<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<feed
    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
    xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at"
    xmlns:icbm="http://postneo.com/icbm"
    xmlns:rvw="http://purl.org/NET/RVW/0.2/"
    xml:lang="en">
    <title>Citizen Crane’s blog</title>
    <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" title="Citizen Crane’s blog (Atom)" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/posts/page/1/atom.xml" />
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Citizen Crane’s blog" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/posts/page/1/"/> 
    <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Citizen Crane’s blog" href="http://www.vox.com/services/atom/svc=post/collection_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cdb7c930003" /> 
    <link rel="service.subscribe" type="application/atom+xml" title="Citizen Crane’s blog" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/posts/atom.xml" />    
    <link rel="next" type="application/atom+xml" title="Citizen Crane’s blog" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/posts/page/2/atom.xml" /> 
    <link rel="last" type="application/atom+xml" title="Citizen Crane’s blog" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/posts/page/3/atom.xml" />  
    <generator uri="http://www.vox.com/">Vox</generator>
    <updated>2008-06-16T22:02:21Z</updated> 
    <author>
        <name>Citizen Crane</name>
        <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
    </author> 
    <id>tag:vox.com,2006:6p00e398dd11ad0005/</id> 
    <subtitle>&quot;The citizen who criticizes his country is paying it an implied tribute.&quot;</subtitle>  
    
    <entry>
        <title>Just One Example of a Useless Congress</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Just One Example of a Useless Congress" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/just-one-example-of-a-useless-congress.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Just One Example of a Useless Congress" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/just-one-example-of-a-useless-congress.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="Just One Example of a Useless Congress" href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500fa967f9d920003" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-06-16:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500fa967f9d920003</id>
        <published>2008-06-16T22:02:21Z</published>
        <updated>2008-06-16T22:02:21Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>HANG &#39;EM HIGH!  It&#39;s time for the American people to take Her back.</p>

<p>Did you know that Congress has NEVER approved the war in Iraq?  That&#39;s <br />
Congress&#39;s job!  It passed legislation that allowed Bush to decide whether <br />
or not American would go to war.  Congress transferred a primary <br />
congressional duty from the Legislative Branch to the Executive Branch, <br />
which is kind of like saying, &quot;Hey, let&#39;s have a king!&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;The draft is a totalitarian institution based on the idea that the <br />
government owns you and can dispose of your life as it wishes.&quot;  - Ron <br />
Paul, The Revolution: A Manifesto</p>

<p>&quot;A draft is far more typical of totalitarian nations than of democratic <br />
nations, and is absolutely opposed to the principles of individual liberty <br />
which have always been considered a part of American democracy.&quot;  - <br />
Republican Senator Robert Taft</p>

<p>&quot;Military conscription rests on the assumption that your kids belong to <br />
the state.&quot; - President Ronald Reagan</p>

<p>My son will probably end up knowing the Constitution of the United States <br />
of America (note: United STATES of America, not Federal Government of <br />
American Continent below Canada) by heart, and I hope to instill in him an <br />
understanding of the fact that without this document we are not free, and <br />
that when a government is allowed to &quot;reinterpret&quot; such a document, we <br />
loose our freedom.</p>

<p>Of course, I also hope to instill in him an understanding of the idea that <br />
governments and nations come and go, but the interdependence and the <br />
interconnectedness of all living things is unending.  I want him to be <br />
able to see the Big Picture.</p>

<p>Anyway, yes, if there&#39;s a draft, we&#39;re going to vanish.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/just-one-example-of-a-useless-congress.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500fa967f9d920003?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>The Source&#39;s Communique</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="The Source&#39;s Communique" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/the-sources-communique.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="The Source&#39;s Communique" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/the-sources-communique.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="The Source&#39;s Communique" href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500fad6882c520004" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-05-15:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500fad6882c520004</id>
        <published>2008-05-15T21:31:51Z</published>
        <updated>2008-05-15T21:31:51Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>Shortly after I wrote the entry regarding my feeling that something <br />
significant is going to happen and that I have a part to play in it, S, R, <br />
and I spent the weekend &quot;cat sitting&quot; for S&#39;s parents.  We played house.</p>

<p>I decided to contact the Source and retrieve information through the deck <br />
of cards S gave to me.  It&#39;s the wonderful Gothic Tarot of Vampires. <br />
They&#39;re the only cards I&#39;ve ever been able to communicate with, and I <br />
don&#39;t mean this Tarot.  I mean S&#39;s deck.  The images seem to almost move <br />
for me.</p>

<p>I don&#39;t remember if I asked a question or simply held the cards while <br />
experiencing my confusion and longing about the situation.  Either way, I <br />
shuffled and drew the first card that seemed to want to be drawn.  This <br />
image was... and still is as I look at it now...  a very big message.  I&#39;m <br />
not certain what the message is, though.  I do know that when I consider <br />
the image, an emotion bursts in my chest of longing, trepidation, <br />
excitement, resilience...  I understand that this image has a lot to tell <br />
me but I&#39;m having a tough time deciphering it.</p>

<p>I also couldn&#39;t tell where the card belonged in a three-card spread, so I <br />
placed it at the top of the pillow that was on my lap.</p>

<p>So, I asked for clarification and expansion.  &quot;Please clarify and expand <br />
upon this card.&quot;</p>

<p>I drew the next card and I drew the image of a woman (gender is only <br />
relevant if the message says it is) on her knees in a beam of light, her <br />
hands cupped, looking upward while she cries tears of blood.  At first I <br />
couldn&#39;t decide if this refered to my longing and feeling of being lost <br />
while I beg for answers, or if it&#39;s post-significant event - have I lost <br />
something? am I repenting? am I frightened?  So I placed the card on the <br />
pillow on the lower right side.</p>

<p>&quot;Please clarify and expand upon this card.&quot;</p>

<p>I pulled the next card and it was immediately apparant that I would be <br />
experiencing significant conflict, something dangerous and important.  But <br />
it doesn&#39;t tell me against whom.  I see a vampire about to rage against <br />
three men with guns, and there is a woman on the ground behind the <br />
vampire, but whether he is protecting her from the men or keeping her from <br />
the men is unclear.  It says to me that I will be the one standing alone <br />
and that something or someone, a life or a future, will depend on my <br />
success or failure.  I still don&#39;t know what I&#39;ll be facing.</p>

<p>So it occurs to me that the first card in combination with the second card <br />
means that I&#39;ve been lost and confused, begging for answers or signs of <br />
any sort and that I will have to find my resolve, choose my weapon, and <br />
learn to be still and in control of myself while I await my moment.  I <br />
will also have to be this way while I&#39;m being... hunted? chased? That&#39;s <br />
what it looks like.  Or just be resilient, still, in control, choose my <br />
weapon, find my resolve in the face of those who don&#39;t understand or <br />
believe... that seems more likely.</p>

<p>Then the card with the confrontation.... there will be one, it will be <br />
significant, and only I can do it.</p>

<p>Here&#39;s the catch, though.  The first card moves to the last place, after <br />
the conflict.  It plays two roles in this communique with the Source.</p>

<p>After the confrontation, I have lost something important and am devastated <br />
and pleading for it back, or I kill myself; or I am rewarded with <br />
something so wonderful that I am in tearful awe of it.  That would be the <br />
very distant future, I imagine.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/the-sources-communique.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500fad6882c520004?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>Holosync</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Holosync" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/holosync.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Holosync" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/holosync.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="Holosync" href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500fa9675b9260003" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-05-15:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500fa9675b9260003</id>
        <published>2008-05-15T20:45:36Z</published>
        <updated>2008-05-15T20:45:36Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>My manager and I are good friends.  Last year he copied a CD he bought <br />
from something called the Centerpointe Research Institute.  It&#39;s called <br />
The Holosync Solution.  It triggers specific brainwaves depending on which <br />
track or disc you&#39;re listening to.</p>

<p>DO NOT listen to The Dive unless you are laying down with your eyes <br />
closed.  The first time I did it, I was laying down, my eyes were closed, <br />
and I went Astral.  That was good.  Today I was listening to it while I <br />
was working and after a while I noticed that I had become very tense and <br />
was continuing to do so until it hurt.  So I turned it off and I felt <br />
better.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/holosync.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500fa9675b9260003?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>Usual payday franticness.</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Usual payday franticness." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/usual-payday-franticness.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Usual payday franticness." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/usual-payday-franticness.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="Usual payday franticness." href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500fa9675b5c90003" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-05-15:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500fa9675b5c90003</id>
        <published>2008-05-15T19:44:43Z</published>
        <updated>2008-05-15T19:44:43Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>I think I&#39;ll just keep this open and write in it throughout the work day, <br />
then post it when it&#39;s time to go home.</p>

<p>I&#39;ve been questioning whether I took my medicine this morning because I&#39;ve <br />
been feeling anxious all day.  I know I took it, I remember doing it. <br />
Which means the anxiety is caused by something else.  And considering my <br />
desires today, I think I know what it is.</p>

<p>All day I&#39;ve been wanting to stroll around somewhere, watch things, and <br />
relax.  Like what you&#39;d do at a faire or something of that nature.  I feel <br />
like not worrying about everything all of the time.  However, as it is <br />
with every payday, so it is with this payday:  I try and try to work out a <br />
budget but I can&#39;t get S to understand that he shouldn&#39;t be driving <br />
anywhere in the SUV no matter how much he wants to leave the house during <br />
the day.</p>

<p>But mostly I can&#39;t understand why, when I&#39;m the one working, I can&#39;t bring <br />
myself to set aside money for myself.  Whether it&#39;s to save for something <br />
I want or might want in the future, or to spend at my leisure, I can&#39;t put <br />
away $30 a paycheck or whatever just for myself.  I hate it!  I&#39;m fucking <br />
trapped!  S shouldn&#39;t know everything I make!  But he does!  He knows how <br />
much net income I make bi-weekly with and without overtime.  That&#39;s not <br />
right!  I should never have told him!  Because if I do take some money and <br />
keep it for myself, he&#39;ll know, and ask me about it, and I shouldn&#39;t have <br />
to justify it!  I&#39;ve been doing without for a really long time!  I never <br />
buy anything for myself but produce, cereal, almond milk, hummus, and <br />
razors.</p>

<p>He&#39;s going to have to start using my mom&#39;s car during the day or <br />
something.  And he needs to get a job.  He doesn&#39;t want to apply to the <br />
movie theatre up the road because he doesn&#39;t want to work for Regal. Regal <br />
bought out United Artists back when S was working in the theatre business <br />
and so Regal is the enemy.  Personally, I think that FEEDING OUR SON is <br />
more important than what company you *temporarily* work for.  He won&#39;t be <br />
there forever.  It&#39;s a job for right now, that&#39;s all.  The rockin&#39; <br />
warehouse night job with benefits in NJ with his friend is too far away. <br />
We can&#39;t afford that kind of gas.  Even though my dad said he&#39;d watch R <br />
between the time I leave in the morning and the time my mom gets home in <br />
the morning (she would get home before S), it&#39;s an hour away over the <br />
bridge in morning rush hour traffic.  He doesn&#39;t want to work in a <br />
bookstore because of some shit that doesn&#39;t mean anything when it comes to <br />
having a job right now and feeding us right now and saving to get out on <br />
our own right now.</p>

<p>Okay, it&#39;s been a couple of hours since I wrote the above.  And I honestly <br />
don&#39;t mind him using money for stuff.  Caring for a baby all day *is* a <br />
job, I know this.  He deserves to have some things that make him happy, <br />
like fast food, a comic book here or there, cherry soda from WaWa.</p>

<p>I&#39;m just so frustrated that I don&#39;t get to buy anything stupid.  I was <br />
Salvia.  I want the book that teaches me how to open my own bookstore.  I <br />
want the book that talks about Salvia and shamanism.  I want stem cell <br />
nutritional supplements.  Actually, I need those things.  For spiritual <br />
and physical health, and to know that I&#39;ve made a step toward my future <br />
(the bookstore).  Whatever.  I&#39;d be fine with a morning to myself in the <br />
park.  I would go there and crack open the windows, lock the doors, and <br />
sleep without worrying about being woken up.</p>

<p>I&#39;m so tired.  Ugh.</p>

<p>I just told S about two places nearby that are hiring.  I hope he applies. <br />
 I don&#39;t want to be that type of person who threatens to kick him out if <br />
he doesn&#39;t get a job.  Besides, I know he wants to work.  He needs to get <br />
out of the house, away from R, be around adults, feel that he&#39;s helping to <br />
support his family.  He isn&#39;t being a bum.  Still, although it&#39;s the <br />
condition of the job market that is to blame for his unemployment, I can&#39;t <br />
help but feel frustrated.</p>

<p>Now that I&#39;ve got it all out, I can let it go and be okay with these <br />
things that I can&#39;t control.  It&#39;s okay if he isn&#39;t working right now <br />
because the market is poor.  It&#39;s okay that he needs to buy a few minor <br />
things to brighten up his week.  It&#39;s okay.  Because I love him.</p>

<p><br />
I&#39;m not one for wishful thinking.  Desire causes suffering, this I know. <br />
However, if his parents had just been decent and sane for a MOMENT and <br />
kept their word, he wouldn&#39;t be in this situation.  They promised him that <br />
if he graduated high school, they would help him pay for college.  They <br />
also promised something about trade school and reneged on that, too. <br />
Shitheads.  Okay, I&#39;ve spent enough energy right there worrying about <br />
something that can&#39;t be changed and people who are not worth my time.</p>

<p>In other news, R is now holding things with both hands and bringing them <br />
to his mouth!  He is 5 months and 1 week old.  And I asked my mother and S <br />
to start feeding R cereal during the day because he needs to start solids, <br />
but they keep coming up with lame excuses as to why they haven&#39;t done it <br />
yet.  My mom said last night that she didn&#39;t do it yesterday because she <br />
wanted to wait for me to get home.  IF I THOUGHT THAT WAS OKAY I WOULD NOT <br />
HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO IT DURING THE DAY!!!!   She said she doesn&#39;t <br />
understand why cereal would make him wired.  IT DOESN&#39;T MATTER WHY!!! IT <br />
MATTERS THAT IT ***DOES*** AND THAT&#39;S WHY HE NEEDS TO EAT IT DURING THE <br />
DAY!!!!</p>

<p>So, I told S on the phone today that he can put R in his carseat and feed <br />
him that way.</p>

<p>Back to my original topic: this feeling of... something.  It&#39;s calling <br />
again.  I&#39;m supposed to do spellwork.  I&#39;m supposed to do energy work. <br />
There&#39;s no time and no place for it in my life right now.</p>

<p>Back to work.  I&#39;m working late and have much to catch up on.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/usual-payday-franticness.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500fa9675b5c90003?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>My first Mother&#39;s Day, and so on.</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="My first Mother&#39;s Day, and so on." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/my-first-mothers-day-and-so-on.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="My first Mother&#39;s Day, and so on." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/my-first-mothers-day-and-so-on.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="My first Mother&#39;s Day, and so on." href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500e398f958ba0005" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-05-13:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500e398f958ba0005</id>
        <published>2008-05-13T20:07:40Z</published>
        <updated>2008-05-13T20:07:40Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>My first Mother&#39;s Day was very nice.  My youngest sister, grandmother, <br />
aunt, cousin and his son came over to have dinner with the seven of us.  I <br />
have pictures of R with his great-grandmother and my dad.  I have one of R <br />
with my cousin, but I need to take more when I see him again because it <br />
was in front of a window and they look like silhouettes.  I can&#39;t believe <br />
of I have no pictures of my cousin&#39;s 2-year-old son, J.  And the worst is <br />
that I have no pictures of my son and me on my first Mother&#39;s Day.</p>

<p>Dinner was wonderful.  My mom made chicken, peas, carrots, and biscuits in <br />
gravy, with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and salad on the side.  Then we had <br />
birthday cake to celebrate my middle sister&#39;s 25th birthday, which was <br />
Wednesday.  I wrote &quot;Happy Birthday&quot; on it with icing markers that are <br />
really supposed to be used on hardened cookie icing.  I wish I had taken a <br />
picture of that, too.  It was all-together a great day.</p>

<p>S let me take a nap for an hour or two, even though he cares for R while <br />
I&#39;m at work all week.  He gave me a cute, funny card and let me take a <br />
long shower.  And he did the dishes for me!  He asked me to help him and I <br />
said no, no.  When I grudgingly gave in, I put the already clean dishes <br />
away while he started washing what was in the sink.  When I came in to do <br />
my half, he was almost finished!  He said he just wanted to see if I would <br />
go that extra step to agree to help him.  I told him that even though I <br />
hadn&#39;t wanted to at first, I thought about it and decided it might be nice <br />
to be alone in the kitchen, helping each other.</p>

<p>He just hung up on me, though.  I told him I needed the info for the eye <br />
doctor so I could make R&#39;s appt.  He said he might not have it anymore.  I <br />
told him that I would expect him to have it since *he* was supposed to <br />
make the appt *weeks* ago!  He said he couldn&#39;t talk (is busy fixing the <br />
laptop, he thinks the ISP&#39;s been hacked) and hung up.  Honestly, if R <br />
needs glasses, he needs them asap!</p>

<p>R has bruises on his hands and we think they&#39;re from the plastic rings he <br />
plays with.  Which might mean that he has an iron deficiency.</p>

<p>I spent a lot of time these past two days talking with lawyers.  I&#39;m <br />
filing for Chapter 7 and I&#39;m going to tell Toyota to come get the Kia. <br />
$500/month is ridiculous.  Today I called the phone number, given to me by <br />
the lawyer&#39;s office, that one calls for a free credit report once a year <br />
from 3 different agencies.  I also have gathered my pay stubs from the <br />
last six months.  I have one copy of every bill/debt I know of.  And I <br />
have to use $200 from our apartment savings - the $900 the government gave <br />
R and myself to consume nonsense to boost the economy.  The bank took it&#39;s <br />
$67 out of that (which was in a savings share) to pay for the amount I was <br />
overdrawn from last week.  And S is going to need $50 from it for dental <br />
work tomorrow.</p>

<p>I&#39;ll be able to return $115 to the apartment fund from this paycheck, but <br />
the $200 deposit for the bankruptcy lawyer will have to be replaced in <br />
increments from subsequent paychecks.</p>

<p>My mom bought us a bunch of bottles of baby formula.  That was awesome. <br />
She said R seems to do better with the prepared formula than he does <br />
eating the powdered formula.  I wouldn&#39;t know, since I&#39;m not there during <br />
the day.  I really hope S and my mom started R on rice cereal today like I <br />
asked them to.  And if so, I really hope they continue for the next week <br />
or two, so that I can begin to introduce vegetables into his diet.</p>

<p>Still trying to lose weight.  I think I&#39;m at a pants size 12 now, because <br />
my 10&#39;s make my belly squeeze over the top.  12 is twice my goal but it&#39;s <br />
better than the 16 I was when I was pregnant!  Unfortunately, I&#39;ve been <br />
craving TastyKlair pies and jelly fruits lately.  It&#39;s that time.</p>

<p>Oh, well.  Back to work.  I have a lot of it to do.  It&#39;s a good think I&#39;m <br />
working late.</p>

<p>And I want to eat my orange.</p>

<p>Hasta la vista.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/my-first-mothers-day-and-so-on.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500e398f958ba0005?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>Ron Paul March!!!!</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Ron Paul March!!!!" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/ron-paul-march.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Ron Paul March!!!!" href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/ron-paul-march.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="Ron Paul March!!!!" href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf388d20002" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-30:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf388d20002</id>
        <published>2008-04-30T18:56:17Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-30T18:56:17Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>The Ron Paul march on Washington, D.C. is now officially scheduled for <br />
July 12th.</p>

<p>I need to call my neighbor about watching R.  I&#39;ll have to get E a really <br />
nice birthday gift.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/ron-paul-march.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf388d20002?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>My psych is right but I can&#39;t justify to my family....</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="My psych is right but I can&#39;t justify to my family...." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/my-psych-is-right-but-i-cant-justify-to-my-family.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="My psych is right but I can&#39;t justify to my family...." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/my-psych-is-right-but-i-cant-justify-to-my-family.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="My psych is right but I can&#39;t justify to my family...." href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf388cf0002" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-30:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf388cf0002</id>
        <published>2008-04-30T18:56:13Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-30T18:56:13Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>...or to S that I need &quot;me&quot; time.</p>

<p><br />
I just spoke to my psychiatrist who is treating me for a study during my <br />
post-partum period (which typically last about 6 months).  I was supposed <br />
to see her today, but I didn&#39;t have the four and a half dollars for <br />
parking.</p>

<p>Cymbalta 60mg, 2x/day has brought me back to being myself.  Yay!  But I <br />
feel something else beneath it.  She told me that the underlying <br />
depression I&#39;m feeling is not necessarily seperate, but that it will take <br />
2-3 months to feel the full effects of the current dosage.  That&#39;s cool.</p>

<p>She thinks that I am not only taking on too much but that too much is <br />
being expected of me.  Myself, my fiance, my infant son, my sister, her <br />
4-year-old son, my father, my mother, and a 7-month-old puppy - we all <br />
live together.  And it may as well be in a yellow submarine.  Even if you <br />
aren&#39;t a person who is sensitive to energy, or is not aware that you are, <br />
you would notice the chaos and tension in the air as soon as you walked <br />
through our front door.  My youngest sister rarely visits because of this. <br />
 </p>

<p>S and I are always arguing in the house.  But once we&#39;re out, whether we <br />
have R with us or not, we&#39;re as in love as though it&#39;s the first 6 months <br />
of our relationship again.  It&#39;s a very oppressive feeling to know that <br />
everything you decide to do will be scrutinized by family.  My sister is <br />
such a judge, it&#39;s sad.  Especially when I&#39;ve managed to eliminate judging <br />
almost entirely (except when S gets me wrapped up in judging, since he <br />
can&#39;t let it go - he just loves his categories and labels).</p>

<p>But I mean, everything from how much money we spend on gas, formula, food, <br />
and fun, to how we cope with a crying or wakeful infant, to when and where <br />
we do our laundry, to when and who does what chores, etc.  She also uses <br />
our requests for her to sit R as power and punishment, as if she&#39;s <br />
teaching us a lesson or getting back at one of us for something if she <br />
says &#39;no.&#39;</p>

<p>And then there&#39;s my father, whom I love dearly and look up to.  He has <br />
seasonal depression during the winter months, and during spring and summer <br />
when he&#39;s at his best, he&#39;s a pessimist&#39;s party pooper.  For example, if <br />
an optimist&#39;s glass is half full and a pessimist&#39;s glass is half empty, my <br />
father&#39;s glass is half full... of vinegar.  So you can imagine how bad he <br />
can be at times.  He has plenty of... character traits...  that might not <br />
be so much of a problem with a therapist&#39;s guidance, but you can&#39;t tell <br />
him that.  He will tell us something that might help us, or something we <br />
might be interested in, and then tell us that it would probably fail or <br />
that we would be gipped out of it or something like that.  He&#39;s just one <br />
big Sigh.</p>

<p>My mother&#39;s wonderful.  I&#39;m very much like her ;)  She has a silly, <br />
British-dry, original SNL cast sense of humor with facial expressions and <br />
eye movements so subtle that it isn&#39;t until after you react that you <br />
wonder how you understood her because you don&#39;t remember her having a <br />
reaction to whatever.  She was chief cook and bottle washer from the age <br />
of sixteen, which was when her mother died, until she entered nursing <br />
school in her twenties.  So, no sympathy comes from her when I spend all <br />
day at work, come home to a house of chaos and tension, S hands me R and <br />
disappears to play video games and never again until the next morning <br />
cares for R, and K (sis) is bitching me out for never doing dishes or <br />
washing or storing the towels and S is bitching me out for never washing <br />
bottles or going to the laundromat or folding the clothes like I said.  So <br />
I feed R about twice before he falls asleep, then put him down and pick <br />
him up again when he realizes he&#39;s not on my chest about three times <br />
before he&#39;s out for the night.  Then, I might not be too tired for a <br />
shower, but usually am.  So, I don&#39;t read or check e-mail or look anything <br />
up online before hitting the pillow. All this while we&#39;re flat broke <br />
without money for gas, co-pays, prescriptions, food (that&#39;s another <br />
story), or formula - let alone simple day trips.</p>

<p>Then of course I feel guilty that when I get home I can&#39;t play with my <br />
nephew, since I&#39;m the only one in that house who has the stamina AND <br />
desire to take him outside to play for a decent length of time.  My dad <br />
wants to but is too tired.  My mom has to go to bed because she works at <br />
night.  K comes home at 6pm and has chores to get done.  S has been caring <br />
for R all day.</p>

<p>All I can say is that despite all of that, and the fact that K takes up <br />
all of the fridge and freezer room, and we can&#39;t cook because we can&#39;t <br />
store ingredients and it&#39;s a chaotic kitchen -  they aren&#39;t charging us <br />
anything to stay there.</p>

<p>I eat Ezekiel cereal and almond milk for breakfast, basic fruit salad for <br />
lunch, and usually carrots and hummus with vegetable juice for dinner. <br />
I&#39;ve dropped 4 dress sizes in three months.  The only things I buy that <br />
are expensive are my bottles of Kombucha.  S didn&#39;t get the chance to buy <br />
any food this past pay period before the money was gone.  I&#39;m hoping <br />
neither of us spends more than $40 each.  Then of course things like <br />
prescriptions, appointment copays, cigarettes, gas, car maintenance, etc.</p>

<p>I don&#39;t know what R is supposed to be doing or what I&#39;m supposed to be <br />
doing with or for him because I never get a chance to read The Book or <br />
check The Websites about that stuff.  I&#39;ve been on the same pages of five <br />
different books on various subjects for three months.  I have an idea for <br />
making some extra cash but don&#39;t have the money for the one simple art <br />
supply or the time to design the things I&#39;d like to make.  I don&#39;t have <br />
time to learn about saving for our future, or opening a book store. <br />
I don&#39;t have time to do AB CRUNCHES, for crying out loud!  I don&#39;t get to <br />
use facial cream or clip my nails most nights.  I don&#39;t even get to play <br />
the video game I bought on the XBox I bought with some of my tax return <br />
money.  I could have saved that money for an apartment.  But probably not <br />
since the Grand we DID have saved is gone because everything costs so <br />
much. <br />
We now have ZERO dollars saved.  We&#39;re negative $13.  S still hasn&#39;t found <br />
a job.  The one that sent him for the drug test never got back to him and <br />
the one he could get at night is an hour away in the next state, so gas <br />
and toll would really add up.  I&#39;ve been working on a scarf for S for over <br />
two years now.  I can&#39;t meditate or do spellwork or anything I need to do <br />
for my soul.</p>

<p>The psychiatrist says she doesn&#39;t know how I&#39;m holding on and that I need <br />
to find some time for myself every day.  I asked her if sleep counts and <br />
she said no.  But I won&#39;t complain aloud.  Then I&#39;d be weak, needy, <br />
pathetic, melodramatic.  I just need to suck it up for the rest of my <br />
destitute, dream-shattered life. <br />
Don&#39;t get me wrong - this isn&#39;t my son&#39;s fault.  I&#39;m ecstatic that I&#39;m a <br />
mommy!  I love him so much and I&#39;m so glad he&#39;s in my life!  I just... <br />
could use a little understanding and assistance sometimes.  It isn&#39;t <br />
anyone&#39;s fault, really.  I chose this path and I&#39;ll stick to it.  I know <br />
from experience that it gets a little easier when they don&#39;t need to be <br />
held all of the time.  But he&#39;s still small, so when he&#39;s awake, he needs <br />
to be held to be able to interact.</p>

<p>Well, anyway.  I learned a long time ago to accept people for who they <br />
are, to accept my family members, and to love them for who they are.  So, <br />
it took a while for me to see how much stress they were causing in my life <br />
and on my relationship.  I hadn&#39;t realized for a while that whenever I <br />
made a decision regarding our son, myself, and/or S, I was taking into <br />
account what my family might think.  That isn&#39;t like me, either.  I <br />
learned a long time ago not to be bothered by what other people think. <br />
Don&#39;t judge yourself and don&#39;t feel judged because chances are everyone <br />
else is either too busy judging themselves to judge you or they are only <br />
judging you to feel better about how harshly they judge themselves.  I <br />
consider advice, sure.  I consider what people say when it&#39;s obvious <br />
they&#39;re interested in what&#39;s best for me and when they constructive <br />
criticism.  But I don&#39;t usually worry about how I look or seem or sound.</p>

<p>I&#39;ve lost my train of thought so I&#39;ll stop there.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/my-psych-is-right-but-i-cant-justify-to-my-family.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf388cf0002?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>So many people have had their fire doused by society.  But this guy&#39;s on our side.</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="So many people have had their fire doused by society.  But this guy&#39;s on our side." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/so-many-people-have-had-their-fire-doused-by-society-but-this-guys-on-our-side.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="So many people have had their fire doused by society.  But this guy&#39;s on our side." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/so-many-people-have-had-their-fire-doused-by-society-but-this-guys-on-our-side.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="So many people have had their fire doused by society.  But this guy&#39;s on our side." href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf1e5fe0002" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-25:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf1e5fe0002</id>
        <published>2008-04-25T18:59:10Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-25T18:59:10Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>I am 28 years old.  For as long as I can remember I&#39;ve been told that this <br />
is my community, my country, my government, my world.  I&#39;ve been told that <br />
I am the future.  I share Ghandi&#39;s belief that you are the change you want <br />
to see in the world.  And I know that everyone has been told these things.</p>

<p>I know that most of the people I grew up with and spent time around in my <br />
early adult life, up until now, have the same basic beliefs about the <br />
United States&#39; policy and political issues.</p>

<p>And I know that eventually we&#39;re all crushed by the seeming futility of <br />
fighting something that is so big, so powerful, and so out of control.</p>

<p>I just want those people to know that all of the anger of our youth was <br />
not for nothing.  I want them to know that all of the helplessness we felt <br />
when we realized that the problems were too large for us to change was not <br />
in vain.  I want everyone to know that when we thought the government <br />
wasn&#39;t listening because we were &#39;just kids&#39; or were too &#39;unorganized,&#39; <br />
they were actually keeping a close eye on us because they *fear* us.</p>

<p>Government is full of old fat cats who fear, above all, their own fates <br />
(the fate they share with all living creatures), and the only way they <br />
know how to fool themselves into thinking that they are fighting that <br />
fear, or even escaping it, is to hold on, with everything they have, to <br />
POWER. Power over people of all ages, power over an economy, power over <br />
media, power over military.  In order to make themselves feel important <br />
and secure and far from death, they do anything they can to remain in <br />
control of everything that is fleeting.  That power makes them feel secure <br />
because the youth are a threat to them, because the youth represent <br />
change.  Young people represent the future; a future in which those old <br />
fat cats will have to face their fate and lose everything, and admit that <br />
it&#39;s all fleeting.  They refuse to accept the fact that all things change.</p>

<p>I want everyone who believes as I do, who sees what I see, who knows what <br />
I know, to know that there is someone &#39;on the inside&#39; who thinks the way <br />
we have thought since we became teenagers, and the way today&#39;s teenagers <br />
think - the way everyone who never let go of the anger of their youth <br />
thinks.  There *is* someone on our side, and he is *not* backing down.</p>

<p>He has been censored, ignored, and turned away from by the media.  But he <br />
hasn&#39;t been discouraged because he knows how powerful the voices of our <br />
generation and our parents&#39; generation are.  He knows we are passionate <br />
and that we care, and he knows that we can spread word like wildfire.</p>

<p>His name is Doctor Ron Paul.  I will not preach to you about his <br />
accomplishments.  I&#39;ve said my piece.  If you&#39;re interested, visit this <br />
website:</p>

<p>www.ronpaul2008.com</p>

<p>I hope you find what you&#39;re looking for.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/so-many-people-have-had-their-fire-doused-by-society-but-this-guys-on-our-side.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf1e5fe0002?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>Why do I need it?  Something must me coming.</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Why do I need it?  Something must me coming." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/why-do-i-need-it-something-must-me-coming.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Why do I need it?  Something must me coming." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/why-do-i-need-it-something-must-me-coming.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="Why do I need it?  Something must me coming." href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf1a1d00003" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-24:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf1a1d00003</id>
        <published>2008-04-24T18:34:32Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-24T18:34:32Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>I need it.  There&#39;s nothing romantic or dangerous about it.  Very simply, <br />
I need it.  I only started to think about it Monday (4.21.08).  I have to <br />
find time to check world news headlines, religious news headlines, <br />
astronomical and astrological events and conspiracy theory sites.  I may <br />
find a clue there.  Something&#39;s happening right now, or is about to happen <br />
soon.  I&#39;m somehow connected to it.  Maybe I was supposed to be there when <br />
it happened or am supposed to be there when it eventually happens.  Maybe <br />
whatever it is will effect or has effected me or my future.  Maybe not. <br />
Whatever it is, the feeling is... excitement, longing, wariness, dread, <br />
adrenaline, viciousness, defend and protect.  I feel like Tiger: pace, <br />
watch; pace, watch.  And the lust.  The lust for &quot;it,&quot; for energy, for <br />
sex, for violence...  It&#39;s growing.  I must find a way to hold onto those <br />
I love, to fulfill my responsibilities to them and enjoy life with them, <br />
while keeping an eye, an ear, a tooth on this other thing.</p>

<p>What is it?  Who are you?  When?</p>

<p>I have four on which I can call to my side.  Tiger and Crane, of course. I <br />
feel the need to keep the other two hidden until our relationships are <br />
more stable.</p>

<p>You, reading this - stop that thought.  I long to be delusional and <br />
self-important.  That isn&#39;t the case, I&#39;m afraid.   Very.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/why-do-i-need-it-something-must-me-coming.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500f48cf1a1d00003?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
    
    <entry>
        <title>Lost and confused... This is not my world.</title>   
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Lost and confused... This is not my world." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/lost-and-confused-this-is-not-my-world.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />  
        <link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Lost and confused... This is not my world." href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/lost-and-confused-this-is-not-my-world.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments" /> 
        <link rel="service.edit" type="application/atom+xml" title="Lost and confused... This is not my world." href="http://www.vox.com/atom/svc=post/asset_id=6a00e398dd11ad000500e398f2ed4f0005" />          <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-23:asset-6a00e398dd11ad000500e398f2ed4f0005</id>
        <published>2008-04-23T18:34:34Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-25T01:31:10Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Citizen Crane</name>
            <uri>http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
        <content type="html" xml:base="http://citizencrane.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full">
            <![CDATA[
                <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:at="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/at">
        <p>&quot;This is not my world.&quot;   That&#39;s what S always says.  He says he <br />
doesn&#39;t understand this world and that he belongs in an earlier time.</p>

<p>This is not my world, either.  If I had one, I was sent away.  Either as <br />
punishment or for a purpose, but I was &#39;cast out.&#39;  Not from a biblical <br />
heaven, no.  I don&#39;t subscribe to the belief that there is a heaven-like <br />
place or a hell-like place hereafter, pushing everything and everyone <br />
around like chess pieces.   [Hell is commonly described, in most religions/cultures, as being a place of fear, pain, unhappiness, suffering, war.&#160; This &#39;reality&#39; of society that we are stumbling around in RIGHT NOW is exactly those things. Read don Miguel Ruiz&#39;s book, &#39;The Four Agreements&#39; for more.]</p>

<p>No, I believe our spirits live multiple lifetimes in order to learn and to <br />
evolve.   I believe in an all-encompassing, all-pervasive, unifying Source <br />
of Life Energy.   I believe that we&#39;re born, we die, we review our past <br />
lives and the life we just finished, we are shown our progress, and we are <br />
re-born to work on certain things.</p>

<p>I&#39;m not like everyone else.  S is the closest I&#39;ve found to being <br />
like myself.  I can&#39;t see what others see.  I don&#39;t hear what others hear. <br />
 I&#39;m not satisfied with the things they want.  My priorities are so vastly <br />
different from everyone&#39;s that I&#39;ve never divulged them to anyone.  I&#39;ve <br />
told people my priorities as closely to truthful as I can without being <br />
shunned. </p>

<p>My desires run deep and hard, and are not acceptable by anyone&#39;s standards <br />
(that I know of) but they still aren&#39;t &#39;perverse&#39; or &#39;criminal&#39; or really <br />
hurtful to anyone.  They&#39;re just... dark. </p>

<p>I also have a tendency toward... not toward hope.  Hopes are desires are <br />
suffering.  I tend toward... I just somehow know that it&#39;s never so bad as <br />
people make it.  There&#39;s always a way.  I can&#39;t always see the way, but I <br />
always know it&#39;s there. </p>

<p>I understand children like others don&#39;t.  I know how to respect them and <br />
talk to them.  I&#39;m an empath in situations that aren&#39;t part of my daily <br />
routine.  I feel trees, rocks, and water.</p>

<p>I&#39;m caught &#39;in-between.&#39;  I&#39;m balanced between light and dark.  My light <br />
side and my dark side live in perfect harmony and rarely contradict one <br />
another through my actions.  I feel my strength in both, and I accept and <br />
utilize both.</p>

<p>I love sleeping.  True Reality is when our spirits travel while we sleep.</p>

<p>I am most comfortable watching.  I don&#39;t know why.  I don&#39;t even know what <br />
I&#39;m watching for.  But there are times when I&#39;m drawn to certain areas or <br />
situations just to watch.  I&#39;m not there to learn, really.  It&#39;s more like <br />
I&#39;m waiting for something or someone, but I won&#39;t know what or whom until <br />
I see them.  The image of myself in a high place appeals to me greatly, <br />
just watching, waiting, in the wind.  Which is odd because I&#39;ve always <br />
been a little afraid of heights (one of only two fears I have).</p>

<p>I feel most comfortable in fog and mist, under running water, in the <br />
branches of trees, on a mountain cliff or rooftop, or with my hands around <br />
rocks either climbing or simply holding them.</p>

<p>Most disturbingly, I feel pulled.  More than following my instincts or <br />
paying attention to signs and feelings (all of which I do), more than <br />
feeling pulled toward areas around me.  I feel pulled to entirely <br />
different places in the world.  Sometimes.  But most of the time... I feel <br />
pulled... ...away, I think.  I feel empty and alone and severed from <br />
something or somewhere, I feel discarded and sometimes punished, sometimes <br />
longing to return, sometimes as though I&#39;m doing a job or duty that I wish <br />
I hadn&#39;t been assigned to or raised my hand for.</p>

<p>I feel as though I&#39;m standing still amidst a blur of desires, intentions, <br />
and emotions I can&#39;t comprehend which belong to creatures I don&#39;t know or <br />
understand, and can no long pretend to be like.  I long to flee, but am <br />
either unable or not permitted to.</p>

<p>Sometimes.... if I could just run or be alone for a day....  but everyone <br />
always has to know where I am and I&#39;m not allowed out alone after dark. <br />
I&#39;m 28 years old.  I have a fiance and an infant.  I&#39;m so lost.</p>   <p style="clear:both;"> 
    <a href="http://citizencrane.vox.com/library/post/lost-and-confused-this-is-not-my-world.html?_c=feed-atom-full#comments">Read and post comments</a>   |   
    <a href="http://www.vox.com/share/6a00e398dd11ad000500e398f2ed4f0005?_c=feed-atom-full">Send to a friend</a> 
</p>

                </div>
            ]]>
        </content> 
    </entry> 
</feed>


