“Leaked” music video for Mother Mary by The Foxboro Hot Tubs

(I felt this deserved its own post)

“Leaked”. Warner music has been pulling this & the “Stop, Drop & Roll” vid like crazy. Kind of like they pulled the demo version of 21CB’s title track when that was released (I still prefer some of these earlier arrangements, & earlier lyrics, btw – “I’m breaking my back til I’m damn near well dead / Well enough ain’t enough to survive”). Come on now. If it hasn’t been apparent by now, after wars with Napster barely made an impact on the spread of free things that probably shouldn’t be free, the internet is like herpes – You catch it easily & spread it to everyone on the planet with ease. Except “it” can be anything. (Yea, I’m tired-rambling a bit, lol.) Once something like this hits the internet, it’ll be there forever; maybe hidden somewhere on a disk in another country, but it will resurface wherever it is wanted. If there’s something you don’t want on the internet, you have a responsibility to protect it – You should’ve locked it away in a vault if you didn’t want it to bring a little sunshine to fans’ eyes. (If all this is even the case, of course – I don’t fully trust that anything is ever “leaked”, lol.)
And what a sweet video this is, too. I can’t wait to screencap the fuck out of it, lmao. The whole thing is very classy, & very well shot. I will always love Tre’s “FBHT” drums … & his outfit here … And his face when he smashes those light bulbs x) And what a nice message – “Attention : Teenage girls. Don’t have sex EVER” – Mike & Tre’s daughters are teenagers now, aren’t they? hahaha

♥

Lots of cool shit

on tumblr again tonite, folks! x)

I’m having a pretty tough time at work right now, but…

…everything will work out in the end.

get it? xD

fundraising for Doctors Without Borders through CollegeHumor.com

Click the pic for more information – They’re offering up 3 exclusive videos for those who donate!!

^ pretty funny (:

sunset silhouette

And since I try not to take things tooooo seriously,

which is a good thing to know in life, otherwise, I figure I’ll lose my fucking mind… here’s my “Pic of the Day”, courtesy of Scrubs :

xD

“Simple Things”

blogging for Haiti

“I like the idea of celebrating our gratitude for the simple things we’re blessed with. And I love the idea of using the occasion to send financial aid to Haiti, to keep the blessings flowing… I’ve randomly chosen this coming weekend, February 6 and 7, to be my own Simple Things celebration. Write on your blog on Saturday or Sunday about the simple things that bless you and include a link to my blog. Then pop in to my blog (linked to pick above) and tell me you’ve posted your ‘Simple Things.’ I’ll visit you, we’ll visit each other, and for each blog that participates, my family will donate $2.00 to the Heartline Ministries medical clinic in Haiti. I hope you really make me open up our checkbook here. I want to dream big. I hope that more than 50 bloggers will play along with me. Post by midnight, Pacific time, Sunday, and don’t forget to link with me and notify me that you’ve posted. You can borrow the ‘Simple Things’ photo… Make a list, write a poem, do a story, whatever floats your boat.”
~ Enchanted Oak

I realize this is supposed to be a “simple things” list (like sunshine on my skin, kisses from my sweetie, a refreshing summer breeze, etc.), but I’m well overdue for a full blown gratitude list, and considering the cause for this prompt, here goes…

Things I’m Grateful For…
~ i’m aiming for quite a list x) ~

1. My amazing boyfriend. He always takes care of me. He’s got a great sense of humor. He’s got a great ass, & beautiful blue eyes, the most adorable smile & giggle (don’t tell him I told you he giggles! lmao), & the most comforting hugs I have ever felt in my life. He’s a very genuine & unique individual; He’s also very considerate (sometimes, even romantic!); He’s also incredibly creative, though he doesn’t tap into it as much as he should (*ahem*). One day, there’ll be a ring on my finger, but “neither of us are going anywhere, so fuck it for now”, lmao. He (almost) never ceases to keep a smile on my face (or maybe just an eyebrow raised). We rarely ever fight, & we’re mature enough to deal with the situation when we do fight (though he’s certainly much more mature about it than I, heh heh). He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, & I love that he reminds me that the feeling is mutual. Probably most importantly, I’m grateful that he’s my best friend, & that he loves and supports me no matter what, & I him. :’) While we each struggle to better our individual lives, our arms & ears are always open to each other along the journey, & that means more to me than anything ever could. ♥
2. My father. Holy fuck, that man drives me up the motherfucking wall 90% of the time, I really can’t stress this enough. Beyond that, there’s deep resentments toward him that will always dwell in my soul. But…! He is my father. I know he loves me unconditionally & that he’s always willing to help me out if I ever need it, & for that I am forever indebted to him. I will do whatever it takes (well, whatever my healing soul can withstand) to ensure his quality of life is, at the least, not “low”; I try to make sure that he feels appreciated for the love that I know he will openly offer his only daughter for the rest of his life.
3. My mother, that she will always be in my heart & my memories. I see a lot of what I remember of her personality in myself, good things & bad, which helps me figure myself out. I’m grateful for a lot of the morals she’d taught (and/or tried to teach) me. She was a very sweet woman, & I wish to god that I’d had the opportunity to get to know her better. (“As my memory rests, but never forgets what I lost.”)
4. All of my friends, even those I don’t speak with much anymore, & those I’ve shied away from, & those I only see at work, & those I haven’t seen since Catholic school, & those I’ve only talked to once or twice, & those I’ve only chatted with on the internet. Anyone I have ever even remotely considered a friend has impacted my life significantly enough to stick in my shitty memory, & for that, I will always love each & every one of you, & will forever be grateful that our paths have crossed. I’m grateful for those who speak highly of me, & those who share with me that others think highly of me, because it reminds me that at least I’ve added a little spark to someone’s life; and also especially grateful for those who know me well enough to justifiably criticize me, though with an open mind & open heart & open soul – it helps me become a better person. I’m especially grateful to those who I’ve hurt (& I’m sure that, in one way or another, that’s just about everyone I know), who know me well enough to know that, deep down, I truly mean no one any harm, & are compassionate enough to understand that my personal struggles with myself overwhelm me & sometimes cause me to be an asshole; We are all perpetually transforming & growing throughout our lives, & I honestly am ashamed by my lack of charisma in dealing with it. Fortunately, I only befriend good souls & beautiful people, & can feel like I can rest assured that you’ll always greet me with at least a half a smile.
5. My family. Blood relatives, both sides. Though we never see each other, hardly speak to each other, & hardly even know each other, you are my family & I will always unconditionally love & respect every one of you. I mean it. You will always be a part of what makes me who I am, & I you, & nothing will ever change that. I find my entire family intimidating, being the youngest of my generation of cousins, & (so it feels) the most far removed; but I still love all of you & hope that you know I love you too, even though I do keep my distance. I was raised to be very independent (another thing I’m grateful for!), & I feel as though I grew up to be extremely unique from everyone else. Not a bad thing, but it is what it is. I am also especially grateful for those in my family who do try to keep in touch, if even just by becoming friends on Facebook, & even if things don’t work out (“I haven’t seen you in years, why would you think it wouldn’t be overwhelmingly awkward to go camping with you for a weekend? Or is it just me?”). I think everyone who I consider family is a good soul; we all have fucked up at times, but we all try to do the best we can with our lives.
6. My Grandparents, on my father’s side. (Unfortunately, I never really had the chance to know my mother’s parents.) My Grandparents practically raised me. My Grandfather passed away when I was about 7 or 8- He always treated me like a princess. No…they both did. They knew I was going to be their last grandkid, so they did everything they could get away with to spoil the holymotherfuck out of me. My grandmother fed me anything I wanted, & always made sure there was more than enough of my favorite homemade soup to take home, even when she could hardly walk. She was a tough old lady. And she didn’t even drive; I remember her telling me she crashed the first time she ever tried to drive, & never tried it since. She certainly worried about everyone and everything too much, which I’m grateful that I learned not to do (for the most part). Her smile was so genuine, & she’d always get a little sparkle in her eye. She dedicated her life to her family, & she was a wonderful woman. I will always regret not spending more time with her as I got older; I’m grateful that she loved the shit out of me regardless.
7. My Aunt Linda & Uncle Frank, may he rest in peace, for supporting my mother with everything they had during her final weeks. I might not have survived it without you.
8. That I am employed. I resent job #1 for a million reasons, but am grateful for its paycheck & the few amazing people that it’s brought into my life, if even for a few minutes. I’m also grateful that it’s given me the opportunity to try to brighten the day of someone I’d never met before who is hurting deeply. I’m grateful for job #2 for similar reasons, the paycheck being the last of those reasons though. Job #2 has introduced me to a wide array of unique, beautiful people, some of whom I’m glad to call friends. I figure you should live your life so you have a story to tell, & I’m truly grateful for every story I’ve heard, even if it’s just something different.
9. My cats. All 3 of ‘em. They’re all such loveable animals, & they each have such unique personalities…it’s weird, lol.
10. Music; well, mostly Green Day. I practically turned back into a 13 year old girl when their latest album, 21st Century Breakdown, was released. I’ve seriously only recently gotten sick of hearing those songs every single day. Sounds pretty obsessive, I know, & it is, lol. I’ll explain by saying this : I’m grateful that I became a fan of the band when I was ever so young (9, to be exact), & that I’ve been able to witness them grow up all these years. I’ve learned a lot from them, & their songs really make me…think. They make me try to take different perspectives on things sometimes. I really…am struggling to express the undying love & respect I have for them, in part because I don’t have that kind of time. I’m grateful that they work so hard, because they all certainly work more than I do (even with 2 jobs! lol), & they all seem to handle their insanely chaotic lives with class. I’m grateful that their band has survived the test of time, despite even my own faith several years back; And I’m grateful that Billie Joe and Mike were as genuinely sweet as they were when I met them several years back. Billie Joe handled my speechlessness at the sight of him very well, & Mike was just the nicest stranger I’ve ever met – After talking to him for about 5 minutes, I finally realized who he was & expressed by love & respect; He gave me the most genuine hug anyone could ever hope to get from a rockstar, & his autograph (which he suggested he give me, lol) read, “Mike Dirnt ♥’s me, XXX”. (Yes, I know using “genuine” twice in one paragraph is bad taste, but they really do seem to be genuinely amazing people.)
11. (Other) Musicians I’ve met, who have been sweet as pie to me. Not many have been graced with the personal presence of some of these people, so I’m grateful that I’d been given the opportunity. Fat Mike from NOFX, who was extremely hospitable. Nate from Flogging Molly, who was very friendly, lol. Mike & Tom from MxPx, for consoling me while I’d been having an anxiety attack at the sight of Billie Joe (I was 15, fuck you, lmao). Dicky Barrett from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, for being so friendly. Steve from The Pietasters, for sneaking in a huge kiss & thank you for bringing so much energy to the show; & Jorge from The Pietasters, for not only remembering my name for hours after we’d met, but continuously running up to me throughout the rest of the show to see what I was up to, & for inviting me out for drinks with the band (until I pointed out that I was only 18, lol). Oh, & Mike Dirnt again, for saying that he’d wished I was old enough to go have a few drinks with him way back then, even if he was just being polite xD (still an awesome gesture! lol) And Kevin Lyman, director (?) of Warped Tour, for personally providing me with some interesting stories.
12. All the crazy shit I’ve done in my life. And I’ve done some crazy shit. I guess. I try to learn from everything I do, and I’m grateful that I’ve (at least in the past) been balls-y enough, & open minded enough, to do all the things I have done. I’m grateful for the crazy stories that make up my life x)
13. My home. Even though it’s such a motherfuckinghopeless disaster, & I really can’t live here all my life, it’s still my home & I will always love it, especially the seclusion.

I could probably go on, but I’ve pretty much drained myself for the night.
If anyone has bothered to read this, I really hope you go & make your own list (or have done so recently) – If you really try, you can find a lot of things to be grateful for, & I’m grateful that I’ve felt obligated by the temptation of donation to a good cause, to share with internetland all that I’m grateful for. I’ll be reviewing this post from time to time, just to remind myself of how lucky I am, so it doesn’t even matter to me if no one else reads it

♥

P.S. We’ll consider this #14 : I’m grateful that, despite the #13 popping up everywhere lately, I’ve been incredibly lucky. We’ll still consider this #14, though, just in case

Dammit!

I’ve done absolutely nothing all day. Didn’t leave the house, & hardly left the computer chair. (I need to stop making a habit of this!)
As a result, I spent most of the day keeping up with tumblr, & now can’t pick just one favorite thing to post on here.
So, instead of a pic of the day, here’s my tumblr picks of the day x)

Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.

“Every dollar I spend is a vote. Where are you going to put your dollar into? What is worth investing into?” ~ Billie Joe Armstrong

Do it for yourself. Don’t do it because it seems cool or anything. And don’t do it to get confirmation. A lot of people don’t give you a chance. But you’re doing it because you love it and it’s what you love to do, then it’s not hard.

I can’t help it..

… I must post both of these for today’s “Pic of the Day”

“They Beat the Same”

Link’s my fave right there!
And, because I’ve had a long day, am about to head to bed, & since I’m such a huge advocate (lol)…

Some “Alternative / Complimentary Therapies”

Craniosacral Therapy – about.com / wikipedia

• Craniosacral therapy is a form of therapeutic touch that addresses imbalances in the craniosacral system — the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord; dates back to 1970 – The idea is that the whole body responds to the rhythmical activity of the craniosacral system.
• During a craniosacral therapy session, a therapist senses subtle motions while looking for any restrictions impeding the free motion of the craniosacral system and various body regions, tissues, organs, and subtle energy systems. Manual techniques using very light touch help release those restrictions.
• A therapist who has been especially trained in craniosacral therapy will use techniques that will probably include holding your head in various positions and your feet. They slip one hand under your sacrum and hold the other on your belly, holding each position as they gradually move up the spine.
• The treatment is very gentle, with an “energy work” component, and should leave you feeling refreshed and balanced.
• also called CST / cranial osteopathy
• an alternative medicine therapy used by osteopaths, massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, and occupational therapists. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which they say allows them to tune into what they call the craniosacral system. The practitioner gently works with the spine and the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia. In this way, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord is said to be optimized, and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Several studies have reported that there is little scientific support for major elements of the underlying theoretical model, which has not been rigorously analyzed.
• Towards the end of his life Sutherland believed that he began to sense a “power” which generated corrections from inside his clients’ bodies without the influence of external forces applied by him as the therapist. Similar to Qi and Prana, this contact with, what he perceived to be the Breath of Life changed his entire treatment focus to one of spiritual reverence and subtle touch.[8] This spiritual approach to the work has come to be known as both ‘biodynamic’ craniosacral therapy and ‘biodynamic’ osteopathy
• A typical craniosacral therapy session is performed with the client fully-clothed, in a supine position, and usually lasts about one hour. In the Upledger method of craniosacral therapy, a ten-step protocol serves as a general guideline, which includes (1) analyzing the base (existing) cranial rhythm, (2) creating a still point in that rhythm at the base of the skull, (3) rocking the sacrum, (4) lengthening the spine in the lumbar-sacral region, (5) addressing the pelvic, respiratory and thoracic diaphragms, (6) releasing the hyoid bone in the throat, and (7-10) addressing each one of the cranial bones. The practitioner may use discretion in using which steps are suitable for each client, and may or may not follow them in sequential order, with time restraints and the extent of trauma being factors.
• The therapist places their hands lightly on the patient’s body, tuning in to the patient by ‘listening’ with their hands or, in Sutherland’s words, “with thinking fingers”. A practitioner’s feeling of being in tune with a patient is described as entrainment.[23] Patients often report a sense of deep relaxation during and after the treatment session, and may feel light-headed. This is popularly associated with increases in endorphins, but research shows the effects may actually be brought about by the endocannabinoid system.[

Thai Massage

• developed by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a healing modality 2,500 years ago. Thai massage uses passive stretching and gentle pressure along the body’s energy lines to increase flexibility, relieve muscle and joint tension and balance the body’s energy systems. Thai massage is both deeply relaxing and energizing.
• takes place on a futon mat on the floor, and you wear loose fitting clothing
• You start by laying on your back, and the therapist uses gentle compression and stretching techniques to open up your body, beginning with you legs. Some people say Thai massage is a little like doing yoga without any effort, because the therapist will push your body into various positions without any work on your part.
• The therapist literally uses his or her whole body, including her feet, to move your body into various positions during Thai massage, so in some ways it feels more intimate than a Swedish massage, where you lay on a massage table and are covered with sheets.
• Thai massage has its roots in a spiritual tradition, and its purpose is to heal a person physically, emotionally and spiritually. It should not be confused with sensual massage.

Ayurveda

• Also Known As: Ayurvedic medicine
• A 5,000-year-old Eastern Indian medicinal philosophy that literally translates as “science of life” from the ancient Sanskrit words “ayur” (life) and “veda” (knowledge or science.) In Ayurveda, health is a state of balance between body, mind and consciousness. Ayurvedic doctors diagnose illnesses and imbalances through darsana (observing the way a person moves, walks and behaves); sparsana (touching) and prasna, (asking questions). The goal is detoxification and restoration of one’s overall balance. Treatment includes a prescribed diet, yoga, meditation, and massage to prepare the body for elimination of waste, called agni. Ayurveda is recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective health science.

Relaxation Massage

• The Massage To Get When You Want To Tune Out
• Relaxation massage is essentially the same as a gentle Swedish massage that uses smooth, gliding strokes. The primary purpose will be to help you relax, and the massage therapist will probably move at a slower pace and use light pressure. During a relaxation massage there is less emphasis on working out serious adhesions or knots in the muscle tissue and the therapist won’t push your pain limits in order to get the muscle to release. Sometimes people even fall asleep during a relaxation massage. There are still substantial health benefits to a relaxation massage, including calming the nervous system, promoting a sense of well-being, improving blood circulation and stimulating the body’s lymphatic system, which carries away waste products.

Lomi Lomi

• The Ancient Hawaiian Massage Found Around the World
• deeply spiritual component
• originated in Hawaii and is commonly found in Hawaiian spas, community health centers, and private practices
• Traditionally, lomi-lomi (sometimes spelled lomilomi or lomi lomi) was practiced by family members, native healers, warriors and servants of royalty.
• Renowned elder teacher Auntie Margaret Machado calls lomi-lomi “loving touch,”
• ritualistic
• It’s possible to have a high-quality, authentic lomi-lomi treatment in Japan…or a mediocre lomi-lomi in Hawaii. Stay away from practitioners who learned lomi-lomi in a three-hour class.

Reiki

Theme Thursday – “Red”

With this week’s theme being red, I found a few things to post quite easily (:

click for artist's thread on Craftster.org

These stuck out to me on Craftster.org yesterday while I was searching for ways to do “chandelier” style on jewelry (a necklace, more specifically).

click for artist's post on her blog

This also stuck out to me, though I’m not sure how I came across it. Her post goes into detail about making the stamp she used.

And I saw this on tumblr yesterday & thought it was adorable x) ♥

~ for