stuff worth reading

i've seen some really scary Bush-related news (and a couple of great anti-Bush rants) recently, and i finally decided to consolidate them all for your reading pleasure.

from scothen_krau: Imperial President
from emmett_the_sane: We’re Not in Lake Wobegon Anymore -- Garrison Keillor rips the Bush camp several new ones
from aliza250: Kerry for President: the Seattle Times is embarrassed by their support of Bush in the last election
from dglenn: the Pentagon is preparing for climate wars while Bush claims global warming is a hoax
from scothen_krau: what we have to look forward to in a 2nd Bush term

i don't know about you guys, but i'm scared shitless.

bonus: schwarzenegger is also a liar. film at 11.

the good news

the property manager at my building has promised to have my ancient crumbling bedroom screens replaced today, so i can finally open my windows and have some ventilation during the hot weather to come. the ones i have are literally held together with duct tape and hope.

on the downside, between that talk with my ex, the maid service fiasco, and hormonal issues, i'm feeling really cranky and disgruntled. at least it's been a distraction from more unpleasant issues, though.

today, i'm depressed because...

...it's been so long since a man looked at me with visible admiration that i can only barely remember what it feels like. people keep telling me that i have to feel attractive and confident before other people will find me attractive, but how the hell am i supposed to do that when random strangers yell "fatso" out the window of their truck at me more often than i get a face-to-face compliment? when i've only gotten one serious offer in 7 years, from a total loser who threw a tantrum when i turned him down? when i can actually see, every day, men looking away from me, as though they're afraid i'll suddenly pounce on them? when practically every voice in the media is shouting to me all the time that my body is unacceptable, ugly, unhealthy, wrong?

yeah, i get a few compliments from online friends, but it's not the same. y'all are my friends. of course you say nice things about me.

i don't need hundreds of guys to fall at my feet to validate my existence, but it sure would be nice to just feel pretty for a day or two. is that really so much to ask?

the skeptics win

my screens have not been replaced.

prickly

so today my local grocery had prickly pear fruit for .79/lb. -- so naturally i bought a couple.

anyone know how to deal with them? they look like they need peeling, but i dunno what they're like on the inside, or anything.