Lesson: David Bowie-esque crystal balls will always save you.

Always the Aquatic Cousins want to be with you, and make-believe with you (that sounds like the foundation for a healthy relationship- that and foiling of dangerous snow creatures).



Thanks be to Aquatic Pal Val for this magical gem.

-AC2

PS: I'm still raising money in lieu of my 25th birthday to bring clean drinking water to the Bayaka people. Learn more and donate at my page!

I'm giving up my 25th birthday.

From the desk of AC2, Sparker.




I am a very lucky person.

I've had ample opportunity to travel in my life, to some amazing places. Usually by the grace of friends who were living there.

St. Peter's Basilica|Rome, Italy|Summer 2007
Barcelona, Spain| August 2007

The Big Island of Hawaii|August 2010

Next month I turn twenty-five. I've been thinking offhand what I'd like to do for that milestone birthday- a friend invited me to Vegas, I thought about throwing a party, doing a wine tour through the Hill Country, just asking for some money to go shopping or pay off part of my debt.

Instead I've decided to give it up. By September 30th, I want to raise $1,000 to contribute to the September Campaign to provide clean drinking water. This year the campaign focuses on the Bayaka people of the Central African Republic. Deforestation has driven them from their home and they're having to learn a new way of life- should we not make it possible for them to skip the three hour walk to clean drinking water?

charity: water 2010 September Campaign: Clean Water for the Bayaka from charity: water on Vimeo.

If you're my friend, you probably would have at least bought me a beer for my birthday. Let's buy that kid some clean drinking water instead. If you're a September baby too, consider giving up your birthday and let's see just how much we can do.

Donate, or find out more about the cause at my page.

-AC2

How To Be Alone

From the desk of AC2, Sparker.



I think it's something we can all use a lesson on. As kids we're almost always surrounded- family, friends and classmates at school, after-school activities; we seem to have to constantly debunk the "it's horrible to be an only child" myth (we Aquatic Cousins are both only children- take that how you will.) As we move into a adulthood I think we sometimes fear being alone the way we used to fear the monster in the closet and we find ourselves in the trap of pulling on the security blanket of an old relationship repeatedly, just to keep the monster away.

Spend a little time with yourself instead and the monster begins to fade.

-AC2

Not 5 O'clock...

From the desk of AC1 (in Mexico).




So anyone who really knows the Aquatic Cousins knows that we have very strange and graphic dreams about all sorts of things. Well, the past two nights I have had dreams that include a certain inconvenient friend. These dreams were so life like it was like it had actually happened when I woke up! GAAAARRRRHHHH! ANGRY MANDA!

I resisted the urge to give him an undeserved bitch slap via email, however I am in Mexico and so I ask. . . is it too early for a beer?

AC1 aka MandaPants

Leavin' on a jet plane- pretty sure I know when I'll be back, though. Unfortunately.

Both Aquatic Cousins are traveling this week and into next, so updates may be more sporadic than normal.


Scarcity drives up demand. We learned that in our schoolings. Maybe we'll have EIGHT WHOLE READERS whence we return.

Cheers,
AC2

Human Energy Raditates from. . .what, exactly?

From the desk of AC2, Sparker.



This is the dumbest advice I have seen, maybe ever, so it's not so surprising that it's from a Twitter account called "Rush Right":

Human energy enters your body through your belly button – not eyes, ears. If it’s not positive, twist your body away to deflect. It works!

I'm pretty sure that "twisting your body away to deflect negative energy" is called "ignoring someone". Please just envision how that would play out.

Some Girl: I am saying rude things!

Some Other Girl: My belly button does not accept negative energies from you! I TURN AWAY! I TURN AWAAAAAY!

Belly buttons are just scars, y'all. Scars. Not portals of energy. Lords.

-AC2

Undead Jonas Brothers.

There are so many contenders for Best Line in this Song.

Lyrics, because they are indeed in the Key of Awesome:

Ill never be an emo vampire
Setting tweenaged loins on fire

I've got nothing in common with the vampires of today
They gaze at girls and pout and brood and then just run away

This Twilight hack thinks she can come along and change the Vampire rules
I guess sleeping in coffins and wearing capes, suddenly isn't cool

Girls wont climb up trees with me or canoodle in the grass
And when I play Vampire baseball I always get picked last

[spoken] Seriously dudes. That's a human you just picked over me.

Ive seduced all kinds of women from all over the world
But, now the only dates I get are with chunky Gothic girls

When did all these Vampires become abstinent and whiny
When I walk into the sun I don't get all bright and shiny

Vampires don't have purity rings like undead Jonas Brothers
If I cant score with these high school girls perhaps Ill go for their mothers

(spoken) Why not? When you're 600 years old there's no such thing as a cougar.

Ill never be an emo vampire
Setting tweenaged loins on fire

Ill have no participation
In this vampire pussification

So wake me up when the world grows a pair. . .of fangs

(spoken)
You thought I was going to say balls didn't you?

And a bonus link, in honor of SHARK WEEK- a National Geographic slide show of terrifying teeth.

-AC2