Winter Time Blues

I feel that the title of this one is extremely misleading, but it still gets the point across. I love the winter, the snow makes me happy, and as stated in other posts I love smoking when I can see my own breath. But the winter has some other side effects, that would not be a problem... But...

My sleep schedule rapidly shifts all over the place, and if I were retired it would be great, I have trouble sleeping when it is dark and snowing all I want to do is go out and play in it, but I do currently have a job and not sleeping on a regular schedule messes up my performance. I also have trouble finding motivation to go outside if I am not going out to participate in the winter time fun that can be had.

Since I have energy regulation trouble, I like to put all of my energy into whatever I am doing but if it is before I have to work then once again I choose to do nothing. This leads to a totally solvable depression as it is difficult to ride the line of being awake, but inactive. I played a lot of video games growing up but would still have to get up and run around every thirty minutes to an hour. I have trouble understanding how anybody can stay in one position for long... This is why I never pursued my dream of becoming a trucker. I have trouble driving across town. No disrespect meant to those who can/do/want to do these things just know that I don't understand it.

I also hate having water in my shoes, I feel most can identify with this sentiment, and it is a pain in the ass to pick a path that will not lead to soggy loafers. If I am at home this is not a problem I only wear my shoes for playing in the snow but, going back to the work complaints, if I am forced to wear the same soggy sneakers for hours on end (especially if I did not actively choose to do this) is very uncomfortable.

What complaints do you all have about the winter? Or what is your favorite season, and what do you hate about it?

"These are not all of the many simple things you can find wrong with me. Once would you tell me please..." Jimmie's Chicken Shack

The winiest King
King Badger

I am starting to run low on questions, so as always feel welcome post them here.

"Is it unethical to keep cars and dogs as pets?"

This has been one I have been looking forward to answering since it showed up on the list. I assume that this was supposed to read "Cats and Dogs" but since I am a smart ass and do not believe that we keep cats as pets, they keep us as servants, I will answer the question as it is.

Short answer is no. Long answer is far more complicated. I feel that keeping pets, as long as they are treated well and do not have their freedom imposed upon, too much, then there is nothing wrong with it. As far as cars go, until they become too intelligent then keeping them as pets is weird but not unethical. I feel that being a pet is a rather charmed life, for the pets that are not abused. Always having a roof to sleep under, feed to eat, and companionship is something that we as animals seek but have to have jobs to have them. Dogs get all of this for just being a dog, though they can not wander where they want they are kept fed, happy, and healthy.

I do however have many issues with selective breeding. Again with cars this is not so much a problem, though a little unorthodox... Breeding cars in not the way to make a baby car, Jus' Sayin'. I feel that encouraging the intentional breeding of dogs to "keep the breed pure" is going to cause a mass extinction of many breeds in years to come. We have destroyed many breeds in this fashion. Poodles have to have a special diet, or their stomach will literally flip and twist itself off killing the dog if immediate medical attention is not attained soon enough. Many breeds of bull dog have to struggle to just breath, born with faces so deformed that oxygen does not pass easily through their head, mouth included... And many of the larger breeds of dog have so many issues I am surprised they live long enough to make puppies, between hip, spine, and other bone problems it is surprising that they can even stand. Their soft tissues is also not safe most of their internal organs fail before they are even ten years old.

They may be beautiful creatures, but I would not wish that on my worst enemy if they were as smart as people (I am not saying they are not, I am using this phrasing because I don't want to get into my philosophy on animal intelligence right now) then they would actually wish they had never been born, it is a painful struggle just to live when you can't eat, breathe, or move... So animals as pets, totally cool... Animals for show, suck a bag of dicks.

The Waking World

For those of you that have only walked the waking world, and think this may be a guide to it, then you are probably in the wrong place... Though feel welcome to read on.

I once postulated that if I were the type to use drugs for recreational purposes that I would use speed, or hallucinogens... This is because I like the world that one can only see when the waking a dream world begin to overlap. I have spent far more time than I care to count in this realm. I used to not sleep, a lot. I used to sleep about four hours every third day and with that I got to see things in a fashion that only those who have spent time being crazy know what I am talking about.

But that is enough of a history lesson for now. Back in my "crazy days" I had some very serious deja vu, when I would tell friends about this they would explain to me what science believed was happening, so I would jot down conversations word for word that two people whom I have never met were about to have and pass it to my friend... The look on their face was always priceless when it happened exactly as I had written it. I have seen my reflection blink at me. I have fallen out of my body. I have been walking in an old and familiar area and suddenly forgotten where I was at or where I was going, and had to let my legs take over because they seemed to still know the drill.

I have seen beings in the corner of my eye that had no business being in this realm, and I have seen many people's true form. More often than not they didn't even know the things I knew about them, but they always acted true to the nature of the being I saw them as. Was I just hallucinating? Many say yes. Was I just wildly sleep deprived? Absolutely. Do I believe what I saw was real? YES! Even after years of maintaining a mostly healthy sleeping schedule, even after reading up (even more) on the science of what I was experiencing, I still feel that everything I experienced was absolute and indisputable. Just because I was the only one that saw it doesn't mean I was wrong. I was once drinking, many years later, with a friend that I had shown my deja vu skills to and they admitted how much it had shaken them up. To me I have just continued to have too much proof that I was not just imagining it, even though I have lost the ability for the time being.

There is time enough to die when I am dead.
King Badger

"I would take no for an answer, just to know I heard you speak. And I'm wondering why I've never seen the signs they claim they see." Chris Rice

"What is the most important thing you do for your health?"

Honestly, I cut soda out of my diet... I do what I can to consume less sugar, salt, and unnatural additives. I have a fairly active lifestyle and am luckily built for being a bigger person, life is kind of like a gym for me. I don't really work out, though I want to find a good personal trainer that wants to work on my schedule and with my needs. I try to walk as much as possible, I like to keep my living space cold as it requires calories to keep the body a comfortable temperature. I drink a lot of water (mostly because water is one of my favorite beverages) the water I drink is as cold as I can get it, when I can get it to just above freezing I am very happy, it is more refreshing (to me) and also counts as negative calories, as your body can not absorb it when it is too cold. I am not a calorie counter, and have no intention of becoming, but I like to do whatever I can do keep my burning as many as I can. I smoke and drink , and know that these are bad for me... So a little here and there, and am counter productive at times as well.

Status Vs. Appearance

The other day I was enjoying a fresh Dopplebock from one of Missoula's great local breweries, Bayern.  As I sat there contemplating the amazing view of the valley from their enclosed patio, where one can drink and smoke, an older man came outside.

I try to not judge people, but I have my failings as does everyone else, and the image f him I drew up in my mind was someone who was smart enough not to approach someone who looks like me. For those of you who have never seen me in person I am stout, my shoulders have to be at least two and one half feet wide, my chest is almost as deep as it is broad (more than four feet around) I have a mohawk and tattoos. I am not a bad guy, well no worse than anyone else any way, but I don't really look like the kind of person you just talk to unless you never listened to your parents when they told you not to hang out with people like me.

This man looked like he had lead an average and sensible life and probably didn't have time to sit and shoot the shat with a local cult leader that looks like someone you don't want to cross in a dark alley... But he came and sat at my table, I was the only one out there, and lit a cigarette (I really like still being a smoker as the fad dies, you can always find camaraderie in those who still choose to poison their lungs)

We just spoke on whatever was on our minds, just as church happens with the Honey Badger, but mostly we talked of our own disappointment that business owners were no longer allowed to make the decision for themselves as to whether to let smokers participate in their establishments.

Sitting there I realized that I was incorrect in my judgement of him and I have no idea his judgement of me before we began talking (or after for that matter). He was interesting, didn't seem to mind that he was speaking with a thug, and as far as know had no idea he was talking with a cultist who seeks to destroy ignorance and spread love. To me the thing I took away from this was, your perceptions f your outside self have no bearing on anything and that one should always take that into consideration when meeting someone new as your perceptions of their external appearance are probably equally flawed.

"You and I both know that the house is haunted, and you and I both know that the ghost is me. You used to catch me in your bed-sheets just a-rattling your chains, well back then baby, it didn't seem so strange" Shakey Graves

My misunderstandings could fill at least one terabyte worth of space
The King Badger

"If you could travel anywhere to do missionary work where would you go and why? What would you do?"

Honestly Ireland, mostly so that I had an excuse to go to Ireland. I know my perceptions of the country are quite archaic, but I still think it would be good fun. I feel like I could do quite well with anyone that wanted to listen, and if the stereotypes are correct (as pertaining to how much they talk) then the word would spread quite rapidly. As per what I would do, the same thing I always do, find a bar and talk to people until I feel like they wont just leave when I tell them I am a religious leader.

Beyond that I would like to go to a third world country, get out of my comfort zone, and actually do some good. I feel that I constantly talk a big game about doing what we can to make the world a better place, but in the fashion of a true hypocrite I don't do anything. I haven't even sponsored an African child "for just pennies a day." In my defense I am still trying to get my own shit figured out, but I think it would be awesome to do something like that... Though I would like some friends to come with me, as we already can work together well and I trust those I actually call friend to not worry about who has taken charge of the situation as long as it is going well. Basically I know that the leader would be a fluid position being taken by the person who knows what needs done best and is able to call the shots, and with that we would not fight about who was in charge.

Elemental Participation

I am going to preface this with an acknowledgment... I just read back through Thoughts on the Breeze and  noticed that for some reason I replaced there with their and vice versa... I should let you all know that I just type these on the fly and don't edit them, so as to give you the fullest extent of my mind... And filtering oneself is a move for those who are unsure of where they stand.

Anyway with winter approaching I thought it best to draw attention to one of my vices, smoking. I love smoking for many reasons, but none shine so bright as winter. Winter is my favorite reason for smoking. I love standing outside, alone, apart from even the other smokers. I stand in the snow as the sky-fluff lands my face, tickling my nose and distracting my eyelashes. I love the bite of the cold, a slight breeze is always welcome. I like to watch the little ice-angels dance in the fog and half light of the moon, adding my own clouds to the mix.

The thing I like about smoking is how much one can participate in spirituality, especially in the winter, while smoking. The cold earth under foot, the slight breeze that is ever present, the water of my breath weaving in and out of the menagerie, and of course the fire that I draw into my lungs. It is great knowing one is the quintessence of the universe, the unit that ties it all together. The unnamed binder in the cosmos. There is nothing as peaceful as just participating in the rampant loneliness that is permeating yet strangely sentient.

Anyone that has never taken a moment to be alone long enough to find a friend out of the emptiness has missed out on many sights that were only meant for them, be aware and seek the lonesome.

"So you ask me how I'm on fire, all I do is turn around and smile, baby girl not everyone can fly." - Wild Child

The Lonely King of The Elements
 King Badger

"What is your stance on meat, factory farms, the food supply, and related topics?" - Unknown

I like meat. I like the smell, taste, texture, and nutrient value. It takes a lot of protein to run a body built like mine. I hate factory farms, I hate keeping my meat penned up, waiting for the time the hammer falls. Meat taste better if it has been able to wander, to live, to experience the sun. I might be a little tougher sometimes, it is definitely more expensive due to other aspects of upkeep it requires, but I think that extra money is worth the price.

As far as the food supply goes I feel it is well larger than necessary to feed the entire world and with that if more people were to put forth actual effort to help the third world we, as a species, could become a far greater threat to the rest of the universe than just ourselves. I think we need to spread the food we have now, and then work as one unit to make this planet a place worth living. Petty squabbles over nonrenewable resources, status, "worth," is pointless. Global communism, if it could work, would be the way to ensure the Human Race becomes a force to be reckoned with. We are far to strong and intelligent to die here playing in our own filth arguing about who has the shiniest rock in the shit pile.

Steam Time Babies!

So I want to start this with an apology for my sporadic posting, but I do that a lot, and it has recently been brought to my attention that I apologize a lot... So I'm not going to do that, though this time I acknowledge for the sake of stating I am aware, what I am going to do is offer an explanation though in the future I plan on trying to be better about keeping up the schedule I have decided I need to stop saying sorry and start  working on myself but be willing to hold myself to a lower standard or perfection and stop letting my every tiny failure weigh on me like a donkey full of cement.

I got a steam box a few months ago and it has been monopolizing my attention... I have a steam account that is worth a pretty penny, and have not had the ability play any games for quite some time, so I have been catching up on what I have and still buying more (because I am the patron saint of responsible decisions) which leads to a fair amount of game time to work through. Anyway any of you with steam accounts should totally find me The King Badger and add me. I would love to game with anyone that wants to. I mostly avoid FPS War Games and Rhythm Games, though I do love me some Saints Row, but I will play anything I own with any one out that wants to game.

Side Note: Viscera Clean Up Detail may be one of the greatest things I have ever found.

What types of games to you all play? Digital, Analogue, Fact, Fiction, SciFi, Fantasy, Table Top, Board, whatever tell me about it. I love all of the comments I get (which are not many) and I try to respond to all of them as well as I can.

"I guess I grew up on an old dirt road pedal to the metal always did what I was told." The Devil Makes Three

Warriors, Come out and play
King Badger

Question Question Who Has a Question?

In an effort to try to be more reliable in my posting I am proposing a similar concept to the Questionarium of the PodCast (Which will be back up in time, but life... You know?) so please ask me anything, literally anything, and I will do my best to answer it. It you are looking for answers that are not of a personal or speculative nature then I will research the topic and form a response. If you are looking for advice I will do everything in my power to offer actual advice, and not nonsense, that I feel will help... I like answering questions of any sort, personal is good, teaching is great, nonsense is golden, so ask away.

With that I will let you all ponder what you want to hear me ramble about... Also I should note these answers will generally be given after my usual post so you can expect the same level of inane drivel to pop up before getting to the real meat of the situation.

"Show me the way brother, give me a sign sister. I'm not the only one whose waiting to be born." The Fratellis

Ask me stuff!
The King Badger

Thoughts on the breeze

When you walk with the lost you find that they still know there way, just not the destination. One can watch for hours as they pick their path through the winding rocks of life, it becomes more and more interesting.

Knowing where we are going, or how to get their on the long term is not something that we are inherently capable of. This is one of the lessons the Honey Badger seeks to teach us, if we know the short term goals and keep moving forward we will surly come to an end that pleases us. Remember no one get out of life alive, but being sure to have a life worth remembering is the best we can wish for.

Smoke a little, drink a bit... Make poor choices and good friends, start a cult, a club, a business... Fall out of trees, dive into rivers, drive, fly, go crazy... Eat food that is bad for you, drink teas that are good for you, sleep too much, or too little... Let the moon dazzle you, the wind baffle you, waters cool you, fire warm you, earth cradle you, the stars lead you... Follow your own bad advice and live life for a minute. Remember those that know more about life than you have just made many bad choices and if you seek to be a sage then you must set about the path of mistakes.

In the end no one can tell you how to live your life, and anyone that tries should not be listened to, enjoy your friday.

"And then Cathy showed up and we hung out trading swigs from a bottle, all bitter and clean Locking eyes, holding hands Twin high maintenance machines" The Mountain Goats

My wisdom is infinite but even I don't listen to it
King Badger

Music

I have always wanted to be musically inclined, but sadly I have never been. I can recreate music, but I don't get it well enough to make my own... Even in the rare instances where I have gotten an instrument well enough to feel comfortable just kind of playing around jazz-styles with it I still can not create.

This used to bother me for a long time, since "Its music, its a universal language," and I may fancy myself a story teller but that is just how she goes, "Thats the way of the road Bubs."

To clarify, as a creative type I can create worlds, and people... Give me 15 minutes and some inspiration and I can have a world fleshed out well enough that many would assume I have been working on it for years just waiting for an opportunity to show it off. I have met many people that make stories but their characters always seem flat their description slightly modified versions of someone else's words, they just didn't have the ability to create in the necessary fashion... This is not a problem, if they never get caught or know to go to someone who can help them with their short comings, but they just can not on their own.

An other example is: I have known many great cooks, but all they can do is follow a recipe they have no imagination when it comes to modification, this does not mean they are bad, just that everything they make tastes exactly the way it should, which is great, but not imaginative.

So I always wished I could make music, not play music or read music... But make it, I used to be able to play and read music I am very out of practice, but making it is what I lust after. I have never been great at lyrics, though I used t write poetry all the time back when I was misunderstood... And I can not, for the life of me, understand how people put notes together to form a feeling in the air that carries the intent across.

What about you all, do you wish you had a skill/talent that just seems not to be in the cards? Am I alone in this? (That was a dumb question) Do you feel like sharing?

"Dog will hunt I'm the front end loader travoltin' over so try my slam on for size drive stick with that kung-fu grip let the banana split and watch it go right to your thighs" - The Bloodhound Gang

Your Current and Forever King
The King Badger

Gender

So, as a white, American, male, I might have no business opening my mouth here but I have something to say and want to share it with anyone who wants to hear it.

As I am ageless, and was not born, it might make no sense for me to say the following but it is the best way to preface what I am going to ramble about: Growing up my mother used to say to my sisters that if they wanted to find a man they needed to act more like girls... This phrase has always pissed me off, for many reasons...

Reason one, I have been attracted to tomboys for a long time, and the few time that I meet a girl that is a tomboy in here adulthood she is attracted to other women. I have no problems with that, except that I am not in the running. I am not saying that phrases like that lead to people being attracted to persons of the same gender, but I am also not saying that they don't.

I once spent a summer pissing off two of my homosexual friends by insisting that homosexuality is a fetish. When I brought this up to another heterosexual friend he point out that it totally is... Though not just homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality.... any type of sexuality really. I have a fetish for women, which is more acceptable, publicly (I assume, because this fetish leads to more people) it is not any more, or less, relevant.

The problem is, my fetish for women pertains more to women who identify as men, and are still attracted to men... Mostly because I am a man. I feel that anyone who has anything to say about who and what your are attracted to has no right to comment, though if your wants/wishes involve hurting unwilling participants (Or minors) then you should not act on those...

I don't mean to judge but hurting people that don't want to be hurt, and molesting (physically/mentally) beings who are not old enough to handle a situation, then I do feel that you are doing the human race a disservice. I can not judge, and try though I might to not I still judge in those situations.

"I wake up every evening with a big smile on my face, and it never feels out of place. And you're still probably working at a nine to five pace, I wonder how bad that tastes." The All-American Rejects.

Be who you are going to be, be attracted to who you are attracted, know that you are human and we are all flawed.
King Badger

Spirits of The Night

I danced, this morning, with the spirits of the night. They have accepted me as one of them, and they are a big part f who I am, yet I am not one of their society. They share with me their secrets and teach me their  ways... Though sadly I do not understand their language.

I raced, with them, to sleep. I do not mean sleep as in the opposite of wakefulness, I mean death.Not mine, theirs. There are stories in the culture of one who have managed to find the dark and stay their through the bombardment of the day star, and the wonders that exist in the light, but they do not know of them well.

As I said I can not speak their language, which is mostly movement based, my meat body is far too goofy and imprecise to converse with them. Some of them understand what I say, but they are silent and can not translate for me... Watching my stories unfold, in interpretive dance, is beautiful... But I don't understand it.

When next you find yourself alone in the dark seek out these spirits, they are friendly and harmless, they will share with you their culture and many gifts if you cant take them, but they are god times.

"Have you ever walked through a room, but it was more like the room passed around you? Like there was a leash around your neck that pulled you through?" The Offspring

Remember babies, the badger loves you,
King Badger

Greetings From/To the future

So I assume all of you regular readers are aware that this was not posted on time, but that it appears as if it were, hence the title... I am writing to those of you in the past, but you are all reading it after it has been written and there for I am only capable of sending it to those of you in the future...

I must apologize for my lax posting, I know I have been doing that a lot lately but as per the last post... Life, am I right?

My uncle was in town this week, and I haven't seen him in nigh on nine years, so that was good times. It was cool to be able to share with him the kids book we wrote and have the courage to tell him how much I looked up to him growing up.

He is my father's younger brother, and only about 12 years older than I, so when he was around he always seemed like an older brother to me, which I didn't have... In fact I have never had a biological brother. It was also interesting to reassess how many of my personality quirks are genetic.

That stuff is really interesting to me. I remember when The Prince Badger was born and I realized how much of the family is in our coding, we can change it, we can fight against it, but for the most part, with my family anyway, all of the negatives are more fun to live with than without, and trying to change them would not make anyone happier in the long run.

Your Biological Badger
The King Badger

Nobility

There is nothing noble to being superior to your fellow man. True nobility is being superior to your former self.

Hemmingway-

Life... Am I right?

So, I must apologize to you, the readers, the life blood, the essence, the reason we do this... and so on, for my lack of a post for the past time I have been absent. Life has been in the middle of happening.

Sadly it has not even been interesting stuff. I didn't even come out with a good story... Okay, thats not true, I did get one good story... It is from last monday, and I will be sharing it with you all when I have some time to write the whole account as I recall it, because it was a great day and quite interesting. Anyway, please flood the comments with your disappointments.

Depression

I don't know how many of you currently are, or have suffered from depression, though I assume a number of you at the very least... I mean you saw a post with the title and had to keep reading, right?

Anyway not many people can fully appreciate the true feeling of depression without having been there at least once. I don't just mean sad, I mean an icy grip in the middle of your chest that tells you that you wont amount to anything so why even try. That ball in the pt of your stomach that says just go back to sleep if you don't wake up ever again you will be happier for it. That throb in the back of your head that makes you want to cry , and scream, and spit, and punch, and maim, and burn, and destroy everything staring with yourself... Thats what i am talking about.

Though, I am sure all of you are aware, I have never had to deal with this particular malady, as The King I reside well above the problems of mortals. But for those of you who have felt this way, and those of you that do, and those of you that are going to. I say unto you, unprompted, unscripted, unsolicited, and unwashed There are people out there that care about you. People that want you to stay alive, people that will help you if you let them. In this world with its billions of people we are never truly alone... And it may seem it, but we are never truly insignificant either. I hope this helped I truly do, and I am always willing to talk in person, over the phone, via email, instant message, carrier pigeon (though I will have to learn that one) with you if you just need a shoulder.

I may not actually be good for much, but I have a sympathetic ear,
Your King Badger

And the Rains Finally Came.

As I sit here preparing to officiate a wedding, I look outside and see that finally, the blessed rains have come! Huzzah! The heat has broken and the skies have opened up. Truly it is a blessed day. What a day for a wedding! Too bad it is an outdoor wedding and I must stand outside in the rain as I speak of love and forever.

Speaking of love and forever, isn't that an interesting combination of words? I mean think about it. You are promising to love someone FOREVER. As far as I am concerned this means even beyond the grave and I don't understand how you can promise a concept that may not even exist. Well, to each their own. I am sure it will be a beautiful wedding. May they devour all their cobras!

The grand BadGer LanDo

Meditation

So I recely found a book that I had purchased quite some time ago and never opened until now... It is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius... I am not far in yet, but it did set my mind to contemplating meditation (Ironic) and how much trouble I have had with this is the past... My mind does not shut up, attempting to clear it is like trying to clean mud out of a rug in the middle of a puddle during a rain storm... Literally, I barely make a trail though it before it fills in from both sides with dirt.


But some time ago, I began reading up on alchemy and found that my problem is I am trying to utilize eastern meditation when I should be using alchemical meditation. The principle, as best as I can recall, is unlike clearing the mind one plants a seed of something and allows free flowing thoughts to rub up against it like puzzle pieces until one clicks and you start to see a larger part of the image. I can't clear my brain but I can fertilize...

Yes I did just say that my brain is full of crap, as are most of your brains, but thats part of being human. Did you ever do something mundane, like mow the lawn, rake leaves, wash dishes, hell read your favorite book, or watch your favorite movie (something that you have done many times before, and at least once while you were child) and realized that it all made so much sense... how did you not get it? You have just had an epiphany about how if you just rake the leaves into a pile and put them in a bag the job will be done... And then spent 30 minutes wondering how you never put it together as a child?

I have one of those once a month, hell sometimes about topics I have had many on, so filling your brains with crap has one solid effect, and that is a comparison, you may feel like you wasted thirty minutes of your life watching that South Park episode, but in the end in five years you will thik back and reflect and suddenly realize that you took a small piece with you and is has slightly changed the course of your life... Only you can chose if it is for the better or not, but remember you are the only one that has any control over for the better r not also.

Your Meditative Liege
King Badger

Craftiness and Art Therapy

There is a craft fair this Sunday that I will be a part of. I feel like I need to be like the four arm guy from Mortal Kombat to get all the stuff done that I need. Long nights and early mornings have been the routine this last week.

Creating things with your hands knowing that someone is going to see it and feel some type of way about it can be nerve wracking. I know I make quality products, I am very skilled at what I do, though the week before an event such as this I often find myself freaking out over the little things. Today I got distracted and gave an octopus a ninth tentacle. I have never done that in my nine years crocheting. It's like my mommy brain has taken a turn for the worse.

All anxiety aside making things is the best therapy ever. When I'm mad I start a small project and the sense of accomplishment that comes upon completion washes out my anger. I have thought some of my worst problems out while crocheting. All people are different, and so are all forms of art. They do however have that one thing in common, they help your mind open up and think.

So next time you're angry pick up a pen, hook, brush, or whatever your medium's tools and "art" it out rather than blowing up at someone or saying something you'll regret. Trust me this is the far better option.

-Badger Rose

Light

Did you know the suns light takes approximately 8 minutes to reach our planet earth? Neptune is 2.7 billion miles away and light that we witness has happened four hours in the past. What a crazy time we live in now. Enjoy it!

Manliness

So I have been contemplating what being a man means recently, as it is a phrase that we (Males anyway) hear a lot growing up... And I think it ruins a lot of us.

Phrases such as "Don't cry, be a man." "Men don't have emotions." "Man up, quit being scared!" "You'll do it if you want to be a man." I find that things like this are terrible ways to make someone feel especially in the current day and age where persons are mocked for feeling of a different gender than they were born with. Being a man, and being a woman on a mechanical level is really all about procreation, thats how genetics works.

However being a man is much more than that. There is an amazing sight out there called The Art o Manliness which I avoided for a long time because I thought it was more of that old "To be a man you must be a robot that knows only when it needs fuel and how to kill everything" Bull... But obviously with how this is being written I don't feel that way. It does have many aspects about masculinity and what not, but the thing that I really enjoy about it is it takes a step back and is more of a guide (when offering guidance) on how to be a gentleman.

I talks about grooming, it talks about socializing, it has advice for men who don't have much confidence in themselves for whatever reason. Nothing in this blog is about tearing someone down for not being "That Man" but for the people who aspire to be more Manly it offers advice and discusses things that I, as a man, was curious about or think more men should do.

Either way the whole spectrum of being a man is difficult enough, I assume same goes for ladies but I don't live in that life and have only outside perspective. So with all that being said to anyone out there that thinks they have the right to tell anyone to "Be a man" by putting down someone for having emotions, being hurt, caring, not killing things, not attacking something for no reason, etc... I hope a herd of buffalo maul you in your bed. Being a man is more about respecting others than it is about forcing people to be like you.

The Manliest of Men
King Badger

Freetime Anxiety

This past week I have had so much freetime I don't know what to do with it. I've been busy but its because I have chosen to fill my freetime with activity. We floated two different rivers, a total of nine hours spent on the river this week. We had a pool party for Independence Day.

My oldest is camping with my mom until Tuesday, he's been with her for three days already and I miss him so much. The baby takes naps and usually that's my chance to spend some time with my oldest. So now when he's napping I'm not sure what to do. I could crochet something for my shop, or paint something. Though, sitting down and relaxing just causes me to stress about how I'm not being productive. I can't be alone in this, does anyone else feel that way?

Why is it that we feel the need to always be doing something? To always be moving? I don't understand it I just do it. I would like to turn off my Type-A tendencies, but if I do that then what if I become too "chill" and don't ever get back to work? These are just the things I think about while I sit here trying to find something to do for the next hour so I don't have to beat myself up on the inside for not doing anything. Hope you all had a good holiday weekend!

-Badger Rose

Independence Day PreRamble

So as my sibling pointed out earlier this week there is a ban on fireworks in our town because of fire dangers... And I am sure some of you reading this are quite frustrated by this.

And I know what all of you out there are thinking, "Honey Badger Don't Care! I'm Gonna blow a hole in this country! Its my God given right! I A 'Murican!" I really hope none of you think like that but I feel to some degree that is a pretty solid translation.

Remember one of the key lessons on being a Honey Badger about taking what you want however. That lesson being to consider the consequences, I don't mean legal either. What I mean is, if you were to go out and pick up a box that you will set aflame, that will throw balls of burning gas and twinkling stars of burning powders, that makes a tiny representation of the known universe being eaten by a Pirate Donkey and a Ninja Elephant all while farting The Star-Spangled Banner, and summoning The Great Old Ones from Raleigh. That yeah its going to be pretty fucking spectacular. Hell I would sell a few first born children for that, but at the same time you are spraying super heated compounds into the bone-dry undergrowth around you.

I know in a perfect world we would never have to worry about grass or trees or anything because the entire world will be paved and the oxygen content of the air we breath will be so low that nothing is capable of combustion, and once we have blotted out the sun to keep the ozone layer from getting any worse we won't have to worry about it being too hot ever... But I side track.

Remember this isn't a warning saying "Don't do it, because Honey Badger doesn't want to pay a fine, or do some jail time or whatever..." because the true honey badger will take that into consideration and determine whether or not he wants to spend an extra forty dollars for front row seats of Cthulhu eating that dick that has to play his car stereo at 5am with full bass, or watching The Creeping Horror Nyarlathotep flip neighborhood dogs that shit in your lawn inside out. Hell or even having Ulthar over for a barbeque... Fuck I don't care which Lovecraftian Terrors you summon for whatever reason... What I don't want is to have the thirty minutes worth of fun, and hours worth of work because my entire neighborhood is on fire and they all know it was me because guess who was seen lighting off the little cardboard box in the shape of the White House with big letters proclaiming "The Biggest One" and some level of warning in Chinese telling you that dragons are hard to tame and impossible to train so summon them at your own risk.

What I am saying is, I swear to all of the Elder Gods if I come home to find out that some asshole was playing with fireworks with a ban in place, and it burned down my home or otherwise put my kitty at risk I will find you...

Your very warm and fairly disgruntled
King Badger

Floating

As I was drifting on the river yesterday I was thinking about how fortunate we are in Montana. I love that we live in a place where we can do something like this. If I wanted I could go drop my car off at a bridge, float to my actual street, and walk a few blocks up it to get home. Then get a ride to my car later. It’s absolutely perfect. Not to mention the view down that section of river is awesome. Granted further up it has a far better view without any buildings or streets for most of it, but it's still so beautiful.

Yesterday it was so sunny and perfect, but we didn’t get on the river until after six so for the majority of the trip we were in shadow. Which is funny because my boyfriend is so skinny he was shivering and purple and my sister had to help paddle and she was next to him splashing him the whole way. She kept saying "I'm so sorry. I just feel so bad."

We passed so many people it was surprising how many people were just as late getting on as we were. In a normal summer we would float a quite a bit, probably twice a week. This year is different since we didn’t get enough moisture. We passed trailer trash beach and it was so full of people, I was quite glad that I was in the water and not on the beach.

My seven-year-old got to come with us. He has such a big imagination that floating the river in his mind is always just as exciting as riding a roller coaster.  His favorite parts are when I freak out because I’m a scardy-cat. Watching his imagination take us on these epic adventures makes my heart so happy. He is always thinking up a back story and working to complete the adventure. I remember being that way. He turned a simple floating trip into so much more, I hope I never forget to help fuel his imagination and keep it going strong.

 -Badger Rose

The beginning of certain truths.

Truth. An idea that is entirely too simple a word. To say a word has one meaning or is an ultimatum of circumstance is not only ignorant but short sighted. For example: light that is received and mirrored in the conscious and subconscious of our human brain, in the myriad of facets of our observable spectrum that we understand as light and our senses being the recipient of that and the entirety of our own life, can also be manipulated or decided as we see fit to alternate the outcome of everyday choices and dreams. Truth can be viewed in many facets, however it's important in any decision to start small. And we do, as the result of a soup of cells and a biological DNA chain that intersects and multiplies in a womb of another human. And YOU, the fastest and brightest new generation of the other guys and gals, come into the world as... well... YOU, the next step or sequence in your families chained history of adaptation. Before that? We come from electrons, neutrons, protons, and gravity, that gravitated after a millennial eternity to a condensed area becoming one of many clouds of atoms that after a considerably longer amount of time, reached a tipping point. Equilibrium, a big bang, an explosion of ultimately the most fascinating chemical reaction(s) of any discovered instance of existence. A star exploding into a supernova, a quasar and other stars and planets that combined to create matter from what we recognize as oxygen, h2o, carbon, hydrogen, not to mention minerals that took even more time to become more solid matter that we humans walk on today. From there? LIFE. Creation and death measured and weighed. Observed by us the individual. Marked by manner, the manner of what we call history, of books and record. Whether twisted or manipulated, it is ultimately: observed. But through that observation why does the continuing sequence seem to be nothing but a slightly altered version of the previous? Why can we not changed our outcome in this experience immediately? Well some people come to mind. Zeus, Hades, God, Satan, Rha, Horus,Thor, Loki, Hercules, Jesus, Moses, Osiris, Muhammad,  Buddha, Shakespeare, Mozart, Beethoven,  Leonardo da Vinci. Representing evolution or more appropriate words delightfully intellectual  and confusingly individual adaptations stemming and flourishing from other standpoints and understandings of life. Lessons in moral compassing? A parable to experience what some would call spiritual realization? Past reincarnations or lives? Ultimately? New ideas. When observed in an open environment. Beauty in the creation of some new thought and idea. The issue? Our brain can experience our body's chemical reactions when it comes our senses, vibrations in frequencies that pass messages or input that we respond chemically to in many fashions, joy, fear, love, anger, confusion and even loathing. These experiences are the past which is present and future and all simultaneous. One and the same. The difference between the three? Your choice. Start small. Take it with a grain of salt so to to speak. Take it from there. "Engage the experience of the experiment." Wise words. Not my own.

Anime vs. Reason (Warning: Anime series spoilers!)

Hello all,

Today I would like to discuss the topic of anime. I have recently been watching a lot more and just finished watching Gurran Laggen. It was a wonderfully absurd anime about the indestructible nature of the human spirit and the need for species to evolve to the heavens. I loved it because the message was general and straight forward and the over all premise was absurd.  Humans have been driven underground be the spiral king and their fight for the surface results in robot space battles that span and entire universe and a couple alternate dimensions.

Here is the thing, American t.v. and animation seems to be striving to be normal with the exception of some notable shows such as adventure time and regular show. I love the fact that anime is what it is. You want to make a show about alchemists? Go for it! Want to make a show about a half fish girl who helps a kid get over the loss of his own father while she is running away from her father, the sea witch? Yes please! You want to make an anime about a high school all male host club? Well...I won't stop you...but...huh...ok then.

Anyways, my point is, anime creators seem to have a real sense of creativity and I love it. You should watch more anime.

Have a great day!

The Grand (and overly warm) Badger Lando

This Heat Can Suck a Bag of Donkeys!

So, I know that my sibling wrote about the heat in the last post, but thats what I wanted to write about so I retroactively calling dibs.

Every time I hear someone bitching about how hot it is now, all I can think about is how much they bitched when it was cold. As all of you, that know me, know I wear a t-shirt and pants pretty much year round. I was walking about a mile to work this winter, and it was cold... But I loved it. I love the snow, I love the way the whole world looks a little dead but like it is getting ready to come back.

The thing I find most amusing about this is that I hold a belief about personalities and how they tie in to elements. While I 100% feel that they are not static I have been a fire for a long damned time now, and still prefer winter. I think it is because a fire is more useful in the winter. I thrive on helping people, I don't believe in altruism and helping people doesn't necessarily make me feel good about myself, but I think that feeling useful is better than feeling happy.

All that being said this heat makes me want to go camping, but how can I go camping if I can't have a fire? Or I suppose I should phrase that "Should not have a fire." While I like fire, and watching things burn I like forest creatures more than I like watching something change states.

I beg your pardon for the ramble, but my brains are about over-medium right now.

Uses salt and pepper when he scrambles his brains
King Badger

Heat Wave

So Montana in general has fairly mild temperature in the summer. This last week we have been breaking records every day with how hot it is. We didn’t get enough snow or rain to do anything good so the fire warning is at extreme and there is a stage 1 ban on fireworks. Most of you probably already know this.

The Fourth of July is about so much more than blowing stuff up and lighting things on fire. If we took a break from it this year as we’ve been advised to do it isn’t going to hurt anyone. However if people ignore these warnings they could jump start the fire season and this could hurt tons of people.  The smoke often fills the valley and gets trapped in here for a while.

There is always next year, and if you bought fireworks this year already, on New Year’s you can light them off legally. So please adhere to the fire advisory rules because it may not be your house that gets burned down, but it could happen to someone else. 

-Badger Rose

Poetry is Hard

A sermon in the form of a poem.

Here in this church we believe many things
From trial and error our poor thoughts gain wings
Our wisdom hard earned and well fought for
We seek all we can craving always for more

We drink from no chalice but pass me a flask
If you don't know us you might as well ask
If never you ask you shall never learn
If never you question you shall always yearn

Question everything or deserve all you get
There is but one lesson we shall tech you yet
Accept all as they are and tolerate not the false
Life is a dance but make your own waltz

Roll with the punches throw a few of your own
No one can you what you will call home
This church rolls but also it rocks
The Honey Badgers
First Montana Orthodox

Sorry for that I haven't written poetry since I was young and misunderstood, like everyone my age. But I felt the need to try to lay some verse out there. I love creative expression in just about any form. As long as it is to be creative expression and not simply destruction.

I love graffiti, I love art that is made to exist only for a moment, for the people/person who saw it created. Sculptures, paintings, photographs, are all very cool but not many have really touched me the same way a pattern walked into the sand at low tide has. I should come clean I have only seen pictures of this, because I live inland but given the opportunity I would spend hours watching it, just to have been there. I also feel that pictures capture the essence f that art and steal it.

This is just how I feel however. Where do your thoughts ride on that front? What calls out to you?

Does anyone know why I am the King, or what it means?
King Badger

Introduction and Stay at Home Parenthood

Some of you may know that Badger the King has a younger sister. I am that sister. I am also going to join these fine gentlemen in writing for this blog. I am generally not the most active member of the church, this is mostly due the fact that I am fortunate enough to be a homemaker. Which I feel like more children need.  

This generation has been programmed to need instant gratification, and to always be entertained. There is a severe lack of discipline in this age of working parents and technology. People would rather get their kids out of their hair and sit them in front of the TV, tablet, or computer. I feel that it is important for children to play outside and make their own adventures rather than spending all their summer playing inside on someone else’s story. 

I am not saying it is not okay to play video games or to let children play video games. I am just saying that there needs to be more outside play and less screen time. In my house we have a rule, if the sun is shining my oldest is either outside playing or playing with Legos. The baby will have the same rule once he’s bigger. For now we all just run around the yard fighting dragons, eating cobra feasts, and playing in the sprinkler. Then once the sun goes down if he earned it we play a little Minecraft. 

I love being able to stay home with my kids, and I love that they know they are loved. They never have to wonder about that, which for some that’s not the case.  The best thing you can give your children is your time, attention, and affection. 

Catch ya on the flip side.

-Badger Rose