Bistro Bijou

[UnderYourSpell]

Good afternoon everyone,

Earlier today my beloved familiar, Litha, died very peacefully, with all of us gathered around her. She made a good end - not three days ago she was living her regular wild life, hanging around on the back porch, insisting that a window be left open so she could come in to eat and use the bathroom (very fastidious, that one) and generally raising hell. Over the past 48 hours she simply weakened and slept, eventually going to sleep for good.

She purred the entire time, as if to tell us that she was fine, this was correct and we needn't do anything except keep her company. She ate and drank a little, but it was mostly, I believe, to make us happy. Aside from work, I've been with her constantly, and the whole family was there when she breathed her last. She turned 18 this past March, so she's had a very long, very good life in which she ruled our household with an iron paw in velvet fur.

We will bury her with an Egyptian ceremony. In ancient Egypt, cats were frequently given the honors and embalming offered to humans, and their bereaved humans would shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning.

I'll be quiet today, but I'm around. Even when death is long-delayed, proper and sacred in every way, it still hurts those of us who haven't escaped yet.

I wish her safe journeys as she travels through the seven gates. We will sorely miss our little black light.

bj

I am so sorry Bijou but I am glad she had you of all the millions of people in this world something brought her to the right place

 

[normal jean]

.................

 

[UnderYourSpell]

mine is 29!!

This is interesting !!!
See if your brain is as old as your body
or (perish the thought ) OLDER !!

Read the following instructions
since the game is in Japanese :

1. Touch 'start'
2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circles from the SMALLEST number to theBIGGEST number.
4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you how old your brain is.

Good luck !
http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

 

[the Snood]

... and then to come online to email calling me a perv from people I have known for years and have met many times has knocked me for six ...

While I do not know the specifics, I'd suggest that your ex-correspondents are the pervs.

Taken literally, perversion means against or in defiance of nature. There are those who believe that nature is a thing above which we are put into this world to rise, and they therefor they are perverts.

There also are those who consider an open-mouthed kiss perverted, but generally speaking they are not persons of influence.

While I cannot council you to just write off these people, I'd advise you to think long and hard on the meaning of "friend."

In my world, friends celebrate their differences as mush as their similarities, and a sound friendship encompasses both the symmetry of the balance and the asymmetry of the gear.

"Tolerance" of differences presupposes that there's something to tolerate, so fuck it. Seek embrasure, babe, and don't settle.

While I don't know you well, and use the word friend with some caution, I do like you and suspect rather strongly that we'll be friends. At the very least, I can offer you unconditional approval.

I extend that irrespective of your love map, choice of dress or bathing habits.

Please accept my e-hug, and perhaps an open-mouthed kiss.

Snood

 

[UnderYourSpell]

The hug I will accept with alacrity the kiss I am afraid will have to wait awhile .......

 

[the Snood]

See if your brain is as old as your body
or (perish the thought ) OLDER !!

My brain is half the age I was two years past, and one third the age I'll be twenty years hence.

How old is it, and how old am I, and do you like premature curmudgeons with young brains?

Snood

 

[unpredictablebijou]

My brain is half the age I was two years past, and one third the age I'll be twenty years hence.

How old is it, and how old am I, and do you like premature curmudgeons with young brains?

Snood

That's like, math, isn't it?

Personally I'm a big fan of premature curmudgeons. And I bet when UYS is in a cheerier mood you'll perhaps be gifted with a tour of the Bistro. She's our best hostess and also our personnel manager. That's her office in back, with the four-poster bed.

I usually just do my interviews under the piano.

bj

 

[Anschul]

Good afternoon everyone,

Earlier today my beloved familiar, Litha, died very peacefully, with all of us gathered around her. She made a good end - not three days ago she was living her regular wild life, hanging around on the back porch, insisting that a window be left open so she could come in to eat and use the bathroom (very fastidious, that one) and generally raising hell. Over the past 48 hours she simply weakened and slept, eventually going to sleep for good.

She purred the entire time, as if to tell us that she was fine, this was correct and we needn't do anything except keep her company. She ate and drank a little, but it was mostly, I believe, to make us happy. Aside from work, I've been with her constantly, and the whole family was there when she breathed her last. She turned 18 this past March, so she's had a very long, very good life in which she ruled our household with an iron paw in velvet fur.

We will bury her with an Egyptian ceremony. In ancient Egypt, cats were frequently given the honors and embalming offered to humans, and their bereaved humans would shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning.

I'll be quiet today, but I'm around. Even when death is long-delayed, proper and sacred in every way, it still hurts those of us who haven't escaped yet.

I wish her safe journeys as she travels through the seven gates. We will sorely miss our little black light.

bj

I can't fight back anymore I am too tired just so tired when I give of myself I give heart and soul I don't know how to be different I wish I did now all I want to do is sleep. I feel as if I am existing on a running down battery

While I do not know the specifics, I'd suggest that your ex-correspondents are the pervs.

Taken literally, perversion means against or in defiance of nature. There are those who believe that nature is a thing above which we are put into this world to rise, and they therefor they are perverts.

There also are those who consider an open-mouthed kiss perverted, but generally speaking they are not persons of influence.

While I cannot council you to just write off these people, I'd advise you to think long and hard on the meaning of "friend."

In my world, friends celebrate their differences as mush as their similarities, and a sound friendship encompasses both the symmetry of the balance and the asymmetry of the gear.

"Tolerance" of differences presupposes that there's something to tolerate, so fuck it. Seek embrasure, babe, and don't settle.

While I don't know you well, and use the word friend with some caution, I do like you and suspect rather strongly that we'll be friends. At the very least, I can offer you unconditional approval.

I extend that irrespective of your love map, choice of dress or bathing habits.

Please accept my e-hug, and perhaps an open-mouthed kiss.

Snood

BJ, I wish you my deep sympathies. I remember how I felt when AA's cat of 18 years passed last year (he had been with us since I joined AA), and more importantly, how AA felt. Not being a cat person myself, I can still recognize the friendship they provide--I had to give up a dog a few years ago, but cats give one a certain emotional closeness that dogs do not--they're all about licking and happiness and stuff (their own), so I know that cats are special to cat people. As I told NJ last month, I just know that she'll be with you for a long time.

Annie, these people who are tormenting you are absolute dopes. Please, PLEASE don't give them the power to mess with your head. If you give in to the emotions that they are hoping to make you feel, then you give them a power they do not deserve. You are way better, and I--we all here--know that you are WAY better than that, and that whatever they are feeling (they are certainly not thinking) is their problem, not yours. We all--I--care for you way more than you can possibly imagine, and recognize your talent, your kindness, your beauty, and your spirit. You are better than they are. Continue being you, and don't let idiots change you one single bit.

And Snood, you are a gentleman, and you are absolutely right. And we are all friends here (at least I hope so), and at the very least, there is a great deal of respect going on, and what can be better than request?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/itsannier/HYDRANGEACLOSE1.jpg

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Hi chef! Nice hat! Makes you look like an Amish farmer.

'cept they don't usually wear tie-dyed shirts, do they?

I agree with you on the above, and it got me thinking about name-calling and mean people and such.

I get called bad names sometimes. I know this must be a complete surprise to everyone, but it's true. A while back, when I was in the middle of one of those situations, someone quite randomly told me about a Native American tribe with a very cool tradition about that.

Let's say you're a kid at school and the other kids make up a nasty nickname for you, or something like that. Say, 'attention whore' or 'half-breed' or 'slut'. You go home crying about your new name.

the whole family immediately begins calling you that name. They call you that until you own it and transform it. Here's the logic: Names have great power. The name is the thing named, to a certain extent. So when someone names you, they've taken a certain amount of power over you. You have to take that power back from them, by owning the name yourself and making it mean what YOU want it to mean.

I have taken many names back. Hell, just on this board alone I was given the opportunity to take back everything from "fucking cunt" to "attention whore" to "sick". Among others.

Some will remember when I had every single quote of that type in my sig line. I owned those motherfuckers, and I still do. But one by one I was able to exchange them for some equally important names, ones I own just as much.

I am an attention whore. I love attention so much I give it away for free. And I am a fucking cunt in all of the best possible ways.

The more you own all your beautiful names, the more you'll attract people who will call you the right names, for the right reasons.

This bears some sort of assignment for the bistrovians, but i'm not sure what form it should take.

Declare your most powerful names and claim them publicly, maybe? Like,

I bijou declare that I am in fact a fucking cunt and an attention whore and I take those names and their power back, offering gratitude to the people who called me those things, since they have unintentionally empowered me to own myself in ever deeper and stronger ways.


Take that, bitchiz.


Now YOU try. It's kinda fun.
bj

 

[champagne1982]

My brain is half the age I was two years past, and one third the age I'll be twenty years hence.

How old is it, and how old am I, and do you like premature curmudgeons with young brains?

Snood

I think, your brain is 22 and you are 46...

 

[champagne1982]

I've been called an anal nit-picker, just today. Well, this is so true I can't even acknowledge the brand as an insult to me, however, those, whose sphincters I happen to pick may find offense since I haven't found nits on any ... yet.

So, I own this and the gender confusion it seems I've caused in lesser brains than my own today. I send the one naming me a blessing and a sincere wish that he finds whatever measure of peace he can from a plethora of red H's and maybe ... if we beseech Laurel long enough, a green E to call his own. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to build karma today my anonymous namer ... and for the laughs.

 

[the Snood]

The hug I will accept with alacrity the kiss I am afraid will have to wait awhile .......

Perhaps I should've offered an e-kiss as well. Somewhat easier ones carbon footprint, the pocketbook et cetera.

Snood

 

[the Snood]

I think, your brain is 22 and you are 46...

Indeed!

Bartender, please get the nice lady another of whatever she's having, on me.

Snood

 

[unpredictablebijou]

I've been called an anal nit-picker, just today. Well, this is so true I can't even acknowledge the brand as an insult to me, however, those, whose sphincters I happen to pick may find offense since I haven't found nits on any ... yet.

So, I own this and the gender confusion it seems I've caused in lesser brains than my own today. I send the one naming me a blessing and a sincere wish that he finds whatever measure of peace he can from a plethora of red H's and maybe ... if we beseech Laurel long enough, a green E to call his own. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to build karma today my anonymous namer ... and for the laughs.

If one is a nit-picker, and dealing with those who are basically enormous assholes, that would indeed make you specifically an anal nit-picker, though the anal part is their own damn fault. If they would be better people, you could be, I dunno, a regular nit-picker at least, or an aerial nit picker, or an angelic nit picker.

I've noticed that those who can't handle critique tend to throw that nit-picking thing around. I wish I'd had you picking my nits when i was posting those first few stories - there are tiny errors and punctuation typos and things that just make me cringe now. And yes, I'm too goddamn lazy to blow the stuff away and re-submit. There are so many more fun things to do. Funner, even.

you go, grrrl. 7 karma points! woot!

bj

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Perhaps I should've offered an e-kiss as well. Somewhat easier ones carbon footprint, the pocketbook et cetera.

Snood

I'm not usually a kissy kissy touchy feely person (unless I accompany you to the back room) I have been informed it's a whorish tendency they will fuck but not kiss

 

[the Snood]

I've heard that as well, although more frequently it's described as a defence mechanism.

Reduces ones level of vulnerability, keeping a safe distance between the seat of ones consciousness and that of another.

A kiss on the forehead, then, and a squeeze of the shoulder.

Snood

 

[the Snood]

I'm off to do some very un-Snood-like things to some invasive, chitinous vermin. Back some time soon, I trust.

Keep the faith,

Snood

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Sounds a bit brotherly that all I am saying is no tongues at this stage ......

 

[normal jean]

This is interesting !!!
See if your brain is as old as your body
or (perish the thought ) OLDER !!

Read the following instructions
since the game is in Japanese :

1. Touch 'start'
2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circles from the SMALLEST number to theBIGGEST number.
4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you how old your brain is.

Good luck !
http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

okay, I did the brain thingie... It says I am 20. Actually, I am 45

 

[the Snood]

Sounds a bit brotherly that all I am saying is no tongues at this stage ......

You do make me chuckle, kiddo.

Have a great almost-Monday...

Snood

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Nice to know my sense of humour hasn't deserted me altogether and I don't know where you are but it's Monday here already and I must to bed

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Nice to know my sense of humour hasn't deserted me altogether and I don't know where you are but it's Monday here already and I must to bed

Sleep well, dollface. And may your sense of humour never desert you - we rely on it in here a great deal.

bj

 

[Homburg]

This is interesting !!!
See if your brain is as old as your body
or (perish the thought ) OLDER !!

Read the following instructions
since the game is in Japanese :

1. Touch 'start'
2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circles from the SMALLEST number to theBIGGEST number.
4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you how old your brain is.

Good luck !
http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

I'm apparently 24. Yay me. I wonder if less of a splitting headache would improve my scores in this game.

Ugh.

My brain is half the age I was two years past, and one third the age I'll be twenty years hence.

How old is it, and how old am I, and do you like premature curmudgeons with young brains?

Snood

I think, your brain is 22 and you are 46...

What she said. Yay, algebra. The fact that I could do this with the aforementioned splitting headache impresses me.

 

[Sara Crewe]

Hi chef! Nice hat! Makes you look like an Amish farmer.

'cept they don't usually wear tie-dyed shirts, do they?

I agree with you on the above, and it got me thinking about name-calling and mean people and such.

I get called bad names sometimes. I know this must be a complete surprise to everyone, but it's true. A while back, when I was in the middle of one of those situations, someone quite randomly told me about a Native American tribe with a very cool tradition about that.

Let's say you're a kid at school and the other kids make up a nasty nickname for you, or something like that. Say, 'attention whore' or 'half-breed' or 'slut'. You go home crying about your new name.

the whole family immediately begins calling you that name. They call you that until you own it and transform it. Here's the logic: Names have great power. The name is the thing named, to a certain extent. So when someone names you, they've taken a certain amount of power over you. You have to take that power back from them, by owning the name yourself and making it mean what YOU want it to mean.

I have taken many names back. Hell, just on this board alone I was given the opportunity to take back everything from "fucking cunt" to "attention whore" to "sick". Among others.

Some will remember when I had every single quote of that type in my sig line. I owned those motherfuckers, and I still do. But one by one I was able to exchange them for some equally important names, ones I own just as much.

I am an attention whore. I love attention so much I give it away for free. And I am a fucking cunt in all of the best possible ways.

The more you own all your beautiful names, the more you'll attract people who will call you the right names, for the right reasons.

This bears some sort of assignment for the bistrovians, but i'm not sure what form it should take.

Declare your most powerful names and claim them publicly, maybe? Like,

I bijou declare that I am in fact a fucking cunt and an attention whore and I take those names and their power back, offering gratitude to the people who called me those things, since they have unintentionally empowered me to own myself in ever deeper and stronger ways.


Take that, bitchiz.


Now YOU try. It's kinda fun.
bj

I tell my students this all the time. A name only has the power you give it. When you realize that, it's like catching the arrow before it hits your heart and snapping it in half and if you are particularly testy bitch like me you do a little neener neener dance, snap your fingers once, turn your back on the empty space and find someone else to fill it.


And you ma friend of many names and one large-sized heart--only a very good person is able to give in a time of need. I was going to say you were an impressive human being but that particular modifier has been sullied. *ahem*

You are a keeper in every sense of the word.