Party Girl

My feet are still aching after two nights on heels.

Friday night was my office's 40th birthday bash. It was a pretty good party. Black tie optional, the assorted clothing choices were interesting. I went for the dressier side, and felt the better for it. It's nice to get dressed up every once in a while.

Not too much to be said about the party- I hung out with friends, ate and drank (I skipped the dancing- my feet appreciated my consideration). Got home at two in the morning. A good night.

Then on Saturday I went out to Broadway Market with S and then out to another party in Streatham- another night in shoes and general pleasantries and home by one. Should have been home by twelve, but missed the train I needed. Sometimes it does seem like a useful idea to wear a watch. But not often.

Today I popped into work for a bit and had a lovely meal at a restaurant I'd never been to before in Islington but one that I will be visiting again to be sure. I even bought the cookbook. Considering how many cookbooks I already have, this is some sort of an honor. I don't let myself by loads of cookbooks anymore. And frequently I think that I need to make an effort to use the ones I already have more often. Like choosing one recipe a week out of a different book to make. This exercise may very well be in my future, or it's no more cookbooks for me!

Currently I have a headache and am stalled on writing an article. I didn't have an artist this week, and thought I might write about this instead. I'm actually fairly concerned about the 'thought police' attitude that seems to be the foundation of this particular legislation. I know that many things about America aren't really free, but you don't realize just how free it is until you travel to other supposedly 'free' places. Let me tell you something, they aren't. And it's appalling. To quote Ben Franklin, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." Particularly appropriate in these troubled times I think, lest we forget exactly what it is we're fighting for.

The other topic I considered writing an article about is this whole child pornography vs art thing taking place in Australia at the moment. It's getting some press here, though I feel it's probably a bigger deal there. However, the implications for the art world are significant and related to the above topic. I think the problem there, in reality, is while many are trying to make the argument of 'art' vs 'sexuality', the truth is, that a naked child or adolescent is of course a statement to some degree about sexuality. But then, children are sexual beings. Innocent sexual beings, but sexual beings nonetheless. And it is only in their naivety and innocence that one can explore or make statements about an entire aspect of human sexuality that we have considered taboo. I think the real issue, is not that children or adolescents are in some ways sexual, but how that sexuality is interpreted by adults. Is it attractive? Appealing? Does that make one perverse to acknowledge that there is something so pure about the potential of the untouched? And if so, then I wonder how the very same people can consider the biblical fable of Adam and Eve- for they embody that exact same innocence. It's a really intersting debate which speaks much more about us as a society rather than the realities of life.

But I thought that topic might be slightly controversial for the site, so I decided to go with the other one instead- equally interesting but not exactly as inflammatory.

Tomorrow I'm off to Hartlepool which means I need to pack a bag. I think I'm going to leave this until the morning. I can't be bothered to do it now.

And on another note. There are other things I have on my mind, but I don't post some things here, because I know some of the people who read this blog. I have always said that to me, this blog is sort of like my online diary. And that's true- I write about things that I think and feel or have experienced. I don't tend to write to attract visitors or to make some sort of public statement or contribution. It's just the footnotes to my life. But there are some things that I leave out. Mainly because it is not my intention to use this blog as a platform for personal discussions. But sometimes this means that there are entire sections of my thoughts and experiences that don't go here. I appreciate that for some people, this can lead to a sort of misrepresentation. As much as I am honest and open here, it's not all that there is to me. And one shouldn't presume to know me, or even understand me, solely from reading this blog. If you know me, and you read here, then you should know that I will generally never speak about you, about my thoughts in respect to you, or about events that pertain to you (since that would lead to fulfilling the first two points). Unless of course you are a fellow blogger in which case the rules change slightly (and particularly if there are cookies involved!).

It's all a bit of a catch. The reality of you, someone who knows me, visiting here, my personal diary, is that you may one day read something that you wouldn't otherwise want to hear. Something you would never have asked me in person. I respect that we all think things about the people we know- both good and bad. Including some things that would upset them or hurt them. But we keep those things to ourselves because it's not at all appropriate or productive to tell people what you think about them all the time. I would never flat out ask for someone's opinion of what I know are my weaker traits, and I would never expect one of my friends to shove it in my face. But here, in my personal space, is where I sometimes need to blow off steam. And that means that if you know me, one day that steam may come around to you.

That's the risk you take by coming here- not that I'm telling you not to, and not that I am not generally respectful of your presence. But sometimes, and occasionally, you might hear something you otherwise didn't want to. And I'm sorry for that. And yes, this is geared towards you, and probably also you and you, but not you, you, or you. Complicated, huh?