Going With the Flow

Life has been very interesting lately, and I mean that in all the best ways. The timing, as I journey with other dear travelers along Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Way, can’t be a coincidence. Every day seems to bring a new sense of hope for a bright future. Granted, we never know when our time will be up, so I look forward to making the most of this newfound wellbeing.

Greetings

It's not racy, just downright beautiful.  All the same, I thought I'd share this lovely gift from a friend on Sand Castles.  Below is the card that surprised me in the mail today.  Do you think she knows I have beloeved pet cats and an affinity for all things Asian inspired?  Thank you, dear friend!

Flash Fiction Friday - Inspired by a Picture Prompt with my Artist's Retreat Group

A Very Good Day

“Can I put this thing down yet?”

“Not yet. Let me get a few more shots. Keep still!”

Down the Toilet

I have been thinking about getting an aquarium or perhaps a terrarium for some sort of little critter. Friends tell me the thought has persisted to the point I should act. Idly, I looked on eBay and found something really funny. Considering the toilet humor so prevalent in my home, it's something I'd buy from New Wave Fish if the price weren't a bit out of my league.

If you want more random fun, check out my Thursday Thirteen list on Darla M. Sands:

Items Improved by Plastic

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Nightlight

Some fellow talents have invited me on a new endeavor featuring steamy adult material.  Nightlight already offers two great story premiers!  Come check them out!

Coffee and the Collar, Chapter 1 by Nicole Gordon

Trust and Desire, Chapter 1 by Sunshine

We'll leave the nightlight on for you!

Thursday Thirteen ~ Songs that start with D

Listening to music the other day, I found myself happily cruising through albums starting with the letter "D". Here are thirteen titles I own, listed in the alphabetical order in which they appear on my iPod and beginning with the first of that day's playlist:

Umi no hi

Today I learned that this third Monday of July is a modern holiday in Japan known as Marine Day. I believe the Kanji, 海の日, translates as Umi no hi, with the first character umi designating our earth's seas.

Established a mere fifteen years ago, the holiday is not honored with any sort of traditional ceremony. There are no parades, kites, or requisite temple visits. Rather, many flock to the beaches, and the main intent is to make citizens pause to wish for economic prosperity upon the island nation. Particularly poignant this summer, it is also intended that people give thanks for the blessings of the oceans, so vital to us all.

Let’s join with the Japanese in giving thanks and hope that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis is truly at a turning point. While this remains a disastrous situation, I have faith that scientific investigation over the weekend will show no further leakage.

So, join me in saying, "Happy Marine Day!"

Quote of the Day

Having run into an esoteric Italian quote a while back, I have wondered ever since what it means. The saying goes, “The bed is the poor man’s opera.”

I dug through internet search engines in hopes of finding the meaning. Every English speaker I encountered immediately assumed it to reference sexual intercourse. Honestly, I initially thought along those same lines. It just didn't make sense to me, however. Is it supposed to be about performing? Sex is the great equalizer of the wealthy and the impoverished.

Several sources indicate a very different meaning, which I am more inclined to believe. Allegedly, the phrase was coined to illustrate how much a destitute person appreciates a proper place to sleep.

The saying came into being when only the prosperous could afford to attend opera, a prestigious social event of the day. Hence, no proper gentleman or lady would wish to miss a performance even as their indigent counterpart doesn't want to sleep in the alley.

I think this just goes to show that different eras and experiences provide very different conceptions. Also, I can see how much we have our minds on sex. That bodes well for me, since it's what I love to write.

Have you ever heard this quote? If so, I'd be curious to find out where, and how you took the meaning.

In my case, Marilyn Manson mentioned the phrase in a quirky interview. Does he give any other kind, you ask? Why yes, he does. On the film "Resident Evil", he gives a very intelligent commentary on the task of scoring the soundtrack.

So ends today's lesson on Italian proverbs and American shock rockers. I hope you enjoyed it!

Delighting in Dilo

Yet another discussion with my friend led to a quote that I just have to share. I shall paraphrase her glib remark (we must protect the guilty, after all). It came about when I mentioned not having heard from someone for weeks, despite assurance to the contrary. Dilo made the following observation.

Words for time intervals have a different meaning for some people.

Thursday Thirteen ~ Nouns that Double as Verbs

My gifted writer friend has given me a wonderful list to share this week. She came up with the clever idea of listing words that double as both nouns and verbs (e.g., You hammer with a hammer) and have a similar context in either form.

As she notes in her own words, please note the warning that several are used in BDSM. The list does not include verbs that do not usually retain their interpersonal meaning in their common noun form, e.g. screw.

I hope you're as impressed as I was:

1. Brush
2. Cane
3. Chain
4. Clamp
5. Collar
6. Cuff
7. Dress
8. Fist
9. Oil
10. Paddle
11. Rope
12. Wax
13. Whip

Quote of the Day

My talented friend and I get into the most interesting email conversations. The other day we were sharing our views on anal fisting. Yes, we talk a lot about sexual practices, especially of the BDSM flavor. It's only natural, considering we both write erotica focusing upon consensual power exchange. I treasure Dilo as a generous, knowledgeable, and witty source of information on intimate play.

To the matter at hand, though (pun definitely intended), we have very different opinions. Personally, the idea of an arm inside me anywhere simply does not appeal. I'd have to be dying to welcome it. She is much less averse to the idea. However, she did offer a very valid reason for not welcoming this particular practice. It's so understandable from the viewpoint of a fellow writer, the humor so deliciously dry, that I simply had to share.

I think it would take me way too long to work up to that and the time could be spent writing.

Quote of the Day

Yesterday I stumbled upon a startling image while innocently researching temple statuary in Japan. I'm grateful to the Virtual Tourist website for providing this image of the giant phallus in Tagata Shrine:



Of course, I had to share with my partner, who promptly said:

How would you like to be the guy whose job it is to polish that every day?

I refuse to be like Fluffy but I just loved the picture...

Quote of the Day

A dear friend introduced me to an interesting anthology of m/m reads. It's called "Kosher Meat", edited by Lawrence Schimel. The stories have been very good so far, and I look forward to reading more. A quote in the introduction struck me as so incredibly poignant, in the meantime, that I just had to share.

From gay Jewish playwright Tony Kushner's essay, "Fick Oder Kaputt!", Mr. Schimel quotes:

It is impossible to talk or write about sex without revealing too much of yourself. Whereas conversely it is possible I think to have sex and reveal nothing of yourself whatsoever.

Thanks for introducing me to this book, Dilo!

The Zen of Gardening

On my tamer blog, I have posted a Thursday Thirteen featuring my garden. I hope you drop in and enjoy...

Darla M. Sands

Thursday Thirteen ~ All About Gackt

Just when I began to think I’m done going to the cinema, I stumbled upon something unique. “Bunraku” is, get this, a hybrid animation/live action, film noir/martial arts production boasting an international cast. It stars such folks as Demi Moore, Josh Hartnett, and a personal favorite of mine, Japanese musican Gackt Camui. In honor of my anticipation, I’ve decided to list some of the many reasons I adore this gifted artist.

1. He reputedly speaks five languages. That means he’s multi-talented, sexy, and smart.

2. Since the loss of good friend Kami (a fellow musician with Malice Mizer) in 1999, Gackt allegedly continues to visit the late drummer’s mother. It could be a false rumor. Still, I like to imagine him both sentimental and respectful.

3. Cost notwithstanding, the man demands a high degree of quality out of every project he touches. Videos and live performance DVDs are a sensual treat.

4. Speaking of treats, “Vanilla” is a fabulous single. An exhilarating horn section makes this a personal favorite and the racy, whimsical lyrics don’t hurt. I always perk up when it comes on my playlist.

5. His vocals are not only easy on the ears but the words are consistently clear. As a result, he’s actually reinforcing my language lessons!

6. Acting genuinely playful in interviews and on television programs, Gackt’s good humor is substantiated by one report that he ran an invitation-only restaurant for a time. The article said he prepared family recipes for his guests at a string of secret locations. Whatever did it take to get invited?

7. Gackt looks gorgeous in every incarnation. Shallow, I know, but I’ve never seen anyone pull off such a variety of costumes and personas: goth, vampire, gangster, blond, brunette, Samurai, cyborg soldier. It’s all good.

8. Merveilles – I can’t get enough of listening to the album and watching Malice Mizer’s live, epic performance.

9. During a segment of Merveilles, Gackt wears a heavy-looking brocade costume complete with feather-collared cape and outrageously high-heeled, platform boots. During a soaring piano piece he gives a flawless performance in that outfit while sitting with his legs crossed. It’s priceless footage.

10. Some sources claim he’s bisexual and, while it’s none of my business, this wicked imagination does run wild. Some photographs I’ve seen only perpetuate the claim.

11. He never does anything halfway. Even friendly martial arts demonstrations I’ve seen are amazing. Gackt once said that everyone on his staff is trained for sparring and I believe it.

12. Gackt penned a particularly haunting single, “December Love Song”, after being moved by the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. The mournful Japanese lyrics manage to sound more beautiful than sad to me, but I have several versions. Hearing the devastating lyrics sung in English for the first time, I nearly cried.

13. I’ll leave you with the image of this stunningly packaged CD.

Japanese title: 12月 の Love Song

Copyright issues left me uncomfortable downloading music or images of the artist, for which I’m sorry. However, the barest search will provide you with a plethora of samples if my list piques your interest.

Thursday Thirteen ~ A Spoiled Existence

I don’t count my blessings nearly as much as I should. This list is sort of tongue-in-cheek but also heartfelt.

Thirteen blessings of my spoiled existence:

1. Disposable Tissues – for both noses and unmentionables

2. Indoor Plumbing & Clean Water – very much taken for granted

3. Lip Balm & Skin Lotions – my first and greatest addiction outside of writing

4. An Insect & Pest-Free Home – I’m especially aware of this after actually getting hooked on a so-called reality TV program, “Billy the Exterminator” (even with this I skip the canned, soap opera drama)

5. Top of the Food Chain – I’m mostly there where we live, and this hearkens again to the crazy dangers Billy Bretherton faces in Louisiana

6. Microwave Ovens – how did I survive my early bachelorette-hood without one?

7. Ready Health Care – not to spark a political storm, never my intent, I do feel blessed for this

8. Central Air Conditioning – can’t imagine a summer without it

9. Reliable Electricity – sorely missed when a hurricane took down the power grid for a week

10. Books – come on, you knew I had to go there...

11. and stay there... Paper & Pens

12. Computers, Laptops, & Thumb Drives – excuses not to write have never been so difficult to invent

13. Imagination – the luxury to dream and put my stories into words instead of worrying over where my next meal is coming from

Pink Tentacle

Learning Japanese and fascinated by the culture, I often get a kick out of a website called "Pink Tentacle". Today I found something both fun and educational, as it helped me practice reading katakana.

If you're a fan of Godzilla-like creatures, check out these vintage postcards from the 1970's!

Pachimon Take Over the World!

Flash Fiction Friday

I posted a story on my tamer blog. And while it's not smut, I hope you'll pop over and enjoy the short read...

Distant Drumming

Happy Friday!

Thursday Thirteen

Today I listed some truly wacky and some tasty sounding Japanese ice cream flavors...

Darla M. Sands