more instances of mistaken sexual identity in my life!" Anyway, it provided quite the source of amusement for the next hour.

Upon closer inspection on Sunday with my realtor, it is basically a dump - misrepresented the size of the rooms, how many bedrooms (they counted the mudroom as a bedroom because there is a bathroom and something that resembles a closet. Hello? This is a mudroom!) The bathroom would have to be gutted and re-done... blah blah blah. It's a no-go on that house.

Do you honestly think that I would willingly choose to move from a middle class neighborhood into a lower class neighborhood? Yeah. I'm a snob. Everyone I talked to in the neighborhood was very nice - just good folks. But, I'm not living there. And no one I know would ever let me buy the house across the street from the pair of duplexes that have 9 cars parked there.

But I did find one I like and will be doing a second viewing this week. I should tell you this story too... Duke Diva came with me and the realtor so that there was another set of eyes looking at everything. And we walked into the cellar and she said "PK!!! Look at the wall!!"

I look at the wall and there are bugs all over it. At which I do the appropriately girly thing and shriek. "PHIL!!! WHAT IS THAT BEHIND YOU??? OH MY GOD!!! Are those spiders??"

"PK, those are crickets. It's cold and dark down here..."

"Well, they have to go! If they got in, things that are more disgusting can get in!" (For the record, we killed no bugs in the cellar of that house - which will make a fabulous place to keep wine!)

"The Chinese say that having a cricket in your house is supposed to be good luck... this house must be the luckiest house on the planet," Duke Diva said.

Sunday night, I'm laying in bed, praying about the whole situation. I said "God, if I could just talk to my brother... get his feedback on it. That would really be helpful." That was at midnight.

At 3am, while I'm awake suffering from a physical reaction to dinner the phone starts ringing. I scramble to get it and miss the call. And it's from the number that pops up when I get calls from Iraq. I sat there on the couch just saying over and over "Please call back. Please call back. Please call back. Please call back."

Sure enough, he did.

Since he had the day off, we got to talk for a whole hour. There is usually a 30 minute time limit. It was great. So I told UTMan about possibly selling the Berry Hill house. To summarize what he said: "Sell it. It's doubled in value. Get our money before the Planning Commission comes in and takes it because of Kelo!"

Then speaking to the realtor this morning, he suggested keeping it and using it for rental property. *bangs head on desk*

Well, that's where I am. Thanks for reading, if you are still reading and haven't stuck your eyes with hot pokers. I'm off to lunch.

Caption Contest Winner

Another contest has come and gone... parting is such sweet sorrow...
Blah blah blah. I am not the poet - Elena is.

So the winner is..... *drumroll*

Explode damn you! EXPLODE!!!
Tyler D.

Way to go! You get to wear the Burger King Crown until the next caption contest.

Jumping a Sinking Ship

Vox posts some mail on those who can are considering the possibility of leaving the US.

I spoke with my brother this weekend. He's still in Iraq (getting to come home for leave in August). We talked quite a bit about the new property tax levels, sales tax hike, wheel tax, and the Kelo decision. He said "Why is it that we are here defending people of another nation.. attemping to start a free society here when my own government is sucking freedom right out from underneath me while I'm gone?" Or something like that.

He has come to see his mission in Iraq as a way of serving the Kingdom of God - not the US. That is how he is coping and is able to serve both his fellow soldiers and locals. I can't imagine what the troops that do not have God in their life are going through.

The Name is Kitty.... Pink Kitty...

To reflect my love of all things Bond, the Scratching Post has a new outfit, designed by the lovely Heather at Radical Mama and CiaoMyBella.

Cosmos for the ladies, whiskey for the gents.. and if there are any horses around, get them a beer.

Because I don't want to miss out on the blogging frenzy!

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor annouces that she will retire before the court's next term begins in October.

Can we say Senate brawl anyone? I want to see Bill Frist and Ted Kennedy duke it out on the floor. Then W jumps in because we all know Texans can't miss a good fight...

That would be sweet.