Uncategorized – Page 3 – Sassy Dreams Awake

fearless, femininity, feminism, music, Uncategorized

CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM

Posted on June 17, 2017June 17, 2017 by sassysheisme

I really like this song! The lyrics are wonderful, and I was not surprised to see that this was one of Sia’s offerings to another artist.

Let the words sink in. I will never fit into the picket-fence utopia and once I stopped trying to do so, I was much happier!

Chained to the Rhythm by Katy Perry (Video)
Are we crazy
Living our lives through a lens
Trapped in our white-picket fence
Like ornaments
So comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, the trouble
Aren’t you lonely
Up there in utopia
Where nothing will ever be enough?
Happily numb
So comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, the trouble

Ah, so good
Your rose-colored glasses on
And party on

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we’re free
Drink, this one is on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm to the rhythm

Are we tone deaf?
Keep sweeping it under the mat
Thought we can do better than that
I hope we can
So comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble
So comfortable, we can’t see the trouble, the trouble

Aha, so good (so good)
Your rose-colored glasses on
And party on

It is my desire
Break down the walls to connect, inspire
Ay, up in your high place, liars
Time is ticking for the empire
The truth they feed is feeble
As so many times before
They greed over the people
They stumbling and fumbling and we’re about to riot
They woke up, they woke up the lions (woo!)

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we’re free
Drink, this one is on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm to the rhythm

It goes on, and on, and on (turn it up )
It goes on, and on, and on
It goes on, and on, and on
(It goes on) ’cause we’re all chained to the rhythm

fearless, photography, Push, see, Uncategorized

ONE WORD 2017

Posted on December 31, 2016 by sassysheisme

Last year, I chose the word, “Push” for my One Word challenge. Push did not affect me like fearless did, though I did push through many challenges in 2016. I have decided that it is time for a new word, a new focus.

I have chosen “see” as my word for 2017. See encompasses so much simply by definition. I will see with my eyes, my heart, my soul, through words and photographs and so much more.

What is your one word?

death, movies, storytelling, Uncategorized

GOODBYE, SASSY PRINCESS

Posted on December 27, 2016 by sassysheisme

Carrie Fisher was my first princess. I was 8 years old when Star Wars: A New Hope arrived on the scene and it changed the world forever.

Princess Leia was no ordinary princess, at least not the ones I’d seen up to that point. She was smart, sassy, and in charge. She didn’t wait for a prince or hero to save her, she grabbed a gun and shot her enemy and fought her threats herself.

Three movies and an entire space mythos later, Princess Leia was firmly entrenched as one of my role models. Pink, fluffy-haired, prissy, weak damsel in distress princesses would never, ever measure up.

I was thrilled to see Princess Leia return to Star Wars decades after Princess Leia helped save the galaxy and ride off into the galactic sunset. She had aged, yes, but she was still in charge. Now a general, always royal, guiding fragments of humanity to overcome the throngs of evil that will always rise and fall.

The eighth installment of the Star Wars saga finished filming this summer. Again, Princess/General Leia figures to figure prominently in the galaxy far, far away. Unfortunately, her story will end.

Carrie Fisher, the talented, gritty portrayer of Princess Leia, is gone. She left us this morning, after suffering a heart attack Christmas Eve. She was only 60 years old. Earlier this week, we lost George Michael at only 53 years old. All year long the list of celebrities and the well-known who have left us has been long – young, old, talented, not so talented, smart, sciencey, larger than life, angelic, humanitarian, mercurial.

And now the list has my Princess. I’m saddened to know her story has ended in life and on screen, and the world mourns with me.

Activism, badassery, GLBT, LGBT, politics, safe, Uncategorized

SAFE SPACES

Posted on November 13, 2016 by sassysheisme

Whether you agree with the safety pin movement, I ask you to think about all the marginalized people groups you know of, and friends you know who are labeled into those groups. While a safety pin is a small gesture, a gesture some mock or ridicule or label too small, it’s a step in the right direction. The hearts are in the right place. We shall soon see if their hands, feet, mouths and ears are in the right place as well.

I’ve always thought of myself as a safe space for people. In hindsight, I know that was not always true. I was often judgemental and closed minded. While I know that I’ve come quite a long way (a canyon’s divide) from where I once was, I’m only beginning to understand how to be a safe space, and I hope to become a proactive safe space.

One step at a time. First I must ensure I am a safe space for those who need it. I must seek to understand a pain or fear I perhaps have not experienced myself.

Second, I must listen more. I do a lot of talking. I seek to heal, empower, and encourage people with words. Sometimes, safety is found in my silence. Sometimes, it’s found in the words I’m afraid to say aloud. No more fear.

I’m still trying to find words for all I’m feeling right now. Still digging through. The main point of this post is to say I’m a safe space for those in fear, those who feel unheard, threatened, or pushed to the margins. As a single, middle-aged woman, I am in some of those margins myself.

For now, I hope this is a good first step. If you need a safe space, I’m here for you.

GLBT, LGBT, politics, Uncategorized

AFTERMATH

Posted on November 9, 2016November 13, 2016 by sassysheisme

Spent a lot of time listening, counseling, and reassuring people today. I hope I made a difference for some of you.

This election was so polarizing, but what I have seen is that most people on either side wanted the same thing – change. I also feel like either candidate would have led to some buyer’s remorse at some point for people on both sides. Most politicians don’t keep their promises. The Founding Fathers set up our government so that one person can’t control everything.Some of you might not understand how this election affected many women, people of color, gays, Muslims, immigrants and children/family of immigrants, those who have been sexually assaulted, those who have gone to bed hungry, those who had medical issues and can’t keep up with the bills, single moms, and so many more hurting, marginalized people in your community.

Some of you might not understand how this election affected many women, people of color, gays, Muslims, immigrants and children/family of immigrants, those who have been sexually assaulted, those who have gone to bed hungry, those who had medical issues and can’t keep up with the bills, single moms, and so many more hurting, marginalized people in your community.

For many, this election was about inclusivity, equal rights, the right to be heard, and the right to have their humanity acknowledged. This morning, so many of these marginalized people woke up in fear. Pure, anxiety-filled fear.

My hope is that our take away as fellow humans on this planet is that we are all in this together and that we seek to understand and soothe these fears. No one in America should have to fear being who they truly, genuinely are.

I’m not going to give up on anyone who needs something from this world. You are loved. Just as you are. I mean that with all of my heart.

creativity, photographers, photography, Uncategorized

CREATIVE MOJO

Posted on October 22, 2016October 22, 2016 by sassysheisme

adventure-day-1-70

I truly, madly, deeply love photography. I love being a photographer. I feel alive in the creative process from beginning to end.

For the last couple of years – through my ups and downs with cancer and hypothyroidism – I lost my creative drive. Most people do not realize how much energy creativity takes, especially for someone who has to measure out, sometimes selfishly, how she spends her time and energy.

I decided it was time to reclaim my creative drive and ramp it up. I have been participating in the FMS Photo a Day, a photography challenge that has a daily word (a color, food, “right now,” etc) you must snap a photo and post. I asked some friends to join me in October’s challenge and it’s been interesting to see “orange,” “stuff,” and “good vibes,” through their eyes.

Today, my friend Kim picked me up this morning and we headed out to parts unknown, to me at least. We ended up in small towns like Shiner, Flatonia, Schulenburg, and LaGrange, Texas. We’d occasionally stop, snap some photos, and continue on. It was a perfectly creative day with a good friend. I can’t ask for a more creative and satisfying Saturday.

adventure-day-1-97

I can feel the creativity boiling in me now. For example, as Kim and I were talking, I noticed this reflection in her wine glass, stopped, snapped the photo, and continued talking. It’s one of my favorite shots from the day.

adventure-day-1-53

Grateful for days like this! Getting my creative mojo back one day at a time.

education, fearless, Uncategorized

THE CASE FOR COLLEGE

Posted on June 4, 2016 by sassysheisme

Yesterday, a friend of mine was told it was time to apply for graduation for her associate’s degree. She was so happy I’m surprised she didn’t float away from jumping up and down with joy.

She would be considered a non-traditional student. She has worked hard – working full-time while going to school. Some mornings she is so tired she can hardly hold her head up, but she is doing all of this so she can be/do/work at something that requires a certain level of education.

I definitely was celebrating with her, not necessarily for earning the degree, but for having that “whatever it takes” attitude, setting a goal and achieving it.

I won’t lie. College attendance was an expectation for me – not an option. The money was not there, but I was going regardless of the obstacles. The other expectation put upon me was that I would become a teacher because one could always find work as a teacher while I waited to get married and graduate to stay at home motherhood.

None of those expectations were mine, but I set out to live up to them.

I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I was good at writing, so I pursued that and had no idea what job would materialize later to justify it. Turns out, through my liberal arts pursuits, I found I was good at a great many things and still they wanted me to choose ONE thing to be good at for the rest of my life.

Last night, I wrote the following after I’d given my college days some thought.

Screen Shot 2016-06-04 at 10.32.43

I do believe that college debt is a big deal and students should have a better idea of why they are going to college and what they are going to do with that degree before they attend – some may not need to attend right away or at all. That said, I believe college was so much more than a degree for me.

That said, I believe college was so much more than a degree for me. I pull knowledge from my English literature, writing, music business, and other courses often, but I pull from the life lessons, life choices, and life skills just as often or more.

I consider my degree one of my greatest accomplishments and because I have that under my belt, I know I can accomplish much more!

commentary, Ocean, travel, travels, Uncategorized, value

BEACHES

Posted on May 16, 2016 by sassysheisme

FullSizeRender 3

Work has taken me to Florida again. This time, I planned a trip to the beach as it will likely rain the rest of the week. I wanted to get some sand between my toes before I dive into work tomorrow.

After dinner, I sat on the beach for a glorious hour, listening to waves crash and watching a dad bury his two girls in the sand. I received a text that my parking meter was running low, so I reluctantly headed back to the MINIVAN the rental place gave me.

An old man (and by old, I mean way older than my father), was sitting in a row of chairs in the plaza by himself. He made eye contact so I went over and introduced myself. Carl is no longer able to get down to the ocean. Bad knees, bad hips, bad everything, so he comes down and sits as close to the ocean as he can.

He asked how it was down on the beach and if I put my toes in the water and the sand and what it felt like, so I told him. This particular beach had damp, coarse sand that actually flaked off easier than powdered sand. He thought that was a great description.

We talked some more, then he said, “go while you can. You never know when you won’t be able to feel the sand between your toes anymore.”

He was still smiling, but my heart broke a little bit. Clearly, he loved the ocean. Those chairs were as close as he was going to get to it at this point in his life as far as he was concerned.

I’m not old by any means, but I know I am at the end of the summer of my life. I can’t imagine a time when I won’t be able to do simple things that give me pleasure, but I know it’s inevitable.

“Enjoy everything while you can,” he reiterated. “Was it a good trip to the beach?”

Yes, Carl, it was. Thank you for the reminder that I need to squeeze everything I can out of every moment I can.

community, Equality, GLBT, LGBT, Uncategorized

BAR NONE

Posted on January 30, 2016January 30, 2016 by sassysheisme

Last weekend, I found myself in a gay bar down in Montrose. I was with a good friend of mine, someone who has let me into his world piece by piece. The more he shares with me, the more I understand him and what he goes through every day as a gay man.

He took me to one of his favorite bars. We ordered some drinks and went outside to sit by the gas heaters (it was a nice, cool night). We were soon joined by a couple who engaged us in conversation.

They were dressed up for dinner and had stopped for a drink first. They were meeting some of their friends later. One of the friends joined them before the others. Immediately, I searched for the face of the third man in my memories. Joe (not his real name) introduced himself and after I told him he looked familiar, he said he just had one of those faces.

Joe had been a Southern Baptist preacher. His friend, Evan (not his real name), had been a Southern Baptist youth pastor. All once upon a time, because you can’t be gay and serve God, right?

Joe, Evan and my friend talked God and church for a while – the suffering they’d endured at the hands of the church, and yet they continued to believe in God and spread the Gospel that all, including the LGBT community were precious to Him. They work to reconcile the church with the gay community.

Soon, their two other friends showed up. My friend went in to refill my drink and we began to talk about gay affirming churches. I expressed my frustration that the only place some in the LGBT community could feel welcome was in a bar and not in a church. One of the men sat down next to me and hugged me and said I was in the right place to make the difference I was supposed to make.

I was meeting people on their terms, in their territory and being myself. No pretense. Just love. Acceptance.

My friend returned, and we talked some more and then they left for their dinner, but not until there were hugs and blessings. I laughed at the irony. Fellowship at a gay bar.

Actually, I’d rather be in a bar loving people as they are than in a congregation that excludes based on human judgment.

I realize this is controversial and heresy for some. That’s ok. I’ve already made my feelings known in a prior post- Human Affirming Human.

Please take a step back as a church and realize that the “lost” you seek to save rarely cross your threshold because you continually tell them they are not worthy to be there. I am not an evangelist, I’m just a human loving other humans where they are, and those humans are loving me where I am – with no judgment.

Don’t just imagine a world where we love without reservation – love in the world without reservation.

PS – I Googled Joe and sure enough – I found him. He is now preaching and reaching out to the gay community.

music, Uncategorized

WHEN YOUR CHILDHOOD STARTS DYING

Posted on January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 by sassysheisme

The headlines lit up again today as it was announced that Eagle Glenn Frey had died today. I’ve had this subject on my mind since the announcement on December 31st that singer Natalie Cole had passed away, and last week, when David Bowie died, I saw the following Tweet which summed up how I felt.

Screen Shot 2016-01-18 at 16.18.22

Natalie Cole

David Bowie

Alan Rickman

Dan Haggerty

Lemmy Kilmister

Glenn Frey

And that’s just a partial list from the past three weeks.

I’ve had the song, “Let’s Dance,” and “China Girl,” by David Bowie in my head for days. Now, “We Belong to the City,” and “The Heat is On,” are crowding them for space. Nevermind the music from the Harry Potter soundtrack from when Harry sees the real Snape in the Pensieve rolling around in there, too.

I’ve seen people sniping and rolling their figurative eyes all over Facebook and Twitter at how other express their very real grief over the loss of a celebrity. The grief is real, it’s just not the same as when someone you love or knew well dies. It’s the grief of being old enough to watch your childhood slowly die one celebrity at a time with an increasing regularity.

My entire life has a soundtrack, and Glenn Frey and David Bowie were a big part of it – especially in high school. Natalie Cole has been a favorite of mine for decades. Add in iconic movies – the visual history, and books – my literary history, and when actors, authors and others who have left an imprint on my life start to leave this world, and it has an effect.

Songs can take me back to a time, all I have to do is close my eyes. Music has been a strong rudder in my life. It’s no surprise that a tear or tears will come to my eyes, when a voice or sound from my childhood/younger years is silenced.

I imagine as I grow older, more of my cultural influencers will be silenced with an ever increasing regularity. It comes with the territory, I suppose. I will mourn their influence in my own way, as will generations who have been touched by their extraordinary lives.