Sweepstakes Saturday!

CONGRATS TO PAULA WHO WON THE NECKLACES THANKS TO A DRAW FROM MY MASON JAR! (Imma need your addy now...)

I am really wracking my brain over what to give away so, how about this?

I have an EXTENSIVE music library. What about I make a mix CD?

Yeah?

That's good?

Well, it's going to have to be. Because, this week, I am going to send you a CD fulled with my favorite songs.

Act now, and, as an added bonus, I WILL MAKE A SECOND ONE FOR YOU WITH ANY TIPIC YOU SUGGEST!

Okay, rules are the same as usual. Comment to win.

Disclaimer: You might not like all the songs I put on there, but I can guarantee you will like a few.

GOOD LUCK

MADDY'S BACK!

It’s FrEaKy FrIdaY!!!!!!! Yaaaas I know, it doesn’t seem like it’s been 7 days, but believe me you, it most definitely has been. It’s been a long week, full of feels.

Aka, the bestie Jay and I have been house hunting.
Oh, no, of course not for real. It’s uh… for science. Yeah, that’s exactly that it is.

Today, we looked for houses in San Francisco. Mostly because San Fran is beautiful. Also because we can see ourselves raising a family in San Fran, and by family, I mean pugs, of course.

Anyway, we found so many effing houses. Why aren’t we rich, by the way? It’s just NO FAIR.
So, as soon as we make a living as film makers and whatnot, all of our dreams will come true! Well, the San Francisco ones, at least.

I was going to make cupcakes today, too. But we didn’t have any instant pudding. Which sucks. Like, super really double sucks, because that’s what I was going to do for this week’s Freaky Friday. I’ll take pictures tho, when I do I’ll take pictures so we can bake next week.
Believe me, you should be excited.

Soooooo, now I’m in an awkward position because I have nothing else to talk about.

OoOooOoOoOoOh I know. We can talk about how I really, really, wanna dye my hair again. But I really shouldn’t. It’s finally getting better, and ECCC is in like, 2 months. I have to have brown hair for all of my costumes. But tbh, after that, all bets are off. I’ll probably dye it pink. oR BLUE. Idk yet. I might just go rainbow because I’m seriously THAT indecisive.

I also got basically all of the pieces of my costumes, but I’m still looking for boots because gOD KNOWS HOW BIG MY EFFING FEET ARE. I thought the hardest part would be the pants, or the props, but no. The freaking. Boots. Fml, you know? But I’m sure we’ll find them somewhere, even if I have to hit every thrift store within a 100 mile radius (is that even far I don’t know distance lol oops).

Also we’re going to get my ID this Monday so I can get my GED and get on with everything.

This has very quickly become me just whining about my life, but seriously, I promise, next week there will be some gr8 content.

So with that, I guess I’m signing off. What even is my sign off? Should I come up with one?
Is it “XOXO, MaddyLion”
I think it is, so:


XOXO, MaddyLion
(and I think I called you all “saucy little minxes”. I’m so sorry)

How to Think Like a Man

Okay, I know this is going to sound incredibly sexist, but that's not my intention. It's my intention to make you realize that everyone can think of things like stereotypical males.

First, lets talk about body image.

Yes, I know there are males out there with body image issues, but here we are talking about stereotypes, so...body issues are almost non-existent.

Let me explain.

Typically, men either don't have body issues or they have healthy ones. This is why, in media, a fat man can have a girlfriend or wife who is fit. It's like it's allowed somehow - and you know why - BECAUSE AS A WHOLE, MEN DON'T CARE. You don't see half as many articles aimed at men on "How to Quickly Shed 15 Pounds by Friday!" You don't. And don't try to argue with me about some bullcrap you think is right - YOU DON'T. Case closed.

That's because you generally don't hear mothers of young boys say things like "Don't eat that - you don't want to be fat. No woman will ever love you." You don't hear it. It's because it's not common - it's not taught. It's not a societal norm.

Two. Another thing that is stereotypically applied to men in our society is the ability to not cry. Now, I myself know that men cry, but generally not crying is considered a male trait. Boys are told "don't cry like a girl", they are. Again, don't try to bombard me with the "but it's okay for a boy to cry" because it's JUST NOT POPULAR OPINION.

So men suck it up on the outside and are thought to be heartier and more trustworthy in panic situations. They also earn more pay and that is probably because they are thought to be sturdier and more of an asset of a company.

So, let's see what we have so far.

To think like a man, I need to have a more positive self image and learn to be more in control of my feelings. Okay. Good so far.

I think the last thing I want to talk about here is thinking. Another giant stereotype in the male persona is that men just don't think things through. They don't over think. They DO. They act on impulse. It somehow makes the things they do end up looking more heroic. So, that's actually kind of a nice thing - they don't dwell, they live in the now.

Recap: The three things I have discovered that are the way to think like a man are - healthy self image, self control and not overthinking. All in all, not bad things.

So, starting today, I will be doing more of this type of "male" thinking. I want to prove that women are every bit as good as men. No, wait. I am wrong.

I want to prove that EVERYONE IS AS GOOD AS ANYONE ELSE. That's all we ever want.

So, if you are a man, think like a man. If you are a woman, think like a man. OOO! Let's say it this way:

If you are a (hu)man, Think like a (hu)man.

Yeah, I like that. I should probably retitle this post, but I won't. Now - GO FORTH AND BE!

Bonus art from a good friend: (please enjoy!)

Today I am Happy Because...

Here's the thing.

I'm happy because today I woke up. 

Sounds weird, right?

Not so much, really. Not when one day, out of the blue, you hear from a voice form the past that one of your friends has died.

Ah, yes. Realization of Mortality. Sucks, no?

But it's there. We're all mortal. We just are - human condition. That's the way it has always been, the way it is now, and the way it will always be.

But I need to ask your a favor.

If you are reading this then I love you. You are my family. Now, you might be saying that I don't know you - that I have never seen your face. Or that it's been a long time since we talked. Or that I only know you over the internet so how could I love you?

Well, that's simple. Unless you have done something to severely piss me off, then I love you. And, really, it's pretty hard to piss me off. And I will be covering that topic on another, later blog. (It's a thought process that doesn't make me happy, so I won't include it here.)

Anyway, yeah. Let's get back to that favor.

Since I love you (and I do), I need you to make me a promise. It's that easy. One simple promise. 

If you EVER need my help - no matter if you think I can help you or not, you need to let me know. If I can't help you, I will do all I humanly can (and sometimes, through some cosmic luck, even above that!) to get you that help.

That's all. reach out.

Oh, and as an add on, KEEP IN TOUCH. I know people are reading, I see the numbers. Say Hi. I love when people say Hi. For those of you who are already friends with me - those of you who have known me for far too long - you know how I like to take care of my friends.

That's about all I have to say now. But please reach out to other people. Let them know what is going on. Because it's hell on someone when suddenly they hear something has happened to you.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Be well. Be safe. Feel loved.

Placeholder for Trashy Craft Tuesday to Come - STAY TUNED

Steve Carlson

Steven Paul Carlson

born August 6, 1975

What can I tell you about that amazing man up there? Well, let's start with the fact that he can really sing. And play guitar. And write songs. And he's real easy on the eyes. He's also one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Let's watch one of his vids, shall we?

Good, right? Of course it is. And as good as that song is, he can also make fun of himself!

Well, hell, it won't let me post the video directly, but here is the linky link link. And also enjoy this picture. 

Another great thing about Steve is that he's one fifth of the band Kane - and one of the main songwriters for them. 

I spent a bug chunk of a year traveling to Portland to see them play in bars and they totally rocked my socks off. We even went to a concert that was outside where it rained, but that didn't matter one bit. I tired to post a picture from that, but the pictures are all sideways...hmmm...

This is us thoroughly dampened, but our spirits were still quite high...

As if you need another reason to love the man, HE COOKS!

So, this man - he plays MANY instruments well, sings, writes songs, cooks and is one hell of a looker. What is not to love? And if you want to catch him, you can catch a StageIt show - link to upcoming shows here.

Let me see - what else can I say about him that I haven't? Wow, tons - but we don't have that kind of time or space. So check him out yourself. He has a YouTube channel. And his own website. Listen to his music. BUY his music. It's so worth it. 

In conclusion: 

 Hope you enjoyed that. But, really, go check him out. And, while you are cruising around the net, if you haven't already - put in your entry for Sweepstakes Saturday. Still 5 days left.

And I have to give credit to Gretchen Nathe at Photography by Gretchen for a couple of the pics up there - they have her watermark.

Lazy Sunday (Q&A)

As I write to you now, I am wearing my favorite PJ pants (they have tiny penguins on them that I keep trying to brush off thinking they are paper) and my favorite hoodie EVER. So, you can tell that it's a lazy day here.

I got questions though! So here we go...

1 - HOW MANY STATES HAVE YOU LIVED IN, AND HOW ARE THEY SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT?
Let's see. only counting states I lived in, not ones I stayed in and didn't have a permanent place...I was born in Washington and lived there four years. Then we moved to Georgia. And I lived there until 1999, at which point I moved back to Washington, then back to Georgia. And then back to Washington and then to Texas. And then BACK to Washington. And now, we are planning to move this summer to Oregon. I think the biggest shock is that the south is so very different culture-wise than any other place. And it even differs in Texas and Georgia. People are, if you can believe it, honestly more open and laid back in the Southern states. Refreshingly, they often don't have the "PC" hangups that Pacific Northwesterners tend to have. But people here in the the PNW often seem nice because they are so guarded. I think that's the biggest difference. Oh! And food prices - waaaaay cheaper in the South.

2 - WOULD YOU RATHER DIE BY BEING IMPALED MULTIPLE TIMES BY A HORDE OF MINIATURE UNICORNS OR BE PARALYZED AND SLOWLY DROWNING IN JELLO? (This question is not for future reference at all, nope) 
Okay, first off, that last bit kinda scares me, not gonna lie. Second, the jello one. Because, hopefully, before I was too much engulfed in gelatin goodness, my friends would notice and save me. If they weren't quick enough, I pray that the Jello is at least a good flavor - peach would be nice, but orange would also do.

3 - WHAT GREAT, OR AT LEAST GOOD, MOVIES SHOULD BE ON MY MUST SEE LIST? (Please, nothing scary - thanks!)
This is a hard one. Mainly because I love a lot of movies. But, I have narrowed it down enough to give you a starter list. Let's see - Goodfellas, Top Gun, Labyrinth, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Easy A, Mean Girls, Girl Most Likely, Friends With Kids, Bridesmaids, Across the Universe, Pillow Talk... I really could go on and on. (And if people have suggestions, please add them in the comments - I am *always* looking for a good movie to watch!)

4 - HOW TALL ARE YOUR EARS?
They are 2 inches, thank you for asking.

5 - WHAT BEVERAGE WOULD YOU PERSONALLY DRINK WITH CAVIAR?
Probably something super-classy like Mountain Dew spiked with Jack. I can't imagine eating caviar sober.

And that has been this week's Lazy Sunday. Thank you so much for reading and keep the questions coming in!

Also, don't forget to go over to Sweepstakes Saturday and put in your entry!

Until tomorrow...