So I'm sitting in the shop at work this evening, just kind of waiting for parts to come in so I can get out of there and get some work done when I overhear a conversation between our shift supervisor and the guy who's right below him in terms of rank. It went something like this:

Sup: Yeah man, I didn't really work with her for too long but she had a tight body! I mean, she was hot. *pause* I'd do her. *blah, blah, blah*

Other guy: Yeah? *laugh*

Sup: Yeah, I mean she was HOT.

At that point I tuned out to more mumblings about tight bodies and how he'd do this or that to "that chick." I don't want to listen to that kind of crap but that's how military guys are. I used to get annoyed with it but... I can't change it, figure it's just guys in their 20s being guys in their 20s. *shrug*

So, about 10 minutes later, these same two guys get into a discussion about the possible (potential? I can only hope!) reversal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that President Obama is pushing for. They're discussing what the Commandant of the Marine Corps has said about this possible change, and what the Sec Nav has said about it, etc., etc. and the supervisor goes off on a bit of a tangent. He says things like, "I don't think it's a big deal. They should just keep it to themselves." in regard to gay people in the military. He goes on to say that "they" (again, gay people who serve) shouldn't be allowed to be open about their sexual orientation and that if they want to be "out" they shouldn't be able to serve in the military and that he can't understand why they'd WANT to be out considering the ridicule they'd have to put up with from non-gay military members if they were "out."


I had to leave the shop because the whole conversation was so frustrating and there was no point in saying anything to them.

I wish we could turn the tables and make them spend a day living under a Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy pointed toward heterosexual people. I'd like to think that if they DID have to spend a day like that, they'd understand but I know they just wouldn't get it which makes the whole thing even more frustrating.

See, I don't think they even come close to realizing how overtly sexual their daily, hour to hour conversations and unwelcome commentary are. Neither of the people involved in the conversation had ANY idea how... hypocritical they were being. I just can't wrap my mind around it and come to any sort of acceptance or, or... whatever. I just can't.

These guys think it's perfectly normal to spend their working hours spouting off what would be considered sexual harassment EVERY DAY for a goodly portion of their work day anywhere else but if a gay guy or girl is allowed to be even remotely "open" about his or her sexual orientation... then, well, "they shouldn't be allowed to work with us." UTTER BULLSHIT and yet another reason I loathe the community of people I work with.

Never really thought I'd dig a haunted house type thingy but the one in the park was super fun (went the w/e before last)! Mostly, because of the company combined with the fact that we were in the back of the group and got to laugh A LOT at the people in front of us. Good times, good times... enough to make up for the last few weekends of parking inconvenience, to be sure.

On the flip side, I'd never seen a GIRL with plumber butt until we stood in the line for over an hour. Ewww! XP Could've lived an OK life without that particular experience but it's all good.

Whatever the case, if you're in SD, you should go. It's fun! (also, the clown part is the best part by far)

Also, I've become a bit of a Sea World hater over the past few years without having actually GONE to the place. Went last weekend and had all my distatse(s) confirmed. It's a theme park with undeservedly captive animals as the main attraction and I hurt for them. Nothing more to say about that.

Now then, time for good company, huge jigsaw puzzles and REALLY bad vodka. Woo!

OK, not really but they have found a spider native to Southern Mexico and South America that gets the majority of its nourishment via vegetable matter. Check it. In spite of the article claiming that B. kiplingi are vegetarians, they're not. Technically, I think they'd still be considered omnivores because they do supplement their diet with animal matter. And, omnivorous spiders aren't anything new. Orb weavers have been considered to be facultative omnivores for quite some time as they ingest plant matter when they eat their webs to conserve resources. The distinction here is that B. kiplingi gets most of its food, intentionally from plant matter and well, that's just frikkin' cool. *glee*

Aside from the kick ass scientific name it's a member of the Salticid family and they (aside from the Mygalomorphs) are probably the most fascinating group of spiders around.

(if you're interested, here's a link to more info about Salticidae in general. Some good reading there for the curious)

Oh! Just for grins here's the err... christian take on B. kiplingi.

The best part of the article:

"From a biblical perspective this spider is also interesting. In Genesis when God says everything was good, creationists believe that before the flood all animals and insects were vegetarians. It also says, after the flood of Noah’s time, that this would change. God told us that we could eat the meat of animals and that they would fear us (Genesis 9:2 NIV). Finding spiders like these help to show the world that what God said about the world through the bible is true. Herbivorous spiders can exist and thrive."

*snorfle* Crazy X-ians!

Hey all, just a reminder...

The airshow is this weekend. If you know what's good for you, you'll STAY AWAY FROM MCAS MIRAMAR THIS WEEKEND. The chaos will begin on Thursday, really pick up on Friday and be in full force Saturday and Sunday. Traffic will suck and it will be LOUD (go, go tinnitus!)

If, on the other hand, you dig that sort of thing... here's a link to the airshow website. Kinda seems like the hi-lite will be Fat Albert and the Blue Angels gang. woo or something. (I've tried, unsuccessfully, to get someone to go tag Fat Albert for two days and no one will do it. Buncha scaredy-cats)

Oh. and if you DO go, please, please, please DO NOT throw your trash on the flight line!! Know who gets to pick up your dirty diapers, spat out gum and remnants of chicken wings? My coworkers and I. Not a fun time, I tell you.

I don't think I need to say anything else. I, for one, won't be going north of the 8 Thursday through Sunday.

New drink of choice. Oh yes. First time I've ever actually liked liquor w/out benefit of (a lot of) something fruity added.

Tomorrow: this will be taking place. I will be in attendance. Enough said.


Also, I'm getting tired of endings. I'd like a beginning now, thank you. I suppose I should say "please" but I don't feel like it, so there. I don't want a fairy tale and frankly, that sounds kind of boring to me anyway (besides, I don't see too many princesses strutting about juggling a multimeter and schematic in one hand, a `1/4" ratchet in the other and knees dirty from jet fuel/oil/hydraulic fluid so I'm thinking I wouldn't fit too well in a fairy tale anyway. That flowing pink dress would last for about half a second in my world. Prince Charming could never, ever handle the sailor mouth and I heard he's no good at crosswords and doesn't like spiders so forget him). I'd be utterly thrilled with something that wasn't finite. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Tough week's end. Not worth going into details really, but it has me a little (or maybe a lot) down in the dumps.

I cannot, with any consistency say what I'm really thinking. I don't know if that's a function of being a little goofy in my brains or if I'm so scared of the idea that people will think that I'm goofy in my brains, that I can't bring myself to say even the perfectly normal crap that wants to be said.

End result? I need a hug, and not the "oh, it's nice to see you!" kind of friendly hug that I'm not too keen on in the first place but one of those big, warm, swallows you up and makes you feel safe kind of hugs. I don't mean a hug that's a prelude to desire or a reminder of friendship but the kind of hug where you get folded into someones arms and no matter how long it lasts, or what comes before or after, you know without a shadow of a doubt that you're safe, protected, cherished for that little bit of time and reassured that all your irrational fears and doubts are held at bay by the person hugging you.

Would be nice. Not going to happen. *sigh*

Sake. Book. Nethack. Poor substitutes but they'll do in a pinch.

I do not particularly enjoy the company of bees who have taken an unreasonable interest in me. And, while I refuse to befriend them (or let them land on my person for that matter), I do not feel the need to kill them. This is their world too, for exploring.

I do not like finding weevils in the pancake mix. But, weevils need to eat too and seeing how where I'm living in my box of concrete, dead trees and synthetic materials is probably the ruined site of the weevils former home, I will not begrudge said weevils a long and fruitful life when I DO happen to find them in the Bisquik. This is their world too, for living.

While I am still apt to be startled (and yes, even a bit scared on occasion and full of irrational fears) by the house spider in my shower, she too has the right to drink and be where she feels comfortable and at home. This is her world too, for being peaceful, quiet, and solitary.

I am not fond of yappy little dogs whose people have taught them no manners. Those little fuzzy, piddling balls of fur who snap at me as I walk by. But, you see, the little fuzzy mutts of the world, too, have the right to be here, share the walk, piddle, yap, snuffle about and get in my way. This is their world, for running, playing, and yapping if they so chose.

I do not like little children, even fear them to some extent with all their innocence just waiting to be hurt, destroyed, maimed by those of us considered to be "adult." That's just the way it is with me. I don't lash out at the little children when I see them scurrying away from Mummy's arms though. They have every right to run, play, grow, learn and generally be icky in full view, for this, also, is their world. I only share it.


I cannot understand, cannot comprehend how people do not see that every other thing (all things, no matter their size, shape, level of intelligence-by human standards-, color(s), perceived beauty, life span, lack of backbone, and so on)is just as entitled to be here or there as they are.

Is the unthinking killing and/or eradication of other beings (viruses, animals, plants...whatever, anything alive) simply an unvoiced desire to assert a person's dominance over that which they have decided is not a good as they are? Who are we to judge?


If there is a god... If there is a goddess(and I absolutely believe there is but that's another story altogether), their gift to us was this earth. But, it was their gift to every other living being as well. We should not forget that. And, I say forget because I believe that we all know somehow, deep down. Some of us simply chose to forget because we feel it's easier that way.

We have no right or authority to decide who should be allowed to walk amongst and share, the joys of that gift and who should not.