You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
-Abraham Lincoln

Isabella will be 7mo tomorrow. Hard to believe it's been that long already. She's crawling, and standing, and chattering away. She tries to eat everything she can get her grubby little paws on (I know... babies do that!) I'm still nursing, though we're letting her taste solid food here and there. I'm going to try to nurse as long as possible, max the benefits. Caroline is prouder than ever, and even more excited now that her baby sister is of an age that they can actually play together a bit. We're trying to read lots of books to her but she prefers eating them to listening. Oh, and she loves the Dell Lollipop commercial, but we can't figure out if it's the song or the bright shiny colors she likes. And my dear cub also really enjoys the iTunes visualizer. It's actually rather amusing to see her sit here and watch the jellyfish animation dance around.

I try to cherish every moment, but even as they happen they're so fleeting I'm afraid I'll never store enough up to last... motherhood is the greatest blessing and the worst agony a woman could ever endure. It's strength, and weakness, and terror and joy. And I've got two girls to watch grow up. I am so proud of them... and yet I weep to see how fast they grow. Caroline was with her grandparents not quite two months and she grew so much in so short a span! I can't believe how much I missed in that little bit of time. She's seven years old but Goddess help me, she acts like she's 17 going on 70!!! What did I ever do to deserve such children?? Mike is the best father. You should see him with Bella... all tender and smiling like there's nothing else in the world but her. He rocks her to sleep when she's having a bad night and she conks out on his shoulder. He checks her every time she bumps her head, and reassures her that she's okay. I would never have imagined my life would be like this. I never thought I'd have kids, much less more than one... never mind the amazing husband! At best, I figured it would be a long rough road to find my soulmate but he popped out of nowhere and now... now I have the fullest heart and warmest home I can imagine. Sure, our house is old and falling apart in places, but it's ours, and my family is here.

I am reminded of Robert Burns' statement, in "The White Goddess"
"All acts of love and pleasure are My rituals."
Then every day is a ritual to Her, for my every act is one of love and pleasure.

Isabella Aislinn Rose Evans arrived friday, jan 16. she was 7lb, 11oz. she looks like her daddy. she is a happy, healthy, strong, beautiful baby girl. So we are now a family of four...

and all is right and well with my world.

For any and all of those who harbor fondness (secret or otherwise) for Star Trek and/or Winnie the Pooh... I found this quote on one of my yahoogroups and had to share.

"Bother," said Pooh, "Eeyore, ready two photon torpedoes and lock phasers on
the Heffalump, Piglet, meet me in transporter room three. Christopher Robin,
you have the bridge."

you may now dissolve into laughter.

"But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona. Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you, and you may call me V."

I just saw V for Vendetta. for the first time. let me say, that man has one of the sexiest voices ever.

that movie is evil incarnate. I giggled the whole way through it, for the sheer delight of it. the 1812 overture has taken on a whole new dimension of meaning. ye gods.

Walk safe in blessed light
May the sun light your way
As does the moon in dark of night
The year draws to longest shadows
Even so... step softly and with a smile
For this is but a waiting doorway
Open upon the golden lands
And the paths of light.

No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.
- Emma Goldman

I live on the wrong side of life,
I’m the one you fear as you hold your wife.
I run were the darker crowds run.
On the rain swept streets were black rain runs.

I play were the darker kids play
I’m the one who goes out when you end your day.
I dance were the darker crowds dance,
In the pitch black clubs in a clove stained trance

I see things the darker kids see
Though you wouldn’t believe all that’s happened to me.
I’ve been to the backside of hell,
And I’ve played with your fear and enjoyed it well

This our time, the nights our day
We ’ll dance this fading life away.

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. ~Claudia Ghandi

found it on devart. makes me think of my hubby.

Happy Mabon!

Remember what you have and give thanks. the universe is Abundance.

I have a roof over my head.
I have a husband who loves me and treats me well.
I have a daughter who is wonderful and smart and healthy.
I have family who takes care of me.
I have friends who are like family to me.
I have feline companions who are a delight to me.
I have a life that is full of creation and magic and light.

I have been given talents to use for my betterment and the betterment of those around me.
I have been given the opportunity to gain knowledge and learn how to help people be well.
I have been given the opportunity to expand my talents into true skills.

For this, I give thanks.

Abney Park: Root of all Evil

All these roots run deep,
And this tree is old,
This trunk is rotten
All these leaves have mold

is it in our blood?
or is it from abuse?
past generations
legacy of misuse?

I know my blood runs hot,
And I've seen my blood is thick
I'm told my bloods not sweet,
And I cry, "my soul is sick"

we're the childern of childern
and we're handing down there pain
the root of all evil
is the sanity left to gain?

chorus -
we were the victims, we were the culprits
we were the children who cry at night
we are the hunted, and we do the hurting
we are the children who cry at night

the fathers father father
may have made this truth
or was it in HIS blood
this legacy of abuse

we're the children of children
and we're handing down their pain
the root of all evil
is the sanity left to gain?

Chorus

All these roots run deep,
And this tree is old,
This trunk is rotten
All these leaves have mold

is it in our blood?
or is it from abuse?
past generations
legacy of misuse?

Abney Park: Stigmata Martyr

A heroine, A deity
On Heroin, or vanity
To jack their personality
Beyond normal humanity.

A crowd of massed humanity,
Bow and worship diligently.
He’s built a loyal following
And they steer him thoroughly.

We don't cry for the gods that die by our hands.
We throw stones if our gods take a stand.
We create and distroy our Stigmata Martyrs.

But jealous man plots from the pews,
No need for valid righteousness.
One slightly truthful word set free,
Will turn the tides quite easily.

Our accusations need not be,
What would bury mortal man.
The sins of our own deity,
are tiny, but on these we stand.

So once upon the podium,
A crucifix we then erect,
And nail our hero heartily,
hands and feet, we bind his neck.

The reasons for our worship fades,
Our Idol drenched in his own blood,
Forgotten are the virtues that we,
Valued beyond royalty.

With joy we dig his shallow grave,
Anticipating pains to come.
We watch the wriggling dance of death,
And laugh light hearted at deaths fun.

We pounded out the joyous light.
Our saviors buried now for years.
A legend now of time gone by,
A martyr of forgotten tears.

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal--a commitment to excellence--that will enable you to attain the success you seek.
- Mario Andretti.

for mah mutants *grins*

more to follows as I find better piccys for the purpose.

( luvstehmutants )

Who ranks as the highest? One who does not harm anything. One who never retaliates. One who is always at peace regardless of the other person's disposition. - Buddha

There is an optimism which nobly anticipates the eventual triumph of great moral lows, and there is an optimism which cheerfully tolerates unworthiness.
- Agnes Repplier

lil good news here... I've created my own cafepress store. right now, those of you who watch my art won't recognize anything that's on there, because I've been too lazy to fix filesizes. there will be more items forthcoming soon, so have a little patience with me.

Why am I going to cafepress instead of dA? because cafepress offers a better deal. and I don't trust dA.... sotira makes me nervous.

if there's any specific piece of my art you'd like to see on say, a mug or mousepad, or other similar thing, post a comment here or send me an email.

http://www.cafepress.com/cloudedcateyes

some of you are aware of recent events. some of you are not. for those of you who aren't, I'm not going to go into a huge dissertation. suffice to say some people are having issues, end of story. if you really must know more, contact me directly.

it's time for me to release what I've been holding inside. warning: there will be those who know what I'm talking about who will -not- like the things I have to say. This is your last chance to turn back now. If you're a glutton for punishment, by all means. Beat yourself over the head.

and if you think it's my fault after having read my rant, on my livejournal, under the cut, after reading my warning...

then may a large dragon shit upon your head.

( and with that disclaimer: )

dedicated to those of us who love not wisely but too well... who bear the pain of those who can't, and the shame of those who won't. To those of us whose hearts tear asunder when others weep, and whose souls shatter when others scream.


Forever, by VNV Nation:

I don't believe in the existence of mercy's guiding hand...
Not with all that I have witnessed, I cannot understand.
Forever burdened with the knowledge that I could have been so much more
When the truth is hard to suffer, I knew this all before.

There is no comfort in faith, the heavens still will fall.
A thousand towers rise before me and I cannot climb them all.
There is no kind of joy in this, there is no time that it can heal,
When emptiness enshadows bliss, there is nothing left to feel.

I have not abandoned hope, though I know there's nothing more.
Tired and alone, you forget what you hoped for.

I will walk this ground forever
and stand guard against your name.
I will give all I can offer,
I will shoulder all the blame.
I am sentry to you now,
all your hopes and all your dreams.
I will hold you to the light,
that?s what forever means.

I was never what you wanted, I could never never please.
I swallowed all our sorrow in the midst of my disease.
All my fortunes, all my gains, all the battles I have won...
Now collapsing like the rain, I stand alone, your only son...

Take some solace in these words, take notice of this place.
Hollow whispers that they are, like the wind upon my face.
Sing softly in my ear and look at me with wonder.
I will try to ease your fear as the darkness pulls you under.

I will walk this ground forever
and stand guard against your name.
I will give all I can offer,
I will shoulder all the blame.
I am sentry to you now,
all your hopes and all your dreams.
I will hold you to the light,
that's what forever means.