Today on the TTL avatar sideshow - TARDIGRADES

TTL I know you change your avatar every day but I just have to express my heartfelt appreciation for Tardigrades.

I don't want to steal your thunder though. Please tell everyone how awesome they are - the supreme beings that will survive the nuclear apocalypse, an example of convergent evolution, etc.

I was looking at his new avatar and wondering what the hell it was. I thought it might be some kind of dust mite (they do actually look like that). Anyway, it's very cool.

BoardUser wrote:TTL I know you change your avatar every day but I just have to express my heartfelt appreciation for Tardigrades.

Thanks. These things stand out to me now. I was reading Yahoo yesterday and saw a story about these creatures. Their appearance and that blurb in my sig,[1] I can relate to that. It actually made me think of TSOOL's Sister Surround which ends with the singer falling off the drum set, leaving shattered glass behind. The lyrics are interesting. The album covers shown in that post look like a parody of a NPD family, everyone holding their instruments, dutifully awaiting the command of the stern father.

I was thinking a few days ago about how TSOOL's singer appears familiar with NPD (the songs, his comments in an interview a few posts after the one linked). I thought about how *I* can be the "cartoon" of my life. Or, the DJ of my life.

It's fun for now. I'll probably get tired. But, things stand out to me. I can't stop the connection I make (songs, images). I see it everywhere. It's a sensitivity I didn't have before.

@MeAgain: I wanted to reply last night. I came up with the avatar you liked when I replied to you about the British monarchy, my comparison to the lotto (a corrupting influence, IMO. But, the monarchy can be too.). The Smith's song came to mind. I was laughing so hard. I add a light beam striking him, causing the reaction. Like suddenly seen in "harsh light." But, I absolutely could not work with it in GIMP. The voice, the image. It was so perfect. Everytime I looked at it I busted out laughing. It described me, my reactivity (the burden of thinking myself special and having to prove it; sensitivity to criticism.).

Did you catch the lyric at 3:40?

When you say it's gonna happen "now..." / well, when exactly do you mean? / See I've already waited too long / and all my hope is gone

It's funny the way he says it, like he's pee'd off. But, it's exactly how I felt 7-10 years ago. I had moments of awareness that my way of existing wasn't leading to anything different, just a deeper hole -- the same thing over and over. I remember having that kind of thought: "have I been lying to myself? Am I waiting for something that's not coming?"

[1] "The Tardigrade quickly coat themselves in large amounts of glassy molecules, helping the microscopic animals stay in a deathlike state of suspended animation as they float through harsh environments." -- Juan de Pablo, professor of molecular engineering, University of Chicago

BoardUser wrote:Please tell everyone how awesome they are - the supreme beings that will survive the nuclear apocalypse, an example of convergent evolution, etc.

I've been thinking more about this. It's interesting because I simply identified (immediately) with the blurb in the news (and the visual). It was immediate, "I know what that's like!"

I didn't think of it as good or bad. But, you're right, we have this ability to "excrete" a transparent shell that "withstands cold of absolute zero, heat above the boiling point, and pressures six times greater than the deepest oceanic trench."[1]

But, what I just realized is: self-awareness gives me the ability to dissolve it like the Tardigrade does when the environment is more friendly. That's what I feel like I have now. I used to pass through life at that high-level of force/defensiveness. Now I can raise and lower the shields. I'm more aware of my state, whether it's rational, how to get down to a basic level of honesty with myself (looking away from the noise/Presence/inspiration that takes over if I'm not constantly on it, which I'm not always.).

The same source says "Some species only defecate when they molt, leaving the feces behind with the shed cuticle." It's funny, but that's how I describe it. I don't get as as constipated as I used to.

@MeAgain (aka @Solstice1926) said once, "we don't break wind! Mine diffuses out of me by the process of osmosis."[2] He too will be glad to identify with the Tardigrade:

There are no respiratory organs, with gas exchange able to occur across the whole of the body.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade#Physiology
[2] post1712849.html?hilit=wind#p1712849

Whatever they are, they look disgusting!

NimplyDinply wrote:Whatever they are, they look disgusting!

You should see me when I'm constipated:

No worries, I think almost everyone looks gross when constipated.

Remember: row, row, row your boat.

I just wanted to say I really like the one I used today. It's my favorite so far. Some of the funnier are good. (Tarantino. I try not to let Walken in on this.) But, this one really speaks to my TS stuff.

I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in / and stops my mind from wandering / Where it will go
(Beatles, Fixing A Hole)

It stared out sarcastic like plugging a small hole (which is large). But, the next lyrics say filling the cracks, and it made me think of being inside the vehicle. It's a flood, not rain.

But, if you listen to all the lyrics (painting a room in a colorful way; shutting out problematic sources of supply; taking the time to do a number of things that weren't important yesterday). The chorus is self-fulfilling. Even though I'm wrong I'm right: disordered but aware, I see it, I'm no longer wrong about myself. I'm where I belong, where I would have been anyway (still disordered).

My whole life has been like not belonging. I could say that's one big change of being self-aware. Being at peace with myself.

So, I thought of that image being my inner landscape. It rains from the outside (up through the ground). It's the Presence->Narrative-process that seeps in, gets me stuck in a sinkhole where I'm in two worlds.

What's funny is that I threw this one together in a hurry and thought it was stupid. And now I like it the best. I thought my next two would be homeruns. I thought I'd string it out a little, use up some lessor stuff. I had this image/song idea already. I thought I'd use it today. I almost didn't because I thought it was lame. It's funny how I didn't see any of this when I concluded "oh well, it's something."

Anyone is welcome to use anything they've seen. I was thinking new visitors wouldn't know what I'm talking about, so I thought I'd post the avatars here (since I kept a list, because I forget in a week).

=====>>>>>

Bite the thorn that pierced the skin / Come back down to earth again / The cold is creeping deep inside / Disconnect the telephone line / All that I know / Shoulda been / Coulda been / Mine (Screaming Trees, All I know)



The deeper you go the higher you fly / Your inside is out and your outside is in / Take it easy (make it easy) / Everybody's got something to hide—except for me and my monkey (The Beatles, Everybody's Got Something To Hide)



You're a rhyme without reason / and you know it so well / Who's the king of the season? / well you never can tell—though it's so plain to see (The Soundtrack Of Our lives, Surround Sister)

Alternate:
Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.—Winston Churchill



I have been out of my head / Hanging on by a thread / To the world I'm missing / Did I fall asleep at the wheel / Getting looks that could kill / 'Cos I'm not listening (Dirty Vegas, All or Nothing)



"The Tardigrade quickly coat themselves in large amounts of glassy molecules, helping the microscopic animals stay in a deathlike state of suspended animation as they float through harsh environments."—Juan de Pablo, professor of molecular engineering, University of Chicago



Down amidst the grass and flowers / As this ballet floats for hours / It's a messy ride / In the countryside / On such a perfect day / We're moving fast on the other... / The other side of the world (Dishwalla, Other Side Of The World)



You were in the corner of my eye / and facing out into the wind / I heard the sound of your voice singing / If I remembered where my head has been / I'd let you on the secret in / But it's the end of the beginning (Rembrandts, End Of The Beginning)



I am the son and the heir / of a shyness that is criminally vulgar / I am the son and heir / of nothing in particular / You shut your mouth, how can you say / I go about things the wrong way? / I am human and I need to be loved / Just like everybody else does (The Smiths, How Soon Is Now?)



Happy and I'm smiling / walk a mile to drink your water / You know I'd love to love you / and above you there's no other (Jethro Tull, Living In The Past)



How does it feel to be / One of the beautiful people? / How often have you been there? / (Often enough to know) / What did you see when you were there? / (Nothing that doesn't show) (Beatles, Baby You're A Rich Man)



We want to be free to do what we wanna do / And we wanna get loaded / And we wanna have a good time / That's what we're gonna do / I'm gonna get deep down, deep down (Primal Scream, Loaded)



I wanna see your face, girl / I wanna touch your skin / I've been out of place now / I don't care where you've been / Let's go again (Brian Jonestown Massacre, Cold To The Touch)



I want all the self conscious girls who try to hide who they are with makeup / its the girl with a frown with the tight pants I really want to shake up / (Wind you up and make you crawl to me / Tie you up until you call to me) (Louis XIV, Find Out True Love Is Blind)



It's just a matter of time / Before we get to shine / It's not a question of when / Or who does the crime (Junkhouse, Shine)



The sparkle in your eyes / Keeps me alive / And the sparkle in your eyes / Keeps me alive, keeps me alive / The world / And the world turns around / The world and the world, yeah / The world drags me down (The Cult, She Sells Sanctuary)



Woke up this morning / for someone to set me free / Turned 'round here today / to find that someone was me / And we smoke dead men's cigarettes / And we choke on the bitter black regrets / of ourselves, we've found no one else (I Am Kloot, Dead Men's Cigarettes)



I've got the understanding of a four year old / I've got the peace of mind of a killer's soul / I've got the rationale of a New York cop / I've got the patience of a chopping block (Crystal Method & Filter, (Can't You) Trip Like I Do)



Sometimes the costume isn't enough. (The Spanish olé[/i], from the Arabic oath [/i]والله w-állah, "by Allah!") (Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass, The Lonely Bull)



Lookin' for some happiness but there is only loneliness to find / Jump to the left, turn to the right / Lookin' upstairs, lookin' behind (George Baker Selection, Little Green Bag)



H.R. Pufnstuf / Who's your friend when things get rough? / H.R. Pufnstuf / Can't do a little cause you can't do enough (Theme from 1969 children's show H.R. Pufnstuf. Adapted from Simon & Garfunkel, Feelin' Groovy)



We're gonna give you another 10-15 minutes—to declare yourself for the next year. And it's still pouring in... (God's Angry Man)


Two-part avatar:


Her: If I'm smart then I'll run away / But I'm not so I guess I'll stay / Haven't you heard / I fell in love with a beautiful stranger / I looked into your face / My heart was dancing all over the place / I'd like to change my point of view / If I could just forget about you (Madonna - Beautiful Stranger)


Him: Come on over the mountain / And I'll meet you at the other side / If I saw you "dancing" / I would spin you around / Turn your world upside down / If you'll be my woman / I will take you to another high / If you'll be my lady / I will take you for another ri-ha-ha-ha-ha-de (PoM, Spin You Around)



I've been sitting like an Island / comfortably curled up inside / I've been looking but not finding things / that will make me satisfied / I'm a master of my own mind games / What I don't like I push aside / I've complete control over my domain / I create these special lies (Val Davis, Texas Sky)



I'm addicted to feeling / Stealing love isn't stealing / Can't you see that I understand your mind? / I'm a walking believer / I'm a ghost and a healer / I'm the shape of the hole inside your heart (Soundgarden, By Crooked Steps)



We are all worms. But I do believe I am a glow-worm.—Winston Churchill



Wearing nothing is devine / Naked is a state of mind / I take things off to clear my head / To say the things I haven't said / With my naked eye / I saw all the falling rain / Coming down on me / With my naked eye / I saw all—if I said it all—I could see (Lucious Jackson, Naked Eye)



Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend / Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within (Undisputed Truth, Smiling Faces Sometimes)



Here's a thought for every man / who tries to understand what is in his hands / He walks along the open road of love & life / surviving if he can (Oasis, Cast No Shadow)



Move slowly now / I know you, somehow / We don't get you here / Don't get too near / Way to go wrong / Too straight to catch on / You waited too long / What's so good about that? (Johnny Marr & The Healers, Bangin' On)

Truth too late wrote:

I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in / and stops my mind from wandering / Where it will go
(Beatles, Fixing A Hole)

It stared out sarcastic like plugging a small hole (which is large). But, the next lyrics say filling the cracks, and it made me think of being inside the vehicle. It's a flood, not rain.

TTL - the fixing the hole and the filling of cracks in reminded me of a story I wrote quite a few years ago... so i hunted through usb sticks and put it on my blog.

its about a house ......... aka a story on personal growth:

https://fareastofwest.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/178/