First, I am NOT a Skinhead

Got that? NOT. A. SKINHEAD. I just wanted to state that up front. Because, I've decided to try to read Mein Kampf. I've been hearing much lately about the resurgence of hate groups. I've been thinking about this a lot. I'm trying to find out why this is happening. Plus, at the library, I've been ordering some new reference works on World War II. Between those two things, it has occurred to me, that I have never read Hitler's dark vision. So, I've decided to check it out. I have to say that when I was taking if off the shelf I felt 1) sheepish that somebody might see me with it and 2) disappointed that it was so thick. Seems like many of the neo nazis I've seen couldn't read a chapter book, so I was surprised that it wasn't smaller. Are there Spark Notes for hate filled tirades?

A Sphincter in Need

I am a copy-catter and thief. I stole this meme from Rozanne. I avoid memes, but I had to know what this one turned up for me. You plug your name into Google, followed by "needs." So, for me, the search was "Sphincter needs." Yes, I used Sphincter.

Sphincter needs:

Sphincter needs improvement

Sphincter needs to be separately repaired

Sphincter needs a simple in-and-out catheterization

A hypertensive Sphincter needs to be interpreted with caution

Sphincter needs to be massaged

I think this is all a sound assessment, though preferably I would skip the catheterization bit. Also, should I become hypertensive, I hope others do interpret me with caution.

If you decide to try it, I hope you'll share with me what you discover. Will you need a toupee? Orange juice? Or merely a psychic reading?

Are You There, Blog? It's Me, Sphincter.

Well, it’s been so long that I’m not sure what to say. Other than in the Sphincterhood there’s been some good, there’s been some bad, and there’s been enough bizarre that if I told you about it you’d accuse me of trying to get on Jerry Springer's show. I’ve thought about you all a lot and have been sorry that I haven’t kept up with you more. I hope to remedy that in the near future.

One new disturbing Sphincteric trend is that I have been reading a lot of disaster books. I mean, I’ve gone looking for them specifically. I don’t recommend that you try this at home, unless you enjoy freaking yourself out. I can’t seem to stop myself, however, and have now resigned myself to it. My latest is The Circus Fire by Stewart O’Nan. It is not a happy story. Burned children, toasted grannies, but luckily, all animals escaped that one. I may soon have an encyclopedic knowledge of disasters. Now there’s a feather for my cap. I can feel your jealousy from here.

Busy and Nothing to Show for It

On this last day of NaBloPoMo (or in my case, NaBloPoFauxMo or something) many thanks to everybody who stopped by Sphincterhood. This was a great way to help me get back in the swing of blogging.

I was busy today, but you'd never know it. I started my day talking to the dad of one of my oldest friends. After we caught up a little, I talked to my friend who was in NH for a holiday break. (This is Rhinoboy, for those of you keeping track at home. As you may or may not recall, I do actually call him this. It's not a name I made up for the blog.) We haven't spoken in ages. And emailing is not the same. I was so happy to find out that he is happy. His work is good, his fam is well, and soon there will be a Mrs. Rhinoboy. And though I have yet to meet her, based solely on his state of being, I am already a fan of hers. Our talk left me with that rare, wonderful feeling that occurs when good stuff happens to good people.

After doing some minor domestic duties, I took a nap with the cats. I thought about baking. I even fired up the oven. But then, I didn't. I turned that bad boy right off again. And read instead. I talked to my mom. I watched the news, local AND national.

This evening I called another of my wonderful friends, Connor (one of my friend newbies, since I've only known her since '95.) Her household was noisy with the sounds of her kids, but I could tell that she was happy too. Repeat above sentiments about good things and good people.

And now I'm here, doing my last post for November, mindful of the time I have before The Amazing Race begins. It's a wonder that I managed to fit it all in.

Forgive My Ignorance

1. for-give
   /fərˈgɪv/ verb
   
   –verb (used with object)
   to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
   
   to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
   
   to grant pardon to (a person).
   
   to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.
   
   to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.
   
   verb (used without object)
   to pardon an offense or an offender.

forgive. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved November 29, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/forgive

I don’t understand how forgiveness works. I mean, I get how you can agree to let something go. But, that doesn’t mean that whatever occurred was OK. It just means you will try to get by it, right? But, does it also mean that when you think back on whatever occurred that it shouldn’t still burn your ass? Because if it didn’t burn your ass, that sort of implies that it (whatever action) was somehow OK or justified. Which it probably wasn’t. Which is why it upset you in the first place. But if it does still burn your ass, then you haven’t REALLY let it go, have you?
OR
Not feeling resentment or upset about something that hurt you would imply a certain neutrality to the situation, an ability to disconnect from the events. Which if you were truly disconnected, likely would not have resulted in your state of offense. So, you wise folk of the blogosphere, what’s the deal? How does forgiveness work? I can't seem to nail it down here.

Introducing...

Matilda! A shy, tiny gray and white girl with a little black spot on her nose. She's been pretty skittish up until last week. Suddenly, she's gotten brave and is starting to make herself at home around here. Her interests seem to include:

1. Hiding in the closet
2. Admiring herself in the mirror
3. Squeezing into small spaces
4. Hissing at Buckwheat

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the blogosphere. I'm about to take my pies and head out to Mom's. I've heard many folks in the media talk about how this year people may not feel as thankful, due to the economy and all. I believe this is crap. I think this year it's become clearer to people just what is of value in their lives. Much of the superficial stuff has been stripped away for us.

I, for one, feel like I've had a crap year. Which makes it all the more obvious why I feel thankful. I am thankful for family and friends, who are there for me through thick and thin. I'm thankful for the life I had and for the one I have now. I'm thankful that I feel hopeful about the future, my own future and that of the country. And I'm thankful for you guys who read this blog, who for some reason give enough of a hoot to check in and see what's up with me. I hope you all have a wonderful day.


(It looks like things are finally coming under control in Mumbai. And I'm thankful for that, too.)