Wish I could get out of this slump long enough to finish the short story I've been trying to work on.

Never look down on another person unless you're helping them up.

WTF is up with people "liking" "throwing cats in bins" on Face Book? I swear this world becomes more and more fucked up all the time.

http://ping.fm/npFpP Spiritual Crisis discussion on Facebook

http://ping.fm/FP5Gp Spiritual crisis

Spiritual Crisis

I have been in a spiritual crisis for quite some time but recently it seems to have gotten worse. I don't know if it's just part and parcel of being depressed, which is made worse by being overwhelmed, but nothing seems to bring me solace any more. I can't bring myself to meditate or do manifestation work as all I can think is "what's the use of any of it?" Of course I'm having a lot of trouble writing too. So all in all, yes, I'm depressed. Living on this planet as long as I have and having been born to be down, I certainly recognize that. I just wonder if anyone else has ever gone through a dark night of the soul where they question absolutely every aspect of their lives, their beliefs, their very soul, if we even have souls.
For my own part I tend to think that the majority of atheists I have encountered are real closed-minded buzz-kills. I prefer a position of open-minded skepticism. I believe that the soul (personality) is energy and energy does not cease to exist, it just changes form. I have been in the room with people who have died and I have sensed "something" leaving, and once it is gone, the body really is just a shell. We take it off like clothes or shed it like a cocoon when we are done with it. I really haven't ceased to believe that, I just seem to have become unable to FEEL it, or anything much at all besides despair. Maybe it's just part and parcel of living in these times. I swear, I have more stuff that's broken than that works. Maybe my own heart included.

Once I dreamed love would come and sweep me up away
Now it seems life's passed me by, I'm still alone here
Here come the tears
Looks like it'll always be the same
No-one here to comfort me
Here come the tears

All alone, no-one cares
So much to give to you all out there
Take me now in your arms
Let me rest safe from harm
Oh, I want to be loved
I need to be loved
Won't somebody love me?"

An old favorite by Judas Priest

Any more I don't want romantic love--that shit just always goes sour. What I am yearning for is friends that understand and to reconnect to the higher power. I need it more desperately than I can say.

Sorry to go on and on this way. I've just felt this despair for so long.

Needle felted Dogs and other Canines Page 2 http://ping.fm/jclV3

Cultured Puns

Nessa does Weekend Funnies on her blog. Since I am, unfortunately, a rather morose cuss by nature, I thought I'd break out of my usual doldrums and share a joke I recently read.

A French art thief was apprehended in his van near the Louvre. When asked why he committed the crime his answer was:

"Mon dieu! I stole the paintings because I required ze Monet to get Degas for my van! But you have captured me before I was able to get Tolouse and make my escape."

Upon looking in the mirror, I was both amused and horrified to realize that I have turned into my mother. What level of hell was this again?

I hate flies! I also hate earwigs. I guess they have a purpose, but they're gross! I have yet to figure out what purpose cockroaches have.

I'm catching a cold. I need some Emergen-C.

The Teriyaki Chicken sandwich from Good Times is bad times for the digestion.

How to Apologize to Your Friend | eHow.com http://ping.fm/2ZGvt

Hey Ladies, Want a Raise? Wash Your Vagina -- Women's Day Magazine's Ultra-Sexist Ad | Reproductive Justice | AlterNet http://ping.fm/uun4I

I've been exhausted and depressed. Hope to turn the corner soon. Not sure this latest story I wrote is good enough to submit for publishing.

I need to try to sleep. Someone sing me a lullaby.

I gave up sex eight years ago... and it's the best thing I ever did | Mail Online http://ping.fm/Zaw1U

Apologies to anyone who's a fan, but Steven Segal is a dork. I'm really not sure what women might see in him. And I'm changing the channel!

Another hot one today. Glad for the swamp cooler except sometimes it makes screeching noises.

The Secret World of Dolly: A Deity's Perception of Human Suffering http://ping.fm/W79KP

A Deity's Perception of Human Suffering

This was a missive I wrote to a friend who lost her son six months ago. It may explain a little bit about my concept of deity.

I had a very complicated pregnancy and almost lost my son and my own life as well. He is the only person I really feel connected to. My parents tried, but their obsessiveness with perfection made me feel like I was never good enough and also I always felt like I had no right to say no. This low self esteem combined with borderline personality disorder has made it so that it is impossible for me to have a healthy romantic relationship and at this point I no longer want one.

It breaks my heart, the pain you are going through having lost a child. It is unfair. You are a good person and do not deserve this.

I'm not an atheist, I do believe that there is some sort of higher power and that the soul does survive the death of the body. But my belief in God is more like the American Indian concept of The Great Spirit rather than the church god that I also grew up with. I do believe that God/the Great Spirit knows how much you hurt and that there is a promise of reunion with our loved ones when we too pass into spirit. But missing them is so very hard. The time that higher beings sense is much different than the time we sense. Our lifetimes are but a minute to them. It's like our suffering passes in the blink of an eye in their perception. But it doesn't seem that way to us.

Sorry if I rambled a bit. I hope you are able to find some comfort soon.

http://ping.fm/aNMTX The fucking weather

'Witch' Motorist Jailed After Dragging Cop http://ping.fm/z4BVx

Few positives to "Hooking Up"

A response to this article.

"Hooking up" is not a positive behavior from any standpoint. Aside from the greater risk of social disease, having this sort of detached attitude towards sex is unhealthy. People do need to have a sense of responsibility when engaging in sexual behavior. The attitude that it's okay to have sex with multiple partners without caring about the partner or the consequences is erroneous. Sex is actually better when the head (the big head) and the heart are involved rather than just the genitals.

Woman, 74, Shines At Rollerskating Competition http://ping.fm/wx2Qr

Man, 72, Arrested for Sex on Beach http://ping.fm/OtXRw

Rotted Corpse in Coffin Sparks Lawsuit http://ping.fm/gcWZt

Katy Perry Unveils Semi-Nude 'Teenage Dream' Album Cover | Billboard.com http://ping.fm/Ypjn0

Lazy Worker Paints Yellow Road Lines Over Dead Hedgehog http://ping.fm/0CamE

EMT Dies in Carbon Monoxide Accident http://ping.fm/CZIzA

How Quickly Wants Can Turn to Needs http://ping.fm/VGCIp

One night of work left and I'm off for ten days. My "vacation" will consist of moving stuff out of the spare room & pulling up carpet. Wow!

Wondering if I've a story anywhere in my tired little pea brain.

Dear cafe world: The "vampire" theme is cute for the most part, but may I remind you: real vampires do NOT sparkle! Ever! Alrighty then?

Dear Facebook Sidebar: Why in hell would I vote for Sarah Palin in 2012? Are we trying to insure that the Doomsday 2012 scenario comes true?

I will be super glad when this shift is over.

http://ping.fm/OY6Hd These days we have not only celeb worship but pseudo-celebs.