Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Different Strokes

I am so tired of trying to please you. This has been the stupidest thing I've ever done, is to try and please somebody else. I know better, too. I feel as though I bend over backwards, constantly, trying to please you, and you don't acknowledge it (or see it). You decide what will be on TV, how loud it will be, when you will change it in mid-show or song -- never mind who else is watching or present. Do you really think I give a flying flip about college football?? But you want me to sit beside you and be near you, so I endure it because I love you.

You bitched about me watching "Law and Order" so much. It just so happened that both of us like that show. I made a conscious effort to find something you liked, too, so we could share the experience. Because of the negative associations I now have with L&O, I don't even enjoy it any more. Do you realize you often ridicule any and everything I do?

You complain about my driving. I'm not that crazy about yours, either, truth be told. You turn into traffic far too close to other cars, like when you make left turns across traffic. You curse and rave and rant at least half the time you're driving. It amazes me. Your blood pressure must be sky high when you drive. You steer to avoid potholes but almost always hit them anyway, causing me to be thrown sideways and then bumped on top of it. I can't count the times you've driven up over the curb. But hey, people have different ways of driving than others. I don't mention these things to complain -- I mention them because I never do mention them because I rarely think about them, and then if I would ever bring it up, you'd ask me what it was and I wouldn't remember. So now I have recorded some of them and can come back to this post for reference.

It's funny how different people's perspectives are. For instance, you constantly complain about feeling old/hating "old things." You despise my purse, for example, even though I carefully researched fashion trends and bought a fashionable style. Heck, the purse I had before this one was fine, too; you just decided that it was old-fashioned and hated it,too.

You wear T-shirts, won't cut your hair or trim your beard, wear bandanas on your head. Do you think that makes you look young?? I think not. I have opinions on how you look, but I keep them to myself unless you ask me what I think because people are entitled to express their style the way they see fit. I am just glad that you -- for the MOST PART -- stopped wearing ballcaps all the time. You still buy one at least once a month and they lay around everywhere. But thank God, you don't wear them constantly any more. And thank YOU.

Everyone has their own perception of what "old" is. For me, listening to classical music on public radio reminds me of my father; hence, it seems old. But you listen to classical music and it seems cool to you. I like classical music; that's not the point. The point is, it makes me feel old to sit and listen to it all the time. So when we're in the car and you change the station to classical music, just know that I am sitting there feeling ancient. I don't say anything because this shouldn't be your problem. It is my issue with classical music, not yours. So why should I impose my feelings on you? I can deal with my own feelings. I just wish you would deal with yours -- about my purse, my hair color, my hair style, my decision to wear or not wear makeup, my clothing, etc.

Photobucket

Friday, December 30, 2011

Couch Surfing

I am a small, small person. Almost a year ago, we (read: my husband) loaned a friend of ours (read: mostly his and mine only by default despite my efforts to expand the relationship) over $1500. She promised she would repay us by the end of the year. Well, the end of the year is here and not a cent has been repaid. She has "no money." Where is she now? At the beach. On vacation. Posting gorgeous photos of the ocean and the beachline while we sit in dark, dreary wintery WV.

I find myself feeling envyish. And angry. I would like to be sitting on a warm sunny beach right now, instead of on the sofa with my laptop watching "Back to the Future." But mostly, I feel envy. And I do not like that in myself. It is very unlike me. So on top of feeling angry and envyish, I now feel guilty as well. Thanks a lot, "friend."

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sharing

You can't seem to share things with me. I don't mean food, etc., I mean experiences. You send me links to the music you're listening to, and I stop and listen to them and reply to you what I think. So I send you links. You ignore my links and continue listening to your songs and sending more links. What's with that?!?

The one thing that upsets me most is we don't seem to connect. I am desperate to share with you. I find things that interest me and I try to tell you about them, or share them with you. You tell me you're not interested in those things. In other words, you're not interested in me. That's the only conclusion I can draw. You don't find me interesting any more.

You isolate me. You keep me at arm's length, and then wonder why I don't feel intimate. Figure it out.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Love Hurts

I sometimes wonder how much pain one person can survive. I guess it's way more than I realize. Or want to.

I can't even go into details; I'm just too drained. Why does Love have to hurt so much?!?

Lonely

I am so incredibly lonely. I hate the distance between us. I try repeatedly to connect with you, and my efforts fall flat. Repeatedly. You always ask for examples, and I can never think of one. So I'll write one down and maybe I will remember it when you ask.

Yesterday, I found that BBC video about Christ and Buddhism. It was so fascinating to me, and I wanted to share it with you. Eventually, you said you already knew all that, that you learned it at UT years ago. This, without watching the video, mind you. I urged that there was so much more to the video, but you let that fall flat. Obviously, you had no intention of watching it. So I asked you, if you knew such a thing already, why didn't you ever mention it to me? Didn't you find it interesting enough to share something so profound with me? You replied "Do you know how much I have going on in my head at all times?!?!!"

Well, I have a lot going on in my head at all times, too. And yet, when I learn something interesting, my first instinct is to share it with you, my lover, my partner, the one I have chosen to share my life with.

You, on the other hand, seem to keep as much of your life away from me as you can. You make your phone calls in the car or outside ("I get better reception there"), yet you talk plenty when someone calls you and you're sitting on the couch. You can talk with A. for an hour about all sorts of topics, but if I bring something up, you sit and gawk at me silently, or at the most, grunt. No "Why do you feel that way?" or "Yes, I knew that. What do you think about that?" or "I think x about that, and this is why." You treat me like I'm stupid and uninteresting.

And I feel sad about it.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Men Are Assholes

Since nobody reads this blog anyway, I decided today to use it to vent my frustrations. Who knows? Maybe someday it'll be amusing to look back on from prison after I've been convicted of murder. J/K

Mr. Chandler spent the entire day watching episode after episode of "Band of Brothers." Now, I'm not picky; I can handle a few hours of mindnumbing, uninteresting television shows. I'm open to the fact we are two different people with two diverse sets of interests. But after the sixth hour, you'd think he would consider my feelings and change the station. Oh wait, he did. He put on the Saints football game.

But let me watch one freaking episode of "Millionaire Matchmaker," and he stomps up the steps with "I'm taking a nap." Then he pouts the rest of the day, and makes snarky remarks about it for weeks afterward.

Then there's Christmas Day, a day when it's traditional to eat all kinds of goodies. I baked all day Christmas Eve, and laid out ham slices and rolls, etc., to snack on throughout the festivities. He has the nerve to say to me "I wish you'd lose some weight." Yeah? I wish you'd think about what the hell you say to me, when you say it, and how you say it. Could you pick a worse day? Maybe my birthday?

On another, similar "men are insensitive assholes" note: My brother, who lives across the United States about as far as you can get from here, called me this evening. During our conversation, in which I told him about a long drive I made yesterday including passing the former site of a landmark we had both admired as children -- I tell him it's no longer there, and he immediately corrects me, saying "Oh yes, it is. I saw it a couple of years ago when I was in town. It's just different now." Right. God knows nothing could change in two years, bro. I mean, I *was* just there yesterday. But what the hell do I know? I'm only a lowly female.

If I Tweeted, I'd tweet #menareassholes.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Clara Chandler's Black Cards Line

Here's my latest project (really it's my second latest project, but I haven't debuted my latest) -- Black Cards. Check 'em out -- they're droll, they're mean, they're funny.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Earth Day Contest - VOTE!

One of my designs is entered in an Earth Day contest, and I need your vote! Just click on the link below, check it out, and if you like it, VOTE FOR IT! You'll see a group of five stars. Clicking on the fifth star means you give it five stars, etc. (I recommend clicking the fifth star - *LOL*).

If you're registered on Zazzle (takes less than a minute to create a username and password and costs nothing - no mailing lists, etc.), you can leave a comment about my design.

Both of these add up points toward the contest. I can use the prize (software package worth nearly $1,000), and I'd be grateful for your support. And heck, ya never know; you may just love the shirt and want one for yourself. That's just collateral goodness. :)

Remember our planet everyday, not just on Earth Day (April 22nd). "Save the world - there's a lot riding on it." ~~Clara Chandler

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Birth of Venus by Botticelli (and Clara Chandler)

Here's my latest creation, with apologies to Botticelli. What do you think? ~~GHC/Clara Chandler

Friday, February 23, 2007

FEMA's Poor Taste

Was looking for online concentration games for my children. Came across this... am shocked. It's FEMA's version of concentration. Says: Welcome to FEMA's version of the memory game "Concentration." The object is to match the pairs of disaster pictures!

Here's a link. I hope if this offends you, you'll send them an email and let them know.

My suggestion: Choose pictures of readiness supplies, like bottled water, first aid kits, etc., or something positive. ~~CC

Thursday, February 22, 2007

St. Patrick's Day Goodies

Here's some of my St. Patrick's Day goodies. Let me know what you think!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Ghosts On Buffalo Creek

A dear friend of mine, Joy Lackey, recently announced her first novel's debut: "The Ghosts On Buffalo Creek." Joy's novel won first place in West Virginia Writers Competition. It's a bargain, folks -- $12.26 includes the book, S/H, and sales tax. Please honor Joy and those who died at Buffalo Creek as well as those who survive. Joy weaves the story of Dulcey as a fictionalized version of how the community rebuilt after Buffalo Creek flooded. Purchase details and an excerpt Here. You owe it to yourself to learn more about this historic event.

A brief explanation of the Buffalo Creek disaster for those of you who weren't around -- or aware -- on February 26, 1972 from "The Winds of Change" (newsletter of the Ohio Valley Environment Coalition): It did not come like a stealthy thief in the night – it came on a rainy Saturday morning 30 years ago with a roar like a hundred freight trains, the hounds from Hell, the very embodiment of Death.

When it was gone, at least 125 West Virginia men, women, and children were dead. The youngest was 3-months-old; the oldest, 82. Three infants were not positively identified, so badly were their little bodies mangled. Seven of the dead were never found.

Feb. 26, 1972, forever changed West Virginians' attitude toward King Coal.

That was the day that three improperly-constructed, inadequately-inspected, business-as-usual coal slurry impoundment dams owned by the Pittston Coal Co. collapsed, sending millions of tons of black water, coal sludge and mud hurtling down the narrow, twisting confines of Buffalo Creek in Logan County.

More than 500 homes in 15 small communities were destroyed, another 500 homes were damaged, some 1,000 vehicles wrecked, and 523 people were injured when a wall of sludge that some witnesses said was 30 feet high steamrollered down the valley.

There were 53 dead in Lundale, near the head of Buffalo Creek; 18 in the hamlet of Saunders, which literally disappeared under millions of gallons of semi-liquid coal wastes; 25 from Lorado; five in Amherstdale; only one in Kistler, near the end of the rampaging sludge.

Pittston Coal called it "an act of God."
-- by Monty Fowler
Read more.

You owe it to yourself to learn more about this historic event. When you get there, tell 'em Clara sent ya.

Best,
Clara Chandler

Friday, February 02, 2007

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3

I just switched over to the "new" Blogger system and so far, my blog's display is frocked. "Frocked" means screwed up, in case you're unfamiliar with such a technical term.

News: I recently finished co-editing a wonderful new anthology from Cutting Block Press, due out this summer. I'm excited and honored to be a small part of such a great book. Will keep you updated on release date.

I've been busy "Zazzling," creating T-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, bags, etc. It's been a joy and a much-needed diversion during several months of ill health. Even though my brain's mush and I can't write, I can find the energy (and attention span) to create funny, thought-provoking, and original mini-stories (i.e., T-shirt sayings).

Above is a selection of Valentine's Day products. To see the entire gallery, or to peruse just a bit of it, click here.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Lots of New Stuff

I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger this past week. The Muse has been generous. Here are just a few new designs (NOTE: The mousepad designs are also available on T-shirts:


Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Have ya been missing me? I'm back.. sorta

I started writing a teensy bit again. My inspiration? Requests for my work by editors of two upcoming anthologies! Warmed the cockles of my Muse's heart.

Thought I'd plug a fellow Zazzler. Zs Tees is a talented nutcase from out in New Mexico. If you're a Clara Chandler fan, you'll love this guy's stuff. Give him two minutes of your time; worthy investment with a payoff of laughter.

Z's Tees.

Genre: Zany humor with a Southwestern flavor
(Richard Cooper, I'm thinking of YOU!)

You know the drill: When you get there, tell 'em Clara sent ya(TM)

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

No Girl Left Behind

Blessings to each of you for Thanksgiving from my family to yours.

And a plug (forgive me). For one day only, Thanksgiving, Zazzle is offering a sheet of twenty of these stamps for $9.99 with FREE SHIPPING. Please consider getting a sheet or two and helping to promote my concept.