I swear recently, I’ve talked about politics more than anything else, at home at least. It’s probably because of the upcoming general election. Well, one of the hottest topics right now is Gay Rights. I was surprised to hear David Cameron saying how “We do need good sex and relationship education. That education should teach people about equality, that we treat people the same whether they are gay or straight, I think that is really important that we embed that in the ethos of our education.”

Well, okay. That’s a good start. I was extremely impressed – I mean, a party which wears its heart on its sleeve (read: Conservative) has suddenly changed its tune rather dramatically. For a little while there, I debated voting Tory. Needless to say, that didn’t last long. Cameron has just quickly backtracked and, despite there being the ‘LGBTory’ branch, and is even refusing to accept homophobic bullying as an occurrence:

“He says he doesn’t understand why homophobia would be worse in faith schools. But I ask: Is it so odd? Some of these religious groups – not all – believe homosexuality is a sin. For the only time in the interview, Cameron looks irritated. “That’s so wrong,” he snaps, his brow furrowed. “My daughter goes to a church school and it’s not like that.” He angrily says, “A lot of what you’ve read in the newspapers is actually a lot of tosh.” With a firm glare, he says he will put in place “ground rules” to make sure new religious schools “teach equality”, and that’s that. He gets up to turn down the radiator next to him. “ (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lets-talk-about-sex-johann-hari-grills-david-cameron-over-gay-rights-1888688.html)

Uh-huh. I see. Just read the article. You’ll see that Cameron is trying is hardest to be seen as fair and modern, but he just can’t shake his own beliefs, it would seem. 30% of David Cameron’s cabinet have voted against gay rights, including the repeal of Section 28 (which Cameron himself voted against), adoption by gay parents and lowering the age of consent for gay men. Which brings me nicely to Labour, where NO party members voted against any of these laws.

I’m not defending the Labour party, or Gordon Brown for that matter. But don’t forget that they did bring us the Civil Partnerships. No, it’s not quite marriage, but you have to admit that it’s a big step in the right direction. Labour’s LGBT group also seems to be a driving force behind passing a law against homophic hatred, which the Conservatives House of Lords have constantly been opposing. That having been said, other than their promised extension of the Equality Bill, there are no other remarks about homosexuality. I guess you could that settling, a compromise.

The Liberal Democrats, however, seem to be living up to their name. The Independent recently published details of a political conference, in which Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg made some bold statements and drilled Cameron into the ground. Clegg stated that he ensure that schoolchildren are brought up knowing that homosexuality is normal, and gay relationships (sexual and romantic) would be discussed in lessons. Also, he Clegg would ensure that homophobic crime is recognised and treated the same way as any sort of hatred or discrimination. PLUS, he would finally equalise all orientations. Gay men and women would be able to get MARRIED, and would have all of the same rights and benefits etc etc. I emailed Clegg’s office about why none of his more recent statements are on the party’s website and I received a satisfactory reply. I’m hoping to see this information on their page very soon indeed.

I’m about to turn twenty, and so I’ve been doing a lot of research into this as it will be the first time that I’ve voted in a general election. Unfortunately, the Liberal Democrats are unlikely to succeed – it’s neck-and-neck between the Tories and the BNP. I know that gay rights is not the only thing that I should be looking at when deciding on who to vote for, but people need to choose a party that speaks to them, that will do what they want. The Lib Dems haven’t been in power for a very long time (most likely because people always switch between only Labour and Conservative). Perhaps we ought to allow these lads to muck about in Number 10 for a while. If they don’t get voted in, then I’ll just have turn into a renegade Parliamentary candidate.

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Lectori Salutem! or L.S. (Greetings to the Reader!)

Sometimes it’s joked about in the Lesbian community that all we need is our dogs or cats, and a woman just becomes the icing on the cake. Well certainly compared to the heterosexual community, the GLBT community takes pet ownership to a whole new level. This should come as no surprise to anyone. I was really just trying to find some statistics to back up the story I wanted to tell.

83% of lesbians have a pet!!!!! What a shocker!!! And drum roll please…. 60% of lesbians have dogs! To round out the statistics, 61% of gay men have pets and 38% of gay men have dogs. As for cats, there is some overlap with lesbians which of course is too be expected as I know you all know friends who have dogs and a cat or two. So, 28% of gay men have cats and 51% of lesbians of cats. That means only 13% of gay women, according to this study at least, do not own dogs!

OK, OK, now that I have established what I already knew, on to the subject at hand, the immense bond we form with our pets. This bond is universal and open to anyone who gives their dog love and devotion but I am going to focus on the unique bond of a lesbian and her dog, at least from the lesbian’s perspective.

I have countless friends that go to the ends of the earth to spend time with their dog after a bad break up where the dog is collateral damage. The love of a dog is something inexplicable. I still can recall the pain of losing my first dog, Otto, named for the Sarge’s dog in the Beetle Bailey comic strip. That dog raised me from three until I was twenty years old. He took all the tail pulling of a baby girl and the spankings of a girl forcing him to play baby and he did it all so willingly. He was a miracle dog.

He survived a pix ax to the stomach. My dad was trying to kill a rattlesnake in our back yard in La Jolla and Otto ran after the snake because he thought it was going to strike my dad just as the ax came down. He survived a poising in our watermelon patch, same house. My mom put out pesticide to kill the ladybugs that were eating our watermelon leaves and Otto ate and it was off to emergency again. He had many other close calls and ER trips but once I was raised the poor dog hated children and would growl if they came near him. I guess he felt he had done his job with my brother and I but never again!!!!

As an adult I remember it never occurred to me I could have my own dog for a long, long time. I lived in apartments and moved a lot and it just never seemed possible. Then eleven years ago I saw a man with a miniature dachshund and it all clicked. I am stable living wise. I am not moving anymore. He’s the perfect size. I got one within the week. Now, all these years later I have three. One was a foster, 14, one is a champion and a crazy bastard, 3, and then the original who just turned 11.

I am a lesbian dog owner and all that it entails. They have gotten me through more drama, rough patches, depressions, grounded me during the elations, been a source to pick up chicks when need be, (hell, I’m not too proud to admit it), but most of all they are my constant, my truth, waiting, happily always waiting for me to come home and talk, yell, scream, comfort, anything I want or need and they are there.

It is not that these dogs are human as it is one of my pet peeves when someone starts to anthropomorphize a dog. A dog has plenty of great qualities in his own right but he is not a human being! Dogs lick their balls, eat shit and enjoy it, and love with the strength no human could muster even after you’ve yelled at them at the top of your lungs for peeing on the carpet or accidentally breaking a valuable piece of Venetian glass. No human I know or have ever seen reacts like that so just let the animal live its dog life.

Having said that, they are an animal with keen senses and emotional centers and definitely feel when I am sad or sick, happy or mad. Not in ways a human would know and not always quickly but when I come home from the hospital, there is a quiet, they hold it as long as they can so I only have to take them out once or twice a day instead of four times. If I am crying they snuggle in as close to me as they can and the youngest who hasn’t yet learned the etiquette I have taught my older two is wagging his tail with his whole body wriggling in my face, licking my tears so eager to make it all better that he does by making me laugh.

With all these wonderful qualities we share with our animals, we love them as if they were part of us until they are part of us, forgetting we will always outlive them. Then those days come and our worlds crumble from sorrow as we have lost a piece of our soul.

A friend of mine had to let her dog go on Friday and that is what sparked this blog in the first place. Once I started the trip, however, it took me to unopened pockets in my own history that needed some airing out. The past sometimes needs a good dusting off when the memories are lovely to look at and your sense of smell still keen.

I lost a dog way before his time due to my own negligence and his death is still a fresh wound so I’ll share it to help the healing process. I was gone all day shopping and did not put all my medication bottles completely out of his reach. He hadn’t shown an interest in them before, nor did any of the dogs but this day he did and his ate an entire bottle of prescription pain pills. By the time we got back from shopping he was still alive but barely. I called the vet and he said because of his body temperature it was too late to do anything. Just hold him. So I did and he died two and a half hours later.

I am sure everyone who has lost a loving pet knows that feeling of loss. Let’s all just think about St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, for my friend tonight and if your Christian please read the Prayer to The Animals that is in the Quote For The Day.

Much Love.

Inspired By Sappho’s Muse

MUSIC OF THE DAY
Since this is a blog of contemplation on woman’s best friend and the bond that dogs hold in our lives, I am going to pick A Bridge Over Troubled Water as sung by the amazing Charlotte Church. This is one of the most beautiful recordings of this song I have ever heard. The second is a symbol of the friendship we develop with our trusted pets. It’s James Taylor’s You’ve Got A Friend. It is especially poignant in the line “you just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I’ll come running”, because isn’t that exactly what our dogs do? The music can only be heard at the original website.

A Bridge Over Troubled Water  Charlotte Church
You’ve Got A Friend                  James Taylor

QUOTE OF THE DAY
Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen
St. Frances of AssisiSimilar Posts:

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Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. The best thing Valentine’s Day has over Christmas is that it’s a private holiday, so if you have a partner, the gift you give them won’t be opened in front of their sleepy pajama-ed family on Christmas morning. This leaves you room to get them something you’ll both enjoy, if you catch my drift.

It’s a really good idea, and it is increasing in popularity with the struggling economy. Why is that? Because sensual gifts fill many roles all at once. It’s a gift, it’s an invitation to play, it’s a luxury, and you can have fun using it with your partner time and time again, at home, with the lights low (or high!) instead of going out somewhere and spending money for an afternoon/evening/weekend of fun.

SINGLE PEOPLE! Treat yourself this Single’s Awareness Day and have some quality time at home with yourself. You’ll thank you for it!

Tunti Enterprises is promoting a Valentine’s Day gift package sold through the Kama Sutra Closet. Why should you check this out? Well, aside from each gift package featuring the discreet and handy Tunti Illuminating Boudoir Box, which I love, they come pre-stocked with some incredible toys. One of them even features the incredible jimmyjane Form 2, which I covet. Bunny ears with a motor in each? Yes, please. Follow me through the link for details of the available packages and how much you save with each kit! Be sure to read to the end to see how you can win a Tunti Toybox of your very own!

Think you’re too late? Think again. THERE’S STILL TIME!

USPS Priority 2-3 Day Shipping is free with all orders within the U.S.!

Order now to get it in time for Valentine’s Day!

Jimmyjane Starter Kit

Included: Tunti Toybox, Form 2 vibrator from Jimmyjane combined with the Iconic Duckie, Contour I and Beyond massage lotion!

“You can’t go wrong with the Form 2, Jimmyjane’s newest offering. Part of the “Pleasure for the People” collection, this reincarnation of the Rabbit has been a popular pleaser. It’s rechargeable, waterproof and very quiet. Jimmyjane’s Iconic Duckie is a great waterproof bathtub toy, with a wonderful vibration. The Jimmyjane Contour I and Beyond massage lotion is a truly romantic addition to this kit. Increase intimacy through massage… a can’t miss as Valentine’s gifts go!”

Cost: $240

Breakdown:

• Tunti: $75 at Kama Sutra Closet, regularly $95
• Form 2: $135 from jimmyjane
• Iconic Duckie: $25 from jimmyjane
• Contour I: $25 from jimmyjane
• Beyond Massage Lotion: $24 from jimmyjane

Save $44 on the set!

LELO and Lust Kit

Included: Tunti Toybox, LELO’s Elise vibrator and Lust’s Edible Massage Oil!

“This package gives you one of LELO’s best vibrators, the Elise. Rechargeable, quiet, and splashproof, LELO’s Elise has a dual motor which offers a variety of delicious sensations. Constructed of a smooth medical-grade silicone and a (begging to be touched) silken-coated rigid PC-ABS, Elise was designed to be well in tune with the natural curves of the female body, the stem forms a soft arc for easy access to all those special places. Lust edible massage oil is a wonderful starter for your Valentine’s evening, offering four flavors of delicious and high quality edible, warming massage oil from Lust Cosmetics. Choose from Creamsicle, Cherried Treasure, Hot Caramel, and Watermelon.”

Cost: $225

Breakdown:

• Tunti: $75 at Kama Sutra Closet, regularly $95
• Elise by LELO: $169 at LELO
• Lust Edible Massage Oil: $15 at Lust

Save $34 on the set!

Rabbit Habit and Sliquid Organics Kit

Included: Tunti Toybox, Vibratex Elastomer Rabbit Habit (the original Rabbit as seen on “Sex and the City”) and Sliquid Organics Natural Gel!

“This pairing is the best of both worlds! Vibratex’s Elastomer Rabbit is made of the highest quality Elastomer, and is one of the best Rabbit’s on the market!

Sliquid Organics Silk Gel is a glycerin and paraben free lubricant blended with certified organic botanical extracts that heal and support the body. All Sliquid products are formulated for safety, and will never cause UTI’s or yeast infections.”

Cost: $160

Breakdown:

• Tunti: $75 at Kama Sutra Closet, regularly $95
• Vibratex Elastomer Rabbit Habit: $90
• Sliquid Organics Silk Gel: $15 – $25 (depending on size)

Save at least $20 on the kit!

Looking for another way to get a Tunti Toybox? Check out the blog and enter to win one! Tunti Enterprises gives one Tunti Toybox away in a contest each month! To win this month, you just answer this question in the comments: “Describe the boudoir of your wildest imagination, as if money and the laws of physics were no issue.” Hurry, though, because the winner will be chosen on February 14th! If you don’t win this time around, keep following her blog and try again in March!

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What Would Sappho Say?

Lectori Salutem! or L.S. (Greetings to the Reader!)

As an insomniac, I started staying up later and later at night until it just became a part of my life. Now, even when a get a descent night’s sleep that starts at about 1 AM and goes until 8 AM or so. That said, if I have had a string of late nights and early mornings, I know I should not be operating heavy machinery and that if I produce some writing, some heavy editing will be required later in the day.

The rub of it is, while a night owl, I also am not able to sleep in either. I have animals that wake me up at 6 AM sharp for their feeding and if I happen to fall back asleep after feeding them, they all too eagerly re-awaken me with a thunderous round of three dachshunds barking to go out for their walk. It is usually after this point that I am up for the day. Now, I didn’t say what condition I am in but I am mobile and that first cigarette of the day hits my lungs like the breath of fresh air only another smoker would understand giving me just enough of a kick to push me towards the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face and on a good day apply the golden cream of youth my dermatologist gave me for a skin disorder that actually is now being bartered on the black market because of its profound effects on women’s skin and wrinkles.

Little did I know I had over $1000 worth of hot product just a few feet from me in a drawer that I hardly used. Good Sappho has been kind to me so far and I have not a wrinkle on my face… yet. So, I use these tubes to make my friends happy and try to convince them to stay away from botox for a few more years instead of going down to the plastic surgery area of our town and peddling them out of a big purse. If money gets any tighter, well we’ll see..

Back to the night, there is so much I love about working through the night hours. I live is a busy downtown area during the day but at night the streets run silent. After midnight I can take my dogs out without their leashes on and they behave well enough to know to stay near me, not to run into the road, and they get a little bit of freedom from the daily grind of going in circles, one behind the other.

There is something so peaceful to me in knowing I am one of the few awake as others around me sleep. The homeless that hang on my street know me pretty well after three and a half years, especially as conspicuous as I am with three miniature dachshunds trailing behind but over time we have come to a mutual understanding about asking for money. They know I will help them out, but not too often and only after I get paid. Most of the time it is just a “hi, Miss, how are ya doing tonight?” and I know they have my back out here on the streets.

In the best of this little midnight world is the convenience store that sits right across the street for my 24 hour guilty pleasures. It is not good on my waistline or my pocketbook but it sure makes me happy to know that on a whim I can run across the street and get almost anything I need or want at 2 AM.

Most of my work is done from 9 PM to 2 AM and from 9 AM to 2 PM. Those are my biggest work spurts and that is a strange thing to find in one person. I am the most worthless in the middle of the afternoon and that is when I have to get all of my non-writing related work done like grocery shopping and house cleaning. Let’s just say I grocery shop once every two weeks and try to keep the house clean on a daily basis so there is never that HOUSE CLEANING DAY.

No. This lady lives for the night and I was recently told by an authority figure (not mine, thank Sappho) that those of us that still choose to work at night against the grain of what society does are simply stuck in a childish rebellion. To her I say, “Billy Idol” and for those of you who don’t get the reference it is one of the songs of the day. Listen to it and you will understand.

I am certainly not trying to buck society, I live in society, I am trying to write to society… I JUST DON’T GET MUCH SLEEP! I write when the muse inspires me and sometimes even when she doesn’t so I can learn how to grow s a writer.

I know plenty of people who live under the night sky for their job, or because of insomnia issues and creativity issues like me, and some just by choice and I don’t think any of the ones I know are still trying to hold on to that old idea of rebelling against something or someone as an attention seeking mechanism.

WE JUST ARE THE NIGHT.

Much Love.

Inspired By Sappho’s Muse

QUOTE OF THE DAY
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
Oscar Wilde

Night brings our troubles to the light, rather than banishes them.
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Lectori Salutem! or L.S. (Greetings to the Reader!)

Ridiculous was one of my favorite words to use for years and years and one day “poof” out of nowhere, the word was ruined for me. How you may ask? My best friend at the time just had to tell me a story about and her girlfriend and herself having a disagreement when my friend used the word RIDICULOUS. Now I do have to concur with a teeny, teeny, tiny bit of the sentiment in the following statement but I love the word too so it never bothered me in the least. The girlfriend stopped the car and blew up at her, “Why do you always have to use the word ridiculous? There’s so much emphasis in your voice when you use it. It drives me nuts. I HATE THAT WORD. Why cant you just say stupid like everyone else does?”

Well, I never liked this woman and after hearing this story every time I would use the word it would get stuck in my throat, no longer running of the tongue with the pleasure it once had. Even six months after the story, every time this word came into my vocabulary I would think of this REDICULOUS, INANE, ASININE woman I disliked and it took all the pleasure out of using the word itself. So, I decided I needed to attach a new back-story to the word to replace my image of this woman. So I sat down with pen in hand….

I wrote a poem (possibly lyrics to a song for any of you musician types out there) using the word about to describe a relationship, a woman, someone like one of the four crazy women I had met in the last year as chronicled in the Crazy Women blog, could it be? I’ll never tell. All I know is I can say my word in peace now.

So don’t be too hard on me on this one…. It’s my first foray into poetry or lyrics and it was all done in service to a word as they mean so much to me.

Here’s… REDICULOUS

I met her long before I knew better;
That youth before age was for the foolish.
She pulled me in with what seemed was a secret charm.
I go back and do it again if I had my wish.

Flowing from my mouth was the word ridiculous.
The way it ran off my tongue had a certain chime.
Didn’t know the sound was so serious.
Until I said it all the time.

It’s just ridiculous…
Absurd, inane and ludicrous.
Playing with the fire of her raw days.
She was just a little plaything.
Sophmoric games and dodging answers were her way.

Our conversations always stopped when in came meaning.
As long as I got mine I didn’t care how crazy it got.
I don’t think she knew how she was seeming.
I thought she could handle casual, clearly not.

It’s just ridiculous…
Absurd, inane, and ludicrous.
Playing with the fire of her raw days.
She was just a little plaything.
Sophmoric games and dodging answers were her way.

As you ask yourself why, get in the line behind me.
It wasn’t sex ‘cause that sure wasn’t free.
Just a pet project I guess I’ll call ridiculous.
And now she won’t just let me be.

I said it was ridiculous.
Absurd, inane, and ludicrous.
Playing with the fire of her raw days.
She was just a little plaything.
Now I’m the one with the price to pay.

Not bad for a first effort if I do say so myself. What do you guys think? Give me some feedback. To leave comments you must go to the actual page this blog is written on by clicking its name in the top right list, then post away/

Well, peace out. Go easy on yourselves and me!

Much Love.

Inspired by Sappho’s Muse

MUSIC OF THE DAY
Let’s go with the theme of the poem and play Patrice Pike’s Ridiculous Mess. The second song is a from the one and only Adam Lambert who is burning up the charts with his second released song from his debut album For Your Entertainment called Whatya Want From Me.

Ridiculous Mess Patrice Pike
Whatya Want From Me Adam Lambert

QUOTE OF THE DAY
Doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous.
Voltaire

All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning.
Albert CamusSimilar Posts:

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