monster that infests your head

Nights are the worst for many people with depression. Too much time to think, too much time alone and too much darkness. It’s hard when people are not awake or if I know they’re doing something else, I don’t want to bother them. Yet, sometimes I have to. Sometimes, I just need someone to tell me life is worth living. Depression is a monster that infests your head with lies until they become your truth. And its most potent, most dangerous and most infectious lie is that your life does not have value and is not worth living.

This lie has become my truth on and off for years. Sometimes, it lingers in my head for only a few hours, but sometimes it’s day in and day out for weeks, even months. “You don’t deserve to be here, you’re not worth it. Why do you keep trying? You’re not getting better, you never will. Just. Give. Up. Already.” It screams at you, it’s deafening. And even if you don’t believe it, having someone tell you that life is worth living, that your life is worth living, that they want you here — it’s powerful.

crawling-

on hands and knees

     as I fight my way back

     to you

entangled

in a web of memories

dragging myself through

the dead and debris

amongst

mummified thoughts

and emotions;

now stagnant,

yet petrifying none-the-less.

I'm not sure how much

more of this I can endure

with each passing day

I lose a little bit more of

     my strength and stamina; 

     faith, courage

     patience.

G Pronunciation Rules:

is it a gif or a "j"iff ???

Daily Writing Tips aptly explains the following rules for how to pronounce the letter ‘g’:

If the g is followed by e, i, or y, the pronunciation is “soft g”:
g+i: magic, margin, origin, engine
g+e: page, generation, detergent, vengeance
g+y: astrology Egyptian gym

If the g is followed by any other letter (than e, i, y), the pronunciation is “hard g”:
gazebo
glove
gaze
go
grab
gum

So the rule for pronouncing GIF supports the use of the soft ‘g’ as in gin, engine, and giant because an ‘i’ follows the ‘g’.

There are exceptions to the rule, of course, like gift and give. Etymology informs pronunciation and creates such exceptions. So, what are the origins of GIF?

The origins of GIF come from the words it stands for: Graphics Interchange Format, which come from the inventor, Steve Wilhite, who aligned the pronunciation with the pronunciation rule.

I think I am right....yes I am right...of course, I am right...This is frustrating...

 Fuss-trate actually is frustrating for many ears, so say ‘fruhs-treyt’! 

BUT, I guess there is no rule to break an acronym. Since there is no acronym pronunciation rule to override (or even compete with) the pronunciation rule for using a soft ‘g’ when followed by an ‘i’, and since the originator of the word GIF did not declare it an exception, there isn’t any rule supporting the hard ‘g’ GIF pronunciation. Rather, all the rules point to pronouncing it jif.

Advice from a gorilla, well why not?

Sometimes you need a little advice and there are many choices you can get that from. Rather than paying dollars at the psychologist or fortune teller, why not try the gorilla with a cup of tea for some nature talk and some damn good advice. 

Advice from a Gorilla:

Be at home in nature

Stay well groomed

Be a prime mate

Stand up for your beliefs

Avoid hairy situations

Get a grip

Evolve!

If you ask the gorilla and all creatures of the earth what went wrong, they may say: What went wrong here? What has always gone wrong here? Under human rule, the world should have become a paradise, but...there’s something fundamentally wrong with humans. Something that makes people stupid and destructive and greedy and shortsighted.

WANTED~ Gacha shoppers

So, I convinced Grum to go Gacha shopping with me, it's not that I am addicted to that kind of shopping (well maybe a tiny bit....ok I admit it...a lot). 
What is a gacha? Remember the good old days when you saw the machines at the store and it had little balls in them with some surprises? You never knew what exactly you would get, but it was fun trying them and getting the little gifts. Gacha is the same thing and here in Second Life, it is a big money maker and promotional tool for designers to have avatars try out their products. Sometimes there are rare items in there too. I love gacha because not only are they fun to collect but you can resell them as well. 
Men don't think of gacha being very useful, but look at this picture above...the hat and vest-shirt are gacha items, my outfit is a gacha as well. 

Where is that gacha I just bought?

If you are in need of any gacha items, please stop by the Priceless Gacha & Treasures and look around. 
Get the goodies now before they are all gone. I do restock weekly with new items. 

"Happy Pesach"

Easter is essentially a pagan festival which is celebrated with cards, gifts, and novelty Easter products because it's fun and the ancient symbolism still works. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practices, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. Although we see no celebration of Easter in the New Testament, early church fathers celebrated it, and today many churches are offering "sunrise services" at Easter – an obvious pagan solar celebration. The date of Easter is not fixed, but instead is governed by the phases of the moon – how pagan is that?

The Retreat...come and visit!

It is important to point out that while the name “Easter” is used in the English-speaking world, many more cultures refer to it by terms best translated as “Passover” (for instance, “Pascha” in Greek) – a reference, indeed, to the Jewish festival of Passover.

In the Hebrew Bible, Passover is a festival that commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, as narrated in the Book of Exodus. It was and continues to be the most important Jewish seasonal festival, celebrated on the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

A vast amount of folklore surrounds Easter eggs, and in a number of Eastern European countries, the process of decorating them is extremely elaborate. Several Eastern European legends describe eggs turning red (a favorite color for Easter eggs) in connection with the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Yet it was only in the 17th century that a German tradition of an “Easter hare” bringing eggs to good children came to be known. Hares and rabbits had a long association with spring seasonal rituals because of their amazing powers of fertility.

Between Passion and Romance

Passion is a very strong emotion, or "feeling", for someone, or something... It can involve any one of the emotions, grief, fear, etc.. but too many of us, we use it to describe an intense desire for someone. It can be described as a strong love or affection. You see the word used often in romance novels, in movies, and in our personal lives. Someone who is deeply in love is often said to have a great passion for that person, as it should be.

the photograph was taken by Grumbachr

Romance, on the other hand, is the "action" of pursuing.. to court or to woo someone, to make love to someone.. to be fanciful or imaginative in thinking or talking. It can be described as being a love affair. It is the act of showing love for someone by various means, of "romancing" someone by the giving of flowers, gifts, dining out, dancing, moonlight drives or cruises on the river. Anything that enhances the feelings of love for another.

the photograph was taken by Grumbachr

With this being said, I believe we all possess passion and romantic notions. It’s learning to appreciate those qualities in ourselves and in others!

Leave them Alone!!!!

Are you paddling too?

Not sure if I was just paddling this thing alone or did he actually help? Sometimes you can't tell, especially if you are "up front". We ended up at the Greenhouse (The centerpiece of this pastoral oasis is the greenhouse itself, a two-story menagerie meant to recreate a mangrove swamp. Residents can also take a gentle stroll through the gallery directly behind the Greenhouse, which houses an impressive collection of art.)

You can't expect for an elf to really behave, they are brats and always looking to do some kind of mischief. No exception here because of the Grumster pissing off some Bizet sheep rams.

If he would have only listened...

Potentially aggressive rams mean ALL rams. The best way to raise nonaggressive rams is to LEAVE THEM ALONE! Do not try to make friends with them, do not scratch or rub or push on their heads, do not tease them, do not treat them roughly, and do not play with them. LEAVE THEM ALONE! Just like rams, some people are more aggressive than others are and that can be reflected in the handling of their sheep. Men are usually more aggressive in their handling ideas than women. Women are usually more patient than men when working with animals. Needless to say, we had to make a run for it before we got run over by the mob of rams.

Run, Grum, run!!!

The "Art" of conversation

When it comes to the art of conversation we've all met people who seem to have the knack for it. They can talk to anybody about anything and they seem to do it with complete ease. And while it's true that there are those who are born with the gift of gab, luckily for the rest of us, conversation skills can be developed and mastered.

Always have some guard before you tell all.

A conversation is a form of communication; however, it is usually more spontaneous and less formal. We enter conversations for purposes of pleasant engagement in order to meet new people, to find out information and to enjoy social interactions. As far as types of conversation, they vary anywhere from intellectual conversations and information exchanges to friendly debate and witty banter.

Conversation during a dance may end up in a slap if the hands take advantage of the intimate moment.

While there is more to having good conversation skills than being a comedian, dramatic actor, or a great storyteller, it is not necessary to become more gregarious, animated, or outgoing. Instead, you can develop the ability to listen attentively, ask fitting questions, and pay attention to the answers - all qualities essential to the art of conversation. With diligent practice and several good pointers, anyone can improve their conversation skills. 

While you don't have to be a comedian, entertainer, or brilliant raconteur, you do need to be interesting otherwise what would you say?

You could maybe talk about the famous painting by Edward Hopper "Nighthawks" if you are into art. Perhaps you may even learn something about that person. Conversations are kind of like art, you paint the picture with words and try to get your vision across to the other person. Either way be yourself, relax and share "you". It is all good.

Grum of Thrones

The encounter

Humans and elves can interbreed and produce half-human, half-elfin children, who often have the appearance of humans but possess extraordinary intuitive and magical powers. Humans can apparently become elves after death, and there was considerable overlap between the worship of human ancestors and the worship of the elves. The elves are luminous beings, “more beautiful than the sun,” whose exalted status is demonstrated by their constantly being linked with the Aesir and Vanir gods in Old Norse and Old English poetry.

THE ERL-KING.

Who rides there so late through the night dark and drear?
The father it is, with his infant so dear;
He holdeth the boy tightly clasped in his arm,
He holdeth him safely, he keepeth him warm.

"My son, wherefore seek'st thou thy face thus to hide?"
"Look, father, the Erl-King is close by our side!
Dost see not the Erl-King, with crown and with train?"
"My son, 'tis the mist rising over the plain."

"Oh, come, thou dear infant! oh, come thou with me!
Full many a game I will play there with thee;
On my strand, lovely flowers their blossoms unfold,
My mother shall grace thee with garments of gold."

"My father, my father, and dost thou not hear
The words that the Erl-King now breathes in mine ear?"
"Be calm, dearest child, 'tis thy fancy deceives;
'Tis the sad wind that sighs through the withering leaves."

"Wilt go, then, dear infant, wilt go with me there?
My daughters shall tend thee with sisterly care;

My daughters by night their glad festival keep,
They'll dance thee, and rock thee, and sing thee to sleep."

"My father, my father, and dost thou not see,
How the Erl-King his daughters has brought here for me?"
"My darling, my darling, I see it aright,
'Tis the aged gray willows deceiving thy sight."

"I love thee, I'm charmed by thy beauty, dear boy!
And if thou'rt unwilling, then force I'll employ."
"My father, my father, he seizes me fast,
Full sorely the Erl-King has hurt me at last."

The father now gallops, with terror half wild,
He grasps in his arms the poor shuddering child:
He reaches his courtyard with toil and with dread,—
The child in his arms finds he motionless, dead.

I better read up more about elves and their king, they sound dangerous.

Lavender Fields and the benefits

People usually associate lavender with two specific traits: its fragrance and its color. But you may not know that the lavender flower and the oil derived from it have long histories in herbal medicine.

Its name derives from the Latin root “lavare,” which literally means “to wash.”The earliest recorded use of lavender dates back to ancient Egypt. There, lavender oil played a role in the mummification process. During later times, lavender became a bath additive in several regions, including Persia, ancient Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helped purify the body and mind.

Aromatherapists use lavender to treat headaches and nervousness or restlessness. Massage therapists sometimes apply lavender oil to the skin, which might function both as a calming agent and a sleep aid. In Germany, lavender tea has been approved as a supplement to treat sleep disruptions, restlessness, and stomach irritation. Try it sometime.

Laugh 'til it hurts

"I can't stop laughing, my stomach hurts"

Laughter is regularly promoted as a source of health and well being, but it has been hard to pin down exactly why laughing until it hurts feels so good. Is it the uncontrollable silliness one feels when laughing out loud of some weird stuff? Is it the stomach tumbling and mixing of food that helps with digestion? All I know it feels great when laughing 'til it hurts. And really, it is not the kind of pain you would have if you cried all day.

He tickled me

I have a tendency to suddenly burst out laughing when I drive home from work or even worse when I am in a staff meeting and I look at someone and they trigger my laughing. I really don't see anything wrong with it since doctors say laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
So go for it...laugh, laugh...oh I did look up PBA (PseudoBulbar Affect), a condition that causes sudden, frequent, uncontrollable episodes of crying and/or laughing that are exaggerated and/or don’t match how you feel. 
Don't even go there...laughter is still the best.

News from the Basement Club....

Here is the schedule for our sets so far:

Sunday Night 7-9 PM SLT DJ Grum
Saturday Night 6-8 PM SLT DJ Karyn
Thursday Night 8-10 PM SLT DJ Likka

This Thursday we had Witches and Warlocks at the Basement Club. A fabulous set of Indie and alternative tunes and a ton of magic (wink).

Do you want to DJ or Host? The Basement Club may be the place for you to get your career started. The venue is small and cozy and relaxing, so nothing that should overwhelm you if you are just starting out. We help you and guide you through the process. Come on and give it a try.

Art Stellar Exhibit

I never really know in advance what I come up with when  I create an exhibit, kind of like my art or blog entries. They all of a sudden explode from a tiny idea and then look totally different.

The Art Stellar Exhibit is not only the art that you may see here but the environment that gives you the illusion you are somewhere outer space. Since you are here all alone and far from earth you have no other choice to just sit and appreciate the fine things in life. Love, Silence, Beauty, and just knowing that you are here and you can make a change right now. It starts with you!!!

And no worries, you can breathe here.