Musings while reading "Coraline"

We had an audio book of "Coraline" in the car for the trip up to New Jersey.
     It's a good book, and combined with the Good Omens I read on the first leg of the trip I suppose I had a very inappropriately Gaimy start to the week. That's gonna come back to bite me in the ass later I know it is.

Or does the Ass bite you...

       While listening to Coraline this particular line came up that struck a chord with me.
 "It wasn't brave, because he wasn't afraid"

  So all of you probably remember the slightly sarcastic blog post I did earlier in the week...

If you don't, I can basically sum it all up with this image 

Well Earlier in the summer I did something that, in hindsight, was not intelligent in the slightest. But everyone said I was brave for it. Brave for entering at all, brave for showing SPG what I could do. The result was less "Epic and So Cool" and more "Little sis trying to imitate her cool older siblings but failing miserably" but I don't see why it was brave. For it to have been brave, I would have needed to be afraid.
   I guess I was a little bit. Afraid of judgement but who isn't?

...Godammit Bennett 

  I talked to my mom about this, my strange fear of judgement by my elder friends. She said it was something about wanting to be liked by someone who was a different caliber of musician than I. And the fact that they're older than me/professionals/ awesome.
     Except that last thing is kind of a matter of opinion.

Case in point, here is David eating a 5 pound gummy bear  while semi nude

I suppose I'll just sum it up by saying that I make poor choices when it comes to roll models/style icons/people I want to be like when I grow up. case  in  point.
     Okay the little bro is being impatient. I'll be back with more musings later tonight.

                                     Don't follow the red star, cause that'll give ya the wrong lyrics.

-Clara B

the author of this blog is a dirty hipster now

Hello blog. It's been a while.
       And wouldn't ya' know it I've gone and turned into a goddamn hipster. My cousin over at A daily something is probably going to read this and swell with pride at that. Next thing you know I'll be listening to obscure music and wearing ironic t-shirts. And making photosets on my tumblr dedicated to Nutella

THE FOOD OF GODS  

       But until that day when I am finally consumed by my dirty hipster ways, allow me to tell you all a story. A story of a few gifted robots who have turned me from a mild mannered geek into a dirty rotten obscure music loving hipster.
      Yes, robots. You read that right.

ROBOTS

REALLY ATTRACTIVE ROBOTS 

I MEAN LIKE WOW. 

Oh...you're still here...I guess I should probably explain who these cuties are. Well, actually I think that showing you who they are is a better way to go . Go ahead and click that. I'll wait. Hipsters like me can do that. I'll just amuse myself with pictures off of my cousin's instagram while you take it all in .

SO DEEP

...SO DEEP 

   Oh, you're back? Cool. NOW I CAN PROPERLY EXPLAIN.
Yeah this means more pictures. But not from the Daily Something instagram this time.

      alllllllRIGHT

So Steam Powered Giraffe. Pictured above from left to right we have The Spine, The Jon, and Rabbit. (David Michael Bennett, Jon Sprague, and Bunny Bennett respectively.) The singing musical automatons! Originally a busking act in Balboa Park (circa 2008), the trio of babes  Robots has gained the attention of a thousand some fans all over the world! They've played several plugged in shows (and are currently doing daily ones at the San Diego Zoo) and play at Steam Punk conventions all over the US! (It just so happens that yours truly has plans to see them at the Steampunk Worlds Fair this Spring AND I AM GONNA HUG THEM ALL)  Oh! You want to know what they're like live? HERE YA GO
     AND AS THOUGH MUSICAL TALENT WAS NOT ENOUGH BAM. BUNNY BENNETT'S DA PAGE.

     And that cutie (without a mustache) in the background of "Captain Albert Alexander"? None other than the fabulous MICHAEL PHILLIP REED. (if you click no other links, CLICK THIS ONE. Michael's original stuff is SO AMAZING) The cool guy WITH a mustache is SAMUEL LUKE. No link for this guy, but trust me. He's a cool dude.

So. COOL. 

OH BUT CLARA I hear you say as you stare in awe at Samuel's mustached glory, who is that mysterious be-dreaded man in the background?
     Oh him? Oh I dunno no one impor-

EXCEPT HE IS SO IMPORTANT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND

STEVE NEGRETE. The guy who helps them sound AWESOME for their plugged in shows.
    And I know he looks like a cool dude and he is but also he FIGHTS WITH A SWORD? and SPINS FIRE? Yeah. So basically, everything about these dudes is cool.

      Still not convinced? Well how about THIS 

The Jon. Out of make-up and still more talented than you. 

Okay and another thing,  Bunny and the guys are all SO NICE. David, Bunny, and Michael (MERKER) all have Tumblrs where they talk to fans! And they even encourage us to do fanwork of the robots (Michael is known to like everything that ever shows up in his tag, and Bunny will too sometimes for her tag...I got a reblog from her once. It was awesome) (EXCEPT IT ACTUALLY WASN'T OH MY GOD BUNNY IF YOU EVER READ THIS I AM SO SORRY....STILL....STILL SORRY...ALSO GO TO BED YOU LOSER YOU NEED YOUR REST oh who am I kidding ) 

     Go listen to SPG! They are awesome guys and so so so so VERY talented. Oh, and if you decide you like them please please PLEASE don't pirate their music? They worked very hard on it and Pirating them isn't very nice. Here. I'll reward you in advance for not pirating them
      

Michael Reed, doesn't wear robot makeup and ALSO more talented than you 

Alright! I've been writing for too long, so that's all from me tonight. Remember...STEAM POWERED GIRAFFE.  

                         Don't follow the red star, 

                                Clara B. 

Gay superheros

Before I begin today's rant on stupidity I'd like to direct your attention to this post by the group OneMillionMoms. A conservative group of, you'll never guess, actual mothers of actual presumably living children. It's right here. Click it before reading on if you can stand it.
   you read it yet? Awesome. For your valor, have something cute.

Holy Clambake! Next thing you know they'll claim to be smarter then the average bear...

Right so now that we've gone over that, lets talk about stuff like why that link up there is silly. 

       Okay first, allow me to draw your attention to this paragraph. 

Children desire to be just like superheroes. Children mimic superhero actions and even dress up in costumes to resemble these characters as much as possible. Can you imagine little boys saying, "I want a boyfriend or husband like X-Men?" 

   

    So what if they do? As a parent and, most importantly, a mother who cares about her child shouldn't you encourage them to be individuals or something? So what if they say they want a boyfriend like an X-man? If they take that example, maybe they took others things too! Like standing up for what's right and that good triumphs in the end! Doesn't your book teach too? That you need to do whats right and stand up for what you believe in? 

Yeah, I remember. Larry and Bob told me to STAND UP 

And with that I bring you this...

   These companies are heavily influencing our youth by using children's superheroes to desensitize and brainwash them in thinking that a gay lifestyle choice is normal and desirable. As Christians, we know that homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27).

    .....So I'm to go out on a limb here and assume you don't listen to Sean Hannity in your car. Because, of course, you don't want the Media brainwashing your- oh...wait. 

   You know that Veggietales allusion I made about...a paragraph ago? I'm sure you mother's who don't want to brainwash your kids have never seen them, so let me tell you about 'em. 

    

Presented without commentary

This series of Biblical themed DVD's is based around...a...troupe of vegetable actors who are in a union together? I don't know but the principle cast is usually the same each episode. Each one begins with Bob and Larry (Tomato and Cucumber respectively, both pictured above) answering a letter from a fan of the show and the episode is themed around the letter. Every single one ends with a bible verse and a simple reminder. 

     "God made you special, and he loves you very much." 

 Now I don't know, but I didn't hear any specific qualifiers for who God made special. They just say they made you special. You. Your son or daughter or whatever is special in the eyes of God and...from that passage...you are implying that this statement is only true if your kid is by the book. 

This book, in case you've just joined us

But who am I to say One Million moms are wrong? I mean God never said-

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God" 1 John 4:7 

    anything about-

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins 1 Peter 4:8 

   Wait...he just said love? What do you mean he didn't SPECIFY THE TYPE?! Oh well at least that only happens once in the-

    Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers up all wrongs Proverbs 10:12

Now wait just a Goddamn minute here. Hatred? No no, Bible I don't think you have that right. Hatred stir up discord? Well at least I can count on good old Christian love and kindness too-

...oh right

Leave it up to these lame-o's to ruin everyone elses good time. Yeeah. Get with it Westboro.  The bibles says that God loves all of us. Are...are you saying God is a liar? God wouldn't lie to us! He told us not to right in them commandments of his. 

    Now back to that article 

Unfortunately, children are now being exposed to homosexuality at an early age. Comic books would be one of the last places a parent would expect their child to be confronted with homosexual topics that are too complicated for them to understand. Children do not know what straight, homosexual, or coming out of the closet even means, but DC Comics and Marvel are using superheroes to confuse them on this topic to raise questions and awareness of an alternative lifestyle choice. These companies are prompting a premature discussion on sexual orientation.

FOR THE LOVE OF...wait....

     OH NO. 

"Mom. Where do babies come from?" 

       "Dad, the weirdest thing happened during gym class today" 

Oh no. Kids. Learning about the world around them. BLASPHEMOUS. 

      Sound ridiculous? Well so is that statement. Here, let me help you concerned mothers explain it to your curious comic reading sons and daughters. 

 "Love is easy to understand [preferred cute nickname here]! You're father and I love each other, and Northstar and Kyle love each other too! Just like mommy and daddy do!" 

     See? Was that so hard? 

If you said "No" you were right! Now, go tell your little comic fans exactly what I just did. Go on, I can wait. 

     You did it? Great. Here, have something adorable in return 

I'm laughing, because I know you were expecting something else. 

     WELL. Now that that's all sorted, let's agree to part as friends, yes? 

I mean no harm, One Million Moms. I just...am pointing out a very simple solution to your "problem" with Marvel and DC. Which isn't a problem at all really. But call it what you will, every disease has a cure. Even intolerance. 

                             Lovingly Yours, 

                                 Clara B. 

      

Carpe Diem

I love my younger cousins. They're young, naive, imaginative and fantastic and honestly the light of my world some days.

I miss feeling. I miss holding hands and hugging and teasing shoves and being able to touch another person without asking permission or worrying about infringing on set barriers

I love my Aunt next door. She truly cares for my brother and I and, I think, tries to understand us as we are. A Theatrical girl and a shy, quiet boy who loves adventures.

I miss his voice. The catty, dark baritone that reminds me daily that even though I'm an emotional wreck with no sense of fashion, I'm his mess. And he's glad to have me.

I love my Aunt with the two sons. She's lovely and sarcastic and musical and awesome and creative and how I hope to be like in the future. Y'know, only cooler.

I miss my room. My sanctuary, my workspace, mine. I miss my pile of blankets and pillow and the rumble of my fan and the sounds of my younger brother kicking the wall in his sleep.

I love my Grandparents. They both treat my brother and I with love and respect (...yes even when they called me a liberal that one time) and only want whats best for us.

I miss my friends. I miss her reminding me to think positive thoughts about myself and my darling genius telling me how beautiful I am when I stumble into class in sweats and a t-shirt. I miss his cynicism and his sweetness and her shy insight. I miss laughter early in the morning and late into the night. I miss being surrounded by people, never truly on my own.

I love it here. I have so many memories, good and bad, attached to everything in this house I couldn't bear to miss making a few more. I guess I'm just a sucker, but I assume that's what I'm known for. Right?



         My time here has come to an end, but I'll be back soon enough.

And wanna know something? I can't wait to come back.


        Until we meet again!
                  Clara B
 

Clothes (DAY SIX)

Dear Rockaway Mall,

                 I write today, to thank you.
I recently went on an excursion you your shopping center in hopes of finding clothes that would fit my obviously below the beauty standard figure. I have had no trouble in my current home of Grand Rapids and only assumed that I would have the same results here. Much to my surprise however, only one store had clothes that catered to young girls my size.
   I found this to be a bold, yet powerful statement on your part. How else are young girls supposed to know they aren't pretty unless they can't buy cute clothes? It's clear to me that you're trying to encourage more girls to go to dangerous extremes like starvation so that they can purchase the products provided in your stores. I appreciate that dedication on your part.
     Honestly, if people were more like you this entire childhood obesity thing would just be gone. Not to mention world hunger. No one to feed if no one is eating. So really you're just trying to solve the world's problems. I appreciate that.

                           Signed,
                              A size above L L

Can you hear me now? (Day...Five)

Agave Nectar makes a wicked poison 

Stealing the joy from homemade sweets 

Like you, stealing my words from my head

and twisting them, deforming them. 

Am I easy to ignore? 

It must be, you do it so well. 

Five years of effort, squandered at your feet 

Did you forgot how we once were? 

Friends, sisters, partners in crime! 

Now? We're barely cousins. 

Hardly friends or even strangers 

Can you hear me now? 

Or am I just that easy to ignore...

Cookies!! (Day four!)

So to try and make up for my former insolence in lacking posts, I made you losers some cookies with the help of my little cousins. And I took pictures!

Them pretties are heath chip cookies. With Hershey kisses in 'em. And I think Emma's hand is the one you spy. They were pretty easy to make to! Just modify a chocolate chip cookie recipe to include heath chips, and then stuff a hershey kiss inside and your set! Ours came out a bit thin and crispy, so I suggest adding an extra cup of flower to them if you decide to make them yourself~


Alright! I'm caught up, so just regular updates now.

   Oh! And I finished Mockingjay.

Clara B.