da blogs da thang

Later this morning will be the first time in a couple of weeks that I’m taking myself out to the coffeeshop. It’ll be nice to see the gang and catch up on a little caffeinated silliness.

The applications are up… and they ALL work. The automatic database will be such a blessing freeing us up from weeks of manual data entry doen the line. The whole process seems quite user friendly and (from what I’ve been told) sleek. The pages have a cleaner look. So, far so good. Oh, and we’ve already got applicants rolling in!

The learning curve was steep but worth it. So, now I can be free to play a little more. Though I’ve been holed up doing this… I’m feeling pretty damned accomplished right now. So, when I awake later in the AM… I shall emerge like Lazarus from the tomb to a heavenly chorus… or barking dogs… but still happy to be alive…

::heavenly chorus comes to a scratching halt::

Huh… What? You say I went out last night and there were beautiful (and talented) bellydancers involved? So? Hey, that was work, buddy!!! Someone’s got to do it! Quibbler.

Music!!

::heavenly chorus resumes::

So, now my wish for each and everyone of you is a lovely weekend and hearty Cheers!

I finally cracked the code so to speak. Now the application forms for Rogue 2007 not only work but are on secure encrypted pages. A big Yay all round! ::dabbing sweat from furrowed brows::

So tomorrow in the AM, I crank out and put the finishing touches and I’m free! OK… freer. Still can’t post them until I get the policy/information pages from the powers that be… since I do not make policy anymore. Just another hurry-up-and-wait situation.
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The Follow-Up

There were some interesting responses to my post yesterday. I respect all of them. The post was based on observations from a personal front as well as those witnessed from other quarters.

Yes, being a significant other in a “solid and stable” relationship should keep the confidant status intact. The irony in most cases is that it doesn’t. Those of you who have it still intact with your partner are truly blessed. It is an ideal. One that should be a reality… yet one that often is strewn by the wayside through circumstances, neglect, etc.

The discussion I had with my friend the other night centered around the causes as to why this occurs. Our guess was that the fault may lie in the romantic idea (and ideal) of “oneness”. But perhaps it has more to do with the mistaken perception of it. (Over the years, I have been guilty as most on this score.) Afterall, it is something that just about every love song ever written touches on… so it must me true, right? The reality though is that in the nature of love and romance, the dynamics involve two separate individuals who have chosen to be in concert with each other… a duet playing different instruments in harmony. Often it is the counterpoint that brings the richness to the piece.

However when the lines of our individuality become so blurred that is when we resort to confiding elsewhere in an effort to reclaim ourselves and our individuality. We are not “halves”… we are “wholes” and when the perception of that is threatened we seek to establish our wholeness elsewhere. That is when the compassion erodes and we become strangers to each other… and to ourselves.

Just my humble observations.

After 9 and a half hours in front of the computer I decided that I needed to get out for a bit. So, I headed down to the local watering-hole to have a drink and to check out who was out and about this PM. Phone calls were made but none met with hope or response… which I fully expected.

I sat for for about 45 minutes just sipping my drink not really expecting anyone to show up… hey, it’s a Tuesday night in the “hood” afterall! As I sat… lyrics of the Rain Song ran through my bleary mind. The line:

The line seemed particularly apt to where I find myself at the moment. The thing is I knew this would be the case for a while… that one’s esteem was dependent on what one does and (perceived) status as opposed to who one is. This is why I have always been leery to exalted claims of ultimate friendship. Besides, lives are always evolving and in a state of flux and any expectation beyond the present is unrealistic. Everybody moves on to where life takes them. No fault. No accusations. No hard feelings.

A friend eventually walked in finally and we conversed… each of us delighting in each other’s presence… which we hadn’t been in a long while. The topic was being the confidant. I have been that. I have also been the friend, the lover, the spouse. the go-between. It struck me that I remained the confidant whenever I was the friend or the lover… or the combination of the two. In my observation, if somehow things progressed to me becoming the significant other or the spouse I was stripped of my ranking and function as confidant. It’s almost as if the establishment of a “solid and stable” relationship made the other want to keep and/or hide secrets.

Curious.

UPDATE: 8:10 AM
If you happen to be in the area tomorrow… come to the show! It’ll be quite the extravaganza… and as host… I’ll be wearing my pith! That alone should be worth the price of admission. Click the poster for more details.

… but slow. That is the state of my progress at the moment. So, since my head is cluttered with a language unspeakable right now… I’ll leave you with this video for the day. Always thought it was a damned shame this version was left off the CD. Yeah, I’ve been in a Led Zep kind of mood of late… not a bad thing actually. Not a bad thing at all. If I do get a chill break… I just may write something later in the day. For now… one of my personal favorites (even though the “Keepers of the Gloom” line still gets a little chuckle from me.)

It is the springtime of my loving – the second season I am to know
You are the sunlight in my growing – so little warmth I’ve felt before.
It isn’t hard to feel me glowing – I watched the fire that grew so low.

It is the summer of my smiles – flee from me Keepers of the Gloom.
Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune.
Ain’t so hard to recognize – These things are clear to all from
time to time.

Talk Talk – I’ve felt the coldness of my winter
I never thought it would ever thaw. I cursed the gloom that set upon us…
But I know that I love you so

These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
This is the wonder of devotion – I seek the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient – Upon us all a little rain must fall.

… haven’t had one of those in ages… talk about a nice lazy Sunday.
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On the Rogue site front… still work to do… but at least I’ll be in a much more refreshed frame of mind to get it completed. All the work on the computer actually petered me out yesterday to where I fell asleep at 8:30 PM and only woke at 5 this morning.
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There is a Rogue-Year-Round this Thursday… so, I’ll have to get the engine revving up for that too.
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OK, I was playing with some of the video editing programs on my computer and I thought I’d give you the opportunity to finally count the number of times Robert Plant sings sings the word “baby” in this song. (Yes, I uploaded it because I thought the one that already existed on YouTube really lacked in the sound quality department.) Besides, it’s one of those that never fails to get my engine started. Here’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You” — talk about a grind! ::vapors:: Enjoy!

Perhaps there’ll be more updates in the AM.

… you just know they are fresh. Went over the the local place and got a dozen this morning as the last of the Costa Rican blend was brewing at home. Can’t do it every day but once in a while there is nothing like the combo of coffee and donuts.

Something else I haven’t done in a while… go to the coffeeshop and catch myself some caffinated silliness. I think I just may. See y’all later.

UPDATE: 10:05 AM

That was exactly what I was doing yesterday and ran across this girl. I’ve seen a fair share of vlogs but I thought she is both amusing and talented – worth checking out.

… more work on the Rogue website. I am really hoping to finish a major chunk of it today. I want it ready to go by the time the weekend is out.
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The crisp of the cooler season is begining to nip in the air. This time of year in this part of the country can be quite the guessing game though. Sporadic bursts of hotter days could still happen spurring the personal debates on the perfect thickness of fabric for use inside and out. The seasons here are not as defined as in other parts of the country… but they do exist.

I do enjoy the seasons. It did take a little getting use to when I first arrived from a place where it was rain or no rain and always warm. I still look in child like wonder at the street I live on and how it’s personality shifts with the season. A different look. A different feel… even within a season.
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Just a thought (and a possible time waster): Ever listen to a Led Zeppelin song (live version of “Since I’ve Been Loving You” is a good start) and count the number of times Robert Plant sings the word “baby”?

Another cool one (time waster) is this Image Story Generator.

Have a good one. Cheers!

There have been a lot of queries as to how to how to tie a sarong. (I came out of semi-retirement for this one.) Here is one of the simplest knots called 2 (or 3… depending on how wide your sarong is) FOLDS and A ROLL… which works with both a non-tube and as well as tube sarong (like the one in this picture.)

1. Stretch out the sarong with left arm.

2. With your right hand hold a fold point tight up against the body.

3. Fold across using left hand.

4. With right hand mark the next fold point.

5. Fold over to center of chest.

6. From the inside (closest to skin) roll forward to tighten.

7. Tah dah!

Now here is a message from our lovely model Solitaire who hasn’t done a HNT in a while.

SOLITAIRE: Ya’ll knew I couldn’t just disappear! I miss you all and I love you dearly! Quincy is in full swing and she’s ruling my life, but all’s well that ends well and I shall return with the Rogue so wait with baited breath will ya??? Hi Os! You big lug!

And as promised to Cosima and Lime (who are also in with sarongs) … you also get one of me sitting in my garage theater in my sarong.

Cheers and Happy HNT!

Click HERE to steal a brand new Rogue banner for your blog!
The application period for next year’s fest is coming up quick.