an introduction of sorts

Hi this is me:

I would categorize myself as: Kind of cute when photographed at the perfect angle. I try very hard not to let the angles that don't make me look cute consume my thoughts, but they often do. At age almost 35 this makes me sad. I'm working on it.

There are lots of things that I have very strong opinions about. For example:

Women's rights

LGBTQ rights

Animal welfare rights

On these, and, let's face it, several other issues- if you try to say to me "there are two sides to every coin." I will tell you:

Yes. Yes there are. There is a right side

And a wrong side- GET ON MY LEVEL.

This political election is going to make my brain ooze out of my head until there is nothing left. At that point I will be indistinguishable from a Donald Trump supporter.

Now, in the past I might have done my best to design an articulated, well thought out defense of my rabid anti-trump-ism. Instead, let me sum it up quickly for you so we can move on....

FUCK. TRUMP. 

No really.
I can NOT believe he is the presumptive republican nominee. He brought the level of discourse in the repub's debate down from the already low level of fuck the poor, fuck the rights, feeling and health of a pregnant woman, fuck your right to get married and fuck climate change DOWN (if you can believe it) to "I've got a big dick" and "let's kill people who are different from us." DO YOU EVEN LIFT, BRO? He's a bully and a liar and if he wins the general election this country will deteriorate into a shit hole with TRUMP stamped in faux gold leafing all over every sign in the land. 

So, no, I've decided I don't care if I don't come across as nuanced in my disdain. He's a vile slime ball and he can fuck directly off. The end. See me after class for extra credit.

Now, more about me. I've been married for 10 years. If you know me or are my age and have been married for the same amount of time, you are likely also shitting your pants like I am. Where did this time go? Were we literal infants at our ceremony? Was my dog cuter than me at my own wedding?

 

Answer: YES. LOOK AT HIS SMILE. 

This dog kills me on a daily basis. He died unexpectedly in 2013 right before Thanksgiving. I am not managing it well, even today. I feel numb and empty most days. Not for the entire day like things were right after we lost him, but it's still there. I am changed and don't think I'll ever be the same.

Thankfully I have this guy:

This is my Dashy. He's just turned 10 this year and he is my little shadow. And I don't just mean he follows me around. I mean he has to come everywhere I go or he screams like a howler monkey... more on that later. He is not aging gracefully and I worry about him a lot. I know it drives people crazy but I can't help it. He's had 2 surgeries within the past 10 days (OMG) and 2 years ago he had back surgery twice within a 1 month period. Frenchies- making people wish they'd signed up for pet insurance since the instant these little mutants were created. Seriously. If you think you want a French Bulldog- think again. They are amazing. Really, really amazing little dogs... but also come with a laundry list of EXPENSIVE (recent CORNEAL TRANSPLANT was 2,500$...UGH) and PAINFUL medical maladies. It's hard to watch a dog you love suffer through major operations and congenital issues. Even from the most reputable breeder, they just aren't built right by design so they are almost always destined for lots of problems. Though if you're wealthy... consider adopting a bunch and/or donating to rescue organizations. They deserve to get patched up and live happy lives. 

I'm also thankful to have this guy:

Husband Roberto. He's mostly a nice boy. But does things like sets his alarm for 5:30 when he has no intention of getting up before 7:30. The result of this is that I am awake at 5:30, cursing his life, and the life of the person who invented the snooze button. He works really hard, supports me and my craziness and is funny and cute and thoughtful.... so.... I'm still cranky about the alarm... but I guess I'll keep him.

Besides my dog and husband I enjoy:

Doctor Who- my love seen here via permanent etching on my body. It's my favorite show. It speaks to me in so many ways and you can bet your lily white ASS I'm going to talk a lot about it! This is just an overview! ADDITIONAL EXCLAMATION POINTS FOR EMPHASIS!!!!

Photographing dead people/headstones/cemeteries. I find great peace in the process. 

My nephews- not pictured here because- CREEPY PEOPLE EXIST ON THE INTERWEBS.
So no, I will not post pictures of my angel babies. They are 7, 2 and almost 2. They are the tiny little loves of my life and I want to eat them up. AND? My cousin is about to add 2 identical twin girls into the mix of kiddos in my life- OMGWILLIEVENBEABLETOSURVIVETHECUTENESS?

My family and friends, who are generally rad to a high degree.
I have a big family with lots of kookiness and big personalities. They make me laugh, cry and drive me nuts but I seriously love them a lot.
I'm kind of borderline hermit-ish and don't see my friends on a regular basis, but they are fantastic and I THINK about them a lot, even though I'm not good at making plans/attending events. Basically I'm an asshole. Anxiety- making me an asshole since like 2000-ish. 

Knitting and crafting which both gives me joy and drives me crazy. HOW do you crochet?? How do you make such perfect little stitches?? Why are your crafts Pinterest Perfect and mine are Pinterest Fails?!?! Though my imperfect crafting drives me bananas, I also love it and have a rad little craft area that I love to look at almost as much as I love working in it.

So, what am I doing here?
I don't know.
Trying to document the goings on of my life, discuss topics I feel need to discussed, share crafting fails, draw stupid things and just be weird sort of generally. I had a blog a few years ago that I really dedicated myself to and posted almost every day. It was fun to get some things off my chest and I even met a few cool people in the process.

SO, yeah.

THE END.