Remember to enter my Giveaway while I am gone for the weekend!

Gone to the mountains with family for the weekend!
Will post pictures when I return. Happy Labor Day!!!
Please remember to enter my giveaway here: Contest

Have a great weekend! Stay safe if you are in the path of a hurricane.

Gay Marriage/Civil Unions Why do we (Heterosexual) Care?

Why do we care? Ive never understood why we worry so much about gay marriage. Why do religious institutions have such an issue with this, if its a "sin" why not let the sinners deal with the consequences, and concentrate on our own marriages? Hetero people seem to be in enough trouble in the marriage Dept without borrowing more. Even Gay unions are frowned upon, at least in calling it "civil unions" you would hope the religious sector would not be as offended. But that does not seem to be the case.

I admit, I am an Agnostic person, I grew up in the Catholic church. We never did go regularly, but we were Catholic. But I am still coming at this from a non-religious person's POV. I just fail to see why the institute of marriage is being threatened by gays marrying. I do not feel my marriage is threatened in any way. Traditional marriage seems to be stronger than ever, people marry often....and divorce often. That was a trend long before gays and lesbians decided they wanted the privilege of pledging their lives to each other. If marriage is in jeopardy, its because people marry too quickly and hope to change the other person.

Marriage...to think of it in a non religious way seems to represent this:
1. A desire to live with and love with and honor that one person with whom you share a bond of love and respect.
2. Wanting to be bound together for life, and perhaps an afterlife if there is one.
3. Wanting to dedicate our lives to each other, children or not. Building a life together, having hope and being optimistic that we are meant to be together forever... we will not be a statistic of divorce.
4. Simply loving another person and being willing to be their partner "until death do we part" for sickness and in health...
Why is this a threat?

I am not knocking religion, I am not religious, I do not believe as most do. Most religious people I know seem to be kind people. I don't see their marriages lasting any longer, or them seeming happier than the non religious people I meet, but I cannot see behind closed doors, so they may just be, who knows? I doubt it though. Most people gay or straight are not happy with themselves, their bodies, their income or their house.

I am all for gay marriage. I don't have the heart to deny someone else the rights that I enjoy. I am still allowed to get married and I don't believe in God. I think if someone wants to dedicate themselves to another, more power to them. Love is just as strong for gays as it is for straights. Love cannot be measured. Life is meant to be lived together...not in a society that seeks to keep people apart because they do not fit in with the majority of its inhabitants. The Majority may rule, but the majority is not always right. I know many will not agree with me and that is fine, I live only my life, these are my thoughts and I believe (as we all do) that I am right.

If anyone has valid concerns about gay marriage threatening man/woman marriage it would be interesting to hear them. I wish I knew why the other side thinks like they do, why they are so afraid. Understanding brings with it tolerance. And I don't mean the crazy ones like "If gays marry then all sorts of crazy things will happen like people wanting to marry their pets" or that "marriage is for the purpose of pro-creating"

Personally I like this quote: "The voice of the majority is no proof of justice."
Author: Johann Von Schiller

Wordless (almost) Wednesday

This is where we are headed this weekend, the Sierra Mountains.

My Awesome Giveaway a Beautiful Brooch or Pendant Necklace!

Jenny/Agonysdecay over at Agony's Decay Creepy Crafts Etsy Store Donated the above Gothic Paisley Swirl Cabachon Brooch Cameo-Esque. It can also be made into a pendant on a ribbon choker if you prefer. Winner will need to send neck measurements they would need. This is what Jenny had to say about her beautiful Brooch/Pendant: "Each of these brooches are 40 x 30 mm in size, they are not small brooches. Each of the cabs are vintage plastic based pieces. The sole manufacturer of these pieces is now out of business, when they are gone, they're gone."


So you will have a unique piece virtually no-one else will have. What I love about Jenny's store is the fact that she isnt a run of the mill artist. Her materials are different, fun and original. We all know Halloween is coming up...find some fun and affordable Gothic jewelry and release the inner Gothic Goddess in you!

RULES: One winner who will pick a Brooch or a Pendant. You must enter by going to Jenny's/Agonysdecays Creepy Crafts Etsy shop Here, find a different item that you would also love to own and come back here and comment what it is, also leave a way for me to contact you. USA ONLY

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: Blog about this contest and link to this post, leave me the link and you will gain another entry ----- If you buy something from Agony's decay within this contest period, simply let Jenny/Agonysdecay at Creepy Crafts Agony's Decay creepy crafts know that Minxy Mimi sent ya, post again and let me know! Lastly, Twitter or stumble (I don't even know what Stumble is! LOL) and that will gain you another entry. As always, leave a way I can contact you.

CONTEST RUNS from Monday the 25th to Tuesday the the second of September! On Tuesday the second of September a winner will be chose randomly. GOOD LUCK and thank you for entering.

Sunday Sonnets... Poetry Sunday

I have decided to make Sunday a showcase for my favorite poets and their poetry. I am an amateur poet myself (and nothing to brag about) and I have always loved poetry. This poet Sara Teasdale I discovered one day while browsing the library one summer for something new. I connected to her poetry right away and spent many hours and days reading and re-reading her beautiful verses. You can find many of her poems here:
Sara's Poems

Here is one for your enjoyment:


Dooryard Roses

I have come the selfsame path
To the selfsame door,
Years have left the roses there
Burning as before

While I watch them in the wind
Quick the hot tears start--
Strange so frail a flame outlasts
Fire in the heart.

Sara Teasdale

Pet Peeves... we all have them

I have many pet peeves... here are a few. Sorry, I know this is a bit bitchy.

1. Rudeness. What do people get out of being rude? Are people so self-absorbed that they cant see you behind them at a door, and hold it for you. Or say "Thank you" two little words that are very important. Personally, I think rudeness is inexcusable. Its free, its easy and it makes people smile when you have manners... its a win win.

2. People who will never admit a fault, will never admit they are wrong. It sucks to do so, its embarrassing, but we all make mistakes and only a fool will never admit or learn from them.

3. People who " hate" based on assumptions. They think a person is this way, or did something "immoral" so they hate them. Celebrities seem to be hated a lot without due cause.

4. People will probably get mad at me for these next two... People who decorate nurseries in typical mass marketed "boy stuff" Sports (UGH) Esp Baseball (UGH) or professional sports teams gear... UGH UGH UGH

5. People who name their kids "Unique" names so they don't have names like everyone else. First of all these "unique" names of today will be the commonplace names of tomorrow. I don't think we need anymore "Jubilee's" "Jayden's" "Kayden's" and "Hayden's" and all the rest. and please... don't try to spell common names so that only you know what they are. and I apologize in advance if you have children by these names. This is my list of pet peeves...please don't take it personal.

6. Women who complain about what jerks their hubby's are and then when you call them on it, suddenly they are great husbands and fathers after all! You are only fooling yourself. You and your kids deserve better. And please, don't try to make me seem like a liar because I do have a wonderful hubby that I honestly rarely ever argue with. I am lucky, and I know it. I waited until I was almost 35 to get married because I didn't settle for someone who I knew wouldn't treat me and my children as we deserve to be treated. I had many lonely nights. I wish women would stand up for themselves.

7. People who worry about germs. Germs are everywhere, they wont kill you (most of the time) and shielding your child from all germs is just going to keep their immune system from becoming stronger.

8. People who force their views on others. Ive had people try to argue why I should believe in God, or tell me there is no possible way to explain things without God being involved. I think there is, I don't feel the need to bash you on the head with my thoughts, so please don't try to make me feel stupid for thinking something different.

9. Men who snore on the couch when I am trying to concentrate on my blog... enough said! LOL

10. Cruelty to animals. Anyone who hurts an animal without reason is someone I cannot respect. Its just me, I have a blind spot perhaps when it comes to animals... Its the thing that keeps me up at night and makes me cry at odd times. I care too much I think. It makes my heart hurt.


Those are my pet peeves. If I offended anyone I am sorry... Sometimes you have to get things out in order to let them go.

I am proud to be an Italian American

I bet some people are going to find this to be Un-American. It isn't. I was born here in America, I love my country and I am aware of what freedoms I enjoy here. I appreciate that. But I am also proud of where my family came from. I am not an American Indian, so it stands to reason this is not my only "nationality" My family came from Italy mainly. My dad's grandparents came from a small town called Balangero near Turin. My Grandmothers parents fell in love and moved to the USA where they landed in Utah, Bingham County. They owned a store for miners. After her father passed away due to Influenza, they moved to the Gilroy/San Martin area where they had family. They lived there, in the same house ever since. They farmed many crops.. prunes, apricots, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers...

My Grandfathers family came from Torre Del Lago I do not know as much about them. I know my grandfathers mother was an opera singer and a strong, large, happy woman.
My Mothers family came from England, Denmark and Italy. They remain more of a mystery.

So, yes, I am American as you get. I love my freedoms, I love that I can vote, make my own decisions, I can protest the war and not get thrown into jail. I do not display the American flag, its not my style. I do respect what it represents to America. I would never even think to fly the flag of Italy before I would the American flag... I know people who do that, and personally *I* find it to be a bit insulting.

But yet I am proud to call Italy the place of my people... the beginning of my family, and I want my children's eyes to see that land of beauty. I want their eyes to look upon its glorious vista and see the same things relatives from many generations ago looked upon and loved. The same things I have looked upon in amazement and awe. To see the church where your great-great grandparents married is something so special, so unique. To see gravestones from 300 years ago with your last name makes you wonder who they were and who they loved and hated and what they wanted out of life. It makes me wonder if someone had my son's almost Asian eyes, or if they all had our dimpled chin. It makes you love your family even more than you did before.

Americans are strong, generous, opinionated, friendly, and hard working people. We strive to be the best we can be, we have a desire to help others and the means to do so. We are unique, we are truly a melting pot with so many cultures represented on our shores.

Italians are warm, passionate and emotional people. Food is an art form and a rich part of everyday life. I try to bring the best of what America represents and the Italian zest and love for life to my life. I try not to work all the time as we seem to do... I try to take that relaxed, pleasure loving feeling that Italians seem to have mastered and make it a part of my life here, in America.

So, in essence that is why I am proud to be an American...and Italian American. I want the best of both worlds, and I am an American. I will get what I want. I am an Italian... I will take what I want out of life and merge the two.