in life, racing to the end doesn't win you anything
A couple things.
First, hung out with some cool people - and some not so cool people - this weekend for a beautiful Sunday of drinking and carrying on and generally not worrying about life in general. Two of the not so cool people there are exes (of each other, not of mine) and the girl had been bristling for a fight for weeks, when she found out the guy had also been invited. Long story short, this girl seemed really really cool at first, when she first started working at the bookstore back over the holidays. She's paganistic, seemed very mellow and generally at ease with the world, and had a ton of varying interests. Turns out, she surrounds herself with drama of her own making, and that's kind of one of the biggest things I do not have patience for.
Anyway, she asked me why I had become vegetarian, as most people do, and I explained that it was, more than anything, a spiritual decision. That I didn't have a problem with eating meat in general (though I think we tend to eat WAY too much of it; everything in moderation!) but that I couldn't reconcile my nature-based spirituality with supporting industries that basically torture animals from birth to death, in addition to pumping them full of pesticides, nevermind all the repercussions factory farms incur. Now mind you, I make a great effort to not sound self-righteous. In fact, I usually just stick to the whole, "It doesn't jive with my spirituality" unless people push me.
Her response blew my mind. It was something to the effect of, "Sure, vegetarianism is a great idea in a perfect world, and it would be different if it was an entire generational movement, but like, I'm like one person. I won't make a difference."
I think I stared at her for a good five seconds before I realized I was gaping at her, shut my mouth, and excused myself for more beer.
As I left, I heard C arguing with her - mind, he is an Uber Carnivore, not a vegetarian - about how that kind of mindset is totally absurd. That's like saying, "Well it won't matter if I litter, I'm only one person."
So even though he doesn't feel the same way I do, he totally, totally supports it :) Made me really happy, because I've wondered if he just thinks I'm being silly or something. Anyway, after an evening and the following morning and entire afternoon with her, I'd decided I'd had enough, and we left around 5. Apparently after we left, she started poking at her ex, and he started responding in kind, and I guess they had a huge blow out. I'm not saying it was entirely her fault, because her ex is a dangerous drunk. Not in that he'd physically harm her (I don't think that he would, but I can't say I know him all that well) but he gets very sort of subtly mean.
As for work, I basically feel like I'm holding my breath the entire time I'm there. I'm just trying to make it through until my doctor's appointment, at which time I will hope that whatever solutions she suggests work, and fast.
I've been reading the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning, because it fulfills the two criteria I've been itchy for recently (well, sort of): I wanted it to be humans and Fae, and it had to have some good, hot romance. There actually hasn't been much of the latter, but there's been a couple good tension scenes, and I love the male lead. I wish I could get inside his head. I'm about to start the fourth book out of five, and my only regret is that I didn't think to wait to take these to the beach with me at the end of the month. Maybe I'll spring for some fluff like the Shopaholic series or something. I like Moning's writing, but I can't see myself going for her Highlander stuff. I'm kind of particular about my male leads, and while to a certain extent, the overbearing primitive male has some appeal, it's in moderation for me. Jericho, the male lead in Fever, is totally old world. You get the sense that he sort of looks down on everyone in general, not just women, but at the same time, he concedes victories to the female lead when she's got a right to them. He allows himself to be impressed by her, and doesn't feel like he's any less of a man. She does not need to submit to validate him, you know what I mean?
The only thing I have to compare it to is the Dark series by Christine Feehan. I read the first two, and couldn't get through the third, because ALL of her male leads were exactly the same. Overbearing, I am always right and I know what's best and I do not compromise and I will undermine you to get the outcome I want. They're the type that can't even fathom that a woman can take care of herself, and while I suppose there's something to be said for that, in terms of indulging in escapist fiction, it's just not my cup of tea. Not to that extent.
Nothing much is happening this week. It just feels like a countdown until Monday. I may go out with a couple friends tomorrow to a sports bar to watch the Phillies game, but I am super tight on funds right now, so haven't really decided.
First, hung out with some cool people - and some not so cool people - this weekend for a beautiful Sunday of drinking and carrying on and generally not worrying about life in general. Two of the not so cool people there are exes (of each other, not of mine) and the girl had been bristling for a fight for weeks, when she found out the guy had also been invited. Long story short, this girl seemed really really cool at first, when she first started working at the bookstore back over the holidays. She's paganistic, seemed very mellow and generally at ease with the world, and had a ton of varying interests. Turns out, she surrounds herself with drama of her own making, and that's kind of one of the biggest things I do not have patience for.
Anyway, she asked me why I had become vegetarian, as most people do, and I explained that it was, more than anything, a spiritual decision. That I didn't have a problem with eating meat in general (though I think we tend to eat WAY too much of it; everything in moderation!) but that I couldn't reconcile my nature-based spirituality with supporting industries that basically torture animals from birth to death, in addition to pumping them full of pesticides, nevermind all the repercussions factory farms incur. Now mind you, I make a great effort to not sound self-righteous. In fact, I usually just stick to the whole, "It doesn't jive with my spirituality" unless people push me.
Her response blew my mind. It was something to the effect of, "Sure, vegetarianism is a great idea in a perfect world, and it would be different if it was an entire generational movement, but like, I'm like one person. I won't make a difference."
I think I stared at her for a good five seconds before I realized I was gaping at her, shut my mouth, and excused myself for more beer.
As I left, I heard C arguing with her - mind, he is an Uber Carnivore, not a vegetarian - about how that kind of mindset is totally absurd. That's like saying, "Well it won't matter if I litter, I'm only one person."
So even though he doesn't feel the same way I do, he totally, totally supports it :) Made me really happy, because I've wondered if he just thinks I'm being silly or something. Anyway, after an evening and the following morning and entire afternoon with her, I'd decided I'd had enough, and we left around 5. Apparently after we left, she started poking at her ex, and he started responding in kind, and I guess they had a huge blow out. I'm not saying it was entirely her fault, because her ex is a dangerous drunk. Not in that he'd physically harm her (I don't think that he would, but I can't say I know him all that well) but he gets very sort of subtly mean.
As for work, I basically feel like I'm holding my breath the entire time I'm there. I'm just trying to make it through until my doctor's appointment, at which time I will hope that whatever solutions she suggests work, and fast.
I've been reading the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning, because it fulfills the two criteria I've been itchy for recently (well, sort of): I wanted it to be humans and Fae, and it had to have some good, hot romance. There actually hasn't been much of the latter, but there's been a couple good tension scenes, and I love the male lead. I wish I could get inside his head. I'm about to start the fourth book out of five, and my only regret is that I didn't think to wait to take these to the beach with me at the end of the month. Maybe I'll spring for some fluff like the Shopaholic series or something. I like Moning's writing, but I can't see myself going for her Highlander stuff. I'm kind of particular about my male leads, and while to a certain extent, the overbearing primitive male has some appeal, it's in moderation for me. Jericho, the male lead in Fever, is totally old world. You get the sense that he sort of looks down on everyone in general, not just women, but at the same time, he concedes victories to the female lead when she's got a right to them. He allows himself to be impressed by her, and doesn't feel like he's any less of a man. She does not need to submit to validate him, you know what I mean?
The only thing I have to compare it to is the Dark series by Christine Feehan. I read the first two, and couldn't get through the third, because ALL of her male leads were exactly the same. Overbearing, I am always right and I know what's best and I do not compromise and I will undermine you to get the outcome I want. They're the type that can't even fathom that a woman can take care of herself, and while I suppose there's something to be said for that, in terms of indulging in escapist fiction, it's just not my cup of tea. Not to that extent.
Nothing much is happening this week. It just feels like a countdown until Monday. I may go out with a couple friends tomorrow to a sports bar to watch the Phillies game, but I am super tight on funds right now, so haven't really decided.