This is a long post. The end is the most important, scroll down if your attention span is limited.
For now it’s late Sunday night fun.
Things I did this weekend:
Finished the Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali — You can purchase it at Cooper’s Store below. Yes you would be one of the few to purchase anything there, but it makes me feel so big time.
Started The Dawkins Delusion which you can’t purchase at Cooper’s store. I only place books I recommend there. It’s a very small book though, as one would expect a book with such a title to be.
Walked out of my apartment directly into a festival celebrating the culture of India. I had no idea this was happening almost right outside my door; it was a pleasant surprise.
I hiked the trails at Monocacy National Battlefield. More like walked the trails really, as it is not large, just some trails to walk, but it was fun. I was with a friend of mine from work, a women originally from Liberia; she has been in this country some time, new to this area as of last year, and had yet to go to Monocacy. She’s quite interested in the history of this country, so next we’ll hit Gettysburg.
Updated my wordpress installation using, for the second time, this little beauty . Worked like a charm again. The site is slow to load but it’s worth the wait for this plug-in.
I was over at My Blog Log yesterday looking at the icons of new members. Was stunned to see a full frontal, legs akimbo, sans panties, avatar of a female. I’m sure it attracted a lot of males, but I was a speechless for a few seconds. I really have nothing to say about it. I was just stunned. I blew the thing up just to make sure that was what it was…seriously. It’s not like My Blog Log is a porn site…yet. In case your wondering, as I’m sure some are, I would have been just as stunned had it been a full frontal legs akimbo, sans panties male avatar. I would also have blown it up to make sure I was seeing right.
Got a You Make Me Smile award from Deborah at Climate of Our Future and another Rocking Girl Blogger Award this time from Christy of A Circle of Women. I am grateful for the awards. I love those girls. I now knock rock three times and make someone smile once. That should give me something to think about.
Go to your room.
The Important Part.
I was also added to a list of bloggers by my Climate caring friend. The list started by Priscilla Palmer author of Personal Development Demands Success.
It was a little confusing at first. As you know I am not much of a linker, and yes it is viral, and yes I usually avoid those things like the plague, but because I heart hard so many of my women blogger friends I am going to do this with my women blogger friends in mind. Being a personal development kind of thing I wasn’t sure it would work. I do feel that women bloggers who are inspirational, motivated, and allow me to look into their lives with their words help me to look into and at myself. I can only come out better for it.
My lists consist of some very strong, and talented women; women who I met through blogging, most over two years ago now. Women from all over the world, women I miss when they disappear from the blogeshpere for a time, and who always fill my heart and head when they return.
1. Pia of Courting Destiny Fame. Pia who will despise me for this, but there ya go. Probably the first female blogger who linked to me back when I was a nineteen year old called “Alice” writing my blog as an offshoot of my deadjournal, writing it poorly at that — usually while half running out the door of an unfortunate dorm situation. Linking to me despite the fact that I was an eighteen/nineteen year old who only thought I was really clever and witty. There might have been a moment or two in which some wit appeared, but for the most part I was just a nineteen year old with a blog, and Pia linked to me. Pia of New York, the New York Post, the Long Island Press. Pia the only reason to read Bring it On.…Pia who will soon no longer be of New York but of Myrtle Beach. Pia who worships Frank Rich, who lived through 9/11, who will soon be on the NYT best seller list. I will forever court destiny .
2: Mizzy Bohemia from Miz Bohemia’s Rhapsody Whose real name I will not disclose to you, but whose real name I know. 
Mizzy B — Iranian, Spanish, American.…Mizzy B who makes me laugh, shares her family, and always says what she thinks. Mizzy B who despite great obstacles, and a life full of children and yoga, selling and not selling her house, moving, not moving and finally escaping Spain making it back to the good old USA. Miz Bohemia who I read despite having to use IE when doing so. Mizzy B who with boxes still unpacked, and the alarm ringing at 5 AM for class, graciously posts something for her clamoring fans…moi.
3: Illyria from Finding Norway.
I once called her blog Word Cum Heaven and to this day it remains so. From the other side of the world her thoughts in poetry and prose bring me closer to knowing how words can draw things so beautifully in the mind, explain much and express the inexpressible. Words are never so beautiful as they are at Finding Norway.
4. The Lab : Leigh lab Surfer Girl: My friend Leigh blogs less as her life gets busier. She holds my heart there on the water of the Pacific coast as she shares her life, her loves, her disappointments, her successes, and her surfing injuries.
5: Kelly from Kellymentology, the only mommy blog I read because she is not as much of a mommy blogger as she is a writer who happens to be a mommy. There is never a loss of of interesting posts; she can blog about anything. Kelley can state opinions on politics which even if I disagree with I am still compelled to read. That is how good she is. She is also a baker of sorts and as foreign as baking is to me I am proud to read someone who knows how to work an oven
Now my exceptional blogger friends it is up to you to do the same, or not.
To end this Sunday — or begin this Monday as the case may be. I want to say
RIP Luciano
What better way to end my tribute to my women friends than with
La Donna È Mobile
I’m sorry this was the only vid I could find with Pavarotti singing from Verdi’s opera Rigoletto, but t’is as fitting as I can get.
And here you have me… up bright and early, checking in on you first thing in the am my dear, sweet, beautiful lady with integrity… yes, that sums you up to me indeed…
I still remember falling into Wonderland (I liked your comment over at Caz’s, the blogger template maker whose template I was initially using) and being intrigued by this young girl with the strong words…
… a girl with no name other than Alice, at times Cooper, no face I could truly see except for the occasional, visible yet subtly blurred/disguised/somehow distorted pictures that in spite of their blurring/disguising/slight distortions I knew to be beautiful… most of all, she respected herself, refused to objectify herself and was powerfully
as-in-my-sexuality-is-mine-and-I-shall-do-with-it-and-say-as-I-please-so-do-not-think-of
–crossing-me-BITCHES-’cause-I-am-truly-woman-and-I-may-roar-or-not-but-don’t-cross-me–
anyway sexual…
And I was proud to be a sister to this young woman who was refreshingly honest, cautiously private, powerfully vulnerable, proudly young, freshly wise and so much more than my tired mind this early am can capture and do her justice… and I was mesmerized by her words and though my life has had its chaotic turns and the chaos continues and steals me away from her words more than I would like them to, it cannot keep me away for long…
Cooperina, eres divina.
Thank you for the very sweet words. It most definitely made my day and know that you make women proud my dear amiga, especially this bohemian…
FO SHO!
Now off I go to greet the chaos and break the silence. KABOOM and off we GO!
Thank you for participating with The Personal Development List. I really appreciate it.
Your choices are right on. I don’t mind viral lists if they are good ones and if the individual has a reason to post them. This is not a thoughtless random list; if people who did them would do them with the same forethought and motivation I’d read more of them.
What I find /found fascinating about you when I first started reading you, other than the content, was your ability to engage with those older than you and those who did not agree with you.. Your readers were not nineteen year old bloggers they were of all ages and from all parts of the world. The links you listed were in the same way not college students with blogs, they were a large mix of people from many different places all having different interests.
A long but worthy post cooper.
The “women are fickle” — “la donna mobile” part works well. Bet you didn’t know I have some fam familiarity with opera.
“The Dawkins Delusion”??????????
Who is this person? The dawg and I asked each other with much amazement
You underrate yourself. It was refreshing to find cleverness and intelligence in one person in the blogosphere.
Honest and private, yes, though from the privacy one can see a life well lived and really just beginning, though some did claim that you were a 40 year old male. However we have learned better and continue to learn. Girl with a blog now woman with a job as lonG as I live I will continue to remind you of a time when you thought your opinions less valid than others simply because you lacked life experience when what you had to say was so much better than almost all others.
I’m not as blog-pure as I seem. Just seem to love to be distracted from really writing, and writing is what I care about
It’s easy to manage time at a job or in school but so difficult for me when not in those settings and blogs, people or beach beckon
Just heard a commercial for The Lettermen – not David and for a second was confused about what alternate universe I’m inhabiting. Oh right, not in New York anymore, listening to commercial free alt rock. This might be a bigger adjustment than I thought
You have a Cooper store? I’m impressed
Oh and thank you. Made me laught when reading about myself and that’s rare
We’re all stunned sometimes.
For someone who dislikes those things you sure get a lot of them.
Send one my way, then I’d have something to write about.
You may not believe this, but I’ve never been to The Monocacy Battlefield. They sent us down to the Smithsonian ten times a year in elementary school, Gettysburg, The Aquarium but not Monooacy.
Way to give out the props, Coop.
You must really like going to historical sites to walk/hike — which is cool — I only wish there was something historical enough around where I live to take that time.
As always, a pleasure.
I had to look up the translation for La Donna E Mobile.
*Claps hands*.
No comment on the “Dawkins Delusion” or the avatar, I didn’t see it. Some people seem a little desperate with those avatars. Lucky for you you just have to show your real face and have them read you a couple of times.
I absolutely loved this long post and your new look. I’ve been absent from bloglog for some time; I have mixed feelings about whether or not it works as a networking site. I have been taken askance by some unusual avatars there as well — although haven’t seen the one you’re referencing. Good to share the sites you love. I’m off to discover more wise and wonderful women. Talk soon, XINE
Xine: Well thank you it’s good to see you. I look at it more of a place of scarf around and pick and choose a few good reads. They removed that one actually as I was sure they would. There are many wild and wonderful woman out there.
john: Bows.
now if that isn’t a rather offensive comment at face value nothing is. Thank goodness I know you.
JasonP: Well they are abundant here and are good places to walk and hike and often interesting.
Always a pleasure here as well.
casey: That stuff is so within an easy day’s drive for you. It is helpful if you are interested in the history as well.
Pia: More than happy ot make you laugh miss pia.
I would like to be a forty year old male for a day — just to see how it goes.
Oh don’t worry no one is a blog-pure as they seem.
Not even Doug.
You must then get an iPod Pia the music thing could be a problem.
Jacob: Yea you are right all the eighteen year bloggers got tired of me talking about politics and the pope and kicked me out.
You know Jacob, you are right I would have not have thought you would have known that.
Don’t ask.
Priscilla: You are more than welcome it is a great idea. I think that inspiration and motivation must be taken from where we are and what we do and in the case of blogging who we read. One does not have to look far to take something away from almost everything.
Miz: Now I don’t want to be blamed for the early part… Damn mizzy B I am going to cry besides you haven’t seen me in my thong yet.…..
What would you be without chaos?
In truth it is the Mizzy B who is divine.
Ciao Cooper!
beautiful the look of this blog!
thanks for the messagge in my…kisses!
i’m continually stumped by your admiration, dear cooper. and the fact that you consistently link me, even if my site’s a private one. you’re a gem, i think you should have realized that by now.
It’s fun when you do these catch-up blogs. It’s almost like reading the weekly highlight show of all things Cooper.
Oh, I admit to being blog-tainted but I agree with Pia. I was there when Pia adopted you. I gave her credit as a talent scout, not as a philanthropist. You’ve always been both interesting and surprising. That’s rare among 40-year-olds and unheard of among 19-year-olds.
You will never stop amazing me.
Instead of crowing like a rooster over your successes and boasting about knowing some blogging rock stars, you pay tribute to them in a most humble and grateful manner. So wise, so young, so wonderful.
It’s Priscilla, Pia, Mizzy B, Illyria, Lee and Kelly who, along with all of us, are truly the lucky ones.
I wonder how many people are envious of your wonderful life — there must be thousands upon thousands.
Okay, Cooper. You’re contributing to my delinquency with this post which I wallowed in and around for an entire cup of coffee. (I’m supposed to be working…) I had to check out several links (thanks for the tip on the download and the terrific blogs you listed) did some bookmarking, and was quite surprised to see myself in your list. I’d acknowledge my blush but if I did, it could bring on a hot flash, so, just take my word for it.
How almost ironic. I was in Gettysburg this past Saturday. First to watch all those cross-country runners from multiple states run all those fast races at the high school, then over to my favorite spot on the Battlefield (20th Maine site) and then stuck in traffic at the Rt 30 circle as hundreds of Harleys and 1 Indian came rumbling thru as part of the Flight 93 tour.
If you do make it to Gettysburg, be sure to eat at the Dobbin House (downstairs by the underground stream is a great place to grab a table; just beware of the alligators said to prowl there).
It’s an interesting place, Gettysburg. Not just for its Battlefield history but also for the more recent battles. A few years ago, the Nat’l Park Service took down this huge, ugly-ass observation tower. Wasn’t there during the battle, they said. More recently, they culled the deer herd on the grounds that the deer were eating the underbrush in the forest. Well, they didn’t just cull the herd; they pretty much eliminated it. Then they cut down acres of the forest because, well, it wasn’t there in July 1863. Maybe someone was a bit prescient in getting that tower taken down. Especially since a good part of the park was removed from the enjoyment of its visitors.
You may get asked to go on a ghosts-of-gettysburg tour. When they start on about how Col. Chamberlain gave his life on the battlefield, try not to snicker as you recall that he was present at Appomattox, and was later President of Bowdoin College and Governor of Maine. Those ghost tours are always good for a few laughs, but I’ve never ever seen a ghost.
meow.
Hanna, it’s nice to see you here and yes I do like Adam’s theme. Enough to have removed half of my stuff to the back pages.
Ciao
Illyria: You know you are what you are and despite the privatization it is what it is and so can not be dismissed because of such.
MoJo: Yes well I’m glad you enjoyed it moj, I also like when you weer off the path and do the same.
Doug: You are probably the least tainted, but what of the nineteen year old who feels like a forty year old?
Iron pills?????
Morgan: I think most people who read this live pretty interesting lives themselves, which is what makes them so interesting.
My life?
As I was telling Doug recently I write proposition papers and am currently in quite a fit of envy as I have friends soon to embark on a surfing tour of South America.
Now that is something to be jealous of.
Kellypea: I will take your word, but know you are not alone. The hazards of all the PhD types being tied up at this time, and me writing papers at home, is that I turn on the computer, say to myself I will just take one quick look around.……and the day is shot to hell.
SK: I haven’t been there in some time so we’ll see about the ghost tour. I like to ramble around those places on my own but as I will be bringing someone else a tour of some kind may be a better option.
Cooper, she’s a hell of a lot wiser than a 40-year-old who feels 19.
A love festival to which I was not invited????
I took a couple months away from reading. I plan to take a few books to South America.
A couple months away yet, maybe not quite.
Women Rock.
I haven’t seen you in your thong yet? Ooooweee! Bring it on FO SHO I say and to all others, especially you my dear Leigh, TAKE THAT!
Ha, ha, haaaa!
No crying… bohemians speak only the truth my dear and you are highly loved by this particular one… LOVED I SAY! You’re just gonna have to live with it… could be worse. ;-P
How in the world do you have all the time Coop?
That was a handful, you’ve been busy.
Doug: sure.
Dane: You can come to the next one.
Miz B: The pictures must have gotten lost in the mail. Yes I am honored by all the love, and it could be worse for sure.
Goldy: Time is on my side. Yes it is.;)
Jon: always so Jon.
I hate when people use the word fickle applied to women like it’s cute. It’s one of the main reasons I have no female friends. Saying one thing one moment, and the opposite the next moment is called LYING in my book. The dictionary agrees with me defining it as deceitful and inconstant.
I hear ya.
Unfortunately it is the title in English of “La Donna e Mobile” and it worked for me, as it s a beautiful song from a beautiful opera.
Not to mention that sticks and stone and all that, while two women in Pakistan are recently beheaded I can’t take seriously the ridiculous foaming at the mouth some people in this country do over words.
I like the rare looks into “the life of cooper” too.
The most worthy long post on the web, even the tributes are worth reading. You were always good in a charming kind of way, you are just more developed from a blog standpoint, if that makes sense.
That music, never knew the name, makes me wish I was sitting in an outside cafe in Italy.
Women really are fickle.
joe: you’ve been here forever, I think you are comfortably numb.
BWL: As a pickle.
I’ve written a few posts about this fickle thing and women, without ever calling it that. But I think that’s what it is. And it seems to draw a negative response from other women and men have little interest (broad generalizations, of course).
I wonder if I’m fickle too? Well, I am fer sure with my dude. But I really don’t think I am with other women…but I wonder if I would even know…
Are you fickle?
No I am pretty decisive, and tend to stay the course.
I somehow doubt the word fickle applied toward women is at the heart of all our troubles. I think the commenter was trying to call me out on a word which was really just a play on the title of the song. Talk about a non issue.
I’ve known a lot of fickle folks of both genders.
No, no. Fickle is the key, I tell you. Only used as the simple adjective that it is meant to be, not a big comment against women or judgment. I guess clarity, if any, may come after I blog it. But in the grand scheme of things, this kind of insight is not critical at this point in time.
Funny how this had nothing to do with what you’re saying…I’ll read more closely next time. I promise.