Impossible to Please

[itsallovernow]

And to be around!

Please, please, help get me out of this pissy mood! I'm just... frustrated with everything, raw and edgy and for no discernible reason. I know a lot of it is the the thoughts on feminism, and art, and presentation and... it pushes my buttons, makes me want to be revolutionary and militant and not at all placating. Or kind. I'm not feeling particularly tolerant or kind. It's a sense of complaceny that bothers me, I think, or the hair triggers of things that I KNOW are not symbols of anything but personal interest (Slash is really pushing my buttons today, as is Brokeback Mountain and it has nothing to do with two men fucking, and everything to do with removing women from the narrative, and yes, yes, I know all the responses, totally get the idea of finding two men together hot, it's not the content, it's the absence, if you know what I mean).

It's subtle sexism, and striving for identity. It's being pissed off that someone gave my niece a toy vaccuum and my nephew a bunch of trucks. Or walking into a room and having someone check out my ass instead of asking what I do. Or fuck, any of the number of people who ask if I'm married yet, then give me the sympathetic eyes of, "Oh poor baby, all by yourself." It's the 18 thousand chicklit books that suggest (in ways that are more subtle, more pervasive, and more damaging than any romance novel with an 18 year old virgin getting it on with a 32 year old) finding a man is the ultimate path to happiness - not education or career or contributing productively to the world around you.

It's the fact that we've never had a female president, that we still have trouble recruiting women for the hard sciences and yet don't value women in the social sciences or the arts, that we act like those things are "lesser" by virtue of not being science. It's a zillion things not helped by the fact that I'm currently inhabiting the traditional female role of "Assistant" in a male dominated office and feeling the pressures and identity shifts of that role. Feeling like I'll never get out of it.

So, I apologize for being pissy, and I ask- in return for letting this topic fly free - for things to get me out of this mood. Write me a treatise on a character you love, post a picture of something that cracked you up, fic of course is always welcome:) But really, anything would be good.

And to start, a few things that have helped alleviate the pissiness:

1. Out of nowhere, perhaps sensing my mood, KCRW played both "Cold Water" and "Wish You Were Here". That, right there, was almost enough, although both songs make me ridiculously teary.

2. Evita was on last night, and I watched and sang along, because yes it's kind of silly and far too idealized, but the whole revolutionary thing makes me happy (even though, well... yes, I do know the history there, and realize that Peron was a dictator, not a liberator). Musicals just make me happy. I can't help it.

3. I outsmarted Photoshop, and while I can't remember how, the end product was succesful!

4. There is a new Belle and Sebastian album coming out, and what I've heard so far is lovely!

Comments

Hopefully as amusing to you as to me

[leadensky.livejournal.com]

I started this new discussion group with a bunch of fellow Catholic minded Christians.

I'm the only gal.

And I'm the "warhawk".

How about them apples? *g*

- hg

Re: Hopefully as amusing to you as to me

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Despite our vast political differences, this makes me absurdly happy:)

[halcyon-shift.livejournal.com]

This has absolutely nothing to do with deep thought or social issues, but quite a lot to do with funny:

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee!! Oh dude, that's fabulous:)

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[lizlet.livejournal.com]

I offer you:

Patricia Highsmith

And:

A bunny rabbit

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Dude!! I'm not sure which one freaked me out more:) Loves on Liz! That bunny could take over the planet!

And there will be both an article and a Valentine in your inbox this evening! It's been a crazy week!

[lizlet.livejournal.com]

Imagine a world ruled by that bunny. Its regime would be grounded on a platform of hugs and love. And vicious rear leg kicks. But mostly hugs and love.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, hugs and love and a tiny little man to follow him around and clean up the copious amounts of bunny poop.

But you'd have to watch out for those rear leg kicks:)

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Because everyone loves e-mail forwards!


A recent scientific study found that women find different male faces attractive depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle.

For example, when a woman is ovulating she will prefer a man with rugged, masculine features. However when she is menstruating, she prefers a man doused in petrol and set on fire, with scissors stuck in his eye and a cricket stump shoved up his bum.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee:)

Although I've found that I hate EVERYONE when I'm PMSing. My ovaries are delightfully gender neutral:)

[raithen.livejournal.com]

*heee*

Amen. says the PMSy girl who is AWFULLY grateful she had acupuncture yesterday, or people would be dead by now... ;)

[simplystars.livejournal.com]

Heh... I'm not much for forwarded emails, but this one, this one I saved. And now I share it with you. :D

A couple goes on vacation to a fishing resort in northern Minnesota.
The husband likes to fish at the crack of dawn. The wife likes to
read.

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and
decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife
decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors
and continues to read her book. Along comes a game warden in his
boat.

He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What
are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies. (thinking isn't that obvious?)

"You're in a restricted fishing area", he informs her.

"I'm sorry officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start
at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the
woman.

"But I have not even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you
could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Never argue with a woman who reads. It is likely she can also think.

Hee. *hugsyou*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee:) I liked that very much:)

[elishavah.livejournal.com]

Can you watch Windows Media videos? Click on the Chicago link I put up in my latest post.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

I will watch when I get home!!! Thank you:)

[cofax7]

I don't know if this will make you feel better or worse, but I'm going out for beer and burgers on the waterfront for lunch.

... *smiles hopefully*

Hang in there, my pal. As once was carved on my desk in freshman calculus, "Life sucks and then you die, but at least we don't smell like elephants."

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Bwah!! Hee. Okay, not smelling like an elephant is definitely something to be grateful for:) And yeah, that you get to go out for burgers and beer on the waterfront definitely makes me happy:)

[cofax7]

It was beautiful and sunny and the beer was good and we talked about LOST and office gossip and I'm going to leave early because I was here until 8 pm last night. Yay!

I hope you have a better day. Plus, weekend!

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks dear!! And go you with deservedly leaving early:)

[troyswann.livejournal.com]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/salieri/wallpapers/claudia-black-pitch-black-1.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/salieri/wallpapers/claudia-black-pitch-black-2.gif

I dunno if this will help, but they are two wallpapers of Claudia Black in Pitch Black.

They are blue and orange. Orange always makes me feel better.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Those absolutely made me feel better:) (They're lush and beautiful and I can look at her forever:) Thank you!

Pushy Filly Foals always make things better:

[raithen.livejournal.com]

Re: Pushy Filly Foals always make things better:

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Ah, so very cute:)

Re: Pushy Filly Foals always make things better:

[raithen.livejournal.com]

JJ says she is a horse and she doesn't understand the need for this feminism thing. If she wants to be head-mare, she'll be head-mare. And fillies are better than colts ANYWAY. So. There.

[cretkid.livejournal.com]

alright, how about this:

I am in a hard science field; I can name at least a dozen papers that directly apply to the work I do (tectonics, for example), that EVERYONE and their uncle/aunt reference in their papers dealing with my specific project, and everyone of those papers has a woman as the lead author. Not only that, but at least half of these papers were written prior to 1990.

The textbook I am using for my class in solid earth geophysics is written by a woman. I'm not using it because it is written by a woman, but because it is by far the most comprehensive book out there that touches a little bit on everything I want to teach. The other books either focus entirely on Seismics, Heat, Gravity or Magnetism, and I want to not only use them ALL, but put everything together into a cohesive framework, and her textbook is the only one I've found in 15 years in this business that does it.

The template I am using as a basis for many of the laborotory sessions for my historical class was written by a woman.

And of course, I already pointed out the pug pages. Hee!

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee:) See. All of that is a very good thing!! Not to mention that two of my favorite resident geologists (although you are the one practicing, the other turned to a fruitful career in landscape architecture) are women.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_minxy_/]

Well, so I'm in both a caring science and a hard science and I have to say while people are usually supportive and impressed and all that for both, the biggest difference is how much people are willing to talk to me about it. Science? Tends to bring out the 'holy shit Ihavenoideawhattosaytothat!' face, and the medicine the 'aw, aren't you noble, let me tell you all about my skanky little toe!' reaction.

So when I picked a field instead of trying to do everything, I got a lot of pity for not staying in medicine. EXCEPT, for one girlfriend, Andee (I mention this because she has to explain being named for her grandfather a LOT) who glories in my wierd little scientific brain. Other people, for example, seem to find it a little frightening when I say 'if you go to sleep now you could get a full REM cycle in' as opposed to 'if you go to sleep now you could get a few hours of sleep', where Andee will pounce on me from behind and say 'You're so WIERD!' laugh, hug me and play with my hair.

I don't need society as a whole to do backflips for me because I'm a scientist, you see, I have my GIRLFRIENDS. Woot. *Snoopy dance*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee:) That is indeed fabulous!

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

it's possible i love the character of daniel jackson just a little bit. and jack, sam and teal'c. and i really adore the characters of farscape more than anything even though i can't 'write' them. so...instead of a treatise about daniel and the rest of sg1, i'll offer up the story i posted earlier this week (see, i'm getting braver about that...meep. *g* http://jenlev.livejournal.com/220311.html

and the things you've listed make me pissy too. including how when i go to buy slippers...the "women's" section features flimsy, not-warm ones with no arch support. grrr. which is my way of saying, no apology necessary. *hugs*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee:) Hugs you and thinks maybe you're buying slippers from the wrong place:)

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

heh. thankfully the mens slipper come in small sizes....i'm down the street from the "biggest moccasin store" in the world. they may have exaggerated, but it's still a fund place. *g*

[infinitemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I don't if this will help but I find its mindless violence tremendously appealing:

http://supamonks.free.fr/supermoine.htm

[chasarumba.livejournal.com]

Apologies for randomly posting a comment (I don't read a ton of fanfic, but when I do you're one of my favorite authors, so I visit your journal every so often :)), but you mentioned Cold Water and I had to squee -- I love Damien Rice as well and recently finished a Farscape vid to that song. It's very cool to run across another Farscape/Damien Rice fan!

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Ooo. I've always envisioned a Farscape vid to that song. Please, please pass on the link if you're comfortable doing so!!

And no worries, it's lovely to meet you! (And thank you!)

[chasarumba.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure! It's linked from the first post in my journal, or you can go directly to my site (http://dearone.net/media.php) :)

[denyeverything1.livejournal.com]

Eh, don't apologize for being pissy. Pissy is mild relative to the reaction the situation actually warrants. I'm sorry you're getting slammed with that dreary sort of subtle sexism in the workplace every day. It really is exhausting.

I'm not sure if it's cheering or discouraging that in my grant review study section I was one of 4 women (out of 28 total). I guess 4 is better than 3 (or none). Plus about 30% of the grants were from women, so (very, very, ridiculously slow) progress there.

Okay, now I've depressed myself. :P

Have you seen this?

'Serenity' as told by muppets! (http://www.palisadestoys.com/forum/showthread.php?p=70208#post70208)

Thank god for the internets.