What I Like Most about LiveJournal

Initially, I thought I'd have difficulty writing this "LJ Idol" entry, because it's really kind of schmaltzy and Sith don't do schmaltzy. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out why I like LJ so much, and how on Earth I was going to express that without sounding like a complete dork. Then the answer presented itself in the form of personal tragedy.

When I was pulled into the LiveJournal world by sri3m, I figured the fascination would last a few weeks and then I'd drop it, like I've done with every diary and journal I've ever kept. After my first few entries, I discovered how cathartic it was to write about my life, particularly my travails in The Pit. It was then I began to learn more about how the site worked and that I could actually privatise my journal, if I so desired. But I decided at that moment that I would keep my journal public. I am on the threshold of 5000 entries and I could count my private posts on one hand and my friends-only posts on my fingers and toes. The rest of it is completely public. The reason for this is that I had my privacy intruded upon as a young teenager and I've never fully recovered from that experience. My reasoning was that, if I kept everything out in the open, then I'd have nothing to agonise about later. I am literally an open book. I have nothing to hide.

I've been with LJ for a little over four years. It's taken me four years to accrue 157 friends, when it takes some people only four days to do that. Most of these friends came to me, although some I did friend first when I was feeling adventurous and outgoing. When I first began writing here, I was unaware how tightly bonds with folks online can be formed. But, when the people began to gather on my friends list, and I began to read their journals and get feedback from them when they read mind, I realised that LJ was more than just a place to write one's thoughts; rather, it was a community where like-minded people could find solace in each other when they may not be able to find it anywhere else.

This was already apparent to me before this past Thursday, but this knowledge was brought home to me when my LJ friends gathered around me in my grief. A certain magick was conjured among them all and I could literally feel their arms and hands around me as I read their comments to my post. Honestly, when I posted, I did so to mark the moment, like I always do. It's my journal, so I had an obligation to myself to write here and tell what had happened, so I could read back and know what was going on and how I was feeling. The last thing I expected was the outpouring of concern and friendship that came from the folks on my friends list. I was astounded and unbelievably grateful. I still am.

That said, I can easily state what I like most about LiveJournal: My friends. You're like family to me. Nothing makes me smile more than reading each and every one of you, and going through what all of you go through each day. LJ wouldn't be the same without the precious community it helps to create. Anyone who thinks that online relationships aren't real hasn't had the privilege or honour to experience LiveJournal in the way that I have. Despite my misanthropic tendencies, I'm grateful for the Humans with whom I've connected here. You're all good folks, good souls.

May the Goddess bless LiveJournal for allowing us to come together.

Where Tin attempts to escape her blue funk by griping about the heat

My grass is almost a foot high because I can't imagine going out in the godawful heat and humidity to cut it. It is once again that time of year where I ponder the advantages of purchasing a couple of goats and letting them go berserk on my lawn. Of course, my usual honed ability to think up colourful metaphors for how hot it is here has been dashed upon the jagged rocks of moad_terran_hq's creativity. When he mentioned that it was "slap dough under your arms and make stank bread hot," not only did he force me to fall hopelessly in love with him, but he also hijacked what was normally my little niche of ingenuity: that is, describing how horrible the heat is in ways that make others weep and cackle simultaneously.

But I can't stop griping about the heat just because I've been outdone by moad_terran_hq. It's too hot not to gripe about it.

The current temperature is 83 with over 50% humidity. The temperature really isn't that bad right now, but the humidity is what makes it worse than it actually is. It's bad enough that the ladies (Smidgen, Shmoop, and Motley) are indoors, stretched out like noodles on the floor. It's supposed to get up to 92 today and, honestly, I'll be surprised if we make it there since it's already after 4 in the afternoon. But tomorrow.....tomorrow is supposed to be 98 or even hotter.

The family is gathering for a cook-out late tomorrow afternoon. In order to avoid the heat (like that's gonna happen) and be together at sunset in order to set off fireworks for the kids, we're gathering up at Uncle Michael's and Janice's around 6 PM. The way I see it, I will be chewed on by flies as I broil in the hot, wet heat until the sun goes down. Then, I will be chewed on by mosquitoes and have my nerves rankled by asplodey things and screaming kids. Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'd rather just sit in the dark and the cool of the bedroom and ponder the destruction of all Humanity. Heat makes me want to move the Alpaca Lips along a little faster than it's currently developing.

I need a large pool in which to dive nekkid. And I'd pee in it, or say I did, so no one else would encroach on my personal space.