This was an awesome spider. My camera is lacking. You will have to settle for this mediocre photo.
Today went better than yesterday, energy and emotional-health wise. I cooked most of the day and I went running even though I wasn’t sure if I had time – I made the time anyway. I ran against the wind and I ran in gravel. I am the least ankle-twisting person I know. Because I ran in the gravel while fucking around with my iPod a lot. I have much music I need to cull so I had to continually skip to goodness. Today I ran to an assortment including “Great Gig in the Sky” by Pink Floyd and “Armchairs” by Andrew Bird. Not exactly the running music for everyone but because I find the whole thing wonderful and emotional and like to sing while I run (if no one’s around to witness) songs like that work for me (also: Jazmine Sullivan’s “Fearless” – favorite running album right now).
Cooking proceeded while kids (my own and others) ran in and out of my house and sampled cake batter and played with chickens. We had dinner guests and another friend besides whom I got to pack some food for. Seriously, there is too much awesomeness to list; click on the picture if you’d like the run-down.
In other news – oh internetz. Why are you so rad? Don’t you realize I have OTHER things to do with my time?
Still, how about I spread the love with all this awesomeness? ‘Cause this young woman Rose? She’s pretty heartfelt and fabulous. I found her words kind of fiercely awesome. I wish she lived in my neighborhood!
Pop culture: Michelle at bitch writes pretty much exactly how I feel about the television show “True Blood”. Thanks, Michelle, and well-done.
Pop culture part 2: I didn’t follow the VMAs, and Lady Gaga’s much-talked about meat dress is snore-inducing (like most stunts are for me), but I had a little “go Cher!” moment: “If I Could Turn Back Time: Ageism Is Alive Today” at WomanistMusings.
And please – how could I not post the classic (Jen G., you reading this)?
“Your breast is obscene” – I’m so glad I re-found Hathor.
In other news, a fat lady eats more than half a pizza. ZOMG! Tangentially, guess what, diet talk is really fucking boring (despite the hostile-sounding intro, a very compassionate and awesome post at Spilt Milk).
This was a lovely, heartfelt, and fabulous essay from an online friend: “Treasures in Heaven”.
Finally – Bitches Ain’t Shit:
I have to remind myself NOT to sing while I’m running, otherwise I forget to breathe. It’s a terrible thing. Not being able to sing.
We found one of those spiders a few days ago. Erin had walked through its stringy silk thrown across a grassy path and it was dangling from the strand attached to her hair as both were blown in the breezy dry weather. We (she, spider & I) all stayed pretty calm about it as I was able to detach the silk from E and wrap it around the tall field grass stems where the web was situated. The spider immediately crawled up to a seed head and tucked itself among the golden fibers. Amazingly what was one moment the most strikingly bejeweled and humongous spider shining in the sun had quickly become an unnoticeable slightly oddly shaped plume of grass: colorful back hidden away and thin legs sticking out like an ordinary grass seed. Joy!
I loved the “Treasures in Heaven” link. Thank you for all the awesome!
@k8
I’ve heard for running you should be able to sing/talk to be running at a good heartrate (obv. as you practice your singing/talking speed will increase). I sing but it probably sounds like eight kinds of ass considering I’m out of breath a bit and the headphones are disguising the otherwise-camouflaging music.
@schoolofmom
So glad you liked it!
@luckychrm
For my ARACHNOPHOBIC readers they are now going to be envisioning all the more hidden spiders lurking everywhere! Hee. I’ve heard if you go outside at night and use a flashlight correctly (scroll down) one will be amazed/dismayed at how many are in our yards. And basements. Etc.
What are those spiders called? We have a million of them around here.
On True Blood, I have to admit that I do watch it, but yeah — pretty shlocky. Most of the characters are fairly one-dimensional and some of the acting is pretty horrid. I’m sucked in, though, so I watch it in the same way one would a bad soap opera.
@christinca
I think there’s nothing wrong with that, just wish more ppl would admit it.
Like I’ve been Netflixing my first-ever Law & Order show, Criminal Intent, not because it’s good (it’s corny) but because I would watch Vincent D’Onofrio put up sheetrock.
This spider’s handle is no more exotic than “Common Garden Spider,” Araneus diadematus.
Thank you, Robin!