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Click above to read the article in the Sun-Times WARNING: My bio includes my brutally honest opinions. Your Mileage May Vary.
Currently, I'm working downtown at a collections firm doing paralegal work (approaching my 5th year now). It's very rewarding (since *I'm* not the one calling people to pay their bills!), and the independence I have is exactly what I love the most. Ronnie is a supervisor for a post-construction and maintenance crew, doing everything from window washing buildings to maintaining multi-million dollar homes. Some of his residental clients include Michael Jordan and the Walgreens family. Even though he didn't graduate high school, he's made something of himself... which goes to prove all that bs they teach you in school isn't *always* necessary (though quite helpful). Shine-On (the name of his company) is under new management now, and these guys have been really pulling in lots of new clients! His summer work schedule was rediculously busy, because the guys that are running the company are seriously dedicated to making this thing pan out. Hey! That's good for us! Needless to say, we've been doing a lot better now.
Let's see: oh yeah, as long as I'm talking about the label (which I tend to do a lot anymore!), I should also mention I do most of the stuff on Chicago Metalworks for our show, Rotting Corpse Radio. I conduct the interviews and set up most of the playlist. Being a DJ is something I've wanted to do since I was a kid, so for me, it's one of those "dream come true" scenarios you always hear of but never really know anybody that got that far. And, I firmly, sincerely believe that before the next decade (2010, that is!), Internet radio will go the way of XM and Sirius. Think about it: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs got their own stations out there - all they need to do is combine broadband with an iPod! I'm sure it's been in the works for quite a few years already! Sooo... with Metalworks already being one of the best rock and metal stations on the Internet, by the time that sort of thing is available, I'll be a DJ on someone's car stereo! Very cool! This may come as a surprise to some, but once upon a time I wasn't always the perfect picture of "mom-hood" that I am today (DRIPPING with sarcasm there! LOL!) I used to party with some very "unsavory characters" by the Harlem-Irving Plaza and down the street at Grand and Harlem (remember Duk's?) back in the 80s. Yes, I was a typical tomboy! I remember running around with canvas Converse shoes, checkered flannel shirts wrapped around my waist, (usually) black rock shirts I cut in half (I *invented* baby doll shirts damnit!), and an amazing array of hair colors (everything from "Kelly Bundy" white to "Joan Jett" black).
Someone asked me that if I was given the chance, would I take it all back? I can't honestly answer that, because I can't lie and say I wasn't having FUN! Even so, I do think that it's made me a more worldly and well-rounded individual in the long run. Hmmm... other stuff...well, as far as hobbies are concerned, I have many. I enjoy Web Design, Surfing the Net, painting, sketching and music (METAL!!!). My son's website is located at www.doomdiva.com/ryansite/ryan.html, which I, of course, made for him (and haven't updated in years, I'm sorry to say!) I also enjoy role playing games, card games and divination. And yes, if you haven't guessed, I *love* Lady Death! (note: I haven't updated that list in a couple years - I have LOTS more now!) The only sports I care for is NASCAR racing and pro wrestling (yes, I'm a hick LOL), although hockey I find somewhat appealing. I never did care for ball games. (LOL not violent enough Muhahahaha!) j/k I'm also submitted articles for Phantom Immortality in the past, which you can pick up a copy at just about any local metaphysical bookstore, as well as their First Friday socials at Caribou Coffee in Oak Park.
I go out a LOT, with a huge variety of friends: white and black, young and old, from card-carrying members of the PTA to convicted felons. It's my belief that everyone and everything I should take with a grain of salt. I admit I wasn't always as open-minded as I am now. I was raised in a very bigoted household, and every so often I do catch myself reverting to old habits. It's not something that can change overnight... no, tolerance is something that takes a lifetime of experiences. Now of course, I'm not a huge celebrity or anything that makes people want to "hang with me", but I think the reason why I have so many friends is because of how I treat people. That, and I don't talk shit. People have learned that when I say something, as crazy or as fantastic as it may seem, they know I'm truthful... brutally honest actually... so they know they can believe me. :)
It's really not as hard as it sounds, and converting to fake meats is like switching over to diet soda: first you get used to it, and then you get to a point where you learn to live without it altogether, and that ends up bringing you to where the "regular stuff" becomes completely unappetizing! A big, brown honkin' chunk of meat doesn't look nearly as mouth-watering as a colorful plate of sauteed veggies, cradled over seasoned rice, and enveloping sweet, spicy and tangy smells!
I try to incorporate as many whole and organic foods as possible, but hey, like Christopher Lowell says, Some people think my association with Peta is a little weird, since I'm not a huge fan of militants (see below), and I agree some of their tactics are pretty damn extreme. And yes, some of their spokespeople piss me off too, but the ultimate goal is genuine and sincere. MY stance is to set a soft, gentle example, which I have always found to be much more effective. And hey, you can't get more dedicated people than the ones who will run around naked or dress up like chickens! And admit it, their stickers are awesome, whether you agree with them or not! I also need to mention I am not Vegan, though pretty damn close, and probably will end up converting down the road. But for now, that's just a little too extreme for me.
Someone asked me to list my basic likes and dislikes, so here it is. Basically, I copied the list I compiled on
WitchVox, which
my personal listing is on there, too, with a few other details.
* What I mean by "militants", for those of you scratching your heads, are people who shove their agendas down others' throats.
Yes, there are Pagan Militants, and unfortunately, lots of 'em!
These include ultra: left-wingers, feminists, environmentalists, vegans, and white-lighters.
This doesn't mean I have anything against people with strong beliefs; I have them, too!
I'm talking, for example, about a woman who publically scorned me for choosing
not to breast-feed my son because I'm not comfortable with it.
Now THAT pisses me off >:(
I'm sure it WOULD have been better for Ryan, but I'm a very shy person when it comes to things like that.
(I won't even look at myself in the mirror without clothes on! LOL!)
There's other varieties of militants, of course, but I'm not here to nit-pick everyone and everything.
However, don't expect me to just "take it" because the vocal majority thinks one way, and everyone else doesn't want to get in the middle of a heated argument.
If you are a Militant and have an issue with me having my own thoughs and feelings, kindly read
my open letter.
Speaking of stuff I like, I suppose I should mention my addiction to media. I'm a big fan of horror movies, especially classic 70's pure gore hack n' slash style, like The Hills Have Eyes, I Spit On Your Grave and the classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I also like stuff like The Exorcist and The Omen, but nothing beats my favorite uncle Freddy (Krueger, that is!). That guy can take an ego and shove it right down a guy's throat, and with a quirky line to boot! >;D ("Welcome to prime-time, bitch!") I'm so thankful that horror flicks are reverting to what us fans want and not just a bunch of drama and suspense - WE WANT GORE! Jeeper's Creepers I and II are perfect examples! Not everything is all twisted and demented though; I love cartoons as well! The Simpsons is still a favorite, as well as The Family Guy, King of the Hill, South Park and still a favorite, Beavis and Butt-Head - huh huh huh huh. I know, I don't seem to quite fit into the mold of most Earth-based folks, because I'm not Earth-based - Fire is my passion, baby! >:) Heh heh heh yeah, yeah Fire Fire FIIIREEEE! Heh heh heh fire's cool! Hmmm... I guess you folks who are Pagan and reading this want to know about authors and books I like. Please note this is only a fraction of what I've read and is only off the top of my head. A given is Weird Al (Aleister Crowley), though Uncle Al was a man definitely off his rocker a bit ;) But hey, gotta give the dude credit for taking a good idea and running with it! I also like the Farrars and Gavin Bone, simply because they're straight-up and don't talk shit. Delores Ashcroft-Nowicki has some great CM reads out there that bring the language down a notch :) Konstantinos: gotta love the tall, dark and gloomy, and his work ain't half-bad either ;) Denise Dumars and Lori Nyx (love that name, btw!) wrote The Dark Archetype that I found very compelling. It gives straight-up info and ritual work on the darker Gods and Goddesses that was not only a good, quick, fun read, but was insightful as well. Amber K: kudos to another native Chicagoan ;) She's a lot lighter than I am, though very passionate and creative. She's been putting together a fantastic retreat out in New Mexico that I really want to check out sometime. Besides, she put out the first Pagan kid-based book out there The Pagan Activity Coloring Book, and as you know by now, working with kids is a passion of mine! Kristen Madden is a very approachable, down-to-earth Pagan homeschooling mom that's written some fantastic work like Pagan Parenting. She's part of my inspiration for the kids' stories I write, and has chatted with me online about that! Ashleen O'Gaia, while much more white-light than I, has some GREAT Pagan parenting books out there. Reader beware though, her books seem to lack an editor :/
And now for the political crap. (well la-de-freakin'-da! LOL!) Where do I stand politically? I guess that depends on who you ask, and what you ask of me. Personally I like to think of myself as sitting on the political fence, watching the jack-ass and the fat-ass duke it out; once in a while I laugh so hard I slip off, on either the left or right side! >;D I vote based on my conscious; I never vote for a party, because there's good and bad in both. As I mentioned previously, I don't like militants of any variety, and that includes the politically motivated. Here's some stances I take, in no particular order: - I'm pro-choice, though I personally couldn't go through an abortion myself; no one has a right to say what one can and cannot do to one's own body. In other words, I believe in 100% equality, and I always question authority. My belief has always been in The Golden Rule, Karma or what have you. I treat a "bum on the street" exactly the same as I would my son, my husband and others I care for... with respect. If I have a homeless person hassling me, yeah, I'll give him a piece of my mind! However, you're DAMN RIGHT I'd do the same thing to my mom if she pushed me to the breaking point! I talk to my son as I do my husband; I never talk down to him, because I respect him too much. I have never told my son "...because I said so..." as a reason for him to do something, because no one else I know would appreciate that. Even if my boss tries to use that, I question him! Statements like that are demeaning, and no one, no matter who they are, should have to put up with that. And that's about it. I started keeping a Live Journal, which I'm going to promise to try to keep updated, so if you want to check that out, feel free! You can now also find me on MySpace! - go ahead and friend me!
Do you Yahoo!? If so, look for me!
My profile on Yahoo! |
Where to begin? My name's Lori, I'm 31 and live in Chicago. I have a 13 year old son named Ryan, and married to Ronnie, 34. We met on New Years Eve, 1995, at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Chicago, which goes to prove real relationships can happen at a bar! We were engaged a year later, and married two years after that. I was raised as a Catholic and went both public and parochial schools.
Since I wasn't exactly interested in going to school (even though I was an honor student when I went), I was on the "6-year plan" in high school.
Even so, I managed to get my diploma through a local technical college and attended some college at UW-Parkside. I was a double major in art and education, with a minor in computer science. My goal was to become a high school art teacher, with the thought that "nobody hates the art teacher!" LOL! However, I pulled a total 180 and found a completely different calling.
Ronnie is a total "Rock God" in his own right, but not currently in a band (though has played in several).
He's been busy working on his own music, which is currently going very well.
He has ProTools, three guitars and a bass, plus a pro drum machine. The studio is now "legit", as in a real business!
Rotting Corpse Records is one of the newest Indie Metal labels out on the market, and we're busting out into high gear!
(The site's at:
I've done and seen things that I wouldn't affiliate myself with now (that I know better!).
From these experiences, it has definitely made me more aware of things than many other parents I know. A running joke I use is, "Ryan can't get away with ANYTHING because I've already done that!" This is one of the reasons why I have him going to school so far from home: I don't want him learning some of the lessons I had. There's no reason for it.
Also, I am a panel member of
UPDATED: Regarding my diet: I switched over to a vegetarian diet a while back, because I got violently sick from a Polish sausage sandwich for a week straight. I got tired of getting stomach flu 4-5x every damn year, and that last bout did it for me, swearing me off meat permanantly. I had stomach cramps so bad that I can honestly say was as bad as labor pains! No, I'm not exaggerating!
Now I guess the other question you may have for me is if I belong to a coven.
Not anymore.
The last group I walked away from, simply because their direction was way off-course of where I wanted to go.
I'm not saying that I felt I left on bad terms; I just walked away.
I don't think I'm going to find a group to work with that's really in-tune with my beliefs, simply because I'm pretty much the odd man out in the community.
One thing is that I lean on the Egyptian pathenon, but the Temple of Isis isn't exactly what I'm interested in.
Another thing is that while I'm a "darkie", I'm really not into the whole Goth culture.
Sorry, but I'm far from a depressed person, and though black is my standard attire, it's not a huge part of who I am.
Also, many of the Thelemites I met are pompous asses that like nothing better than to make someone else feel like shit for asking what they think is a stupid question.
While I love to garden and have tried to work with the Fey, I didn't feel the connection.
Finally, while I organize kids' events, doing that for ritual on a permanant basis is way too light for me.
So, I guess I would need to find a group of fellow death metal fanatics that get into Ceremonial Magick.
Uhhh, outside of the Temple of Set, which is TOO dark for me... good luck! LOL!