1989
Topic: Poetry
1989

Sunny autumn day
Purple dress
Standing on the concrete steps
Smile for the camera
Before going off to school

And inside,all the kids
Sat “Indian Style” on the floor
The Letter People sat in chronological order
The toys were something to look forward to
Playing House in the play kitchen area
Teddy bears became babies
The wooden blocks were food

Learning time comes
Learn how one and one make two
What day of the week this is
What color clothes we’re wearing

And then the day was over
The older kids looked so tough
As they walked me back home

Learning hasn’t been as easy
As it was then
Life wasn’t as simple
After kindergarten
1989

The Stigma of Being Homeless
Topic: Politics
I met a homeless guy at the library . It made me sad, especially since he was about as old as I am. It was pretty depressing for me to see him carrying a huge duffel bag with just about everything he owns in it, and I could have cried right there when he told me he had to return to the place he was staying by 6pm.

Later, as I was walking home, I saw a huge billboard with a picture of a sad looking child encouraging people to give money for the victims of the Tsunami. That bothered me. I do agree that what happened over in Southeast Asia was tragic, and I think it is nice to have the rest of the world helping out.

It just bugs me that there aren’t any billboards about helping out the poor in our own country. No one’s doing telethons to help raise money for homeless Americans. Instead, they’re being accused of being lazy, drunk, and dirty.

I go into the public library downtown frequently, and there are plenty of homeless people, ranging in all sorts of ages, genders, races, and backgrounds. They probably just want a place to get out of the cold, and maybe forget about their situation for a while by escaping in a good book. Many times, I’ve heard the librarians, and sometimes even the “rent-a-cops” threatening to kick someone out if they decide to take a nap. Why not let them snooze for a while? They aren’t hurting anyone.

There have been many times when I’ve been out walking and have seen someone begging for a quarter. Many would yell at this individual to get a job. They’d accuse the beggar of just wanting it for booze or drugs.

I admit that I used to think this way, but I’ve come to realize that if they do want to by alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or the cup of coffee they claim to want, it’s really none of my business. If I can spare a quarter, I do. If not, I smile and wish the person a nice day. Besides, what I would’ve spent it on wouldn’t make me any better of a person than they are anyway.

Also, telling someone to get a job is much easier said than done. It’s not like there’s a magic employment fairy that waves a wand and sends people off into a world of financial bliss. Even finding a crappy minimum wage job is hard.

There may be factors that lead to the person’s homelessness, like a lay-off, or an injury. Maybe the person does have a job, but can barely even thrive on that because minimum wage is not enough to survive on.

It’s easier to accuse someone of being lazy, though, when you don’t know their story.

Sure, there are smaller groups that do what they can for the homeless in their community. Churches and groups like Food Not Bombs do their best to give people the things they have the right to, like a warm meal, a place to sleep, clothes, and a general sense of security.

As a whole, though, American society treats the less fortunate like crap. Quite frankly, it’s not fair at all.

A Hairy Subject
Topic: Girly stuff
Laura A. Stuart
March 18, 2005

I was 12 years old when my mom taught me how to shave my legs. I didn’t think too much about it. I just figured it was another rite of passage: at a certain time in a women’s life, she shouldn’t be hairy.

Ever since then, shaving has become a habit, like brushing my teeth and wearing socks. I never thought to question why women had to have nice hairless legs, while it’s acceptable for men to look like a Sasquatch.

It really didn’t seem like such a big deal until a few months ago, when I attended a party with a group of extremely liberal acquaintances of mine. The weather was still fairly warm at the time, so many people at the party were wearing shorts. What I noticed about some of the women there knocked my socks off. It seemed as if they had never let a razor go anywhere near their legs!

Their legs were very hairy. I’ve seen men with less fuzz on them. Still, I was surprisingly not disgusted by it. I thought it was pretty cool that they had left it alone.

I started to wonder why women need to shave their legs. Maybe its yet another wacky beauty standard. If women start obsessing over every last hair on their body, it might distract them from using that brain space for something crazy such as wanting equal rights.

Shaving legs has to be good for business too. Women are fooled into believing that peach-scented foam and the expensive razor with the fancy handle will make them have the best hairless legs ever. I’m sure the bandage makers appreciate it too, when a woman realizes that the pain from being cut while shaving feels the same no matter how much she spends on a razor.

I tried making a stand against giving in to shaving after that party. It didn’t last long. Maybe society has already conditioned me. Or maybe I just didn’t like the fuzzy look on me. Perhaps I just enjoy the way pajama pants feel on freshly shaven legs.

That doesn’t mean I have to completely cave in to the hairless standard. A guy I dated briefly once tried to talk me into shaving other unmentionable body parts. There was no way I was ever going to do that, especially not for him. I had already learned the hard way how uncomfortable that feels.

I’ve concluded that when it comes to shaving, it really should be a personal choice. Only the owner of a body should have to decide whether or not she wants to be fuzzy or smooth. It’s ok if someone chooses to use a bar of soap instead of the foam, or vice versa. No one else should have to decide what hair we should have.

Kitty Pirate!
Mood:  hug me
Topic: Imagery

100 Things Few People Know About Me
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: All Star- Smashmouth
Topic: 42
100 Things Few People Know About Me
By Laura A. Stuart

1. When I was very young, I had a cat named Spotty. I used to grab Spotty by the tail and drag him around the kitchen floor. My mom always stopped me, but when I did stop, Spotty would just roll around on the floor wanting me to drag him around some more.
2. After hearing a rap song that sampled "Kashmir" in the background, I became interested in Led Zeppelin. Consequently, "Kashmir" is my absolute favorite Led Zeppelin song.
3. If I'm swimming in a lake and a fish comes anywhere near me, I will panic.
4. In 1st grade, I made up a dance to the New Kids on the Block song "The Right Stuff" and performed it in the school's talent show. It shocked the socks off just about everyone who knew me, because I'm usually very shy.
5. My very first concert was Reba McEntyre and Brooks and Dunn at Blossom Music Center. I believe I was 10 years old at the time.
6. I love karaoke.
7. I have considered auditioning for American Idol.
8. My very first kiss was in pre-school, from a boy named Frank. Right after that, I cried.
9. I like eating with chopsticks.
10. When I was in middle school, I had a crush on this one boy whose attention I was always finding crazy ways to catch. One time, I called his house and had my cat meow on his answering machine. Then, I found out that he had Caller I.D.
11. I have never played on a sport's team.
12. I love grocery shopping for myself.
13. I had a crush on my journalism teacher when I was in 12th grade. My codename for him was "Beef".
14. A girl in my Advanced Public Speaking class last semester gave a speech on the benefits of a vegetarian diet. Ever since then, I've decided to cut meat out of my diet. I feel much better about myself because of it.
15. I came to the realization that I am bisexual one day while I was eating lunch at Taco Bell.
16. I think eyeliner on men is incredibly sexy.
17. One time, when I was 9 years old, I stole a pack of bubblegum from the grocery store.
18. I talk to myself.
19. When I was 7, some boys from church taught me a skill that I believe has great importance in my life; how to stick a spoon to my nose.
20. I find myself strangely attracted to Bill Gates. It has nothing to do with his money either.
21. When eating a meal, I cannot tolerate having anyone's cup on the wrong side of their plate. The cup must be on the right!
22. I love Barbie dolls.
23. As of right now, I do not ever want to get a driver's license.
24. I can never remember people's names, but I always remember their pets' names.
25. I cry whenever I hear about animal abuse on the news.
26. I don't like wearing socks. As soon as I come home, I make sure I'm barefoot.
27. I buy Christmas and birthday presents for my cat.
28. Sometimes, I watch the children's shows on PBS.
29. When I was little, I was convinced that the Mrs. Buttersworth syrup bottles would come alive and talk to me. That's what happened on the TV commercial, anyway.
30. My absolute favorite TV show when I was little was Alf. I even went through a short phase where I thought I was Alf.
31. Men's socks disgust me. Even if they're fresh out of the package, I swear I can smell foot odor when I look at them.
32. My very first crush was on Jordan Knight from the New Kids on the Block.
33. My current celebrity crush is David Bowie.
34. I love bad Sci-Fi movies.
35. I am against organized religion because I don't like the idea of one man telling everyone what to believe.
36. I am afraid of Freddy Kruger.
37. Almost every guy I had a crush on in high school had a name that started with J; there was Jason, John, Jefferson, Jerry, and Jimi.
38. I would never date someone who doesn't like cats.
39. It takes very little effort for me to be able to see the Magic Eye images.
40. The best stage name I've ever heard is "Greg McMuffin".
41. I like guys with long hair.
42. For a few months, I was jealous of my dog because I thought my mom liked her more than me.
43. I think British accents are sexy.
44. I am terrified of heights. I don't ride roller coasters, I refuse to travel by plane, and just looking at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis makes me sick. I can't even stand on a chair without getting nervous.
45. I had a dream that I had gorgeous red hair, and ever since then, I've been obsessed with redheads. I finally decided to dye my hair red, and I love it.
46. My absolute favorite album cover is the one to Greenday's "Dookie". Every time I look at it, I spot something I've never noticed before.
47. I would love to get a journalism degree from Ohio University.
48. I used to be terrified that the end of the world was coming. One time, I was at a friend's house watching an anime movie in which this giant tree was causing the apocalypse, and I got so scared that I almost threw up.
49. I think Conan O'Brien is the funniest guy on TV.
50. I hate poodles.
51. Ralph Wiggum is my favorite character from The Simpsons. He has the greatest lines ever. "Me fail English? That's unpossible!"
52. I used to make my own paper dolls.
53. When I was little, I used to draw girl animals with bows on their heads, and boy animals with penises.
54. I developed a crush on a boy in 5th grade after he brought in his pet iguana for show and tell.
55. I am convinced that computers hate me.
56. After watching A Christmas Story, I became paranoid about going anywhere near metal objects during the winter.
57. I constantly have to check my pockets to make sure my keys are still there.
58. I don't like using the phone. I like leaving messages on voice mail even less.
59. Thanks to my aunt, I got to spend a night camping at the Cleveland Zoo. It was pretty cool too because we go to go on a night time tour of the zoo and look at the animals through night vision goggles.
60. I was the weird kid who liked eating vegetables and always wanted to go to bed early.
61. I love hummus.
62. I can crack my toe knuckles.
63. I shave my arms.
64. When I'm in a really good mood, I dance everywhere I go.
65. I think my nose is cute.
66. I would die happy if I could have a guitar jam session with Jimmy Page.
67. I think purple is the greatest color ever.
68. I will cry if someone cuts my hair too short.
69. My cat eats bananas, blueberry waffles, and I once saw her run off with a piece of a fortune cookie.
70. My dad wanted to name me after Geddy Lee from Rush.
71. When I was younger, I used to write stories about a bunch of cats that were all best friends.
72. The last concert I went to was Tuba Christmas. I secretly hoped I would run into a certain someone there.
73. I like to let glue dry on my hands, and then peel it off.
74. I don't like reality TV shows.
75. I love Akron.
76. My very favorite part of Akron is Highland Square. It has the greatest record store and clothing store, and I love sitting outside of the Angel Falls coffee shop and people watching.
77. I have the amazing ability to sense when there is a body of water nearby.
78. I can find where I'm going by instinct, but I always managed to get lost if I'm given specific directions.
79. The menu at Starbucks intimidates me. There are way too many decisions to make just for a cup of coffee.
80. I won a blue ribbon in the high jump competition during field day when I was in 4th grade.
81. I came in 5th place in a spelling bee in 5th grade. I got a participation trophy that has a bee on it that looks just like Urkel.
82. When I'm having a creativity block, watching Star Wars gives me inspiration.
83. So far, I've only had one kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve.
84. I plan on keeping my last name if I get married.
85. "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick is the greatest song ever, in my opinion.
86. For a class, I once wrote a three-page feature article based on a Red Meat comic strip. I got an A on it too.
87. The only time I ever let myself get drunk is either if I'm with friends or if I'm safe at home.
88. I hate vodka. I think it tastes the way that nail polish smells.
89. My musical guilty pleasures are ABBA and Culture Club.
90. I know just about every line in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
91. I'm part of a bicycle activist group called Critical Mass.
92. I wish I could stay 21 forever.
93. My favorite shop at the mall is Hot Topic. They have so many weird items and amusing t-shirts.
94. I love musicals.
95. I am eternally a band geek.
96. I have looked in other people's medicine cabinets.
97. I love being in love.
98. I have a stuffed cat named Joe that I sleep with every night.
99. Francesca Lia Block is my favorite author.
100. My first job was at Sea World when I was 16.

Topic: Imagery

I Made This Tape For Your
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: Music
I Made This Tape For You
By Laura A. Stuart

Modern technology has improved the music mix. Instead of spending hours on a mix tape that will probably warp after a while, you can simply click a few buttons, wait a few minutes, and have a CD with crystal clear sound. With the Internet, you can find just about any song you want to add to your compilation (whether or not it's legal is another story). You can make a quick and easy gift for a friend, lover (or potential lover), or yourself.

Although burning a CD is a whole lot easier and way more convenient, I am definitely more of a mix tape fan. I know that mix tapes are becoming an endangered species, and it kind of makes me sad. They're such wonderful things, and it's especially heartwarming to receive a mix tape as a gift.

Yes, it does take quite a long time to make a mix tape. You can spend hours digging through a CD collection, or waiting for that perfect song to come on the radio. I think it's worth the wait, though. The thing that makes mix tapes so special is the work and the emotion that goes into it.

It's so nice to get a mix tape as a gift, especially knowing all the work that went into it. A mix tape says, "I love you" much better than a mix CD could.
Think about how much different books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower or High Fidelity would've been if instead of mix tapes, the characters had been burning CDs. I honestly don't think they would've been as great as they are.

And CD burning isn't as perfect as it seems. CDs skip. Record companies, musicians, and other music industry folk have figured out how add glitches to songs to deter free downloading. In some cases, trying to download a song could result in a nasty computer virus.

Making a mix tape is a little less risky. I've never heard of anyone getting a stereo virus. It's harder to find someone who's been "stealing" music with a tape player. If you don't like a particular song on your tape, it's easy to go back and tape over it.

I don't think CD burning is completely horrible, though. I love having a CD burner on my computer. Sometimes, it's nice to have a simple mix to jam to. However, I will always have a special place in my heart for that perfect mix tape.

The Gospel According to Cosmo
Topic: Girly stuff
The Gospel According to Cosmo
By Laura A. Stuart

This is kind of a hard thing to admit, but I have such a soft spot in my heart for women's magazines. Whenever I'm at the store, I always hit the magazine racks for the latest issue of Cosmopolitan or Glamour. A few years ago, it was the teen girl magazines like YM and the little sister mag, CosmoGIRL! That I would spend hard earned allowance cash on.

I know it seems a bit silly for me to be ashamed. Lot's of women my age read those publications. Maybe in my peer group, it's important to know what kind of $500 shoes Kate Winslet wears, or racy sex positions that only a contortionist could master. I suppose there may be some women out there who do what I do, which is wait until the next issue comes out and use the old one for art projects.

The thing I'm most ashamed about liking these magazines is the fact that I should know better. I like to think I've learned something about feminism in my lifetime, and that these trashy rags are giving women the wrong ideas. I shouldn't give a rat's hairy tail about how to please a man in bed, but rather wondering how he's supposed to be pleasing me!

When I read, I am very much aware of the hypocrisy in a single issue. One article is telling me that I should love myself and not worry about having that special man in my life. Then the rest of the magazine is telling me that I should be wearing this dress, looking like that emaciated super model, and spending enough money to put a child through college to get all of that. Yes, you can love yourself the way you are, just as long as you are what we say you should be.

And lest we forget about relationships. Sure, it's okay if you want to be a "fun, fearless female" and enjoy being single. You're not that big of a loser if you're not dating Mr. Shirtless Hunk. Yes, ladies, it's wrong for men to objectify us (although the magazines are subliminally telling us to let it happen), but it's quite all right to treat a man like a piece of meat.

Suppose you are "lucky" enough to be dating a clone of Jude Law. Eventually, the issue of sex is going to come up; no, not after you're both happily married, but more like right after you've learned each other's names. If the magazines are true, the he's the one you ought to be pleasing. Women are pretty much being told to be subservient in bed.

This may be just some wacky notion I have, but I believe that I a man should know some things to please a woman in bed. I'm not saying that all the attention should be focused solely on the woman, or the man. I think both people should be enjoying the experience. I support equality between the ($1000 satin) covers.

Also, the magazines fail to acknowledge the lesbian and bisexual women who read their pages. I'm sure there are magazines out there aimed at that audience, but they're not usually just sitting on the racks in the supermarket next to Cosmo and Glamour.

I'm sure there are lesbians and bisexual women who have read at least one issue of a women's magazine. I'm also sure that those who have read might want relationship advice (relationships are tricky no matter who you're with). Why not give them something they can use?

The problem only persists with magazines when you get just a wee bit older. One of the greatest ironies of the magazine stand is when I see the cover of Lady's Home Journal, which boasts an article on how to lose 50 pounds plastered right over a picture of a delicious looking cheesecake. Women are being told that they should look a certain way, and still be a the happy housewife. If you're not June Cleaver, you're a bad mother and wife.

So why do I bother to read these magazines if I know they're basically full of crap? Why not pick up something more intelligent, like Guitar World or Vegetarian Cooking? I suppose I'm entitled to a guilty pleasure every once in a while. I'm a college student, and sometime my brain needs a little "fluff break".

I haven't let the magazines get to me either. I know better than to live my life wishing I looked likes so-and-so. I know I can look as good in a dress from Target as I could in one from Chanel. I could be happy dating a guy who looks just like any other guy, or dating a woman, or being single. I do not live my life based on what Cosmo says.

And if all else fails, I can always use the magazines for some seriously kick-ass art projects.

What is the meaning of all this?
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: Ashes to Ashes- David Bowie
A friend of mine gave me the idea to create a webpage that's chockful of my writings, ramblings, etc.

Actually, everyone has been telling me to make one. Mainly, they're all just curious to see what I've bee writing all these years. They want to know why I suddenly hide my notebooks when someone enters a room, or whatever it is I do. Well here it is. I hope you're happy. Now quit bugging me.

I'll be updating just as soon as I figure out what I can share. Hope you all enjoy.

Now, it is time for lunch.