Whoa, I slept all of Saturday away! I must have needed it, or my body wouldn’t have wanted all that sleep! Seriously, I never woke up til 11:30, and then I laid back down and woke up again at 2:30pm this afternoon. I stayed up only because I had to go out and get smokes. I am trying a new brand, American Spirit greens. They’re organic cigarettes…doesn’t that sound a little fucked up? “Organic” cigarettes? Like they are supposed to be good for you if they are organic? LMFAO….yeah, right. I had a coupon that the American Spirit representative that stopped in to our store last week had given me for 2 packs for 2 bucks…almost free ciggs, so I couldn’t pass it up. Anyways, grabbed 2 packs today of the green menthols. I normally smoke Newport Smooths, in the black pack, and I like them – a lot. These were supposed to be similar, but I think the dark greens are probably closer to what I am looking for in strength and taste. Oh well, try them next time. In the meantime I will keep these I got today and use them for back up for when I run out of my regular smokes. I know I should quit…don’t even go there telling me so please. It’s my last bastion of rebellion…my smokes.
I’ve always said – usually kiddingly, but there is some sincerity in it – that I don’t date ugly women. I just don’t do it. I think that all women have beauty, whether it’s in their exterior looks or in their interior beautiful hearts. There is no such thing as an ugly woman…unless you go to Walmart on a Saturday morning and see the fools in their yoga pants and tent style t-shirts with camel toe or ass crack showing. Even they are not “ugly” just really really really stupid. And obviously they don’t have any friends who are willing to tell them how outrageously stupid they look in that garb – in a public place! Hell I wouldn’t even understand it in a private setting! But hey, we’ve all seen the outrageous People of Walmart web pages and it’s true, people will go out looking quite foolish and not seem bothered by it one bit.
Me? I have to look normal when I leave my house. I will NOT wear pajamas out of the house. I know some people will go to the store wearing their pajama bottoms and slippers but i just can’t do it. If I have to go up to the store and I am sitting around in my leisure clothes I will get up and get fully dressed in jeans and boots before I go out that door. I’m not looking like a fool and making the People of Walmart page! HAHAHAHA The house would have to be on fire for me to leave it in my pajamas.
I’ve dated some knock out gorgeous babes in my day. I’ve been extremely fortunate in that respect. I’ve also dated some seriously smart women – those are my favorites! A woman who can carry on an intelligent conversation will win me over every time. It’s like I am attracted to the nerds mostly. The librarian types are right up my alley. Yes, I just love the smart ones!
I had a young woman write to me today about Brene’ Brown’s TED Talk on Vulnerability. I’ve spoken about that talk before in past blogs. I just love it. I’ll add a link at the end of this blog for those wanting to check it out. It is an outstanding piece. Anyways this young woman said:
“I just had to watch this TED talks video by Bene Brown on Vulnerability for one of my grad school classes and it made me think of you! Like you are a perfect embodiment of that entire discussion. I know you’ve seen it cause I remember you mentioning it. I loved how she talked about vulnerability not a weakness, but actually being our most accurate measurement of courage. I instantly thought about you and your blog and videos and how you have the courage to put yourself out in the world and to allow yourself to be so vulnerable. I also liked how she defined courage as telling the story of who you are with your whole heart. That’s exactly what you do. You might be one of the most courageous people I know.
Whenever you’re feeling down and think you don’t matter to the world, I want you to know that you do. You are making a difference in the lives of many people you don’t even know about. All just by being you.
You inspire me. And you inspire the world.”
I was quite honored by her words. It amazes me when I get emails like this that tell me that I am inspiring someone or that my blogs or videos are helping some young LGBT person, or hell some old one too! I just write from my heart. Sometimes I address topics that are on my mind, sometimes it’s just me rambling. I truly believe that we change the world one person at a time.
Here is the TED Talk by Brene’ The Power of Vulnerability
Peace & Love
~MB
MainelyButch: Private Label 
Hello Mainely Butch,
I’ve not written replies here to you in awhile mainly because well, while I appreciate your sharings certainly, I don’t feel I have anything quite positive or useful to contribute. However today, I just might have something useful to share. 🙂
Before I get to that though, I wanted to somewhat echo the sentiments expressed by the woman who wrote you. Yes, your genuineness I think is both inspiring and comforting to many, and I also thank you for your writings.
I almost wish I wrote and shared as you do. I feel though that my sharing in that style would be of no interest to anyone. To be honest, most of my work days are of little interest to me so why would they be of interest to anyone else, eh!
But with this post of yours I have an opportunity to share something that might be of some use? It’s on the matter of smokes. 🙂 I am myself a devout smoker and will be at least until my body ceases to function. You were writing about “herbal smokes” and how the notion could be somewhat contrarily comical.
Some years back I developed a slight case of bronchitis. Anyone who has had this condition can attest to just how scary it is to begin coughing and not be able to stop; very scary indeed.
So, as is my wont when confronted with things that I must deal with, I decided to do a bit of research. I found a product that in my opinion is wonderful. It’s called “Smoker’s Aid” and can be purchased as far as I know only at AzureGreen – dot – net. Of course there are other purveyors of similar products, I just prefer AzureGreen’s version.
I want to also add here that once upon some decades ago, I smoked menthols as well. I liked the “Cool” brand in the dark brown wrapping. Then I learned just how terrible the chemicals are which are used to create that menthol. So I switched to non-menthol. And, no, I’m not going to preach here, I just thought I’d mention that bit about menthol in general.
As for me, I roll my own smokes and have for many years now. I use pure tobacco, no preservatives or additives, and include the Smoker’s Aid blend, which I’m going to risk boring you a bit and list off the ingredients. It might or might not be surprising that some of the herbs in my list are regarded incorrectly by some folks as “nuisance weeds.”
But first the traditional necessary disclaimer. Of course I am not suggesting anyone pick up smoking or that I’m offering any medical advice of any kind. This sharing should certainly be read strictly as anecdotal. The following is but a tiny and carefully worded description of these herbs.
Mullein – potentially helpful for soothing inflamed or infected lungs.
Nettle – potentially helpful for respiratory support.
Coltsfoot – potentially helpful respiratory disinfectant.
Damiana – potentially helpful in calming of the nervous system.
Dandelion – potentially helpful for calming nerves and overall tonic.
And then I add in some pure tobacco to round it all out. 🙂
And there you have it. 🙂
Thank you again for all that you share and for you being you, Mainely Butch.
I wish for you and all yours all good Blessings that may be.
“Cap’n” Toni….
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Thanks for the info Cap’n, I sincerely appreciate your input here. I’m going to look into this herbal mix myself. Great heads up! 🙂 Rock on! ~MB
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And thank you, too, MainelyButch! Let me know if you find or try anything that you like and maybe I might give something different a try as well. Keep on rockin’!
Cap’n…
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Good topic…being vulnerable can be risky as well as uncomfortable for a lot of people, especially in matters of the heart. Rejection, feelings of inadequacies, fear all are hurdles that can get in our way. And it doesn’t get any easier as you get older.
Like your thoughts on beauty. If people base relationships on beauty alone they could be missing out on something far better. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Don’t stop writing from the heart.
Bert
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