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Thursday, March 28th, 2013
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2:44 pm - This continues my procrastination efforts - what paper? I have a paper due?
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So, with all the talk of gay marriage and the Supreme Court evaluating and it constitutionally, I thought I would talk a little about my experiences, both growing up and today.
So, for those of you who do not know, my father is gay. My uncle is also a cross dressing gay man, who can walk in 6" stilettos and makes a much better woman than I ever will. I am very jealous of him. I love them both very much.
I learned my father was gay when I was nine years old. My parents divorced when I was about 2-3 years old, because my father was gay. My mother, a very wise and courageous woman, overcame a lot of hurt and resentment and became friends with my father, teaching me the value of forgiveness and love. Each summer my mom would take me down to visit my dad in Virginia. She would stay a week with my Dad, Tony (my dad's partner), and Lorraine (my dad's partner's mother) and I and leave me and come back and pick me up about a month later (give or take). We would all visit Washington, D.C., since they weren't far and my dad worked at the Pentagon.
When I would go and visit, each night we had a tradition where I would go and watch tv in my dads' room next door to mine for an hour or so each night. When my dad decided to tell me (at the age of nine), we were watching "Murphey Brown." The conversation went something like this:
Dad: Brittany, do you know what gay means?
Brittany: Yes.
Dad: What does it mean?
Brittany: Happy.
Dad and Tony chuckle.
Dad: Yes, but do you know what the other gay means?
Brittany: Yes...
Dad: What does it mean?
Brittany: ..... (I did not want to tell them, because kids at school were already talking about that gay and it was "bad")
Dad: Ok, well when a man and man love each other, they are gay.
Brittany: Ok
Dad: Tony and I love each other and we are gay.
Brittany: Ok
Dad: Do you understand?
Brittany: Yes.
Dad: Ok, go upstairs and tell your mom we had this conversation.
I do as he tells me. I knock on my mom's bedroom door. She is asleep.
Brittany: Mom, we had the conversation.
Mom: You did? Huh? OH! That conversation. Are you ok? Do you understand?
Brittany: Yup.
Mom: Ok. G'nite honey.
That is how I learned my dad was gay. I was quite proud of this fact and came back to my small town and told all my friends. The reaction was mixed. I learned at the young age of nine that I should choose my friends based on their reaction. Sometimes it was a confused look of "then how are you here?" "You see...when a man and woman have sex..." was the typical response. Sometimes there was little or no reaction. I liked those the best. And then of course there was the, "you're going to hell" reaction. Those people did not become my friends.
In eighth grade, my fathers, Tony and Dad, decided to have a Holy Union (ie getting married, without the legal binding of it all). I gave them away. My mom was in the wedding, and so was my uncle. It is still one of my favorite memories. Though, of course in their small community there were those against it, which we ran into the day of my dads' Holy Union. We stopped at the local pharmacy, the owners being friends of my dads and there were two older women talking in an aisle. They were talking about my fathers saying "How could they do that? It was immoral and against everything and they were hurting all that was sacred....etc." I walked up to them and told them that they didn't even know these men and how dare they judge them without knowing them. These women were taken aback and asked me how I should even know about these things. I told them they were my fathers and I loved them and God got to make the final judgement and I think he would be ok with it all. They were just taken aback. The owner came over and asked them to leave, which was nice.
Then, in high school things changed a little, people began to decide that I must be gay, because my father is gay. Yes, I had boyfriends in high school, yes people knew. They just chose to ignore it. I learned how to judge my friends even more closely during this time. My senior year, I wrote my senior paper on gay marriage, and there was so little information out there. I had to use the internet to find information, and at that time, we didn't even know how to site internet sources! I also entered an essay contest in which I wrote about my fathers and won.
The first day of my senior year in high school, Tony (my dad's partner) died. That threw me for a loop. I wasn't prepared for that. I loved Tony very much (I still do). I miss him every day. I am so happy that I got to have him in my life. He taught me so much about how to treat people and love people. He instilled in me a lot of life lessons that might have gotten overlooked otherwise. He was a big influence and a larger than life character. Anyone who got to know him, loved him.
Six or so months later, my dad met Glenn, who looked very similar to Tony when we first met him (at my graduation party). Glenn has overcome many obstacles himself and I think he's taught my dad quite a bit. Their relationship ebbs and flows just like any relationship. They love each other, just like Dad and Tony did. They are good together. We can all only be so lucky to have partners and relationships like theirs (both Dad and Tony and Dad and Glenn's)!
As a sophomore in college, Glenn, my mother, and I all worried for my father's safety on 9/11 as he was on his way into work. If he had left a few minutes earlier, he would have been at the Pentagon. Glenn communicated with us by email throughout the morning, as we did not have any word. Finally, close to 1 p.m., Dad emailed. He was ok and was on the metro. It went past the Pentagon instead of stopping like it normally did. If there was ever an emergency at the Pentagon, that was what the metro was supposed to do. He missed it by mere minutes. We were all so lucky, but I will never forget that day and how it played out. I was thankful to have Glenn keeping my mom and I updated. He is my family.
Glenn has been around ever since and they moved back to this area in 2008. I am very lucky to have my family members. I am very lucky to have had these experiences and to get to have two extra stepfathers who have loved me and made me laugh. I can only hope that they feel lucky inheriting a daughter, along with my dad, though both Glenn and Tony said as much at various points in my life.
Not everyone is so lucky. I support gay marriage and have since I was old enough to realize that not everyone was allowed the same basic rights. Everyone should be able to express and show their love and commitment for someone and get the same benefits regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, creed, religion, weight, or any other stupid thing you want to judge someone by.
I hope the Supreme Court makes the right ruling. Equality. It's that simple.
*Steps down off my soapbox*
Now this version, wasn't nearly as good as my last one, but it will do.
Toot n Scoot!
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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| Thursday, January 5th, 2012
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9:00 am - Check this out!
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| Friday, March 7th, 2008
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7:49 am - Holy Snow Storm, Batman!
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There's a lot of snow out there....and it's still coming!
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(comment on this)
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| Friday, February 8th, 2008
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3:11 pm - Random
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| Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006
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10:01 am - Random Thoughts and a Little Update if You're Lucky...
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So, I was just looking through some photos and I started thinking about how people have changed. I feel as though that a large chunk of people that came to Hiram changed drastically...and interestingly. Some people I would have never thought to do some things did, myself included. Other people did things right within their character range, and I wonder if it was because they had thrown themselves into their work and finishing it all. I mean, I am just remembering all of my friends, acquaintances and others that I'm just amazed. Especially in those people in classes after mine where I got to watch them mature and follow their lives during Hiram.
Me, I have changed as much or more than anyone. I want to change again. I want to have the huge revelations that I would have going through high school. I want that capacity to just say I'm going to change and then just do it without worrying or wondering or putting it off. I am ready to change, both physically, mentally and emotionally, now why is it taking me so long to get off my butt and do it? Ugh.
That probably made no sense to anyone...that's ok.
Last night, Emily H and I went for almost an hour long walk, which was nice! I also worked late doing an orientation session for work.
That brings me to an update about my job: I like it. I like the atmosphere, but something about me is reserved about the whole thing. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's just that I'm "jaded" now to the whole workplace scenario. I don't know. I am also trying to get my name out there as a graphic design artist and a web designer. I am trying to bring in any extra money I can, since I am feeling dirt poor right now. It's hard though. Hopefully Conneaut will call me back and I can try to set something up with them!
I got together with an old high school friend a few weeks ago, right before we moved and she looked good! I definitely miss some things from HS and some people.
My goal tonight: take the dogs for walks.
This is probably the most random post ever. My brain has been skipping around a ton of thoughts and I'm just typing to sort them I suppose.
Hmmm...Ok, I think that's it. Toot N Scoot
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(6 comments | comment on this)
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| Monday, July 31st, 2006
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12:43 pm - Update after the move
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Hey everyone,
We've officially moved in and settled, for the most part. We still have a few pictures to hang, but that's not bad. The dogs seem to have adjusted to the move and were happy to be home with us again, I think. I know my mom is happy they're home with us again!
My new job is still going well. :-) I really enjoy it. I am kept busy and that makes me happy! There isn't much else to report on with that.
Tonight I have to update the Good Shepherd site and the rest of this week's evenings overall are dedicated to designing the website I've been working on on the side.
Not much else is happening here. I hope all is well with everyone else!
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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| Thursday, July 13th, 2006
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9:20 pm - Update Time
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Ok, so it's been a while again. Let's see what's happening in Brittany's life: Bryan and I are going to Tennessee this coming week. The following Monday, I start my new job at Ursuline College. Then that following Saturday: we move to Aurora into the beautiful Residence at Barrington (www.residenceatbarrington.com) I'm pretty excited, though slightly stressed about packing up everything/getting the old apartment set for moving out approval and having everything officially packed up. It's gonna be nonstop from here on out! There's a bunch to throw out, so that's good.
So, next question/plea: Anyone available to help us move from Willoughby to Aurora (or on either end) on Saturday July 29th? We'll provide lunch/dinner! Anyone interested?!?! We'd love you forever!!!
Ok, that's it! Toot N Scoot!
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(9 comments | comment on this)
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| Wednesday, June 14th, 2006
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11:01 am
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Another post on dreams:
I had a dream last night that I was in a play at church about the Brady Bunch. It was bizarre. I have been having a lot of dreams lately. I don't know what to make of them! I don't want to go into it here.
Toot N Scoot!
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Wednesday, May 17th, 2006
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12:35 pm - 7 Strange Habits
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This is how it goes....
The first player of this game starts with the "7 weird things/habits about him/herself" and people who get tagged need to write a blog of their 7 weird (or unique) habits/things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end you need to choose the 7 people to be tagged and list their names.
1) I count every step I take in my head, in music triple time, example, 1-E-And-A, 2-E-And-A, etc, unless I'm talking to someone.
2) I have a very set pattern in the morning and when it gets messed up, I become incredibly angry and irate.
3) I have a very set routine when I get to work, I come in, put my stuff down, check the fax machine, get a drink out of the fridge if I don't already have one, Sit down and log in, wait for computer, if there's voicemail, I check it, then I check my websites in a particular order. If any of that gets out of whack, I dont' feel right all day.
4) In order for me to sleep, I have to have room, I have to have at least my hips covered with a blanket (otherwise I feel naked), and I have to be able to be on my side, normally, my right side. I also cannot have anyone breathing on me and if I sleep with someone who snores, I have to be the first one to fall asleep, otherwise I can't sleep.
5) I like hot dogs wrapped in salami and provolone cheese in a bun dipped in french onion dip.
6) I also eat macaroni and ketchup.
7) I worry incessantly about money, even when I have some (which I don't most of the time, but even when I do, I worry about it)
Ok, now the people I tag...
1) Robin
2) Bryan
3) Clare
4) Cari
5) Robin Behlow
6) JP
7) Jake
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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| Wednesday, May 10th, 2006
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4:15 pm - Letter
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If you want, comment on this entry and I will give you a letter. Write five words beginning with that letter in your journal, including an explanation of what the word means to you and why, and then pass out letters to those who want to play along.
Sam gave me W (well really she gave me "doubleyoo") :-P.
1. Work: I love my job! I am actually more relaxed here most of the time than I am anywhere else...minus the last week or so, with everyone on edge due to possible layoffs.
2. Weekends: This is the only time I get to sleep in, though I never get to sleep in with the dogs and most of the time I get to spend it with my boyfriend!
3. Windows: I don't have any in my office, so having them elsewhere is really nice.
4. Wishes: I like when wishes come true.
5. Weddings: I don't get to go to many, but they are always beautiful when I do. No, one does not mean anything's happening on my end...it was either weddings or "widdle biddy puppies" and I didn't think you would want me to stoop that low ;-)
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(6 comments | comment on this)
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| Thursday, May 4th, 2006
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9:34 am - Dream Last Night
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So, I dreamed that I was in this house thing and there was a secret passage through a tree to "The Beast", as in Beauty and the Beast. The tree looked frightening at times and you pushed a certain spot and it opened for an elevator. Then I got drunk with the Beast and a bunch of other people. We all piled into cars and I almost didn't get into a car, but then I got into a van type thing and we drove for a few seconds and flipped, because the driver was torn out of the car and set on fire. We all survived, except the driver. We survived although we were upside down, because we were covered by prayer paper. Then, we were sitting at this bar/thing and Bryan and a bunch of others left and a HS friend, Molly and I were left and we couldn't fit into any car and the Ahren twins and other freshman year people were sitting there. So, I called Bryan and asked if he could come pick me up. He told me he was still drunk so he couldn't do it. So, I was upset and he said he'd do it, but I was mad so I said I'd find another way home. I sat ther stewing for a few minutes and called my uncle shawn. He couldn't come and pick me up, but he knew of someone who could. I didn't want to call my mom, because I was drunk. Then, I was waiting at this house for his friend, whose name was Branden or something and there were weird things in the backseat and we were driving down Lake Rd near the church and suddenly we were riding bikes. And he was asking me questions and we ended up back at the Beast's place. It was all very strange...sort of a nightmare and sort of not.
Edit: I also remember sitting on the steps of someplace and Scott being there and us talking about a lot of things....
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(comment on this)
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| Wednesday, April 26th, 2006
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10:25 am - I thought this was interesting...
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| Wednesday, April 5th, 2006
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2:54 pm - Too Long Since I Last Updated
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| Saturday, February 11th, 2006
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2:19 pm - Great Valentine's Day weekend!
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We went and saw "Rent" last night and it was phenomenol!!! I loved it! :-) It was a great gift! We saw Annie Houk there and Mandi Parham too!
Today we went and got 1 hour massages and it was really nice! I enjoyed it! It was all really fun :-) Happy early Valentine's Day everyone!
Toot N Scoot!
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(comment on this)
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| Tuesday, February 7th, 2006
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4:11 pm - So, maybe it's time for an update?
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So, I've become increasingly lax about writing in my LJ. I've hit a point where it hasn't become necessary. During college, it was my source to vent and scream at the world. Now, it's purpose is to just update you occassionally with what's happening with me.
So, here goes:
Lately, I've been moving quickly through my various certification courses and am looking at what to major in for my Masters. I think I finally have it figured out. I'd like to major in Management Information Systems. I think I can do it too! I just have to, after I'm done with all of these insane certification courses, start on my GMAT's and apply. We'll see what happens. I don't expect to start until either Fall or Winter next year, but I'm pursuing it now!
Work, as always, is going well. I love it! We'll see what happens. It's hard to believe that in just about 2 months I will have been here a year! Oy!
I'm working on my church's website and trying to get it all taken care of. We'll see what happens with that. This weekend, Bryan and I are celebrating Valentine's Day. Friday night, we see "Rent" and Saturday we go and get 1 hour massages each with lessons for us on how to give decent massages.
I will have paid off two credit cards by the end of this week and that only leaves one, which I plan on taking down fairly quickly between refunds and various other money that's being sent to me, which makes me incredibly happy!!
Home life is good overall. We have some downs, but the ups are really starting to outweigh the downs which makes me happy! :-) We are finally communicating and understanding each other. I like it! Chester and Bailey are doing well...though Chester is still being a pain in the butt quite a bit of the time. The next few weeks, promise to be busy for me, between visiting people, people visiting us, and other activities that are planned.
Hmmm...I guess that's all I can really tell...not that there's anything secret happening. There isn't. I just don't have anything else to tell you.
Toot N Scoot!
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, December 2nd, 2005
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9:06 am - Beware all Hiramites! It could happen to you next...
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| Thursday, December 1st, 2005
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4:26 pm - Haven't updated on my dreams in a while...
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So, here it goes:
Dream 1: I had psoriasis all over my hands and up my wrist. In the back of my mind I also knew I had lupus. It was bizarre. I have neither of these as far as I know...
Dream 2: My friend Lisa Lukarrilla from HS wanted me to babysit for her. But she didn't tell me where she was going to drop off the baby and she calls me and tells me she dropped her off. I go searching everywhere and find her in this grill like thing along with five other babies abandoned. I was incredibly upset and I kept forgetting to feed Lisa's baby. Then her baby was a cat and I couldn't figure out why I was feeding a cat baby formula.
Dream 3: (This one may be a repeat for you folks) My friend Jenn Kleja was wandering around (for those of you who don't know, she passed away in a car accident a few years ago) and I was at church and I thought I was going nuts. My crazy aunt les told me she saw her too very casually. It was all bizarre.
Dream 4: Ok, so I know there's a dream 4 but I have no idea what it is anymore....I've been dreaming a lot, but that's normal for this time of year....
All is well with me :-) Another birthday has come and gone. It was ok..nothing special...spending time with my mom, uncle and Bryan...which was nice. Went to the doctor yesterday and she upped my dosage of Zoloft for about 2 weeks every month...don't ask, it's complicated.
I've enjoyed the made up memories everyone's left! :-)
Work is going well...I still love it here! I love everyone I work with! :-)
Ok, Toot N Scoot
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Wednesday, November 30th, 2005
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1:09 pm - I like this....
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If you read this, if your eyes are
passing over this right now (even if we don't speak often), please post a
comment with a completely made up and fictional memory of you and me. It can be
anything you want, good or bad, but it has to be fake.
When you're
finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or
mortified) about what people don't actually remember about you.
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(28 comments | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, November 1st, 2005
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3:39 pm - Haha!
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 meyerhold's Halloween party:
98penguins dressed as Calvin Coolidge.
andeeoakley dressed as Franklin Pierce, though it looked more like someone who just poked themselves in the eye.
antisn dressed as a character from "Das Boot".
catapillo dressed as Janet Reno.
cb1281 dressed as the spirit of their dead grandmother Isabel.
compman dressed as Amanda Bynes.
crysanthemum didn't even show up and doesn't get any candy.
cutelittlesmurf dressed as something dead, but what, specifically, you can't tell, and it suited them all too well.
denabills dressed as the Governor of Pennsylvania.
doogers dressed as a bottle of Topbic.
eclectickid dressed as a heavy envelope.
ecstasy_eyes dressed as a new superhero: Light Platypus.
godofhumility dressed as a 1990's grunge child.
joecomputerdude dressed as a tape dispenser.
johnboy7373 gets drunk, strips naked, and somehow emerges dressed as Renee Zellweger's mother-in-law.
kacy23 didn't dress up, spoilsport.
kb930 dressed as Green Lantern.
kevinbarnett dressed as Ali Landry.
kofia_nayo dressed as Dan Rather.
luciernaga dressed as a disturbing self-made character called "Gidget Toiletsniffer".
lungglitter dressed as the Viscount of Callao.
mad_chatter dressed as the Disgruntled Power Ranger.
meyerhold dressed as a KXGR-TV Channel 12 employee.
midnightrider06 dressed as the Viscount of Pennix.
mil dressed as a case.
miscmrbob dressed as a vampire.
moonlight_drive dressed as a pitcher for the Reds.
musicwench dressed as Optimus Prime.
nipponkitty dressed as Butt-head.
onama dressed as a quarterback for the Steelers.
orky13 dressed as a interrim trade show booth bunny, and it suited them all too well.
otter870 dressed as Lt. Cmdr. Data from "Star Trek".
potofgold9 dressed as Mary-Kate Olsen with her very own conjoined Ashley, and it suited them all too well.
radioman811 dressed as a skunk.
roaryoreo13 dressed as a Level 8 fighter.
rockinrbn dressed as a new member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Jolly Warrior.
rubberduckie150 dressed as a character from Harry Potter and the Mermaid of Will.
sacprincess dressed as a lethargic devil.
silentstorm38 dressed as Scooter Libby.
starofaurora dressed as a badger.
teh_force dressed as a Blue Screen of Death.
utgirl1998 dressed as Marilyn Manson.
viceversa dressed as a diplomat from Russia.
vivo425 dressed as a wreck.
Throw your own party at the Hallomeme!
Created with phpNonsense
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, October 25th, 2005
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3:08 pm - My More Recent Art
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Interpretations
Smoking Fountain
Awesome
Mary Poppins at Hiram
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(comment on this)
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