Wednesday 17 March 2004

Joys

Well this is kind of an (in?)auspicious day for me to start a new website/online journal/project thingie it being the fourth anniversary of an initial attempt to do the same thing.  I kept that up somewhat inconsistently for the duration, the common factor being that most of the time the damn thing was offline, so all the blahblahblah-ing and astounding profound insights (I wish) and recipes ended up being for my benefit alone ... which is of course what its all supposed to be about, not garnering a huge squee-ing fan base, but I did - and do - miss the basic point; that of being "out there", connecting with other online types and the healthy exchange of ideas and yes yes, squee-age.

In those four years I: moved from Western Australia to Northern Ireland for lurve; lived in Belfast; got married; had ongoing furious and unproductive battles with the IND (aka  the cretinous imbecilic Immigration!Department) and the NHS; suffered a major downturn in physical health; fell deeper and deeper in nauseatingly mushy love with my husband; was immensely challenged by the socio-emotional and political reality of Belfast; and finally, made the extremely difficult decision to move self and husband back to Western Australia.  Kinda traumatic time, all round, but I wouldn't have swapped it for the world, you know? 

So here we are.  Welcome.

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Happy St Patrick's Day, and International Ireland and Guinness Drinking Day to ye all.  I am celebrating with a rather large glass of Baileys Irish Cream and snuggling up to my very own black-haired, navy blue-eyed Irish lad.  Ahhh the joys of the Irish ...

... and did you know that "lust" is the old Anglo-Saxon word for "joy"?  Here's to joys of every nature then, and the experience of same (and thanks to Dorothy L Sayers for that tidbit).

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Speaking of Ireland (what? well, I was), the BBC News Online reported today that the Sinn Fein denies "it is not under pressure from the White House to sign up to policing and get the IRA to stop illegal activity".  To that I say a contemptuous "HA!". 

If they are not under pressure - then they bloody well should be.  Wouldn't it be ever so  slightly hypocritical of the USA, under "War President" Bush, to continue to support the activities of a terrorist organisation, at the same time as blasting rhetoric and high-technology weapons in its "war against terror"?  Okay so it wouldn't be the first time ... it sure wouldn't be the first time the USA has supported terrorist and dictatorial regimes whilst trumpeting about free speech and freedom and equal rights.  Ha. 

But in this day, in this age, post 11 September, I truly do believe the USA has an obligation to reverse its position on Ireland and use its international power to do good, and force peace.

Yes, I am simplifying matters to a kindergarten level; but then again, why the fuck not?  Issues get so tied up in complexities and details and petty semantics that the true meaning, the real needs, become lost.  Keep It Simple, Stupids. 

Tuxedo says it better than me - here's his two pence worth, written in response to an online conversation/debate about the Northern Ireland Peace Process.

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Today's "duhhhh" moment, brought to you by the letter O and the number 28. 

I'd been feeling pretty weepy all day, which I figured was more-or-less understandable given the stress we're currently under, and the fact that I've been in absolutely insane uncontrollable pain for a week, and having to take large amounts of heavy duty painkillers, which are not that pleasant.  Still, I'm used to those factors, have accepted them to some extent, and unless there's been a recent, brand-new event to further prove that I have The Worst Karma In the World I tend not to turn on the waterworks at the slightest provocation or viewing of long-distance-telephone advertisements.

But I also had a nasty bloated stomach (we're talking the popular beached white whale or six-month-pregnant poochy look here) that felt more than a wee bit uneasy ... What the fuck is all this about?

My fella - after wiping snot and tears off his t-shirt - gently pointed out that given that I stopped taking my Pill pills on Monday in preparation for the tri-monthly crimson tide (I wrap-around so only have a period every three months), then maybe ... just perhaps ... there was a slight chance I was ...  PMS-ing?  and you know, that might be why I was feeling crap and teary and vile?

See why I love the guy?

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