tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27082649186031178182024-03-05T14:41:31.270-08:00Musings On Other Queens, KStew and Unconventional BeautyThoughts on deconstructing, renewing and embracing the qualities (quirks, oddities, imperfections) that make us Other-worldly Beautiful. Plus, weekly mentions of The Reigning Ambassador of Other, Kristen Stewart. Perhaps once we shatter the old ideas of beauty, then the need to alienate, segregate and tear down Others will disappear.Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-86319640085126772352010-09-30T15:20:00.000-07:002011-07-01T23:54:19.495-07:00Musings On Other has MOVED!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, my Mayhem Misfits!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">This is just a little message to let you know that Musings and Team Other have left the building...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">.....We have left </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Blogger....</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Change up your bookmarks, Lovelies! </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We have our own domain now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We own our Otherness.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">So please come visit our new home and read today's New Musings: A Revelatory Year</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://musingsonotherqueens.com/">http://MusingsOnOtherQueens.com</a></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I'll see you on the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Other</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> side!!! Always, KJ</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://musingsonotherqueens.com/">http://MusingsOnOtherQueens.com</a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0-CiXTx4du0j3B-8bnhPqnuW16d_8Dorw2d9d7g_RVvgF_Y023-cw8raAlUocdGICdBFVwehvddhIkwVpvoIMJgt08Dud6teTPJ1cQRhK7NjeL57Q-jAe7fKh-xBEngl6HoyxMgIuTo/s1600/photography.jpg" /></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-68470334008776822512010-09-23T22:47:00.000-07:002010-09-24T04:24:32.458-07:00Winning You With Words<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winning you with words, because I have no other way</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'd love to look into your face </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">without your eyes turning away</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-Gray or Blue by Jaymay</span><br />
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</span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wellllll...I'm still writing in this forum because I've still some kinks to smooth out with the new blog site. Today's essay will also be abbreviated, compared to previous entries, and I'm considering making Musings a twice weekly posting so as to keep the essays and Featured Royal Rebels manageable. I inadvertently gave a sneak peek of Musings' new home today via Twatter, when it was nowhere near ready for unveiling. Nonetheless, in the four minute window of exposure, my dear @deedreamer16 peeked at it and left a warm comment. She rejoiced at the new layout, which was so very kind of her, so I guess it's a good sign that an unfinished product is already garnering positive feedback. Hopefully next week, Lovelies, the new site for <i>Musings </i>will be up and running in it's intended gloriousness. In the meantime, I'll still write a little blurb today because I've swirling ideas in my brain that may need to get out onto paper before I combust. Let's check in with our Other Queen for a minute so we can set the stage for today's topic. </div></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn23WWmGqqqU3czRYX3z5x3r2GVnq9y56Z0RmQt7KfMwyTCZy0SJeenl1YaQrV4e6tMrNX9imwVMGuRTTjfTayX4OIvgLHwYp27jTjTcschugtQmEeBMeMYrEjhhx-6nU7fxoQWjHqMIQ/s1600/163184006-c6d8ff9effa12b82054278b7bf85217b.4c92eec8-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn23WWmGqqqU3czRYX3z5x3r2GVnq9y56Z0RmQt7KfMwyTCZy0SJeenl1YaQrV4e6tMrNX9imwVMGuRTTjfTayX4OIvgLHwYp27jTjTcschugtQmEeBMeMYrEjhhx-6nU7fxoQWjHqMIQ/s320/163184006-c6d8ff9effa12b82054278b7bf85217b.4c92eec8-full.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ahh. There she is. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Last week, as Team Other applauded Kristen's communication of desiring privacy without making a sound, Kristen's partner Rob went home to England for a much-needed, much deserved break. Of course, all sorts of sightings blossomed, and therefore rumors, and therefore "editorials" as well, as is the usual when Kristen and Rob are out of the public spotlight. One particularly Rob-"focused" site (which will not be mentioned by name nor linked from here) published an extremely condescending (towards their idol Rob!) article in the format of a letter indicating that Kristen is trying to meld to and <i>assume Rob's life and identity</i>. I cringed and held back the bile that was building in the back of my throat as I read through said public declaration. The author of the ridiculous article declared Kristen a "clinger" and accused her of trying to infiltrate Rob's life by honing in on the relationship with Rob's best friend TomStu (um, Kristen's <i>On the Road </i>costar), and not only after publicity, but also Rob's father Richard (as in, GET OFF MY DICK). </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRRM7EeVemvBconH3tRHuLjry4gwdCOnY7EjJ663mqtRhf5kbpTWrrjhNOL_XCKrBKRE8hKq-6uyL0714XV5AWuXJamKqm2JCfPc4HubqOj3FXySjQI8UXkjJPP_sywh_m5Vic6wV3Oc/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRRM7EeVemvBconH3tRHuLjry4gwdCOnY7EjJ663mqtRhf5kbpTWrrjhNOL_XCKrBKRE8hKq-6uyL0714XV5AWuXJamKqm2JCfPc4HubqOj3FXySjQI8UXkjJPP_sywh_m5Vic6wV3Oc/s320/006.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do I look impressed by you? You insult my choices,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> insult my family and trash my girl. I SEE YOU. You are no "fans" of mine.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> Words are weapons</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">after I finished giggle-snorting through that article, I of course, glanced at the responding comments. HOLY BEJEEBUS, BATMAN!! At last count, the responses were approaching five <i>hundred. </i>And, much like the comments left on the joint <i>Entertainment Weekly </i>interview in which strongly Rob defended and supported Kristen, the comments on this vomitous post were incredibly sexist, crude, and disrespectful not only of Kristen (don't even get me started on the commenters' responses about her physical anatomy) but of the very man they are "obsessed" over and idolize--Rob! And they were nearly <i>all women. </i>And again, we're not talking a measly handful of comments, there were <i>hundreds. </i>It's quite probable that Rob was talking about the people running and commenting on these types of websites when he refers to the "nerdy bloggers" who "hide behind their computers" and take <i>no responsibility</i> for their words or claims, regardless of how ludicrous they are. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While this is hardly groundbreaking news, I still am grappling with the irresponsibility that is rampant and most likely a constant thorn in Kristen and Rob's lives. Do people not recognize the power of their words any more? In this time of technology overload, have folks forgotten the impact and effect words have on shaping a situation, or effecting a person/system? Is there</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">no </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">accountability left? </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx9c6MgWxTXuNZKCiqy8QhkpTYIKRMlMLUsVpVgXUFeRSY0Lvf8Gs8SCiAvpWxxJ3lICvupm_2yoGzygkjPmJlWIG9mhUzXucjf8-T1uEC734Jin86_gXbEbXmgkinQO3Y7FU4G6P058/s1600/454102385v7_240x240_Front_Color-Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx9c6MgWxTXuNZKCiqy8QhkpTYIKRMlMLUsVpVgXUFeRSY0Lvf8Gs8SCiAvpWxxJ3lICvupm_2yoGzygkjPmJlWIG9mhUzXucjf8-T1uEC734Jin86_gXbEbXmgkinQO3Y7FU4G6P058/s200/454102385v7_240x240_Front_Color-Black.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One day? Rob will wear THIS shirt.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Then what, Ladies??</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A Psych 101 Moment</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A modern development among psychology treatment theories, <b>Narrative therapy</b> has the goal of changing a problem-saturated story to reflect a preferred one. In basic terms, we <i>create our own stories</i>, and <i>we choose</i> to make them as positive and truthful as we'd prefer. Conversely, we can, with our own words and behaviors, <i>write</i> a story of negativity, victimization and tragedy. Narrative therapists (I employ Narrative techniques in my own practice) do not believe that people are what they are labeled.<br />
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Can you see how calling a person a name (labeling): i.e., BITCH, SLUT, MAN-WHORE, LOSER, UGLY can shape that person's ability to view themselves? A reminder: You only have to hear or see written words <i>once </i>before the words start permeating your subconscious. Think about it: If you hear or read enough criticisms about yourself, when do you start to believe them?? Internalize them? Fall prey to them? <i>Accept them?? </i>Luckily, our Queen of Other Kristen, is a strong and resilient woman. But even she isn't immune. She has admitted several times how criticisms and googled words have cut her. For those of you projecting criticisms, double standards, hate and nonsense onto two people who you most likely <i>do not know, </i>is this indicative that you act similarly in your personal lives too?? But towards or around people you <i>DO </i>know, who may even be <i>close </i>to you? The people surrounding you may or may not look like this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcf2DF8F_aJgEdM8aJwxCZ_THIN9-RkC_Q5D_MI1OTXbc7MlMLI38eLK66RMdt2Ud5psH683EfOh3np-qGKIpRboCgMkIFaBD_B2EShrxyewTKCSyjKaO_Og14EWwWr10oZyaukRg2ZU/s1600/164248946-e7087d06fb07a53a3023c742144a1e51.4c955988-full.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcf2DF8F_aJgEdM8aJwxCZ_THIN9-RkC_Q5D_MI1OTXbc7MlMLI38eLK66RMdt2Ud5psH683EfOh3np-qGKIpRboCgMkIFaBD_B2EShrxyewTKCSyjKaO_Og14EWwWr10oZyaukRg2ZU/s320/164248946-e7087d06fb07a53a3023c742144a1e51.4c955988-full.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I assure you, your harsh judgments and voracious regurgitation has power to do this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbGCrSPbhYxpUOABh7UuwUQQRfg_ML7PvHowLAIyDExatDNY3RXah0nA_3qKGPOLZpTeX-bDon0uAyJ9qp5XsnNWPSzfIhocMBVcMZvHjVZUfhPC_mUhiYC1WNEwNWRl8EFceViRGevg/s1600/scaredpumelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbGCrSPbhYxpUOABh7UuwUQQRfg_ML7PvHowLAIyDExatDNY3RXah0nA_3qKGPOLZpTeX-bDon0uAyJ9qp5XsnNWPSzfIhocMBVcMZvHjVZUfhPC_mUhiYC1WNEwNWRl8EFceViRGevg/s320/scaredpumelo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">that is one sad pumelo</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The words written and carelessly splashed across the internet and tabloids, like in the article mentioned above, is an example of Words as Weapons. Fantastically (*sarcasm*) folks utilize mediums such as Twatter and Facebook to spread the venom as well, further and faster. Dear commenters and mods on sites supporting the bashing of Rob and Kristen: Do you ever wonder what such public spewage conveys about <i>you? </i>To someone who doesn't know you from Adam, even your "joking" comments ripping apart a twenty year old girl because of shorts she wears, or nervousness she exudes at public events tells <i>magnitudes </i>about <i>your </i>story. You don't want to be labeled, you say?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Stop fashioning your OWN WEAPONS. </div><div style="text-align: center;">STOP HANDING OUT THE DESCRIPTORS FOR YOUR STORY. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>At the very least, cultivate <b><i>awareness</i></b> when you're in a public setting (especially Twitter, Facebook, highly-followed blogs)...where you are responsible for influencing hundreds and thousands of "followers" to mindlessly label and bash a young woman...This woman may be someone's sister, cousin, aunt, mother, girlfriend or daughter because you essentially gave permission to folks who admire you to act as <i>you </i>do. CHOOSE. YOUR. WORDS. WISELY.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Words are wealthy</span></b></div>Because I'm all about balance...Let's take a moment to witness some positive words about Kristen Stewart, our perpetually awkward but consistently genuine Royal Rebel, to counterbalance the weaponry hurled by the anonymous and seemingly spiteful blog commenters.<br />
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Actor William Hurt says:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve defended her in public as regularly as I can. I think it’s absurd, that they’re not giving her a break. I think that she’s holding her own, that she’s courageous, that she’s inventive, and that she’s got character oozing out of her, and I say, “Give her a break. Who is she to pander to your idea of what she’s supposed to be?”</span></span></div></div><br />
Actor/Director Sean Penn says:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292929; line-height: 22px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She is “A truth machine". <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Mr. Penn, who cast her as a folk singer with a serious infatuation in “Into the Wild,” said reports Kristen as </span>“magically easy to direct,” <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">adding,</span> “She is a real force with terrific instincts.”</span></i></span></span><br />
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Legendary Actor Bruce Dern says:<br />
<i>"She is a one-of-a-kinder. She has a beautiful, knowledgeable face... a hauntedness. Look at Kristen Stewart: she is unique. There are <u>maybe</u> only two other actresses like her, and they're much older than Kristen."</i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A Musings Playlist:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, since I wasn't able to completely move Musings to the new website, I won't start the Other Soundtrack Giveaway til next week either. But I did want to let you know the playlist is forming beautifully, and I will post a few songs on the playlist below, so you have an idea of what the finalized copy will look like.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>the devils tears:: angus and julia stone</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i> wave of mutilation:: pixies</i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>not afraid:: eminem</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>addicted to love:: florence + the machine</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>wake up:: arcade fire</i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>hallelujah:: jeff buckley</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>....and others</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i> </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg8Pa6FmCbQM4ncWgGcUQ-5O0A4w1ixQItYKY1LrBrPmMV2poQTMLxlf0jrQObB45HGkcfVIYQdhqBMaKfPArJmkJoVHj71IqA1LIiiKsgIE8JTxNyAns6HGyKNe8e_Dzb45eNYyenN4/s1600/musiclove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg8Pa6FmCbQM4ncWgGcUQ-5O0A4w1ixQItYKY1LrBrPmMV2poQTMLxlf0jrQObB45HGkcfVIYQdhqBMaKfPArJmkJoVHj71IqA1LIiiKsgIE8JTxNyAns6HGyKNe8e_Dzb45eNYyenN4/s1600/musiclove.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The Featured Rebel Royal segment will also be on hiatus again this week, but we will continue where we left off in learning about new Rebels next week. We will continue to defend and support the awkward, the left-of-center, the unique, the odd, and the extraordinary as long as the detractors and doubters remain out there too. My hope is that we're finding that there are <i>more of us </i>OTHERS out there than ever. *big grin*. Wishing Rob some restful recuperation time in London with his family. Wishing Kristen luck and strength as she wraps up her <i>On the Road </i>filming sequences this week. Wishing you all continued celebration and acceptance of your Otherness. See you next week. Always, KJ</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Rob is Other.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Kristen is Other.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Others choose their words wisely.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Embrace your Other. </b></span></div></div></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-63503714391907850352010-09-16T13:55:00.000-07:002010-09-17T10:51:52.786-07:00A Muselet Memo: Musical Giveaways & Communication, Mofos!<div style="text-align: justify;">Well hello there, my Misfit Mayhem-makers, how have you been? I hope well, and happy and rested. Did I scare you off with my melt down last week? Was it unsettling for some of us who need a routine for normalcy? <i>Musings</i> posted on Friday and in two parts, concluding on Saturday. Wild, right? *smooths hand over your back to rub comfortingly*. I know. I'm all about thinking outside the box and spontaneity, but even I struggled with the wonky schedule last week, and I want to apologize to you. Between the two family emergencies and Blogger getting salty with me, I may have been ...<i>uncouth</i>. Well, as I've discussed in previous <i>Musings</i>, energy and The Universe has its way of communicating with us. Last Friday as I was wrestling with Blogger and dividing up the Wanderlust Musings post, I also was launching the website for the private practice. Oh and I was not sleeping a lot due being on standby for the family. So, I got sick. Really sick. Like, ask @Buff82 and @Bouffant how I was constantly in tears and nearly catatonic<i>. Y</i>esterday was the first day where I didn't need to roll up in the fetal position to ward off the pain. Though I can't promise to stay away from cold meds today, you all know how I <i>love</i> me my cold meds. . . .</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEJRP41nN4PNSh8Lr4PuDIMu4zU8wYYCWS9dDa5zQithOkFJG7LOsTQXmGcOkO53WFVI3tZuWKpHoWrYrLk54FaGRviOnDdV-XTSlU-9VjZugPMAXWnXK_LTIxjWgDyct9nS0YwKB0OA/s1600/love-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEJRP41nN4PNSh8Lr4PuDIMu4zU8wYYCWS9dDa5zQithOkFJG7LOsTQXmGcOkO53WFVI3tZuWKpHoWrYrLk54FaGRviOnDdV-XTSlU-9VjZugPMAXWnXK_LTIxjWgDyct9nS0YwKB0OA/s320/love-1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So due to the chaos of last week, I am releasing the first MUSELET MEMO today, because post-fever, I'm a smorgasbord of ideas and it's Thursday, our regular posting day, and I want to show some pretty pictures of Kristen, um, duh. Most importantly, I've missed you guys, so I crave the interaction. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Guidelines for the following Musings Memo</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1.</b> It will be shorter than most of previous <i>Musings </i>(I know. You and Blogger are sighing in relief right now).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2.</b> It will consist of announcements regarding upcoming topics and Team Other Happenings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3.</b> It will encourage Reader participation. (I told you. I crave interaction with you all. You make my life with your feedback and comments.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>4.</b> It will <i>not</i> feature a new Royal Rebel, though it will allude to potential FRR's in the approaching weeks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>5.</b> It will, however, always pay homage to the Reigning Ambassador of Other: The Stew.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Claro? Let's get our Muselet Memo on, kids!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6Ml_ugy5uScyZ8wHmYgKDErtp2uZ4X6hPJ0srp6H-JL7zzPB73muI0gq1B7L6OLLcdDt-Ks5NyQhYPSkLb5fn_BCfWbAabNv0yl-TtaiRDJocmvFn38FVaL9ajeiUzIld66PfOnBQDo/s1600/excitement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6Ml_ugy5uScyZ8wHmYgKDErtp2uZ4X6hPJ0srp6H-JL7zzPB73muI0gq1B7L6OLLcdDt-Ks5NyQhYPSkLb5fn_BCfWbAabNv0yl-TtaiRDJocmvFn38FVaL9ajeiUzIld66PfOnBQDo/s320/excitement.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">yessssssssss</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Roadtrip Memories</span></span></div>Let's recap some Kristen-related news. After Bouffant's and my <i>Musings </i>last week regarding Rob's Road Trip towards Other Queen Kristen, he arrived safely with his Brit Boys TomStu (#TeamTommy FTW) and Sam Bradley in The Big Easy. Not that anyone saw them, but plenty of folks sure tried to produce manips indicating a sighting, with laughable results. But here's a manip/pic that I giggled over--as was the desired effect--for days upon first learning of the Road Trip, thanks to the brilliant @patronuska:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_CBkoOPzVJSMKOkZ7AeAmehv9yUmycKjAaEDruht0znnUuOepCamQ1fmC_6s-HVAOpSSSD47QbAaNrVamnsU5208T2l2kSCcDNApVRUkFbPMwyUmmrkNmHiiAEvRaU0AWn0MpX4wFOU/s1600/157645983-d7c0d9218e82a1f63e11c7c29c2ea252.4c85e9f8-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_CBkoOPzVJSMKOkZ7AeAmehv9yUmycKjAaEDruht0znnUuOepCamQ1fmC_6s-HVAOpSSSD47QbAaNrVamnsU5208T2l2kSCcDNApVRUkFbPMwyUmmrkNmHiiAEvRaU0AWn0MpX4wFOU/s320/157645983-d7c0d9218e82a1f63e11c7c29c2ea252.4c85e9f8-scaled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OICU Jella. Hang on tight, kitty!</span></div><br />
Kristen is supposedly within days of wrapping as MarylouStew in <i>on the road</i>, as word on the street has her either finishing today....or working until Sept 26th. Regardless of whether or not she wraps today or in two weeks from now, it has been a pleasure witnessing the journey and transformation of our Other Queen from the Eclipse promo-ing, MTV Movie Award-winning, Oscar-buzz garnering twenty-year-old girl to the professional and esteemed actress portraying the iconic role of Marylou in the Walter Salles-directed film <i>On the Road. </i> The film is already procuring early rave reviews and industry anticipation. Oh, and then there's the communicating. The nonverbal confirmations that I love so so much from our Royal Rebels. You may fondly recall:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvGJ0Nu_sPoF_85Fj3evxTugif4_gofKV_iGOW1SIjO_lTf-KdrhK1fEKPGmuWkU1KxWlOOR9eJ-_xRzHfZ9eNOiRWpkkNuTBNlx1SBAsDv1WO4ioahVYqujqBrcBq5qFioGw5oyVOxc/s1600/kristen-stewart-053010-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvGJ0Nu_sPoF_85Fj3evxTugif4_gofKV_iGOW1SIjO_lTf-KdrhK1fEKPGmuWkU1KxWlOOR9eJ-_xRzHfZ9eNOiRWpkkNuTBNlx1SBAsDv1WO4ioahVYqujqBrcBq5qFioGw5oyVOxc/s320/kristen-stewart-053010-2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">media training? I don't think so!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well. Yeah. Our Royal Rebels sure know how to multitask! *wipes tears of joy*. Communicating their solidarity as a couple, and also expressing exactly how they feel about the privacy-invaders, Vultures and overzealous "fans". . . in the same damn Beastie Boy t-shirt, made legend via Rob earlier this summer...Confirmed by Kristen yesterday, with such clarity and coolness, even the<i> Coke Classic </i>in her hand is envious. Yes, she's wearing <i>his </i>shirt. As in, <i>her man's shirt. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAFdf8ku9lhCca9A_yYqIC1TOX9rCdNwm9h2xviTBCX1VbDFth7jvqqz2jHhBe5Y0rsoNrvObDJmji8Oo-Lz1_fGYlpCui3yxKkj23G0ElsKEK-wY_HVrxRRFaoZOSQ07-SKQ5TsPmMc/s1600/162925050-493ab3b72141410473afa8e906315d41.4c924d10-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAFdf8ku9lhCca9A_yYqIC1TOX9rCdNwm9h2xviTBCX1VbDFth7jvqqz2jHhBe5Y0rsoNrvObDJmji8Oo-Lz1_fGYlpCui3yxKkj23G0ElsKEK-wY_HVrxRRFaoZOSQ07-SKQ5TsPmMc/s320/162925050-493ab3b72141410473afa8e906315d41.4c924d10-full.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If anyone has a right to wear this shirt, it's KStew</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Upcoming Topics for Musings & Featured Royal Rebels</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the news on the Kristen (and Rob) front has been minimal, but that doesn't mean we don't have wonderful topics to contemplate and new Rebels from which we can gain infinite wisdom. While Kristen and Rob blaze trails and role model the very reasons why we adore our Other Warriors, I am constantly surveying the vast sea of candidates for <i>Musings' </i>next Featured Rebel. Some of you have written in and given suggestions, <i>genius </i>suggestions, which I studiously consider. You may have already seen your suggestion featured in previous essays. While I won't highlight a new Rebel today, I assure you, here are the names of a few folks we'll probably be locking smoldering gazes with in the approaching weeks:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">JAVIER BARDEM...ZIYI ZHANG...ROBERT DOWNEY Jr...ZOE SALDANA....ELEANOR ROOSEVELT...STEVIE NICKS...JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT...AMERICA FERRERA...EMMA STONE...XENE CERVENKA...DREW BARRYMORE...JAMES FRANCO...MARTIN STARR</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOy-fbYhI8GOLOMF2-7mDvJY4Uw_u946VdRh5TNkE2q9O61-mu4OwP2z3bBwjv6U449BNI4ux74k6Mt_K39D-haUJuEJCabcibvs1EqLnswoTfPzxZx_XpHV8qnQOQCO25_ZoV1bV6LY/s1600/Adventureland-Stewart_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOy-fbYhI8GOLOMF2-7mDvJY4Uw_u946VdRh5TNkE2q9O61-mu4OwP2z3bBwjv6U449BNI4ux74k6Mt_K39D-haUJuEJCabcibvs1EqLnswoTfPzxZx_XpHV8qnQOQCO25_ZoV1bV6LY/s320/Adventureland-Stewart_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Basically, the entire brilliant cast of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Adventureland</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And upcoming topics for the exceedingly clever <i>Musings Readers </i>to sink their eager teeth into: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES...SHIFTING FILTERS OF PERCEPTION...JOSEPH CAMPBELL'S ARCHETYPES...DOING YOUR LIFE'S WORK...FAMILY GATHERINGS (INCLUDING EXES)...CREATIVE LIVING...JACK KEROUAC AND ON THE ROAD...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge-gKAERKGiUsQMMptF3ayHGvYx6urDBNJTHnLY9HvHIUSXeb69qXQfkj1k_bDDyXagKbmyRoeJNEx5djjWjbDc59gMSTymDSJTCWS6-dJqZmtbLgIbSslmeHNsOFYbzDJdkEpE2S-lk/s1600/the+beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge-gKAERKGiUsQMMptF3ayHGvYx6urDBNJTHnLY9HvHIUSXeb69qXQfkj1k_bDDyXagKbmyRoeJNEx5djjWjbDc59gMSTymDSJTCWS6-dJqZmtbLgIbSslmeHNsOFYbzDJdkEpE2S-lk/s320/the+beginning.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">because just 3 years ago...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it was about a boy and a girl. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Near impossible circumstances. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We're Moving! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No, we're not going to Hawaii (yet), as I had hoped, but give me time. This still could happen. The move I'm referring to now was alluded to mid-sob in last week's A/N. Because Musings has deadlines, locquacious admins and jawp0rn-happy KJs, it has come to our attention that some hosts simply cannot handle what the Rebel Misfits dish out. Team Other is making preparations to transfer blog-hosts, leaving Blogger behind us. I have started tweaking with files and transferring archived <i>Musings, </i>and have tried to not hassle my beloved Buff anymore than necessary, since she has been off designing and prettifying my business's website along with <i>KSIBTU </i>(who is also exiting Blogger-ville). Hopefully next week, with a brand new Musings, we will be reporting from a brand new crib. Stay tuned, and hang with me, Rabble Rousers, because this is how we roll, and I really would love us to continue Rollin' with the Homies, ok?? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8rVFDnkpYp3sDWfZmSEggGJVGSqR6X_FAP0E-ZxAZli6pQ07jNZsAgIKrE5DxoqQFPJPtdSlRI6q6Wq448Z4EEXir0amnAkswu8q4_LhqbttDXWTgpalkdpT7dalDif7yJIf8AQUaTQ/s1600/jalouse4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8rVFDnkpYp3sDWfZmSEggGJVGSqR6X_FAP0E-ZxAZli6pQ07jNZsAgIKrE5DxoqQFPJPtdSlRI6q6Wq448Z4EEXir0amnAkswu8q4_LhqbttDXWTgpalkdpT7dalDif7yJIf8AQUaTQ/s320/jalouse4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">K says: Chill out, KJ, you've rolled with me since </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">at least </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2007. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The KStew Fandom is made of cool cats. We flow. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Musings' Musical Madness Giveaway</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And this is where <i>reader </i>participation is highly encouraged and welcomed. Also alluded to in last week's weepy A/N: The MusingsOnOther Soundtrack!! You all know what a music buff I am, and how it shapes all that I do for <i>Musings. </i>You also know, because I have a bit of a disclosure problem (and this is why I'm reining in giving out the website domain for the Magical Little Practice), I also am a back-burner musician. I have been playing classical piano since I was four years old, singing since I was five, and writing music since I was a pre-pubescent emo kid with frizzy hair and snaggle-teeth. Music informs my mood, beckons The Muse, and expresses beautifully what I can often not. A lot of the Featured Rebel Others on <i>Musings </i>are musicians. And because mix-tapes were the epitome of love-declaring in the nineties and 00's while I grew up, I would like to declare my love to YOU. I am compiling a playlist of songs I've featured on <i>Musings </i>since June...These songs have inspired, provoked, encouraged and soothed me while writing each week's essay, and also have significance with the stories I've shared, and with the bios we've discovered in the Featured Rebels. Kristen and Rob are both musicians and demonstrate their exquisite taste and aptitude in music as often as they can (But why isn't <i>I love Playing with Fire </i>on The Runaways Soundtrack?!). *Oh, plus I'm pretty sure Kristen designed and arranged the soundtrack for <i>Eclipse* </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To Review: The Musings On Other Soundtrack is composed of artists including (but not limited to):</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TORI AMOS...RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS...INCUBUS...LAMB...JEFF BUCKLEY...EMINEM...THE SWELL SEASON...JENNY LEWIS...JACK JOHNSON...ANI DIFRANCO...MASSIVE ATTACK...FLORENCE + THE MACHINE...ROB PATTINSON...SUBLIME...PIXIES...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeJArj8JDiVFrX7MNOpuLXYs_6k561-ZvpkWwKmTVP7zbgC9KvKpT31fYi2jchp97-sOepZ_PVM3Ub3oZWSAz9Ut_SixpiXbwWGMJoMC57k4u3z8HwQaItt04K39FMnqrPUH7vAIuepE/s1600/music+is+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeJArj8JDiVFrX7MNOpuLXYs_6k561-ZvpkWwKmTVP7zbgC9KvKpT31fYi2jchp97-sOepZ_PVM3Ub3oZWSAz9Ut_SixpiXbwWGMJoMC57k4u3z8HwQaItt04K39FMnqrPUH7vAIuepE/s320/music+is+love.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">music.is.life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's the delio: I wanna hear from you. I know you're there. I receive emails, tweets and some comments from you KStew Lovers and Other Rebels, and they rock my socks off. But there are more LURKERS than anything...<i>Musings </i>enjoys an incredible visitor tally <i>averaging</i> 1800-2000 each week. I know. It freaking BLOWS. MY. MIND. But you don't comment. But some of the hateful folks who actually <i>don't </i>read <i>Musings DO </i>write me<i>.</i> They tell me how awful they think one of our Rebels is or, WORSE, how unworthy our Other Queen is (ah HELL to the NAH). So the haters have taken the time to leave their venom, but I want to hear the balancing Goodness from the OTHER REBELS and KSTEW supporters...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because there are a gazillion of you. I'm finding you populating all corners of this beautiful planet of ours, and you somehow find me. So find each other here! Next week, I'll take all commenters' names and contact info and enter it into a raffle system that CC and/or Buff are going to have to guide me around, and give away <b>5 copies</b> of the Musings On Other Queens Soundtrack. And to kick my own ass and remind me of my vow towards Creative Living, I plan to include one of my very own musical recordings on the Musings Soundtrack. (I just need to connect up with the right channels, i.e. ex-boyfriend/musical engineering genius). So dudes? Serio. I'm putting my own voice (literally) on the line here. I want to hear your voices too. You've all been embracing your Otherness with me on this journey...Let's make this a Convention of Otherness, shall we?? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So start warming up now...Write me, Comment, Tweet (@MusingsOnOther), and tell me your thoughts on Kristen's Communication Skillz, on future topics of <i>Musings, </i>potential future Royal Rebels, and how you're embracing your Other.. Next week, the playlist will be shown and you're going in the Giveaway Drawing... Thanks for reading this Muselet Memo. I'll see you hopefully, from the new digs, next Thursday! As Always, Embrace your Other. Many thanks & much love ,KJ</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hSARLI4AGi95IfQ5SVQRmCARaw-EWRZfVt4oYwMD_uuvSZV_xX_Cy48-bljF7uG-fHbQjwSfs9bpfy87Hg87zmuE7GJOaPCBrEMWh8RTRXJRs6pCV0PlIm46ZcpsEoV8MX51y-cCoUw/s1600/d5v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hSARLI4AGi95IfQ5SVQRmCARaw-EWRZfVt4oYwMD_uuvSZV_xX_Cy48-bljF7uG-fHbQjwSfs9bpfy87Hg87zmuE7GJOaPCBrEMWh8RTRXJRs6pCV0PlIm46ZcpsEoV8MX51y-cCoUw/s320/d5v.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">can you honestly say "no" to them? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">KJ is Other.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others are excellent Communicators...MoFos.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace Your Other. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-18094799878034916112010-09-11T15:46:00.000-07:002010-09-13T17:49:22.821-07:00Thoughts Amongst Wanderers: Part 2<div style="color: #1b1b1b; font: 20.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Misfit Musings on Wanderlust: KJ</b></span></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was going to respond point by point to B’s lovely and eloquent essay about the romanticism of road trips, and about what I think is Rob’s public (and quite clever) quest in declaring his affection for Kristen while also showing appreciation to fans. But quite honestly, Bouffant has an ability unlike my own to be succinct and still contemplative and impassioned. So I will leave it be. Originally, I planned to talk a little about some of my experiences traveling on the road, and tell you how my first road trip as an "adult" occurred when I was 18 years old. I had traveled many times with the family when I was younger, in the station wagon. Saw Yellowstone, bits of Colorado and Montana...But this was the first time it was my trip.</span></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A girlfriend and I hopped into the car and made the infamous (and famous) drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco, split across a couple days. Clam chowder, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Cheetos, cigarettes and Johnny Cash's heartbreak were our companions...Not only was I a thirsty, insatiable girl, eager for adventure, but I desired clarity, and first-hand experience of moving towards unfamiliar territory, outside my usual comforts. So I had hoped touch upon Jung's Archetypes and shed some light on that insatiable thirst I spoke about...to maybe apply to Rob's journey towards his girl..</span></div><div style="color: #1b1b1b; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 11.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkBflioDGOfw31KfDlVkeoqA9R91zQd_7Vy5rR2m4qiVoeYgLqSNXE6Foq-5oDPeU5MWW773NHSR-gSmLF3CETBmPz_pBTDJAgpa66ZfkvK5ULEefyTSS3upC6zzQW0COKm7jQMAOui0/s1600/DSCN0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkBflioDGOfw31KfDlVkeoqA9R91zQd_7Vy5rR2m4qiVoeYgLqSNXE6Foq-5oDPeU5MWW773NHSR-gSmLF3CETBmPz_pBTDJAgpa66ZfkvK5ULEefyTSS3upC6zzQW0COKm7jQMAOui0/s320/DSCN0898.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>That's me. Taking a picture. Along the Carmel Coast.</div><div style="color: #1b1b1b; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In her book, <i>The Hero Within</i>, author and scholar Carol Pearson takes the basic tenants of Jung’s archetypes and helps readrs see how our "collective unconscious" informs and frames our current stories/patterns of behaviors. Carl Jung, the famous psychoanalyst and thinker, postulated that we humans are framed by and follow deep and abiding patterns, called Archetypes. Archetypes are found everywhere, in dreams, art, literature, and mythology…</span></div><div style="color: #1b1b1b; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVPUrx_Y2uHPev6lfN54Pp4fvbv0PYSy_Pb9dogK1hYqIXxvfvafKsu4LNAr3iDPorsSZOnGidIJEgQaFoNEl6LRmFgKgc5a9tjQ4ERllX1LNoUT77KHdiHZj86nTWKih34VfzRsV6YI/s1600/France_Maze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVPUrx_Y2uHPev6lfN54Pp4fvbv0PYSy_Pb9dogK1hYqIXxvfvafKsu4LNAr3iDPorsSZOnGidIJEgQaFoNEl6LRmFgKgc5a9tjQ4ERllX1LNoUT77KHdiHZj86nTWKih34VfzRsV6YI/s320/France_Maze.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>Have I lost you?</div><div style="color: #141414; font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Are you wandering around in this French Maze?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let me try to focus a bit. Pearson dubs folks like me..and probably Rob and probably <i>you </i>my rabble rousers, as Wanderers. We're not always one with our Wanderer Archetype, plus we may actually visit this Archetypal stage several times in and out of transitions with different archetypes. </span></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Wanderers choose to leave behind the unknown and standard, for the <i>unknown </i>and the extraordinary. In other words...Wanderers, (rebels) choose <i>Other. </i>They are compelled towards adventure and journeying for clarification and first hand experience, which I believe Mr Pattinson and his bandit Britpack are currently in the midst of. I, a fellow wanderer and Other am stationed along the road cheering them on, personally.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As I was saying, I <i>was </i>going to go into detail about roadtripping, Archetypes, and Wanderers. But then my beloved grandmother went in for an unexpected quadruple bypass surgery on Tuesday morning. My adored brother Chew went into the ER for an assessment of unexpected blood clotting yesterday, and this all occurred while I was trying to organize a business plan, website and sole proprietorship of the Magical Little Practice. Suffice to say, I dropped everything this week so I could address these urgent matters of my heart..of Family Other. I did not get to develop my thoughts as wholly as I would have liked. Bouffant, the Goddess she is, stepped in and wrote some of her <i>Musings </i>down. *Please refer to the beautiful, articulate and sensical first half of this essay. * Quite honestly, when it comes down to it: What is the biggest source and motivator of all? Why drive across country? Why drop everything you've had planned to rush to hospital bed-sides?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tziCueGrot7a0XOeknC59KGPRzg7tlUkEogVifjjgJq9MbLsA7FYHZe8u2V-HoYoLqEk0hN2raLJx_lB8HExVK-7qZAzEuGQwmpWSABNBrigE9Wta-SFEdnQsx4ZIK4k83PyH3hsYwQ/s1600/4081601044_f962e3762d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tziCueGrot7a0XOeknC59KGPRzg7tlUkEogVifjjgJq9MbLsA7FYHZe8u2V-HoYoLqEk0hN2raLJx_lB8HExVK-7qZAzEuGQwmpWSABNBrigE9Wta-SFEdnQsx4ZIK4k83PyH3hsYwQ/s320/4081601044_f962e3762d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At least I formulated a response to B's beautiful Musings... I agree. This is the loudest NONVERBAL CONFIRMATION we may ever receive regarding Rob and Kristen’s private relationship. They both have consistently expressed their wishes to keep their personal lives and their relationship off the table. They also have both publicly expressed their affection and gratitude to their fans (perhaps not the clingy ones who make threats and rip off arm hair), and their disdain of the paparazzi and media outlets who aim to make a profit off of their likenesses, and their personal lives. The solution? A road trip, through the U.S.’s southern towns, where there is little chance of Vultures awaiting their arrival at off-the-beaten-path watering holes. Instead, kind and welcoming locals, greet the boys with their warm smiles and BBQ platters and opportunities for karaoke wishes to come true. And jam sessions with fiddle players?? COME THE FUCK ON?! How could you turn down that kind of opportunity? That sounds like a riotously good time to me! I have a feeling our Featured Rebel Royals this week would be fantastic Road Trip mates. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Featured Rebel Royal: Carey Mulligan</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbZa1aTbBpY5mgIG_YdTRuCoIqrkuU8iBv1QULU2OelLcLG6IjwTLkkeB4dWyphW0BHQecZB0z5oYUksJrwi9qAt8XSzMI86BDWY95U1j09TLxCEM1-vmAGp8V-HUID8Cn9nDnI7jABM/s1600/carey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbZa1aTbBpY5mgIG_YdTRuCoIqrkuU8iBv1QULU2OelLcLG6IjwTLkkeB4dWyphW0BHQecZB0z5oYUksJrwi9qAt8XSzMI86BDWY95U1j09TLxCEM1-vmAGp8V-HUID8Cn9nDnI7jABM/s320/carey2.jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b></b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The lovely Ms Mulligan is a 25 year old actress from London, England. A self admitted "Shy tomboy", Carey debuted her acting career in the beautiful film adaption of a favorite Austen Classic, <i>Pride and Prejudice </i>as Kitty when she was just eighteen years old. She confesses to having little interest in acting before she was 15 years old instead more compelled by academics and reporting being quite content to serve as audience to Broadway shows in New York, as her mother would encourage Carey and her siblings to appreciate art in all its incarnations. She saw her older brother Owain performing in a school play, a version of The King & I, and realized in that moment acting "is all I've ever wanted to do", her realization dawning when she felt devastation at not sharing the stage with her brother. In 2007, Carey garnered massive critical acclaim in portrayal of Nina in the play <i>The Seagull, </i>in which theater critics proclaimed her performance as "extraordinarily radiating" and "almost unbearably affecting". Pretty impressive accolades for a young Royal-in-Training sharing the stage with well known and prestigious actors such as Kristen Scott Thomas and Chiwetel Ejiofor. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When Carey traveled with <i>The Seagull </i>to Broadway to reprise her role, she received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Actress. Looks like our shy tomboy caused a stir among her peers in 2007, but she had already filmed the seminal role as Jenny in <i>The Education </i>over a year earlier. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In this movie Carey portrayed a precocious and impressionable 16-yr-old schoolgirl falling for the charms of a con man. With this role, Ms. Mulligan snagged the attention of the film world. This role also bestowed upon her critical acclaim and nominations from The Academy Awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press and the Screen Actors' Guild. She received the Best Actress <i>BAFTA </i>award on the same night that our Reigning Other Queen Kristen Stewart received her Orange Rising Star Award. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Much like her fellow Rebel Queen Kristen, Carey exudes a refreshing vivacity that allows her to stand apart from her contemporaries, and even measure up to her predecessors. She emanates an effortless poise and grace (she has been likened to the incomparable Audrey Hepburn) while simultaneously remaining unaffected by the fame game and the burgeoning interest in her by the Hollywood Media Machine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BX2AFVsxZDbpzP4FkVhMHlV1DG1-Zsv5VAbyr0fK6opHAbATGxmKZu2toKGHZr1oYG_akkosXcdbx4wzxIgULeutMSpvJ4WSZm4qfh5dGjVrxgrDHFZMG6l43bUwb6FzjknBs6Y69Gc/s1600/Carey5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BX2AFVsxZDbpzP4FkVhMHlV1DG1-Zsv5VAbyr0fK6opHAbATGxmKZu2toKGHZr1oYG_akkosXcdbx4wzxIgULeutMSpvJ4WSZm4qfh5dGjVrxgrDHFZMG6l43bUwb6FzjknBs6Y69Gc/s320/Carey5.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Again, like her peer and friend Queen Kristen, Carey prefers to keep her private life to herself, rarely if ever speaking about her relationship with actor Shia LeBeouf, whom she met when working with him in <i>Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, </i>telling Vogue for their October issue on which Carey is the CoverGirl:</span></div><div style="color: #1b1b1b; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Posing on the red carpet feels like you're selling something that has nothing to do with you. It's like we're saying 'Oh! We come as a pair! Would you like to buy both of us? We're available for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs!'"</span></div><div style="color: #1b1b1b; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Carey is devastatingly gifted in her craft, abundantly charming, but she carries herself in a way that is unassuming and humble. She defies all the antiquated standards prescribed to her by a surreal Hollywood. She has a great fondness for the show <i>Glee </i>(as do I), though when she wanted to do a cameo for the musical show, she was told she was "not famous enough". (And now <i>Glee </i>has slipped a little in my eyes). Undeterred, she continues to march to the Rebel beat in a variety of ways: preferring supportive film roles over lead roles; refusing participation in competition; denouncing adherence to the industry's perspective on body image. "I don't want to look like an actress; I want to look like a <i>person!" </i>She tells <i>Vogue.</i> Darling, you do. You look like a <i>Royal Rebel </i>kinda <i>person, </i>but a person all the same. And she has a new independent movie with Ryan Gosling <i>and </i>Christina Hendricks--two previously Featured Royal Rebels!!-- in the works. I say girlfriend is coasting brilliantly on her journey.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY6bkxKFRbrVBpbfQ2a0vk_CJc8hza7c3Wsu30z1fw7KG6RHEqpKoxi24KWtxm_jEUyB8jbU3SgNJM88q-Q1HGU2OwcHMUNUK6RZSGvmm5hJPrliTcuy-wusZ2mAWOE0i567YXS6piyw/s1600/carey6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY6bkxKFRbrVBpbfQ2a0vk_CJc8hza7c3Wsu30z1fw7KG6RHEqpKoxi24KWtxm_jEUyB8jbU3SgNJM88q-Q1HGU2OwcHMUNUK6RZSGvmm5hJPrliTcuy-wusZ2mAWOE0i567YXS6piyw/s320/carey6.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwjPk3HtJLOHckgI6-QA7UHUBULfPm7_5W3Gi0xpnjnFMr2q8n_1kCpqVoF38z1ZkDFrS51v1Kdngnoi3fKgf7YiyyijfGyKk8n6cNEmBd9-EGSQ5TwHqvY1FCgvfiSQH9H9gBNPC-S8/s1600/Stewside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwjPk3HtJLOHckgI6-QA7UHUBULfPm7_5W3Gi0xpnjnFMr2q8n_1kCpqVoF38z1ZkDFrS51v1Kdngnoi3fKgf7YiyyijfGyKk8n6cNEmBd9-EGSQ5TwHqvY1FCgvfiSQH9H9gBNPC-S8/s320/Stewside.jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Meanwhile, back at the ranch...While Rob makes his way across the south toward his Other Queen, her majesty has maintained a rather low profile, which is exactly how she prefers it. She is in New Orleans, preparing for her scenes with the incomparably talented actors Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams and Elizabeth Moss (from <i>Mad Men)</i>. The last documented pictures of her boast my favorite Kristen candid that I’ve seen in a long while:</span></div><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #141414; font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 21.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">While our Queen is off being professional, dedicated and effortlessly sexy, a previously well-enough liked actor and former co-star of Ms Stewart did some apologizing. In an interview with director/writer Diablo Cody,</span><b> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><b></b></span><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #141414; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #141414; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #141414; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Adam Brody implied that our humble, though often misunderstood Other Queen should quit acting ("here's the door") if she "moans all the time" about being a "celebrity" [which she doesn't, we all know this]. Of course, his less than flattering remarks triggered the Anti-Brody campaign and I can only imagine the badgering and backlash he received from Kristen fans (we tend to be locquacious and passionate in defense of our Stewie, legit), Adam issued an honest statement in response. "I sounded like an idiot...I sounded like a jackass...I sounded ungentlemanly." All the while, our girl is happily unaffected by her former co-star's unfavorable verbal vomit, because she is <i>busy. Working. </i>She is an integral part of an already legendary film production, produced by the great Francis For Coppola, folks. She is gathering an impressive bevy of colleagues and legends in her craft expressing admiration and praise for the "unique", "insanely gifted actress". Industry giants such as Sean Penn, Bruce Dern, Melissa Leo, Jody Foster and Sandra Bullock proclaim their fascination and compliments of our Royal Rebel Kristen. And she has a fellow Wanderer, a Nomadic Trailblazer publicly driving across the country to spend some time with her. It's why <i>she </i>is Queen, everyone. Just so you know.</span></div></div></div></div></span></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b></span></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b></span></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b></div></span></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b></div></span></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsUhUelxcArOyH1Url4pSFegBvdSDCzGkSnGn_Lj2pWu22ul4benln8tD6FyCHiXJUAEkXAlZL_VNmij_xnDXK13hRuP3hEfPF3ySASwv-ctNYqmXzoM4hWOmw5_Bjcqmiij0EsKlukk/s1600/154641653-b09a52fcc2e62ca69d06d5be493fa0b7.4c8265f8-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsUhUelxcArOyH1Url4pSFegBvdSDCzGkSnGn_Lj2pWu22ul4benln8tD6FyCHiXJUAEkXAlZL_VNmij_xnDXK13hRuP3hEfPF3ySASwv-ctNYqmXzoM4hWOmw5_Bjcqmiij0EsKlukk/s320/154641653-b09a52fcc2e62ca69d06d5be493fa0b7.4c8265f8-full.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Offenses of Otherness:</b></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">*Refuses to sell herself or relationships as product</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">*Declines the label of being "celebrity"</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">*Chooses roles of broken, imperfect, flawed Wanderers</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Because he and his boys hopped in a car to seek clarity, experience and perhaps give the most public verbalization of his devotion to Queen Kristen, Rob is in a suit and donning a crown on the Royal Float.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Because she doesn't let <i>Glee </i>determine whether she is truly famous enough, Carey is Rebel Royalty personified.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Because she is effortless, calm, poised and unaffected by a former colleague's misinformed verbiage, immersed in work she finds valuable and unique, Kristen is our Reigning Other Queen.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Carey is Other.</b></span></div><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Kristen is Other.</b></span></div><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Others are compelled towards adventures</b></span></div><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>of the Unknown and Extraordinary.</b></span></div><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Embrace your Other</b>.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Question: Tell me about your extraordinary compulsions. How have you "pulled a Rebel Rob" and hit the road seeking Adventure and Love?</span></div><div style="font: 24.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A/N: Short one, for I'm exhausted. At the time of writing this, there was a house explosion and fire in my old neighborhood. Tweets, calls, texts came pouring in checking on me. It would have been a shitty shitty week if I had an exploding house too, but thank you so much for checking, my friends. THANK YOU. <b>Family Other is ok. </b>No more ICU stays or ER visits this week. I'm just home with yet another painful head cold. But I am blessed. </span></div></div></span></div></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">**Sisters/Readers, Kathryn, ProRobsten, bouffant, Bellasmummy86, JolieJessa, Julie, Buff and CC: You Sustained me this week.**</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">MUSICAL A/N: Music is such an essential part of my life, as it is for Musings. I know each week I change the playlist, so we don't get a chance to revel in some of the fantastic songs placed on here for more than a week at a time. I'm compiling a MusingsOnOther Soundtrack and may include my own contribution, if I can get my hands on the proper permissions (the engineer/recorder is the only one who has an accessible copy). I'd like to give away copies of the Soundtrack once finalized, to readers/commenters. Should be available very soon. Keep checking back, mmmkay? </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">HOUSEKEEPING A/N: Because I've had an increasingly difficult time with this current host: BLOGGER, I will most likely be moving. Stay tuned, as Team Other packs up and makes way to a new, easier, prettier web domain. Again, I'll keep you posted. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Times; line-height: 19.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">As Always, you all are pretty freakin fantastic. I love hearing from you. Your emails, tweets, and comments make my life. Truly this is an incredible community. See you next week. Yours, KJ</span></span></span></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-61738066906152387152010-09-10T14:13:00.001-07:002010-09-10T19:37:59.916-07:00Thoughts Amongst Wanderers: Part 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">LONG-ASS A/N BECAUSE IT'S NECESSARY. ADDENDUM: THIS POST IS DIVIDED INTO 2 PARTS. HERE IS PART ONE. BLOGGER IS GOING TO RUE THE DAY....</span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hello, Rebellious Revelers! It's KJ here. Some of you know that I've had a tremendously challenging few days which included emergency bypass surgeries, ER visits, business license procedures and publication requirements to fulfill. I questioned on whether I'd be able to write </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Musings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> at all this week. But because the captains of Team Other have stepped up and gone above and beyond to support </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Musings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and the independent little business I'm starting, I am able to post today. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">@Bouffant</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, my dear friend and regular guest-writer has anticipated my needing some help this week, and as a result, we're presenting to you a unique layout in today's edition: A K&B Collaboration. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Big Ups</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and undying gratitude to </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">B</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for her willingness to be my pinch hitter in this time of unrest and the eloquent results. Please take a moment and bow down to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">my</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Queen, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">@Buff_82</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> who not only designs and maintains </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Musings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, but she possesses incredible patience for me and is in the midst of designing an insanely beautiful website for The Little Practice. Last, but of course, not least, I want to hug and kiss my soul sistah </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">@CynicallyConvivial </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">of </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">KStew Is Better Than U, </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a proud </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Musings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Affiliate</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">who not only inspires and keeps me laughing, but shows me how to move through challenges and junctions with grace and enthusiasm. New journeys are opening up for both of us, and it's incredibly thrilling. Plus she pre-reads my ramblings at 2AM if I ask her to with minimal complaining. After this essay, I'll make some notes about the music of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Musings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Today's essay is for </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gram Other, Chew, Puss and Monkey</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, my family.</span></span><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We shall not cease from exploration</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And the end of all our exploring</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Will be to arrive where we started</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And know the place for the first time</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A condition of complete simplicity</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...And all shall be well</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">~ T.S. Eliot</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 27px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Road Trip Ruminations: Bouffant</b></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A road trip is a quintessential coming-of-age American experience. The automobile. Why, we even build shrines to dead cars here...</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwxBlz39Z7biPBZbat9EsfsOLxpwhHRXOa7qF1MzeU7D6sAzw3S1rR6iq2SZa9Cq-E61umv_mpfw4is80-Z-oQcuroibHwUGVeGOHcgUArZ8eaPzEa_dYhEtz0Zz07Toc9CyjJIZqqFw/s1600/cadillacRanch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwxBlz39Z7biPBZbat9EsfsOLxpwhHRXOa7qF1MzeU7D6sAzw3S1rR6iq2SZa9Cq-E61umv_mpfw4is80-Z-oQcuroibHwUGVeGOHcgUArZ8eaPzEa_dYhEtz0Zz07Toc9CyjJIZqqFw/s320/cadillacRanch2.jpg" /></a></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;color:#232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div color="#272727" style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The car may have been invented in Europe, but it was made for America. Rock & roll music, birthed in the USA, is made to be listened to while driving down the highway, or getting down in the back seat (Hmmm... remember bench seats...). When your family lives in New Jersey and Grandma lives in Kansas, you're not getting a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">plane ticket</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> forChristmas, you're getting about 10 inches of space in the back seat and a comic book to read on the way... or, in my case, you and your brother will trade off bunking on the back seat and on the floor, while your dad stretches out in the front seat, on your way from Chicago to Denver for a wedding (Dad broke down and bought camping gear for the trip back). Just about everyone I know has done multiple multi-state road trips, with families or with friends.</span></span></div></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></b></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The romance of the open road was used thematically in Kerouac's On The Road, written between 1949 and 1951. Reigning Other Queen Kristen Stewart has been on the road herself for the past couple of months, busy with the role of Mary Lou in the film adaption. She started with Beatnik Boot Camp (the coolest summer camp I've ever heard of) in Montreal, swung down to shoot in South America, and is now filming with the production in New Orleans. Presumably to prep for her role, fans heard that Kristen took a road trip of her own with some girlfriends a few months back, across the country from Los Angeles to Ohio, winding up at a Rob Zombie concert (now that's random).</span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">News about the production has been less than forthcoming... frankly, I've given up on trying to figure out their plans. The obfuscation could be due to the indie nature of the </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">production, without a budget for PR efforts during filming... or it could be Walter Salles' way of protecting the set and Kristen from over-zealous fans, allowing cast and crew to focus on their project without distractions. And who could blame them? That's what they're bring paid for, and they're taking their work seriously. And the benefit will ultimately be ours, when we see the finished product.</span></span></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #272727; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; line-height: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9m11VWQXHgGg5A0tHjXYdIe38uwqyU3m3AgOUZVLn8As3DUQjoYksx9sdlsn2DQBhTUObbYGmCNU_RA-oTCVPvB8MMhEf2KGJ85NqJV_SkLJVztb9Fu1Z8lOebtAuqwRLaOJmNaHf9E/s1600/armhair&T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9m11VWQXHgGg5A0tHjXYdIe38uwqyU3m3AgOUZVLn8As3DUQjoYksx9sdlsn2DQBhTUObbYGmCNU_RA-oTCVPvB8MMhEf2KGJ85NqJV_SkLJVztb9Fu1Z8lOebtAuqwRLaOJmNaHf9E/s320/armhair&T.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Please, ladies... the arm hairs need to stay</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">with the rest of that fine body.</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*Kj waves* HI TOM!!</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While Kristen/Mary Lou quietly works in the Big Easy, her Royal Consort Rob Pattinson is making a bit of a splash with his own road trip. In between jobs at present (we know of nothing until Breaking Dawn pre-production begins next month), Rob had been mostly undercover in LA recently, until news broke on Sunday of a Rob sighting in New Mexico, of all places, at a restaurant, ordering wine with friends. The restaurant employee confided that Rob was with friends on a road trip, and was on his way to New Orleans...</span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S_ulmCpVTpdmVZGIe_aBYnZvV3n3dL07foW_3YRXJa5nBPOoE7gNANa-Ro9vgBq4dFE6reP_3GI4TLBQPGnGjej-SJR10NRVKqfEnc2u3-bJ8V16Flr2TS5-dpXXvcgTNUTyFGAXUf4/s1600/roadmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S_ulmCpVTpdmVZGIe_aBYnZvV3n3dL07foW_3YRXJa5nBPOoE7gNANa-Ro9vgBq4dFE6reP_3GI4TLBQPGnGjej-SJR10NRVKqfEnc2u3-bJ8V16Flr2TS5-dpXXvcgTNUTyFGAXUf4/s320/roadmap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">courtesy of @bragirl2 &; Twitpic</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then news broke retroactively that he'd been spotted in Mesa, Arizona on Saturday, and Monday evening was photographed at a Lubbock bar, hanging out with friends Sam Bradley and Tom Sturridge, drinking what looked to be whisky and beer and perusing a karaoke songlist.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tweet from Santa Fe, NM:</span></span></span></div></div></div><div color="#21218d" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">OH MMMM GGGG (HAHA) ROBERT PATTISON IS IN SANTA FE AND EATING AT THE RESTAURANT I WORK AT</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And fans all over the world pulled up Google maps and feverishly discussed whether Rob was REALLY going to NOLA, and if so, what route would he take and where he might stop next. The romance of a world-famous Brit taking off on a road trip through the Southwest with his buds captured the imagination of fans. Nevah understimate the power of Twitter and Facebook...and camera phones…</span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div color="#21218d" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tweet from Lubbock, TX:</span></span></span></div></div><div color="#21218d" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Apparently Robert Pattinson just bought out the entire bar at Crickets. Yes, that Crickets. The Lubbock one. What a mindf**k.</span></span></span></div></div><div color="#0a3f86" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRojiAxU4J7ZvN3q4zKXJwiGV7BAhZ1Q7ozULoHf2ROslsByfuoO8S6NZNO5FHVko9-dIA0DlRDtDxDM_58R9NywCckp7K0rA4oMIuwooErlANNXeC_oCmwpH0V2mO0KRr2SG4nkQG-Vs/s1600/RobLubbck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRojiAxU4J7ZvN3q4zKXJwiGV7BAhZ1Q7ozULoHf2ROslsByfuoO8S6NZNO5FHVko9-dIA0DlRDtDxDM_58R9NywCckp7K0rA4oMIuwooErlANNXeC_oCmwpH0V2mO0KRr2SG4nkQG-Vs/s320/RobLubbck.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><b></b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">May we take your order, Rob?</span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></div><div style="color: #272727; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b></b></span></div><b></b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> It's about 500 miles from London to the northern tip of Scotland. The islands of the United Kingdom would fit neatly into the state of Oregon. The British didn't grow up in a driving culture like we did. What they did grow up with were westerns, and rock & roll songs that make you feel like you have the pedal to the metal, cresting a hill with nothing but clear blue sky and open land as far as the eye can see.</span></span></div></div></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></b></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now, the Brit adored by Americans is roaming our magnificent Southwest with his BFFs... sightseeing, boozing, sampling local delicacies, showing us his love for America and endearing himself to us forevermore.</span></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn68iXcdcs5C7DffTWCZDjff65B61ZZ9-CbywjD_Mm3mxTNRXPKIfcvRPUBMl_IW1lrGPkxsv4mmAUWqXKZkyMhfAaEXeE0EGAzzN-eHZih9tYxZVsIoivuJO2vcSwzMN1Dj9e7vV0_g/s1600/shane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn68iXcdcs5C7DffTWCZDjff65B61ZZ9-CbywjD_Mm3mxTNRXPKIfcvRPUBMl_IW1lrGPkxsv4mmAUWqXKZkyMhfAaEXeE0EGAzzN-eHZih9tYxZVsIoivuJO2vcSwzMN1Dj9e7vV0_g/s320/shane.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #272727; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Earning new fans one town at a time.</span></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYm-WhaVVwLogAoE7AeOlw1RiOWLNMcCiKNswhz6uvMpxLWYvHNkh7fPtSKTABA026e5IJy1f592mkDVwGlh84752xNaqnAKDK0TlJj019FWFZk-WsRgzAf8mghbnnWvfcrucok8pHYo/s1600/all3RTBrits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYm-WhaVVwLogAoE7AeOlw1RiOWLNMcCiKNswhz6uvMpxLWYvHNkh7fPtSKTABA026e5IJy1f592mkDVwGlh84752xNaqnAKDK0TlJj019FWFZk-WsRgzAf8mghbnnWvfcrucok8pHYo/s320/all3RTBrits.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b></b></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;color:#232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:13px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="text-align: center;font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;color:#232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:85%;color:#272727;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:10px;">There is so much goodness in this picture. No words. </span></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></span></span></span><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Not only that, he and his compatriots (one of whom is actually IN </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On The Road</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">), are very publicly making their way to Rob's very own Valley Girl, his American sweetheart and our Other Queen, Kristen Stewart. It's a parade from Los Angeles to New Orleans, with thousands of fans cheering him on to go get his girl.</span></span></div></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div><div color="#272727" style="text-align: justify;font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; "><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="color: #272727; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfd6g67dvxFRCVnFU-BQkCBhtW6i4cRUeceJYWZtUdKWuPPRGS_0eLW03a1JEYJxsNRQEpInShJxgBV05vGxf91m-ScmUAgeSgIokz4m0nwV3R83t3_bxEDsvhKGocuCmuv3eulpNmyE/s1600/hq002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfd6g67dvxFRCVnFU-BQkCBhtW6i4cRUeceJYWZtUdKWuPPRGS_0eLW03a1JEYJxsNRQEpInShJxgBV05vGxf91m-ScmUAgeSgIokz4m0nwV3R83t3_bxEDsvhKGocuCmuv3eulpNmyE/s320/hq002.jpg" /></a></div><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*wistful Kj thoughts*</span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></div></span><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="color: #272727; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I'd drive across the continent for this girl too</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;color:#272727;"><br /></span></span></div></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span></span></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There has been much drama surrounding these two Royal Rebels in the last couple of years. They have consistently deflected and avoided questions about their personal relationship. They clearly want a measure of privacy, and they deserve that. They owe us good performances in their films, a little promo now and then, and nothing more. The curiosity surrounding them is understandable, given the explosive chemistry evident between them onscreen and off. Not everyone has wanted to respect those boundaries they have asked for. Their attempts to ensure privacy have allowed for misunderstandings, eagerly pounced on and spun into wild fictions by some. Just recently, Rob and Kristen have appeared to be more comfortable allowing themselves to be seen as a happy couple, although the verbal embargo stands.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5kYr7EoSL6GX4kSmi4d5G9GXErISmRir2Xck72o3IYpgIX-iB0iLPqddPW1Fy1dMfkphc2q15i9uCVB9II4VhhEXh1E7y2aGByQ-Iy3AlAsdRazPJTkcJWQ4MlHbT6VIjlo0LRTDrvw/s1600/dsvkndsvkln.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5kYr7EoSL6GX4kSmi4d5G9GXErISmRir2Xck72o3IYpgIX-iB0iLPqddPW1Fy1dMfkphc2q15i9uCVB9II4VhhEXh1E7y2aGByQ-Iy3AlAsdRazPJTkcJWQ4MlHbT6VIjlo0LRTDrvw/s320/dsvkndsvkln.png" width="320" /></a></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:180%;color:#232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px;font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></span></div></span></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></span></div></span></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Methinks Rob Pattinson is a sucker for a poetic gesture... a true romantic. Do you see that he has found a way to publicly declare his love, without saying a word or even acknowledging his audience? He is making his way across half the country to claim his girl. The paparazzi who make money off his mug are hundreds of miles away. Instead, fan photos and tweets act as pushpins in a map to chart his progress. Rob and Kristen know we are watching. I hope they know our delight - both at following an abbreviated version of the Britpack on a real, old-fashioned American road trip, and in the anticipation of a Royal Rebel Reunion. This may be as public a statement as we will ever get from them about their relationship. It's beautiful, and more than enough.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">~Bouffant</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">End of PART 1 Because Blogger is Being RIDONK Difficult. KJ's Misfit Musings on the Wanderlust, plus more on the Featured Rebel Royals will post Tomorrow. Perhaps Blogger can handle it then. But here's a look at our Lovely Rebel Queens, anyway. Because above all, it's really about Other Royalty is it not? </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div></div><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">CAREY IS SO VERY</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknejNy2FNaPYQ0K3PAaq6xXk4Az8xBeTfRLidv4BsuiWl0ifzIdqT5IsnWrqAuGNa1uAw0JK1vTCewm0KPjEdon0tDwk6pbXzxvg9UVfE8SXJ4bqMcpXB7I__MHxE5pm0tSc0x3ljJ9k/s1600/Carey4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknejNy2FNaPYQ0K3PAaq6xXk4Az8xBeTfRLidv4BsuiWl0ifzIdqT5IsnWrqAuGNa1uAw0JK1vTCewm0KPjEdon0tDwk6pbXzxvg9UVfE8SXJ4bqMcpXB7I__MHxE5pm0tSc0x3ljJ9k/s320/Carey4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">KRISTEN IS QUEEN</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H3jou8h_Ges9jXjWtM1NmXIB6jUIDkjimQbZeQ4xxmatlXMuvq5CKuFaftXGffkTF3OzBRaMWFK6AdrRJH1LLDqSYicEYXhjCUDU-XwO-xrzzwOR1Sb3lA8rx8FOcx1Ubf1DLKBbHUk/s1600/kristen-stewart-hairstyles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H3jou8h_Ges9jXjWtM1NmXIB6jUIDkjimQbZeQ4xxmatlXMuvq5CKuFaftXGffkTF3OzBRaMWFK6AdrRJH1LLDqSYicEYXhjCUDU-XwO-xrzzwOR1Sb3lA8rx8FOcx1Ubf1DLKBbHUk/s320/kristen-stewart-hairstyles.jpg" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b></b></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; 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font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">See you tomorrow, my Extraordinary friends... </span></b></div></div></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">xo, KJ</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b></b></span></span></div><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; 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font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="color: #272727; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:#333333;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #232323; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Times; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div color="#272727" style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></span></div></b></div></div></span></b></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></span></b></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></b></div></div></div></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-40297766638509305552010-09-03T23:08:00.000-07:002010-09-04T01:38:59.077-07:00Go forth..with blessings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well, hello there! Happy </span></span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thursday, no, um, Friday </span></span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, ok, Saturday, my Misfit Pioneers! It's been quite a time these past days since I've Mused with you last. Thank you muchly for being kind with me as I adjust to all the changes this week. I hope you enjoyed Bouffant’s Other Queen Retrospective yesterday on the stunning rabble rouser EllenBurstyn. If you did, leave a comment here on </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> or find Bouffant @bouffant00 on Twatter to share your reactions, mmmkay?</span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So. Let's review the past week since we last hung together. Our girl NinjaStew was low-pro for several days, though speculation and unsubstantiated sightings ran amok since she left Argentina. The mob at the South American airports was a little disconcerting and per usual, I avoid showing pics that are acquired through sketchy channels. However, I did want to note a couple pictures that made me smile, including one Vulture pic because homage </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">must </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">be paid to Sweet, Sweet Sam.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">..</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u1bElrLyKg2ln7afCjdaHkBYc1e7jwHkBy-kDkOfU7LGyH9RNiADT088ATr0nVFebL5YtufAXFEsl9-KhZ1hqmksXwkAQugQSWK6v1m3aVEWYq0InjlAYiZMpYk4MkAcUgzVz0FiMyU/s1600/Mu9.3.Knfan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u1bElrLyKg2ln7afCjdaHkBYc1e7jwHkBy-kDkOfU7LGyH9RNiADT088ATr0nVFebL5YtufAXFEsl9-KhZ1hqmksXwkAQugQSWK6v1m3aVEWYq0InjlAYiZMpYk4MkAcUgzVz0FiMyU/s200/Mu9.3.Knfan.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLFW9EiEAYPnsMy01EsID-_5yCgmAAOcxaGeQjYLIzmY5koVE6noV8o36uBoWzTO86qmnHFX9WMrdQLYt9Sci8-3ilytjrMw47va62vbn2nscovuuMgrn5Agkdv2VgxwOMYxHHQEIdLw/s1600/Mu9.3Sam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLFW9EiEAYPnsMy01EsID-_5yCgmAAOcxaGeQjYLIzmY5koVE6noV8o36uBoWzTO86qmnHFX9WMrdQLYt9Sci8-3ilytjrMw47va62vbn2nscovuuMgrn5Agkdv2VgxwOMYxHHQEIdLw/s320/Mu9.3Sam1.jpg" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Have you seen the picture where Sam is essentially </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tucking </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kristen into him as they rush through the airport? Though he is not as familiar with the hectic "fiending" that Kristen encounters every day (hey, good going to whomever tweets Kristen's exact location *sarcasm*), he stayed close to her, offering protection and support. Sam, because you let our Reigning Other Queen take shelter under your umbrella, you are a HERO. Thank you for keeping an eye on our girl in an honorary roll of Protector a la ASB (John) and Protective Rob. Thank you for trying to preserve one of our Precious Resources...a rare Royal Rebel. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">She may be flying under the radar as she does best, but Kristen sure is cropping up and soothing the ache a bit in her absence. I am just getting a glimpse at the Australian Marie Claire story in which Kristen speaks about the maturing Bella in Eclipse, and Kristen's love for her work.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFUsaDh1NRjnLkFzUWkiYPT1J5uKVXG1RJY-D52eM4BN9Vs2lWYVAAe7s9m2EGNmYzvmLr2CAJCoOkKwft5ryXwxbOEpsW-B06pzq7M6D1QojCawRuALzn3cWZTj2a-V4LcagGPzzf6U/s1600/elle-uk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFUsaDh1NRjnLkFzUWkiYPT1J5uKVXG1RJY-D52eM4BN9Vs2lWYVAAe7s9m2EGNmYzvmLr2CAJCoOkKwft5ryXwxbOEpsW-B06pzq7M6D1QojCawRuALzn3cWZTj2a-V4LcagGPzzf6U/s320/elle-uk1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Work to Live</span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wanted to talk a little about that today, about loving work, and following the path of Creative Living, surveying the blessings in our lives despite setbacks, obstacles and challenges. While our Queen Stew's detractors criticize her for "not handling fame well" or forfeiting her happiness and privacy because she picked acting as her career, she reports in the lovely Marie Claire article:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"I love to work. I'm so passionate about the process. Because I get to play strong personalities [Joan </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jett in The Runaways</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Mallory in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Welcome to the Rileys'</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">], different characters from what I am most known for [Bella Swan], I get to choose now to do good projects in the future."</span><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LNzZqr-A3DPp3BVIUmALo4q8U6OsOVtlLSEdvjVqQ0wXO3eKioVlLZ8fvvbOdSXEmOuc-v2-qCZy9mAQdLaMvoXhaP6LDmpi83umPxBy2Z_8ZL_xtbH0EmWLLOL-yAOalIRGvHr98zk/s1600/KristenSmile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LNzZqr-A3DPp3BVIUmALo4q8U6OsOVtlLSEdvjVqQ0wXO3eKioVlLZ8fvvbOdSXEmOuc-v2-qCZy9mAQdLaMvoXhaP6LDmpi83umPxBy2Z_8ZL_xtbH0EmWLLOL-yAOalIRGvHr98zk/s320/KristenSmile.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You see what she did there? Kristen took an idea or a concept and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">reframed</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> the negative connotation and injected optimism. In psychology, a technique based out of the post-modernist theories called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Reframing </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">is used for assessing strengths and motivation for change</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It simply is a shift in perspective.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A well known reframe:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">From "the glass is half empty" to "that glass is half </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">full"</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We here on Team Other </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">live </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">for reframes, hence Beauty Marks and Offenses of Otherness.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Offenses of Otherness // Reframes (BeautyMarks):</span></span></u></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Kristen is brash and direct // She is honest and makes her wishes known</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kristen stutters and fidgets // She is careful with words and initially shy</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">See where I'm going with this? The interviewer in this magazine article asks Kristen:<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Do you feel exhausted by the attention you have to deal with?"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kristen's reframing answer: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"It's hard for me to talk about that without giving the impression I am being negative. I love acting and I'm so grateful for </span></span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Twilight </span></span></b></i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and the opportunities it's given me."</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kristen's reframes have always manifested in the form of gratitude and humility. She firstly thanks her fans and she reports how blessed she is in even </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">having </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a job. She humbly accepts the chances to participate in projects with which she feels a personal connection. How much more gracious and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Royal </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">can this girl be??</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51cImgI0Gi_tDsDCtVmCyvrJCxEqaXTI1n6_ptWRrxemICQ0AhuHZr-hnErCwkRmKcqpCxYsDdhDmFhorkdpnWPHXxk8sNcpwV5P4KCDES7bsppYeq3WW-2REq6Efo9ecge90kwTsU-0/s1600/normal_hq003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51cImgI0Gi_tDsDCtVmCyvrJCxEqaXTI1n6_ptWRrxemICQ0AhuHZr-hnErCwkRmKcqpCxYsDdhDmFhorkdpnWPHXxk8sNcpwV5P4KCDES7bsppYeq3WW-2REq6Efo9ecge90kwTsU-0/s320/normal_hq003.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Kristen works to live, she does not live to work. She recognizes that her chosen career is amongst the public arena, and that she'll occasionally encounter some challenges (Vulture Papz, inquiry into her private life, overzealous, entitled "fans"), but she recognizes that the positive rewards far outweigh those bumps. She shyly reports to the Marie Claire interviewer:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"I'm just not very good at dealing with the idea of being followed everywhere." </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Fair enough, my friend, fair enough. Once you glimpse the chance to reframe a situation, it becomes evident that optimism, and opportunity is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">everrah where. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Try it. Look around. There are signs in every interaction, every reaction, every moment for a shot of positivity, or a shift in perspective. I've discovered signs on a daily basis that urge me to keep moving forward, despite bumps in the road. The signs that I am doing the right thing, following my bliss, are everywhere. Everywhere. Like Kristen, I've found that doing what I love, sharing it all with everyone I've chosen in my life has rewarded me immensely. I am happier than I have been in years. Let me tell you a little about this past week to illustrate the goodness...</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskVK1QGbq7kZh9nqohskkB7P-4FzskWfEqIn6_22CCY59BV1Bbp0qDqdSBWRivLsXqkBmxpLeeATpuXqqkpZZ7QjODGukXxHsxwkJ0FGsJi68x8gIS8QQoHZZVT882fII1yA5gl8wFWA/s1600/Go___Retro_by_pincel3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskVK1QGbq7kZh9nqohskkB7P-4FzskWfEqIn6_22CCY59BV1Bbp0qDqdSBWRivLsXqkBmxpLeeATpuXqqkpZZ7QjODGukXxHsxwkJ0FGsJi68x8gIS8QQoHZZVT882fII1yA5gl8wFWA/s320/Go___Retro_by_pincel3d.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">The signs are everywhere...</span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Last week, after hopping on a plane and writing Musings, I dove head-first into the busiest most wonderfully chaotic five days which included a childhood bestie's wedding (and an open bar), a birthday gathering with KSIBTU Crew gals, a meeting with a business accountant, dates with soul sisters @Robkris13 and @ProRobsten and copious amounts of alcohol. Not only was I merging my splintered fragments together (whaa? I told my childhood besties that I write a blog about KStew and Unconventional Beauty?) but I kept seeing signs that I was was going to be OK...and opportunities for reframes were everywhere! You may have caught my tweets when I was </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">bowling </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">with @Just2CUSmile and the birfday grrl @kimmcarr...bahaha.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t_l0hwDbKpdW4wTT-gFRkJnxE9Omp0XdTXFyTQ7-4Ac3IbKaVYb5tAU2ZzLrWVrGo9TgPNwC1sJ20sccBD0AEDzb4EY75EYpnnILEm1fIURxVoBzS3wQ15x3tkKMlztfcLuLLdV9aYU/s1600/Sangria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t_l0hwDbKpdW4wTT-gFRkJnxE9Omp0XdTXFyTQ7-4Ac3IbKaVYb5tAU2ZzLrWVrGo9TgPNwC1sJ20sccBD0AEDzb4EY75EYpnnILEm1fIURxVoBzS3wQ15x3tkKMlztfcLuLLdV9aYU/s320/Sangria.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We should have just put a straw in the pitcher.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPDjBRGTI-SSUTMWUvBekfYnXXXRmhat9Av2-WkdQSiucZ2Bjb9vnoxP5hGzArt1M3CKFme5HAKRYAEG6sxlWUgdeBsMlf3ZALhHEsfjJ368b48BZe9ofTwdgTxlli5hIfrksyRjZx6U/s1600/bowling0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPDjBRGTI-SSUTMWUvBekfYnXXXRmhat9Av2-WkdQSiucZ2Bjb9vnoxP5hGzArt1M3CKFme5HAKRYAEG6sxlWUgdeBsMlf3ZALhHEsfjJ368b48BZe9ofTwdgTxlli5hIfrksyRjZx6U/s320/bowling0.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Not 0 for "no points". </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"O" for Double OTHERNESS</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div></div></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or how bout, for no foreseeable reason, I received a gift, an original painting from the insanely talented @Jhiggs86 to remind me of The First Muse, and of blessings she's bestowed upon me...</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-2AHfhDM5o7SmETK37VnU5L3biIYPnsOlxXaW8m2KvY3Ngl8T3BRKFa9nWTEK0X1NcZj30YXCKvd_G-pZHV9DZKyo2nV1DlGcDaSmbYftY1XNp5SrlpoiboRMIBdQ7_EPDMi0MQebcA/s1600/jhiggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-2AHfhDM5o7SmETK37VnU5L3biIYPnsOlxXaW8m2KvY3Ngl8T3BRKFa9nWTEK0X1NcZj30YXCKvd_G-pZHV9DZKyo2nV1DlGcDaSmbYftY1XNp5SrlpoiboRMIBdQ7_EPDMi0MQebcA/s320/jhiggs.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I may have moved into Gloating Territory here.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oh and not to mention the fed-exed envelopes I received containing cards, letters, gifts, funds, whispers of luck and love, tokens of affection from my Sisters/Readers and Beloveds. </span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B_u5jBesxYwKK-tNbKzo4hpyP7imS1-iH8U3xnDCYuzTm_lWJtmdSEkutwogYcyi8xcz0bD2QUlecjpuRiQaF-ak8cYHG-tcH04X_3zcFTHyhqpy-qjRKUILlGhyphenhyphenc1s2Grco8ZLazHk/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B_u5jBesxYwKK-tNbKzo4hpyP7imS1-iH8U3xnDCYuzTm_lWJtmdSEkutwogYcyi8xcz0bD2QUlecjpuRiQaF-ak8cYHG-tcH04X_3zcFTHyhqpy-qjRKUILlGhyphenhyphenc1s2Grco8ZLazHk/s320/securedownload.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I can't even...don't have the words</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I can happily report to you that I was able to move forward in launching The Magical Little Practice on September 1, despite having lost a huge chunk of start-up capital and the support of a most beloved source, if only for a brief moment. Another confirming sign that I was going to be ok? That despite some of the obstacles in front of me, I was doing the right thing? One of those Levi's Jeans print ads that are circulating, quoting Walt Whitman. I was sitting on the train, en route to my new office on my first day, my nose pressed against the window, when we stopped at an intersection. This was the poster on the wall directly in front of me:</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDk7LdIdk6yGA5ZnJepNSXnMAQx2SCUFqIkMgVYQA7oKB44QkgJMOc-wMkCtpvgzLJF-WbvOoMn8K5ncj6qNaKOixG-m4oaadbfSj16QZmhETmYLXbRKnPdNtF6fwuMMJVTxB_GA68b4/s1600/All+I+Need.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDk7LdIdk6yGA5ZnJepNSXnMAQx2SCUFqIkMgVYQA7oKB44QkgJMOc-wMkCtpvgzLJF-WbvOoMn8K5ncj6qNaKOixG-m4oaadbfSj16QZmhETmYLXbRKnPdNtF6fwuMMJVTxB_GA68b4/s320/All+I+Need.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Go. Forth. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Topless. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Everrah where, you guys. See what I mean? Take a moment, open your eyes. Channel your inner ReframeStew. Look at all the amazing possibilities for optimism and creativity surrounding us. Let's meet the Featured Rebel today...a woman who is fierce but fragile, optimistic and brilliant. A girl who has gracefully and very publicly fought to overcome unspeakably agonizing drawbacks.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Featured Royal Rebel: Michelle Williams </span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrcfb8hhsFNX2yKOR-TrohDoHX8aa0F6SLqBgxMFHIcWw_g2WB89txw462pF4BLx23eiccu_FiAnyYe8DNMn1g3362-LvYwIts9QgXNIb28dzC4bv3cZkN76Beh3SoXdfuk7IPBk1TZc/s1600/michell2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrcfb8hhsFNX2yKOR-TrohDoHX8aa0F6SLqBgxMFHIcWw_g2WB89txw462pF4BLx23eiccu_FiAnyYe8DNMn1g3362-LvYwIts9QgXNIb28dzC4bv3cZkN76Beh3SoXdfuk7IPBk1TZc/s320/michell2.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Thanks again to one of my comrades in creativity and inspiration, @theurbanwhisk, I was able to explore my fascination with this notoriously shy but courageous lady. She clearly embodies and beautifully represents the qualities of a Rebel Queen: shy, cerebral, weary of intrusive press, dedicated student of her craft, insatiably pursuing knowledge, soulful and unique. While she may be publicly known as the former fiancee of fellow Royal Rebel Heath Ledger (featured in last week's </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Musings), </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">she has been on </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">my </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">radar ever since she played Jen on the WB/CW/What-ever-the hell-network-it-is network's teen soap opera </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Dawson's Creek.</span></span></i></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJxhc0z1QTfNirtvo5XiKVUdm9LpxJkRbyzz7fmsn1sOwXqfplaDh00JvIJKblpWgfysW3OPCwnmVadxaMNPbzCg65ujRfG4GmHvKP9Zylv-UyS_1CbEjMmJxaZMrvg2NTBTZxhgExFw/s1600/Michell1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJxhc0z1QTfNirtvo5XiKVUdm9LpxJkRbyzz7fmsn1sOwXqfplaDh00JvIJKblpWgfysW3OPCwnmVadxaMNPbzCg65ujRfG4GmHvKP9Zylv-UyS_1CbEjMmJxaZMrvg2NTBTZxhgExFw/s320/Michell1.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Michelle was sixteen years old when she first took on the role of Jen, and she admittedly reported confusing the ideas and concepts of "beauty" at that impressionable age. She told Vogue in the fall of 2009 that Jen's beauty was "sexy and pretty", but that there was "something bad" about that too. "I got it in my head that my beauty was not worthwhile." She shied away from playing anymore "pretty girl roles" after the completion of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Creek, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">choosing instead to "play the opposite". </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">She is anything but the opposite of beauty. She is an Oscar-nominated, respected and revered actor, and more importantly, she is the fiercely determined single mother to her three-year-old daughter, Mathilda, whose father is the late, great actor Heath Ledger. Michelle now says she navigates the tricky position of being a working single mother with the help and support of friends and family. Her focus remains first and foremost on her daughter. She tells </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Vogue, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"I think she deserves the bulk of my attention. We're lucky. I can work. She can go to a good school, there's a lot available for her." As Michelle moved through the stages of grief in the aftermath of Mr Ledger's death, she found that caution around intrusive reporters and paparazzi has served well, as has immersing herself in work. She appeared in Scorsese's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Shutter Island</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">this year and is preparing to be featured with Ryan Gosling (another Royal Rebel) in the indie film </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Blue Valentine, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">which has already received rave critical and audience reviews from the Sundance and Cannes film festivals. </span></span></i><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qCcoHYu8Q_f8XoTqUNitQdulqPf4vhBPn_Y4aA36qq6JDrehinVY6cSjTYFqxXC7kVTZmySbDDplYo1wOMxEU4IBDflnXiIeo1k9WVCxwLLEvZG1ZOaPUjmzMGJu-Jl9q_EQDXmcJ3w/s1600/Michell3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qCcoHYu8Q_f8XoTqUNitQdulqPf4vhBPn_Y4aA36qq6JDrehinVY6cSjTYFqxXC7kVTZmySbDDplYo1wOMxEU4IBDflnXiIeo1k9WVCxwLLEvZG1ZOaPUjmzMGJu-Jl9q_EQDXmcJ3w/s320/Michell3.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Offenses of Otherness</span></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">* Extremely reticent to participate in press interviews</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">* Remarkably grounded in here-and-now awareness</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">* Refuses to minimize her intelligence</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So while she was low-pro and underground for awhile there, we caught glimpses of our reigning Queen on the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">On the Road </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">set in New Orleans. With her gloriously light hair and her casual attitude, Kristen looked </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">gooood. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I mean, who looks this good when they're just, y'know, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">chillin?</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmX6Fwu0ieMV_UuspU6NihjYfn1CXTlYJuXEB9T2MZaVYY3MbuBcEJ_8nVgNJO9ReEYZVFwedera52kp3B_UjSkEeqFXZ1M1zL4Yk7rPV5Wt155DWw_6LQq44_GwCr4qYsBglIj6AmXk/s1600/nolachillin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmX6Fwu0ieMV_UuspU6NihjYfn1CXTlYJuXEB9T2MZaVYY3MbuBcEJ_8nVgNJO9ReEYZVFwedera52kp3B_UjSkEeqFXZ1M1zL4Yk7rPV5Wt155DWw_6LQq44_GwCr4qYsBglIj6AmXk/s320/nolachillin.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Effortless, calm, engaged in conversation, I think she looks better than ever. It might have to do with the fact that she's involved in a film project based on a book she refers to as one of her "very favorites", in the company of elite acting royalty (you know about Viggo, Steve Buscemi and Amy Adams, right? Good Lawd!) It might be because she was stealth and unseen for several days and perhaps met up with her beautiful partner Rob at some point. She may look this rested and lovely because she recognizes that the blessings in her life clearly outnumber the challenges...Or her contentedness may be because she knows that even with challenges, she will always, push onward.</span></span></span></div></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></div></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lqJVX5UifRhj5Z5ZHJeN8AxHLzuVipGmbGDIHuSNkOHHMxS44YMk_dySZ-QLZcokqpEyfI47nflcE4Vz6PTAk1rZUn0IvshVrPHhjL5JFyrU3oh9r6b8JMAQXXpLbt9Hl140phRoR9Y/s1600/KS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lqJVX5UifRhj5Z5ZHJeN8AxHLzuVipGmbGDIHuSNkOHHMxS44YMk_dySZ-QLZcokqpEyfI47nflcE4Vz6PTAk1rZUn0IvshVrPHhjL5JFyrU3oh9r6b8JMAQXXpLbt9Hl140phRoR9Y/s320/KS1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">*Cautious and protective of the details in her private life</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">*Extraordinarily down to earth and genuine</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">*Only accepts projects she feels a personal connection to</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Go Forth...</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Because she embodies resilience, grace and beauty in the face of adversity, Michelle wears a crown on the Royal Court. </span></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Because she continuously represents graciousness, humility and awareness, despite detractors constantly watching for a stumble, Kristen is our Reigning Other Queen. </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Michelle is Other.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Kristen is Other. </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Others continuously </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Work To Live.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Embrace Your Other.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Question: Are you living to work? Or Working to Live? </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A/N: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I will actually write sappy love letters directly to the peeps who have held my hand and given me such joy and love these days. Possum Besties, Tebby, ProRobsten...all of you know who you girls are to me. Just a couple thoughts: Thank you, my beloved CC of @KSIBTU for pre-reading tonight's midnight drop. And @Buff_82 for so patiently coddling me in the foreign world of website design. To @Bouffant for taking it for the team and posting her lovely essay when I could not. To my sisters/Readers...You make me laugh. You make me strong. I'll respond to comments and tweets and emails this week. Going forward...SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY! xo, Kj</span></span></div></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-12814205910925903292010-09-02T20:40:00.000-07:002010-09-02T20:40:02.549-07:00Special Edition: Rebel Queen Retrospective<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">*** *Jumping up and down, waving madly at the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>brilliant</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> readers of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Musings* </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hi everyone! How have you all been? Happy Thursday, and thanks for coming back and checking in as you have every single week. Today, because she's a good friend and a gifted writer to boot, my grrl </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Bouffant</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is back to school us Retro-style on a Misfit Rebel Queen that we may not have known about before. But since you all are devastatingly clever and outrageously cool peeps (um, hello, you're </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Kristen Stewart</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> fans, also enthusiastic Eminem fans I've discovered!), I've found there ain't nothin you aren't already in the know about. Today's Featured Rebel is probably already a friend of yours. I will be posting my usual essay this week too, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>probably tomorrow</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>the latest, Saturday. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Launch of The Magical Little Practice yesterday, I need a teeeeensy bit more time to organize </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Musings </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">this week. This will not be a regular habit, me slacking off on posting days, I promise. It was just a particularly gnarly week and I want to give you all of myself per usual, and this was how I proposed to do so. Plus, you get to read one of Bouffant's excellent essays on one of the many, many Royal Rebels out there....All. Around. WIN. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>A couple notes:</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I was able to get onto the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>comment section</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> last week's Musings</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and reply to some of your comments, check it out when you have a chance. Also, when you leave your Twitter ID or an active email address, if I don't already know 'em, it makes it easier for me to reply as well. Please know that even if you don't hear from me right away, I read and am blown away by each and every one of your comments, tweets and emails, and you all give me ideas to laugh and cry about; courage and wings to soar and conquer; beautiful pictures (Kristen and Rob are sooo easy on the eyes) and articles over which to marvel. We really are Royal Misfits together, aren't we? It's been a pleasure, my friends. Ok. So I'm done weeping through this introduction.....I'll see you cats tomorrow....*clears throat* AHEM. Without further ado, let's give a warm Rebel reception (Fist pumps, W000Ts and a cooler-than-fuck Jay-Z Head Nod of Acknowledgement) to the hairdo that keeps me in line: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>BOUFFANT</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......***</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MN6FxC4axyTWL6BEZKCQMjmEM1kFDsuL0IZDgaYIC4EhYVBhVJlLOm-m_Rjm4dFChppt8nDXaWD_PIDPeJ83Kw18Bw7HUhv9pmB8ZTJCT9nyW8u3s-gzkL2UO0O6ISv1oGx4MXz8hsQ/s1600/excited!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MN6FxC4axyTWL6BEZKCQMjmEM1kFDsuL0IZDgaYIC4EhYVBhVJlLOm-m_Rjm4dFChppt8nDXaWD_PIDPeJ83Kw18Bw7HUhv9pmB8ZTJCT9nyW8u3s-gzkL2UO0O6ISv1oGx4MXz8hsQ/s320/excited!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">w00t! Bouffant in the hizzzouse!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How's this for a warm welcome, KJ? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello, Royals and Rebels! I am gingerly stepping into KJ's shoes this week, as she launches her Magical Little Practice, experience the euphoric rush witnessing doors opening, circumstances lining up, and opportunities flooding her way. BTW KJ, may I take a moment here to ask you to consider dropping the "little", and inserting instead "marvelous", "blindingly brilliant", "knockout", or "astonishing...? Y'know, something along those lines -- think about it, bb.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So -- Bouffant is in the house! Take a stroll with me down memory lane to spend a little time with a Royal Rebel of Yore. Don't forget to grab a cold one as we go... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Other Queen, Retro-Style</span></b></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvN_rQn6Ko5EOw_xJC_loTzenYIk0i5KZY1GEVrykgoCsegPjuj8rZMhMcB5wJ6_i_lbJesGCZ15YTauj3xFngMGs50soq_CM5Wx3wm9PkkdPMaiR6Lg146m0jsYR4XSbXJsLgpT2W3A/s1600/Ellen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvN_rQn6Ko5EOw_xJC_loTzenYIk0i5KZY1GEVrykgoCsegPjuj8rZMhMcB5wJ6_i_lbJesGCZ15YTauj3xFngMGs50soq_CM5Wx3wm9PkkdPMaiR6Lg146m0jsYR4XSbXJsLgpT2W3A/s320/Ellen1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Ellen Burstyn</b></span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Do you know her? I bet you know her face, if not her name. Television fans, especially younger fans, might recognize her from a memorable performance on </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Law & Order SVU</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> as Elliott Stabler's mentally ill mother, or as Barb Henrickson's mother in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Big Love</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">. Maybe you first saw her as Vivi in </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_3" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">. It's likely you were seared by her Oscar-nominated performance in </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_4"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Requiem For A Dream</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">, 10 years ago. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Since beginning her career in the 1950's, Ellen has worked regularly on stage, in film and on television, beginning with the proverbial move from the midwest to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">New York City</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and a gig as a showgirl on "The Jackie Gleason Show". She also found time to study with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_6" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lee Strasberg</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">at The Actors Studio (a veritable breeding ground for Other Queens and Royal Rebels). Going against the grain in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hollywood</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, her career surged as she turned 40, and has not yet abated, although she turns 78</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_8" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">this December.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_8" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqzh1ku5c4iffGWd6EFmhNV7m89gWhRbRuTDCS5okFXNBpHuokVPxG11WhyA3ezGcj5Ku3MkBU4V1fswO3WEgaFxzoBFrsotvAhvZWn3r6I2Tj7GWSdMz-zOOYYQHip6Utlmjes01Z_k/s1600/Ellen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqzh1ku5c4iffGWd6EFmhNV7m89gWhRbRuTDCS5okFXNBpHuokVPxG11WhyA3ezGcj5Ku3MkBU4V1fswO3WEgaFxzoBFrsotvAhvZWn3r6I2Tj7GWSdMz-zOOYYQHip6Utlmjes01Z_k/s320/Ellen3.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*Kj peeks in*.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dayum. Me.OW.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I first saw Ellen Burstyn in</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_10" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Last Picture Show</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">when I was but a lassie; it ran regularly on television B.C. (before cable). Based on a 1966 Larry McMurtry novel, The Last Picture Show was the story of two teenage boys, best friends, in a small Texas town (I cringe to include the phrase "coming-of-age", but it's no cliche here).</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NttK8Z1jZk_RZvmmnCiUH2mIP7Xygil4qEo5fVRaCz_5hyphenhyphenOC_DWBS00bguw0mgznt_2HMppm1D57VyGnJsb9zf_CuzRe2axwhlzBEqd1QelyuzG74QAoAXPBEBdrtZM_zzKwOQ-Lb0I/s1600/ellen4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NttK8Z1jZk_RZvmmnCiUH2mIP7Xygil4qEo5fVRaCz_5hyphenhyphenOC_DWBS00bguw0mgznt_2HMppm1D57VyGnJsb9zf_CuzRe2axwhlzBEqd1QelyuzG74QAoAXPBEBdrtZM_zzKwOQ-Lb0I/s320/ellen4.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Have you not seen it? Promise me you'll click right over to Amazon and buy it (for the low low price of $11.49!)... right after you finish reading this, of course. The cast is full of great actors young and old, giving among the best performances of their careers, and it's arguably the best work of Peter Bogdanovich's directing career. Ellen evoked a haunting portrayal of Lois Farrow, the wealthy, alcoholic, former beauty, coping with the consequences of her choices and pushing her daughter to choose differently; and earned an Oscar nom for it.</span></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDGsYEAvEhyzjsjHtxFUd6r3WGp79OjlXpid2d4OD2CDyIALpuxZaP_T7UlYPgW8dk4_lkgVD4rBZjIezrHSCCFkQynFiFSnGXvcJTIPHPlLVtewQikk570fUZQEbVRm0_Msgfs-UkJU/s1600/ellen5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDGsYEAvEhyzjsjHtxFUd6r3WGp79OjlXpid2d4OD2CDyIALpuxZaP_T7UlYPgW8dk4_lkgVD4rBZjIezrHSCCFkQynFiFSnGXvcJTIPHPlLVtewQikk570fUZQEbVRm0_Msgfs-UkJU/s320/ellen5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A sitcom called "Alice" ran on television for about 10 years in the '70s and '80s. I was vaguely aware that it was based on a film, but I was grown up and the sitcom was off the air before I saw "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_12" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">", starring Ellen as</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_13" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alice Hyatt</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the widow who revives her dream of becoming a singer, and drags her son along with her. It's a 1974</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Martin Scorsese film</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, and need I really describe it further than that? (Again - hold your horses, you can watch the movie when we're DONE here.)</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ellen gave an Oscar-winning performance as a woman attempting to sort out the chaos of her life, brave enough to change direction mid-course, perhaps not quite brave enough to trust in a relationship again. Burstyn and Scorsese succeeded in reflecting the challenge middle-aged American women were currently facing in incorporating the radical changes of the second wave of the feminist movement into their lives. It's a dramatic, funny, emotional story, about relationships, mainly. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kris Kristofferson</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(there's a nominee for the Royal Rebel court) played Ellen's love interest, and a 12-year old</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_16" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jodie Foster</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">appeared in an eye-opening, kinda hilarious supporting role.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">More attention deserves to be paid to Ellen's acting career and its numerous related honors and awards (5 Oscar noms! The Tony! Emmy noms! First woman elected President of Actors' Equity! Artistic director of the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_17" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Actors' Studio</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">! Starring role in the Exorcist! ...ahhh, I give up), but this is KJ's blog, and I'd rather not overstay my welcome... Ellen's work as an actress is enough to ensure her a place in the Other Queen Royal Court, but the authenticity of spirit behind her work has also pushed her to new and interesting non-acting-related places that she has seen fit to share...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Unmasked</span></b><br />
<b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"As we grow up--I’m sure it’s true for men also, but I don’t really know about that--women want to please. And we develop a false face that says, “I am what you’re looking for, I am what you want me to be, I am pleasing to you, I am a good girl.” So the process of becoming yourself is a process of mask removal, letting them fall away until your own face shines through."<br />
-Ellen Burstyn</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq7oqq8Trt3kNn2ekFT-5sYUoDbxpJ450RL4rXjQiOqsaKbukMPLjh7cP8710asLADx-Kd8CpGP2Sskky6rBfylra11aqekDbrdhiEEoSjByjsB6plXFmdvoB2Gy9eWNGcNyclm4ChCY/s1600/ellen8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq7oqq8Trt3kNn2ekFT-5sYUoDbxpJ450RL4rXjQiOqsaKbukMPLjh7cP8710asLADx-Kd8CpGP2Sskky6rBfylra11aqekDbrdhiEEoSjByjsB6plXFmdvoB2Gy9eWNGcNyclm4ChCY/s320/ellen8.jpg" width="260" /></a></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">An upbringing in the Catholic church apparently was not enough to feed Ellen's soul (hello, me!), nor was a long period of psychoanalysis (no matter what</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1283441094_18" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Woody Allen</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">says about it). She spent several years studying Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, and by the mid-70s had settled into practicing Sufism, and in fact, reaching the status of a Sufi minister. She continues this practice today, illuminating her work with her ongoing journey toward inner transformation.</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In 1999, Ellen undertook a spiritual retreat. We're not talking about sitting in a temple and ohm-ing. Ellen followed the practice of the Zen Peacemakers' Street Retreats, and lived on the streets of New York City for three days with no money or possessions. She wrote about it in her memoir "Lessons In Becoming Myself". </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"I did the street retreat because I was so afraid of it. I could physically feel how much fear I had about being away from my comfort zone, my bed, and especially not having any identity. The whole idea of begging was terrifying. The first time I did it, I had to a cross a street to a restaurant with tables outside. Two women were eating there and I decided to approach them. As I walked toward them, I felt like I was crossing over some line that I had consciously never known was there. I was purposefully stepping through my ego to experience what was on the other side. I approached the women and simply asked, 'Excuse me, but I need a dollar for the subway. Could either of you spare a dollar?' The woman closest to me reached into her pocket and handed me a dollar without taking her eyes off her companion's face. I said 'Thank you' and walked away. I felt a strange pride that I had really accomplished something, but then enormous sadness as I realized that neither of the women had looked at me. I had got what I needed, but I had been disregarded, I had not been seen."</span></blockquote></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVmP7VwPqsoOJfgGTH2Paa8sGBeJNbd2P-Ip-xsZt8QFTYuhoh1IGy4BqWcIpPFq6AF44jZx14jhBKc3yKpfPbRPMzBXH6MfNk0AB77ClaKW5iulpVQCvY_S7bhyphenhyphenN071RU-A_k2s649o/s1600/ellen6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVmP7VwPqsoOJfgGTH2Paa8sGBeJNbd2P-Ip-xsZt8QFTYuhoh1IGy4BqWcIpPFq6AF44jZx14jhBKc3yKpfPbRPMzBXH6MfNk0AB77ClaKW5iulpVQCvY_S7bhyphenhyphenN071RU-A_k2s649o/s320/ellen6.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How many of us would have the courage to do that? To have the compassion to literally put ourselves in the shoes of those people in our society who have the very least? To see living on the street as a spiritual practice? </span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DgyuNMv799Lq_aQzUFxBSKpG9bzw8Gski30dCR18SepbTqJlYMmCwbzZ7egZStSM7IB0DcW9jk4wFuZyYdlEyK70Jfj8NWctLDjnpz570ySc4pf0X5jE4wyuP6477mlTcWmax4l21IQ/s1600/ellen9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DgyuNMv799Lq_aQzUFxBSKpG9bzw8Gski30dCR18SepbTqJlYMmCwbzZ7egZStSM7IB0DcW9jk4wFuZyYdlEyK70Jfj8NWctLDjnpz570ySc4pf0X5jE4wyuP6477mlTcWmax4l21IQ/s320/ellen9.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">**Gets more work as a middle-aged woman and senior citizen than most actresses under 30**</span></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">**Practices a religion related to Islam and little-known in western culture**</span></div></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">**Chose to experience life as a homeless person**</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ellen's actions brought home to me a new awareness of the people I walk by every day. For the past ten years, I've had my own spiritual practice going. I look at homeless people, whether or not I give them money. I look them in the eye. I acknowledge their request. I acknowledge their presence, their humanity. I see myself in them, and them in me. And while Ellen's performances have touched me, this personal, spiritual experience she shared has truly affected who I am. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> In every one of Ellen's photographs or films, I see her wearing her crown from the Court of Other Queens.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for shoving over on the couch and making room for me, KJ ;) For those of you jonesing for some Kristen lurve, I know KJ will serve it up soon. Although Kristen has donned her NinjaStew disguise, knowing she can go about her business undisturbed makes me happy. This week's playlist is all NOLA-inspired, in honor of the reigning Other Queen - enjoy!</span></div></div></div></span>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-90263514863914347032010-08-26T14:37:00.000-07:002010-08-26T22:25:08.249-07:00And in The End, the love you take...<div style="text-align: center;">Nothing can bring you peace but yourself</div><div style="text-align: center;">~Emerson</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So, I'm writing this having no idea how long it will be, or how much I will say. I've started writing this while in my current city of residence, but am finishing it up right now in my hometown...I'm here for yet another childhood bestie's wedding and a few other family celebrations. I'll be spending some time with a couple gals of the <b>KSIBTU Crew</b>, and a couple of my <b>Sisters and Readers </b>as well. This week has been a tremendously challenging one for different reasons. For starters, I am in the final days before launching my "magical little practice, making the leap of faith and taking a risk based solely on the rightness of a feeling. I am following my pathway to bliss, a pathway opened up quite unexpectedly, through my writing of <i>Musings </i>and enjoying my place in the Kristen Stewart Fandom. Have any of you started your own business before? I'm positive some of you readers have because, I may be biased, but I happen to think the readers of <i>Musings</i> are the most intelligent, thoughtful, funny and creatively rebellious lot among the fandom. You're Kristen Stewart fans! <i>Of course</i> you've gone and built something from the ground up, and probably with your bare hands...and while blindfolded! Like McGyver, you just need a tiny clothespin spring and some chewing gum and you've made a time machine or some shit. Seriously, you guys are <i>that </i>brilliant. Anyway...I'm appealing to you entrepreneurs, rabble rousers and pioneers when I say: I'm quaking in nervous excitement, but I'm still pushing onward.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv0GWTeQOggqqvKs75lT_4nlYp2uodlEC3Jk0YDmlFnuIVwxAXmXXtivTMy8pQiRgqjVMZyLNLjYCpGxdfTE6AEthVhq9UgIRkLPleBqjfOnmyky7BgmUi8b3L3AD7Pg3Qs_dR6coMlY/s1600/walkingaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv0GWTeQOggqqvKs75lT_4nlYp2uodlEC3Jk0YDmlFnuIVwxAXmXXtivTMy8pQiRgqjVMZyLNLjYCpGxdfTE6AEthVhq9UgIRkLPleBqjfOnmyky7BgmUi8b3L3AD7Pg3Qs_dR6coMlY/s320/walkingaway.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another reason why this week proved interesting is that Kristen has again immersed herself in work, this time, the filming locale being the beautiful Argentina, and there have been no public sightings of her. Well, there were the Argentinean airport sightings, announcing her arrival with her <i>On the Road </i> costars Garret and Sam...and some pretty happy airline employees.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGP8gCbK-I2AseY84oq8MKJc30xNiLxPlw5MZSyF9JdLwIW21FD0wiNmZvmehgEHVSDUBnPryu5bQ-YMFK8D7_yl70oVtgek-Io_YGqxGjY7rgVkkY_U1X4FaKP00RWKaVMDlZ66qxag/s1600/KArngtinafan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGP8gCbK-I2AseY84oq8MKJc30xNiLxPlw5MZSyF9JdLwIW21FD0wiNmZvmehgEHVSDUBnPryu5bQ-YMFK8D7_yl70oVtgek-Io_YGqxGjY7rgVkkY_U1X4FaKP00RWKaVMDlZ66qxag/s320/KArngtinafan.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know, man. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You totally fanboy'ed after she walked away.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another difficulty (a fly in the chardonnay) surfaced this week, one we've addressed before, but quite honestly, we shall continue to revisit...It's what we do here on Team Other...we address and attempt to deconstruct reasons for Other-Hunting and Other-bashing. Specifically in this case: The absolute bleakness and misery poured into tearing our Other Queen Kristen down. And Homie Don't Play That.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Call and Response </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We could not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>possibly </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">understand the scrutiny that Kristen and Rob or Kristen and her family are under. Not unless we </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>are </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Kristen and her beloveds. I at least, will be the first to inform you, that unfortunately I am </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>not </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Ms Kristen Jaymes Stewart. The majority of us have only had a glimpse (what, a four minute interview on an “entertainment news” show at the most?) into who Kristen may be when she’s not playing a character. Perhaps some of us have made it to the barricades at one of her movie premieres, received her autograph, or had a picture taken with her, but we do not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>know </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">her. </span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So when I see commenters posting on public boards pertaining to Kristen and/or Rob, making statements reflecting Kristen and Rob’s preferences or moods; or regarding how Kristen and Rob </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">will </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">act or </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">should </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">act, I get extremely frustrated. I skimmed over a blogger’s (who shall remain anonymous) thoughts today in an article written in which she calls Kristen “miserable”, “spoiled and bratty” and acting “bipolar”.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> NEEDLE SCRATCHES ACROSS THE RECORD TURNTABLE</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJQ4mSu93X4ldjLds6RmZgj4ppt5lBD9VYoEPQMCOHV7UxIzbOScm0JrtrCaLe2a5vcJXv8rpQK9QkO2zKO6PersKss0Z3AwZCGTKN2piHhGxm4BmySnSwdj_zjp6uB9UJvCa_4Gx6Vc/s1600/stop+the+hurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJQ4mSu93X4ldjLds6RmZgj4ppt5lBD9VYoEPQMCOHV7UxIzbOScm0JrtrCaLe2a5vcJXv8rpQK9QkO2zKO6PersKss0Z3AwZCGTKN2piHhGxm4BmySnSwdj_zjp6uB9UJvCa_4Gx6Vc/s320/stop+the+hurt.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I don’t even want to give anymore energy to this ridiculousness. It appears, wonderfully, enough, for every maliciously-intended thought injected into the world, there are three times as many positive, loving responses to counter it. Check some of the d</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">elightful ripostes lobbed back from the always lovely </span><a href="http://pattinsonintoxication.blogspot.com/2010/08/why-do-you-hate-kristen-stewart.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">RoseSee</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the refreshingly intelligent </span><a href="http://obsessedwithstew.blogspot.com/2010/08/blogger-accusses-kristen-of-being.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Opytaylor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and the witty folks over at </span><a href="http://letterstork.blogspot.com/2010/08/trish-delish-poor-little-not-famous.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">LetterstoRK</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtm5B-h4GFa-tif1vbh6yNr3YI57VT4GKqT57BAM9kydXEKOlX7EZksprOVfo4MIXTR9PSLmQO1MutZpHSn4aR4JkmLyNsYxDFNVghXJ_dihC4-pHeEhe3ovFyBdo0JPzR-OJ9NkH4aFY/s1600/th_color-splash-photography-026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtm5B-h4GFa-tif1vbh6yNr3YI57VT4GKqT57BAM9kydXEKOlX7EZksprOVfo4MIXTR9PSLmQO1MutZpHSn4aR4JkmLyNsYxDFNVghXJ_dihC4-pHeEhe3ovFyBdo0JPzR-OJ9NkH4aFY/s320/th_color-splash-photography-026.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I will add this: Everyone is entitled to their opinion, absolutely. Everyone has the right to like or dislike whatever/whomever they want, that is not the disputed issue. However, to publicly spout off baseless charges about Kristen Stewart, a 20-year-old girl with whom this anonymous, female blogger has no personal relationship, but to also make </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">mood disorder diagnoses</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (an </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">incorrect</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> one at that) is obscenely uninformed and irresponsible. I get to comment on this piece of the article, because </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">guess what</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">?? It so happens that I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">am </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a mood disorder diagnostician, and that blogger had no clinical grounds upon which to base her charges. And until she produces a license to practice psychotherapy to back up her "observations" she tries pass off as truth, or, evidence indicating that the writer </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">personally </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">is</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> an expert on Bipolar Disorder, then I easily dismiss this "article" and toss it on the pile with every other vile, inaccurate, sensationalizing "entertainment" article produced. *dusts hands*</span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> also am a bit puzzled at some of the hypocrisy of Kristen and Roberts' "supporters" that becomes apparent, "quiet", NinjaStew time periods...like now. What part of “privacy” is hard to understand? What part of “I’m not going to talk about my personal life” does </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">not </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">make sense? How does being recognizable equate to Kristen and Rob </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">deserving </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the scrutiny and invasion of their personal solitude (as some Assclowns and Bullshit People have reasoned)? Kristen has repeatedly and consistently informed interviewers that she will not divulge information about her private life. Anyone who is close to Kristen and Rob do not share discretionary information. The ones that do, perhaps aren’t exactly “close” are they? Not if they blatantly disregard Kristen’s or Rob's express wishes. People claiming to be “insiders” aren’t really all that “insider-y” if they make public statements on public discussion boards and twitter timelines, in my opinion. And “friends” of Kristen and Rob, who know how valuable freedom from interference is to the pair, certainly would </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">never</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> draw more attention to themselves. </span></span></div></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmrpH18hhqnaZuVyZ23azbcb7Q9TUIOqiFgd_okd62uUib9U6YoY8S7tGBV4jvsskGNcTkoBv8RJKis74xO0IvuJwP4_D1jLUGWc2Nqn_vibsQqj18iCGfJsWIELzD3_7cFYo5Mf-mEI/s1600/New_Moon-330-Edit-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmrpH18hhqnaZuVyZ23azbcb7Q9TUIOqiFgd_okd62uUib9U6YoY8S7tGBV4jvsskGNcTkoBv8RJKis74xO0IvuJwP4_D1jLUGWc2Nqn_vibsQqj18iCGfJsWIELzD3_7cFYo5Mf-mEI/s320/New_Moon-330-Edit-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am not at all surprised that Kristen and Rob are aware of what is being said about them. Rob has referred to the internet “journalists” as “little nerds, behind their little computers, on their little blogs". These “little nerds” throw out defamations, or start petty rumors, purport in-fighting and spread damage without assuming any responsibility. </span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is what I want to address. The process of being accountable in what you put out there into the world, into this fandom. In previous </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">we’ve discussed </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">looking in the mirror</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the very real concept of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">coexistence;</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> also, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Golden Rule</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, and even </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">karma. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In light of what we saw with an un-famous anonymous writer presenting an article filled with insults and disproportionate double standards and contradictions not only in her own writing, but in her worship of only one half of the Rob-and-Kristen partnership, there will be a counter response three, four or five-fold (or more). </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That's another reason to love the KStew and Rob supporters out there. The Other Brigade is composed of fiercely loyal, soulful, passionate players. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i</span></span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">s beautiful to witness. Do you know who leads the charge in defending Kristen? That would be the "deliciously handsome" Robert. </span></span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVQuUZxR5c1fACNxTq56lUQ4gNCA95YgvmqzrYOqA0Goks3L5oRmcUxHgsiGXpVRm7Etj1DBgwDHOdjZBWbnH3NcrUk8mNVYh1xGITyLsgCvk3e9IZRoJslQ3XLgH_EXTpUP1xWv-qpQ/s1600/EProb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVQuUZxR5c1fACNxTq56lUQ4gNCA95YgvmqzrYOqA0Goks3L5oRmcUxHgsiGXpVRm7Etj1DBgwDHOdjZBWbnH3NcrUk8mNVYh1xGITyLsgCvk3e9IZRoJslQ3XLgH_EXTpUP1xWv-qpQ/s320/EProb.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rob says: I heart Kristen. Hard.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And because I can, I'm putting another Rob picture up ...and GOOD GAH, MAN! This is an outtake from AnOTHER Man...How perfect is that title?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f4dO6ajCPSbV92SAoj4YA8Umlufg3n2rnnrkChbg3JgJfrlTLafmYx8f7VbCz75bw_aTbcuQn60x6xKBScCEaafaKSB_UuCE6g45cIKI4P0N6o2GcuudIDWCNRjIJIRisoUUxd-iHsU/s1600/AOM+outtake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f4dO6ajCPSbV92SAoj4YA8Umlufg3n2rnnrkChbg3JgJfrlTLafmYx8f7VbCz75bw_aTbcuQn60x6xKBScCEaafaKSB_UuCE6g45cIKI4P0N6o2GcuudIDWCNRjIJIRisoUUxd-iHsU/s320/AOM+outtake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So who do you suppose is Robert's Number One Defender? Oh that's right. . .</span></span></i></span></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxiVc4x3TzPKm4-VWRB0A-RYiLMEpc3h8fbvKlDMR69dxNUnT7UFkkrP1YSr-_E2Vzfy-fB9b7Q6IFTSZ1XuzjbzNCL5dG5Gbz89L42c_o2AoRmoS9tjM7OiNhwTeB4kWyQRSCyGyHQ4/s1600/KSFbomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxiVc4x3TzPKm4-VWRB0A-RYiLMEpc3h8fbvKlDMR69dxNUnT7UFkkrP1YSr-_E2Vzfy-fB9b7Q6IFTSZ1XuzjbzNCL5dG5Gbz89L42c_o2AoRmoS9tjM7OiNhwTeB4kWyQRSCyGyHQ4/s320/KSFbomb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Y'all best back up. </span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She's already sinking into a Crouching Tiger-</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">NinjaStew Stance</span></span></i></span></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Do not think for one minute that a singular attack on one of them does not effect the other. As evident in bonded relationships, if one partner is assailed, the other one is also adversely effected. Defense mechanisms crop up and evolutionary instincts kick in. Rob </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">will </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">has </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">consistently kept Kristen's emotional and physical well-being among the forefront of his priorities; Kristen </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">will </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">has</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> consistently encouraged Rob's confidence in self-preservation, self-presentation and in decision-making. Realize how intertwined they are. That's why not only is this a Kristen-supporting forum, but it's a support of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">all </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Others and of essential, integral members in Kristen's life, including Robert. </span></span></i></span></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFCJn9zGKXH2NmWbwg9KcX9nQY-UukYkyhBRusw0QqFDlLfYb8X6kxAJMHCfEYsMRLtr0g69KldiwxFUlGA2Nk_YmX7HAaRWZGgorsoccf0X8dE9m_PeqZ7wL9RrstZUmpYO7GyH1K8w/s1600/roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFCJn9zGKXH2NmWbwg9KcX9nQY-UukYkyhBRusw0QqFDlLfYb8X6kxAJMHCfEYsMRLtr0g69KldiwxFUlGA2Nk_YmX7HAaRWZGgorsoccf0X8dE9m_PeqZ7wL9RrstZUmpYO7GyH1K8w/s320/roses.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lastly, before I move on to highlight the Royal Rebels this week, I wanted to share with you an experience that involves </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">you </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and highlights the idea of accountability, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">call and response, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">counterbalancing any obstacles with optimism and support. Last Thursday, while I was writing </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, I encountered two pieces of news that rocked my world. Without going into great detail, I can tell you that there was a challenge to my union with my sweet husband N, at the same time that I learned my </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">very tentative </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">financial situation had simply been obliterated, due to circumstances outside of my control. I was slammed twice with these two extremely important situations </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">in the middle of </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Publishing Day. I fell apart. I staved off panic, though barely. I paced. I muttered. Though, for once, in that moment, I did </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">not </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">cry, which tends to be my default emotion. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What did I do? I turned to my Cyber Sisters, my KSIBTU Crew, my 3D besties. I used my words, sent out a brief email asking for a moment of their time so I can vent, cry and brainstorm a plan of action. And because the blessings that Kristen Stewart brought me manifested in the forms of real life people who have become sisters, friends, confidantes, readers who give honest feedback, messengers of support and light...they </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">responded to my call. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Again, for every obstacle or challenge thrown out there, a positive, encouraging counterbalancing force will also emerge. Yin and Yang. I instantly began receiving emails, IMs, texts and tweets from people all over the world. My Possum Besties Ophelia and Justice spearheaded the efforts to send love and encouragement my way my reminding me about self-care and slowing my roll, and the beautiful, brilliant ProRobsten organized a sort of fundraiser in order to support this Other Queen in Training, to keep me from being evicted and to keep the private practice's opening day for September 1. They wanted me to know they encouraged my efforts to blissfully dance in the bubbles, and help me shoulder some of the costs involved in opening the "Magical Little Practice". And they didn't want me to step back from writing </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, which I would have, in order to try and make ends meet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OZ5BrKUkRDOqZ53vxggcXVu5M8dDW3sj2tIf4TeXzZNj7J6RddadCB66rsX9OFHUwQe81Jnu5BtI6VFvFoEsnI92XmnVSs9lKRN2_ms3_QTPzXgHbR-UG3g6d_OACxuj74HJirDJC0U/s1600/I'm+Possible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OZ5BrKUkRDOqZ53vxggcXVu5M8dDW3sj2tIf4TeXzZNj7J6RddadCB66rsX9OFHUwQe81Jnu5BtI6VFvFoEsnI92XmnVSs9lKRN2_ms3_QTPzXgHbR-UG3g6d_OACxuj74HJirDJC0U/s320/I'm+Possible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Without even knowing it, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">@P_lever</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> had sent me this picture in honor of Other and as a reminder to persevere... just a couple days before I was hit double-time by emotional and financial tornados. And the brilliant and beautiful </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">@kate_suena</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> sent me a care package, really, the mother of all care packages, not even knowing how impeccable her timing was:</span></div></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB5q0nmjuOtJHMEt0lr9iV9HZGNXdEqYors9lC3cnw2gH9OlWNSxCsGxY_S_KfBgdbqK5VUDZ3wsY4vzKHfZd0peIb_PF8aMleMXr53Va2iZCoIHmzU6juVFjWCKZ-wUu1PUEnbpSLos/s1600/fromkate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB5q0nmjuOtJHMEt0lr9iV9HZGNXdEqYors9lC3cnw2gH9OlWNSxCsGxY_S_KfBgdbqK5VUDZ3wsY4vzKHfZd0peIb_PF8aMleMXr53Va2iZCoIHmzU6juVFjWCKZ-wUu1PUEnbpSLos/s200/fromkate.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolates, maple candies, KSIBTU Crew artwork, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">coffee=Therapy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Cyber Sisters and Readers sent DMs, emails and cards which began arriving (are still arriving) within the next day, which included paypal funds, personal checks and words of encouragement and strength...and love. Reminders of why I needed to move forward. Some of the messages sent read something like this...and excuse me a moment while I sniffle...</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Because Others and Misfits in your city need your guidance towards empowerment..."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Because you are helping me embrace my Other and teach my daughter to embrace hers..."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Because it would devastate people if you stopped writing </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings...</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">" </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Because Kristen and Rob need their allies in fighting the good fight..."</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can see what my favorite thing about receiving mail has been, right? Not the monetary piece (although that is so nice, and I won't have to resort to prostitution now, thank the Goddess). I am overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief. But stunned into movement, because I have been kicking ass and taking names starting with the government office who forgot to pay me in the first place. I've been able to spend some time with N this week, going to the movies, laughing, re-enacting The Nuzzle (which I think will be my Rapper name)... Things are improving. I am able to still put together pieces and address the tension with N while also following the blissful, Creative Life... It's what is issued forth that is returned...sometimes ten-fold. Seek to counterbalance the hatred out there. Seek to truly see that when Kristen is happy, Rob is happy. Or if you're more concerned about his happiness, know that he is truly content when his partner Kristen is as well. Please don't tear her down anymore. Don't destroy role models for Awkwardness, Rebelliousness, Otherness...they're so rare these days. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Featured Royal Rebel: Heath Ledger</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVXs1T5iFnbVoP0Q-m3XD_fLC3K2M5DX5ZAbaG4ZHUVUvJVaZxOMH0AHyWoyIknwjm0Fg68Wibqi0JzTtkjgU_e36-Gc3ZkhnWtQ_Cws77BxOk9epY1kNv-O3muqUEcBG89In-p9m4E0/s1600/Heath4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVXs1T5iFnbVoP0Q-m3XD_fLC3K2M5DX5ZAbaG4ZHUVUvJVaZxOMH0AHyWoyIknwjm0Fg68Wibqi0JzTtkjgU_e36-Gc3ZkhnWtQ_Cws77BxOk9epY1kNv-O3muqUEcBG89In-p9m4E0/s320/Heath4.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
Oh. My. I personally believe this man is an angel. His warm, glowing spirit seemed to emanate from his pores. It was impossible not to stare at him when he was on screen. If I had seen him on the street, I wouldn't have been surprised to see him floating. Heath Ledger shares many of the qualities of Otherness that Kristen does: painful shyness, an over-analytical mind, impossible dedication to learning the undercurrent of a character's consciousness; nervousness, a seeker of "home, " a seeker of answers.<br />
Born in Perth, Australia, Heath was born to a teacher mother and a race-car driver father. He was always insatiably curious: he was a chess champion and starring in school plays at age 10, and he graduated from high school by the time he was 16. He decided he wanted to become an actor at that time and pursued roles in Australian television shows, landing his first role in <i>Sweat </i>in which he portrayed a gay cyclist; and <i>Ship to Shore. </i> I first laid eyes on him in the 1999 Movie <i>"10 Things I Hate About You" </i>and I was intrigued with his obvious tender heart, and of course that ridiculously sexy Australian accent.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGTjvaHI4j78dthTjOQ5z26axTA4UzhyphenhyphenrpSDfEgPik1uDVMpsXNAF5YrIwfO745pmP2n9EYgUcKoiC6pD2_JXwElr7TpNTyd0uHtNBssigXEjHV6eocrZuHW2d8xNliR9OPFlzP8sCaw/s1600/heath_ledger_99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGTjvaHI4j78dthTjOQ5z26axTA4UzhyphenhyphenrpSDfEgPik1uDVMpsXNAF5YrIwfO745pmP2n9EYgUcKoiC6pD2_JXwElr7TpNTyd0uHtNBssigXEjHV6eocrZuHW2d8xNliR9OPFlzP8sCaw/s320/heath_ledger_99.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After several notable roles in movies such as <i>The Patriot, Monster's Ball, Lords of Dogtown </i>and <i>A Knight's Tale, </i>it was the heartbreakingly poetic role of Ennis in the film <i>Brokeback Mountain </i>that elevated Heath's already-acclaimed acting abilities to a completely new level of the craft. Legendary actors such as Sean Penn and Daniel Day-Lewis bestowed praise on Heath's performance, and the role garnered him two acting awards including the New York Film Critics Circle award. Later, he would win the Academy Award posthumously for the most renowned role of his career, as The Joker in The Dark Knight. He was only 28 when he died from a "toxic-combination of prescription medications". We were the same age. While he is remembered for his sweet spirit and his unparalleled acting abilities still with undeveloped potential, he was also known for his personal quirks and behaviors. He had a very tentative relationship with Australian paparazzi, and when he became a father in 2005, Heath was extremely cautious and weary of journalists who would venture too close to his daughter and his fiancee actress Michelle Williams. He admittedly struggled with anxiety while on stage, which often would manifest in giggles (and he would be bashed and criticized for it) and would often delve so deeply into research of his character, that he struggled for years with insomnia. He was unable to "stop thinking...I couldn't stop my mind from running", he reported. At his untimely death, Heath's performance in <i>the Dark Knight </i>earned him popular and critical accolades from esteemed colleagues and critics. He was referred to as "one of the very best actors of his generation". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqWLroxW2yXbqbv493KFemPTwS3wScQT7yWjhc81jucuD2P-TWQRUnlIhn4EFJR_rYLL26wI7XTwho4EPu1zBOMVpeMCPU87XqBR6JfkYujCDbhltN60805HQNKFj95nX4oK7hrbSBP0/s1600/heath-ledger-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqWLroxW2yXbqbv493KFemPTwS3wScQT7yWjhc81jucuD2P-TWQRUnlIhn4EFJR_rYLL26wI7XTwho4EPu1zBOMVpeMCPU87XqBR6JfkYujCDbhltN60805HQNKFj95nX4oK7hrbSBP0/s320/heath-ledger-42.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Analytical mind hindering the ability to verbalize feelings</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Willingly "looks into the abyss" of the darkness in roles</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Unwaveringly dedicated to the protection of his private life</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our Other Queen has been very busy in Montreal and now Argentina in her work for Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of <i>On the Road. </i>Director Walter Salles has revealed that the first portion of filming has wrapped to his satisfaction, due in large part to the<i> </i>'excellent cast' who shares a passion and drive to make the movie. Early reviewers of the updated script and screenplay have claimed that not only is it "wise" to have Kristen cast in the role as the precocious, sexual, free-spirited nymph Marylou, but that in addition to the script, she is one of the exceedingly "talented actors" to excitedly anticipate in this film. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQbT_O4K5fcWXO4vvy6FfnyaeMsPrQmy7coydzkUeFlwpvE_HKp8rWycG-4zKlS6ammQ-nCvsnhs2sEK1xfEcm0dHhTdKpjtgM1HZGQk3YG4XccpYh3zeIgdptvCzNEymAcI3vTvPII/s1600/KUKElle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQbT_O4K5fcWXO4vvy6FfnyaeMsPrQmy7coydzkUeFlwpvE_HKp8rWycG-4zKlS6ammQ-nCvsnhs2sEK1xfEcm0dHhTdKpjtgM1HZGQk3YG4XccpYh3zeIgdptvCzNEymAcI3vTvPII/s320/KUKElle.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">While she is away filming O<i>n the Road, Eclipse</i> is still earning box office millions, location scouts are surveying potential filming locales for <i>Breaking Dawn, </i>and Kristen's name is attached to at least two other film projects in the works after Breaking Dawn wraps, projected March 2011. Despite her critics and the <i>Other-</i>Hunters constantly circling Our Queen, she still manages to appear poised, unruffled and<i> </i>genuine. She was named <i>The Queen of Awkward </i>by DailyMotion (Fist-Pump in celebration for this honor, KStew!) this week with flattering commentaries by comedians and journalists completely stunned by the good fortune of having someone "so beautiful and so awkward" combined in one girl. <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xek59h_10acm_shortfilms">Queen of Awkward Video HERE</a>. This clip features one of my favorite Queen Kstew Moments: The dropping-and-breaking of the MTV Movie Award on stage...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFLZcF90h3ZrvcocGbnoZVzw3y35-7HZbIbssxFGVloJCIMSiifroKXOC7lKjXSP9zSWSxUWtVKF4g3AjPefxn_Xvbib1eLKKJ-iJ6B3IDasgpfzjdkLlf5OlL5hbNnuOuvpNyjkKHGg/s1600/drop+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFLZcF90h3ZrvcocGbnoZVzw3y35-7HZbIbssxFGVloJCIMSiifroKXOC7lKjXSP9zSWSxUWtVKF4g3AjPefxn_Xvbib1eLKKJ-iJ6B3IDasgpfzjdkLlf5OlL5hbNnuOuvpNyjkKHGg/s320/drop+it.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">drop it like it's hot, baby girl</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1f-4Fe4lVyqCvSodJhb-_mZ9MwwN97eWVg7dv313Ehw1bVEZHlFVGKwKuhHGXTWnU_DUvx6PcG-u0JG2pkx-2sZWEKyevW_V4c8cBasnLi701PoKKEXw8oVFiSCG0TzcL7fQTt0bMQI/s1600/dropit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1f-4Fe4lVyqCvSodJhb-_mZ9MwwN97eWVg7dv313Ehw1bVEZHlFVGKwKuhHGXTWnU_DUvx6PcG-u0JG2pkx-2sZWEKyevW_V4c8cBasnLi701PoKKEXw8oVFiSCG0TzcL7fQTt0bMQI/s320/dropit2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And if I hadn't been already, I would have fallen in love here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With this Awkward Lovely</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOtQEGzK5Hb2RnzP4aoZE3wXzu0304Z5g8NSTTKHVNGhkCea1Vbemg9UTFTGmIlwvIEky_x7DUlbfbB4NLDRTcg2c7uAro1fptsyVvJ_gDINqD4ZI3Gmisqd6TtGlEnNzXb8Ax9_8CA4/s1600/KSclash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOtQEGzK5Hb2RnzP4aoZE3wXzu0304Z5g8NSTTKHVNGhkCea1Vbemg9UTFTGmIlwvIEky_x7DUlbfbB4NLDRTcg2c7uAro1fptsyVvJ_gDINqD4ZI3Gmisqd6TtGlEnNzXb8Ax9_8CA4/s320/KSclash.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Analytical mind hinders her ability to express what she means</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Willingly "looks into the abyss" in the characters she plays</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Unrelenting dedication to the protection of her private life</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">...Is equal to the love you make</span></b></div>Because I realized that being vulnerable in my dark times, brought to me light, strength and comfort beyond what I have ever known, I am still an Other Queen-in-Training.<br />
<br />
Because Heath would giggle when he became nervous and inaccurately express his feelings in interviews due to his over-analytical mind, he will always be remembered as a Royal Rebel.<br />
<br />
Because she is happy being an uncovah lovah, and is crowned Queen of Awkward while she isn't even on the same continent as her electors, Kristen is our Reigning Other Queen.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Heath will always be Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others answer the call for balance</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">with light, encouragement and optimism.</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Ten-fold.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace your Other. </span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Question: Are you aware of the intentions you put out into the world? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A/N: Totally UnBeta'd guys, as if you didn't see that already. Bear with me as you stumble upon typos or duplicated words. I literally started this at 2AM this morning, wrote some more at 5AM before I hopped a plane down south. Finished it here in my childhood home, hours after I had hoped. Don't blame my pre-readers <b>Bouffant, Cynically Convy or Buff82</b> for any shittastic fuckery you see here, blame only MOI. Thanks to the usual suspects. Thanks to the most amazing friends and sisters and readers who reached out and gave some comfort and love when I was stumbling around broken. Mad love to <b>Iris, Buff, CC, Crystal, Kate, Brenda, CWQ and Julie</b> for sending me words of encouragement that brought me to tears. Special shout outs to <b>Tebby, Ophelia2010, Justice_Aussie, and ProRobsten</b> for organizing a "Save The Loopy Therapist" Campaign...words cannot convey. Thanks to <b>KStewartFan</b> for the lovely Kristen pictures, per usual, and to the aforementioned bloggers <b>Rose, Dano/Opy and LetterstoRK</b> as linked above, for answering the call for balance, with light and encouragement. Special thanks to my Practice's business manager Puss who took a big hit for the team but emerged triumphant with me. Onward to Bliss...See you all Next Thursday. xo, Kj</div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-12273475649615873212010-08-19T16:37:00.000-07:002010-08-20T10:38:55.254-07:00The weary traveler goes home<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If you go, if you go...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>leave me down here on my own...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'll wait for you</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">--In My Place, Coldplay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went about one month without seeing hide nor hair of Kristen. While it was vexatious in moments, I was content in knowing she was completely occupied embodying her role as Marylou for the already-legendary film <i>On the Road. </i>The knowledge that she was invested in her work and not hiding from the Vulture-Papz eased the ache just a teensy bit. Well, then suddenly, um. <b>BAM. </b>I think it was even just after I had posted <i>Musings, </i>late last Thursday night. Near Midnight here in Cali. We got a look at Kristen in her costume for Marylou. And then, holy mother, we got pics of Rob from the same day. <i>Outside </i>Kristen's trailer on the set for <i>On the Road. </i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was a bit conflicted as to whether I would post any of those pics, as I completely disagree with the invasive nature in which the Vultures typically obtain pics of Robert and Kristen (i.e. stalking, lurking, heckling, invading, ridiculing, then selling those images for an obscene amount of money to grocery store tabloids). But I figured I could post a few of the pictures...because I'm all for supporting Rob and Kristen in their quest to <i>Communicate</i>, Mofos! And I admittedly enjoy watching as Rob and Kristen concisely express their thoughts about papz and perhaps to some of their more extreme-clingy Not-A-Fan Stalkers, <i>without saying a word. </i> And we here at Team Other <i>love </i>Non-Verbal Communication! And besides: Rob <i>sees you, you Stalker Lice. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhfxMu92QyoP86l5ChjmZUtFcDIi-LaATO3AM1Jd_mTF0xpaOAseArCqBQr5k_VxDWyinrFasR8Y44wApqanlSLj6gBPc569WXtZSqu_z0ug__RIa5B5GERaV4_S6kGFfB2AxmtYyuKI/s1600/Robsmoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhfxMu92QyoP86l5ChjmZUtFcDIi-LaATO3AM1Jd_mTF0xpaOAseArCqBQr5k_VxDWyinrFasR8Y44wApqanlSLj6gBPc569WXtZSqu_z0ug__RIa5B5GERaV4_S6kGFfB2AxmtYyuKI/s320/Robsmoke.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You know that I can </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">see</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> you there, right?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And MarylouStew says:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAwNvfLfI_VdsYSdxLbsYUNFcCM06EiT5azgzhfTtUXXK9hbIAAL5LN__S5Z88KMGRLFBn3K3wir-Y305gROkJ9iFcXwIaMr2w7T-LAU8TEVFL96XKjECjctcohVj202QVYOYPDzw6LY/s1600/1stMaryloupic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAwNvfLfI_VdsYSdxLbsYUNFcCM06EiT5azgzhfTtUXXK9hbIAAL5LN__S5Z88KMGRLFBn3K3wir-Y305gROkJ9iFcXwIaMr2w7T-LAU8TEVFL96XKjECjctcohVj202QVYOYPDzw6LY/s320/1stMaryloupic.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have cold cream, I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">will use it, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lurkers.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just not in a way you hoped. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You will </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">not </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">enjoy it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ai1LKIkud8sfvnIzrqaMowR44K7WxB7OiRe6VdK4NAWGgKCBr_4L1dgsUXrE4qG74wCBfvNZTnd4Iv9CH6AhTeSlGhOp248CXhqDe2DDGcrZbP77XEejl7jbsdNzSSsjkYZXJOwS6ts/s1600/Getoffmydick.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ai1LKIkud8sfvnIzrqaMowR44K7WxB7OiRe6VdK4NAWGgKCBr_4L1dgsUXrE4qG74wCBfvNZTnd4Iv9CH6AhTeSlGhOp248CXhqDe2DDGcrZbP77XEejl7jbsdNzSSsjkYZXJOwS6ts/s320/Getoffmydick.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BeastieBoyRob Says to the Vultures:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I can't stand it, I know you planned it...!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is all your...Sabotage"</span></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So the pictures of MarylouStew in her lovely strawberry-blonde locks caused some rejoicing in the Kristen fandom. And when the pics of Rob in his classic Beastie Boy t-shirt surfaced, I'm pretty sure I heard bodies hitting the floor in a faint. Rob was there. To see his Queen, our Queen, Kristen. As soon as he wrapped up filming for his own film <i>Water for Elephants </i>in Los Angeles, after his obligatory work accepting surfboards at the Teen Choice Awards, the dude was on a plane to <i>Montreal </i>to be with his lady love. In the two or three days after those first pictures emerged into the limelight, Kristen and Rob fans began receiving the most incredible gifts of <i>nonverbal communication </i>that it actually overwhelmed. There were The Nuzzle pics. There were the Kristen-is-practicing-her-Lindy Hop-moves pics, and there were about two <i>hundred </i>fan encounters and pictures that materialized. This one was my favorite:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqtvb_r213oLsWMfOl1OSePyZeAsyqt3cWoV6mAkyIDaYZ7Ig5YQdUFufo6qXae0Ch4XvUfinTv937q0hP-ESauw89N-3d489su5eJ1NSY9E8g8tbLqAzsBfz46eLwIjUjpzHSKqz3B4/s1600/krMontreal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqtvb_r213oLsWMfOl1OSePyZeAsyqt3cWoV6mAkyIDaYZ7Ig5YQdUFufo6qXae0Ch4XvUfinTv937q0hP-ESauw89N-3d489su5eJ1NSY9E8g8tbLqAzsBfz46eLwIjUjpzHSKqz3B4/s320/krMontreal.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I cant..I just...yesss...for so many reasons..gah!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I prefer this for many reasons, one of them being that Rob and Kristen are in it...<i>together.</i> Also, this nice lady and her kids made this a <i>family </i>affair<i> </i>and she and her family (husband/dad snapped the picture, after asking Rob and Kristen's permission first) interacted respectfully with the couple, thus being rewarded with the singular shot of the night with both Rob and Kristen in it, intentionally. Well then, of course, THIS happened. And <i>it</i> became one of my favorites <i>evah.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YYjv361XvWe4zGSHd5LFSYAoiIx19H7_MFCcslSOIvS19Fo94YYkfP4MVO76xMCpBhaGV4H4dFV5I7pU4cjN5nr9wfvRXOSTHVQOO2H4_UXTgvs8VT19Swegs5E7zS63_YcuoBAm62o/s1600/shoulder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YYjv361XvWe4zGSHd5LFSYAoiIx19H7_MFCcslSOIvS19Fo94YYkfP4MVO76xMCpBhaGV4H4dFV5I7pU4cjN5nr9wfvRXOSTHVQOO2H4_UXTgvs8VT19Swegs5E7zS63_YcuoBAm62o/s320/shoulder.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">quite honestly, I think this is more revealing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">than all of the others. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This picture led to the pics seen 'round the world, with a confirmation that for some reason people still needed: Kristen and Robert are together...as a <i>couple. </i>A K-I-S-S-I-N-G couple. If you haven't seen the grainy pictures yet a.) you're in the minority and b.) you will need to check out the gossip sites elsewhere to see 'em. That's the compromise I made with myself when alluding to The Kissing Pictures. Ok. So what <i>will </i> I post? How bout some more Communicating, my Other Rabble Rousers?!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6bGurwTIW-grV0RrZBUnJh9EzV-VIrrCpshv8dDab3p2zDytxmc9flnYwsEOBWVOxs07G35BZME2wdXiBoHWwFqo3tQ4sIX6Jj3funQb5xj1_IKS8SrpOybxwaSs_qAZrJBF6GGWuck/s1600/leavingmtl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6bGurwTIW-grV0RrZBUnJh9EzV-VIrrCpshv8dDab3p2zDytxmc9flnYwsEOBWVOxs07G35BZME2wdXiBoHWwFqo3tQ4sIX6Jj3funQb5xj1_IKS8SrpOybxwaSs_qAZrJBF6GGWuck/s320/leavingmtl.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nobody looks this good when walking. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nobody but them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS0PLCNWZ_NmdahL3H4pusYeDDR7UcJzsdNZd_DjLFORbUz7tAFsiAEIf2R9opHTFp_hotaSiZt-svdzH2MNaebpoYuYbaCRjDill171bRdajm3yvfv4hWG5lS4ffpw4AQMj6Yfm489Y/s1600/Birdieflash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS0PLCNWZ_NmdahL3H4pusYeDDR7UcJzsdNZd_DjLFORbUz7tAFsiAEIf2R9opHTFp_hotaSiZt-svdzH2MNaebpoYuYbaCRjDill171bRdajm3yvfv4hWG5lS4ffpw4AQMj6Yfm489Y/s320/Birdieflash.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Going Home</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So today's Musings is dedicated to the glorious moment of realizing we <i>belong </i>somewhere. That we have a place reserved only for ourselves where we can kick off our shoes, breathe deeply and share that space with what or <i>whomever </i> we choose. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is something I know a whole lot about. Friends and family know me as "gypsy" or "bohemian nomad". I have the wanderlust pretty fiercely. It's a thirst in me that overtakes and overruns. Fortunately, I was raised by a woman who prescribed to the most incredible philosophy:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Travel is Education. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Travel is Important. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Travel is Life.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Also, with my Island Blood coursing through my veins, and my constant seeking for "belonging" as an Other..and a child of adoption, I was destined to explore and find my niche. Throw in the fact that smack dab in the middle of the years I simply refer to as: 2005 Thru 2007, I lost some major footing and was seeking grounding and direction. In the dark, dark time right after my "BreakThrough" as I lovingly refer to it (reference the <i>Musings </i>titled "Finding your voice..."), I needed to ...go away. To heal. To remind myself what I was doing here, what my direction was. What was worth preserving. I was scattered, lacking balance, and I was <b>RUN RUN RUN RUNNNNING</b> from everything. And "dating" enough people for my friends and family to jokingly refer to my dates as "the UN Panel". What? So I'm worldly. I've told you guys that before. Don't judge. In this particular time, I was granted an opportunity to travel to Asia for the first time. Oh I TRAVELED. I spent time in China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and finally, my own islands: The Philippines. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQgyhTq6btYA9f24Sy9-Z67LAr21Eeleqa89egi9NvAg6kLh6rq4hPf3NvvTqup2jD6o2dTH5K-Z7lPUb6Cr7UgHYcgbqTqfxgqnEWU7CLV7DUK1OQE09Id2XMZsAC9UPAwYlscuv3QE/s1600/Nara+Japan.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQgyhTq6btYA9f24Sy9-Z67LAr21Eeleqa89egi9NvAg6kLh6rq4hPf3NvvTqup2jD6o2dTH5K-Z7lPUb6Cr7UgHYcgbqTqfxgqnEWU7CLV7DUK1OQE09Id2XMZsAC9UPAwYlscuv3QE/s320/Nara+Japan.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nara, Japan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">World's Tallest Buddha.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">un.be.lieve.able.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcwKo3A8HxxxIYGwje98nadIg-GhzUKY2gzbPyH7xD3KH_JkEYZO6RsgMy7mlkp0iKpwpkflC5kqaTf8QAZ2dkMlh1-9pF3Kz0FHJ1Uy742kLKky86aPaNnTudfmNTiWF_4ibO5EL_xM/s1600/Great_Wall_of_China.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcwKo3A8HxxxIYGwje98nadIg-GhzUKY2gzbPyH7xD3KH_JkEYZO6RsgMy7mlkp0iKpwpkflC5kqaTf8QAZ2dkMlh1-9pF3Kz0FHJ1Uy742kLKky86aPaNnTudfmNTiWF_4ibO5EL_xM/s320/Great_Wall_of_China.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I had no choice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's The Great Wall of China!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I raced to the highest peak and screamed "HELLLLLO"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">What is the saying? You don't know what you have until it's gone...? Or...You must travel so far away to realize you were <i>home </i>all along.... There's <i>no </i>place like Home....All of this was true for me. This could be the same for Rob and Kristen. Home. Home. Home. I discovered in my lengthy travels, even having a week on my own in The Philippines to discover my culture, that HOME is where my heart soared. Home did not have a mailbox with my name attached to it. Home was in my suitcase, with my flip flops, in my iPod. Home was where I made it. Home was shared with whatever or<i> whomever </i>I wanted to share it with. Home became to which I referred as my inner contentedness. A certainty that I was ok being a female, adopted and bi-racial and pierced and tattooed and voluptuous and a fan of both Rage Against the Machine AND Fergie...a confidence that <i>wherever</i> I was...I was <i><b>OK</b></i>. I didn't need to go in search of my biological parents when I went to the Philippines...But I did go and find my <i>culture..</i> I ate the cuisine, I listened to the music, I spoke with families and had meals with folks who wanted nothing more than to share their family recipe and fresh mangoes from the tree. It makes perfect sense that I managed to meet my future husband N while I was traveling all over the world and realizing that not only did I fit a standard of "beauty" in some parts of the world, but that I was just fine doing so on my own. He did not complete some unfinished project that I represented. He stands beside me. <i>Home. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUug5H1cWDGwtjnIJ2ud5u3JZK-ydav19GHJmZs1BM5E1wD6OaIL49uUxzQ2Ha1b07xKtHkqjkeDaHIk096Dydb8ZqyE4QPEMnh50L8pIaH2E4e0TjBiXhTbtBtdXI0PsWJecUQSX5d4/s1600/morethenyou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUug5H1cWDGwtjnIJ2ud5u3JZK-ydav19GHJmZs1BM5E1wD6OaIL49uUxzQ2Ha1b07xKtHkqjkeDaHIk096Dydb8ZqyE4QPEMnh50L8pIaH2E4e0TjBiXhTbtBtdXI0PsWJecUQSX5d4/s1600/morethenyou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUug5H1cWDGwtjnIJ2ud5u3JZK-ydav19GHJmZs1BM5E1wD6OaIL49uUxzQ2Ha1b07xKtHkqjkeDaHIk096Dydb8ZqyE4QPEMnh50L8pIaH2E4e0TjBiXhTbtBtdXI0PsWJecUQSX5d4/s320/morethenyou.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this week, I'd say Rob went where he was content. To be with the person who seems to be ok with everything that he is. And he seems to be ok with everything that Kristen is. All in her Other Queen gloriousness. <i>Home. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4ykvwRHh_x20y_xQGW6R08Rx0qmMj37Cp_T3ewRULzTdBrAVje-XHGREYIF7mXtn5mx3OjGQjTgxT1dRTAIuQpYTU8Vz9tgd7qYY84_GFCWUeS9Ftdzg4BS6G7Q9OKjHDv2VPuQYk5E/s1600/swingkr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4ykvwRHh_x20y_xQGW6R08Rx0qmMj37Cp_T3ewRULzTdBrAVje-XHGREYIF7mXtn5mx3OjGQjTgxT1dRTAIuQpYTU8Vz9tgd7qYY84_GFCWUeS9Ftdzg4BS6G7Q9OKjHDv2VPuQYk5E/s320/swingkr.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></s></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Featured Rebel Royal: Jenny Lewis</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, kids, you know how I love me my gingers. Here's another lovely red-headed rebel I wanted to introduce you to. Her name is Jenny, and she is a singer, songwriter and former child actor. You may recognize her from her work in one of my very favorite childhood movies: <i>Troop Beverly Hills </i>but, perhaps you <i>adore </i>her for being the near-primary front-woman for the indie-rock band <i>Rilo Kiley.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Ys_O-5YKOxOSXUu-tUXCp4olXL8iqy8wYNZwUbDzfG1R_xwgHazJhmOOuLkbpbuTnlrkVTexQVoCB-Pmxu6x20P6HkelYZJcJD3a0Kc1Nfy9_DLa7I7tq53PIfdyoqCcEpE_F4IHz4/s1600/jennylewis01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Ys_O-5YKOxOSXUu-tUXCp4olXL8iqy8wYNZwUbDzfG1R_xwgHazJhmOOuLkbpbuTnlrkVTexQVoCB-Pmxu6x20P6HkelYZJcJD3a0Kc1Nfy9_DLa7I7tq53PIfdyoqCcEpE_F4IHz4/s320/jennylewis01.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While she made her show business debut in a JELL-O commercial, and appeared in over a dozen teen-themed TV movies and films, including <i>The Wizard, </i>it was in 1998 that Jenny stopped acting in favor of forming a band with friends. She is a singer/songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player for the band that has released five albums. She also has released two solo albums, appearing with The Watson Twins in her debut album <i>Rabbit Fur Coat </i>and then later, sans the twins in the country-tinged, indie-rock flavored <i>Acid Tongue. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFcfgKRyBxV-zbHHXlne_-zzhsyBkj5ibdeX7c89esPmZhT5H7VT8QJvIyxtS7yWUDcx95Lj1w90Py8WIvuBivhYaiq_FP1gHXYosvi2jaOx74NWIBj9r8ygsCg1-fpeq0aF4H74lRzo/s1600/jennyguitar.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFcfgKRyBxV-zbHHXlne_-zzhsyBkj5ibdeX7c89esPmZhT5H7VT8QJvIyxtS7yWUDcx95Lj1w90Py8WIvuBivhYaiq_FP1gHXYosvi2jaOx74NWIBj9r8ygsCg1-fpeq0aF4H74lRzo/s320/jennyguitar.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>*has "girlishly seductive & versatile vocals"</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>*formed a band for the love of music, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>having no financial backing</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>*in-demand vocal collaborator with musicians:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Elvis Costello</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miss Lewis has an admirer in our Reigning Other Queen Kristen! Kristen reported once having admired Jenny's stage presence and performance abilities. When asked by <i>MTV </i>during the promo tour for <i>The Runaways, </i>Kristen reported that one of her favorite musicians was<i> </i>"Jenny Lewis". Pretty fantastic endorsement coming from Rebel Royalty, and one who has famously pristine taste in music. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDqSGciveZpFW4FeGxNvf-vZBh-0jGYCv0Gr2HB6rid_I12FM5nGUinZtR2EZe1O1WXBYYdVx0jqodNjZEB0qsUty5q9fSvwCisjs9NBu3Lx6QRjMzCJdlkGii0jyaGd5yT1_OreTKHk/s1600/normal_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDqSGciveZpFW4FeGxNvf-vZBh-0jGYCv0Gr2HB6rid_I12FM5nGUinZtR2EZe1O1WXBYYdVx0jqodNjZEB0qsUty5q9fSvwCisjs9NBu3Lx6QRjMzCJdlkGii0jyaGd5yT1_OreTKHk/s400/normal_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this epic week of Kristen sightings, MarylouStew sightings, and Kristen and Rob "home-comings", her film <i>On the Road </i>is gaining much attention, not only for the incredible cast attached to it, and not just because it's an iconic book in American literature, but because of Kristen's participation in it. Naysayers claim that Kristen's well-known partnership with Rob, or her involvement with <i>Twilight </i> is responsible for her "fame", but Kristen's impressive colleagues from previous movies tout and praise Kristen's acting ferocity, disputing the naysayers. "She is utterly fierce" says Melissa Leo, Kristen's <i>Welcome to the Rileys </i>co-star. Maria Bello, of <i>The Yellow Handkerchief </i>describes Kristen as "wonderful to work with, and a wonderful actress". <i> </i>And early movie critics have hailed Kristen's casting as Marylou as "wise". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvSNSJKGjIBm7omI1yXcKHJSLrlYPC9oC2W-6ENRsjkhpx_CVLHilLFzGfGCZZudeUHNBQgxQqcVWADxlOYrxzErgE68F5Q6h9bEhQuLRyEKbkApfViPc2G2Z6yvdvDIWrUGQwmGH3FE/s1600/KSTEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvSNSJKGjIBm7omI1yXcKHJSLrlYPC9oC2W-6ENRsjkhpx_CVLHilLFzGfGCZZudeUHNBQgxQqcVWADxlOYrxzErgE68F5Q6h9bEhQuLRyEKbkApfViPc2G2Z6yvdvDIWrUGQwmGH3FE/s320/KSTEW.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>*willingly displays her vulnerability </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>*seeks honest and authentic colleagues as her support network</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>*unabashedly direct in giving her opinion</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Because I ran ran ran ran far from home to realize I could never shake what was always <i>mine, </i>I am making the steps towards Other Queendom.<br />
<br />
Because she picked up a guitar and sang for an unsigned, unknown musical union of friends, having walked away from a potentially successful acting career, Jenny is a fierce Rebel Queen.<br />
<br />
Because Kristen has made her opinion on parasitic creatures preying on her personal life--including her relationship with Rob--abundantly clear, without having to say a word, Kristen is Reigning Other Queen.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Jenny is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others recognize <i>Home</i> not as a location,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">but a state of being</span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace your Other. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Question: Who, what, where is Home for You?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A/N: Thank you to <b>Bouffant</b>, as always for pre-reading and perusing the Thesaurus with me--it's like fucking Christmas when I'm using a thesaurus, and B played. Thank you to <b>@Buff82 </b>for making this whole thing pretty. I still tear up when I pull up the page and see her art. As always, thank you to<b> CC,</b> as her joy in writing <b>KSIBTU</b> inspires me daily. To <b>Iris @Just2CUSmile</b>, who holds my hands while I cry through the night..while reading stories. Thank you to my beloved <b>Sisters &Readers</b> including Sail, Julie, Lowkey, Brothaa (Missy) and as always, the Clog Wielding Queen. I want to thank two writers who have broken my heart and surpassed all that is beautiful this week with words they've written: <b>H32M</b> who writes <i>Disappear Here </i>and <b>Danieller123</b>, author of the staggering <i>Under the Apple Tree. </i>You teach me more. You teach me about Exquisite Poetry. I bow down to you. Thank you to <b>Kathryn</b>, my Welsh Muse, Manager and friend. And to her outrageously gifted husband, my friend <b>Keiron. </b>You INSPIRE. See you all next Thursday. </div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-39299857428086924582010-08-12T09:13:00.001-07:002010-08-13T02:56:52.287-07:00Balance, Brothers and Stewie<div style="text-align: left;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N: Today's essay went completely</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> unbeta'd</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. I am late on posting this due to complications involving my own methods of grounding and calm, mainly, sleep. I also am trying to strike the balance in starting the new "Magical Little Practice" and living the Creative Life. Takes some practice. Bear with me as I find my footing, my lovelies. Thank you in advance for your kind leniencies. </span></font></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">*<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>*<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>*</div><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span"></font><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></font></div><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">After a month of successful ninja-ing, our reigning Queen Stewie emerged in a fan pic with her <i>On the Road</i> costar Garrett and one of her good friends Tom Sturridge in Montreal a couple days ago. KStew appeared happy, relaxed and <i>knowing, </i>her smile full of secrets and promise. Perhaps it's because she had long already known what the public officially learned just yesterday: TomStu, in addition to his usual duties as friend and protector, has landed a role in the already epic Kerouac-based film alongside Kristen and Garret! Perhaps her smile also indicated that her partner in crime, featured Rebel Robert was in the vicinity as well. <i>Perhaps.</i> Whatever the reason, I loved what I saw in Kristen's smile. And I rejoiced at the news of Tom's casting in O<i>n the Road. </i>This film, already epic with its brilliant actors and director, storied inceptions and Francis Ford Coppola's backing, has the makings of <i>legend </i>in my opinion. Just to revisit the beauty and billiance of this cast, lets look at a few pictures, shall we? The following beautiful pic compilations were </font><font class="Apple-style-span">found online.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </font><font class="Apple-style-span">I did not make them, but I would love to credit their creator.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> If this is </font><font class="Apple-style-span">your work</font><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, let me know, please, so I can credit properly. Beautiful.</font></div></div></b></div></b><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></font></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></font></div></div></b></div></b></div></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1Ua13eiEBtnP4szMGiVZCBItlft5A4GVR_XXE_BaZe-GBmU6EsSo7Ubm7Q_-DfE-A4TYRGjJ51gnqupF8i4D8f-wm32Z2LF-ttqVgUsyZUR8b0RWWg0imDrHYNXh-b-I1DWC0VbP4Gg/s1600/sam--sal-jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1Ua13eiEBtnP4szMGiVZCBItlft5A4GVR_XXE_BaZe-GBmU6EsSo7Ubm7Q_-DfE-A4TYRGjJ51gnqupF8i4D8f-wm32Z2LF-ttqVgUsyZUR8b0RWWg0imDrHYNXh-b-I1DWC0VbP4Gg/s320/sam--sal-jack.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sam as Sal/Keroua</span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">c</font></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOXFhql9gEGX0hIUsU6zLwcDL4b4erK3rDlDigWfOWVo7kf4PUe0xf2t8lHv4pFWbFSuJYw1o_qe7JFZvl1-Z-6sfxbqgUzhreWF62RUIh47kqU54Ped8qfxSjPB7M0uKl_wKar6I7KM/s1600/Kris-Marylou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOXFhql9gEGX0hIUsU6zLwcDL4b4erK3rDlDigWfOWVo7kf4PUe0xf2t8lHv4pFWbFSuJYw1o_qe7JFZvl1-Z-6sfxbqgUzhreWF62RUIh47kqU54Ped8qfxSjPB7M0uKl_wKar6I7KM/s320/Kris-Marylou.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kristen as Marylou/Luanne</span></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWI5MVWftJJNHDWe7LUNubLpwQtQaFCHbXrlElKQ3NbiU4YYcjiE5UhOaPocSpZ5_OmvCZ0e32B5ELvySP8wDajPJ2Q3SQfinFhpAN0IWs_i-6-2wBEcZq9dt_lJJZ0uZ-IKKfiNHQWg/s1600/garret-neal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWI5MVWftJJNHDWe7LUNubLpwQtQaFCHbXrlElKQ3NbiU4YYcjiE5UhOaPocSpZ5_OmvCZ0e32B5ELvySP8wDajPJ2Q3SQfinFhpAN0IWs_i-6-2wBEcZq9dt_lJJZ0uZ-IKKfiNHQWg/s320/garret-neal.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Garrett as Dean/Neal</span></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"><br /></font></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Welcome to such a glorious, prestigious cast, TomStu! We learned last week at this time that the acting greats Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams were slated to play supporting characters in the film, catapulting the role sheet to mythical status, again, just in my opinion. I think Tom will fit in with this cast <i>juuuust fine.</i></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtpM0XJK8u50eW3T-hzBYNpVvuNukcqkBuo8ph8oqXHyBleRAZDt0P3cb_e40ZcLGv8EcYXw1ppq12OfM2xovE60FDFVc02nzlJuUed1VY2LO37vUNKpklatZPIzez5P1EgcsbEDW75E/s1600/Tomstubw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtpM0XJK8u50eW3T-hzBYNpVvuNukcqkBuo8ph8oqXHyBleRAZDt0P3cb_e40ZcLGv8EcYXw1ppq12OfM2xovE60FDFVc02nzlJuUed1VY2LO37vUNKpklatZPIzez5P1EgcsbEDW75E/s320/Tomstubw.jpg" width="213"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hello, Tom. Congratulations. </span></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You have somehow only </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">added</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to the epicness of OTR</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></font></font></div></div></b></div></b></div></div></b></font></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Ok, so outside his pleasing aesthetics, his status as Rob Pattinson's Bestie, and a protective, brother-type to KStew, Tom is a gifted actor in his own right. Did you SEE <i>The Boat That Rocked (Pirate Radio</i> in The States)?? If you haven't, you must go watch it RIGHT NOW. Seriously, it's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, complete with beautiful Brits (TomStu & Co), a <i>pristine</i> classic rock soundtrack and poetic Others in all their gorgeous rebelliousness. That movie's cast, much like the cast for <i>On the Road </i>boasts a smorgasbord of Rebel Royals and Others.</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></font></font></div></div></b></div></b></div></div></b></font></div></div><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></font></font><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcVdRE5Ye54-cEE8SNcjBk3vb2VSLZEHVE7SfVjgUVI223Y294qm8zoOyKS75tmLmAvQOue1G4_TICOoTSqVhFu1riyinL26-7KV1A-m7V98eJ8YrpLr-30w9Eo9iplZkaev0Ge8M7qY/s1600/kristom2.dms" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcVdRE5Ye54-cEE8SNcjBk3vb2VSLZEHVE7SfVjgUVI223Y294qm8zoOyKS75tmLmAvQOue1G4_TICOoTSqVhFu1riyinL26-7KV1A-m7V98eJ8YrpLr-30w9Eo9iplZkaev0Ge8M7qY/s320/kristom2.dms"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ICU, Stewie, all smirky goodness, behind Tom's shoulder!</span></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></font></div><b><div style="text-align: left;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><div style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: center; display: inline !important; "><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Back to NinjaStew. Let's give props to the fans who made viewing KStew, Tom and Garrett possible: Gustavo and Miguel. These guys, for me, embodied the nature of supportive, sensitve fans, respectfully approaching Kristen first before snapping a picture with her, and only posting the encounter and pics <i>afterwards </i>to grant the actors some privacy and anonymity. They didn't even realize who Tom and Garrett were, until afterward. Their eyes were <i>only </i>for Kristen, spouting descriptors in Spanish: "Kind. Perfection. Beautiful." We concur, my friends, we <i>concur.</i></font></font></div></div></b></div></div></b></div></div></b></div></div></b></div></div></b></font></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></font></div><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></font></font></div></div></b></div></div></b></div><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Today's <i>Musings</i> will continue last week's theme, delving further into how we've coped with the absence of our Queen, Stealth Stewie and her gorgeous partner in crime: Rebel Ninja Rob. How have we balanced the onslaught of 3D life (work, family, summer vacation planning) with our participation in the Kristen/Rob/Twilight Fandom and our ongoing mission of embracing Otherness and Authenticity as Rebel Royals? Although, it has been lovely to dig up some old <i>outtakes </i>(you all know how i feel about outtakes--why? Too much Pretty? Too many Offenses of Otherness?), like THESE:</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span"></font><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqbE53pz3gJsu0xcMDV2KtjQRzfN2IsJReKwfQJQdH1KtgvHgPRQbf3QHjyOAJJfz0ROIl63wr9D3XXxNlLUItD0Ygknd-zZglRY10xMfgK6E522HX-mVOM5AtmrhxgiDWdV2jfu2GhA/s1600/144155816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqbE53pz3gJsu0xcMDV2KtjQRzfN2IsJReKwfQJQdH1KtgvHgPRQbf3QHjyOAJJfz0ROIl63wr9D3XXxNlLUItD0Ygknd-zZglRY10xMfgK6E522HX-mVOM5AtmrhxgiDWdV2jfu2GhA/s320/144155816.jpg" width="238"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EW's 2007 Twilight photoshoot</span></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7yfiDBZCIHj0MgSFIf1CkZ1Ns_lFGREXOvuEZTUzQw62Zco5Gdn-ltMhgEA7cAkLgrGDdIoEenRo9tfJSn22FxkVAbDWXsH5oRzOK4yW96AXeSoMcbfXPULZ9tReiNLfzgzuFKs4fuE/s1600/ISOttk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7yfiDBZCIHj0MgSFIf1CkZ1Ns_lFGREXOvuEZTUzQw62Zco5Gdn-ltMhgEA7cAkLgrGDdIoEenRo9tfJSn22FxkVAbDWXsH5oRzOK4yW96AXeSoMcbfXPULZ9tReiNLfzgzuFKs4fuE/s320/ISOttk1.jpg" width="213"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">InStyle Magazine's 2008 Twilight photoshoot</span></font></div></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtDykSs6t6o3-nKlRT5vIxjbO3WPYl2z2WiSk8jMrXtiElmhMMzxK4SOQqeeZXraUMVSCBNu4JB5a1OrKh7mCeys624oL8NbRdGQr91HaO25JeKoX2OhyphenhyphenBW0Pd3aKlnSg_NpX5DDCoWc/s1600/ISOttk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtDykSs6t6o3-nKlRT5vIxjbO3WPYl2z2WiSk8jMrXtiElmhMMzxK4SOQqeeZXraUMVSCBNu4JB5a1OrKh7mCeys624oL8NbRdGQr91HaO25JeKoX2OhyphenhyphenBW0Pd3aKlnSg_NpX5DDCoWc/s320/ISOttk2.jpg" width="213"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> We already loved her then too, Rob</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"><br /></font></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Balancing Cause and Effect</span></b></font></div></div></div></b></div></div></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Its a precarious thing, balance. Elusive, even. There are so many things thrown at us within each moment, within each day, it's a wonder we don't crawl into the fetal position and beg for it all to wash away. But we do not (not all the time, anyway). There are a few physical places I've actually witnessed that embodied the idea of <i>balance </i>and proves the concept of <i>coexistence. </i>One of them I'll tell you about today. This place is a site on the stunning island of <i>Bali, Indonesia.</i> The entire island represents balance and karma, really, but this site in particular represents <i>coexistence</i>. Floating atop this peaceful lake is the Hindu Temple <i>Uluan Danu:</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzoAlydfHVHgJA20MDP2wkLnKYV8Rj-eYJMvpVjNAb-gzMiO0cW3e-qutLgXCR6BA-KOOhWjoy-3V186A7iHK9VTJyVhgJLJYpaUlYwJflc8rog23aH98hSqeP7tLYsA5hQSC7Tnp02g/s1600/temple2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzoAlydfHVHgJA20MDP2wkLnKYV8Rj-eYJMvpVjNAb-gzMiO0cW3e-qutLgXCR6BA-KOOhWjoy-3V186A7iHK9VTJyVhgJLJYpaUlYwJflc8rog23aH98hSqeP7tLYsA5hQSC7Tnp02g/s320/temple2.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>And a mere few yards offshore sit a Budhhist Temple, a Catholic cathedral and a mosque, all within walking distance, all amongst fragrant and beatific gardens.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ky0GX5SAC2SOpSPoHRmbpFBW7aJtvCdBnDZv6qKP3BtJEbk4cm8Lc8EWm66jWUMO6IR4sQdIHalhkBklgmYECY0z8D1bXoSWvyJz7IicKpqJBCO-zOZ8lFksMkbrsqsbu2WXfwSD2_g/s1600/DSCN1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ky0GX5SAC2SOpSPoHRmbpFBW7aJtvCdBnDZv6qKP3BtJEbk4cm8Lc8EWm66jWUMO6IR4sQdIHalhkBklgmYECY0z8D1bXoSWvyJz7IicKpqJBCO-zOZ8lFksMkbrsqsbu2WXfwSD2_g/s320/DSCN1358.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Why do I find this especially significant? Without going into the tenants of any specific organized religion, because that's not how <i>Musings </i>rolls, I will say that I am touched that vastly different ideologies can exist harmoniously. In Indonesia, with a population surpassing 237 <i>million </i>people<i>, </i>a staggering 86% of those people practice Islam, which includes my husband and his family. The remaining fourteen percent of the country's citizens may practice anything from Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity to agnosticism. But no one is shut out. There is <i>place </i>for <i>anyone </i>who wants to worship. There is an opportunity for equality, <i>balance. </i>Within walking distance. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyS6brn86pbDAr9uOem2qtB4QB8-7N5jjTl-ohCsyb4kp3al2aycZakAYvYBcb0MDyGMFd5_9TTq8cJxPSeQJUDlgeACErfuZ3zhHiRe4Ti2fEZI2oGbb4Cl2st0wW-0iGijU-5BG6cY/s1600/zengarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyS6brn86pbDAr9uOem2qtB4QB8-7N5jjTl-ohCsyb4kp3al2aycZakAYvYBcb0MDyGMFd5_9TTq8cJxPSeQJUDlgeACErfuZ3zhHiRe4Ti2fEZI2oGbb4Cl2st0wW-0iGijU-5BG6cY/s320/zengarden.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br /></div>So the thing about Balinese philosophy is this: It is based on the what is called <i>tri hita karana, </i>which means that there is harmony, balance, and equilibrium between God--however you know God to be--the environment and the community/people. In other words: <i>Interconnectedness. </i>Happiness and peace can only be obtained, according to the Balinese, when balance is obtained. So how do you obtain balance? Well, the first thing one does is realize that <i>anything </i>put into the world, be it joy, anger, jealousy, unrest, negativity, love, light or forgiveness, has an answering effect: <i>consequence. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Let's bring this to a place more immediate to our KStew world, our daily lives as Others. We can adore, admire and support Kristen, Rob, The Gos, and today's Featured Royal Johnny Depp without declaring a rift amongst fellow supporters. We can admire and support these actors and artists without hunting them down and depersonalizing them. Masjids (mosques) can be across the street from cathedrals. Fans and admirers of Kristen and Rob can coexist peacefully too. A hippieCali Therapist toeing the line of whimsy-punk (um, <b>me</b>) following no organized religion can marry and lovingly support her restless, intellectual, kind, Muslim husband (<b>N</b>), especially at the start of Ramadan (<b>now</b>).</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u6xjd0BPjFK7iCgMofFlGUuKQCsjDVeFcrFZwI0eCB45Yn-9d4kz5q7qMUUMCuArlbExmG8935d-MeOsxxiIppjGeFGSMi7lDlaJY4Ahaz0MWIZG1HV_ZDiMhiGhYo_E2xzu9910fjM/s1600/th_hippie-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u6xjd0BPjFK7iCgMofFlGUuKQCsjDVeFcrFZwI0eCB45Yn-9d4kz5q7qMUUMCuArlbExmG8935d-MeOsxxiIppjGeFGSMi7lDlaJY4Ahaz0MWIZG1HV_ZDiMhiGhYo_E2xzu9910fjM/s320/th_hippie-1.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>ME</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">+</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqjtysld1XgH9EfvGP-UlkNLXxkLR5yxdgZYbwmfRXevVzA5cfqhycdq0xhuJzhlhAyNMLoh7IQ9qubRQBiQKyoL8lupIg8RbVSUEOYcsrqlK0ox02J8ZmDGSLS6hTEuHKpZlxvOntNs/s1600/norman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqjtysld1XgH9EfvGP-UlkNLXxkLR5yxdgZYbwmfRXevVzA5cfqhycdq0xhuJzhlhAyNMLoh7IQ9qubRQBiQKyoL8lupIg8RbVSUEOYcsrqlK0ox02J8ZmDGSLS6hTEuHKpZlxvOntNs/s200/norman.jpg" width="200"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>N</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>=</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmZloBh77TBWJShKVENUlj01n2IjrE0yg4BFnfjpsMMLhG9fk_WCFpkQbfq3EBS3aNIzTkN9oTpUMUu6Q5ISTroUBYCdDrnhYvDLTWH-f_ECAN7Q2c7D-7ahHXkQaWa-i0B76Kf8Elmg/s1600/Holding-Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmZloBh77TBWJShKVENUlj01n2IjrE0yg4BFnfjpsMMLhG9fk_WCFpkQbfq3EBS3aNIzTkN9oTpUMUu6Q5ISTroUBYCdDrnhYvDLTWH-f_ECAN7Q2c7D-7ahHXkQaWa-i0B76Kf8Elmg/s200/Holding-Hands.jpg" width="200"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Coexistence. Balance.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">C'mon, lovelies. If religions as old as time can seek coexistence, so can we. We can seek balance. We can give the space and privacy to our Other Queen Kristen and for Rob while they work. We can admire them and all the Other Rebels in an existence that doesn't trigger war. We can disagree and banter with fellow fans, but we can do so with respect...for ourselves and in representation of our Rebel Royals and Other Queens. We can give Kristen and Rob the privacy and space they've asked for, that they have all rights to. Let's give our girl and her guy some breathing room. And let's remind ourselves that whatever we put out there, can and will revisit us. The Balinese and Hindus call it Karma. It's also known as The Golden Rule: Do unto others...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_50qojePfeeOFBOjV1NSr7NZSAzEiCUiR5Y_VnHymTiHTHYQF8ZOmhV5TFYiKWT2xjA2WtBTStMZxKamTZzrT9NRd7yh5E7mr6lVNcvwL3Uox9LvJvDHi_BZu60zxOOtdmy8IY6YzqI/s1600/kstewartfans-hq-00212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_50qojePfeeOFBOjV1NSr7NZSAzEiCUiR5Y_VnHymTiHTHYQF8ZOmhV5TFYiKWT2xjA2WtBTStMZxKamTZzrT9NRd7yh5E7mr6lVNcvwL3Uox9LvJvDHi_BZu60zxOOtdmy8IY6YzqI/s320/kstewartfans-hq-00212.jpg" width="213"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">taking a moment to breathe and ground</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="large"><br /></font></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(with a little help from brother Cam)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Other photos have surfaced since last <i>Musings. </i>These pictures are of<i> </i>the Vogue Italy 2007 photo shoot. We were given a peek of a 16 year-old-Kstew with one of her three championed brothers. Cameron is another perfect example of an Other, vigilantly protective of his younger sister, accompanying Kristen to photo shoots, film shoots and promotions. Tall and thoughtful, exuding a creative spirit and tattoos, Cam has often been referred to along with her other brothers (Dana and Taylor) as Kristen's best friend and provider of precious grounding and calm. Balance, one might say.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4tnaOqCaEGjn-1KrFAd0xXxdM1EQl9lsUbclIkV1S3vy3LfGg9p7Zdr6FdULfyp-vJpJlNvGVZBaTQc3i-jz1kFP9uvH7p56Kylk98cvotJFAnTlEKRIIFpQkk5kYq90wZdVzygPc0w/s1600/KS07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4tnaOqCaEGjn-1KrFAd0xXxdM1EQl9lsUbclIkV1S3vy3LfGg9p7Zdr6FdULfyp-vJpJlNvGVZBaTQc3i-jz1kFP9uvH7p56Kylk98cvotJFAnTlEKRIIFpQkk5kYq90wZdVzygPc0w/s320/KS07.jpg" width="216"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNMLg5YQF10dsLZj8KoCCeXqLwe-HnzjmY679GuT-kg7fQI3yGXZE_5Pg8bn9RljO7o7q1A8qd1uqQMvktF8yHD-UFVoxVv6uasmqAvjF6BeADL03iAc332AzgXJSo_bmv20uWdh5Wc/s1600/K&C07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNMLg5YQF10dsLZj8KoCCeXqLwe-HnzjmY679GuT-kg7fQI3yGXZE_5Pg8bn9RljO7o7q1A8qd1uqQMvktF8yHD-UFVoxVv6uasmqAvjF6BeADL03iAc332AzgXJSo_bmv20uWdh5Wc/s320/K&C07.jpg" width="230"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPNC22uAzhMFAFXQujpCPLeebcISf9FAx-nmwdLcAh70yylQGHlTGJSozfiTXr4c6ZNW96Ap57DCV5Dma7lfoBC3-Cy7saqHtEPGQtY9FT8mWUR2EthL1kB1emnxQe7N_zfD0yQFRMv0/s1600/KStew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPNC22uAzhMFAFXQujpCPLeebcISf9FAx-nmwdLcAh70yylQGHlTGJSozfiTXr4c6ZNW96Ap57DCV5Dma7lfoBC3-Cy7saqHtEPGQtY9FT8mWUR2EthL1kB1emnxQe7N_zfD0yQFRMv0/s320/KStew.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">**Cites her brothers as her best friends</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">**Is more comfortable in jeans & Chucks</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">vs Red Carpet Regalia.</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">**Visited a Holocaust Memorial </font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">vs amusement parks on a promo tour</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">**Methods for balancing: Baking pies, cooking meals for family</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Featured Rebel Royal:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Johnny Depp</span></b></div>Our beautiful featured Rebel this week is someone I alluded to a couple weeks ago. I promised you some Depp, and I follow through on promises (though I ask for some room when I am replying to your beautiful, brilliant emails, ok?). I can bring The Pretty to tie you over. So, Mr Depp is an American actor and musician known most prominently for portraying numerous crew members from the Mothership of Oddballs (YES! #GoTeamOdd) in his chosen movie roles. You may know him as Captain Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Edward Scissorhands or, in my favorite example, as Roux from <i>Chocolate. *</i>Pausing to breathe deeply*. But before any of these seminal roles that made Johnny famous, those of us children of the 80's may remember watching him on our TV sets on <i>21 Jump Street. </i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-4unf-aZ94AcLPfK7fJe4aPbHELDkLdzV11oiDAEGMpTAe1TrFhmHG_g6xx-WytZHP8nTAWIM1jRwn2c7ZORc-tqq2MLHEKG8rRyS0EzjsAvXT9Abi3nRwCmslmjO79rWa_eqE9RNVg/s1600/21jumpstreetJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-4unf-aZ94AcLPfK7fJe4aPbHELDkLdzV11oiDAEGMpTAe1TrFhmHG_g6xx-WytZHP8nTAWIM1jRwn2c7ZORc-tqq2MLHEKG8rRyS0EzjsAvXT9Abi3nRwCmslmjO79rWa_eqE9RNVg/s320/21jumpstreetJ.jpg" width="253"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span">yesssss.</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a child, Johnny and his family, which included 3 siblings, moved around frequently. He reports moving to 20 different locations before settling in Florida in his youth. According to Wikipedia, Johnny engaged in self-mutilating behaviors to cope with his insecurities. He referred to his numerous tattoos as "a journal" with "every mark having some special meaning" of an event in his life. He dropped out of high school to be a touring musician with his local band "The Kids", and never returned. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVh3bgIqcOD_g-m9CI5BO40Ns8h5_VxU5J6wAM_URLFcepjbm7UmHVz8OogcJQMYQ9giT5jP8LM6OJDplIl0fiQwWEnl0LawkXMMfPqpu0Aw5cUYIoZmlcyIfngl6k2ih0PvY5g6FBFI/s1600/Johnnypiano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVh3bgIqcOD_g-m9CI5BO40Ns8h5_VxU5J6wAM_URLFcepjbm7UmHVz8OogcJQMYQ9giT5jP8LM6OJDplIl0fiQwWEnl0LawkXMMfPqpu0Aw5cUYIoZmlcyIfngl6k2ih0PvY5g6FBFI/s320/Johnnypiano.jpg" width="238"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unhappy with the "teen heartthrob" image that emerged as a result of his role on <i>21 Jump Street</i>, Johnny began seeking film roles that would broaden his exposure to the work he truly sought. His first film role was in <i>A Nightmare On Elm Street </i>(scared the shit outta me, lemme tell ya), and he moved onto work in Oliver Stone's <i>Platoon </i>as a Vietnamese-speaking soldier, and ultimately to his first Tim Burton collaboration (i.e. GENIUS) of <i>Edward Scissorhands. </i>Of course, his role as Edward would mark his forays into playing the "Iconic Loners"and there really, was no looking back. He lives in France with his partner, actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, and their two children. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZoHwGQPcRDLIDyvnjYAx-1_WUJBLZYWKXTOTLKyUsyJYAvdUFtoYYZW0haoTYAwe6fZ4H11jh6sp2xQNqV0npX1TkVFSsz5Lictq5oZnIlzdh1knf1W9ixNYqTyMB9VuVJL_0Hbzdhw/s1600/JohnnyDepp-1-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZoHwGQPcRDLIDyvnjYAx-1_WUJBLZYWKXTOTLKyUsyJYAvdUFtoYYZW0haoTYAwe6fZ4H11jh6sp2xQNqV0npX1TkVFSsz5Lictq5oZnIlzdh1knf1W9ixNYqTyMB9VuVJL_0Hbzdhw/s320/JohnnyDepp-1-300.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>**Admitted severe discomfort with the "teen idol" label</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>**Proclaimed that big studios 'never understood' those misfit roles </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>he would take on.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>**Prefers an anonymous life, choosing to live abroad</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>**Methods for balancing: being with his children, playing guitar</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oh Brother, where art thou?</span></b></div>Like Kristen's view on her brothers, my brother Chew (you all learned of his brilliant existence from the very first <i>Musings</i>) is one of my favorite people in my world. I just this week shared with him my secret world of <i>Musings </i>and writing about The Stew while we were driving along the coast. I've had several of you readers write in saying that your family has no clue of your devotion to all things Kristen and Rob. Part of my mission to de-fragment and balance out my life, as initiated a few weeks ago, included outting myself as a Other Queen supporter to my family and 3D friends. I told my own tattooed, punky, surfing-and-hockey-playing big brother that he inspired a movement of <i>Otherness </i>and instead of chuckles and head shakes that I thought I would receive from him, he smiled and congratulated me.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">Chew:</font></b><font class="Apple-style-span"> "When your work is turned into a film screenplay, who plays </font><i><font class="Apple-style-span">me?</font></i><font class="Apple-style-span">" </font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">Me:</font></b><font class="Apple-style-span"> (after no hesitation), "Matthew Fox"</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span">Chew:</font></b><font class="Apple-style-span"> "Ok, well, he can act, but can he be a </font><i><font class="Apple-style-span">bastard?"</font></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#eeeeee"><br /></font></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="white"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="black"><font class="Apple-style-span">Perhaps my brother (who looks A LOT like Matthew Fox. I know, right? zzzing!) carries a little remorse for some of his torture inflicted upon me in our childhood. This includes stationing me in front of tall rose bushes in our backyard as "goalie", and proceeding to kick wet soccerballs in quick succession at my head. "BLOCK THIS!" he would scream at me, and being the little sister eager for inclusion, I would dive to block. DIVE...oh, motherfucker, I would DIVE, resulting in so many painful scratches over my face and arms for weeks. But we got through that. I now view my brother's opinion and his ideas as integral to balance, comfort and security. </font></font></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="white"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="black"><font class="Apple-style-span"><br /></font></font></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No, we haven't seen a lot of Kristen and Rob lately, but we received a smiling confirmation that Kristen is well, and in the company of a friend who connects her with her partner Rob. And at the time of posting this essay, there have been sightings of Rob since his arrival in Montreal over the past two days, which makes me warm and content. I am pleased that Kristen has her grounding agents of Rob and Tom while she delves into a very complex role surrounding a very complex woman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I encourage us all to continue exploring our methods for grounding and balance in the lulls of any Kristen or Rob news. Bake some pies. Go for soothing swims, exhilaration runs. Make music. Dance. Find your local <i>masjid </i>and commune with your Higher Power, just as N is this month for Ramadan. Remind yourself that every effort we make to release an emotion or intention into the world returns to us...in some way shape or form. Go be with your loved ones, your brothers, your sisters. Above all, be well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykrrcXA_yqhu7ltPorq6vSEGUeHWv9vOZgloNXnhpsWP2xu3pe-1ioeVr0LZePf0yyEBS6uCJQO_n2GwZF4QonUgvyZiPALf-Vz6GSShD2IlG-mEvK7qXy9KXa6tRZQuGXEX2trGGNIg/s1600/normal_mq008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykrrcXA_yqhu7ltPorq6vSEGUeHWv9vOZgloNXnhpsWP2xu3pe-1ioeVr0LZePf0yyEBS6uCJQO_n2GwZF4QonUgvyZiPALf-Vz6GSShD2IlG-mEvK7qXy9KXa6tRZQuGXEX2trGGNIg/s320/normal_mq008.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Because I seek grounding from within, but also from connecting with my brother, even though he kicked soccer balls at my head in punishment, I am on the Other Homecoming Float. </font></i><br /><i><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></font></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Because he let his surefire ticket to stardom and fame in the form of a </font>21 Jumpstreet </i>contract expire with no option for renewal, Johnny Depp is a Rebel Royal.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because she knows exactly who to turn to for support, grounding and balance, even as her supportive network is photographed almost as much as she is, Kristen is our reigning Other Queen.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Johnny is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Others realize that </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">anything </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">put into the world,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">answers back with the intent to balance.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Embrace your Other. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span"><br /></font></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Question: What are your methods of balancing and grounding?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A/N: Thank you to the usual suspects: Team Other captains: Bouffant, Buff_82, and Cynically Convivial. To my Cyber Sisters/Readers including Julie, Nail, the Clog-Wielding Queen and my OTR Bestie Marble Pole. Thank you to you beauties on Twitter who make me laugh and supply me with the JawP0rn and my Stewie fixes (eyeing YOU @Greenangelice!). Thank you to the fanfiction writers (you know who you are, you hear from me and respond so kindly!) who have ruled my world and contributed to my complete refusal to live in reality. Dedicating this to my brother Chew and my husband N, the boys who bring me grounding and reminder of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">GOODNESS. </span><font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I adore the letters and texts and emails you've all sent. I am stunned and awed by your beautiful words and courage. And again, thank you for your patience in my slow responses. See you all next Thursday. </span></font></i></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-66124849072420524732010-08-04T12:13:00.001-07:002010-08-05T14:33:07.250-07:00A KStew absence makes the heart grow fonder<b></b><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yes I know. It stings a bit. There is an emptiness and an ache during these Kristen-less days. The last public sighting we have of Kristen is from the bowling alley and that quirky-cool man's reference to Kristen as "that punky chick from </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Twilight</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">".Thank the Goddess for these newly released EW </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">outtakes </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(outtake because there is just </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">too much </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pretty?)</span></span></span></div></div></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWM9L1rcCwy7mrdZtsn8gs3pEdeXit5ybAO9B_vpdp-fK-eTY_loDQYSA6vFNUf1GuC8y5DMMAjN2X_QG1FZz4g-tiLAG81uaa_5dtkARss_wIHl8B-kmjBdL1BONNTQ3I451g6bT1sI/s1600/Kristen+EWouttake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWM9L1rcCwy7mrdZtsn8gs3pEdeXit5ybAO9B_vpdp-fK-eTY_loDQYSA6vFNUf1GuC8y5DMMAjN2X_QG1FZz4g-tiLAG81uaa_5dtkARss_wIHl8B-kmjBdL1BONNTQ3I451g6bT1sI/s320/Kristen+EWouttake.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXAm2k9bicwC1Y__lOR2MyP1RKWrrFZriOfQgpZW4LwYNDlvWYn5pp_-47AF5omQzMUxyCILJsFQRwY0TNXAIpDvxrRLO7mOqn1jN2_7FhobXKqgfDUH4jLXm-M0l7Z6NjwM9eWtkxxE/s1600/EWouttake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXAm2k9bicwC1Y__lOR2MyP1RKWrrFZriOfQgpZW4LwYNDlvWYn5pp_-47AF5omQzMUxyCILJsFQRwY0TNXAIpDvxrRLO7mOqn1jN2_7FhobXKqgfDUH4jLXm-M0l7Z6NjwM9eWtkxxE/s320/EWouttake3.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nd peeps say she </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">doesn't </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">smile. pffft</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also thank The Goddess again for the soothing (at least for me, anyway) knowledge that Kristen is not on the streets dodging Vulture-Papz because instead she's safely ensconced and immersed in her current job: filming </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the Road. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am so pleased to know that Kristen is submerged in a new role, and it's just an added bonus that the role is of one of the fair and feisty Marylou in the Kerouac classic. Filming began on Monday in beautiful Montreal, and word on the street is that these first days dive into some of the grittiest moments between the threesome. While writing this essay, pretty UH-MAY-ZING casting news surfaced: Viggo Mortensen (um, YESSSS) and Amy Adams are joining the cast for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the Road</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! Talk about high calibre projects!! Kristen has been attached to filming </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OTR</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for a couple years now, and I can only imagine how excited and thrilled she is with the way this film is shaping up. I personally feel this film has the makings of legend, much like the book on which it is based. Ok..but anyhoo, we </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">know </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">what Kristen is doing, and it is so much greater than anything I can claim to have done. But with Kristen out of the spotlight, and Rob waving goodbye to the WFE set yesterday, what can we </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Muse </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about, lovelies? mmm. lemmmeee think...lemme think....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsoo05qijhSWYYdTXbVmufew3LtEBmWMP9JEfU9UTWmMU7Mv5uHYaybjZ9mg8-fh_iU7HHINBQH_GLr7gOX6trGp8FofJMnsvyVtZ8f3qPnv36xXjBj11dPF71qOoFjvBGft9cChzePM/s1600/Garrett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsoo05qijhSWYYdTXbVmufew3LtEBmWMP9JEfU9UTWmMU7Mv5uHYaybjZ9mg8-fh_iU7HHINBQH_GLr7gOX6trGp8FofJMnsvyVtZ8f3qPnv36xXjBj11dPF71qOoFjvBGft9cChzePM/s320/Garrett.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Helllooo, Garrett. Road tripping with you will NOT be a problem.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zw2PXxlc9xDWf5sn9YfdBLtTUXhd-WlRXSk45QD3XHWvUOHl9_5e3513W_X6Q86pPZz0o-zYSsPvNk0VaoDFtzH0GQJg-KR6MwkMqL_RjKlt1U7W8zyfpw_GVSkCgLJxsnVj7u_fTlQ/s1600/viggo-mortensen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zw2PXxlc9xDWf5sn9YfdBLtTUXhd-WlRXSk45QD3XHWvUOHl9_5e3513W_X6Q86pPZz0o-zYSsPvNk0VaoDFtzH0GQJg-KR6MwkMqL_RjKlt1U7W8zyfpw_GVSkCgLJxsnVj7u_fTlQ/s320/viggo-mortensen.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Return of the King</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> indeed, Mr Mortensen</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Idle hands make...</span></span></b></div><b></b><b><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well, some folks have certainly found new topics to muse about...In these brief moments where Kristen has been out of the limelight, bewildering events have occurred amongst the fandom. The Not-A-Fans and the Disturbingly Focused folks managed to assist in the creation then subsequent spreading of false stories about Kristen, and Kristen herself is not available to clarify. Plus, absence leaves lots of room for elaboration by the especially creative storytellers. S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">adly, those are the tamer actions of the idle and the bored. The most distressing actions I've witnessed above all, happened within these past two days. </span></span></span></div></b><b><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some "fans" were quite busy offering</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> distractions </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">in the form of petty tweet-wars; libelous, vile photo manipulations; side-choosing in arguments that </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">they </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">created regarding whether they know </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">more </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">private information about Kristen and Rob than other people. This same information that Kristen and Rob themselves have worked so excruciatingly hard to </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">keep </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">private.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I won't spend more than a moment thinking too hard about it all, because I have</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">more fulfilling </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">to entertain, but out of a mental health professional's curiosity, I ask:</span></span></span><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></div></b></span></div></b></div></div></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></div></b></span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?</span></div></div></div></b></b></b></span></span></span></div></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">People who refer to themselves as "fans", but whom are also engaged in this harmful, hurtful behavior towards both Kristen </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Rob and their supporters: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></b></b></span></div><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Are you unhappy? </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Is it anxiety, </span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></div></b></b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">boredom, or a shattered spirit? Needing a power boost? Do you simply stir the pot while your favorite target is indisposed, because you need </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">something to do?</span></span></i></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></span><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div></div></div></b></span></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></span></div></b></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ojW_q4uh4unhv5RS1qytFeqw8FUWOOH5uig9QhrfK1vObr_wmde3u6a_h2lVPAd8zSMFvvEItoARdVF8K6xtF8maE31-23J0UbmJpcEa0JmbvBDwY0RdzQVkXxNGT9BW1j72y_Jdfro/s1600/anxiety-PTSD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ojW_q4uh4unhv5RS1qytFeqw8FUWOOH5uig9QhrfK1vObr_wmde3u6a_h2lVPAd8zSMFvvEItoARdVF8K6xtF8maE31-23J0UbmJpcEa0JmbvBDwY0RdzQVkXxNGT9BW1j72y_Jdfro/s320/anxiety-PTSD.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The arrows will only go away...</span></span></i></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">When I cause trouble with KStew and Rob fans.</span></span></i></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The arrows will only go away....</span></span></i></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">If I draw their chaos elsewhere...</span></span></i></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dr Glenn R Shiraldi</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is an author, Pentagon faculty member and university professor, with an expertise in stress management and self esteem. It is from his work </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Self Esteem Workbook </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">from which I draw some of my thoughts about the harmful self-proclaimed "fans". Per Dr Shiraldi and Coopersmith, People with efficient self-esteem tend to be </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">healthier, friendlier, more expressive, more active, more self-trusting, trusting of others, and </span></span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">holding little to NO hostility. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Makes sense. Essentially, the more assured and grounded one is in her own decisions and beliefs, the less likely she is to harbor distrust and hostility. So could this be a key contributing factor to the hate and need for destruction that some of these Vultures, Not-a-Fans and BullShit People feel towards a young woman and a young man who just happen to be public figures?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A great absence of security and conviction in self? Perhaps. In my years of providing therapy as well as receiving it, I did learn one significant concept:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is</span></span></span></span></b></i></span></div></b></span></div></b></b><b><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> impossible to obtain true </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">inner strength </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and confidence when one is searching </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">outside</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> the self for it. Moreover, it's a disservice to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">everyone </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">when malicious intentions are injected into the Great Wide Open. Why tempt the Omnipresent Consequence??</span></span></div></div></div></b></b></div></b></span></div></b></b></div></b></span></div></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b></b><br /><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm8oUGqAzg3QAYcSPQ3hSK8Pbb-TMUm_2wRlwnCoos7LbBrmlMIMhe8KyFWRTGjVPo6IM8sGcz3aMXHL8QzN4N1rPBsmVAA0WVJw-SOMz6pU7eqhe7gCtgpQPnr9-SsNTq7waj40DypU/s1600/pprdollshands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm8oUGqAzg3QAYcSPQ3hSK8Pbb-TMUm_2wRlwnCoos7LbBrmlMIMhe8KyFWRTGjVPo6IM8sGcz3aMXHL8QzN4N1rPBsmVAA0WVJw-SOMz6pU7eqhe7gCtgpQPnr9-SsNTq7waj40DypU/s200/pprdollshands.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Uh, Me? Meet Confidence.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Basically it means all the energy poured into role-playing </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">MEAN GIRLS </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">by creating high school hierarchies within this supposedly "supportive" community, detracts from the energy in supporting betterment of humanity and oneself... It also detracts from enjoying the gifts of a precocious woman and a soulful man that are the most unique, intelligent and atypical talents we've had the pleasure of observing in many, many years. Which is truly too bad.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><div style="text-align: left; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> TIME'S. UP.</span></span></b></div></div></div></div></b></b></span></b></span></div></b></div></b></b></span></div></b></span></div></div></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:16px;"><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm done giving any more of today's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">to the contemplation of motivation behind unprovoked attacks on our Royal Rebels. I transition out of this convo by saying: Dear idle, bored, and anxious folks out there, let us please commence with remembering why Kristen is our Other Queen, and celebrate all her Offenses of Otherness that are blueprints for accessing our </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">own </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Majestic Misfit-ness.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjhii9fSqNbCectwgPdla_HRrwjh-TNzDN-26wRv-933aZzM63UTWy8kFAZAYRWi7dqUuI5FsSXKlv2IPGA1Kkl8ESbj_BpS_ZoGRe6Q_qnO4MKHbO1rjl62FC1ro3iTpIPcA8yqylFE/s1600/Kristen+mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjhii9fSqNbCectwgPdla_HRrwjh-TNzDN-26wRv-933aZzM63UTWy8kFAZAYRWi7dqUuI5FsSXKlv2IPGA1Kkl8ESbj_BpS_ZoGRe6Q_qnO4MKHbO1rjl62FC1ro3iTpIPcA8yqylFE/s320/Kristen+mirror.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kristen looks in a mirror every single day.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you?</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Beauty that Kristen brings</span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So I say, as I have from day one, instead of focusing on any absence or perceived shortcoming of our Reigning Other Queen, let's focus on the beauty and goodness that has enhanced our lives as a result of being a Kristen Stewart supporter. My world Pre-KStew Discovery was lovely, entertaining and exciting, sure. But my world Post-KStew Discovery is just </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">more. </span></span></i></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In the past two years that I’ve been on the Twilight and Team Kristen rollercoaster, I have been infinitely blessed. As I wrote last week, my appreciation of Rob and Kristen ultimately brought me to the creation of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">therefore, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">you</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Beatific Rabble Rousers. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Since discovering and becoming a supporter of Kristen Jaymes Stewart, I have met the nicest, kindest most passionate people from all corners of the world. I mean, I'm a traveler, and have been to a few pretty exotic places, but it wasn't until joining Team Kristen and Team Other, that I've truly met the most gifted and beautiful people in the world. I speak on a daily basis with some of my Cyber Sisters and Readers, more than I speak to my own family, outside of my husband. I read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">FAN FICTION! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The glorious, smutty, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">brilliant </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">creations of daydream believers and warrior poets. I exchange late-night texts and tweets with my fellow fiction addicts while we sob into the last tissues in the house, and nibble on Toblerone chocolate while discussing the virtues and complications of Mob Life. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0_p55E6OLchi83Ak54HX6FNsKUtX0GZ3uykmK4mB9MhLPe_Gk2IbwRCPz74f_HBo6IYqTjS3tVYjbPXLDf5e1YZL4VupUA3RXrI7nfHU5b9jUAkPsMJpXdaCkGdbxkaRrOJQ5iQPyZs/s1600/emancipationp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0_p55E6OLchi83Ak54HX6FNsKUtX0GZ3uykmK4mB9MhLPe_Gk2IbwRCPz74f_HBo6IYqTjS3tVYjbPXLDf5e1YZL4VupUA3RXrI7nfHU5b9jUAkPsMJpXdaCkGdbxkaRrOJQ5iQPyZs/s320/emancipationp.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dear: EP, I don't know how, I don't know when it became so.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But you OWN me. That is all. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Love, Me.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Since creating and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Musings </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and spearheading the campaign to defend my fellow Others like you, Kristen, Rob, and this week's featured Rebel, Ryan Gosling, I see brilliant moments of "Other" </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">everywhere. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Opportunities to take the atypical path, make an unconventional decision, take a chance on idea I wouldn't always. When I was out to dinner one night with Kathryn, My Welsh beauty and "Manager", our waitress put her two hands behind her back and said to us, "Pick one. Odd? Or Even?"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Can you guess which one </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">picked? The waitress handed me some lovely candy and my silver setting for the evening. And we ended up having an soulful conversation about pursuing the art of Creative Living. But you know what? When given the choice, I will </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">always, always, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">choose "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ODD". </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKCSiMoryt4pnm4ZKkKV_FU-YWqcver-ZSan17FTEI98wE8AMZnewUdIar7dgGa8J7nfH36Z7gdDSGG7JhlbiXd_PDRxviZMdFjqYT7YA1E_socPtgbbHBKEWynoCmkuIMoND-1sSsmw/s1600/odd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKCSiMoryt4pnm4ZKkKV_FU-YWqcver-ZSan17FTEI98wE8AMZnewUdIar7dgGa8J7nfH36Z7gdDSGG7JhlbiXd_PDRxviZMdFjqYT7YA1E_socPtgbbHBKEWynoCmkuIMoND-1sSsmw/s320/odd.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Odd has never looked sooo sooo right.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have almost daily, conversations with soul mates and kindreds. This was a conversation that Cynically Convivial of KStew Is Better Than You I had a while back. It went something like this: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: I feel like I have so much to learn each day. Each day brings me something new. I love it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">CC</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: I love to learn. I love words. I love books</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My dad always tells us that if you didn't learn ONE thing by the end of the day then you've failed as a citizen of the world. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: Oh I love that. I move through each day with a similar guiding energy. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">CC</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: One of my dad's favorite quotes, by W. Markiewicz is: "Its better to be an authentic loser than a false success, and to die alive than to die dead." It's how I became obsessed with the phrase "Own It". I know what my flaws are. I know everything that's wrong with me, and I own it. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Much like our girl Kristen. You, my lovely, are a Rebel Queen as well.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">CC:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Kristen appreciates authenticity and different-ness. I appreciate her unwillingness to concede. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then I write stuff like this in the sand in Kauai.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFxlcYJUwsysmpdJvLBsbC7Ferq0fjStlzxwa6I9tP7WcVQdz4OA5yXT2kJK8ia4Ebv0FISlUEenzrCbzuwK2-cOALM5_2aPsR0IQocmvQIqYZt6nIgy2vzeOWQF-e_riWqOd032McIc/s1600/KSIBTU+sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFxlcYJUwsysmpdJvLBsbC7Ferq0fjStlzxwa6I9tP7WcVQdz4OA5yXT2kJK8ia4Ebv0FISlUEenzrCbzuwK2-cOALM5_2aPsR0IQocmvQIqYZt6nIgy2vzeOWQF-e_riWqOd032McIc/s320/KSIBTU+sand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's continue to build our Rebel Army, as we began a couple months ago with the first-ever <i>Musings, </i>shall we? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Featured Royal Rebel: Ryan Gosling</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa8h7vSmMflwQBerdx01whoY-vWn3ZwBBThv1p4y6Ni7yzecHhsJe5KdHgOB0X_eWGHrzEYWaJ7dDaj3OYIXK6lq53aAdxR32ySoeqsHVPbE_VOHLJ2gWl9FdKubZH-gv0TT6mXp6b9I/s1600/gosling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa8h7vSmMflwQBerdx01whoY-vWn3ZwBBThv1p4y6Ni7yzecHhsJe5KdHgOB0X_eWGHrzEYWaJ7dDaj3OYIXK6lq53aAdxR32ySoeqsHVPbE_VOHLJ2gWl9FdKubZH-gv0TT6mXp6b9I/s320/gosling1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">his soulful, soft-spoken, unassuming man was born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. Having no formal performance training, Ryan found himself snagging the spot in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The New Mickey Mouse Club </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">alongside fellow Mouseketeers Justin Timberlake, Keri Russell, and Christina Aguilera. Okay, maybe you don't recognize him from his awe-inspiring singing and dancing with the MMC (or maybe you do?), but you probably do recognize him here:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwGcS0kX2UKiGGI-bUO9D1vL-CXQrvZUh3qFjKw51ZJA3KJkqq58kEehLg4qcRj8nBahDlJt8hVve_XAVMYWyh4_FN1ZMn0G2R95OJ5OYMw1S4PWqQsZBQDx2491oZM5vBleWn9jWTJY/s1600/gosling3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwGcS0kX2UKiGGI-bUO9D1vL-CXQrvZUh3qFjKw51ZJA3KJkqq58kEehLg4qcRj8nBahDlJt8hVve_XAVMYWyh4_FN1ZMn0G2R95OJ5OYMw1S4PWqQsZBQDx2491oZM5vBleWn9jWTJY/s320/gosling3.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />He garnered critical acclaim for his work in films such as <i>Murder By Numbers (a role in which he played a teen aged murderer) </i>and <i>The Believer </i>in which he played a Jewish Neo-Nazi before he landed the role as Noah in his most mainstream movie to date, <i>The Notebook</i>. His propensity for choosing unusual, broken and imperfect (Other) characters in smaller independent films before choosing to work in a well-known film is a very similar trajectory as our Reigning Other Queen Kristen. According to Internet Movie Database, Ryan was a victim of teasing and bullying when in grammar school, and was relegated to home schooling until he was 16 years old and his family moved to Los Angeles, CA. In California, his high school nickname, appropriately so, was: "Trouble". He dropped out of high school at age 17, and went to New Zealand to work on the TV show <i>Young Hercules</i>.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5ZAO1gJvDiavh2MoS2ycAsPTfxYMeoj2bip7MUYYWg7dJGbNzcijl7nYvvIG2ESiAFHb9ZnPOrJN3onx7W13TfO0vnxaTnY7m1NRwAgoMxnDu6HzrdklByi_ATUdFWIPtar33kDvsDA/s1600/Gosling4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5ZAO1gJvDiavh2MoS2ycAsPTfxYMeoj2bip7MUYYWg7dJGbNzcijl7nYvvIG2ESiAFHb9ZnPOrJN3onx7W13TfO0vnxaTnY7m1NRwAgoMxnDu6HzrdklByi_ATUdFWIPtar33kDvsDA/s200/Gosling4.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A gifted guitarist and singer in his band Dead Man's Bones, Ryan has quietly but steadily gained admirers in colleagues and industry critics alike. Our own Poet Warrior Rob Pattinson includes himself among Ryan's fans. He was nominated for an Academy Award and became the recipient of the Independent Spirit Award for his work in</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Half-Nelson</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, in which he played a heroin-addicted high school teacher. He received critical and public praise for his role as Lars in my personal favorite Gosling film: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lars and the Real Girl, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in which he portrays a socially awkward and painfully shy man who claims a blow up doll as his girlfriend. He is compelling and gently surprising in his contrasting roles: a self-proclaimed traveler and lover of solitude. He is both the advocate for freedom of Darfur refugees under the reign of a murderous army; and, a partner in a Beverly Hills restaurant serving Moroccan food. He walks the line of appearing in small independent Indie films as well as big-budgeted Hollywood productions. In a move I find magical, he chose at one point to live alone in a south central Los Angeles apartment because he felt "closest to real people" there, and because the Vulture-Papz would not seek him out.<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAXTcJrifhj8Ja_87cj-guB4-qRYX0PKSDrL7YuEochP-keiAhmamql0UX9PADp-yYWVJrSN2mZua4_DU09_0LKsM6d-Hvn4IWV3e_pjxV0kk-T7GQ3_unib2YjYvnYBaq42hJt5q92Q/s1600/gosling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAXTcJrifhj8Ja_87cj-guB4-qRYX0PKSDrL7YuEochP-keiAhmamql0UX9PADp-yYWVJrSN2mZua4_DU09_0LKsM6d-Hvn4IWV3e_pjxV0kk-T7GQ3_unib2YjYvnYBaq42hJt5q92Q/s320/gosling2.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Introspective and methodological,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Quiet and Press Shy,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Articulate and flinchingly honest</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Do something that you're afraid of, at least once" </b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Our NinjaStew frequently tackles something she's admittedly afraid of: Red Carpet events flanked by aggressive, insulting paparazzi.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r-tme9Nrjt5eBpF3-5uqOkLEjUIJxYTv2yER1Qqe-7xC2nvZsFRFYwsto4wANYiG3TtYIxMB8wCBmmedW0sARBguf4bq2lcU3Bdfz42R3ySa78qyAOznYv_ObZyuW9Uye5gjwAaHjPg/s1600/StewElle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r-tme9Nrjt5eBpF3-5uqOkLEjUIJxYTv2yER1Qqe-7xC2nvZsFRFYwsto4wANYiG3TtYIxMB8wCBmmedW0sARBguf4bq2lcU3Bdfz42R3ySa78qyAOznYv_ObZyuW9Uye5gjwAaHjPg/s320/StewElle.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our reigning Ambassador of Other has a drive and dedication that is both bewildering and impressive. Her colleagues and past cohorts have expressed concern for Kristen's health, as she completely embodies the characters she portrays. Because she "cannot project feelings she herself does not possess", </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">New Moon </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">director Chris Weitz says</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, "</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have found myself concerned for her at moments". She quite infamously carries a spot-on "bullshit detector" and can identify false friends and inauthentic souls immediately. This translates into her ability to run through scenes with several pages of dialogue, and finding the one moment in which it rings untrue. Catherine Hardwicke, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Twilight </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">director laughs, "There was quite a bit of rewriting on set. Kristen will not say any dialogue that she cannot respect". </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS5F5xFX7KJjWa7_0BgmP89pY6U6cO2FjopXA56ftmOR_Hyea2C_KKyYiXfW9gE4_G-mrs8B9CFCMm1mDTL7Up7Lz8RGZ-Yozgup1NiqVPCar9sLYwOmkk_JHt83WMaq6iSFw5WJuc98/s1600/kristen-stewart-hairstyles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS5F5xFX7KJjWa7_0BgmP89pY6U6cO2FjopXA56ftmOR_Hyea2C_KKyYiXfW9gE4_G-mrs8B9CFCMm1mDTL7Up7Lz8RGZ-Yozgup1NiqVPCar9sLYwOmkk_JHt83WMaq6iSFw5WJuc98/s320/kristen-stewart-hairstyles.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodp8ZLCA9cw965BVrwIpiLJvCR3VuW5lOsI41M6PXSbu_-VbP6-W6zwRdRETpBU2nwcCaPfVZJ7MjBebo5DBPW8pohAICy7V1fQt6h-ZBr_iUQsd_tdmUaHxQaiRbsX258lIiUJPjWys/s1600/EWouttake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodp8ZLCA9cw965BVrwIpiLJvCR3VuW5lOsI41M6PXSbu_-VbP6-W6zwRdRETpBU2nwcCaPfVZJ7MjBebo5DBPW8pohAICy7V1fQt6h-ZBr_iUQsd_tdmUaHxQaiRbsX258lIiUJPjWys/s320/EWouttake2.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Self Assured and confident in self,</b></span><br /><b>Refuses to downplay her intelligence,</b><br /><b>Only accepts projects she wholly believes in.</b><br /><b>"Nobody cares more than I do"</b><br /><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offensive Together</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Instead of letting fissures and fractures deter or define our community, I say we choose "odd" and seek reminder of all the common characteristics we actually </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">share</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> with our Rebel Royals, our Hellcat Misfits. Because I observed and then wrote about, to finally internalize so many of Kristen's "Beauty Marks" and "Offenses of Otherness", there is no way in hell I'm going to discard the valuable lessons now. Kristen and Rob, and Ryan, all our Ambassadors are moving forward, living their </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">own lives</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, embracing and representing Other. We should be doing the same. And with all the blessings that supporting Team Other has brought me, why would I ever dwell on any negativities? Its ALL good here. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Because I will </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">always </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">choose the unconventional path, and feel compelled towards "Odd", I am a Royal Rebel.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Because he gracefully and consistently embodies several contradicting roles, Ryan is an Ambassador of Other.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Because she will never speak a word--whether in-role or in every day life--that does NOT resonate with her personal truth, Kristen is our Reigning Other Queen. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am Other.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ryan is Other.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Others will not search outside themselves,</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">for confidence that resides within.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Embrace your Other. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Question: How has being on Team Kristen blessed you? </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> How is GrooveShark working out for you, my lovelies? If the music is important to you, and you're struggling with the mechanics of the widget, let me know, ok? Just like you let me know when the comment sections fucking up the flow. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Birthday wishes</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to my girls: </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Randommama</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> who was not feeling well AT. ALL for weeks, and she couldn't really celebrate her own day. Happy Birthday, my Sister. To Iris: </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Just2CUSmile and Amy @EvaLola80,</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I love you girls and even though we've distance between us, you are close always. Happy Birthday. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To my</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> CyberSisters/Readers: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You give me energy, inspiration, passion and guidance, and this is just when talking about FOOD! Your support of Musings and Team Other transcends and you school me every day in daily blessings. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Julie,</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> my constant. You KNOW. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Possum Besties</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, you inspire. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ClogWieldingQueen</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, you honor me.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buff_82.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> You bring so much pretty. I need your address. Seriously. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bellasmummy86</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, kisses and gropes. Kindred. And to my </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">soul sisters</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, and reasons for me to be BETTER: </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bouffant and CynicallyConvy</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, NONE of this is possible without you. I wouldn't even know how to begin if you weren't holding my hands.</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-59242693168158627502010-07-29T15:10:00.000-07:002010-07-30T23:46:55.528-07:00The Beginnings of Beauty<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>A/N: Push Play on the GrooveShark Playlist, the music doesn't start automatically with these dudes. Gonna try them out since Playlist has been leading me to pull out my hair. All Hawaii Scenic pics are taken by my uber talented hubs N. </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;">* * *</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm going to be frank. This is gonna be a long-assed post. Take your stretch breaks, use the restroom, hopefully you packed some munchies (or a cooler of meat patties, if you're Taylor). I have copious amounts of <i>Musings</i> I want to talk about today, and I'm admittedly overwhelmed. I didn't sit down to write this post until late last night, when instead I should have been finishing it and handing it over to my brilliant previewers. I tossed around the idea of making this a two-parter. I still may do that. Also, today's essay will probs deviate a bit from it's typical structure. But nonconformity is what we Misfit Hellions swear by, right? Ah, well, anyhoo, a couple events occurred this week, prompting my already full head to become inundated with topics to address. Firstly, I returned from Kauai, aka my little slice of Heaven, while still battling a sinus/cold from hell. Then I peek into my emails and glance at my tweets briefly, to learn that one of our beloved Royal Rebels attempted to go home for some rest and self care, but his efforts were thwarted by vulture-paparazzi. Its disturbing <i>anytime</i> to witness the Vultures circling prey; however, it was especially jarring to process the scene as I was emerging from my peaceful island sanctuary. I felt my stomach drop to my toes and I felt such sadness on behalf of Rob and Kristen and all folks who contend with the incessant hounding by exploitive, merciless papz.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Between Kauai, Rob's stand against the paparazzi and my return to the Mainland to begin preparations for the launch of my "magical little practice" at The Healing Center, I felt compelled to think back to The Beginning...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrXTszR_W-P69OdEj2go8hdpwtqUQDC3oKr7_8ETI95SjRUS5FEV4PMtVKojoV3Cyhfi2J1a6uPf7qRo2k1gMVWlkvWD9RpHMw1o9YXZNDTjeBkt-_dkSiZWSGGgfKMuBYWBBrlVpqhU/s1600/closeofRob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrXTszR_W-P69OdEj2go8hdpwtqUQDC3oKr7_8ETI95SjRUS5FEV4PMtVKojoV3Cyhfi2J1a6uPf7qRo2k1gMVWlkvWD9RpHMw1o9YXZNDTjeBkt-_dkSiZWSGGgfKMuBYWBBrlVpqhU/s320/closeofRob.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rob</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: KJ, could you PLEASE ask the vultures to kindly </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">leave me be?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Oh, Rob, I'll do anything you ask...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As soon as I regain consciousness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*thud*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlANorj8RFFV4CshjX6VrfCsV6vRMAcIgxQlLTGOzteiEtcxgjnxDgUp128pFmAugAo19kRkLQyGisfGQMpVCSOAIImtvSLi8NylrKzM2qBqdsO6Wx7k7AZeKQl-TJMLmRLknWqU1DRk/s1600/coke+and+Vultures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlANorj8RFFV4CshjX6VrfCsV6vRMAcIgxQlLTGOzteiEtcxgjnxDgUp128pFmAugAo19kRkLQyGisfGQMpVCSOAIImtvSLi8NylrKzM2qBqdsO6Wx7k7AZeKQl-TJMLmRLknWqU1DRk/s320/coke+and+Vultures.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rob: *glances at the KJ pile at his feet*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, let's see if I can entertain those lurking Vultures...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Mirror, Mirror</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week in my Muselet, I already knew what I'd write about for today's Musings, mentioning that I would go back to The Beginning of Beauty as I have known it...and naturally my mind began to relive my journey of discovering the supreme legacy that is our Ambassador of Other Kristen Stewart...And the beginning of Musings On Other Queens. This week's posting marks two months of Musings, somehow. You guys, I have been completely bowled over by the generously kind responses from YOU. I still cannot believe that you come back and peek into my weekly ramblings. And that you contact me to tell me your stories of <i>embracing your Other! </i> Even last week, when I was away slowing my roll, you all sent me descriptions of <i>your </i>Happy Places, and let me tell you, I love what you do to initiate self care, and I want to join you in <i>your </i>Happy Places! So since we're marking the ridonk successful innaugural months of Musings, and I was in the place that began it <i>all </i>for me, I wanted to share with you all how <i>Musings, </i>outside of The Homecoming Queen Experience<i>, </i>was born. Hawaii serves as the catalyst for a more global understanding of Beauty for me. Let me tell you why...Well, besides the obvs...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNwU8zpbYTlt4yhsTLS0JlqpkRGwMRgmALKujt8PZBFAbMxVGbIT5MC7WWemRcdUVaOj9VHr1IpxbmO3U46KJTTCnH4TcoENBEEf1AUWd9Hq5R2vkw1QTsi2dyNanVwh7HWQEbkbyqE/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNwU8zpbYTlt4yhsTLS0JlqpkRGwMRgmALKujt8PZBFAbMxVGbIT5MC7WWemRcdUVaOj9VHr1IpxbmO3U46KJTTCnH4TcoENBEEf1AUWd9Hq5R2vkw1QTsi2dyNanVwh7HWQEbkbyqE/s320/beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaSNqVkwSck-acGN6b7KsdqMx4LXDnnkiXRzblTNn1j17HDJU9IGsgXN49n2_nUc5tekplDMC64sg3gWneta7yGt85p_QhAvBXay6GWZXQx99jCJlUXM_MwxvkAjQgbCTuE676iWSe-U/s1600/IMG_0940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaSNqVkwSck-acGN6b7KsdqMx4LXDnnkiXRzblTNn1j17HDJU9IGsgXN49n2_nUc5tekplDMC64sg3gWneta7yGt85p_QhAvBXay6GWZXQx99jCJlUXM_MwxvkAjQgbCTuE676iWSe-U/s320/IMG_0940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYfPx6eR6e06Dw5Q6dhlSxhCCMS-vkjjFcTTTWrGFuM2E1p_vft60UpYdlifuShjnLAQQF6Bzyd47yCaxTf0nx78En_qxFwCmCfd2hKAkKyG8dvj_K_pgQQcfO1o1tt4HsZD-_MVKUL0/s1600/IMG_1184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYfPx6eR6e06Dw5Q6dhlSxhCCMS-vkjjFcTTTWrGFuM2E1p_vft60UpYdlifuShjnLAQQF6Bzyd47yCaxTf0nx78En_qxFwCmCfd2hKAkKyG8dvj_K_pgQQcfO1o1tt4HsZD-_MVKUL0/s320/IMG_1184.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I may have alluded to it once before, but I haven't stated it outwardly before here on Musings. I am adopted. My biological makeup is comprised of Southeast Asian Islander, and Latino Islander, but my adoptive family is of Swiss and German descent. I have had the most loving, warm, accepting upbringing possible, with the greatest family. I recognize how blessed I am, I truly do. But I can only say, as a child of multi-ethnic backgrounds, and/or adoption can: that there is always, <i>always </i>a floating, nebulous feeling of searching for <i>more, </i>a better <i>fit,</i> even when everything else is right in the world.<i> </i>So, after my first appalling (at least to me as a fourteen-yr old girl) experience of being called out for being <b><i>An Other Homecoming Queen </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(revisit the very first Musings ever, all of eight weeks ago, to relive that crowning moment of Other Queen awakening) I <i>finally </i>began to understand the true <i>gift </i>of being <i><b>Other</b></i> when I removed myself from the usual surroundings, and ventured out, beyond my personal comfort zones. </span></b><br />
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I was eighteen years old, a freshman in college and fashion was in the waning years of "grunge" and the emergence of "goth". I hovered somewhere in between the two. In the meantime, I was a hostess at a restaurant that catered to clientele averaging in the age of 55, but the view was gorgeous of the ocean, and I crushed on fellow servers and bartenders, so I was groovy. I had successfully evaded having a boyfriend as well as that damned Homecoming Queen Nomination. My puffy hair was constantly toeing the line of being called TRIANGLE, and the CDs on rotation in my walkman (pre-iPod days, folks) were Tori Amos, Pearl Jam, Sublime, Pixies and The Beatles. This Other Queen in Training with Geometric Hair, brownie skin tone, the propensity for knee socks, and flowing dresses joined three girlfriends on a Ladies Only Getaway to Hawaii. The gals accompanying me were my physical antitheses. These beauties had blonde streaked hair, light eyes, legs for days. They were, in essence, The Classic California Girls. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiERdNsRYaRoCNzQY3b2z-431ypdCgISgeRa_5G7T1xwvimgz7grFXyzu17tFHhtgqEvWZABzqNi793hjO_C73QpMpfm8rsM6W1rQvSI_UUJF4KlPisbHL1NRUWsgBuhqAQmdv2PK1vuI/s1600/number2-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiERdNsRYaRoCNzQY3b2z-431ypdCgISgeRa_5G7T1xwvimgz7grFXyzu17tFHhtgqEvWZABzqNi793hjO_C73QpMpfm8rsM6W1rQvSI_UUJF4KlPisbHL1NRUWsgBuhqAQmdv2PK1vuI/s320/number2-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">trufax. they kinda looked like this.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And we were heading into a land that purported and enjoyed residual images like this in the 1950s:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGWKvfPxXkh4dXJm28JO5tehWUQ1tao3_GsgWwF9P7Kt_CKQNRBKQ9BYWcFhMNNj3TpQtwqMlRdMFwAJ6zOW0Qom0IR3jufMmswmxdheZ4BJh-oTLHJ-4PkZ8mVP3sS8-uywucUE3eq8/s1600/hawaii+ads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGWKvfPxXkh4dXJm28JO5tehWUQ1tao3_GsgWwF9P7Kt_CKQNRBKQ9BYWcFhMNNj3TpQtwqMlRdMFwAJ6zOW0Qom0IR3jufMmswmxdheZ4BJh-oTLHJ-4PkZ8mVP3sS8-uywucUE3eq8/s320/hawaii+ads.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDzF6TLV-h-zDqMBdWmXf5Di7sKFHxrgVPL0Enji-tuNdMOtLRts9jQr8mO0DKrOlm9rLOn5e4CU-BQdXheRdam8us0q3Bs_vrzTgphef6gLasVNM-RklWKE0nTY5plqeYY9DLtD9Kqo/s1600/Hawaiian-Pin-Up-Girl-1949-Posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDzF6TLV-h-zDqMBdWmXf5Di7sKFHxrgVPL0Enji-tuNdMOtLRts9jQr8mO0DKrOlm9rLOn5e4CU-BQdXheRdam8us0q3Bs_vrzTgphef6gLasVNM-RklWKE0nTY5plqeYY9DLtD9Kqo/s320/Hawaiian-Pin-Up-Girl-1949-Posters.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Legit. 1950's Pin Up girl "representing" Hawaii</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And here was...me...not so pale, of course, I AM Asian AND Hispanic, y'know...With an afro, kohl-lined eyes, and Marlboro Lights:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGh04ME1vv1tQbHxmFTwF0DPmo2-xElxE_OoMQxzlqmhAMN3OMtaNYcgmzUJeujqigvSBFTcRz9tdWdt1fmRJEX-QvScbB6JVvxJj-z6nddkwN3Pw5GMl10Hzw6enQm8DpGh1rK-dCl0/s1600/redshoesawkward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGh04ME1vv1tQbHxmFTwF0DPmo2-xElxE_OoMQxzlqmhAMN3OMtaNYcgmzUJeujqigvSBFTcRz9tdWdt1fmRJEX-QvScbB6JVvxJj-z6nddkwN3Pw5GMl10Hzw6enQm8DpGh1rK-dCl0/s320/redshoesawkward.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">awwwwkwarrrrd.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The trip WAS, and forever shall be deemed for me, The Birthplace of Beauty. Not only did I taste true independence and rental car driving for the first time, but I experienced a welcoming embrace and celebration of all the characteristics and quirks that I had kept on the DL. Please do not assume I am solely speaking of physical characteristics, even though they are obviously what I can use to describe the differences. As you know, we Others are Rebellious Mayhem-makers more for our <i>internal propensities, </i>than we are our outward appearances--though we can shock with our physical looks as well, NO DOUBT. But I'll describe some of my own characteristics up for evaluation. My puffy, curly hair, my rounded nose, my almond-shaped eyes, my penchants for walking barefoot, like ALWAYS, if I wasn't in Chucks; my need to stand on the sand alone; my almost-dysfunctional love of rice and salt; my impulses to twirl in circles and run through patches of flowers? Yeah, it kinda all seemed like the way to roll when in the islands. In Oahu and Maui, I'd walk down a street that looked like this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaaLRCfzGcRaIrCnL8GFEQU5ZWXGDzXQWuafX2DgemCGf9fbdlPD4_hooZSFQ7b_2SRf2REyE_F5-7Ao8f1I1q3gbrgxkhCRTGtbjPrProbT3xPH7xvYv58m6aDD_n0VbV5u1Yy0p0G4/s1600/133008012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaaLRCfzGcRaIrCnL8GFEQU5ZWXGDzXQWuafX2DgemCGf9fbdlPD4_hooZSFQ7b_2SRf2REyE_F5-7Ao8f1I1q3gbrgxkhCRTGtbjPrProbT3xPH7xvYv58m6aDD_n0VbV5u1Yy0p0G4/s320/133008012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">and luminous, <i>Other-</i>worldy people who looked like <i>this</i>--quite possibly without the ukeleles--</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOElM0U2sAuW5OXo0aE1aR88tayTebiNxwdF0759gW8xuOH7codx8eg9EutLR9tIQSCQMAcSl0-AfCaGxIjluxYyhjnlsK6KfCZzW1fEa2cBpUXGhXygNh33_dLTKkEU4jtuFdH_VpD0/s1600/4311483422_85b804d42b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOElM0U2sAuW5OXo0aE1aR88tayTebiNxwdF0759gW8xuOH7codx8eg9EutLR9tIQSCQMAcSl0-AfCaGxIjluxYyhjnlsK6KfCZzW1fEa2cBpUXGhXygNh33_dLTKkEU4jtuFdH_VpD0/s320/4311483422_85b804d42b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">approached me, looked me in the eyes, whispered warm greetings in Hawaiian, and welcomed me HOME. I spoke last week of being an Island Girl by blood, this is why. Because while I may have been "odd", "exotic", "unusual and unconventional" back where I lived in Southern Cali, I apparently fit the Standard of Beauty in Hawaii. And it only laid the groundwork for future cultural research and spiritual soothing in which I would encounter several years later in my travels through Europe, and most importantly Southeast Asia, and my motherland, The Philippines. I understood, in those quiet moments of interaction with strangers in Hawaii, that there is not <i>one, specified concept of Beauty. </i>There are hundreds, maybe thousands of definitions of Beauty...But I'd fit at least <i>ONE</i> of them. And I would do what I could to support and defend every one of us, including Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson from Vultures and BullShit people trying to tell us otherwise.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmoKlJfnWlDdHeMlWJIZxw-7_cW_oad6uzLjZ3KQiAqIawDcuJzKR8meoqw2zsPFQtZ98uULNzceCi6Ofc8pR2T0Iux18BceidBnErHMEvLb0PtOIJk-WGvE3SDdOomaIcgOsne7w0Wo/s1600/hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmoKlJfnWlDdHeMlWJIZxw-7_cW_oad6uzLjZ3KQiAqIawDcuJzKR8meoqw2zsPFQtZ98uULNzceCi6Ofc8pR2T0Iux18BceidBnErHMEvLb0PtOIJk-WGvE3SDdOomaIcgOsne7w0Wo/s320/hands.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">N & I, prepared to Defend our fellow Others. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our matching Hawaiian bracelets look like superhero cuffs, don't they?</span></div><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Finding Twilight, You and Us: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seeing a couple of pictures, and only hearing about (because I refused to watch the video) the conundrum the Vulture-papz caused for Rob this past weekend, I was transported Back to the Beginning of Musings. When had I become such a public KStew and RPattz supporter?! How did I somehow get clumped (incorrectly in some cases) with the millions of Twi-fans that were emerging from the woodworks? Where were <i>you </i>when you first fell under the <i>Twilight Spell?? </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgececNCgPONUTISqcyVhb1RD8ZMAsAr4i9kPvpORcu8BW1Q3CuPR95tXtvey-6ELIr5XknR8rxIzjl5ixGpWIWbMfvdYMUTY_EzC8QsjrvnzeN0aVkW85YHP73Z1_mNnN0fA_YdhMMfUE/s1600/Twilight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgececNCgPONUTISqcyVhb1RD8ZMAsAr4i9kPvpORcu8BW1Q3CuPR95tXtvey-6ELIr5XknR8rxIzjl5ixGpWIWbMfvdYMUTY_EzC8QsjrvnzeN0aVkW85YHP73Z1_mNnN0fA_YdhMMfUE/s320/Twilight.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
<i></i>I was a fan of the Twilight books, one of those folks who had actually read the books first before <i>Twilight </i>the movie was released in theaters in 2008. I had been bed-ridden for six weeks in recovery from knee surgery and one of my cool hipster girlfriends came to have lunch with me. She had dark circles under her eyes and she was yawning. She told me in hushed tones, eyes darting around her, that she was up all night finishing a book...and she whispers <i>"Twilight". </i>I didn't laugh and point at her, though I did giggle conspiratorially with her, since I eyed the books every time I went into Borders (which if it were up to me, would be a daily requirement), but never picked up a copy. My beautiful, cool hipster friend's endorsement of the books and my happening to have a lot of time on my hands convinced me I needed a little <i>Twilight </i>in my life. I knew a movie was coming out, and I knew Robert Pattinson was in it...Hello, Harry Potter Fan here, friends. I knew Cedric Diggory, and I recognized him instantly in a trailer I saw earlier in the year. Ok, well, I read the books, including Breaking Dawn in about 5 days, and my insatiable thirst spilled over to the internet. Wanna know what I found, that forever changed everything??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsw63ck2jvlADBeJN2cyatiYGP8OwO8ywCS4blTLjJHkfSf8z-diIvobB3dv2bG2IBY2nEP7oYLiPg6-R9FoHn6YwGhOtuFgF8XeIY5uwsmbpSZp2bmEwMTS7eYG06aaO_1cT5SWQtUk/s1600/281x211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsw63ck2jvlADBeJN2cyatiYGP8OwO8ywCS4blTLjJHkfSf8z-diIvobB3dv2bG2IBY2nEP7oYLiPg6-R9FoHn6YwGhOtuFgF8XeIY5uwsmbpSZp2bmEwMTS7eYG06aaO_1cT5SWQtUk/s320/281x211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh so young and unscathed then</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Yesssss. The legend. The myth. The April 22, 2008 on-set Twilight interview with Larry Motha-effin Carroll on MTV. I knew instantly, not from my practice as a psychotherapist, not from any tabloid jabbering (though of course, that came in spades, later) that these two individuals, Robert and Kristen, were twin souls, and their chemistry was <i>UH-MAY-ZING. </i>So while I was a Twilight book reader first, I found myself observing the actors, their static electricity and resonating with them as people long after I had finished the text. More Googling led me to bios on Kristen Stewart (Hey, I DO remember that little girl from <i>Panic Room!)</i> and of course Rob...Pictures of the two of them like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MlMuPV57BQ-dZ2b_MxeBTYYDk-tP29sZ3ZtWUFvqcpH76qfFihj7EXcaRIxGcbOEu35iOZG2hAs4BElQYGFykT5AYDIFuqx8rUOVv7x-PA88obdHBxIpgegror4N9yhOX93PiC4Le8Q/s1600/1stEW+K%26R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MlMuPV57BQ-dZ2b_MxeBTYYDk-tP29sZ3ZtWUFvqcpH76qfFihj7EXcaRIxGcbOEu35iOZG2hAs4BElQYGFykT5AYDIFuqx8rUOVv7x-PA88obdHBxIpgegror4N9yhOX93PiC4Le8Q/s320/1stEW+K%26R.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0nYFpMDXS5mNd6KOh9WjQK8A3yYggEIcvK1Qq4lrX5_GjGm91ubo6H7ea-mFY24Nc5h9CW9ukI8OWX5_XsWj5ppYz6UnzUQQ3Bz4Kk3AEYeO3qVWPMiRY8d9r6nsOvoPbWZhn-EtjXI/s1600/normal_052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0nYFpMDXS5mNd6KOh9WjQK8A3yYggEIcvK1Qq4lrX5_GjGm91ubo6H7ea-mFY24Nc5h9CW9ukI8OWX5_XsWj5ppYz6UnzUQQ3Bz4Kk3AEYeO3qVWPMiRY8d9r6nsOvoPbWZhn-EtjXI/s320/normal_052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">um. Sorry, were you talking to us? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">can't hear yoooooou.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlSA8jgjJBFbeUN1ZdyKt92093vyMirpr-fDYf9uovpY18Yv8-LZiBh3OtYzNF7QTWxyJO2lPWoS-7xVRIlQ4N76YpbrBTfXOG6wdAv-bS5EGZ01zjPzXvcv0icH3R_sy09GWb6lpX7w/s1600/VF-Outtakes-robert-pattinson-and-kristen-stewart-2806760-460-605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlSA8jgjJBFbeUN1ZdyKt92093vyMirpr-fDYf9uovpY18Yv8-LZiBh3OtYzNF7QTWxyJO2lPWoS-7xVRIlQ4N76YpbrBTfXOG6wdAv-bS5EGZ01zjPzXvcv0icH3R_sy09GWb6lpX7w/s320/VF-Outtakes-robert-pattinson-and-kristen-stewart-2806760-460-605.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">uh-huh. unf.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Naturally, I was led to the major gossip reporting sites who clearly were compelled in the same indescribable manner that I was, but I noticed the division pretty quickly. There were folks who really really really worshipped Rob...and greatly admired Kristen, and loved the idea that there was something more than friendship between the two. Then I saw sites dedicated passionately to the cause of <i>tearing down </i>these two, as a couple and as individuals. I was stunned. I didn't understand it. I couldn't comprehend that people hated these young actors, and disproportionately KRISTEN, with the vile intensity of a thousand suns. I steered clear of those sites, and found a group of posters that regularly commented on and discussed the Twilight filming schedule, and Rob and Kristen as actors and perhaps "more than just best friends". Fast forward two years later, and here I still am, passionately defending these lovely people against not just slanderous attacks on the franchise of which they are apart, but for the <i>personal characteristics </i>that are of decidedly <i>OTHER </i>persuasion that they very clearly <i>EMBRACE</i>.<br />
<br />
And to the attackers, haters, vultures, BullShit People, Critics, Bat-shit Insane "Not-A-FANs" I say: HELL TO THE NAH. Because a public attack and hunting down of two <i>OTHER REBELS </i>is truly an affront and assault to <i>ALL</i> <i>Hellcat Eccentrics</i>. Maybe it's my Island blood, in which your clan sticks together, or maybe it's the psychologist in me trying to make sense out of unfounded, unrelenting HATRED, but I know this much: You attack my fellow Misfits, it's GAME. ON. And I will use what tools i have to my disposal. For me, that means my words, my abilities to copy and paste pretty pictures, and my penchant for picking really really good music. *grins*. That, my lovelies, is the story of the inception of <i>Musings on Other Queens. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Featured Royal Rebels</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b>We're gonna flow a bit different today for the featured Rebel section. We Other's like to switch it up a bit, and I've already run long on my earlier stories...so let's give a try, yes? I'm going to highlight Kristen, as always, but showcase her in the company of other Majestic Misfits of whom I hope to write more about in future Musings...It could be construed as, say, building an army of rabble rousers, folks who wave their Freak Flag high and proudly represent our brand of Rebellion...Oh and they're <i>glorious, </i>my lovelies, just like the reigning Queen Other herself is. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJ7eLhu_Ypj8ulmxKPcuWzZGpcBmPn9vaXl_2V3ITfu2DrcbD21smzML3I85lguNTHNepgEHqAWM2e406MdoNlz3is9e4OhsGAdvnU90tA-5M8SlzVjQ0DxtH8DUu4sWvd03UPxadoF8/s1600/Kristen+allure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJ7eLhu_Ypj8ulmxKPcuWzZGpcBmPn9vaXl_2V3ITfu2DrcbD21smzML3I85lguNTHNepgEHqAWM2e406MdoNlz3is9e4OhsGAdvnU90tA-5M8SlzVjQ0DxtH8DUu4sWvd03UPxadoF8/s320/Kristen+allure.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Major Offenses of Otherness: </b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Unapologetically Authentic,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Truthful Public Speaking</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wears Chucks with designer dresses. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In. Public.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kristen, in my opinion is a real-life representation of another Mayhem Minx</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oA9ksKJboIwiJggKZWJmfiIhPzSm_qIMlPx1uGKRv15iGqogi1CiZF0uDWXHNOCZG6tbS2p2qB08CbkkuhEuPwbAkxz8xiAmNl2tQ4Tozd-sohNCsHLxGA9xjhLKsl_J3-JOgJdpsTY/s1600/lisbeth+salander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oA9ksKJboIwiJggKZWJmfiIhPzSm_qIMlPx1uGKRv15iGqogi1CiZF0uDWXHNOCZG6tbS2p2qB08CbkkuhEuPwbAkxz8xiAmNl2tQ4Tozd-sohNCsHLxGA9xjhLKsl_J3-JOgJdpsTY/s320/lisbeth+salander.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Other Queen, Iconic Literary Heroine: </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Lisbeth Salander</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Major Offenses of Otherness:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Disregards rules,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unashamedly more intelligent than EVERY.ONE,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Defender of WOMEN'S and HUMAN rights</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lisbeth's tenacity and cleverness are shared traits with a certain British Hellion:<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacDU7m_V3hc4OLHGHeVG_Cc_65OcMr6RLhUDxBkKbgUpujtSfZv8U9OSwzr3FZoFUtREA15C9v05mWYxxnQRLutRXPRk8Bj0aHzDcjPZ_A6D8oPuOAKSyu6gR6P5odnhnpe5371wgSag/s1600/OtherRob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacDU7m_V3hc4OLHGHeVG_Cc_65OcMr6RLhUDxBkKbgUpujtSfZv8U9OSwzr3FZoFUtREA15C9v05mWYxxnQRLutRXPRk8Bj0aHzDcjPZ_A6D8oPuOAKSyu6gR6P5odnhnpe5371wgSag/s320/OtherRob.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Royal Rebel, Poet Warrior: Rob Pattinson</span></b><br />
<b>Major Offenses of Otherness:</b><br />
Insistence in defending his private life,<br />
Willingness to take risks in his craft,<br />
Defender and Supporter of Other Queens and Rebel Royals<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">His willingness to tackle unconventional roles is reminiscent of the great Mythical Misfit:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2g1-amjKFFtyiA5LkiNg_Z-44fVoU-cnn2h1HL2TFriRxzckOc0-SdpOJfUCI-NuVK8OabIJOOxYUn0OmVYzNe9pdUO4PR2QiyvHwAUeUx0QZaRWooJqbgYenYRmjukEO0Bt7ipGXjg/s1600/Johnny_Depp_-_A_Great_Actor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2g1-amjKFFtyiA5LkiNg_Z-44fVoU-cnn2h1HL2TFriRxzckOc0-SdpOJfUCI-NuVK8OabIJOOxYUn0OmVYzNe9pdUO4PR2QiyvHwAUeUx0QZaRWooJqbgYenYRmjukEO0Bt7ipGXjg/s320/Johnny_Depp_-_A_Great_Actor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Royal Rebel, Original Revolutionary:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> Johnny Depp</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Major Offense of Otherness: </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unapologetically Authentic,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Propensity towards eccentric, offbeat roles,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Defender and protector of his and his family's private life</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So thank you for journeying on this nostalgic road with me, my fellow Trailblazing Thinkers. I humbly bow before you for all for your unparalleled support and generosity as I gather the troops for supporting not just Queen Stewie and Rebel Rob, but for all Others and misrepresented souls out in our world. I am so greatly moved that you would hold the space for me to divulge a few personal details in the name of deconstructing the <i>alien</i>, the <i>unknown factor </i>that often accompanies segregation, degradation and prejudice. But see, my entire hope in public <i>Musings </i>was to illuminate the fact that we are <i>all Others</i>, together. There really is no need for Vultures to circle in hopes of "catching" our Rebel Royals in compromising situations. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because I found one definition of beauty among hundreds, that I can comfortably call my own, I am an Other Queen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because Rob, Lisbeth and Johnny refuse to compromise their authentic paths, and defend their rights to privacy, they are all Majestic Misfits. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because she delves consistently and passionately into her work, and because she is unapologetic for it, Kristen is our Reigning Other Queen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I am Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others go back to their Beginnings,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>grateful for present blessings.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace Your Other. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Question: When did you realize you were really majestic in your misfit-ness? </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>When did you pay homage to your awkward beginnings? </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>A/N: My awesome and insanely gifted prereaders/betas are <b>Buff_82</b>, <b>Cynically Convy</b> and <b>Bouffant.</b> You ladies are my <b>sexspenders on WFERob's pants</b>. You're THAT valuable to me. Loves, Hugs, Tears and gropes as usual to my Cyber Sisters and Readers. Special shout outs to <b>@P_lever; @Miss_Maroon @AriRebel3 @TakemetoBliss @JessWink22</b> for waiting so patiently for my response to your letters and awesome projects. Truth be told, I'm quite stunned by your words and plans, and I can't gather coherency. Can you believe that shit? Me? Incoherent? bahaha. To my <b>Possum Besties Ophelia and Justice:</b> I miss you girls. Thanks to <b>Periwinkle</b> for a little Lisbeth Salander pep talk this week. To <b>Julie </b>as always. And to<b> My ClogWielding Warrior Queen, J</b>. You stun me. </div></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-6087369080696141232010-07-22T00:56:00.001-07:002010-07-22T15:05:07.710-07:00Slow Your Roll...Mini Musings, Island-Style<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Aloha, Lovelies! Happy Thursday to you. It's 745 AM in Kauai and I'm sitting at the bamboo coffee table on the lenai just as I had hoped to! (Qualifier: I began writing at 745AM at our suite, but finished writing while in the Botanical Gardens outside Tunnels Beach north of Hanalei Bay, four hours later). I'm drinking tea, eating fruit, and still sniffling from this sinus infection/cold I've battled since Sunday. Here's the plan: While Thursday is my usual day for Musings, I'm going to opt instead to write a Muselet, as My Manager Kathryn calls it. When I return from my trip, I'll write a full fledged Musings: Hawaii Edition early next week. All good? Cool. So let's plow. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddbks0W6HCsIqdgI-zG1tLglI9ZG8fG_yFU4I0sR9pC2FpTvT0RwEK2QFq0WSwFIkZIZbEPnKz7EfzhAPhPQYwDV4pJ_fsqujxwD5TB3USbvqNpUdV-m_tLAXmbpKRJemGhRrRDfjTpQ/s1600/aloha+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddbks0W6HCsIqdgI-zG1tLglI9ZG8fG_yFU4I0sR9pC2FpTvT0RwEK2QFq0WSwFIkZIZbEPnKz7EfzhAPhPQYwDV4pJ_fsqujxwD5TB3USbvqNpUdV-m_tLAXmbpKRJemGhRrRDfjTpQ/s320/aloha+heart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;">I'm writing a Muselet today for a few reasons:</div><div style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>1. I'm in Kauai with N and my Mother, why would I be in front of a computer at all? </b></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>2. I'm sick again, and am in dangerous proximity to various uppers and downers in the form of cold tablets. Must feed the beast. </b></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>3. It is relatively quiet in our Other Queen Stewie's world. Good. She likes it that way. </b></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>4. I forgot my camera's USB cable and cannot import all the pictures I'm taking into iPhoto or today's essay. You'll have to deal with my iPhone shots, kiddos.</b></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>5. </b></span><b>I've wanted to write about self-care and replenishment for some time now, especially in the wake of a chaotic couple of weeks for Team Other, but also for Kstew and her Deliciously Handsome partner Rob</b>.</div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrGaUAaF6IN4sIQ94GLNXELvxny4QwI6nCx5OCwDhB13BuFx5HvqLh2sAn5Wbwo-BpDuCys00v_DHdeqnkybxd-wSKR0gDeRrYI7NXGhjxugLNnN4yat3PxkRzp-kMj3I47D2PY6E6B0/s1600/HanaleiBay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrGaUAaF6IN4sIQ94GLNXELvxny4QwI6nCx5OCwDhB13BuFx5HvqLh2sAn5Wbwo-BpDuCys00v_DHdeqnkybxd-wSKR0gDeRrYI7NXGhjxugLNnN4yat3PxkRzp-kMj3I47D2PY6E6B0/s320/HanaleiBay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aloha peaceful soul! Hanalei Bay</span></div><br />
</div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So first thing’s first:</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where in the world is our girl Kristen?! Oh, yes, that’s right, she’s being professional and her usual NinjaStew self in Montreal. There have been only a whisper or two regarding KStew sightings, and without the picture of BowlingAlleyStew from the rather cool guy who referred to Kristen as “that punky chick from Twilight”, we’d never know she was truly in Montreal for Beatnik Bootcamp. I love this about Stewie. She is stealth and completely underground when she wants to be, which, um, is all the time. And what happens when Kristen goes MIA? Oh yes, the haters begin to spew their vile rumors, and fashion and cultural critics begin compiling their BEST AND WORST OF lists. A shift in the summer, perhaps? Guess who made it to the Best Hairstyle Lists, according to Yahoo this morning? StrawberryStew. Not too shabby for a girl who was repeatedly slammed for wearing a shag deemed The Mullet during her Runaways filming days and beyond. </span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4937jT2sqNCMpVVYLYTxbCey1Y_In9giPu1SEOqyu-Q3IwY4-rSxTtng02S3qwomGGlMG7ohGwnf2lk9ILfDnC4-a61b7FDqtUvb4G1CTdSQ1fd4EHiB9z_-_aAkglZ1fIkyg-oDaJ8Q/s1600/mq021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4937jT2sqNCMpVVYLYTxbCey1Y_In9giPu1SEOqyu-Q3IwY4-rSxTtng02S3qwomGGlMG7ohGwnf2lk9ILfDnC4-a61b7FDqtUvb4G1CTdSQ1fd4EHiB9z_-_aAkglZ1fIkyg-oDaJ8Q/s320/mq021.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Um, so I've braided the shag and now I'm considered among The Best? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whatever, you pretentious Mofos</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">I'm enjoying the sea breeze in the moment, though my curly hair is NOT. While sitting on the beach with my afro, I thought of how there are few to no sightings of our Queen these days. It's gonna be a drought, my friends, because Kristen is happiest when she is immersed in work, out of the public eye, participating in her craft. She had spent the past 9 months or so doing promotional work for her movies, now it's time for her to do some filming, a self-reported favorite aspect of her job. Kristen is <i>happiest </i>when working. Whaaaa? How many of us can say this?<br />
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I'm just coming off of a chaotic week in which I spent several days chasing after Monkey (my beloved niece and flower girl for Cousin's Wedding) and dodging long-held family grudges and aggression over ham dinners. It's no wonder I'm sick. Where do I go to become NinjaKJ, to replenish, to slow my roll? Where am <i>I </i>happiest? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;">This is a good place to start. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7megthPxiZB5wHmZPaF4IaegeHKSIduMHjD1DHRCHNiE5ehLZLx6TOvZlTKhZaH91E-CGnaIEQxkxR6zh9mi594y6w_nygI1mP68WzF3Fuf4YPk_qX3IZPn7YGcjr9vqcwY1dQo6F2-4/s1600/Poipu+Bch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7megthPxiZB5wHmZPaF4IaegeHKSIduMHjD1DHRCHNiE5ehLZLx6TOvZlTKhZaH91E-CGnaIEQxkxR6zh9mi594y6w_nygI1mP68WzF3Fuf4YPk_qX3IZPn7YGcjr9vqcwY1dQo6F2-4/s320/Poipu+Bch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Complete with Surfer EyeCandy for my girls</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> @Evalola80 and @Just2CUSmile</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>The islands. I need to be near the ocean, preferably island-side. It's in my blood. Both my ethnic backgrounds are comprised of Islanders, and I feel closest to The Muses while surrounded by water. I travel a lot, and when I do, I write. I'm actually working on another project featuring my travel writing and featuring N's stunning photography. Why? Because while I'm here, traveling or among islands, I can breathe. While I'm here, I can immerse in my <i>happy place, </i>and like Kristen, I feel whole again<i>. </i><br />
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There is an essential health component involved with learning how to properly self care. We caretakers, healers, women, artists...we are constantly giving away pieces of our soul, our vital energies to providing for everyone and everything outside of ourselves. How can we preserve and replenish the energy we expend during our days? How do we fill up our soul's bank accounts after relentless withdrawals? There are many ways we can do this, and each concept of self-care varies from person to person. It doesn't have to cost any money. I planned this Kuaui vacay about 7 months ago because I know that in order for me to restore balance and peace in my world, I need to spend some time on an island somehow, at least once a year. It's my one grand gesture a year. Otherwise it's at-home pedicures and a soak in the tub. Last year my Island restoration occurred in Bali because N is from there, as is the Goddess of Destruction/Reinvention Kali...anyhoo...But its the simplest things that lend to creative boosts, a spirit spit-shine...<br />
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Stewie goes Strawberry-blonde and delves into her heart's work with On The Road in beautiful Montreal:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7vDoW7PNvQJFiNoQ-86YW7Lc7qSUq7VXzlH1p5nDPaWbbRVHV4uKRM6UIKAlqtNUqGevjZS2djmZN_CvX8YNUig0zM1ApNP7kSIcvxnma6ZuxShSGlepMU1mLrXfsp_VQmCFT-gkW8U/s1600/normal_016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7vDoW7PNvQJFiNoQ-86YW7Lc7qSUq7VXzlH1p5nDPaWbbRVHV4uKRM6UIKAlqtNUqGevjZS2djmZN_CvX8YNUig0zM1ApNP7kSIcvxnma6ZuxShSGlepMU1mLrXfsp_VQmCFT-gkW8U/s320/normal_016.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
I tend to look for the nearest beach and bury my toes in the sand:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnAN53hKrO5haA_dwmHFAdrG_ozJG9gyi5p8OSrcEdyCU3eeajMXg3mU2tvTDnI_ITVOlflblsZOB-Xc4f57NnpbY8FdOFba-bEj3-gX9BcrIJBTSJmONrdVd7ICo5JUaZ6uOZTPh4is/s1600/133319502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnAN53hKrO5haA_dwmHFAdrG_ozJG9gyi5p8OSrcEdyCU3eeajMXg3mU2tvTDnI_ITVOlflblsZOB-Xc4f57NnpbY8FdOFba-bEj3-gX9BcrIJBTSJmONrdVd7ICo5JUaZ6uOZTPh4is/s200/133319502.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br />
Because doing the Electric Slide in stilettos just doesn't whisper comfort to me:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0WPtgAF6qplzdHLIfAPiKejUDeZM568J5jlk0nLgkTYvzU5HQXHQ1l5L9lac0WkJb_iR_z6HmVDdvneEnpvEZAaL49hXjkGx2OBDebVttEyM0z1TP7JBeXc9nck-koCr5ZHUvnsVEko/s1600/wedding+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0WPtgAF6qplzdHLIfAPiKejUDeZM568J5jlk0nLgkTYvzU5HQXHQ1l5L9lac0WkJb_iR_z6HmVDdvneEnpvEZAaL49hXjkGx2OBDebVttEyM0z1TP7JBeXc9nck-koCr5ZHUvnsVEko/s200/wedding+shoes.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's me on the left, Puss is on the right. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We're behaving ourselves in the church pew.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For. Now.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some folks opt for a trip to the ocean, or travel to the mountains and forests, looking for the elusive silence for contemplation. Conversations with God, Allah, the Higher Power can restore our sense of right in the world; as can a bubble bath or a massage. Sometimes hanging with the girlfriends sipping Martinis is the most healing practice of all. Reading books soothes me, as does running long distances. Listening to music live or in stereo headphones can work, cleaning out garages and kitchens too. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What tells me that Rob is invested in a little self care? It's not because he's in front of camera flashes and on red carpets. Nuh. Uh. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafE8QHXP2w67MlAGbXGFoZQ8YR3VluQN0h6-clv_uYqZ_JzKR40gA1oTpRCZSflJ9_-O_iG_6WrY3Y4nzbgEsg-Dg5l2XPgdF3yyLvNTsZ9JzURJPnlYQQa7ta0mAOhqD5w2VF7tCmUk/s1600/117513661-457646de45e0cf03ea2c4a24426de83d.4c1c24a0-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafE8QHXP2w67MlAGbXGFoZQ8YR3VluQN0h6-clv_uYqZ_JzKR40gA1oTpRCZSflJ9_-O_iG_6WrY3Y4nzbgEsg-Dg5l2XPgdF3yyLvNTsZ9JzURJPnlYQQa7ta0mAOhqD5w2VF7tCmUk/s320/117513661-457646de45e0cf03ea2c4a24426de83d.4c1c24a0-full.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While this is pretty for us, it's not <i>his</i> Happy Place</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's because he's been caught Ridin' Drrty. And I fucking UNF for Rob's brand of Self-Care. This is what he can do until he reunites with his lovely Queen Kristen, hopefully in Montreal. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO8Mk47Bja-5H6GuU6L156V073jT-CPP7Mx7d9An-vVFJa8FWCApRoywgo_KDlti5Orp6Lkmj4HZRFWlWzvucYFgiGjkI1fIHSxTSV8qICKgH9762AbKjb7IXO55D_k8h8TUqRiUOsmo/s1600/Rchevy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO8Mk47Bja-5H6GuU6L156V073jT-CPP7Mx7d9An-vVFJa8FWCApRoywgo_KDlti5Orp6Lkmj4HZRFWlWzvucYFgiGjkI1fIHSxTSV8qICKgH9762AbKjb7IXO55D_k8h8TUqRiUOsmo/s320/Rchevy1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjswQk9JSL0Ggkcq04-tfHkjCVKxWdCM2mwqt7dCOIEOw42Z6sPUdW-yXIl94_IYy5e8N96ZqsVkyRawFyX177-ZrLWqnpn6Fe7K99HDcjTuIuCKmaMpVaNXzrm3G3vJNONRCryKW442g/s1600/chevy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjswQk9JSL0Ggkcq04-tfHkjCVKxWdCM2mwqt7dCOIEOw42Z6sPUdW-yXIl94_IYy5e8N96ZqsVkyRawFyX177-ZrLWqnpn6Fe7K99HDcjTuIuCKmaMpVaNXzrm3G3vJNONRCryKW442g/s320/chevy3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Rob Pattinson, His Royal JawPorn Highness, cruising in a Chevy Nova with his Bestie TomStu...to, wait for it.... IN-N-OUT. I do have a pic with the In-N-Out sign in the background, but I'm posting these because I can and it's my Muselet. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ok, I realize I'm biased, being a Cali girl through and through, but wouldn't you say this is the epitome of California Beauty right here? Dashing men in a classic Chevy, laaaaaid-back, heading to the best Burger Place EVAH?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So my Lovely Musers...I sign off on this little Musing Moment now so I can go pop another Sudafed and find my mother and N who have wandered into the botanical gardens above this stunning deserted beach:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_YKd077MuualEGCqfysyj-2gKdlgnRxrOZAmhyphenhyphenBVGDIJC1i0lXzG2VThYe7tN2FXNa82Y7SXPSgnq_j2SM1hIIbAHKGAe1B75CXUYKM5nGOcasf0Cvr03aOmm3GMPKQJ8gQVAJxayWg/s1600/133817415-5097ea7b25f92e82f897ab68a93c708b.4c48b858-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_YKd077MuualEGCqfysyj-2gKdlgnRxrOZAmhyphenhyphenBVGDIJC1i0lXzG2VThYe7tN2FXNa82Y7SXPSgnq_j2SM1hIIbAHKGAe1B75CXUYKM5nGOcasf0Cvr03aOmm3GMPKQJ8gQVAJxayWg/s320/133817415-5097ea7b25f92e82f897ab68a93c708b.4c48b858-thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'll be back next week, early, to write a Hawaiian Edition of Musings: The Beginning of Beauty...Because I have encountered so many versions of Beautiful Rebels here, I may need to move Team Other's Head Quarters to Kauai. Somehow I don't think you all would mind. Listen to a little Jack Johnson, a little Marley, and some IZ, yeah? And dig your toes into the sand. Immerse yourself in what you love, to replenish, a la KStew or RPattz Style. But above all, be well, Lovelies. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I am Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Rob is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others immerse themselves in The Happy,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> and roll Novas to In-N-Out.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace Your Other. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">QUESTION: What do you do to replenish your fractured, tired soul? Where is YOUR Happy Place?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A/N: This Musing Moment was unBeta'd, and written while under the influence of cold medicine and Island Time. I imagine there are typos, jumbled words...eh. Don't hate. See you next week, my Misfit Mates. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div></div></span></span>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-72718124116409190702010-07-15T02:20:00.000-07:002010-07-15T02:24:26.362-07:00Me...but more<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Why So Broken?</span></b></div>It seems that (not surprisingly), I encountered many signs encouraging me to re-intergrate aspects of myself this week. Ahhh... Lady Synchronicity appears again. Firstly, you all know that I stumbled quite serendipitously upon the new space for what I refer to as the "magical little practice". It was a case of Psychotherapist Kj introducing herself to the bliss-pursuing, Other Queen-in-training Kj. Then, on Friday night I went for tapas and cocktails at a Spanish lounge with my beautiful Welsh Muse, Kathryn, to whom I refer to as My Manager. She literally is to me what I believe Ruth is to Stewie. She keeps me tuned in to my path of Creative Living, and talks me up and tries to book me for public gigs (hey a girl's gotta make the rent payment somehow!). That night (further details in a moment), the Other Queen-apprentice part of me shook hands with the Musician part of me. And <i>both</i> aspects waved a warm greeting to Psychotherapist Kj. The night ended with me handing over my psychotherapy business card to our lovely waitress Kelly who in turn handed it to the restaurant's manager. My Manager and I set up an audition to sing and play piano as a musical guest at this lovely Spanish restaurant and lounge (cue freaking-the-fuck-out riiiight <i>now</i>). Well, I didn't stay out too late that night, because I was set to be On The Road with Marble Pole the next morning, <i>early</i>, so that I could meet up with my Cyber Sisters/ Readers of my <i>Twilight </i>group in the center of this state.<br />
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</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1SWkD_FPYq_8q1Iauc-kRMIKMIvh1WztU044g-XXdgqP_nkTBhCxT8v5HkgUe41DkaEXR4IjnL1r-qDqHJ_7QpeyTGmzpMwKIphTs5MgbwaPv7NoOG540052DPTpu0ZB5qAwNJIMWPA/s1600/6y2gboz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1SWkD_FPYq_8q1Iauc-kRMIKMIvh1WztU044g-XXdgqP_nkTBhCxT8v5HkgUe41DkaEXR4IjnL1r-qDqHJ_7QpeyTGmzpMwKIphTs5MgbwaPv7NoOG540052DPTpu0ZB5qAwNJIMWPA/s320/6y2gboz.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I pondered (it's what I <i>do,</i> and then I ramble about it to you generous, patient people every Thursday, thank the Goddess): Why do we fragment ourselves? Why do we keep parts of our personalities, talents and interests concealed? My Sisters and Readers had a vague idea of my field of work, but that I did some sort of counseling and I am looking for my niche (i.e. a job). They didn't know I was a musician or a writer until I began this lovely project--<i>Musings. </i>No one in my family (with the exception of my sis Puss) or on Facebook know that I write <i>Musings; </i>or that I have a healthy admiration for Kristen and Rob (TRANSLATION: I totes crush on them both and have them on my Freebie Five List). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do you have a separate group of friends who know the serious, work-focused you, and then another group of friends who you speak to about falling in love and raising a family? Perhaps you have another cohort of colleagues that you speak with about shared interests like: sports you play, hobbies you have? Or say...hmmm... <i><b>Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart</b>? </i>Do your partners and family members know that you've seen <i>Eclipse </i>four times already? Do your parents, siblings and co-workers know why they hear a <b><i>THUD<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and not surprisingly find you on the floor, unconscious below your desk? Could it be because of these, um, </span><span class="Apple-style-span">OUTTAKES</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">?? </span></span></i></b></div></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw-lXRciHu0sAdHrBeM_BXKGPYFkHGkJheHIk0aJxJWK5ndPfX-OHGJ3Etwu3XThvNSt7juYj-A96dzQsMFSgdjePPxoZDW4VDy34dYVP-JBLG8NQ0J_DboDrzw0EeW4CPiIoqJg3_t0/s1600/s640x480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw-lXRciHu0sAdHrBeM_BXKGPYFkHGkJheHIk0aJxJWK5ndPfX-OHGJ3Etwu3XThvNSt7juYj-A96dzQsMFSgdjePPxoZDW4VDy34dYVP-JBLG8NQ0J_DboDrzw0EeW4CPiIoqJg3_t0/s320/s640x480.jpeg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">*thud*</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1xeGWQeUwerWAn0iFWuuhG_1aABornsOlO7H23rjFQBjPda49Xbf6CDNgDpDJYdEJgDC8-XJ-rA_UFpKkMU3usgr8GysduqcWADa6rItNqAIfAhwDtKKQCNJqMz6y5KN6miiFTY5qpI/s1600/s320x240.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1xeGWQeUwerWAn0iFWuuhG_1aABornsOlO7H23rjFQBjPda49Xbf6CDNgDpDJYdEJgDC8-XJ-rA_UFpKkMU3usgr8GysduqcWADa6rItNqAIfAhwDtKKQCNJqMz6y5KN6miiFTY5qpI/s320/s320x240.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Did I lose a few of you just now? Yeah. I thought so.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Or these?? </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJNH3JqridJ-W1ZlvDp_Ask_xL0djURNUeiHw-4zdIMRP3ZuaqIup64QIBKoPRMcqDAFl1tCS6v3o_ml5tXjH6fG1rX9QZHCaX3hj7ujuq0gRteM0E2BDM690efCTdT8Rixgvza8Se-Q/s1600/128363625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJNH3JqridJ-W1ZlvDp_Ask_xL0djURNUeiHw-4zdIMRP3ZuaqIup64QIBKoPRMcqDAFl1tCS6v3o_ml5tXjH6fG1rX9QZHCaX3hj7ujuq0gRteM0E2BDM690efCTdT8Rixgvza8Se-Q/s320/128363625.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv26NxW3KY2WVwqxKTOMZID4ZzF0tUc572QnYzZYjEOhY2KBTft0cNZqq_EUClOd2vi_SWiV9x8cTGjgr2Fe6UH4saTDCSpPe46cH2SnDORhV_tfbS8yYvEmYfVHE5MWNFQ3q1lX-mKVY/s1600/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv26NxW3KY2WVwqxKTOMZID4ZzF0tUc572QnYzZYjEOhY2KBTft0cNZqq_EUClOd2vi_SWiV9x8cTGjgr2Fe6UH4saTDCSpPe46cH2SnDORhV_tfbS8yYvEmYfVHE5MWNFQ3q1lX-mKVY/s320/032.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Her gaze and his smirk burst with secrets, no?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Come Together</span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">With my Twilight Roadtrip weekend and my attempts at pimping out my musical services, I realized that I had initiated The Merge. Cyber Sisters are now my 3D friends. I have faces, voices, facial expressions, perfume and an assortment of sensory associations linked to previously 2D acquaintances. A month or so ago, I met a few gorgeous ladies of The KSIBTU Crew in person even though we'd been "friends" online for some time. After our meeting? These ladies and I have strong personal relationships outside the <i>World Wide Web</i>. I call and write my Sisters and the KSIBTU girls for advice and guidance, just as I ask my Sister Puss and my husband. Though I base my Musings on events inspired by Kristen and her Homecoming Court of Misfits each week, the emails and correspondence exchanged with you all are about the issues we ponder and navigate in OUR <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">lives</span>. </i></span></b>So again, I ask myself: Why do we fragment?</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remembering concepts found in all previous book recs I've featured here, like Eve Ensler's <i>I am an Emotional Creature </i>and Marianne Williamson's<i> A Woman's Worth, </i>we realize that whether we asked for it or not, we are categorized in society by labels and gender roles. We are <i>expected </i>to take certain actions in fulfilling roles while we're criticized for being frivolous if we try to embrace unexpected roles or paths. Take a look at all the roles we fill. Um. It's a shit-ton.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">WIVES. MOTHERS. LOVERS. SISTERS. CARETAKERS. COMFORTERS. CHEFS. DRIVERS ATHLETES. PROVIDERS. ARTISTS. DAUGHTERS. CREATORS. STUDENTS. TEACHERS. FRIENDS. SCIENTISTS. ACADEMICS. INTELLECTUALS. PARTNERS. WARRIORS. MISFITS. REBELS. POETS. DEBATERS. DETECTIVES. BLISS-PURSUERS. DANCERS.</div><div style="text-align: center;">QUEENS.</div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGc6NQnHjLzxx58DT-OQ7mLcp_TQAJUispDz6DrQpkbO0up7-DpyIj8RzLeq8TtLqrjNQ8l2FF8n1xAZjSvagPkfLA94W88D0vsRTQ4B4YmMd2bx_L6YBSNfP5G-H-MYhkfv5xLwu_t0/s1600/chanelshoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGc6NQnHjLzxx58DT-OQ7mLcp_TQAJUispDz6DrQpkbO0up7-DpyIj8RzLeq8TtLqrjNQ8l2FF8n1xAZjSvagPkfLA94W88D0vsRTQ4B4YmMd2bx_L6YBSNfP5G-H-MYhkfv5xLwu_t0/s200/chanelshoes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Williamson suggests, as do social psychologists, spiritual healers and medical practitioners, that the key is <i>balance. </i>Only when we embrace <i>all</i> aspects of ourselves are we truly whole. So much energy goes into denying pleasures or attributes that we have. We <i>can </i>be (M)others as well as Career Women. We can be compassionate, nurturing and nonviolent all while being strong, firm, athletic and intellectual. We absolutely can be "pretty" while driving a tractor or truck, debating the virtues of molecular biology, planning the recovery methods of hydrocarbons in petroleum engineering. Likewise, ballerinas may be beautiful swans on the performance stage as well as auto mechanics during the work week. The point is, we don't have to deny ourselves our talents or interests in favor of social acceptance, although most of the time we do. It's exhausting to fragment and deny. Its detracting from focusing on the work, the journey in front of us. It prevents us from meeting amazing people with similar interests. It causes us to lose confidence, increase anxiety. Why cause more heartache for ourselves? Here's what I think: We can have it ALL. Fly the "freak flag", yo. Take it all in. Merge your many facets. We <i>can, </i>in fact be Chucks- and tiara-wearing Royal Rebels.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvdHfvk7wwF-Zb-kD_IRg6IZPEoz9Nqyh4Sj2XMi06RP-5wyKDeTx3a7qz3QqjGkr7kyOa25OmmthxOAhcLGac_eGi6PQd3d2t-zutdm8i0hLaYvWLEBFEVDcSa5aSTlIEyycc01MOgs/s1600/1080901rkzct87ee8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvdHfvk7wwF-Zb-kD_IRg6IZPEoz9Nqyh4Sj2XMi06RP-5wyKDeTx3a7qz3QqjGkr7kyOa25OmmthxOAhcLGac_eGi6PQd3d2t-zutdm8i0hLaYvWLEBFEVDcSa5aSTlIEyycc01MOgs/s320/1080901rkzct87ee8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">courtesy of the extraordinary @buff_82</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQzrtmaH53xbmfmk4XhWN0_Ljm5WTOL9lHm-6eclxMHhhdyS0syTfJedoCwjmGVpQ-Dai0Ykww8Hu6QZWHVVhR0MD1mAGybOUBvyjfwTsjA6p4-0RUASlXUoVcEcuMDqtRDwSBh29H5A/s1600/normal_030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQzrtmaH53xbmfmk4XhWN0_Ljm5WTOL9lHm-6eclxMHhhdyS0syTfJedoCwjmGVpQ-Dai0Ykww8Hu6QZWHVVhR0MD1mAGybOUBvyjfwTsjA6p4-0RUASlXUoVcEcuMDqtRDwSBh29H5A/s320/normal_030.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
Marianne Williamson and one of my favorite writers, Sonia Choquette, Ph.D, advise that while society programs us to question whether or not we are "beautiful", we are more vulnerable to the LIE the further we detach from our <i>selves</i>. Our self-awareness, our beliefs, our hopes, our connection with our Higher Power, whatever that may be. And how do we connect with our self-awareness? YUP. By acknowledging EVERYTHING we are. By <i>not </i>fragmenting ourselves. By embracing all of our strengths and challenges. By recognizing, not segregating, <i>owning </i>what is OURS. This is the pathway to bliss, the pathway to <i>authenticity.</i><br />
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</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">"Authenticity: 'the courage to be imperfect, set boundaries, and be vulnerable' "</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><i></i>The above quote was from Dr Brene Brown, a researcher, professor and writer on the very important and essential topics of shame, resiliency and authenticity. Thanks to the sublimely lovely @TheUrbanWhisk, I stumbled upon Dr Brown's amazing work. Check her enchanting messages of hope, courage and authenticity here: <a href="http://www.ordinarycourage.com/">Ordinary Courage</a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.ordinarycourage.com/"></a>This is what we may look like once we begin The Merge and Balance of our fragmented souls:</div></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-W8jhcGAWS3JJRmLi7WcNwFcTy5y79s1LlXvpncIiHvd0QjrLCKxsj3rZa6Wi4PsSZPZzUe79ng9AyeWgGKd-ta2Gxuea0k_LmFSgWY6JXtp97tzz7hU9-qj5xjk7dxn1jjnCVurjiA/s1600/FelicidadqeenOezperaazerexprezada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-W8jhcGAWS3JJRmLi7WcNwFcTy5y79s1LlXvpncIiHvd0QjrLCKxsj3rZa6Wi4PsSZPZzUe79ng9AyeWgGKd-ta2Gxuea0k_LmFSgWY6JXtp97tzz7hU9-qj5xjk7dxn1jjnCVurjiA/s320/FelicidadqeenOezperaazerexprezada.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yippee! I love salt, Rumi, fanfiction, dance movies and office supplies!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So how does becoming more You, More Other, More Authentic look in the 3D world? Well, for me, it started with the meeting of my Cyber Sisters and fellow KSIBTU Crew gals...it's progressed into following the Miracle Bubbles to the Healing Center for my new counseling practice...then introducing myself to the Spanish Lounge's staff to set up a singing audition...and will probably culminate in me linking <i>Musings</i> to my Facebook pals. Its the small steps towards embracing my Other...I probably won't wear my I UNF FOR KSTEW tee-shirt to the family wedding I'm attending this weekend. But you can bet your sweet asses I'll be wearing it for my first singing gig at the Lounge.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr6pm_hEuerA7rkhHH5MtBHMmeQ3tQPUSEFMg_97EmaBrK41rgExMR_ICKcfAc7a54s7VSNdcpNJogX6NBC9VVI7bKnQqj1OCcFWIFgGLDpDU9YkqnfKU9kq-DZXwjhDt8t8uHDfdgX0/s1600/454102385v7_240x240_Front_Color-Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr6pm_hEuerA7rkhHH5MtBHMmeQ3tQPUSEFMg_97EmaBrK41rgExMR_ICKcfAc7a54s7VSNdcpNJogX6NBC9VVI7bKnQqj1OCcFWIFgGLDpDU9YkqnfKU9kq-DZXwjhDt8t8uHDfdgX0/s200/454102385v7_240x240_Front_Color-Black.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">courtesy of CafePress and @buff_82. again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See why she's a Goddess?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's talk about this week's Rebellious Royals, shall we? I'm featuring another ginger, kids, I know, big shocker. Why not? The redheads seem to be the penultimate rebels in the end don't they? Shirley Manson, singer, songwriter, activist, actress certainly embodies all the great qualities of Otherness. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Featured Rebel Royal: Shirley Manson</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not only was a fan of hers and her band GARBAGE for the ten years and beyond, but I simply fell in love her all over again and wanted to give her massive props for her very public defense of our Other Queen Kristen in a Facebook Memo. Quite honestly, if you haven't been a fan of Shirley's already, I think <i>now, </i>my fellow <i>Musers </i>and <i>Team Other </i>mates, you NEED to be, simply on principle. Like. NOW. Here's the link to her full passionate note: <a href="http://bit.ly/bEswT1">SHIRLEY MANSON'S NOTE</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And here is an an Excerpt:</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Why are people so turned off by Kristen Stewart?!?!?!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I don't get it.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I think she's the best thing about the entire Twilight franchise.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Absolutely.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">She's delicious to look at.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">She's a talented actress.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(I don't care what anyone else has to say about her acting because I think she behaves EXACTLY the way me and all my pals did around that age of the character she is playing so THERE!)</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">AND she's articulate.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And she's a little shy.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And clearly very thoughtful.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What's not to love?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #272727; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I hate it when she gets trashed.</span></div><div style="color: #272727; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It hurts my teenage self</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #272727; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 13.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #272727; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">SAVE OUR SMART GIRLS</span></div><div style="color: #272727; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: 14.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">SAVE THEM NOW</span></div></div></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WSiUJRbBgj7adwDay9YjW7_E5ATC7AMCMZljsUOO01lj4S3Uru40QWMb1wRGMDwmxhOZpG0POm2zRldxQyYlH2vh-Px5-o_55tCTM2kfdU9GfoY18RyMMqGAoacIrt6_7GWa9FkoWVk/s1600/shirley_manson_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WSiUJRbBgj7adwDay9YjW7_E5ATC7AMCMZljsUOO01lj4S3Uru40QWMb1wRGMDwmxhOZpG0POm2zRldxQyYlH2vh-Px5-o_55tCTM2kfdU9GfoY18RyMMqGAoacIrt6_7GWa9FkoWVk/s320/shirley_manson_4.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Ms Shirley Manson lives and works in Los Angeles now, but hails originally from Edinburgh, Scotland. Known for her distinctive voice, her personal lyrics and rebellious attitude, Shirley gained international success and acclaim with her band <i>Garbage</i> in the mid to late 1990's. She began her musical career as a backup singer and keyboardist for the Scottish band Goodbye, Mr Mckenzie. She caught the eye of record producers who approached her to release an album as a solo singer. In 1993, she released her solo album performing under the name of <i>Angelfish. </i>It was her solo efforts that grabbed the attention of her future bandmates of Garbage. The band invited Shirley to record an album with them. The result was the mega-successful, grammy-winning <i>Garbage. </i>She remains with the band after another three albums. The songs <i>Stupid Girl, Only Happy When It Rains, </i>and <i>#1Crush </i>are among the most recognized songs of the Alternative Rock movement of the Nineties and early 2000s. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDR1G_56HauaoE0bVN5BDGl9ysZxms0y-Pc3KstbHBYRnm5ntQbAbOSYDGBm486_cwKxzbchziQrqYZ4omaFkTrVk4oS8hGlGXCxtbqLoGc1au50eDuDasjsR1IqBvla2YS3kfCAQZLw/s1600/red+shirley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDR1G_56HauaoE0bVN5BDGl9ysZxms0y-Pc3KstbHBYRnm5ntQbAbOSYDGBm486_cwKxzbchziQrqYZ4omaFkTrVk4oS8hGlGXCxtbqLoGc1au50eDuDasjsR1IqBvla2YS3kfCAQZLw/s320/red+shirley.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Shirley cites a difficult social upbringing for her forays into "rebel life". According to biography, Shirley was bullied in her first years of secondary school, leading her to suffer depression and utilize self-injurious behaviors such as cutting and substance use. With forays into shoplifting, truancy and delinquency, Ms Manson was largely absent from any form of structured education system. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0jmTo1RrJeqaXX0YKulHVty0kzjjp38mzGbpmesIuGMqXLR2vS3mk6b-HkhcC8W3xFWuTM0CabEJNv8sWTttuLM_XWe2bqa5QbOQIZwZneyeA-OAj63LnK2kg4X2J-kOf5Yn-0OjyiM/s1600/shirley+manson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0jmTo1RrJeqaXX0YKulHVty0kzjjp38mzGbpmesIuGMqXLR2vS3mk6b-HkhcC8W3xFWuTM0CabEJNv8sWTttuLM_XWe2bqa5QbOQIZwZneyeA-OAj63LnK2kg4X2J-kOf5Yn-0OjyiM/s320/shirley+manson.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beauty Marks</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">:</span> <b>1</b>. Distinctive voice <b>2.</b> Female front for an all-male band <b>3.</b> Honestly discloses personal experiences with low self-esteem, stress and anxiety. <b>4. </b>Overcame her self-defeating behaviors to become a voice for social issues and awareness of animal mistreatment</div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILtsjsec96yrmpePUtG_4ibRG2RdOFSwCNMgkFfnQ-k8Xm-IpJV5oCx6OWg8X1_aLLXolQe_xKBfM6KO2RC-EJmcbOKunm7JupomaqpHMv38eTxegJ4rRgT9F4n9q00J6mnBnKcvVQpI/s1600/Shirley3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILtsjsec96yrmpePUtG_4ibRG2RdOFSwCNMgkFfnQ-k8Xm-IpJV5oCx6OWg8X1_aLLXolQe_xKBfM6KO2RC-EJmcbOKunm7JupomaqpHMv38eTxegJ4rRgT9F4n9q00J6mnBnKcvVQpI/s320/Shirley3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>(per Other Hunters, Schoolyard Bullies and Ass Clowns) </span>1. </b>Wears short skirts with Tall Boots <b>2.</b> Wears clothing that accentuates her feminine attributes <b>3.</b> Outspoken in her activism <b>4</b>. Brutally honest in lyric-writing, citing controversial issues such as self-mutilation and substance abuse</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In addition to her songwriting and fronting for Garbage and her various solo musical projects, Shirley is an acitivist and participant in raising awareness for cancer research for children, several AIDS research groups and PETA. She experienced the heartbreak of being a bully victim, and turned her previously self-harming coping skills into activism. Because she speaks up for the oppressed, overlooked, and misunderstood, Shirley Manson is Rebel Royalty. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our lovely Ms. Stewart has begun Beatnik Bootcamp in Montreal, Canada this week. Gone are the mis-shapen, frizzy Bella Swan wigs, and in their place are Kristen's natural, strawberry-blonde locks for the embodiment of the iconic figure of Mary Lou in the film adaptation of O<i>n The Road. </i>Kristen told reporters on the Eclipse press junket that she has been attached to <i>On The Road </i>for a few years now, but is so pleased and relieved to finally reveal her participation in the story she refers to as her "first favorite book ever". Already, movie critics are praising the casting of our Other Queen in the role as MaryLou, not only for her impressive status as a result of The Twilight Saga, but due to an observable maturity and depth in her extraordinary acting talents. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdYiLCPD7qRrpDYaCSXI6-Tv_ezD1g9SwGM9kG4nDGhlRxUzIEcGbkEF7qFr2lLfCC0SJiP8Agxwm7ZF7UqArUTwXHvwDsbjwREiCN2t-vceuUkZyWXVpOmzK9xWgYJEvNrSwgFQB5as/s1600/gallery_enlarged-eclipse-cinema-society-screening-06282010-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdYiLCPD7qRrpDYaCSXI6-Tv_ezD1g9SwGM9kG4nDGhlRxUzIEcGbkEF7qFr2lLfCC0SJiP8Agxwm7ZF7UqArUTwXHvwDsbjwREiCN2t-vceuUkZyWXVpOmzK9xWgYJEvNrSwgFQB5as/s320/gallery_enlarged-eclipse-cinema-society-screening-06282010-15.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beauty Marks</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><b>1</b>. Reveling in her domestic goddess ways, baking pies for cast mates and press junket interviewers <b>2.</b> Supports her friends' projects publicly, despite knowing paparazzi will be there <b>3</b>. Completely dedicated to embodying all faults and assets she posses <b>4.</b> Gifted in physical movement: Juggles, golfs, throws spiraling footballs with precision (in 4-inch heels while <i>sick </i>no less! See the now-legendary Jimmy Fallon appearance)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlfKejXWY7FT92PCpwv1muQLpj0VTw2v-JtYxYhcgdNCmGyb9tYES153Ed-LnqRCpxpZ9ER2uN4OqUDwiYC4SUHIwuIzQCnu_kpowUoOwAvoGhZO48CLzD2PEHF4T1tOE4mqACdDxgDQ/s1600/StewEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlfKejXWY7FT92PCpwv1muQLpj0VTw2v-JtYxYhcgdNCmGyb9tYES153Ed-LnqRCpxpZ9ER2uN4OqUDwiYC4SUHIwuIzQCnu_kpowUoOwAvoGhZO48CLzD2PEHF4T1tOE4mqACdDxgDQ/s320/StewEW.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of otherness</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>(per Other-Hunters, Bullshit People, AssClowns): <b>1.</b> Keeps composure despite intrusive photographers' insults as she attends public events <b>2.</b> Does not confirm or deny her personal relationship with Rob Pattinson <b>3.</b> Is awkward and uncomfortable <b>4. </b>Is honest in her reactions, but shy and cerebral in interviews. (This confuses people who want to categorize her by a singular emotion.)</div></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheo_tSsFyoU5_uexbPhOT6Sd8QRQ3pbiywrfoIr1j8yV9EIl2bJAJ-FnNT4h_QyQ54CdAHBchuiM6tE5jaKICdkO998rzPNl9Q4qJSFht1PTI5QMUVbgAaG8LsPCua5H8bpeetp8ppbUM/s1600/106413320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheo_tSsFyoU5_uexbPhOT6Sd8QRQ3pbiywrfoIr1j8yV9EIl2bJAJ-FnNT4h_QyQ54CdAHBchuiM6tE5jaKICdkO998rzPNl9Q4qJSFht1PTI5QMUVbgAaG8LsPCua5H8bpeetp8ppbUM/s320/106413320.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week, as Kristen prepared to be out of the country and away from her home, friends and family, she made headlines simply for stepping out with Rob to attend a show in support of musician friend Bobby Long. The reigning Other Queen wants to enjoy her limited time with her beloveds. In the aftermath of the chaotic world-gallivanting promo tour, Kristen is preparing to immerse herself in work again, which is something that she not only loves doing, but marks her impressive dedication to her craft. Once she returns from her <i>On The Road </i>filming, Kristen will delve into preparation for filming <i>Breaking Dawn </i>parts 1 and 2. With her departure to Montreal, as usual, the BullShit People, fame whores and Ass Clowns crawl out of the woodwork to concoct wild rumors and speculation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">LIGHTBULB MOMENT: These shit-stirrers who call themselves "fans" may be why some of us try avoid claiming any association with the "Twilight fandom". And instead attempt to redefine the true meaning of support and appreciation for Kristen, Rob and Twilight. Some of the more extreme (i.e. stalkers, fame whores and embarrassingly delusional) followers in this fandom sure know how to degrade and misrepresent, don't they??</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1kSJi31w-0QNCv4njPjPVuV7vc9s71lPpkZn2UYUX-OyCCjE9rxC8htgKrGGO9w40aUJjQQ-vItk-uMgF1zPXScMrWuah-pUfAcGqb4awtZHCOOFt367Y1W-3dBkLvic4k3HkQR9COY/s1600/R:K+%40Sam%27s+Show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1kSJi31w-0QNCv4njPjPVuV7vc9s71lPpkZn2UYUX-OyCCjE9rxC8htgKrGGO9w40aUJjQQ-vItk-uMgF1zPXScMrWuah-pUfAcGqb4awtZHCOOFt367Y1W-3dBkLvic4k3HkQR9COY/s320/R:K+%40Sam%27s+Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Talk all you want. We're still going home together.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the "fans" work themselves into a foamy lather, our girl Kristen and her Rebellious Partner in Crime Rob don't appear to bat an eyelash. Perhaps this is the greatest indicator that Kristen and Rob are balanced, un-fragmented, whole spirits: they know each other and themselves well enough; have confidence in their chosen friends and beloveds (did you see how TomStu and Sam shielded Kristen from the Other-Hunters at Bobby's concert?) to cast away the doubt, nonsense and hate from their awareness in pursuit of <i>their </i>bliss confidently, calmly, wholly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Smoothing The Splinters</span></b></div></div><div>Because I am letting the inner therapist and the neglected musician follow the path of the Bliss-Pursuing Other Queen, I am moving towards embracing my Otherness as a Chucks-and-tiara-wearing Rebel Royal.<br />
<br />
Because she turned her experience of victimization into a distinctive voice in defense of neglected, forgotten and persecuted Others, Shirley Manson is an Other Queen.<br />
<br />
Because she adamantly refuses to give into the jeers, insults and rumors meant to tear her apart, and instead keeps her focus on her craft and the path ahead of her; within company of encouraging beloveds who <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">know</span> all of her, </i>Kristen Stewart is the reigning Other Queen.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am Other.</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shirley is Other.</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kristen is Other. </span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Others know that embracing the whole is the </span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">greatest</span></b></i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> rebellion.</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Embrace Your Other. </span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Question: What can you do to bring your splintered roles, interests and loves closer together?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N: Did you enjoy the Special Edition Musings this week, with guest writer </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bouffant?</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Did you let her know here or on Twitter? She's @Bouffant00. I am off to be in my 3D world, and may even be on a plane as you read this. I am spending time with my family and attending a cousin's wedding. Then, N and I are flying off to Hawaii for a week with my mother, to introduce her to the islands that are so very special to me. She hasn't been before. I don't know for absolute certainty that I'll post next Thursday per usual. But The Muses are so very unexpected, so I may very well hole up on the patio with a cocktail and babble away at you again. I'll let you know. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the meantime, please check out my girls' projects: Visit </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Bouffant00</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of course, and also </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Buff_82</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Buff is a goddess, we've established this. A photographer and graphic design genius, even though she denies it. Go visit her on Twitter and on FanFic.net as she is the author of Eclipsed Heart (completed) and Redeem Me. Obviously check out CC's brilliant </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@KStewsbtrthanu</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> because she's outrageously gifted and clever, and she's my sister. Join </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@TheUrbanWhisk</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s culinary adventure on her gorgeous blog celebrating all things food. See my profile here and peek at the blogs I follow, give love to my girls </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Takemetobliss, @Frayo and @Jwink</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...the possibilities are endless. Many thanks to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marble Pole, Puss, Kathryn My Manager, Julie, and Clog-Wielding Queen J</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. To the lovelies who helped me brainstorm the name of "the magical little practice": You stun me. Lastly, as usual, my C</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">yber Sisters/Readers/3D friends</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, I'll see you in the morning, like everyday. LOVE YOU. </span></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-32335636296354217892010-07-13T17:32:00.000-07:002010-07-13T17:32:23.118-07:00Special Edition Rebel Royal of Yore: Judy Garland<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hello, Lovelies! It's Kj. Every week I write Musings on my own, then hand it off to my awesome pre-readers/Betas for review. Today's Special Edition of Musings is featuring a contributing writer, Bouffant. Remember, when I told you I would have different folks stop by and drop knowledge on all things Rebel Royalty? Yeah, well today is our First Ever Rebel Royal of Yore essay. Bouffant is my dear friend, and one of my pre-readers every week. Additionally, she is a talented thinker and writer in her own right. She keeps me in line when I go rogue (which, um, is frequent). Her hope is to introduce us to some of the Forgotten Queens. The Royal Misfits who blazed trails for our Other Royals today. I'll post my regular Musings on Thursday. We just get a little extra treat this week. I'm going to settle into my bean bag chair and enjoy story time. But since I can't keep my pie-hole shut, I'll probably pop in from time to time. Look for me here **...and near gratuitous pictures of our Reigning Queen The Stew and her Rebel Partner In Crime: JawPorn** Ok. Take it away, B. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRvEIvDVDmSDBuDZIi6sjmlaknY9lzxV_Uus_DB0aUjrVsXRakd3S-4jlZgMMZx73q5Spi8FDv1P0VIj_4v1bKqOSj-GghWDgqMfvb3vKfgkuSPbPCKUxJPTSzfbDyKEUINgjG4Rts7c/s1600/hbjuly7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRvEIvDVDmSDBuDZIi6sjmlaknY9lzxV_Uus_DB0aUjrVsXRakd3S-4jlZgMMZx73q5Spi8FDv1P0VIj_4v1bKqOSj-GghWDgqMfvb3vKfgkuSPbPCKUxJPTSzfbDyKEUINgjG4Rts7c/s320/hbjuly7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BAM.You.Will.NOT.Forget.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As with many of you, my friend KJ's weekly thoughts on Other Queens have captivated me. KJ elevates us all- because who among us not an Other Queen, on the inside if not the outside? - by placing us in the court of Rebel Royalty. Princess KJ honored me by asking me to contribute to her musings, and I leapt at the opportunity. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"> But what to talk about? KJ's writing is like poetry to me, and I don't mind telling you it's slightly intimidating, adding my voice to hers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, B. I'm blushing.I am honored that you're contributing your voice. Here, this is for you and all our Rebel Sisters who have something to say:*</span> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrkbEwatjcpEHOSyX6pWA7Cl1jN7QpKHmDRDuWRvRrFfyiGtdpdqHFZpLSjt1hGnxKH3LelxvpKpcW5Gll5ssf71lx4_5gWBUEgHAINNNVdxduMg1RfM1D3Y-IGvi73hPQUAHTLD5nyw/s1600/love-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrkbEwatjcpEHOSyX6pWA7Cl1jN7QpKHmDRDuWRvRrFfyiGtdpdqHFZpLSjt1hGnxKH3LelxvpKpcW5Gll5ssf71lx4_5gWBUEgHAINNNVdxduMg1RfM1D3Y-IGvi73hPQUAHTLD5nyw/s320/love-61.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Our reigning Other Queen (and if you need me to tell you that's Kristen Stewart, you need to turn around and read this blog from the beginning) has talked in recent months about her decision to play Joan Jett in The Runaways. She said she wanted to make people her age aware of The Runaways. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*(throat clearing) Just in case, you know, you lost focus.*</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZNRU1gcd6YX2g-AnnNNiPp6-LTdxlqRDuOLvZZL_hOBMFG-grNYpQI09Bk63CFXTPvQytR30GnFkkOAuZhtvbZUpEQwxYdXfEKOVrMuNjEkiW_fvKjNKA10BHUm0R0XrgE3ZEUO3IIU/s1600/normal_tr-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZNRU1gcd6YX2g-AnnNNiPp6-LTdxlqRDuOLvZZL_hOBMFG-grNYpQI09Bk63CFXTPvQytR30GnFkkOAuZhtvbZUpEQwxYdXfEKOVrMuNjEkiW_fvKjNKA10BHUm0R0XrgE3ZEUO3IIU/s320/normal_tr-002.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">um. Ohai DakotaStew. unf.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Here, I'll confess to two things. First, I'm old (relatively speaking). Second, I am usually not aware that I'm old. Both of those things will happen to you too someday, if you're lucky. Anyway, I'm about three years younger than Joan Jett. I remember the original Runaways lineup. And I forget that people Kristen's age wouldn't know a lot of the music and bands from that era. Kids today! OK, I'll stop. BTW you have my permission to shoot me if I ever say that and mean it. So, like KJ, I am using Kristen as my writing inspiration today. I want to tell you about Other Queens from past courts. Not Joan, not today, although she definitely owns a crown (which looks awesome with her leather pants, incidentally). Today I'm going to talk about Judy Garland.</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza-FQfl-cWSpYJ-ykR5NUoe2DjrXP4dmhEBFZ2k6dkhSkaOnBpmVBID4XZnUfbon5xtA9XIxguE-mgJytvm03yYm6Ta2EVDxtkYzHlSd_3bruwnCeX-Hq691vbdA929MmVG_L85mBF1E/s1600/judy-garland+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza-FQfl-cWSpYJ-ykR5NUoe2DjrXP4dmhEBFZ2k6dkhSkaOnBpmVBID4XZnUfbon5xtA9XIxguE-mgJytvm03yYm6Ta2EVDxtkYzHlSd_3bruwnCeX-Hq691vbdA929MmVG_L85mBF1E/s320/judy-garland+1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You may only know Judy's name because she starred in<i> The Wizard of Oz</i>. I hope you've seen it! It's a classic film and a cultural touchstone. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*absolutely agree with you on this, B. But those freaky-ass flying monkeys are a hard limit for me, just sayin'*</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"> Judy delivered a lovely performance in it, and gave the all-time definitive rendition of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'. If you've never </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b>really </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">watched/listened to her sing that song in the film, do yourself a favor and pay attention to it. Judy's innocence and yearning in that performance is heartbreaking. Judy often performed it live in later years, and said about it:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> "...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but maybe I get more emotional about 'Rainbow.' I never shed any phony tears about it. Everybody has songs that make them cry. That's my sad song."</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Everyone loves Judy Garland. </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What makes her Other?</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Sometimes you can have the admiration of everyone you know, yet still feel Other on the inside.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">f I </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">am a legend, then why am I so lonely?"</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Hollywood is a strange place if you're in trouble. Everybody thinks it's contagious."</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people."</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"As for my feelings toward "Over the Rainbow", it's become part of my life. It is so symbolic of all my dreams and wishes that I'm sure that's why people sometimes get tears in their eyes when they hear it."</span></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-- Judy Garland</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Judy was 16 years old when she made <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>. She had been performing on stage since she was two and a half (her parents were vaudevillians), and signed with MGM at 13 years old; around the time her father died of meningitis. Louis B. Mayer recognized her extraordinary talent, although he had no idea what to do with her at first. He referred to her as his "little hunchback", had her fitted with caps for her teeth and prosthetics to alter her nose, enforced a restricted diet for her, and had the studio doctor prescribe Benzedrine to shrink her waistline -- all with the complicity and approval of her stage mother, who Judy once called "the real Wicked Witch of the West". </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">*that is all kinds of ridonk messed up. So she really was only seen as 'pretty' when she was bound and prostehtically-enhanced? um. NO.*</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> She attended studio school with teen queens Ava Gardner, Deanna Durbin and Lana Turner, which did nothing to alleviate her physical insecurities.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AjV5e1iZ_QAQtiUv-lOGhl1IUzhcEg_tdRasksBlG_LPaDARxD181COvEGNJA6frBpl7LoK_gRdehoCJ2Odz6Ja1s3gVDIVC33v9RvU7per99Ssi2DFdPu4fJAPH-9K83NpaS61BHY8/s1600/JudyCostars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AjV5e1iZ_QAQtiUv-lOGhl1IUzhcEg_tdRasksBlG_LPaDARxD181COvEGNJA6frBpl7LoK_gRdehoCJ2Odz6Ja1s3gVDIVC33v9RvU7per99Ssi2DFdPu4fJAPH-9K83NpaS61BHY8/s320/JudyCostars.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Co-stars at study... or a photo op?</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mickey Rooney was another classmate, and Judy's co-star in the Andy Hardy films. Andy and Betsey (their characters) were about as wholesome a pair of kids as you could find on the silver screen. Mayer hit on a winning girl-next-door type for Judy to play, and the series was very successful. The following year, Shirley Temple being unavailable, Mayer cast Judy in The Wizard of Oz, ordering her to bind her breasts to appear younger onscreen. Her drug cocktail was increased - she was given uppers to get her on set and downers to get to sleep. She talked in later years about being allowed to sleep for four hours, then being given more uppers to continue filming. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At sixteen years old. Not just sanctioned, but ordered by the authority figures in her life. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*The LiLo of the 30's? Thank goodness there weren't rabid papz then like there are now.*</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As we know, Judy knocked Dorothy Gale out of the park. At the 1940 Academy Awards, Judy received a "Juvenile Award" Oscar celebrating her performances in 1939. Her star rose. Judy transcended adolescent parts and made a slew of successful films, some classics. If you haven't seen <i>Meet Me in St. Louis</i>,<i> Judgment at Nuremburg</i> or <i>A Star Is Born</i>... just do.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As film roles dried up (due in part to her mental instability), Judy segued into live concerts and television appearances, solidifying her legend with the stunning combination of her astounding vocal quality and her personal charisma. Like Fred Astaire did with dance, Judy disguised her considerable artistry. Her vocal appeal was open, vibrant and warm, much like her personality. Her technical skill was unmatched, except perhaps by Frank Sinatra. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You won't be surprised to learn that through all this, Judy struggled with drug addiction, while denying it publicly. There weren't any rehabs back then for Judy.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">*No Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew? No </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Intervention on A&E? Whaaa?*</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span> She did visit psychiatric hospitals now and then, for breakdowns and suicide attempts. Her addiction and health problems meant that that she was not dependable professionally, particularly in later years. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">*The chick's hardcore*</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She also struggled to find lasting and true love, marrying five separate times, beginning with an engagement to David Rose at the tender age of 18. M</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;">GM pressured them to delay the announcement for a year as being married</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"> did not jibe with her girlish image. (Not to mention that Rose was still married to Martha Raye when he proposed to Judy.) Her next four marriages each had their own unique set of problems, but the result was the same - disappointment.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">How do I get to Carnegie Hall?</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b>Practice, practice, practice</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzHuM3vds4YqOSf5VwA2Thfhg-blZoJN941mv-sxTPjIQI9h6-26_QPXtQ6H7VjjQqK_KP0ahf79-iMftqtoQP5stUZqn4QBMeFJ6iqMy1IKsmuWGQst62wDvJa4uHQXJp8gELtA9go0/s1600/Judy+Garland+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzHuM3vds4YqOSf5VwA2Thfhg-blZoJN941mv-sxTPjIQI9h6-26_QPXtQ6H7VjjQqK_KP0ahf79-iMftqtoQP5stUZqn4QBMeFJ6iqMy1IKsmuWGQst62wDvJa4uHQXJp8gELtA9go0/s320/Judy+Garland+poster.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">As turbulent as Judy's personal life was, her talent was such that she worked consistently, was excellent frequently, and now and then made truly great art. In April of 1961, Judy gave two concerts at Carnegie Hall. The audience was packed with superstars of the day (and lucky regular folks). Judy was at the peak of her powers, and faced with an audience who really </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><i>knew</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"> her (professionally, and for many, personally), she created magic. Judy's vibrance, vulnerability, voice, and her incomparable ability to connect with her audience were fortunately captured for posterity by Capital Records:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWg-bTfQjPxN_-kQu8pKr972STRj6OdAl25G1dMPikL8UROkH1ly39hcAR52HP8F_Ecz-N-VhzWrReL3TPimWzJ2s1DgzXKMsPcxybsLNUG-iuWYzWPeXa1U3UZYk5gbGWcvfiSwNniE/s1600/judylive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWg-bTfQjPxN_-kQu8pKr972STRj6OdAl25G1dMPikL8UROkH1ly39hcAR52HP8F_Ecz-N-VhzWrReL3TPimWzJ2s1DgzXKMsPcxybsLNUG-iuWYzWPeXa1U3UZYk5gbGWcvfiSwNniE/s320/judylive.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The April 23rd performance has become commonly known as "the greatest night in show business history". Almost 50 years old, it's hardly wrinkled and dusty. It commands one's attention. It strikes straight through to one's soul. It's a magnificent triumph. It's still a touchstone for performers today -- in fact Rufus Wainwright actually recreated it four years ago in a live Carnegie Hall show. I was fortunate enough to be in the balcony that evening. Everyone present, from Rufus up to the last row in the house, was there to honor Judy's spirit. It was a daring effort, and I doubt many performers alive today could have pulled it off, but Rufus approached it with the correct measures of dedication, devotion, talent, historical perspective, humor, and balls. As an homage to a legend, it fit the bill.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Judy died eight years after her landmark performance. She spent that time working, mostly on stage, and battling her demons. She divorced her fourth husband in 1963, and married again in March of 1969. Two months later, she was dead of a barbiturate overdose, at age 47. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's the age I am right now.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">That's a short fucking life.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4MonDb7Dz87sufs07-Krbr0QW8AewxjFq3uyqv2qvTUpVDRWMM9HDx-VZI7XdGhofLCaOeVg4GirRkVq9TJPIsJkRUuX0uXN4aPP6qpd46NeGp0sqYXN-X7cOs66eC2K0S6OLLu4jm0/s1600/Judy-as-Dorothy-judy-garland-890055_352_442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4MonDb7Dz87sufs07-Krbr0QW8AewxjFq3uyqv2qvTUpVDRWMM9HDx-VZI7XdGhofLCaOeVg4GirRkVq9TJPIsJkRUuX0uXN4aPP6qpd46NeGp0sqYXN-X7cOs66eC2K0S6OLLu4jm0/s320/Judy-as-Dorothy-judy-garland-890055_352_442.jpg" width="255" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> One of the most technically accomplished voices of the 20th century. </span>2.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Oscar winner. </span>3.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> The one and only Dorothy Gale. </span>4.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Credited with creating the greatest night in show business history.</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRsCLIUUPBmJJ5tjz42ysL47frob4vyrLz9f4-PDFILbuRxGbXLWYeA5KD0YC-WzVRMcAD8cWJjEZh8HEm8lE88cFzdddHAcZNSBUQ63vFJrEi4MxiSWq2H5daN4lEqgwPjQAj3ZGM58/s1600/Garland+Glam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRsCLIUUPBmJJ5tjz42ysL47frob4vyrLz9f4-PDFILbuRxGbXLWYeA5KD0YC-WzVRMcAD8cWJjEZh8HEm8lE88cFzdddHAcZNSBUQ63vFJrEi4MxiSWq2H5daN4lEqgwPjQAj3ZGM58/s320/Garland+Glam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Per Other-Hunters, Mother-Exploiters, Studio Heads, and AssClowns) <b>1.</b> Looked like a normal, pretty young girl. <b>2.</b> Had breasts. <b>3.</b> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;">Defied manipulation attempts by parental authority figures as soon as she was old enough.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"> <b>4.</b> Battled drug addiction (with little to no professional help).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"After 9/11, when we first were going to war and the state of things looked pretty dismal, I bought the rerelease. Somehow that album, no matter how dark things seemed, made everything brighten. She had this capacity to lighten the world through the innocence of her sound. Her anchor to the material was obviously through her devotion to music. You never feel that she didn't believe every word of every song that she ever sang."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">--Rufus Wainwright</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Judy had no family stability, no parents to turn to for support. She was expected to be an adult while still a child. She was professionally exploited before she was old enough to drive. She was in the grip of addiction from adolescence on. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*I am being schooled in the legend of Judy. I'm in speechless awe.*</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yet she gave so much of herself. She laid herself bare in performance. She received love from the world, but what she gave of herself must have cost her much. Because she can still touch us 40 years after her death, because she's the girl who taught us how to get back home even though she couldn't, because she laughed and sang through her pain, Judy Garland is an Other Queen. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE4ySluYyVfqUVkrFddpoKsTFJuCwSY-Rz9MDUX9vWuJtWx2XSwZyQJJCHAzIrwPfGWqLQYoilJxY_IfZtjm52yExgeoatqDPbnypNH8LS9af1YakGliKM5OB6YcMwJB2sn1Gm-wxnD4/s1600/judygarland-show1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE4ySluYyVfqUVkrFddpoKsTFJuCwSY-Rz9MDUX9vWuJtWx2XSwZyQJJCHAzIrwPfGWqLQYoilJxY_IfZtjm52yExgeoatqDPbnypNH8LS9af1YakGliKM5OB6YcMwJB2sn1Gm-wxnD4/s320/judygarland-show1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">--Judy Garland</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqC16ZxiEusBGsQRU8qXsEXUxuXRraipZMCVuAJ_eszwOAdtGpovxp-9SrmwzKLT5YE3u8I5OGWcw662n1XDACuBsH68QQQO0G1RY9N3SvJDfWThofP95fQISSJI8EoRGpt_FmH-rS0k/s1600/Judy_Garland_47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqC16ZxiEusBGsQRU8qXsEXUxuXRraipZMCVuAJ_eszwOAdtGpovxp-9SrmwzKLT5YE3u8I5OGWcw662n1XDACuBsH68QQQO0G1RY9N3SvJDfWThofP95fQISSJI8EoRGpt_FmH-rS0k/s320/Judy_Garland_47.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCYXUlpiUXUzI_3o1aK23YjNcEABHSJASE00zb3cJOA-P_VaZ1xRIWKmtW0dfa2r9OsInEudtPqn0BorUEg2jlNZP6Rn5zDOrO6VPQQD2LVnDefISWFSFXUGeQR0i1tta8fKyJrjh6AE/s1600/Judy_Garland_51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCYXUlpiUXUzI_3o1aK23YjNcEABHSJASE00zb3cJOA-P_VaZ1xRIWKmtW0dfa2r9OsInEudtPqn0BorUEg2jlNZP6Rn5zDOrO6VPQQD2LVnDefISWFSFXUGeQR0i1tta8fKyJrjh6AE/s320/Judy_Garland_51.jpg" width="247" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Judy is Other.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others push onward despite lack of parental support</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace your Other.</span></b></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div></div></div></div><div><br />
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</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-42404463591443946622010-07-08T07:23:00.000-07:002010-07-09T11:37:09.508-07:00The journey is the risk..and the reward<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><div color="#333233" style="font: 12.0px Verdana; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“We were all delighted, we all realized we were leaving confusion and nonsense behind and performing our one noble function of the time, move."</span></span></b></span></div><div color="#333233" style="font: 12.0px Verdana; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Jack Kerouac, </span></span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the Road</span></span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Onward We Move</span></span></div>And it's time for us to move. It's time to push forward to the next adventure. Alas, the whirlwind promo tour for <i>Eclipse </i>has finally spun to a close, save for a shriek-worthy drive-by from Kristen and Rob at the AMC theaters in Century City this week. StrawberryStew and WFEFuckhotRob in the same room together, though brief, caused explosions far worthier than a Fourth of July fireworks display.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAeT7wpWtuwEZeVQZLsSZlXGrIdjyMYfCcOnNqqYwpiQ5I3U4ySMiCEXHVKtzopdVGLVAecjdxgqj-EQ80plosy2HKpGxXc3hVhhNGlZm-ajSUb1TR-_96yXlUwFh46815RrhyvN9pYc/s1600/zl2nm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAeT7wpWtuwEZeVQZLsSZlXGrIdjyMYfCcOnNqqYwpiQ5I3U4ySMiCEXHVKtzopdVGLVAecjdxgqj-EQ80plosy2HKpGxXc3hVhhNGlZm-ajSUb1TR-_96yXlUwFh46815RrhyvN9pYc/s320/zl2nm.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The way he looks at her? Ka-BOOM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Before pulling away from the curb en route to the highway, let's take a moment to pay <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">homage to the movie Eclipse. I personally felt it was the best of the three. I went to see it on opening day, with my sister Puss and good friend who is as close as my sister, SK. We had reserved seats at a swanky theater which contained an open bar and tables at our seats to set up all our glasses of vodka. Some of us *ahem* had many glasses, so thank goodness for that table and drink holders. For me, everything about Eclipse (except for the wigs) improved </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a dozen-fold</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The pacing, the special effects, the inclusion of important story lines, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the acting </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">all vastly exceeded. Balanced. Kristen </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">killed </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it. She reminded everyone out there that they're wasting their time on a team worshipping the boys. I am a Team Bella/Team Kristen gal, and I was elated beyond consonant sounds to see Girlfriend represent. I drank in the chemistry that is Kristen and Robert. Their energy is crazy electric and not only was I turned on by their interactions, I felt almost guilty and pervy for watching there intimate moments of love declarations, marriage proposals and attempts at removing clothing. If </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Breaking Dawn <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">gets the</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> fan fiction treatment of the love scenes as rumored, then I'm going to have to excuse myself to use the restroom and then smoke a cigarette.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHsmVeDWPaMwu43fJcJwzTnp8p-PbIEQL89JqJq-xnwvPHEfQXebBNS_YjCdSL2KSyFn0xdTwu1OiUzPYUbyUNGlg9PxDYQMqmSWpRMVUlq5LjrMDLBrUcYv9En3YWngf2V_bXupO4wc/s1600/1zdcfhh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHsmVeDWPaMwu43fJcJwzTnp8p-PbIEQL89JqJq-xnwvPHEfQXebBNS_YjCdSL2KSyFn0xdTwu1OiUzPYUbyUNGlg9PxDYQMqmSWpRMVUlq5LjrMDLBrUcYv9En3YWngf2V_bXupO4wc/s320/1zdcfhh.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sweet and pretty, yes. Explosive? um. NO.<br />
Thanks for the memories, Eclipse!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div>So, I am going to stop right here and urge you to read CC's (of KSTEW IS BETTER THAN YOU) review of Eclipse. It's the only review for me that wades through the bullshit, with a healthy dose of #TEAMCHARLIE as well. Do it. Read her review (<b>but don't forget to come back here</b>), and comment. She basically crawled into my brain through my eyehole and expressed my exact thoughts but in her much more articulate, brilliant, snarky fashion. Read it here:-- <a href="http://kstewisbetterthanu.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-longer-than-breaking-dawn.html">CC's Eclipse Review</a><br />
<br />
Having tipped my hat to Eclipse, let's talk about Kristen's next project and the essence of this week's <i>Musings</i>. Kristen is about to embark on a new journey of sorts. A road trip, if you will. She is leaving shortly for Montreal (where she will attend Beatnik Bootcamp), New Orleans and Mexico to film the seminal and aching <i>On the Road </i>based on Jack Kerouac's memoir/novel of the same name.<br />
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Now, I'll probably dedicate an entire future essay to my thoughts about <i>On the Road, </i>the book, the movie and how I believe that this role combined with <i>Welcome to the Rileys </i>will catapult Kristen to the cusp of legend; so, I'll keep my gushing to a minimum here. I just wanted to take a moment to touch on some important concepts borne of Kristen's involvement with this amazing project.<br />
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Themes represented in <i>On the Road </i>include restlessness, the search for creative expression, friendship, loss and finding a niche (hmmm, could Jack Kerouac be of Rebel Royal lineage?). Also there's the undercurrent of challenging authority as well as mores of genders. <i>Mary Lou, </i>the main female character in the story, and the role of which our Other Queen Kristen will portray, is promiscuous, stubborn, defiant, intelligent and grappling with the challenges of defining herself. She is damaged and broken but passionate. She does not participate in anything halfway. She is a Go Big Or Go Home Girl. Well, none of the characters in the story are half-assers. MaryLou, Dean and Sal all take the risk, and jump at the chance to take the journey into self-reflection...and perhaps self-redemption...? But in Kerouac's closing thoughts in the book, he realizes that while he makes it to his destination, he is haunted by and forever affected by the events <i>on his journey. </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf07H1p2xj_PzBjK97h1PIZ15dD36mdfpyYVQX4vlhj0iIW-hqbMoJXFDw4uXsL_EmTIHpoSS1K8KHkroUmDonSDAjrx9WoPo4B5aT2131Eyn-pxz197jb6cc1TjGfStPQdFOmcplQ9A/s1600/normal_023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf07H1p2xj_PzBjK97h1PIZ15dD36mdfpyYVQX4vlhj0iIW-hqbMoJXFDw4uXsL_EmTIHpoSS1K8KHkroUmDonSDAjrx9WoPo4B5aT2131Eyn-pxz197jb6cc1TjGfStPQdFOmcplQ9A/s320/normal_023.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, and BlondeStew will play Mary Lou. mmmmm gah.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Take a Chance on Me</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And so that leads me to this week's theme: taking the risk, and reverence for the <i>journey</i>. Last week I walked the line of self indulgence as I told you lovelies that I had a hard time which induced many tears. Your kind emails, tweets and DMs were received with bewilderment and gratitude. You all have gone above and beyond in offering support and cheerleading, and I want you to know that you <i>have </i>helped me. Immensely. Why do I say this? Because I've made some movement. Because I gathered some courage and decided to return to my bold roots, and my gypsy spirit rejoices. You all know that I've struggled with the likes of BastardNation, witnessed my soul sucked out through my toes leaving behind a person unsure if working in the healing profession is in fact, <i>bad for my health</i>. You all remember the Miracle Bubbles when I decided I'd follow my bliss:<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The bliss was because I had decided to forgo Plan B and finally finally pursue Plan A: Creative Living. Singing, playing piano and guitar, writing, photography, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches as offering to work for <b>ODO and Cascadega</b> in BadAssVille in the Department of Royal Rebel Defense. Last week as I tried to keep the panic at bay, I realized that my unemployment term is very quickly closing in on me and I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface in my plans. And I am flat broke on top of it all. All the accolades and pretty words in the world will not pay my rent or my car loan. So I sat down a couple nights ago, and listened to a little Prodigy and The Swell Season and kicked my own arse.<br />
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I reminded myself how I've never ever let the pressure defeat me nor my optimism in this whole year of hardship. I reminded myself of all the risks I've taken in my life that have paid off beautifully: moving 500 miles away from my childhood home to a city where my soul is soothed; Going to graduate school at a private academy to obtain a Masters and credential to practice psychology instead of the world-renowned University I had originally planned for; strapping on a backpack and purchasing a one-way ticket to Southeast Asia in search of "home"... The travel essays I'm writing regarding the risks I've taken are filled only with moments in time, snapshots in my mind's eye of profound connection. <i>It's t</i><i>he road</i> not the terminus.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBqGPjpnZAXbhCibfPpXTnAVhExLAnp3ByFXFpEnLxZBQgbc4F6E11BJFedNI1HHsnXhJQM0q8r6HPFIx4IUMBMC-zLVhtryV1hy6wPNpFLknaaGswyspodfJGBond3xci9Efkqhb0QE/s1600/l_3778fad103c77de436c408709ff1684d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBqGPjpnZAXbhCibfPpXTnAVhExLAnp3ByFXFpEnLxZBQgbc4F6E11BJFedNI1HHsnXhJQM0q8r6HPFIx4IUMBMC-zLVhtryV1hy6wPNpFLknaaGswyspodfJGBond3xci9Efkqhb0QE/s320/l_3778fad103c77de436c408709ff1684d.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My travels to SE Asia led me to N..who led me to this lovely Hall.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That is me, the day before I married N on that staircase. </span><br />
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</span></div>So a couple days ago, I walked in my neighborhood en route to my favorite diner with N. We passed a block full of picturesque boutiques and cafes. I wasn't feeling any heightened sense of emotion except hunger for my egg and bacon sandwich. But something pretty miraculous must have occurred in order for me to shake off my breakfast-vision. Well, it was an opportunity for movement.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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What did I do? I smooshed my face against the clean, streak free windows and tried to see as much as possible into the building. I called the telephone number on the RENT sign. I explained to a voicemail box that I am a therapist and I'm interested in seeing the room available. I didn't have any other words, so I left my name and a telephone contact number. My fingers were tingling and the hair stood up on my arms as I surveyed the front of the small building at which I was still gaping. This space actually has <i>two </i>rooms to choose from and it's a part of a <i>HEALING CENTER. </i><br />
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<i></i>I KNOW. After doing the happy-happy-joy-joy Ren and Stimpy dance, I skipped the rest of the way to the diner to meet N for my breakfast sandwich. I received a call within 20 minutes from the owner of the Healing Center. With my mouthful of eggs, I set up an appointment with the owner. I physically saw the space yesterday. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Fast forward to this morning. The owner calls and tells me she just had conversed with her partner about bringing on a mental health therapist into the practice a day ago, and the benefits of having psychotherapy available to their clients. Cue <i>ME</i> calling them about the rental. The owner told me she'd like for me to become apart of their practice. They want my name to be on the front window along with the massage therapists, acupuncturists, and chiropractors for a holistic practice. They want my mother-loving, Kristen-and-Rob-adoring mug on their Wall of Healers. At this point I'm glad I smooshed my face into the smudge-free glass, and that knowing I had nothing to lose, I called the phone number on that RENT sign. There is no signed deal yet. This all just happened, like today, but I feel a deep satisfaction in knowing that I opened up channels because I took a walk towards my breakfast sandwich, and was open to Synchronicity (The Universe's nudges can be sublime). Like Kristen, it is time for me to transition into the next phase of creativity: the working stage. But the movement is what is most important. While the final destination is important, the initial intention and physical kinesis of deciding on taking the risk: that is the <i>reward. </i>The trigger towards progression is really IT.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N_fMoeGUqES-pTt1zZRCMB6LJpTUYn7ii2qzRnLhEBliOnbbzcTZcAJhYMlFSY1s4XF-pck9OOAfrjLnkSdNbFvQLuFf8NhnLI9n6Uh8mXPljkLvrxGTOKXcw7buV4L5buhndMZDg58/s1600/happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N_fMoeGUqES-pTt1zZRCMB6LJpTUYn7ii2qzRnLhEBliOnbbzcTZcAJhYMlFSY1s4XF-pck9OOAfrjLnkSdNbFvQLuFf8NhnLI9n6Uh8mXPljkLvrxGTOKXcw7buV4L5buhndMZDg58/s320/happiness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This was kinda what I looked like on my walk home from breakfast</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Featured Rebel Royal: Frieda Pinto</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;">Lets talk about a couple ladies who have taken risks in embracing their inner Mary Lou. </span>The lovely Frieda makes her debut as a Rebel Royal today, though she has been on Team Other's radar for at least the past two years. Born and raised in Mumbai India, Ms. Pinto is the first Other Queen of Asian descent to be featured (oh but believe me, she is <i>not</i> the last, not even close). A B.A. graduate of English Literature and Psychology first, a model and actress second, Frieda broke into the mainstream's conscious with her role of Latika in the brilliant and effecting </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Slumdog Millionaire. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">In the movie, Latika endures poverty, homelessness, servitude as a gangster's mistress all in attempts to keep her true love free.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">In real life, Frieda's very swift introduction to Hollywood threw her into the trajectory of the BullShit People's feedback. Frieda had been dating publicist Rohan Antao for nearly five years, and as her star rose in the world, their union did not withstand the pressure. The pair parted ways in the year that </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Millionaire </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">traveled the world for promotional tours. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">She currently dates her </span>Slumdog Millionaire <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">costar Dev Patel. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJYatmqfwMaYr3u4PCdPJKLMXlHvrv3n8-zgw3MCLTVscRA5L-N0bfLROiOBVcw_flcqdVgJhs23Z7Y3sMF50-7jCvjXtZ8_yyj_QxDYZNJNDX_ae2YoZtK-oPO_AmoQGLhOWgiS7C8Q/s1600/frieda-pinto-estee-lauder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJYatmqfwMaYr3u4PCdPJKLMXlHvrv3n8-zgw3MCLTVscRA5L-N0bfLROiOBVcw_flcqdVgJhs23Z7Y3sMF50-7jCvjXtZ8_yyj_QxDYZNJNDX_ae2YoZtK-oPO_AmoQGLhOWgiS7C8Q/s320/frieda-pinto-estee-lauder.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beauty Marks:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span>1. </b>Classically trained in Indian dance <b>2. </b>Anchored for international travel show (I am in love with her for this) <b>3. </b>First language is Konkani (can you even <i>pronounce </i>this, let alone understand the complexities of <i>speaking </i>it?)<b> 4. </b>Spokesmodel for Loreal, the first representing Asian/Indians<b> </b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Otherness:</span></b> (Per Other-Hunters, Critics and AssClowns) <b>1. </b>Defied the prescribed physical characteristics of models:<b> </b>is petite, dark-skinned, of Asian descent <b>2. </b>Auditioned for a large studio film in her first outing (Go Big or Go Home) <b>3.</b> Showed discernment and sensitivity while dealing with matters of the heart and her personal relationships.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbR7crPGPR6TEI8TEkSX6MbKDvlJjhf973sWnlFp4DknBXhOUAMEwCSQ9EC5wLX6aTW06sy_gr6dzRs9m6hbGHLq9hdGEfmCE9Z9fhIxTc_9wWPspMI9XhI4WOy2Yp-dN_kRvAZBFFcA/s1600/6a00d8341cd41453ef0120a8d2b61d970b-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbR7crPGPR6TEI8TEkSX6MbKDvlJjhf973sWnlFp4DknBXhOUAMEwCSQ9EC5wLX6aTW06sy_gr6dzRs9m6hbGHLq9hdGEfmCE9Z9fhIxTc_9wWPspMI9XhI4WOy2Yp-dN_kRvAZBFFcA/s320/6a00d8341cd41453ef0120a8d2b61d970b-800wi.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Forever a dreamer and believer in taking risks, Frieda began modeling and attending acting classes while juggling her college courses. Upon graduation, she worked as a travel correspondent for an international television show, and took the chance and auditioned for <i>Slumdog Millionaire. </i>It would be her first movie ever if she landed the role. After six months of screening and reading for the directors and producers, then waiting for news, Frieda learned she received the coveted role of <i>Latika </i>in <i>Millionaire. </i>Frieda's very first acting job became a wold wide success and received every accolade and award handed out including the Oscar for <i>Best Picture. </i>Frieda herself received a BAFTA nomination for Actress in a Supporting Role. And in a familiar romantic twist, Frieda met and fell in love with her co-star Dev Patel. Because she took never took her eyes off her goal, and decided to journey in pursuit of it, Frieda Pinto is an Other Queen.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart</span></b></div>The lovely Kristen Jaymes Stewart has always, always credited her decisions of following her heart over her mind in auditioning for or pursuing film roles. Her astute discernment of roles have garnered her an extremely impressive resume. In a recent Eclipse press junket, Kristen claimed:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">"I am motivated to keep working when I am happy, and not lying to anybody"</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She reports choosing roles based on how she relates to the character, in finding the humanity beneath the grit. She embodies the job completely: studying and spending time with patients with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Friedrich's Ataxia so as to consume and <i>be consumed by</i> the role of Georgia, a terminally ill teenager with the neurological disease in a quiet and lovely film </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Cake Eaters. </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</i></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beauty Marks</span><span class="Apple-style-span">: </span>1. </b>Will choose a film role based on her emotional resonance with it instead of perceived box-office reception.<b> 2. </b>Looks for the humanity in every character she chooses to portray.<b> 3. </b>Will risk public backlash and slander so as to speak her truth.<b> 4. </b>Chooses to be in a relationship with Rob Pattinson though she has to endure the wrath and threats of critics and angry "fans"<b> </b><br />
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<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnbuBiMVhnaGoE60itMBsk7LcASE68ix0AgigbPl8QbTm-KuUeOsArvZnPNBPkMZbl0JL7olY6v-k7FY377I8fqrusVf5K8n9trWZXJwJuhcDqaIh3Mc7Oon7O-b03dHv8bijClouUN8/s1600/normal_033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnbuBiMVhnaGoE60itMBsk7LcASE68ix0AgigbPl8QbTm-KuUeOsArvZnPNBPkMZbl0JL7olY6v-k7FY377I8fqrusVf5K8n9trWZXJwJuhcDqaIh3Mc7Oon7O-b03dHv8bijClouUN8/s320/normal_033.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><b><br />
</b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offense of Otherness:</span></b> (Per BullShit People, Other-Hunters and AssClowns) <b>1.</b> She appears miserable and somber all the time <b>2.</b> Is ungrateful for her career and successes <b>3.</b> Is unhappy with her personal relationships, she has no friends <b>4.</b> Has little to no control over her fine motor skills (nervous tics much?)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD1AWuLd41oUubiOfmLaeVMvvvwfy5AkhlpJ_E_fAR8iNBmLMV2tiHg0hyphenhyphen4H7T0FCpBv1ipLq6I0KEqWSnuboGUM7xlQDaxdDobteUxgnD32-NPyFEPdcEQjVcggp9skEK87XQPqB3PA/s1600/normal_mq008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD1AWuLd41oUubiOfmLaeVMvvvwfy5AkhlpJ_E_fAR8iNBmLMV2tiHg0hyphenhyphen4H7T0FCpBv1ipLq6I0KEqWSnuboGUM7xlQDaxdDobteUxgnD32-NPyFEPdcEQjVcggp9skEK87XQPqB3PA/s320/normal_mq008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
To prepare for her role in <i>Welcome to the Rileys</i> as the stripper/prostitute Mallory, Kristen fully immersed herself in the journey of finding her inner broken girl. According to US Elle Magazine:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">To prepare, she lived on junk food, learned to pole dance, chain-smoked, and stayed up all night. The rough living took its toll: Her legs bloom with bruises and her sallow skin with blemishes, all of them real. It’s difficult to imagine another young actress subordinating her looks so completely to her performance. This may well be the role that loosens the association between Kristen Stewart and Bella Swan, poster child for teenage angst. "</span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoE64qb7P-J4IjymMoW99ix7Ox4fiuhGzmYmjGwyt2z-62Xujuu7Ct-jN9rqr89-Q7jDSp_atHDjvoUUnyPxcpoi6tqPaPf9adfe4pfIlw-ddfB733Rq0cILbw3VrUQX9L0K4aW7unNn8/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoE64qb7P-J4IjymMoW99ix7Ox4fiuhGzmYmjGwyt2z-62Xujuu7Ct-jN9rqr89-Q7jDSp_atHDjvoUUnyPxcpoi6tqPaPf9adfe4pfIlw-ddfB733Rq0cILbw3VrUQX9L0K4aW7unNn8/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other Queens Are Coming Home</span></b></div>Because I recognized that to break away from the ensuing panic that was threatening my happiness I needed to hit the road, and call Plan A out by name, I am holding a spot on the Homecoming Court.<br />
<br />
Because she blew the antiquated physical requirements to bits with her small stature, dark skin and Eastern features all in her first audition for film work, Frieda is Rebel Royalty.<br />
<br />
Because she refuses to take the easy route in preparing for a job that often takes her to the Dark Place, Kristen Stewart is our Reigning Other Queen.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I am Other.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Frieda is Other.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Kristen is Other.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Others make the journey not with the destination in mind.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace YOUR Other</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">“The one thing that we yearn for in our living days, that makes us sigh and groan and undergo sweet nauseas of all kinds, is the remembrance of some lost bliss”</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-Jack Kerouac, On the Road</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Question: Are you taking the chances offered now to follow your bliss?</b><br />
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</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*All Kristen/Twilight pictures from KStewartfan.org and special thanks to TeamKristenSite*</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: This weekend I am embarking on a mini road-trip with one of my Sisters Marble Pole to meet up with fellow Sisters to watch Eclipse for the nth time. Big ups to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marble Pole</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for her willingness to be </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thelma to my Louise </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this weekend. Love to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Julie </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for her weekly pre-Musings check in. Hugs, kisses and tears to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Bouffant00, @Buff_82 and @Kstewsbtrthanu</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for pre-reading and giving me honest, constructive feedback that elevate words to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">prose, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for leaving ME speechless</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. To Possum Besties </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@Ophelia2010 and @Justice_Aussie</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for Skyping me and reminding me why I fell in love with you in the first place (DELICIOUS ACCENTS). A Special W00t to the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clog-Wielding Queen</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> who not only is brilliant but should really be writing her own memoirs. To </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">@MissBettySmith</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for taking a chance and meeting me for some yummy soup. Your bright eyes miss NOTHING. As Always: </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My CyberSisters and Readers</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: You are an integral part of this journey and I would have it no other way. I am at your service, always. </span></span></div></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-46847830478370873302010-07-01T17:05:00.000-07:002010-07-02T01:00:35.691-07:00Strawberry Confidence & A Little Help From My Friends<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Quick A/N: Please forgive the lateness of this Musings. I was out late late last night seeing Eclipse and downing Vodka. And because there is SO much Other goodness to choose from, I needed to narrow down my topics of conversation because you all are already infinitely too patient with my long ramblings already. I know you were up at the Midnight Showings for Eclipse too, so y'all are sleep deprived. Also, a quick moment of stunned gratitude to the now-retired @KStew411 who recommended this blog on their "MUST" list in their departing posts last night. I am shocked and humbled. You ladies will be missed. Good luck on your future endeavors. Lastly, I did <b>not</b> have this post beta'd by my amazing pre-readers Bouffant00, Buff_82 and CC. This one is ridonk late and it's ALL me. Ok. Onward with the Musings....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">I'm lonely.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I'm scared.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>...Or Desperate for a way</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>to be awake without faking </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>to be alive without freaking</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>to be serious</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>to be true</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>to even think of loving someone</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>when you're already doomed</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You tell me how to be a girl in 2010</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>...They left it to us.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It sucks but it's true.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It's you and me baby.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-excerpt from I am an Emotional Creature</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week, we surveyed and gawked at how cruel and destructive our fellow women are towards each other. We discussed how women were relegated to The Feminine Code and when breaking through that code, you do so at the risk of alienation, isolation and criticism, a very familiar position for our Other Queen Kristen Stewart. But here on Team Other, we realize that "Breaking The Code" earns you a spot on the Homecoming Court alongside legendary Rebel Royalty. This week, I am going to showcase and celebrate the teams of people who serve as support and encouragement for Others as we foray into Code-Breaking territory. Instead of giving anymore clout to the women and critics who tear down Others, let's focus on the power of alliances and friendships. Because let's face it: We can't do this alone. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcyl1inIgAQHnQija6jnNsy66MRL0YxBm5MmIHNdl_24uOlSVo2jZZtdkrgQF9VX_C9wvamDfD3Xfdk0yLyeuUyAkZ3OgPyNzs6MKUBHwyQS9Aa-9EUIsLJT8F2d-eqWoLxQmwDbpHK8/s1600/vintage-hollywood-roosevelt-edition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcyl1inIgAQHnQija6jnNsy66MRL0YxBm5MmIHNdl_24uOlSVo2jZZtdkrgQF9VX_C9wvamDfD3Xfdk0yLyeuUyAkZ3OgPyNzs6MKUBHwyQS9Aa-9EUIsLJT8F2d-eqWoLxQmwDbpHK8/s400/vintage-hollywood-roosevelt-edition.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to my weepy love letter to friendship and <i>support, </i>I must speak of this extraordinary week for Kristen. I want to gush but I'm nearly overwhelmed. How do I summarize the epicness that was The Eclipse Premiere? Can we talk about Kristen's STUNNING makeover in preparation for next month's <i>On the Road </i>filming? How 'bout the way her growing confidence and poise translated so beautifully, she was able to withstand and transcend the assault of <i>David Letterman </i>unscathed???</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Black (Carpet) Magic Woman </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">So we know Kristen and Taylor had just returned from their punishing world tour in efforts to promote Eclipse (um, I dont think they have to worry, at time of writing this, Eclipse has already broken the $30Million mark for just the <i>midnight</i> showings only already). So shall we start our review of Kristen's most Epic week, EVAH? Yessss. The arrival carpet is not RED, per usual, no, our Rebel Royals walk the Black Carpet.<br />
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That's probably all I'll post of the Trifecta, if anything to highlight the way Rob, Kristen and Taylor exude genuine affection and love for one another (note: Kristen's death grip on Rob's jacket. He anchors her to this Earth at times...See? <i>Support, </i>people).... and their ability to color coordinate beautifully. Kristen wore a pearl Eli Saab embellished one-shouldered mini dress which received mixed reviews. I can tell you in my most un-educated way that I adored just about everything in her look, but had to warm up to the asymmetrical sleeves (or lack there of). But the lack of symmetry was made up a billion-fold by Kristen's amazing legs, bare back, her "robust butt" and flawless makeup (Sharpie Incident sidestepped). Ok, really? Why did this night kick start the night of all epicness? Oh yeah. THIS.<br />
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uh huh. And THIS.<br />
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and really? Weren't we just waiting for THIS ONE?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eoBvXQyhEfvA5sIJPqF6Ui1OfY7EZoDzBQ9895rvMRMkTwxuIlO65mr896ywkfeTMHcqkzjyRQFCW1TM0XaY8Zu1FflyA_qFpHvydN2WN-suA9HyUN4qXcCUhn-keWF-0el56wBc9Pg/s1600/608665196242010105341pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eoBvXQyhEfvA5sIJPqF6Ui1OfY7EZoDzBQ9895rvMRMkTwxuIlO65mr896ywkfeTMHcqkzjyRQFCW1TM0XaY8Zu1FflyA_qFpHvydN2WN-suA9HyUN4qXcCUhn-keWF-0el56wBc9Pg/s400/608665196242010105341pm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Well, we got a million shots of Rob's openly adoring, loving gaze upon his girl. But THIS one, nearly made me weep. Not gonna lie. I think I teared up just re posting it here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIwWO4hgFj9GOSqOWFdziIkVD7npczf2KA0mTVgkyrnSjfLctsN13EnOhGu9IkOtV7HWxNXTKfwvDuL86W08lMPtjz4y5dlavaqrt6OVFJkdfa9kNVjX6QOzugHmNEdAsxl-5TQREh-8/s1600/normal_100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIwWO4hgFj9GOSqOWFdziIkVD7npczf2KA0mTVgkyrnSjfLctsN13EnOhGu9IkOtV7HWxNXTKfwvDuL86W08lMPtjz4y5dlavaqrt6OVFJkdfa9kNVjX6QOzugHmNEdAsxl-5TQREh-8/s400/normal_100.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rob: I'm here with you. I ADORE you. Kristen: Thank GOD for YOU. I can DO this.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This is a complete 180 from last year's premiere for New Moon. I don't think Rob and Kristen were on the carpet (a RED one, mind you) at the same time, let alone anywhere near the same camera lens. This year indicates a major shift. Suddenly we see emotions! Affection! Physical touching! How do I know that this year was different? Well, for one, Kristen, her Royal Highness, displayed and exuded a confidence that we've never seen before. And it was GLORIOUS. More on that in a minute. Secondly, I knew the premiere was spectacular because I literally heard the SQUEALING from all sides. I was on the phone with my friend <b>@BellasMommy86</b> for <b>5 and a half hours</b> watching the live stream online, she in Florida, I was in Cali. Was exchanging tweets with, and texting, emailing my <b>Cyber Sisters and Readers</b>, and I capped the night off with a conference call with my <b>Team Other</b>/<b>KSIBTU Crew</b>. And that's really what I want to talk about. The common love that brought us together in this fandom births a stronger, luminous connection...friendship.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Where My Girls At?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm going to take a moment to quite candidly tell you that I've had a truly difficult couple of weeks. My own personal band of <i>Bullshit People </i>surfaced and were harping away at me for every single thing I did. My physical body nor my state of unemployment were off limits either. Everything was vulnerable to the vultures. In the eyes of my inner critic, I could do <i>nothing </i>right. As these essays are of utmost joy to write for me, they are catharsis, but in my case almost an <i>exorcism</i>. After writing, I feel like I've crawled through the entire myriad of emotions: excitement, anxiety, irritation, contemplation, melancholy, release, elation. Last week, as you all know, I was on my cold-tablet high, and feverish. Perhaps the fever burned away the last of my resolve, because suddenly I heard every single critical snarky remark my inner critic and outside forces said to me. For months I'd kept my head held high and refused to give into the dire stress of my current living situation. Nope. Not last week. Much sobbing. MUCH. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Let's talk about how my female support system saved my ass. The psychological and spiritual benefits of having women friendships and support are vast and numerous. By nature, women simply bond with other women over the exchange of ideas and confirmation of worth. Knowledge and information is exchanged which leads to increased self esteem and perceived control over situations seemingly out of control. Often when women have close female companions, self-esteem and overall positive outlook increases and remain high. Statistically, when women have strong feminine support systems in place, incidences of depression, anxiety and anger are decreased. Cool Fact: There is a society in Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra, in which the <i>women </i>are the tribe leaders. It is a matriarchal system in a predominantly male-led, Islamic-based land. Anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday documents the arrival and maintenance of peace and accommodation in this successful and thriving Matriarchal tribe in her work <i>Women at the Center. </i><br />
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So The Minangkabau (Indonesian Matriarchy featured) very clearly tout the successful existence of women leading and collaborating. This awe-inspiring society of people is known in Indonesia for their literary prowess, business dexterity, and egalitarian, peaceful coexistence between men and women alike.<br />
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We are joined in a common struggle between remaining firm, and assured and authentic versus conforming to society's expectations of us. We share the daily joys and heartbreak of loving our partners, oh, then hating our partners; loving and then loathing our bodies, relishing in and rejecting our roles in society: caretaker, pleaser, eye candy, mother, child, daughter, sister. We are in this together. And this is my request to rejoice in not only our shared love of Kristen, Rob and Twilight, but also in our strength in union. I ask the feminine critics we visited in last week's Musings to remember that we really ARE the same. We share the same struggles and insecurites that even Kristen Stewart, Christina Hendricks and Tori Amos experience.<br />
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Another amazing book I'm reading that I want to share with you right now: I<i> am an Emotional Creature</i>. It is written by Eve Ensler, writer of The Vagina Monologues. In this amazing little volume of GIRL POWER, Ensler presents essays and poetry using voices of the EveryGirl...American suburbanites, Bulgarian sex slaves, pregnant women... We are ALL Other.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a thirst for knowledge and research, so I am always seeking answers, questions and information. Thanks for bearing with me as I share my book recs to you. The knowledge of others is ours for seeking, but one thing I do undoubtedly <i>know</i>: I would not have emerged from the dark nights without the calming, grounding support I received from my ladies. Not only during premieres and Red/Black carpets, but for my wonderful addictions and eccentricities. Not only do I receive phenomenal fan fiction/smut recommendations from my Reader Sisters and KStew411, I'm guided in my search for my YouTube clips and interview publications. The ladies @KstewAngel and my girl Jamie steered me in the right direction so I could get my paws on the Kristen-covered <i>Entertainment Weekly </i>that we discussed last week.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNCHL57G0qghNCwXY3bYmbKe6FX5ymUv1stcR6lbTGcFG6AI1f6lidhRUVJQeX4SgW05oKVF0AdzTp8Ip5yhXkYPm8okLuXdso3_mmd4xRXetrBcR0p-DoYPgVFxrFgAeufkwtjvcgCU/s1600/122734232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNCHL57G0qghNCwXY3bYmbKe6FX5ymUv1stcR6lbTGcFG6AI1f6lidhRUVJQeX4SgW05oKVF0AdzTp8Ip5yhXkYPm8okLuXdso3_mmd4xRXetrBcR0p-DoYPgVFxrFgAeufkwtjvcgCU/s320/122734232.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That IS a build-your-own Parfait Station</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Because the ladies steered me towards grocery stores and <i>away </i>from bookstores, I grabbed the last 2 copies of EW from a swanky specialty grocery store where people go to olive bars and buy kitchen tongs worth more than my car. The shoppers there don't have as much interest in entertainment magazines nor in dazzling, sparkly vampires. At least not outwardly. Ok, I lie, the cashier guy actually fangirled a little with me over the Eclipse premiere. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And because my Cyber Sisters/Readers were holding my hand and drying my tears while I sobbed at my failures in life, I was available on chat and email when the new pictures of Kristen and her Slammin Confidence surfaced. HELLO, STRAWBERRYSTEW!<br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart </span></b></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KSr6mzR9GyaVM2gGSysln1Shf3UDsoVeNRZbdxDtE1eO0oJ2OPwhPzWdRzJSlgWoRx7HdD0hGtA13lIKX9jpuDZ5xOry63TDTW8olC7ctEfsN5euGp3X9n0A7quGKs06CVE1LOHpcIU/s1600/kstewartfans-hqeclipse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KSr6mzR9GyaVM2gGSysln1Shf3UDsoVeNRZbdxDtE1eO0oJ2OPwhPzWdRzJSlgWoRx7HdD0hGtA13lIKX9jpuDZ5xOry63TDTW8olC7ctEfsN5euGp3X9n0A7quGKs06CVE1LOHpcIU/s400/kstewartfans-hqeclipse2.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Her EYES. Mah. Gah. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, we saw the debut of her lighter locks (preparation for <i>On the Road</i> filming) as she stepped out of her car in New York before becoming David Letterman's target; but, we got to see some luminous Stew at the New York Eclipse Premiere later that same night. I do not know how it's possible, but I think Kristen has grown even more beautiful in these past 3 weeks alone. YES. It's her assuredness in herself. She seems comfortable (finally) in the knowledge that she is OK. She's articulate, intelligent, quick-thinking, and charismatic. Only now, I think she may actually believe it herself, just a teensy bit.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtC6A4nBO6SCyErg3BRFhnPy01U3pRYIuRNjByrYxEFdsevG8L3W1kYeFnUUMrQtnrvUjhxCZnrY3BCMoT04dYLOnCj9pe18puK2I_U6NjpSNEYDY9NukzKtl11FM8KK4EZ4nSRfOugs/s1600/086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtC6A4nBO6SCyErg3BRFhnPy01U3pRYIuRNjByrYxEFdsevG8L3W1kYeFnUUMrQtnrvUjhxCZnrY3BCMoT04dYLOnCj9pe18puK2I_U6NjpSNEYDY9NukzKtl11FM8KK4EZ4nSRfOugs/s400/086.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The catwalk called. It wants its runway model back pronto. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not really going to talk about David Letterman. Other than to say that I usually don't mind Dave's crochety, dry humor, but the night Kristen came on to his show, he was a TOOL. Another mark of Kristen's new solid self-possession, was that she emerged from Dave's condescension and awkwardness as the <i>adult </i>in the interview. She was poised, mature and she steered Dave away from any politicized land mines, all with grace, and snark. She even gave a little back. "Um, I dunno, Dave. What's a <i>WUFF?"</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPCGSqZqgZRYai5ucju69hyphenhyphenKcVaeStNMMrWIlsrAuDB69FLo5Mg2jzataLXgoAUmYvC4zs1M9BoNKOvTp9TmE67FbNPwWFb2_LkF-bbQu6v_e_GJRrSUKncwN4IKhLEVfybdDpXcJRtA/s1600/mq021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPCGSqZqgZRYai5ucju69hyphenhyphenKcVaeStNMMrWIlsrAuDB69FLo5Mg2jzataLXgoAUmYvC4zs1M9BoNKOvTp9TmE67FbNPwWFb2_LkF-bbQu6v_e_GJRrSUKncwN4IKhLEVfybdDpXcJRtA/s320/mq021.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, Letterman, you petty, simpering man. I'm Team Coco.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
This post is all kinds of Other today, friends. I'm going to switch up the Featured Rebel section a bit, but no worries. A little variety has never hurt anyone right? I'll finish gushing over Kristen and her epic week, and then introduce this week's Royal Mention. Oh yes. I'm talking bad ass Mofo Feminine Queen Extraordinaire: Ani DiFranco. I said it, bitches, I did. But let's review some more KStew Beauty shall we? I must mention only in passing (though it breaks my heart to do so) that the night <i>after </i>The Black Carpet Premiere, Kristen was at the LA Film Festival promoting <i>Welcome to the Rileys'. </i>She looked beautiful, confident and proud. And the movie itself? Mah. Gah. The reviews pouring out for the little indie are brilliant. But the reviews specifically for <i>Kristen?? </i><b>Staggering</b>. I'll talk more about WTTR in future essays, because I truly believe that the subject matter and Kristen's recognized genius in her role combine to make a movie that will be...<i>extraordinary. </i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span">1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Fascinated and committed to the joy of doing her job. </span>2.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> She is humble and almost extremely uncomfortable with compliments.</span> 3.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> She gets by with a little help of her friends (hi, Ruth, publicist extraordinaire; Taylor and Rob on press junkets; PoutyScouty for musical roadtrips) </span>4. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Not afraid of embodying her new role: cut, dye, shag or pole dance, she is GAME. </span></span></b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VRae47Ax9YdJjcSRJI_BepS2riuZMQM57NYZTkxSUCUZfhk_SBP-qamPjyuh1jjDDfO9w_BOGTQKq-W7r1qEc-dZGbKIfpt32OfLkr0V4W3zX6MbdImfn97OI3lYCxAg6xtnGA5lQFA/s1600/normal_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VRae47Ax9YdJjcSRJI_BepS2riuZMQM57NYZTkxSUCUZfhk_SBP-qamPjyuh1jjDDfO9w_BOGTQKq-W7r1qEc-dZGbKIfpt32OfLkr0V4W3zX6MbdImfn97OI3lYCxAg6xtnGA5lQFA/s320/normal_004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Welcome to the Rileys. Welcome to my adoration of you, Stewie</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Other-ness:</span> </b><span class="Apple-style-span">(Per Ass Clowns, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Witch </span>Other Hunters and Bullshit People): </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>1.</b> Refuses to be bought off (She turned down "ridiculous" amounts of money offered by Summit and cut her hair for <i>The </i><i>Runaways </i>anyway) <b>2.</b> Refuses to give nosy journos any details about her personal relationships ("I'll never tell. Because once I do, it still won't stop. People will still want specifics.") <b>3. </b>Uses metaphors and the English language in a correct and articulate way (Breaks Feminine Code by publicly seeming too smart) <b>4.</b> Declines all offers to be on the world wide web. She calls Twitter <b><i>Twatter, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Mofos!!</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Featured Rebel Queen: Ani DiFranco </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Born Angela DiFranco, Ani is a musician, writer, defender of social issues and politics and all-around Bad-Ass. She plays "staccato" guitar in the realm of folk contemporaries, blurring the line between folk, rock and alternative. She openly claims to be bi-sexual and writes about her relationships with both genders. She is tattooed, aggressive, sexy and charismatic all in one small package. Her voice is melodious and heartbreaking even while screaming over complicated and mesmerizing guitar playing. Many of her songs are concerned with contemporary social issues such as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Racism"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">racism</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">,</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Sexism"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">sexism</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Sexual abuse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">sexual abuse</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Homophobia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">homophobia</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_rights" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Reproductive rights"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">reproductive rights</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Poverty"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">poverty</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="War"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">war</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. She cruised onto the music scene in the early 1990's with her albums <b><i>Ani DiFranco</i></b> and <b><i>Not So Soft</i></b> (Such a perfect title for another Musings. dude). She cemented her goddess and Other status (in my opinion) with her trailblazing creation of her own record label <b><i>Righteous Babe Records </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">when she turned down lucrative recording contracts to write and produce music on her own terms. </span></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks: </span></b> <b>1.</b> Received the Woman of Courage Award for her contributions to the awareness of feminism <b>2.</b> Writes autobiographical songs about controversial subjects: sexuality, war, inequality and racism <b>3.</b> Played local bars and pubs with her guitar teacher since she was aged 9 <b>4. </b>Created her own recording label to make music on <i>her </i>terms.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Other-ness: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(Per Other Hunters, Critics and BullShit People): </span>1.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Openly expresses her sexuality </span>2.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Blurs the lines in music styles and Gender Roles (is she a folk singer? An alternative Angry Woman? Is she gay? Why did she marry men and have a baby? ) </span>3. </b>She turns down lucrative, expensive recording projects if it compromises her vision. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwCO6gCB44RthHGtmKwltchb_hjlBNZnJTOlBDUWdGTQwCncqwqbvJ__vKS0pyVrYcQRPApkm4xNLEkeukwPNCt07aJsODrYWWFQjmlVslRbxNRLLO6dnATg2aysWMy7RSTf9R0lUQQI/s1600/ani8689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwCO6gCB44RthHGtmKwltchb_hjlBNZnJTOlBDUWdGTQwCncqwqbvJ__vKS0pyVrYcQRPApkm4xNLEkeukwPNCt07aJsODrYWWFQjmlVslRbxNRLLO6dnATg2aysWMy7RSTf9R0lUQQI/s320/ani8689.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CU, Joyful Girl</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Ani was a prodigious musician at a young age, and she speaks her truth. Per Wikipedia, "the combination of personal and political song-writing is somewhat the upsurge of Ani's early popularity among college students, particularly those of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Left-wing politics"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">left wing</span></a>, some of whom set up fan pages on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Web" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="World Wide Web"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">web</span></a> to document DiFranco's career as early as 1994. DiFranco's rapid rise in popularity in the mid-1990s was fueled mostly by personal contact and word of mouth rather than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstream_media" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Mainstream media"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">mainstream media</span></a>." She has openly discussed her expansion and broadening feelings on topics such as religion and sexuality, and as the years progress, her open-ness has only grown more inspiring. She became a mother in 2007 and has told live audiences that motherhood has effected her views on religion and feminism. Because she is so open minded and willing to challenge her own convictions publicly and gracefully, Ani diFranco is an Other Queen. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Get By With A Little Help From Friends</span></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I let my inner critic, my personal unemployment agent and carb-mongering snark-conscious rip me a new one this past week. I began to doubt my convictions in moving forward when I heard from my beloved husband that my creative pursuits caused dissension and concern. But, by turning to my ladies, my sisters, my fellow Others for guidance, a shoulder to cry on, a drink to share with, a quickie IM, directions to the nearest Kristen-covering EW, I recognized my strength in numbers. We Others need to remind ourselves and each other that we are ALL Others, and we are strongest when united. Separate we fall, united we stand. Because I rely on you brilliant Rebels, Misfits and Unique kindreds to calm my inner uprising, I am an Other Queen. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ani plays hard, abrupt, staccato passages on an acoustic guitar. She promotes independence, honesty and courage in herself and other women with her music and lyrics. She willingly admits her own convictions are challenged, and remains open to expansion of ideas. Her record label's name <i>Righteous Babe </i>alone puts her on the Homecoming Court. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Kristen showed us on Lopez Tonight that she juggles, golfs and cooks Mexican Food for large family gatherings. She rocks one-shouldered dresses and two very different colored coifs. She wears Chucks and black cocktail dresses to movie premieres and press junkets. She holds on for dear life to her friends and supportive system, and claims they are who keep her grounded and earth-bound. All these reasons just further concretize Kristen as our reigning Queen. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I am Other.</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Ani is Other.</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others create harmonious tribes.</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace your Other. </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 19px;">See you all next Thursday. Maybe sooner, because we need to DISCUSS ECLIPSE. WE MUST. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">A/N: ONE BIG ASS THANK YOU TO THE OTHERS WHO PULLED ME THROUGH THIS WEEK: My sister Puss who may need to barricade me in my bed again, to prevent me from running away. Julie (Constant) for checking in with me each day and encouraging me to cry. My dearest Kathryn L for teaching me about (M)othering and for helping me sing. In public. To @Jittpattzing for sending me the article about Kristen and Rob that decidedly was ANTI-OTHER and then raging with me over it. To @Kate_Suena and @Evalola80 for writing me the most exquisite emails in my darkest hours and showing me the silver lining. @Buff_82 for the pretty. To the KSTEWSBTRTHANU Crew for texting, calling and tweeting the epicness of KStew's Royal Tour this week, and also sending me pictures of demolished desserts. To @Just2CUSmile for texting me her love even though she was in NYC with the rest of the KSIBTU Crew. To @BellasMommy86 for giving good phone and plotting our careers as the next great Entertainment Correspondents. To ProRobsten, my sister, for trying last minute to get me to L.A. and to @KimmCarr for trying desperately to step in and take it for the team in the final minutes. To @Bouffant00 for everything. Special shout outs to Teb (for helping me find my inner-Kj) and OJ for showing us how to transcend difficulties with grace. Possum Besties A and E--love you. @MissBettySmith thanks for being on standby for magazine patrol. See you tomorrow. xo To my Cyber Sisters/Readers: YOU YOU YOU are my muses.</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-20169954918344160842010-06-24T10:30:00.000-07:002010-06-24T10:30:34.259-07:00Aphrodite and Kristen Go Against Code<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What's A Girl To Do?</span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">As alluded to in mini Musings earlier this week, I anticipated talking about Stewie <i>S</i><i>teeze, </i>her generosity with fans, and possibly the power of women's relationships. Last night, I believed I was going to write about voluptuous beauties, slender sirens, misfit mayhem; goddesses, the Eclipse Red Carpet, or maybe The Kimmel Eclipse Special. However, while I will wave my hands in the air-uh like I just don't care-uh in homage to Kristen's surreal fashion tour de force of the past weeks, I also must address that <i>Entertainment Weekly </i>happened. I awoke this morning(Wednesday) after precious little sleep to an excerpt of an interview with Kristen and Rob and Taylor. Suddenly I found myself confronting the very reasons for the creation of this little blog...Searing criticisms, the shaming of Others, antiquated ideas of "beauty". Suffice to say, I got all kinds of...<i>twitchy </i>again.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWt4ftD6wteP0ntGfchVtRkly8RgKAw5OJJRAf845h9i-y1K79IN6l1NM137Nzprk9SioyO0m0wbhLn92aj3WvR19yeHeVigFqqr6fFJ_opf8CqM15jcBkLKhXXLvmmjnJv0fKocswQsA/s1600/normal_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWt4ftD6wteP0ntGfchVtRkly8RgKAw5OJJRAf845h9i-y1K79IN6l1NM137Nzprk9SioyO0m0wbhLn92aj3WvR19yeHeVigFqqr6fFJ_opf8CqM15jcBkLKhXXLvmmjnJv0fKocswQsA/s400/normal_001.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wind machines make me feel sexy too.</span></span></div></div><div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">The excerpt chosen, featured Rob and Kristen and their address of the recent comment in which Kristen compared her experiences with the papparazzi (AKA AssClowns) to rape (see this very blog's June 10 <i>M</i><i>usings </i>on the subject). Several events stood out at me as I scanned the brief piece: First, I thought Kristen was articulate and genuine in her response to the interviewer's inquiry into the controversy. Secondly, she very clearly acknowledged RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), the most vocal group demanding an apology from her. Plus she spoke of the significance the subjects of rape and abuse hold for her. Thirdly, Robert came to Kristen's defense, which earns him a quickie shout out as <b>Rebel Honorable</b> <b>Mention</b> today, a little later. Lastly, I noticed that Kristen and Rob demonstrated a great awareness for the double standards at work when she is involved. Specifically, fans and <i>critics </i>(Bullshit People, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Witch</span> Other Hunters) hold different standards and expectations for Rob and Kristen.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Rob stated the associations that criticized Kristen (including RAINN) over her rape comparison are doing so specifically to further their own agendas of publicity and notoriety. He asked for the online journos and associations demanding apologies and doling out judgments to be accountable professionally before they pounce. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kristen replies: "See, if I had said that? Crucifixion. You can say so much more than me. It's insane." Earlier in the article she said: "I probably shouldn't say this, but I just feel like people got so excited once they saw it was me. It was like, 'Sweet! Let's </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">get</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> her!'"</span></span></div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Are people chomping at the bit to specifically hunt <i>her </i>down? Rob seems to think so. What did I see at the bottom of the brief <i>EW</i> preview? Already nearly one hundred commenters' reactions to the excerpt of an interview and these comments were quite <i>critical</i><i>. </i>No, worse. The majority of comments were <i>hateful. </i>I won't go into specifics because I don't have the energy nor do I want to taint this supportive Kristen and Rob site with vileness. But I will share my observations. The majority of commenters both critical and supportive, presented themselves with female monikers. Also, I noticed that most comments were disproportionately supportive and defensive of Rob, but were <i>incensed </i>and <i>enraged</i> towards Kristen. She was called names [paraphrasing] such as: whiny, stupid, class-less, bitchy, poor-acting, ungrateful rich-girl and immature. But the man who defended KStew and called out the media opportunists was called "A Gentleman" and revered for <i>cleaning up Stewart's messes ...again </i>with deference and awe. Ummmmmmmm. Double standard much?</span><br />
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</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Feminine Code</span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">So I got to musing (it's kinda what I do). Why are other <i>females </i>so intent on tearing down fellow <i>females? </i>What is it about women that elicit such strong critical, brutal reactions from fellow females? What is it about <i>Kristen Stewart </i>particularly that provoke the most vicious vilification? According to Rachel Simmons' <i>Odd Girl Out, </i>an incredible case study of aggression in young women and the repercussions into adulthood, there are several contributing factors to female-on-female hostility. Three main factors are:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Cnr46NIS6Qaa2AZOl2G2u3AgVgoS9oaLN6YoJ9eZq7UNXDTVkUXoS_kEci9Jq-SmG7-s5mQNK26OabwUAciCXrZqUINYw9Ph4E-UhiUnHNhvlZJG3gT4nSUwZciuNkyjnbZqCwjLpwg/s1600/38315621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Cnr46NIS6Qaa2AZOl2G2u3AgVgoS9oaLN6YoJ9eZq7UNXDTVkUXoS_kEci9Jq-SmG7-s5mQNK26OabwUAciCXrZqUINYw9Ph4E-UhiUnHNhvlZJG3gT4nSUwZciuNkyjnbZqCwjLpwg/s200/38315621.JPG" width="131" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>1. Confidence</b>: If it's present, the surrounding females will see it, feel threatened by it. </span>"Oh, she thinks she's <i>All That!</i>" <span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>2. Scarcity</b>: A shortage of "deliciously handsome" companions? <span class="Apple-style-span">"You gonna take my man/friends/sister/lover/social status?" </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>3. Breaking the Feminine Code, which states that Girls Must<span class="Apple-style-span">:</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">a.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Be modest </span><span class="Apple-style-span">b.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Be self deprecating </span><span class="Apple-style-span">c.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Be demure </span><span class="Apple-style-span">d.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Be nice </span><span class="Apple-style-span">e. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Put others before themselves </span><span class="Apple-style-span">f.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Not be overly assertive </span><span class="Apple-style-span">g.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Not be overly sexual in dress, speech or walk </span><span class="Apple-style-span">h.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Not be argumentative </span><span class="Apple-style-span">i.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Pretend she doesn't know the answers even when she does</span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Ah hell. If that is the Feminine Code (and it was when this book was published, approx </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">2004), no <i>wonder </i>our KStew is crucified. No <i>wonder</i> Other Queens and Rebel Royals are garnering so much attention. I look at the points and wonder, though, wouldn't we <i>all </i>be guilty of violating The Code? Aren't we Others the antithesis to those outdated Feminine Rules? Those of us who are opinionated, sometimes emotional, active in sports and/or debate team, lipstick-toting, confidence-sprouting, high-heel wearing, information-seeking souls are actually Rabble Rousers? Law Breakers?! Good Goddess, then Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure is <i>quite</i> the hellion!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Obvs, the Original Hussy</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Studying Simmons' discoveries on aggression and "alternative [nonviolent, nonphysical, though more psychologically damaging] bullying," I might speculate that the particularly angry <i>EW </i>commenters were simply enforcing the Feminine Code. Perhaps, they were just acting as their evolutionary instincts seemed appropriate. MISSION: Eliminate potential threats to what has always been The Way of Life. Perhaps these female commenters were reminding Kristen, Aphrodite and the rest of us Others that we have Female Roles to fulfill in society. <b>Wife. Mother. Demure, Good Girl. Graceful, Gracious Hostess. Below-the-Radar Companion. Kept.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtJdnmFYN_qXS7fpURNp_vhBxE7w-S1rUWKklvYriLwRgaVf44G-RomITnIbIc-X3JigNwHHkqwY151MSM33uqVveSVs1utedBMn_0OXC6yugoA0tCOb0qV0jqYftIsfH_LnM-tcUCYQ/s1600/normal_056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtJdnmFYN_qXS7fpURNp_vhBxE7w-S1rUWKklvYriLwRgaVf44G-RomITnIbIc-X3JigNwHHkqwY151MSM33uqVveSVs1utedBMn_0OXC6yugoA0tCOb0qV0jqYftIsfH_LnM-tcUCYQ/s320/normal_056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Don't fret, Stewie, according to the enforcers of The Code, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">you can be single maybe 3 or 4 more years before you should consider settling down</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">I think back, and realize the Homecoming Queen nomination was the beginning of my conscious forays in Otherness, but I have made it a habit to not adhere to The Feminine Code, apparently. For one, I wore Doc Martens and knee-high fishnets under my dresses. I wore, and continue to wear tops and blouses that accentuate my impressive cha-chas. I never pretended to play mommy or play house when I was a little girl, though I had many friends who did. That was cool with me. I never wanted to get married. I didn't believe I would, as marriage did not feel like the right path for me. Firstly, my job as a marriage and child counselor left some deep wounds on my psyche. For another, I love world-gallivanting so much, I was never in one place long enough to cultivate and nurture long-distance romances. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">I grew up in a neighborhood that looked a little like The Cleavers', and I was blessed with several neighborhood kids my same age. They all got married and began popping out the pups as I pieced together monthly rent money and charted my travels to Europe in between psych internships. The cat that is now my husband fits nicely with me, because he has the wanderlust as strongly as I do. We met in Japan as I was en route to South Korea and The Philippines for a solo adventure. Kinda perfect, right?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">How else am I smashing through the antiquated tenants of The Feminine Code? Well, even when I did marry, I wasn't considered "young". I was 29. That was two years ago. And whoa whoa whoa, hold up on the talk of breeding, mmmkay?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERxkpTInoxyMjrq9rGktabDgLWq3Te_JFK2d5A6wx_B6PLrPwbzRrDCxv5ykzz3sBOvEx6XNAQ-QBs8CXFPolkvZp2y2RY4BlyhIIGINQSmEhCWGwJQdu6Rhgm_LIsVb90OWA512p-GY/s1600/dontcook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERxkpTInoxyMjrq9rGktabDgLWq3Te_JFK2d5A6wx_B6PLrPwbzRrDCxv5ykzz3sBOvEx6XNAQ-QBs8CXFPolkvZp2y2RY4BlyhIIGINQSmEhCWGwJQdu6Rhgm_LIsVb90OWA512p-GY/s320/dontcook.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Truth. I don't cook. GASP. Listen, I <i>can, </i>I just choose not to. N, my hubs, is just discovering his talents in the kitchen. As I wrote this section, N whipped up a fresh batch of chicken curry and jasmine rice. Do you see me fighting this???? So, while he experiments with exotic ingredients to recreate entrees from his Southeast Asian homeland, I work my culinary wonder: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Fuck. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">That means not only am I an unemployed Other Queen, but I couldn't cook a pot roast if my life depended on it. *shrugs* Oh well. MISFIT. I recognize my kindreds in the following Other Royals...</span><br />
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</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Honorable Mention Royal: Rob Pattinson</span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Do I really need to introduce Mr Pattinson to you? This is just a little blurb, as he will be featured in a future Rebel Royal piece. Robert Thomas Pattinson was born and raised in London, England. A pianist, guitar player and singer first, Rob was considering a career in music when he decided to pursue an audition for a role in a little indie flick called <i>Twilight. </i>Colleagues and costars past and present describe Rob as kind, funny, brilliant, charming, contemplative and extremely talented. And, of course, The Pretty. He has so much of The Pretty. With his upcoming movies <i>Bel Ami</i> and <i>Water for Elephants</i>, he is just hitting his stride. Rob reported that he pursued the now-iconic role of Edward Cullen for the chance to work with Kristen Stewart. He had just watched her movie <i>Into the Wild</i>, and felt compelled to meet her in person. We understand, Rob, we do. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejkxtJUVR3LEcm1e_8F85UmqwTdpFGShM42As5haHygeEAKeCbmFBVsK_X8NGu9T2_fjP7gvnpKGeMAwGSLc8jA3-H_utVIw00dq3wCaEyzgxF3Oawizf2o1QVt5Jp5_PTndtdRQMjB8/s1600/119485321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejkxtJUVR3LEcm1e_8F85UmqwTdpFGShM42As5haHygeEAKeCbmFBVsK_X8NGu9T2_fjP7gvnpKGeMAwGSLc8jA3-H_utVIw00dq3wCaEyzgxF3Oawizf2o1QVt5Jp5_PTndtdRQMjB8/s400/119485321.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hoodie Rob dazzles me. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0R7P8Cu9r3N-NKSX9pCaiK6XwxCsTTBuHQTez7nJYW1B-TDELV6MQoaS__gY7ppiceTuBAYPVml3YBWQvexk-yBpr0iwciaXve00f5xT1HkavdENtHUQjqqVGXrla-VTcaVSZs3syus/s1600/009c2kwk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0R7P8Cu9r3N-NKSX9pCaiK6XwxCsTTBuHQTez7nJYW1B-TDELV6MQoaS__gY7ppiceTuBAYPVml3YBWQvexk-yBpr0iwciaXve00f5xT1HkavdENtHUQjqqVGXrla-VTcaVSZs3syus/s400/009c2kwk.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ICU Sexspenders. WFE Rob will be my demise.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v6HfID6ClAJxyJOxp5SZid59P0dBvKiOik5y0iN0sGgECbxhZ96HTjq-iqFc2ly4t9iYXJqAtDgSOSmP4cMM_qVAfeu_cdS7IZGc9hv34yzJmgE5uTP8bFyY7Y5gLzKJ2Wf2wNsj68c/s1600/rpat13sharp-560x752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v6HfID6ClAJxyJOxp5SZid59P0dBvKiOik5y0iN0sGgECbxhZ96HTjq-iqFc2ly4t9iYXJqAtDgSOSmP4cMM_qVAfeu_cdS7IZGc9hv34yzJmgE5uTP8bFyY7Y5gLzKJ2Wf2wNsj68c/s400/rpat13sharp-560x752.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Like Kristen, I can make </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">leaning</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> look delicious</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">He tends to go rogue with his statements at press conferences or in interviews ("I'm allergic to Vaginas", anyone?), and word on the street is that he speaks up and argues when he feels his character or storyline faces unnecessary reconfiguration. He enjoys Hot Pockets and cold beer, and reads French classics. He admits he shouldn't ever drive a car, and that he steals clothes from movie sets when he hasn't done laundry. He looks as though he may burst at the seams in preventing himself from blurting his absolute adoration for Kristen, but somehow he keeps his lips zipped. Might be with the help of Bulldog PR Supervision when he's on the red carpet; It might be because Kristen has asked him to remain low-pro. Because he admits to being tremendously gawky and awkward, and writes songs about falling in love with a green-eyed girl, Rob Pattinson is Rebel Royalty.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Featured Royal Rebel: Christina Hendricks </span></b></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Christina Hendricks may not be on everyone's radar in the Twi fandom, but she has definitely caught the attention of Team Other, and she </span><i>should </i>be celebrated widely. She is best known for playing Joan Holloway on <i>Mad Men </i>of cable TV. Those of us who are Joss Whedon/Buffy/Dollhouse/Firefly friends may recognize Ms Hendricks as Saffron from the short-lived TV show <i>Firefly</i>. Her character on <i>Mad Men </i>is as an office manager mentoring other women in how to navigate the come-ons and harassment by the men in their 1960's advertising firm. She is gloriously curvaceous, as evident by her impressive bustline. She is proud of her voluptuous form, stating that she aims to keep on any weight gained because she that is when she "glows" and feels "truly beautiful". </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">One might say she bears resemblance to another famous curvaceous beauty, already mentioned in this post. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span>1. </b>Curvaceous body<b> 2. </b>Confident in self esteem: "I gained 15 lbs in Italy when I was modeling. That's when I really felt like a woman"<b> 3. </b>Did not listen to her agents when they told her she had to lose weight to get work.<b> 4. </b>Was voted World's Sexiest Woman 2010 by Esquire magazine's <i>female</i> readers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifU7JgyYmUpTMrATf5rHKjmbQ4Wx1Xn0aJmm3lAqGnKpsxbvzyS6QVP6_NWq0e7orcPBfjV2UVzw25fQLuFjqE4ry_3BXT3BEKp4077qODiBAjVF56bguZhZ-1atDu1VcCSQsStdrZSOw/s1600/christina-hendricks-cleavage-0510-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifU7JgyYmUpTMrATf5rHKjmbQ4Wx1Xn0aJmm3lAqGnKpsxbvzyS6QVP6_NWq0e7orcPBfjV2UVzw25fQLuFjqE4ry_3BXT3BEKp4077qODiBAjVF56bguZhZ-1atDu1VcCSQsStdrZSOw/s320/christina-hendricks-cleavage-0510-lg.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Other-ness: </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(Per AssClowns, Code Enforcers, Other-Hunters)</span></span></b> See Beauty Marks above. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Men say the best reason to watch TV is Christina Hendricks. Women polled elected her as sexiest woman for 2010 throuh Esquire Magazine. She is in her mid-thirties, is not a size 2, and she especially excels at milking cows, per a People Magazine interview. People constantly approach her and give her backhanded compliments such as, "you're so much smaller in person!" She knows that there c<i>ritics </i>out there who call her fat and fugly, but she prefers to use synonyms for the word "beautiful" instead. Because she told Esquire readers to use words "radiant" and "enchanting" more, Christina is an Other Queen.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart </span></b></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Our Queen has had an eventful week as she prepares for the premiere of Eclipse. She and Taylor toured Europe at a punishing pace, hitting Rome, Italy first. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beauty Marks:</span> </b><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>1.</b> Tells her truth even if it pisses people off <b>2.</b> Has a growing confidence in herself. "I feel less bare, that nobody can take anything from me now". <b>3.</b> She recognizes the double standard at what's expected of her, and what's expected of her male colleagues. <b>4.</b> She recognizes that she is young and emotional. "I make mistakes. I use the wrong words." </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFSuqoAaMoNpnUxSkfxkTAakoS_2jgEghqRhV27RnAJrPPuku27Raq5T8KUK1PJb0wh-AkWCM-sKzTmMXYyrQdM6NTuWS_DpJX3u5vhr0lJfhzprxrSqCuKWcAVvyfQI5xcP5EnDOVsM/s1600/normal_011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFSuqoAaMoNpnUxSkfxkTAakoS_2jgEghqRhV27RnAJrPPuku27Raq5T8KUK1PJb0wh-AkWCM-sKzTmMXYyrQdM6NTuWS_DpJX3u5vhr0lJfhzprxrSqCuKWcAVvyfQI5xcP5EnDOVsM/s320/normal_011.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ich liebe dich, Berlin!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Offenses of Other-ness:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(Per AssClowns, Code Enforcers, Other-Hunters)</span></span></b> </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">See Beauty Marks above. </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">In the recent slew of press conferences and interview junkets, Kristen has little by little revealed peeks into her world. She reports being very boring and if she had her choice, she'd stay home with her cat Jella. She made a wonderful statement about her generation's view on Marriage, which is generally to "cringe" and avoid thinking about it. But in Other-like fashion, Kristen amended, "I think it's cool...that if you're in the right place it <i>could </i>be the right thing for you". She also mentioned that she is motivated to continue working in her field because she is "happy, and not lying to anybody". She is happy to be on her path, an authentic path. She is feeling less vulnerable, and more confident. She is a <i>radiant </i>sight. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp6ssCnCavWUfGjrKWUYMNIuR6-1XMWdv-dHPa4C1OBAAJ082PYbKVBl8pEzSjxdiK7sM8TKdZjXOeZN00Lavk3ajGbZMQ9nDvvdRbusNf-ReHu8Sa2KTG52_uScPq0NqTmECRTmA6Lg/s1600/twilightevent34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp6ssCnCavWUfGjrKWUYMNIuR6-1XMWdv-dHPa4C1OBAAJ082PYbKVBl8pEzSjxdiK7sM8TKdZjXOeZN00Lavk3ajGbZMQ9nDvvdRbusNf-ReHu8Sa2KTG52_uScPq0NqTmECRTmA6Lg/s320/twilightevent34.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chucks and Keds. Sign 'em please?</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYN41rfoObXkZKCN1iiN5TTj6-hXlk3qvtHR_TW3UioWGbEeMCedRv2LHDIThTCK893a4_2srsyTl2FVIWEEJDDeG6xsfVKFGq-16SwJ0-J_SJeLgqr7o8F0RDMMv5EwH7kKHmehkv8o/s1600/normal_mq004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYN41rfoObXkZKCN1iiN5TTj6-hXlk3qvtHR_TW3UioWGbEeMCedRv2LHDIThTCK893a4_2srsyTl2FVIWEEJDDeG6xsfVKFGq-16SwJ0-J_SJeLgqr7o8F0RDMMv5EwH7kKHmehkv8o/s320/normal_mq004.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">legggggs</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrKo4X620a-N5_hSmPyDMycobzvfFtJTE03NGg2HZlAZoCq4BCB2Ca8HgreBzGBgUwujuTbsHv9_yX9HzqFg15r1EYvJFwjWs-j_KQTw1sn9tAVQ6bHHu1SBRmD9YhRY3AScTboUOc20/s1600/kstewartfans-mq12224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrKo4X620a-N5_hSmPyDMycobzvfFtJTE03NGg2HZlAZoCq4BCB2Ca8HgreBzGBgUwujuTbsHv9_yX9HzqFg15r1EYvJFwjWs-j_KQTw1sn9tAVQ6bHHu1SBRmD9YhRY3AScTboUOc20/s320/kstewartfans-mq12224.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Something's </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">working, cuz Girlfriend is aglow. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is from tonight, back home in L.A.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Or....Maybe THIS is why she's aglow? Look! Its two of our Rebel Royals together!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaiskUu_PC0QTPPm9OCnFZOHSOaRKka5Ej7OVwYwUX3IcjGevSC5JGpiwQtaqW3nvM-3rG3CaT1ULQ3Ba6Pg4nZtsyljhvfOPNA31rn3fPqazPvNAI-AM0f-A1NfHdbGiHnRtEKOOUiI/s1600/120185662-1a040988155c9e9abae3a2529f4a3a55.4c238100-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaiskUu_PC0QTPPm9OCnFZOHSOaRKka5Ej7OVwYwUX3IcjGevSC5JGpiwQtaqW3nvM-3rG3CaT1ULQ3Ba6Pg4nZtsyljhvfOPNA31rn3fPqazPvNAI-AM0f-A1NfHdbGiHnRtEKOOUiI/s320/120185662-1a040988155c9e9abae3a2529f4a3a55.4c238100-full.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I cannot tear my eyes away. They're like the most photogenic pair. Evah.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Other Divinity</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Because I got married at the ripe old age of 29, years after most my friends and relatives had already started families; plus, I never took to cooking meals, I am an Other Queen.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Because Christina </span><i>laughed away</i><span class="Apple-style-span"> the fact that web communities formed with the sole purpose of analyzing her curves, and convincing her to lose weight, she is an Other Queen. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Because Rob steals clothes from the set instead of doing laundry, and because he will publicly defend his beloved green-eyed girl when she is under attack, he is Rebel Royalty. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Because she confesses she could be like the "Crazy Cat Lady", and because she speaks her truth without censure, Kristen is Reigning Other Queen. </span><br />
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</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Rob is </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Other</span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Christina is Other</span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other.</span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others celebrate 15 lbs gained, and are crowned The Sexiest.</span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace Your Other</span></b></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Question: How do you break the mould implemented byThe Code? </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N: Mad Love to: @Buff_82 for PreReading and encouraging me always. To my sister Puss for keeping me anchored in this world, and for contributing </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Extraordinary</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to my arsenal of Other Synonyms. To my Constant (Julie) who holds my hand as I sob my way to the other side, every week before posting. To my new friend @Evalola80 who so sweetly requested the Musings On Other update schedule. To Marble Pole for thoughtfully making executive decisions. To my SISTERS and READERS who nourish me in so many ways. Shout outs to my Possum Besties @Ophelia2010 and @Justice_Aussie who I miss chatting with. To @MissBettySmith who always reminds me to speak my truth.</span></span></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-91049736372804517762010-06-21T03:39:00.000-07:002010-06-21T05:54:47.532-07:00A Musings MomentWell, hello there, lovelies. Happy Monday. Its 3:30AM where I am, and while I should be sleeping, I am awake since I slept away the day in a flu-haze. Yes, it's true. For the weekend, I was in pj's, sipping chicken soup and reading fan fic in between fever spikes. When I awoke tonight after my three and a half hour nap, I thought two things: <b>1.) </b> Oh my Jeebus, these new pictures of Rob, a favorite and future featured Rebel Royal, are going to be the death of me:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHnUP4zloN_lEYQ0Y6ldycf1nB_fFm2myeq00mq-18QrHzoaajcxTOda04UPQVsCPhmBgoSBbGD5CDylknIHxXB1iFC0ptWjfhfmaluUlfIvjNxBdl0otrT3Nks8oO1MjZAIin9qPmTc/s1600/s640x480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHnUP4zloN_lEYQ0Y6ldycf1nB_fFm2myeq00mq-18QrHzoaajcxTOda04UPQVsCPhmBgoSBbGD5CDylknIHxXB1iFC0ptWjfhfmaluUlfIvjNxBdl0otrT3Nks8oO1MjZAIin9qPmTc/s320/s640x480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I used to love hammocks. Now I lust for hammocks. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCqyWFiDoybz-riXyT4IHi-pvlTm2Yx-RXPzKVNrd9k96uwljGe3dreNKHWrVI9FldMFsOewdavwgqsmUcRbHvfZkAuEDb_0AYuNdY_QOSDrsmhhIJP-IMfJDjeZY1CGrUiVrpSNFBZ4/s1600/rob1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCqyWFiDoybz-riXyT4IHi-pvlTm2Yx-RXPzKVNrd9k96uwljGe3dreNKHWrVI9FldMFsOewdavwgqsmUcRbHvfZkAuEDb_0AYuNdY_QOSDrsmhhIJP-IMfJDjeZY1CGrUiVrpSNFBZ4/s320/rob1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCqyWFiDoybz-riXyT4IHi-pvlTm2Yx-RXPzKVNrd9k96uwljGe3dreNKHWrVI9FldMFsOewdavwgqsmUcRbHvfZkAuEDb_0AYuNdY_QOSDrsmhhIJP-IMfJDjeZY1CGrUiVrpSNFBZ4/s1600/rob1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'd say the new haircut is working out all righty, then, yes? gulp. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And <b>2.)</b> I think I may need to watch myself, for I'm a little in love with Cold and Flu Medications. Ahem. <b>*Insert Announcer's voice: The subject of gratuitous over-the-counter drug usage is not appropriate for time or place. Moving. on*</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div>So this isn't a full vintage KJ Musing session, where you have to take bathroom and stretch breaks as you plow through. This is just a little moment, what have you, while I share with you what I foresee this week inspiring. I am doing this little Musings Moment for a few reasons:<br />
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Firstly a lovely lady from the UK whom I adore writes me and says,"<i>O</i><i>bvs no pressure. But I kinda love your blog. When will you update again?" </i><br />
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</i><br />
I facepalmed a minute because I realized that I hadn't told YOU lovelies what my writing schedule is, despite the fact that I've held myself to one for several weeks now. Bear with me, I've only been doing this for three weeks. Please accept my apologies for my idiocy in not communicating some of these details earlier. So, flashback to the tee shirt (i.e. entire reason for Musings On Other's Existence) that I told you about in the first essay:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Kj Is Other. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And then envision another tee shirt to reflect my favorite day of the week:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Thursday Is Other. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">So Thursday is my intended weekly update day. Groovy? My original plan was to write once a week, highlight a new Royal Rebel, and talk a little about life, love, unconventional beauty and KStew. So far, three entries in, I've done all right. The mind-numblingly flattering response received so far for Musings On Other, however, has nearly rendered me speechless. I said "nearly". Let's not get ahead of ourselves. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgparOAXY36TPmlTv5SZMe5e0LfN3QpSLpHU_a5hx9JqOgwU1rFQwFKdNfWUilaGhyOXpRVw-H3Vj0GyDLOul7ywu0MilCmM8aDUf5UmMmN76Z4rSPfFvE23ycm3Ii_27BQBzYvPrjA63U/s1600/edgeworthsays.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgparOAXY36TPmlTv5SZMe5e0LfN3QpSLpHU_a5hx9JqOgwU1rFQwFKdNfWUilaGhyOXpRVw-H3Vj0GyDLOul7ywu0MilCmM8aDUf5UmMmN76Z4rSPfFvE23ycm3Ii_27BQBzYvPrjA63U/s200/edgeworthsays.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">A second reason I wanted to post something today, is to empty my poor head out, and put the brainstorm on paper. This week, while already brimming with legendary promise (um, a little movie called <i><b>Eclipse</b></i> is premiering, and the cast is on Jimmy Kimmel), has been ripe with teachable moments in my real life--I am reveling in the power of <b>women's friendships</b>, conversation and motivation to dance in the bubbles and <b>follow the bliss</b>. Also, our Reigning Other Queen Kristen has just <i>killed </i>the Eclipse promo tour, with her fashion choices, her poise, and her generosity with fans. I actually have <i>too much to talk about! </i>And we all know how long my musings can go, even when I'm <i>focused! </i> So this Thursday, I'll most likely pay homage to Kristen Stewart's fashion promo ownership and fashion steeze:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjUpP93BvfMuJtiPzKQ48PKO04_xULdOHvUllL2cp0P80m5u75-B28MX7V0jnus_QCbQXtgG40nv5YdcUhSD-kaHvTOYQnbNA0RZcHBRnApzdUndnoqZrwL1W5_Pb3okFrlzB2SR5OcA/s1600/normal_025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjUpP93BvfMuJtiPzKQ48PKO04_xULdOHvUllL2cp0P80m5u75-B28MX7V0jnus_QCbQXtgG40nv5YdcUhSD-kaHvTOYQnbNA0RZcHBRnApzdUndnoqZrwL1W5_Pb3okFrlzB2SR5OcA/s400/normal_025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Doesn't this look like the picture that comes in the frames when you buy them?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaiEjPj5cNweySY_sPGZr2j9JF8xjOnYBH_D1BmuwaFDatcrmLb4aWhey-domKYEewjF2OwBZvxcOgR37A1Ybkcus6YyebPyCHXZqALlX5IMBca8wtgelV9IYOoUkJX5JhyLxcON-tQc/s1600/twilighteclipsepress10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaiEjPj5cNweySY_sPGZr2j9JF8xjOnYBH_D1BmuwaFDatcrmLb4aWhey-domKYEewjF2OwBZvxcOgR37A1Ybkcus6YyebPyCHXZqALlX5IMBca8wtgelV9IYOoUkJX5JhyLxcON-tQc/s400/twilighteclipsepress10.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Oscar. de. la. Renta. C'mon! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll also probably talk a little about Kristen's unbelievable generosity when interacting with fans. Her critics, <i>The Bullshit People, </i>as she and we deemed them in the last essay, have charged Kristen with being unfriendly, ungracious and standoffish towards her fans. Not according to this jewel of a video:<br />
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</div></div><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0y9o8GkqlFM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0y9o8GkqlFM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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I see a generous, sensitive girl who went out of her way to meet and speak with fans who waited days for her in Berlin. Did you see her running away from her car, towards the fans, almost shyly, as if she knew she would get admonished for it? Did you see her do it anyway? uh. huh. OTHER QUEEN in the hizzouse.<br />
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A third reason for this Musings Moment (though, yes, I realize I've blown past "momentary" about 10 minutes ago. I'm wrapping up, swears), is to say that I'm excited about some potential contributions occurring in the near future. My beta and dear friend Bouffant00 is a brilliant writer and researcher. And in following her bliss, and embracing her Other, she is writing a piece for Musings about Other Queens Forgotten...Rebels of Yore. I'm very excited to see what B comes up with, because some of the Other Queens she's considered? <i>le</i><i>gend...</i>In the same league as one Ms Joan Jett, even. Also, though she hasn't completely agreed yet, I am hoping soon to create a collaborative Musings post, a conversation if you will, with the luminous CC of @KStewsBtrthanU regarding following our bliss and encountering Queen KStew's many gifts along the journey. Lots of loveliness ahead, that's all I'm saying.<br />
<br />
Until Thursday, please continue to enjoy the onslaught that is the RobP0rn, and Eclipse Promo footage. Kristen and Taylor are wrapping up their international tour in Sweden as I write this. Set your DVR's for Wednesday's Kimmel Special Eclipse Show:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSfStX3Y0SAr_Fyoywle7804cRXSI9yZwQimXMfGeAggCH26p1GJGYDqpdBIWSp-4lz7BWwuNH1MliKwWCAJD_cKCjzSR4RlaH8tFRMOAt2AelIFdiCxCZDtGXB6rpRkCQyyMC0lXst8/s1600/normal_007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSfStX3Y0SAr_Fyoywle7804cRXSI9yZwQimXMfGeAggCH26p1GJGYDqpdBIWSp-4lz7BWwuNH1MliKwWCAJD_cKCjzSR4RlaH8tFRMOAt2AelIFdiCxCZDtGXB6rpRkCQyyMC0lXst8/s320/normal_007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And please keep coming up with awesome synonyms for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">OTHER</span></b> that do not indicate <b>WRONG. </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some favorites you've come up with:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Misfit Rebel Eccentric Free Hellion Brave Quirky</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Keep 'em coming, keep 'em coming. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am Other.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thursday is Other.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kristen is Other.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Embrace your Other.</span></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-70701353146543533212010-06-16T21:37:00.001-07:002010-06-18T08:52:22.769-07:00Miracle Bubbles: The Beauty in Just Being<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Can We Just </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Be</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">?</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your ears may still be ringing. Maybe you caught a little glimpse on TV. It's that time again, friends. The Twilight media blitz is barreling through again and it started this weekend. Beginning on Saturday, Kristen, Robert and Taylor were out in full force, promoting Eclipse for the Los Angeles-based press conference and Twilight Convention, or TwiCon. You may still hear whispered sighs, post-TwiCon climax, if you are remotely close to the state of California. Our Reigning Other Queen Kristen appeared confident, stunningly beautiful, of course, and very notably, at ease and very assured in speaking about her alter-ego Bella Swan and Bella Swan's growing confidence. A girl coming into her own? A beautiful sight to behold.</span></span></span></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbD2NyBTFYsAlQd-UADlK9lbOWQ3puDBnAvDOUNw_AZDs3We_BxXfC-q8KAQzzDQaF-Bq3j054ZZyCM-qbA02Sk8WYaaYIwBRdfPu4FVqIqaY1zzd75rSaedGIzI9UYIsdLXuGHsleVA/s1600/normal_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbD2NyBTFYsAlQd-UADlK9lbOWQ3puDBnAvDOUNw_AZDs3We_BxXfC-q8KAQzzDQaF-Bq3j054ZZyCM-qbA02Sk8WYaaYIwBRdfPu4FVqIqaY1zzd75rSaedGIzI9UYIsdLXuGHsleVA/s320/normal_005.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know, right?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So of course, because KStew Provokes The Ponder, I began to conjure this week's post as soon as she stepped up to the microphones at the morning press conference. Truth is, Kristen, Rob, Taylor, separately and in different configurations of the three provided so many UNF moments, squee worthy moments, and kernels of goodness, I was confuzzled as to where I should focus my attentions first, or ultimately. I considered talking about the ecstasy of finding a kindred spirit, as evident with The Bubble:</span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsDfBOEOuqCDw1uoDjLipFULGgyKzf0uML-yHHQqlh3mIMe63SKUPwJKfa3WWLOnZ8PTVPI_CY26lOYd3I5LIJ9b22M7WRK1xy-yL570PiZ-SBirQ66G9EnGNR76HQlEEVbhtNdV7jzA/s1600/b90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsDfBOEOuqCDw1uoDjLipFULGgyKzf0uML-yHHQqlh3mIMe63SKUPwJKfa3WWLOnZ8PTVPI_CY26lOYd3I5LIJ9b22M7WRK1xy-yL570PiZ-SBirQ66G9EnGNR76HQlEEVbhtNdV7jzA/s400/b90.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">we know someone's talking, but all we hear is bwah wah wah wuh uh</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x7cfvUloieU3aI2LPrEFgMlBDRzcbZf8aDlLVDKC5riDCjm_NA9G7S3gpe0yNkJdoDnyMyYph7-DIY7vonobYr0i4MQH3Mt0HqPIuVRyywxg7MtSctYSHL99q1nD7cgCdwL1a-gaV3I/s1600/pv5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x7cfvUloieU3aI2LPrEFgMlBDRzcbZf8aDlLVDKC5riDCjm_NA9G7S3gpe0yNkJdoDnyMyYph7-DIY7vonobYr0i4MQH3Mt0HqPIuVRyywxg7MtSctYSHL99q1nD7cgCdwL1a-gaV3I/s400/pv5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I thought I'd shake my head at how the crafty media used the shifting themes of Eclipse to ask Rob and Kristen about their views on marriage and children...<i>with each other. </i>Was reeeeally tempted with that one, not gonna lie. </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could have mentioned, and in fact I WILL mention how beautiful and poised Kristen appeared throughout the grueling 2-day junket/conference. But for seriously: that went without saying. And now because I can, I'll post these pictures:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPlIh8tacfHFYbds4kd3x_o7z0AT8XGzc3tGJsVhc67Ooyh41ltIW2o1O-V1gOYT30tDIfnQj0SD-hmFjD7_gmLHsd5KXk0hS0r9JoDpRoJB6tbYQ5LoCHcshWaz9pBDx3Lmbzbsl8hg/s1600/mq027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPlIh8tacfHFYbds4kd3x_o7z0AT8XGzc3tGJsVhc67Ooyh41ltIW2o1O-V1gOYT30tDIfnQj0SD-hmFjD7_gmLHsd5KXk0hS0r9JoDpRoJB6tbYQ5LoCHcshWaz9pBDx3Lmbzbsl8hg/s320/mq027.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yvqrUqJLk1YLV0982N_seG8F3jubF7xQLEEaUcbkJeIVOZgX_ltB9jSRck7pDrl8kYiGi9CnI4kTYbYhg_F1QSPXWM2-TA8Jda9jQqEXzigHT8EF163otl6Fke6p-HfR2f7hhqM1ghw/s1600/114865510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yvqrUqJLk1YLV0982N_seG8F3jubF7xQLEEaUcbkJeIVOZgX_ltB9jSRck7pDrl8kYiGi9CnI4kTYbYhg_F1QSPXWM2-TA8Jda9jQqEXzigHT8EF163otl6Fke6p-HfR2f7hhqM1ghw/s320/114865510.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But it wasn't until I watched a portion of her press conference that I decided on what I would write. Kristen was asked which traits she admired about in Bella. Kristen's answer implied how she <i>related</i> to Bella:</span><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>"She completely picks on herself too much. It's aggravating...She can't just be a </b><i><b>girl. </b></i><b>She cant' just </b><i><b>be. </b></i><b>Just </b><i><b>be. </b></i><b>I can completely relate to that" </b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was suddenly overwhelmed with the enormity of Kristen's situation when I reconciled how exposed she is to the elements. Not only does she have ravenous photographers, Twatterazzi and movie critics ready to weigh in on her inferior breathing techniques, but she has <i>her own internal critic </i>harping away too. This is why KStew rocks my socks off. She very clearly represents Other. She does the unexpected. She presents as a genuine, laid back chica. She keeps her freakin cool even knowing that every word that slips from her mouth will be analyzed, dissected and then republished at least twenty-five-HUNDRED times in varying, ok, miniscule degrees of accuracy. Let's talk critically about critics, shall we??? </span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Other Queen is Unemployed</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It's true. While I may consider myself royalty, it is not due to any monetary mark or abilities to travel across the lands on a Queen's tour. This may be the longest time period I've ever gone without work, since I was seventeen years old. Six months ago, I was living in a rural community, the antithesis of my metropolitan upbringing, working as a manager of a small counseling team. This counseling team would drive massive distances to bring mental health counseling, support, empowerment and coping skills to families who couldn't come to our offices, entailing up to 50 mile drives for myself or my counseling team. I would often meet with homeless clients in parking lots of shelters, at parks in the middle of orange groves to sit down and talk life. The benefits of this job included working with some of the kindest, smartest and most compassionate beings in this world; collaborating alongside one of my dearest and oldest friends who is an obscenely gifted psychologist; earning enough money so that my fairly new husband and I (we were finishing our first year of marriage) could live in a modest house with a dishwasher. No seriously, the prize was the damn dishwasher for my city-apartment-dwelling ass. Well, the dishwasher and the fact that my heart was full. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483610303076234610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-tMnBY0HKagQcM2wmPM8P-lCI8zWcU9cTQQLS5xuhvKCFpLoUYKgSnawJ8YW3L50SnNZHktzvDhzKhJpKMfW_pachTZgq_vzFYk_w4udAEnWtj8hdd68K6UHORtPO8n2L8RXQ-Vrnh8/s320/th_l_895adb32bfb34ab9968c70e4c22ec600.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 120px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 160px;" /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">because I had a garbage disposal </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">AND </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a dishwasher once upon a time</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The drawbacks included working for corrupt, burnt-out and unethical company leaders; 24/7 on-call status for crisis pages; and next-door inhabitants who most definitely were </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">not </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">voters in my favor on The Other Homecoming Queen ballot. My "neighbors" most definitely saw my tanned skin, almond shaped eyes, nose piercings, Kerouac-totin' Otherness as alien, odd, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">threatening. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Don't even get me </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">started </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">on how they regarded my Southeast Asian, worldly, brilliant and Koran-reading husband. *deep breath* Anyhoo, because mental health is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">not </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">a priority to our society, I found myself one of the first casualties of the budget cuts, and all the hours I'd wished to sleep in, all the arguments with greedy suits I'd wish to end, did. Abruptly. I became jobless within a four minute phone call (yes, they did it by </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">phone</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> while I was away in SoCal caring for my mother post-surgery), and I was spinning. </span></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Here's the dealio. All my schooling, thesis writing-then-defending and skills earned during grueling shit-for-stipend internships were rendered unusable at this time. What did I do upon hearing I needed to get back to the office and pack my shit up? I cried about 3 tears. I went to 7-11 Convenience Store with a high school bestie, and bought a 32 oz Slushie, a pack of Marlboro lights, and bottle of </span><b>Miracle Bubbles. (</b>That's the name of the brand, btw, not that they can make you regain sight when you're blind...at least, I hadn't seen any reports saying so)....<span class="Apple-style-span"> I sat in the passenger seat of my friend's SUV, with the window down, driving along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), with my arm out the window.... You may have seen me. My black curly hair whipped around wildly, and in my wake...bubbles....</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk0-oOIjOnyrY4DpE_JhV76Wlv0reytqoO5abwfu4yRyiq0C2jFq6a1it-MPrI-y7nsvJWBinjsg_d1WeM7iRZbExPXTS57HcvI8p5WeZ6ZXNAJUV6ECh8OHfK-d9qlzKxhVZcQ9WwlI/s1600/photography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk0-oOIjOnyrY4DpE_JhV76Wlv0reytqoO5abwfu4yRyiq0C2jFq6a1it-MPrI-y7nsvJWBinjsg_d1WeM7iRZbExPXTS57HcvI8p5WeZ6ZXNAJUV6ECh8OHfK-d9qlzKxhVZcQ9WwlI/s200/photography.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><div><br /></div>I smoked two cigarettes, which was plenty for me, as I had stopped smoking a year earlier, sipped my Wild Cherry Slushie and danced around in the bubbles I blew for thirty minutes of unhindered joy. This is why: I <i>hated </i>the neighborhood I had brought my sensitive and kind husband to live in. I <i>loathed </i>the Tossers who were balancing numbers in their offices, telling me that they could not fund art supplies for my clients who had no crayons or construction paper (or running water sometimes), all while said Tossers left their air-conditioned offices via their luxury sedans at 5PM sharp.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">And, most startlingly: I <i>desperately missed </i>the joyous interaction of creative living. See, in my spare time (endangered species, I know) I dabble in music, and I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">guess</span> I'm a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">kinda</span> writer. I'm a seeker of Creative Bliss. But the past five years, and certainly since assuming the manager position of that soul-sucking company in the middle of BastardNation, I cased my guitar, sold my keyboard, and shelved my writing notebooks. In all honesty, I had taken the managerial position with the counseling agency because I was trying to be "responsible". I was trying to appease <i>The Critics. The Should-ers. </i>Our Reigning Queen Kristen would refer to these soul-destroying, Other-Hunters as <i><b>The Bullshit People.</b></i> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><i></i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Fev098pOh-oUnc5xQZd__XvixsAvxqFoiUIr8Lob4HAmaR2roT16pcmzrn20BvbXTr5uiIcQfXY-B0AVavbjlWVPrrQy1BH446wU2DdWfrIz6QPgGMxvz77mRMbLPK-GL4vaNoFjRdE/s1600/pictureframebeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Fev098pOh-oUnc5xQZd__XvixsAvxqFoiUIr8Lob4HAmaR2roT16pcmzrn20BvbXTr5uiIcQfXY-B0AVavbjlWVPrrQy1BH446wU2DdWfrIz6QPgGMxvz77mRMbLPK-GL4vaNoFjRdE/s320/pictureframebeach.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How many of you feel your inner critics </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">clawing out of your skulls </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">trying to straighten this frame? </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">My life as Kj, the Therapist and Program Manager was in direct relation to my avoidance and acquiescence that <i>The Critic </i>was correct. <i>The Critic </i>told me that it was ridiculous for me to consider taking a break from practicing therapy in order to write travel essays. That it was ludicrous to believe the musical tracks I'd recorded with brilliant musicians, that had been accepted onto a small movie soundtrack might be the key to my heart's happy dance. <i>The Critic</i> even cautioned me in applying to Doctors Without Borders to volunteer counseling to my husband's ancestors, who were suffering in extreme poverty in southeast Asia. So while BastardNation may have initially pushed me into the depths of despair, I quickly rallied back and flipped the Double-Bird, KStew-Style to my <i>Critic. </i> Because guess what? The Critic can be <i>wrooooooong. </i></span></div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynnUQer1RSqzWseBp_x1bB_F_YgWv-pxmhjbNn7F_Qe1rjBLZCMi09HwCpC67cuXuZbGbopVoT0qohrowIlHkIfqbKIPArbuIZ50NlKue5aBbTSxNSQEvrpLdQdKJGPv9PrSfubUu_-Q/s1600/kristen-stewart-053010-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynnUQer1RSqzWseBp_x1bB_F_YgWv-pxmhjbNn7F_Qe1rjBLZCMi09HwCpC67cuXuZbGbopVoT0qohrowIlHkIfqbKIPArbuIZ50NlKue5aBbTSxNSQEvrpLdQdKJGPv9PrSfubUu_-Q/s320/kristen-stewart-053010-2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don't think I'll ever tire of this picture. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">The internal dialogue went something like this:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Kj:</b> Holy Shit! I'm out of a job! Fuck. I'm scared. No. Fuck, I'm FREE! I don't have to return to a job where I was dying. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Critic:</b> You dumbass. Whatcha gonna do now? Gypsy around <i>again </i>with a duffel bag in your car? You can't push your damn piano everywhere, and it's been years since you've even tuned your guitar.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Kj:</b> Well, why the hell would I go back to something that was depleting my soul?</span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Critic:</b> You moved your husband to BastardNation, only to get your ass laid off. You have no money.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Kj:</b> Well, I'd happily work for <i>OhDreamOn</i> and <i>Cascadega</i> in fighting the good fight on critical-Kristen internet discussion boards. I'd bring coffee and hold their hair back as they dive in swinging.</span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Critic:</b> Hmm. I agree, it'd be a fuckawesome job. ODO and Cas are in the trenches, snark and brilliance ablaze. Maybe you could make them your other-worldly grilled cheese sandwiches. That might tempt them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Kj</b>: *small voice* Until then, I have a penchant for writing. And singing. And I'm kinda fierce at playing piano. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Critic:</b> Mom is going to kick you in the bunghole. You didn't go to a private grad school and study years for licensure to be a open-mic-night pan handler. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Kj: </b>But I feel such bliss when I think about writing, singing, creating. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Critic:</b> (long pause). You did always say that Psychology was Plan B. You've given ten years to Plan B. You've never committed to anything that long. Props, K. Plan A has been neglected long enough.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Kj</b>: Thanks for saying so, Inner C. Let's ignore the fact that I recount full transcripts of my convos with The Voices. Have some chocolate. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b>Critic:</b> Let's kum-ba-yah this bitch right now. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6jXBgUV45-CwPIfCn5Tjl30SrCrYMOMG9AP_KIbn0sNB0sowjyDRTntxYlppERagWvFKCJooI4AtpEYzR-nLysOZh2GWzFVbZBC8EQK2kM4R7FXmkbCdCevLv6Jq779NrT1kvHeU51g/s1600/th_photography-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color:black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6jXBgUV45-CwPIfCn5Tjl30SrCrYMOMG9AP_KIbn0sNB0sowjyDRTntxYlppERagWvFKCJooI4AtpEYzR-nLysOZh2GWzFVbZBC8EQK2kM4R7FXmkbCdCevLv6Jq779NrT1kvHeU51g/s1600/th_photography-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6jXBgUV45-CwPIfCn5Tjl30SrCrYMOMG9AP_KIbn0sNB0sowjyDRTntxYlppERagWvFKCJooI4AtpEYzR-nLysOZh2GWzFVbZBC8EQK2kM4R7FXmkbCdCevLv6Jq779NrT1kvHeU51g/s320/th_photography-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;"> </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Critics' Corner</span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">Who is <i>The Critic</i> for you? <i>The Critic </i>as I've encountered, whispers at me to remain cautious and weary of any sudden movement or change. <i>The Critic</i> is different than it's cousin, the <i>Conscious. </i>Freudians may call it <i>Th</i><i>e Superego </i>but the less on Freud the better, in my opinion, mmmkay? So<i> </i>while the Conscious serves to protect us and initiate self-preservation in potentially life-endangering situations, <i>The Critic</i> can be an aggressive little bitch. <i>The Critic</i> seeks perfection from me, highlights my flaws and lapses in wisdom, shoots down ideas seemingly too fanciful. <i>The Critic</i> can take on certain tones of voices such as motherly disapproval (<b><i>Oh, Kj! How do I explain this to your grandmother??</i></b>), to cruel playground taunting (<b><i>na na na na na na, you're STOOPID!</i></b>) and spiteful, jealous female coworkers (<b><i>You, Slutty McWhores-A-lot, will never look good in that dress. YES, it's obvious you've gained weight)</i></b>. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">Obviously, the filter through which the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Witch-Hunters </span> oops, I mean, Other-Hunters/Should-ers/Bullshit People view us are numerous, and stem from a variety of contributing factors. From a feminist-based point of view: <b>De</b><b>monizing of Other </b>can occur when a woman does not choose to be a mother or a wife at a given point in time; or, when a woman wears clothing that draws attention to her body. Basically, Others could be hunted down and shamed simply for not fulfilling roles that society has designated as such. </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">Also, <b>unwanted s</b><b>peculation/evaluation</b> can arise when you're a member of a particular village or tribe. In Asian cultures, it is frowned upon when an individual becomes more noticeable than his family as a whole. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">The Royal Misfits featured in today's post are Rebel Queens, both gloriously stunning, and both navigating their own <i>internal critic</i>, but also the reality of true critics and commentators spewing narratives about any twitches, blinking, snags, eye rolls they may or may not display. Additionally, there are plenty of reviewers who receive money and fame themselves for giving their opinion on how well these Other Queens execute their chosen professions. </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rebel Royalty: Kate Winslet</span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div><br /></div>The exquisite Kate Winslet is already a bit of a legendary Other Queen, introduced to the public's awareness when she was 16 years old in <i>Heavenly Creatures </i>portraying a young school girl with lesbian leanings and murderous plans. Sweet. Sounds like my kinda girl. She further embedded in cultural consciousness with her first Oscar-nominated turn in the lovely Austen classic (and one of my personal favorite movies) <i>Sense and Sensibility. </i>Of course, she became our original Fierce One, Ambitious Romantic when she starred in the Essential, penultimate romance <i>Titanic </i>opposite equally stunning Leonardo DiCaprio. I could detail her phenomenally impressive professional successes (HELLO, SHE OWNED ME IN ETERNAL SUNSHINE), and we'd be here for days, but I wanted to highlight some reasons why Ms. Winslet is Rebel Royalty. She is known to be unfiltered, blunt, outspoken and passionate, especially in the area of self-image and body awareness. She is gloriously curvaceous and she proudly wears the badge of Ambassador of Voluptuousness. She also drops the F-bomb copiously (adding to her allure in my eyes), but she pulls it off because she has the lilting, seductive British accent, which basically means, everything she says is Aural Porn. </span></div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOs_CPKhTBP7r5Zcs7EU9dZ2UJgPXIpX5niar74HHEqadbzRwmz32xkWsBaEMNEnb3L4ZbESMekiq3Ao_vdW2P05Pz9LP46QDKcCI1PNfzpOEjtCxqag4BUjJKoOe9nEUsnLYL6FpJFfs/s1600/tn_kate-winslet-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOs_CPKhTBP7r5Zcs7EU9dZ2UJgPXIpX5niar74HHEqadbzRwmz32xkWsBaEMNEnb3L4ZbESMekiq3Ao_vdW2P05Pz9LP46QDKcCI1PNfzpOEjtCxqag4BUjJKoOe9nEUsnLYL6FpJFfs/s400/tn_kate-winslet-39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Fuck. I'm such a fucking catch</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div><br /></div>Kate on her <i>Critics: </i> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"You know why I fear people's judgement?" Because I know they're judging. I KNOW they are"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I'll drop my kids off at school. And I can FEEL the other moms just checking me out. 'Oh my GOD. There is <i>no </i>secret [to getting perfect skin]. I have makeup on'"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"You really have to not give a <i>fuck </i>about what people think of you.You have to be prepared to look stupid"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Beauty Marks/Rave Reviews:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><b>1.</b> "Electrical, bruising vulnerability" (<i>Rolling Stone) </i><b>2.</b> "Lights up every single scene she is in." (<i>Washington Post)</i> <b>3.</b>"She possesses a pure gift" (<i>Sam Mendes, Director/ex-husband) <b>4</b></i><b>.</b> "She is the best actress of her generation" <i>(Leonardo DiCaprio, Co-star, Bestie) <b>5</b></i><b>.</b> "She is one of the finest actresses working today" <i>(New York Times) </i> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3RwgNXiRFa5LgdpJ6YxOQ6MnojLWvw2fjY6HCUSetMmQKximGeR37WyzqglEfgmrylboZWovIK29rQ9rHjT9yueJ0XtLuzQG8CaemGxjuekFO0BQnc7ezzcqZnvMjn8BxFEe_CZM-Mc/s1600/Kate_Winslet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3RwgNXiRFa5LgdpJ6YxOQ6MnojLWvw2fjY6HCUSetMmQKximGeR37WyzqglEfgmrylboZWovIK29rQ9rHjT9yueJ0XtLuzQG8CaemGxjuekFO0BQnc7ezzcqZnvMjn8BxFEe_CZM-Mc/s400/Kate_Winslet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My chaise lounge is better than any seating you have, I'm pretty sure.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Other Offenses/Critical Conditions:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span>Per AssClowns, Cultural/Fashion Commentators, Critics <b>KATE: </b><b>1</b>. Is chubby <b>2.</b> Lies about her exercise regime <b>3.</b> Trivialized the Holocaust by displaying nudity in the film <i>The Reader </i> <b>4.</b> Purposefully omitted thanking the producer H Weinstein in her Oscar acceptance speech. <b>5.</b> Called GQ Magazine out for airbrushing photos of her, falsely presenting that Winslet was 30 lbs thinner than she actually is </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because she refuses to let Hollywood dictate how her body should look; because she knows her <i>Critics can be wrooooong;</i> and because she is brazenly outspoken about encouraging women to accept their own idea of physical beauty, Kate Winslet is Rebel Royalty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Reigning Rebel Royalty: Kristen Stewart </span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;"></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When we separate what we think we know about KStew's professional persona away from what we think we know about her personal persona, the contrast is startling. Most of Kristen's criticism seems to hone in on her wrongly assumed disinterest for the adjunct (tedious) activities of her job: press conferences and junkets, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">posing</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, red carpet jaunts. In her every day life, she is twenty years old, with over twenty movies completed already. She has a close-knit bond with her family, a love of animals, and a ridonk taste in music ( SHE PUT TOGETHER THE ECLIPSE SOUNDTRACK, I'm </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">almos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">t 100% sure). She has a small circle of loyal friends, and a bevy of admiring current and past costars. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhVpashm18qjq83LdxlITvi9XCGtbjJEJENl35Z-8P_pCZvVnl4PjwOgEPG2WXAsOxQeqhCAOmsqxgjFIXh9-wSqz1W_9ByqOAKG3JS4A1qmTLIBJTJR5kQ_a0KjuycZNNhACN6HaxQE/s1600/000714zk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhVpashm18qjq83LdxlITvi9XCGtbjJEJENl35Z-8P_pCZvVnl4PjwOgEPG2WXAsOxQeqhCAOmsqxgjFIXh9-wSqz1W_9ByqOAKG3JS4A1qmTLIBJTJR5kQ_a0KjuycZNNhACN6HaxQE/s320/000714zk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh jeebus, Kristen. My contemplative silences are a hot mess. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yours are not. </span></div>Kristen on her <i>Critics</i>: </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'm not miserable. I'm literally, sometimes trying to keep myself from crying. I'm reacting physically to the energy thrown at me"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">"They think I'm nervous, uncomfortable, awkward--and I am--but those are <i>bad </i>words for them"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'm telling you, I don't know anybody who does this that gives a shit more than I do. ..nobody cares more than I do" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Beauty Marks/Rave Reviews</span><span class="Apple-style-span">:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><b>1</b>. "Stewart gives a nuanced, complex performance in <i>Welcome to the Rileys" (Elle Magazine) </i><b>2.</b> "Stewart is engaging, charismatic, smart, pretty" (<i>Flaunt)<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span></b></i><b>3</b>. "Kristen is the best actor of her generation" <i>(Robert Pattinson, co-star and twin soul) </i> </span><b>4.</b> "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Stewart exudes a quiet sexiness and an understated vulnerability such that you can’t help but fall in love with her" (<i>re:Adventureland, Film.com) <b> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b>5.</b> "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">Who knew she had these notes? I'm discovering an important actress." <i>(Roger Ebert, legendary movie critic</i>) </span></span></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvaCDcMtH_8oMadPRfnQvgRRDvkU7DY9bUYUuhyr3ToJmI-wQ6wq-AHXwCVcZItt6YC6lNIbObweI4c8jMK3Ccx9SwEbiN6lKjhQ9UFs9X72SiVmcwtOzGEgaMcFj-4JCkHwZ__eUb68/s1600/534c45a0d2c9bc8d60ae1866037ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvaCDcMtH_8oMadPRfnQvgRRDvkU7DY9bUYUuhyr3ToJmI-wQ6wq-AHXwCVcZItt6YC6lNIbObweI4c8jMK3Ccx9SwEbiN6lKjhQ9UFs9X72SiVmcwtOzGEgaMcFj-4JCkHwZ__eUb68/s320/534c45a0d2c9bc8d60ae1866037ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Its very difficult for someone </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">to truly look in the mirror, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for fear of what they see.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Kristen puts on a sparkling dress</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and faces mirrors. Hourly.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Other Offenses/Critical Conditions:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span>Per AssClowns, Cultural/Fashion Commentators, Bullshit People, <b>KRISTEN: </b><b>1</b>.Is Awkward and gawky and weird. <b>2. </b>Is trying too hard be overly serious. <b>3.</b> Pretends to be smart when she is not. <b>4.</b> Swears like a trucker <b>5.</b> Is trying too hard to be rebellious and badass. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b> </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu1swiZb9motMOVbrUqDw7fhJ44RLh1urYxLtSqNWjmiVZ7OMidu1CoZsXymmvE2c_XvSbvgMts9V804f05T1xe0sZmSgtv4c9kn6Y2RlCd596YaBLD4hUUbACP09Z2AwfvSAT8UDrzY/s1600/kristenstewartelle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu1swiZb9motMOVbrUqDw7fhJ44RLh1urYxLtSqNWjmiVZ7OMidu1CoZsXymmvE2c_XvSbvgMts9V804f05T1xe0sZmSgtv4c9kn6Y2RlCd596YaBLD4hUUbACP09Z2AwfvSAT8UDrzY/s320/kristenstewartelle-1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this picture makes me ache </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kristen has a wicked collection of Louboutins. I fail to see the demonized Other here. I simply see Queen. And because this just came in as I was finishing up these musings....Happy RomeStew. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Critics</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> can be </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so wrong.</span></i></b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2D_er99WUpAOqOCfX8Y7eLIxhJTpCVBpvABiBdbMDiaW1dEXe-YmN2qnSSLAUQoaHUY1XY8H8I7gEx9dC5_kiZqov0mPaAka4OCxKxG9hyYrr2v6iSWoiDXMdrSwu9uH5QvtXT9L2hw/s1600/rome7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2D_er99WUpAOqOCfX8Y7eLIxhJTpCVBpvABiBdbMDiaW1dEXe-YmN2qnSSLAUQoaHUY1XY8H8I7gEx9dC5_kiZqov0mPaAka4OCxKxG9hyYrr2v6iSWoiDXMdrSwu9uH5QvtXT9L2hw/s320/rome7.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Other Offenses? Freckles.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Miracle Bubbles</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></div></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Because I had a kumbaya with my inner critic upon finding myself jobless in BastardNation, though dancing amidst Miracle Bubbles.... I've kept myself in the running for Other Queen court. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Because Kate Winslet demanded an apology from GQ for falsely representing her true bodyshape, she is Rebel Royalty. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Because Kristen Stewart endured two full, consecutive days of press junkets, The BullShit People, and a Twilight Convention, all while in super high heels? Reigning Other Queen. Lifetime. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Unemployed Kj is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Kate is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Kristen is SO Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Others dance and live among Miracle Bubbles, with their Twin Souls</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Embrace Your Other. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></div></div></div><div><b> </b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Question: Who is YOUR worst critic and how do YOU Kumbaya?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A/N: As always: Bouffant00, my sister, my beta, pre-reader, you are the wind beneath my wings. To the beautiful Buff_82, if I could be one tenth as beautiful and bad ass as you are, I could die a happy girl. Thank you for putting up with my incessant chatter and wonky. @KStewsbtrthanu My lovely girl. My Pied Fucking Piper. You play your tune, I follow, entranced. You have never led me astray. Thank you for musing with me late nights, and for subjecting yourself to airport security just to give me a hug and a quick rundown of the encounter with JawPorn. Flove you. I would have gladly missed my flight to squee with you a bit more. To my Cyber Sisters and Readers: You girls are a constant source of amazement. You humble me every day. Special ShoutOuts to: Marble Pole, I hold you closer; Goldeneye for encouraging me; IndiaMom and Bells for being strong, fierce Other Queens during these dark times. And to Kate who chatted with me about Moms and such. You must have brought The Muse with you. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></span></span></div></div></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-12008516864447786702010-06-10T12:49:00.000-07:002010-06-10T12:49:57.604-07:00Finding your Voice, and the courage to Sing Loudly<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Sound of Your Voice</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;">When I refer to the "Voice" I'm referring to the essence of how we communicate--the words, intonation--what we think, believe, hope for, aspire to. Our Truth. The Voice can be the culmination of one's heart, one's passion, soul, dislikes, likes and weaknesses. Scholars of religion may call this your soul, or your connection with your Higher Power. Psychologists may call it your personality. Purveyors of metaphysics and nature may call it your <i>ki, essence, </i>or<i> being. </i><br />
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<i></i>*BOOK REC ALERT* "<b><i>A Woman's Worth"</i></b> author and spiritual lecturer Marianne Williamson speaks of finding your voice as 'owning your passionate nature, allowing for love and inspiration to thrive', and I'll add, allowing it to permeate one's outer shell, shine through.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5UK1n9hEkfjOTjaJz-nbn4_-au1UGIwXPffFgSYvyB3YQlp7cuXKQyoCIl99VM_ZtyUYzv7rMParwQdIIX_5ZyxI-xLJtxOyhSzb9Day-lz4LZFpEHwdqJpCiTSAbuz_yh7wqUy2_a8/s1600/womansworth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5UK1n9hEkfjOTjaJz-nbn4_-au1UGIwXPffFgSYvyB3YQlp7cuXKQyoCIl99VM_ZtyUYzv7rMParwQdIIX_5ZyxI-xLJtxOyhSzb9Day-lz4LZFpEHwdqJpCiTSAbuz_yh7wqUy2_a8/s200/womansworth.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Don't you look like this when you stand on windy cliff-sides?</span></div><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had not planned on writing about the "controversy" that KStew found herself ensnared in last week. But when I witnessed how Kristen struggled and triumphed to not only find her voice, but sing loudly with it, I knew I must address what has now been known as Kristen's "Rape Controversy". Prior to this hot topic, I was so distracted by the epicness that was the UK Elle interview and glorious pictures that accompanied the piece; Kristen's whirlwind Eclipse promo tour, and pending MTV Movie Awards. I was totally blindsided by the drama. Actually, I don't know that I'll wholly delve into the matter within this post, although I wanted to address it--if nothing else, then to acknowledge the tentative, magnificence of finding one's voice, then to experience the agony and rejection of having it SHUT. DOWN. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today's musings has already referenced Voice as one's true self/soul/personality, but the majority of this essay will reference one's verbal and physical <i>expression </i>of the Self, the Voice. This post is in honor, of course, of our Reigning Other Queen Kristen, showcasing Others who do not possess the eloquence to express our inner musings. This is for those of us Others who are awkward, fumbling, bumbling, tongue-tied, over-thinking babblers. We're the ones who receive countless confused stares and sidelong glances because yeah, we SAID. IT. We're also recipients of the Puss Face when no one else understands WTF just happened.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/af63/MusesforKJ/aBigCupofShutUPredone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/af63/MusesforKJ/aBigCupofShutUPredone.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'll take my cup with cream and Splenda if you have any? </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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Let's do this, mmmkay? The two Rebellious Royals we'll visit in this post are both outrageously beautiful Other Queens, and representatives of two types Communicators (of the verbal and physical <i>expression </i>of thoughts and ideas<i>)</i>. The first type is the <b>Genius Bizzarro Blurter</b> and the second: <b>Sublimely Cerebral, Awkward Orator</b>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Rebel Royalty Revisited: Tori Amos</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><b><br />
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<b>Genius Bizzarro Blurter. </b>The GBB finds herself extremely expressive, using facial expressions and hand gestures to further elaborate on a point. The words that exude from the GBB's mouth can be whimsical, brilliant, nonsensical (to some), sensual and provocative, and yet still be direct and astute.<br />
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Tori Amos emerged in the 1990s as a singer-songwriter of incredible means. She is known as the quintessential Eccentric Girl, with her flame red hair, her masterful musicianship, her role in her family as The Minister's Daughter. She has been called The Provocative Poet, the Charismatic Faerie, The Goddess.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4EryXmKC3TTWqn0X-6qeS7v90TTDTi_F5qHCP0_xHiMSIfJUuIxyCCyE3kZQG9_iKgxpmOhyphenhyphenZo_NnlXIG0u7x0YZS8N8-Be3eUw57Tw0NNRBH7ZofpOFDZlcr-7OZCFoW5vIsp907Sg/s1600/tori_amos+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4EryXmKC3TTWqn0X-6qeS7v90TTDTi_F5qHCP0_xHiMSIfJUuIxyCCyE3kZQG9_iKgxpmOhyphenhyphenZo_NnlXIG0u7x0YZS8N8-Be3eUw57Tw0NNRBH7ZofpOFDZlcr-7OZCFoW5vIsp907Sg/s320/tori_amos+1.jpg" width="264" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Those fingers can stir even the deepest emotions. She may be tiny, but she is powerful.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Things you may hear tumbling out of this particular GBB's mouth:</span><br />
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<div style="font: 16px Times; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'God, sometimes you just don't come through. Do you need a woman to look after you?'</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">‘I think that people who can't believe in fairies aren't worth knowing.’</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I don't see myself as weird, I just see myself as honest." </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Most people would rather be sheep than stand on their own with antlers on." </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and my personal favorite: </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 25px;">"So, you can make me come, that doesn't make you Jesus."</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks: </span></b><br />
1.) Clear, heartbreaking soprano voice 2.) Prodigious piano skills 3.) Advocate for Rape Victims' rights 4.) Speaks openly about sexuality, religion, love and despair 5.) Will turn the piano into an instrument of ROCK 6.) Fearless conviction and celebration of her Other-ness.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpclLWu_VIU5MvWDjl_LrLatsi34oqCBkQBPA7OUzh-G7fm8SdFaqKmPAZZWDhkdvefI6316VM0dFhShkpLeZyDe5PHtmM-wYUp4iXOuXvYuF9Z8_-GhGKsZ3jgsyeKok7L5n3MV09zhk/s1600/449px-Tori_Amos_in_Ra'anana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpclLWu_VIU5MvWDjl_LrLatsi34oqCBkQBPA7OUzh-G7fm8SdFaqKmPAZZWDhkdvefI6316VM0dFhShkpLeZyDe5PHtmM-wYUp4iXOuXvYuF9Z8_-GhGKsZ3jgsyeKok7L5n3MV09zhk/s320/449px-Tori_Amos_in_Ra'anana.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">watching her is like watching an exorcism</span></span><br />
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</span> </span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Other:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Per Ass Clowns, music and societal commentators, Tori:</span></span><br />
1.) Humps her piano bench 2.) Speaks gibberish 3.) Engages in blasphemy by singing about sexuality AND religion! 4.) Is too sexual and brazen in her female confidence. 5) Is too provocative 6.) Appears to twitch, convulse and become possessed while performing. Awwwwkward.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgLG51HjAWp3hYrOuGYCGbk1K5hU24lLFbziXcytkKc8uECV_8hAQ9h0SuEt9NIy_FKzT9f8Z8Fl-obuHuFpqrE1uBDfv9raxGdG7rgg3FymLWwQ8yFapQ6WF1Y2Rf6xcdPGt1-jpQKw/s1600/tori_amos_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgLG51HjAWp3hYrOuGYCGbk1K5hU24lLFbziXcytkKc8uECV_8hAQ9h0SuEt9NIy_FKzT9f8Z8Fl-obuHuFpqrE1uBDfv9raxGdG7rgg3FymLWwQ8yFapQ6WF1Y2Rf6xcdPGt1-jpQKw/s320/tori_amos_3.jpg" width="271" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There were times where I wished I was her piano bench</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her wide-release debut album "Little Earthquakes" highlighted the song </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Me and A Gun</b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, an acapella retelling of her shattering rape experience, a song that became the foundation for Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). We will revisit RAINN a bit later, interestingly enough. While </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Little Earthquakes" introduced the world to this intriguing Rebel Queen, her second release, "Under the Pink" created the pop icon that earned millions of ardent fans-- ToriPhiles. She earned critical raves blowing past the boundaries of conformity, by challenging everything from religion, sexuality, parenthood, love and fierce, unbridled ANGER. Because she speaks of faeries, antlers, masturbation and food (she likes Chocolate and molasses A LOT) in the same sentences as religion, God and parenthood, she is a GBB, but also Rebel Royalty. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart </span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<b>Sublimely Cerebral Awkward Orator. </b>The AO is very aware that her words contain power. This knowledge can be paralyzing and overwhelming to the the intellectual, sensitive AO. The AOs in our circles are the folks who appear to be contemplating, or not listening at all. He or she may make pauses in speech, drop off before completing sentences or thoughts, may use their physical being do the real communicating, with the bouncing knee, down-turned gaze, pursed lips, and don't forget the gesticulating fingers and hands.<br />
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Things that you may hear tumbling out of this AO's Mouth:<br />
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<div style="font: 16px Times; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Um. I don't know. What the fuck is inner beauty?'</span></div></div><div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">‘It's funny how in America, fame is placed so fucking high--above wealth, happiness, everything. It's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">so </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">not true.’</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I choose my work instinctively. I couldn't have a plan. I would always fall short."</span></span></div></div><div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I can't pretend."</span></span></div></div><div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and my personal favorite: </span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20px; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Silver spikes? What? They're </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">bullets, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mofo!!"</span></span><br />
<div style="font: 14px/18px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><b></b>With one of her most revealing interviews in recent memory, Kristen speaks of her discomfort with the Fame Game to <i>Flaunt Magazine, Elle, and Elle UK</i>. The article that sparked the outcry of anger was the Elle (UK Version) article. Here is what Kristen says to Hanna Hanra in the UK Elle interview for July 2010.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX__7YKyTwJDl50LMqkbGLzuFw5Av5UZOUDlXG2mBup7_cCrIlzWSAc_IRxWSQIildXPK8JuUdBBG6w7FF2mzByLpvbYo3Xd8LzFGHXqUQMcImC6bmdKLgsOHTlhhpCjnf7N9cISk-gOw/s1600/UKElle+cvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX__7YKyTwJDl50LMqkbGLzuFw5Av5UZOUDlXG2mBup7_cCrIlzWSAc_IRxWSQIildXPK8JuUdBBG6w7FF2mzByLpvbYo3Xd8LzFGHXqUQMcImC6bmdKLgsOHTlhhpCjnf7N9cISk-gOw/s320/UKElle+cvr.jpg" width="247" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whaaa? Did you say something? Can't hear ya. I'm still staring at this cover.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Your little persona is made up of all the places that people have seen you, what has been said about you...so overwhelming in the moment and fleeting for me... What you don't see are the cameras shoved in my face, and the bizarre, intrusive questions being asked...the screaming and taunting to get a reaction. It's so...' (searching for words) 'The photos are so...</span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I feel like I'm looking at someone being raped</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. A lot of time I can't handle it. It's fucked.' </span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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Did you read anywhere in that paragraph--which I just copied word for word from my copy of UK Elle lying on the table next to me--in which Kristen said that she hated acting, hated her fans, hated being famous? No? Did you translate how Kristen compared fame to <i>BEING RAPED</i>? Did you read or hear Kristen say, "my discomfort is more legit than the pain victims of sexual assault feel"? NO? Ya sure? Maybe you should go back and read it, because for some reason, a shitton of people<i> DID </i>hear Kristen stirring a controversy. Below are samples of Smack Down that anti-rape organizations issued publicly.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Katherine Hull on behalf of </span><b style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rape and Incest National Network </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(R.A.I.N.N.): "Kristen Stewart's comments are <b>regrettable.</b> <stewart> </stewart></span><stewart><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></stewart><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">should have used <b>a more appropriate metaphor</b> to describe the intrusive nature of the paparazzi. Rape is more than an intrusion, it's a violent crime, that causes serious long term mental health effects for victims."<br style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The executive director of </span><b style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">RapeIs.org</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Margaret Lazarus, weighed in, pointing out that: "Rape is a violation in which one has no choice. <b>A star seeking publicity has choices.</b> Although rape involves loss of privacy, loss of privacy does not constitute rape. <b>Let's use a little logical thinking here</b>."<br style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Neil Irwin, Executive Director of the </span><b style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Men Can Stop Rape Organization</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, believes that there is some degree of comparison, but concludes: 'Out of respect for these survivors, we would suggest using a more appropriate word, like 'violation.'"</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_Jb5EPdN-TxaYxsYXq9_-o5tCRE4F3-80nUeNSZvYxJQFyE35aHmE_WQOpM6hSsG5fKRaOaLD86m6Kz4kR2ki57ftdRM3UrWNFmUUe8LM94-W8oCP6yQB9foffIath86NUxADTxrzmo/s1600/hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_Jb5EPdN-TxaYxsYXq9_-o5tCRE4F3-80nUeNSZvYxJQFyE35aHmE_WQOpM6hSsG5fKRaOaLD86m6Kz4kR2ki57ftdRM3UrWNFmUUe8LM94-W8oCP6yQB9foffIath86NUxADTxrzmo/s320/hair.jpg" width="206" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nonverbal communication, Mofos! Smiling=happy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">1.) Articulate 2.) Wicked sense of fashion 3.) Speaks her mind 4.) Admits to and displays her vulnerability. 5.) Follows her heart, her instincts, her soul's trajectory. 6.) Seeks to perfect her skills within her craft. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9SxpeUniiL5gjn99nBax8XStLZSQQHdb0OmlSEZ2ZyHEeLwpMVEQ9DfF2GsS5yrsfdjmRb4xkuLWcULmANwg24J6zETsPTnX-732LNAhTn0Gkj2I9COpBDrjwDFFQfd3Kpc7mPnMQqU/s1600/kristen-stewart+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9SxpeUniiL5gjn99nBax8XStLZSQQHdb0OmlSEZ2ZyHEeLwpMVEQ9DfF2GsS5yrsfdjmRb4xkuLWcULmANwg24J6zETsPTnX-732LNAhTn0Gkj2I9COpBDrjwDFFQfd3Kpc7mPnMQqU/s320/kristen-stewart+young.jpg" width="246" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offenses of Other:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Per Ass Clowns, and a few condescending rape organizations, Kristen:</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.) Over-analyzes her words to the point of obliteration 2. ) Is a publicity seeker 3.) Is illogical 4.) Does not use a dictionary or metaphors correctly 5.) Does NOT understand what HURT is. 6.) Admits to being unsure and vulnerable. 7.) Is a miserable, melodramatic complainer</span><br />
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</span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Silent All These Years</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Are you still hanging with me, friends? I hadn't expected to go here, not in the second Other Musings post ever, if at all. However, I'm going to tell you a brief, intense story as to why I reacted so strongly to these events. Four years ago, I was a woman in her mid-20's living on my own, still an intern counselor, nursing the wounds of a recent, brutal breakup. One day, during the lunchtime hour, a man broke into my small studio apartment through my bathroom window, wrapped himself in scarves and shawls of mine that he found in my wardrobe, and attempted to assault me in my home. I managed to save myself from injuries, assault, and perhaps an even worse fate, by <i>speaking to my attacker, asking him to reconsider harming me. </i> He screamed at me, attempted to bind and gag me, but in the final moment, dropped the scarves, dropped my shawls, and ran out of my apartment, away from <i>me. </i></span></b></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
Suffice to say, I bristled when these "victim-protecting" organizations and critics emerged from the woodwork to jump on board the KStew-Hunting Train. I, for one <i>KNEW </i>what it felt like to be violated and would have found it insulting and insensitive if someone came along and told me how to correctly detail and express my experience<i>. </i> A couple days ago, I wrote RAINN, the abuse prevention organization that Tori Amos founded, and whose current organization heads requested an apology from Kristen for likening her experience to that of rape victims. I wrote them to remind them that Kristen is a twenty-year-old women who is subjected to physical danger and sexual harassment every moment she steps outside her front door. When she walks through an airport, it could potentially look like this:</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B_0XhKELa1h8PR41OsupxQj8JtE-2oy0PwV8kO_8LwFC20OTi69ibOeEDm-gkssL3wzcfP4KGwhTChSHyOL82CxW3T6-00Su_ecM7i9BoV9lVKvD710klXit0u3LfD2JzVrr43XwYyE/s1600/KS+papz+chaos2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B_0XhKELa1h8PR41OsupxQj8JtE-2oy0PwV8kO_8LwFC20OTi69ibOeEDm-gkssL3wzcfP4KGwhTChSHyOL82CxW3T6-00Su_ecM7i9BoV9lVKvD710klXit0u3LfD2JzVrr43XwYyE/s320/KS+papz+chaos2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm pretty sure you can see the lip quiver and absolute terror on her face</span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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And sometimes, 15-20 men with cameras and microphones can be heard shouting questions about her sexuality and her sex life as well as the physical attributes of her body. They call her names like, "BITCH and WHORE" and make it nearly impossible for her and her family to finish simple tasks like visit the doctor, attend a concert, eat dinner.<br />
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So in these incredibly violating moments, ok, no, Kristen was not physically forced to have sex against her will as per the legal definition of <i>rape</i><i> </i>according to California law. However, according to Dictionary.com, synonyms for the verb <i>Rape include: </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Violate. Assault. Maltreat. Abuse. </b></i></div><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Neil Irwin, Executive Director of the </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Men Can Stop Rape Organization, was one of the more fair-minded, just commenters on Kristen's usage of the word "rape" conceding that she probably does feel violated, forced and coerced. Mr Irwin believes that Kristen should use a "different, more appropriate" word like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">violated. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although, he is a man, and he can't possibly feel the depth of a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Woman's </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">violation, he at least wasn't </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">quite as condescending </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as the other folks mentioned above, both women by the way. Wow, women can be unrelenting, huh? Damn. *mutters, "another time, another time*.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayrE6VVCfMlus6wzh9pXQkd5xH2WRVidp8WCfUsl4jLOo777DumzwNm81y8nyrAPIgBRX-6GBbU7lQBuBiY-0nezirgbMd-FCdmBpCsJUwEllsZa-vZdwEnXFDo2y7CRmqOHJssAwamk/s1600/frenzalrhomb-Shutyourmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayrE6VVCfMlus6wzh9pXQkd5xH2WRVidp8WCfUsl4jLOo777DumzwNm81y8nyrAPIgBRX-6GBbU7lQBuBiY-0nezirgbMd-FCdmBpCsJUwEllsZa-vZdwEnXFDo2y7CRmqOHJssAwamk/s200/frenzalrhomb-Shutyourmouth.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 26px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 26px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">KJ here, and I just want to say that I have an opinion, and it is mine and mine alone. I don't expect you to share my opinion or like it, even, but this is my essay, so I thought I'd give my thoughts on the situation, briefly...and then I'm done talking. Swearsies. Kristen is a girl who struggles already with the words and communicating. She is an Awkward Orator--helllloooo! Why hasn't anyone read <i>my definition </i>yet?? She finally garners the courage to let the public and the paparazzi know:</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>I am frightened and vulnerable. You are not respecting my need for space. You are taking pictures without my permission, against my will, you are posturing and physically intimidating me, yelling foul, offensive things about my body, my sexuality, my love life. I'm just trying to get to the car. I am feeling unprotected and <b>violated.</b> </i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So she reveals her vulnerability. She speaks up. HOORAY for KRISTEN, and all AOs fist pump and W00t with her! Ahem. Negative. Not only does she get ridiculed and taunted by press and papz for using her words to speak what <i>she </i>truthfully feels, but she is coerced, bullied and <i>shamed </i>into publicly stating she was <i>wrong </i>for feeling this way. Despite whether she needed to do so, Kristen issued an apology while on press tour for <i>Eclipse </i>just a few days ago. It was a very concise and respectful concession. However, because one of the organizations demanding it from her, over-rode their own mission statement of protecting and supporting victims of abuse to make an example of Kristen, I became....<i>twitchy</i>. Oops! Hot Therapist Avatar has something to say too... hang tight, and hold onto your hats and glasses, and not because it's gonna be a mind-blowing wild ride (although it is). But Hot Therapist Avi borrows things and doesn't return them. Those glasses she's wearing? Mine. Truefax.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yqm3hWgZAMejy0pGYy4lcC0TK7a6pHjcHcKi8yDNAFqhPvo6RcuzARUYpVFNd9E0Ct8o29kSUNVoP8EZ1WBnSXPPWO27fWJqm57rv8wNfcOz-v-2zGNPBfETtUp_gez8z3h_xNPKY24/s1600/Karin__female_demands_by_renaisance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yqm3hWgZAMejy0pGYy4lcC0TK7a6pHjcHcKi8yDNAFqhPvo6RcuzARUYpVFNd9E0Ct8o29kSUNVoP8EZ1WBnSXPPWO27fWJqm57rv8wNfcOz-v-2zGNPBfETtUp_gez8z3h_xNPKY24/s320/Karin__female_demands_by_renaisance.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Reading Comprehension is invaluable. Get it.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Dictionaries are indispensable. Buy one.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="line-height: 1.22em;">*<b>Hot Therapist Avatar climbs atop her soapbox and says</b>:*</div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;">People have NO IDEA the effects of verbal and emotional abuse. Constant name calling, put downs, posturing (getting too close to a person, though not touching the person), remarks about body and sexuality--- those can cause LONGER-TERM residual psychological damage. The negative effects on self-esteem, self-confidence, decision making, social interaction, relationships- --are staggering. Papz ARE engaging in abusive behavior towards Kristen and Rob...AND it becomes SEXUAL in nature the second, the <span style="line-height: 1.22em;"><i>second</i> the </span>pappz make a comment about Kristen's body, her gender, or her sexuality... </div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><br />
It gets me soooo mad when people dismiss the harmful effects that emotional and verbal abuse causes. Doesn't cause damage? Is it <i>NOT</i> violating? Is it <i>NOT abusive? </i> Tell that to the children and teenagers who were subjected to and/or witnessed verbal and emotional abuse (say, in bad divorces, school bullying, etc) in my counseling office over the last 9 years.</div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;">*<b>Hot Therapist Avatar climbs off her soap box and paces the room, fuming</b>* </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ok, then. So here's the deal. I'm gonna steer us to towards the bright spot at the end of the tunnel now. Because Kstew, our featured Sublimely Cerebral Awkward Orator and reigning Other Queen, came out on the other side of the "controversy", looking like this:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZfbVlzZT8i0cJkLwEUx09UotKjMTCPMiIuzA0ygP-yjf332oYSAthoXDoUbDSffBgKHAfwXWTkzXCqYvUcY7gwF-nuEsWRXuMOJ3lM5ujNWpFOuKJssI0L8-NUlrEgYlh_uk2qMfFMc/s1600/prabal-gurung-kristen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZfbVlzZT8i0cJkLwEUx09UotKjMTCPMiIuzA0ygP-yjf332oYSAthoXDoUbDSffBgKHAfwXWTkzXCqYvUcY7gwF-nuEsWRXuMOJ3lM5ujNWpFOuKJssI0L8-NUlrEgYlh_uk2qMfFMc/s320/prabal-gurung-kristen.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. . .And like this:</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA__G21NkajGTGT8v5Rz0LnDev6gz7S4wHCdBY1UR29F2CRADNJvolI7P3XUxIZXdcLm3Mr2PRV49SMHS_4Ehxq2RR2GGuCVA8qJ5KedjbcbRbP2mz9aFFMRgG1nZ4nIuq5IoG2TryAU/s1600/KS+MA%27s+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA__G21NkajGTGT8v5Rz0LnDev6gz7S4wHCdBY1UR29F2CRADNJvolI7P3XUxIZXdcLm3Mr2PRV49SMHS_4Ehxq2RR2GGuCVA8qJ5KedjbcbRbP2mz9aFFMRgG1nZ4nIuq5IoG2TryAU/s320/KS+MA%27s+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. . .And gets to do this every night:</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbaQkiag33RCE4gNB6TTIFruIv6_0eQWUZmo4bIGK09qhaNo2YPUZkQGBkW39NHviVg7Rxk_Q0A094fM07x84JcULXbjJMdVbOtNks2afTNyF1RsxX9sitlBXejDWTT-QLnwLE7aFwg0/s1600/111976278-f0fc182d9b5ddb1259d06e1f94e94fde.4c0c67b8-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbaQkiag33RCE4gNB6TTIFruIv6_0eQWUZmo4bIGK09qhaNo2YPUZkQGBkW39NHviVg7Rxk_Q0A094fM07x84JcULXbjJMdVbOtNks2afTNyF1RsxX9sitlBXejDWTT-QLnwLE7aFwg0/s320/111976278-f0fc182d9b5ddb1259d06e1f94e94fde.4c0c67b8-full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. . .With this gloriously Rebellious Royal: </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq2PSp-HzvffyQqDhN63bECZ3wUDRgMERpEeRjPVtF97zTJxA6tTjAaKBYzvbcZodtVAmKsPQkbQaJHfZaC2UEdi6SwkginK5s0auFTzF2rHfuFX_WoetjafGb7bzCPzrFkI5vAdlS6g/s1600/porterward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq2PSp-HzvffyQqDhN63bECZ3wUDRgMERpEeRjPVtF97zTJxA6tTjAaKBYzvbcZodtVAmKsPQkbQaJHfZaC2UEdi6SwkginK5s0auFTzF2rHfuFX_WoetjafGb7bzCPzrFkI5vAdlS6g/s320/porterward.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also am a misfit, dontcha know? But my girl and I are a perfect fit.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will not only lovingly shove Hot Therapist Avi off her soapbox, and lock her away with my unemployment paperwork, but I will concede that Kristen Jaymes Stewart deserves to remain our Reigning Rebel Royal for a long while. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b> Sing it. Own it.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">Whatever it is that you call your Voice, your Truth, Owing the Passion, harnessing your Energy, I encourage you to define it, listen to it, speak it, dance it and Sing. It. LOUDLY. And even if you're a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Genius Bizzarro Blurter (GBB) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, helvetica, sans-serif;">or a <b>Sublimely Cerebral Awkward Orator (AO), </b>you can still communicate your authentic nature in the face of some severe critics, and gain respect and strength on the other side of the fire.</span></span></div></div></div><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.22em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">I found that in the darkest hour, in<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> a moment of absolute stillness, I asked a would-be violator to please remove my scarves and shawls so I could see his face. I used my voice to ask him to please please see my truth...and perhaps so he could glimpse his own. I never felt such clarity before this moment. And I think that is when I learned the absolute power I held when I used my voice. And I haven't stopped talking or singing since. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">Tori was a piano prodigy at four years old, granted entrance to the private, prestigious music school Peabody Academy when she was just a little girl. She was kicked out by the time she was 12, because she wanted to rock the Beatles instead of Beethoven. She became a cultural icon and a trailblazer for singer-songwriters for the end of one century, and the beginning of the next. Plus, she also has a castle in England. Fit for a Queen, yes?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Kristen is a fumbling, intelligent young woman who is finding her own voice in front of an audience of millions. She spoke her truth, got slammed for it, and still rose above, earning her begrudging but awe-inspired respect from harsh critics. She is generating golden buzz about her upcoming movie roles <b><i>Welcome to the Rileys </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">and the soon to be</span> </b>filming<b> <i>On the Road . </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">She blurts golden nuggest like, "What the fuck is inner beauty?" unknowingly personifying and modeling the very concept about which she is uncertain. </span></b></span></div></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Tori is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">KStew is Other.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Others emerge through fire, singing loudly.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace Your Other. </span></b></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Please take a look at who contributes to this blog, and therefore to my life. Go tell these ladies how beautiful they are. @Bouffant00 is my friend, genius researcher, confidante and pre-reader/Beta. Love her. @Buff_82 pre-reads my work, and makes everything you see on this page as beautiful as it is. The Banner? Please. Buff did that one morning in between creating/beautifying the pristine KStew Is Better Than You Blog, raising her children and writing her heartbreakingly lovely fan fiction. The glorious CC of @Kstewsbtrthanu somehow pre-reads my work, shouts at me to PUBLISH THAT SHIZNET. NOW. . . and makes me laugh all while working, graduating from grad school, managing and writing her own brilliant blog. As usual, my usual posse, my sleuthing, brilliant cyber SISTERS and READERS rock my socks off every single day. Thank you, ladies. You inspire and astound me. Special mentions and hugs to Dancer1 who fights the good fight against KStew critics all damn day, and my friend Constant (Julie) who is a warrior queen, every day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The responses and reactions I received from the first ever Musings On Other Queens post just blew me away. You shared anecdotes, funnies, awkwardness so willingly and astonishingly. THANK YOU. My hope, as I've said, is to respond to you directly. If you leave a contact Twitter name or at least a moniker that I recognize, I will do my best to reply directly to you. Mostly I just want to tell you how grateful I am that you peeked in and shared a thought or two in reaction. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Question: When did you hear your voice for the first time? </span></div>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708264918603117818.post-71482725412572194482010-06-03T12:47:00.000-07:002010-06-08T01:59:18.096-07:00Other Queens: Molly Ringwald, Stewie, and Me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty is found in unexpected places</span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, welcome to my little space. My hope is to find folks with whom I can dissect, discuss and then reconstruct a new, permeable, better-fitting definition of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">beauty</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. My secret goal? To help lessen the hatred, and destruction of "Others". I never understood how people could be so cruel and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">vile </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in their attack on people that they most likely do not even know personally. More on that later, I suppose. There may be a lot of cursing, hopefully laughter, most likely alcohol consumption and a little fangirling (yes, it's a verb, ask my friend CC) over some worthy carriers and ambassadors of OTHER-NESS, including famous folks in our cultural consciousness. Oh, also, because she is a catalyst in the creation of this blog with her now-legendary embodiment of Other-ness and identifiable BEAUTY, please understand, I WILL mention, refer to and bow down to actress </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">KRISTEN STEWART</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> often, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">probably</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> definitely in every single post. So here’s what you look like, contemplating it for one nano-second...and then accepting it as fact. </span></span><br />
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</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="font: 18px Futura; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqS4jPmCgGFMN-AZetpR3mKlHJiCnB79q7fzjKUG9LRglUHI7l-Feryzzbj8c94v_iu5sUhy0I7JI7YJjWqBYIzM2PGRMpBYX1cF36zysslMaFlS0_NdePWopHS4zaSC6Oikb9qoO80c/s1600/393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqS4jPmCgGFMN-AZetpR3mKlHJiCnB79q7fzjKUG9LRglUHI7l-Feryzzbj8c94v_iu5sUhy0I7JI7YJjWqBYIzM2PGRMpBYX1cF36zysslMaFlS0_NdePWopHS4zaSC6Oikb9qoO80c/s320/393.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Acceptance doesn't taste so bitter...it's actually quite lovely. Is there a bathroom nearby though?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hi, I'm Kristen</span></span></div></div><div class="separator" color="#515151" style="clear: both; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt30ZWh07utck2-IjU6eLmFg_ShnLSL3-truOpQJqZQQ1dWl0gLPNj4Ge4UrNjZEVBzU40OadD23M4_qOUf7EdhO-sD-9Sc4MxAdT9R9sldAYM_gPlY-5_ldH2AKCXzvDcPkfMc4ZjSk8/s1600/K+in+Elle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt30ZWh07utck2-IjU6eLmFg_ShnLSL3-truOpQJqZQQ1dWl0gLPNj4Ge4UrNjZEVBzU40OadD23M4_qOUf7EdhO-sD-9Sc4MxAdT9R9sldAYM_gPlY-5_ldH2AKCXzvDcPkfMc4ZjSk8/s320/K+in+Elle.jpg" width="215" /></span></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Accept it. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's get down to it, shall we?</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Webster's Online Dictionary, the term </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">beautiful </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is defined as:</span></span></b></span></div></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure. </span></i><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beautiful" style="font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">beautiful</span></span></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses</span></i></span></span></b></span><br />
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</i></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">Ok I want to take into account that what excites YOU may not be the same thing that excites ME. What brings YOU the keenest of pleasure? Believe me, we will delve into the pervy facets of definitions as well. Just may not be in this posting. We're still in first-date introduction round, remember? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The point is: I have</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">learned over my fairly brief time in this world (less than a century, more than a couple decades), that the term "beauty" is subjective. There are synonyms for the word beautiful that may help us expand on its meaning. Words like: lovely, handsome, fair, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">flawless . . .</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OK. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'd like to share a little story about how I first consciously understood the concept of "Beauty". And then</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the same instant learned what "OTHER" meant...along with terms such as "subjectiveness", "exotic", "unconventional" and "odd".</span></span></span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Introducing The Other Queen</span></span></b></span></div></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I was fourteen years old and a high school freshman, my school decided to change the name of the game and politicize the homecoming queen elections. Instead of the traditional queen and her homecoming court, each grade level (grades 9 through 12) would have 5 different females become “ambassadors” for their ethnicities. You follow? </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This new system arranged for FIVE Homecoming Queens on the Senior Court. Then FIVE Princess SETS for each grade level. So, essentially there were TWENTY primped, crimped, mascaraed, fragile, competitive females</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on a stage wearing labels of ROYALTY (and let's face it, in high school hierarchy you ARE royalty if you're on the homecoming court) during the Homecoming Football Game and Parade. The ethnic categories represented on the Homecoming Court were: 1.) Caucasian 2.) Latino 3.) Asian 4.) African American 5.) OTHER. </span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeTrBLGkdiNhJ_EkiRlHPSDTDj5f2SDIK2dek0bYV3PIXB7sa8ns73rg7KiXBRikyLgWzWk6eJBaqeiCUZ1s-uQH2Vhy8t-hk0FsPmG_PWyEIdawLnOGTasOxnmhj9_smuEscNDHA1R8/s1600/stop-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeTrBLGkdiNhJ_EkiRlHPSDTDj5f2SDIK2dek0bYV3PIXB7sa8ns73rg7KiXBRikyLgWzWk6eJBaqeiCUZ1s-uQH2Vhy8t-hk0FsPmG_PWyEIdawLnOGTasOxnmhj9_smuEscNDHA1R8/s320/stop-sign.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div><div class="separator" color="#515151" style="clear: both; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Go back and read Category #5. Ummmm. Upon closer inspection, the actual title of the category on the voting ballot looked something like this:</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="font: 18px Futuracolor:#515151; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pacific Islander, Native American, mixed-races, and OTHER, etc.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The homecoming committee couldn't fit all that text on the ballot though. Consequently, OTHER was born. Right, so here's the good stuff. Seriously. Wait for it. I WAS NOMINATED. And not just as a Freshman Princess. No, I was nominated EVERY SINGLE YEAR I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, all the way up the line to the Queen's Senior Court. Hold up.... still sitting? Take a wild guess which category I was nominated for? *nodding head*. OH. YEEEEEAH. I am of mixed race myself, Latino blood along with Southeast Asian. Not only was I OTHER, but I was an OTHER Subset. I was such a subset, I had a mixed subset category, all to myself: OTHER, Etc. Category. Now, the OTHER box is not new to my Filipino peeps (hands up, w00t!). We've been checking the OTHER ethnicity box since the 1970 Census. But to have our own O</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THER HOMECOMING QUEEN Category?! That's Rockstar Status</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's just say, I do not look remotely close to THIS:</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe1bhzdVFsYbyAu80Bi2Tg9TxWxHXstgZFbLmI7XG6yI-om-mOb2wxQwyCErM-bkT13IrFZbUBuIvn8xZsvl-UlLjAwzJK7pL7ArtLaEMExQwIFVSxatvEyP0hgsJnkaAAd6o9jGwvjc/s1600/4349436487_50f2a9c7a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe1bhzdVFsYbyAu80Bi2Tg9TxWxHXstgZFbLmI7XG6yI-om-mOb2wxQwyCErM-bkT13IrFZbUBuIvn8xZsvl-UlLjAwzJK7pL7ArtLaEMExQwIFVSxatvEyP0hgsJnkaAAd6o9jGwvjc/s320/4349436487_50f2a9c7a4.jpg" width="227" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Homecoming Queen, Circa 1957.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I've always been a little ..."exotic" due to my facial features, I get that. And when the 567,876th person off the street approached me and blurted, "What ARE you???" as I'm grocery shopping, it dawned on me. I. AM. OTHER. However, it wasn't until I was a young adult in my late teens, early twenties, when I fully deconstructed what being "Other" meant. Back to my trusty Online Dictionary:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other: </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 a</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> one that remains of two or more </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">b</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> a thing opposite to or </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">excluded</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by something else </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> a different or additional one </span></div><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></strong><br />
<strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 a</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> one (as another person) that is psychologically differentiated from the self </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">b</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><em style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">often capitalized</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><strong style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> one considered by members of a dominant group as </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">alien, exotic, threatening, or inferior</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics)</span></span></div></strong></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsS1lc0B93qL2uxkby3ct-emBNx8dJ5HZmSA2pVUe6kh3H3Q-F21YtxpsQYQ5bswLPnhnsPQkGEkSbhQqgoBwbgrWF5xJ21jNWNvyhsv_DHstt6XFYOsDAadpN_DHYJg7YKk0bvFnIq8/s1600/hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsS1lc0B93qL2uxkby3ct-emBNx8dJ5HZmSA2pVUe6kh3H3Q-F21YtxpsQYQ5bswLPnhnsPQkGEkSbhQqgoBwbgrWF5xJ21jNWNvyhsv_DHstt6XFYOsDAadpN_DHYJg7YKk0bvFnIq8/s200/hand.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ahhhh. The alien. The inferior. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">wrongness </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about being "Other". There it is. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See, I'm a psychotherapist by trade. Trufax. I actually have attended, graduated, and interned for the field of psychology. I have taken board exams to obtain a license to practice healing via mental health counseling. I am qualifying my experience for you so that you'll find me having a teensy bit of credibility in what I'm going to say next. I've been a therapist for nine years, and I have extensive experience with adolescent girls. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The overwhelmingly common factor that adolescent girls, young women, and the majority of women struggled with, was their concept of "beauty", and the incredible pressures they/we face to be beautiful ...and accepted. Our society has a very toxic construct embedded in a collective unconscious, that is only supported by media and our cultural mores. More about the mechanics of society and psychology on another day, Friends. But if your interest is piqued, then I recommend you check out the book </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reviving Ophelia</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Mary Pipher, Ph.D. We'll do a read along together perhaps. It's good stuff. It's surveys the very dangers of being female growing up in today's society.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_jLc68pJ_Pd9Wvsb-_QjWryH7HbcrvzxYWDNTVu_j2hf15RCXh7dp3nVO6G4fOc047tApZocbHnCkPux2r0n2yNbiU1vwCriJIG1t58Y2Pg-kp0wFggpxW8pI6VbPm5HqCf92b3N53o/s1600/Karin__female_demands_by_renaisance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_jLc68pJ_Pd9Wvsb-_QjWryH7HbcrvzxYWDNTVu_j2hf15RCXh7dp3nVO6G4fOc047tApZocbHnCkPux2r0n2yNbiU1vwCriJIG1t58Y2Pg-kp0wFggpxW8pI6VbPm5HqCf92b3N53o/s320/Karin__female_demands_by_renaisance.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This could be what I look like. I don't. But "Hot Therapist Avatars" are hard to come by.</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">FOCUS. Sorry. Didn't mean to go all therapisty on your arses, guys. Let me wrap up my story. Then we can talk about Molly Ringwald and Kristen Stewart, mmmkay? </span><br />
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</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, there I was, all OTHER-nominated and shit, and absolutely mortified. Humiliated. I was a fourteen year old girl. Well, and I was flattered, too, as my peers nominated me, though I later learned they had no idea what category to nominate me for. Hence my destiny of Other Queen-ness. Could I handle being an Ambassador for teenage girls? For Others? Couldn't I just go back to my peaceful existence as APART OF groups instead of DIFFERENT THAN? At fourteen, my greatest hope was acceptance by my peers. Did I really want to highlight all of my oddities...while in a prom dress at a football game?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In what he believed was persuasive reasoning, my big brother, Chew (a nickname from our childhood), a usual suspect of torture during my adolescent years, decided it was actually COOL to have a sister in the race for the homecoming court. He began creating campaign slogans and spoke of silkscreening T-shirts for my candidacy. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's what the shirt said: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">KJ IS OTHER</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Appalled. I was absolutely appalled at first when I laid eyes on this slogan. While I did not comprehend, at fourteen,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the glorious gift that my brother bestowed, I understand it today. I understand now that a mixed-raced, curly-haired, vertically challenged girl deserved to be a Queen just as much as the next person. FYI: I withdrew my nomination my freshman year for the Princess Set, as well as senior year Queen, having no interest in being an Ambassador for Other Segregation. Now I realize the honor and power of Other, and I believe The Other Queen can begin reign today.</span><br />
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</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To celebrate the power The Other Queen truly has, my hope is to feature a new Ambassador of Other for you to bestow praise upon with every new post . This ever-evolving feature will be an Other Queen Honorable Mention or Rebel Royal of Yore, and the second Ambassador will feature the Reigning Rebel Royal or Other Queen. You've seen the names in the title of this Commencement Post, so let us meet the first-ever Ambassadors.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Rebel Royal of Yore </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Molly Ringwald: Other Queen, 1985</span></span></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I ran into Molly Ringwald a couple weeks ago at Borders Books. No, ok, I didn’t actually run into her, but she walked passed me and offered a little smile while I was researching cultural definitions of beauty (translation: reading Fan Fiction). She smiled, I smiled, and I bit my lip to prevent myself from blurting, “You gave that kid your </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">underpants</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">!</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">” I’m of course referring to her character Samantha Baker giving her underwear to The Geek/Farmer Ted (Anthony Michael Hall) to help him with his reputation, in the brilliant John Hughes movie </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sixteen Candles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. And then, I got a flash of the final scene of that movie, where Samantha Baker is kissing THE. GUY. This atypical beauty GETS. JAKE. FUCKING. RYAN. Think of Jake Ryan as predecessor to Edward Cullen. Except Jake Ryan wore Dockers and hiking boots. </span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Molly Ringwald became an icon for the 80's generation, but more importantly, the poster-girl for awkward, fumbling, insecure young women who felt anything </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">society's idea of</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> "</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pretty". In addition to </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sixteen Candles, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Molly went on to portray other iconic characters in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Breakfast Club </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pretty in Pink.</span></i></b><br />
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</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(per societal and fashion magazines, websites, colleagues): 1. Distinguishable red hair 2. multi-talented actress, singer, dancer 3. down-to-earth disposition 4. served as Muse to the late-great John Hughes in the 1980's 5. Clever career choices lending to a long career 6. bright, wide smile</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPbHHXbjpQOHkVJsRf80t32_46uUtSJb_1qKrrCccI_WVDogpzVA9h3f2hLQSCbNTbQNCk737IlnGauIGgfTHWKJtBylg-k8K9R0AVow6w46VLTtMwumH97eVhL7Ig7BUaiW5mrSJJaU/s1600/SixteenCandles31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPbHHXbjpQOHkVJsRf80t32_46uUtSJb_1qKrrCccI_WVDogpzVA9h3f2hLQSCbNTbQNCk737IlnGauIGgfTHWKJtBylg-k8K9R0AVow6w46VLTtMwumH97eVhL7Ig7BUaiW5mrSJJaU/s320/SixteenCandles31.jpg" width="218" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Molly Ringwald</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, circa 1985. The Unexpected Beauty.</span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offensive Other-ness</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(per Ass Clowns, paparazzi, print articles, tabloids): </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Distinguishable red hair 2. Freckles 3. Lived abroad for years 4. Poor career choices, as she reportedly turned down the lead role in Pretty Woman 5. Shy and withdrawn with the media</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnyu57prxEmkYTc2gnOWhDsO5k9n-O2KHKglqnm9v65GoWACKmSX4Oyyxj5f1qmP0ovxHX6gsqAN123djZjJmzS4XhIgtbnp2uX62A4bcW8oIXzVcR6gspla-891mo5XxR0_qN1riy_M/s1600/sixteen-candles-400ds0629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnyu57prxEmkYTc2gnOWhDsO5k9n-O2KHKglqnm9v65GoWACKmSX4Oyyxj5f1qmP0ovxHX6gsqAN123djZjJmzS4XhIgtbnp2uX62A4bcW8oIXzVcR6gspla-891mo5XxR0_qN1riy_M/s320/sixteen-candles-400ds0629.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Admit it. You checked out the sturdiness of your own </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dining room table to see if you could pull this off.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I ran into Molly at Borders Books, as I was saying. And she was there, no joke, promoting her book very aptly entitled: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Getting the Pretty Back</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. In her book, Molly shares anecdotes from her famous teenage years with the intent of gentle guidance in finding comfort in one's own skin. The now 42-year-old mother discusses her discomfort and shyness with the media, and her hope of dispelling the world's view that she is only 18 years old. Of COURSE she's an Other. She's Other Royalty.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Reigning Rebel Royalty</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen Stewart: Other Queen, Today</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember how I advised you to contemplate and then accept Kristen Stewart's presence in this blog? Deep Breaths, Pretties.....because heeeere. We. Go. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me introduce you: Kristen Stewart, Other Queen, circa NOW.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unless you've lived under a rock for the past three years, you will recognize Kristen as the actress who portrays Bella Swan in the obscenely successful Twilight saga movies, based on the obscenely successful books of the same name, written by Stephenie Meyer. While Kristen maybe best known for her work in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Twilight, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">she has steadily emerged in the film world as a force to be reckoned with. She began acting at age nine, and has worked consistently in independent and mainstream films for the past eleven years. She is ridonkulously famous, but she does not want it. She is reportedly very sweet and shy in nature, and adamantly protective of her personal life. She is the consummate professional, per her legendary colleagues, and she knows how to play The Game, but she REFUSES to. Her fierce insistence for privacy, and her brazen refusal to conform to Hollywood "standards" are reasons why she is the Reigning Other Queen. I'm going to be honest: I will happily keep her as current Reigning Royalty for as long as she is in the business. She is THAT fierce. And my adoration for her is equally fierce. So there you go. Get comfortable, sweeties, Stewie is here to stay. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty Marks</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(per societal and fashion magazines, websites, colleagues)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Porcelain skin 2. Speaks her mind and opinion 3. luminous green eyes 4. Legs, legs, legs -Fashion sites refer to her as Legs McGee 5. Sweet disposition 6. Recipient of BAFTA's Rising Star Award 7. Multi-talented actress, guitar player, singer and writer</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDqPhy_8kR6tFKj7LfZ7gCWw52g3onssUDGsxIhOxVNmjBjTnjnFQRxd1BrLzIJR803T9hNKPwUTgJUVYKmSkjMTnJPLSZEKOX4QT6Ii1R50zyZLeh_HS0_cfUhYIm_SBz1bqLGkoWTw/s1600/kristen-stewart-053010-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDqPhy_8kR6tFKj7LfZ7gCWw52g3onssUDGsxIhOxVNmjBjTnjnFQRxd1BrLzIJR803T9hNKPwUTgJUVYKmSkjMTnJPLSZEKOX4QT6Ii1R50zyZLeh_HS0_cfUhYIm_SBz1bqLGkoWTw/s320/kristen-stewart-053010-2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span> I am communicating, Mofos! </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zoiqwOYwMa9o_-PpFYx6kwZZN6Qg6N8NBBo2-exjw0_t5jl3MWqdMUz5wzK8YPGpb1LMORZQPUMOedFr1dH_NxCOyyaNYCndtct0INE_cq7tDAI-tFT559lxKvH6r5mdXGhpD_9sl3Q/s1600/normal_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zoiqwOYwMa9o_-PpFYx6kwZZN6Qg6N8NBBo2-exjw0_t5jl3MWqdMUz5wzK8YPGpb1LMORZQPUMOedFr1dH_NxCOyyaNYCndtct0INE_cq7tDAI-tFT559lxKvH6r5mdXGhpD_9sl3Q/s320/normal_002.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span> BAD. ASS.</span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Offensive Other-ness</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">(per Ass Clowns, paparazzi, print articles, tabs):</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Poor posture 2. Does not smile constantly 3. Does not use correct intonation in her voice 4. Does not appear to respect or like her co-star/speculated partner 5. Speaks her mind 6. Dislikes sharing her private life 7. Clears her throat before addressing millions of viewers of The Oscars</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOnzPFlHi27bHw3X1K6fgJYLJ8CWO_OeR3CUpKD92hpQFo-p0aW3jWSFh1mM9b74aAsDzBu8rvEJjMgxUacZ8f3lLKZWKAilCdSqYuAK_7m1Sq93nzP0eCTWQwlBNTBqw-EYDdKIS2Oc/s1600/99993710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOnzPFlHi27bHw3X1K6fgJYLJ8CWO_OeR3CUpKD92hpQFo-p0aW3jWSFh1mM9b74aAsDzBu8rvEJjMgxUacZ8f3lLKZWKAilCdSqYuAK_7m1Sq93nzP0eCTWQwlBNTBqw-EYDdKIS2Oc/s320/99993710.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span>I can make LEANING against walls beautiful</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kristen is going to get plenty of love from me in the next blogs, for as long as you all will tolerate my silly little rambling. Do not gasp at the brief discussion re: The Stew. I have nothing but mad love for her, the Reigning Other Queen. I just wanted to do a little intro for the sake of exploring this blog. If you want to swim deeper in the awesomesauce that is Kristen Jaymes Stewart, I recommend you check my girl CC's blog KSTEW IS BETTER THAN YOU </span><a href="http://www.kstewisbetterthanu.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.kstewisbetterthanu.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">or KSTEWARTFAN (my KStew pics are from their site) </span><a href="http://www.kstewartfan.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.kstewartfan.org/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> to read up on this extraordinary Other Queen. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Define and Celebrate The Other</span></span></b></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I'm wrapping up now. In doing so, I invite you all to explore the various ways to identify, then celebrate your strengths that define your "beauty". All the characteristics I was embarrassed about that set me apart from others: my darkly pigmented skin, my incessant chattering, my curly hair and almond-shaped eyes, my fascination with knee-socks and salt. These are </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">not </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">flaws or oddities. These are small reminders that I am unique and independent. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I embraced my Otherness and I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">almos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">t was elected Homecoming Queen. PLUS, I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">almost</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> got a t-shirt saying as much (I'm mostly hard for the T-Shirt, to be honest). I have a girlfriend who could make that shirt right now. She’s fucking Martha </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">MacGyver. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Seriously considering it. </span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Samantha Baker (portrayed by the luminous Other Queen Molly </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ringwald</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">) embraced her inner Other-</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">ness</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> and she got the guy. Jake Ryan kissed her over a birthday cake on a glass table!!!?! Seriously. That should be enough to convince you that embracing The Other is Goooood. Also, Molly defined a decade of film and landed on the cover of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">TIME </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">when she was 18 years old. Not too shabby.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kristen Stewart embraced her inner Other-</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">ness</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> and she is now on the cover of three magazines just in this month alone. AND she got the guy (Oh, the 'decliciously handsome' guy on her arm, citing UK Elle). She is a widely respected actress in both the Indie circles as well as in mainstream HW. Her very famous co-stars and colleagues (Including Jodie Foster, Sean Penn, Melissa Leo) describe Kristen's talent using words such as "brilliant", "genius" and "precocious". </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So until next time, friends, let's find more synonyms for "Other" that do not imply wrongness, alienation, or inferiority. And maybe the need some feel to tear down Others will eventually dissipate completely.</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kristen is Other. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Molly is Other. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">An Other could be Homecoming Queen. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Embrace the Other.</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A/N: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mad love is sent to my girls on Team Other: Bouffant, Goldeneye, Marble Pole and my Aussie Besties Ophelia and Justice. Also I need to give credit to my cyber Sisters and Readers, NOTHING I've done with this subject matter could have been possible without your support and encouragement. You gals take my breath away with your brilliance. Inappropriate kisses to my newest-encountered kindred CC and her Sexy Posse (including BellasMommy (Baby), Buff (creator of my gorgeous banner) and Iris (my future foul-mouthed partner in crime). To my husband N, who doesn’t laugh at my ideas, at least not to my face. To my big brother, Chew, for being my first T-Shirt maker and fan. This post is dedicated to my sister, The Puss, and her daughter, my niece: Monkey.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Banner work by: @Buff_82 Sunset Swing Picture in Banner courtesy of Rebecca Parker of Photobucket</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Contemplation Picture courtesy of : SoulSurferMusic of Photobucket Stop Sign Picture courtesy of: CliffDiver365 of Photobucket Handprint Picture courtesy of: Wildbean440 Homecoming Queen Picture 1957: Armstrong Family, of Flickr</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Molly Ringwald/Sixteen Candles: Google Images Kristen Stewart Photos courtesy of Kstewartfan.org</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873068290913042583noreply@blogger.com18