Phallic Friday - promiscuity

I just finished reading The Yearning by Kate Belle, which I totally loved, but it got me thinking (way too much I fear!). There are a lot of themes in The Yearning but I'm going to focus on the promiscuity aspect - and not the book which I think will be Sunday's Story (if I can get my thoughts together).

Having multiple sex partners, or a multitude of partners, (and I don't mean at the same time) is not a society-friendly way to be... and yet, I don't see anything wrong with it so long as you're up-front about it. Sure, it's not easy in the day of AIDS, STDs, etc. but I find it refreshing to meet people who are around for a short time not a long time.

I'm not a good conformer (nor a good rebel but that's another story) and one thing I was never interested in was marriage (yeah, I know, I capitulated, but again, that's a different story) because I'm not sure we're designed to be monogamous (or maybe that's just me).

One of the problems I had with 'playing the field' is that you need a lot of confidence, or you need to be good looking or rich, and I wasn't any of those! I also remember having people (even friends) making negative comments about there being no steady boyfriend.

I've had friends who have been so good at the multiple partner thing. I learned from them. When I was at uni, I worked with a bunch of people and there was this girl who brimmed with confidence - and went home with different men each Friday night. I admired her immensely. Later I found out she was gay, and I suspect all the men were a smoke-screen... but I never had the courage to ask her! LOL I might have admired a fake!

Some time later I met a guy who had promiscuity down to a fine art. He and his mates were legendary. They never promised more than the moment and I respected them for that - they were always upfront about it. Over the years, I've watched them pull women, I've heard about numerous conquests, and I've lost count of the number of partners I know about. In amongst all the short term sex, there have been long-term girlfriends. I now think they've always been looking for the right life-partner but never finding the right person. They have some horror tales of what bitches women can be. In the last few years they've all gotten married, which I have to say caught me totally and completely by surprise. I didn't think they ever aspired to marriage. I'm not 100% sure they've given up all the short term partners but they're happy in family life.

When they gave in and went to the dark side (marriage :)) I began to wonder if there really is happiness, or fulfillment or whatever it is you need from life, in having a constant drift of partners in your life. I always thought it was a valid choice and a choice I'd have been happy to make (had I been more successful at it!). Maybe there's something to finding someone right for you and conforming to monogamy.

My thoughts are totally scattered - it's that damn book! Hopefully I can pull them together by Sunday!

Do you have any thoughts?

Wildlife Wednesday - special cockatoo

We have a naked cockatoo visiting is at the moment. My husband has been "looking after" him over the weekend making sure he has sufficient food and water. I took this photo and then went looking to see what could be wrong with him

PBFD is Psittacine Beak Feather Disease and pretty much looks like this - although it usually has beak deformation too and he doesn't seem to show that, so I'm not 100% sure.

However, if it's PBFD, it's highly contagious amongst parrots and we could end up with any bird visiting us catching this disease.

So the bird feeding will have to stop. I couldn't stand 100s of naked birds in winter.

It's suggested that you catch and euthanise the bird. No way I can get near to this fellow. He may be ill, freezing, and hungry... but he's still a wild bird (with a humongous beak).

Speaking of humongous beaks, I used to be in a Wildlife Rescue group and one day was sent to rescue a cockatoo. They'd shoved him in a budgie cage where he didn't fit too well. Anyway, armed with towel and gloves, I went to retrieve this, by now nasty, cockatoo. A young kid was there watching with his dad. So I get the bird from the bottom of the cage, then before I can put him into my larger cage for transport, he hooks that humongous, hurty beak into that soft tissue on my thumb right at the side of the nail. Young child present, representing my wildlife group, well I grit my teeth and swore a LOT inside my head. I got the bird in the cage but would he let go of my thumb? Not on your life! Then the father says, "Oh, the poor bird, what have you done, there's blood dropping on the cage." Between gritted teeth I smiled and said, "It's not the bird." You know, it took that man a long time to work out I was the one bleeding! The poor bird!! It lived... but I was never a fan!

Story Sunday

I have a great relationship with my librarians, the old one and the new one, so I always get 'presents' when I rock up to the library. Often books I would never have found. The other week I got "Daughter of Smoke and Bone". It blew my mind.

It is the most incredible story. Something you just wonder how anyone thought up. And the writing is interesting, colourful and paints vivid pictures.

I devoured it... and gave it to my husband, who also devoured it (and he's not usually a fast reader).

Then I went and bought it for my Dad to read, and while I was there, I bought book 2, which is also amazing "Days of Blood and Starlight".

It's pure fantasy - angels, demons, and shapeshifters - but different to anything I've ever read. I'm not going to say any more because I think you need to unravel the story yourself.

Totally loved them and now waiting on Book 3.

I only wish I had this much imagination :)

Release day

Mac and Jason are released to the world today. I'm sending them off with all my best wishes.

I hope the people they meet will love them as I have.

GOOD LUCK!

Here's a bit about MAC

“I’m Mac. Willow MacIntosh really but no one calls me anything but Mac. I hope you will too.” I hate my name. It sounds prissy and girly. Plus when you’re tall, curve-free and bony, Willow is a dumb name. I can’t believe my parents landed me with such a weird moniker. I’ve been known to completely ignore anyone who calls me anything but Mac. From the nods I receive from the group, I guess everyone will call me that.

I haven’t meant to remain a virgin. University should be full of sex and fun, but for me it’s been full of study. The years slipped by and now I’m about to finish uni and enter the adult world as an untested girl. This trip could solve my problem. Six weeks of girls and guys camping together. Surely I could get lucky.

 

And a bit about JASON from Mac's POV

Dark haired, muscular legs capture my interest. I follow the long legs up to a pair of blue jogging shorts and a khaki singlet. My throat constricts, my heart booms louder than a jet on afterburners and sweat breaks out of every pore. I don’t have to look beyond the singlet to know who this is. I risk a quick glance to his face. Sweat pours from me and my face heats.

Panther Man.




Look at the gorgeous gift a friend gave me for my release day - isn't it the best present?

And the funniest thing - she had to ring the dog tag manufacturer and ask for this to be put on there... and she didn't explain that it was a book! LOL