Thursday 13 – Daily Visits

So, yeah. It’s been a week. People come and go. Job duties come and go. Bravery of new kitty cats in my household come and go. What stays constant, however, are my daily visits to my favorite websites. I thought you might like to know just what they are. Join me now for … 13 sites I visit (just about) every day.

1. Anyone who reads me regularly knows I pretty much live on Daily Kos. I have learned so much from just lurking on that site and not just about politics, either. There are rational arguments, irrational name calling at times and lots of people just trying to wrap their head around what has gone on with our nation ‘lo these past years. I recommend just popping over there and reading a bit, if you have time. You will most likely be enlightened.

2. She’s the mother of all bloggers, just about. Her name is Heather Armstrong and she writes so well and witty at Dooce. Whether it’s stories about Leta (her daughter), Chuck (her most interesting dog) or her marvy and cool husband, she always brings a very unique perspective to things. Her writing skillz are amazing. (Yes, I’m jealous.)

3. Here’s a new one on my list – Rose Rosetree’s blog. It’s filled with really juicy posts giving you insight into yourself and others from the perspective of a veteran face and aura reader. Today’s Thursday 13 is ways OJ Simpson’s facial features have changed in the past 12 years and what that reflects about him then vs. now. It’s a fascinating read.

4. I may be all woo-woo and crap but I dig the gossip. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have to give it up at some point but for now, it amuses me and allows me to escape the heinousness of the Bush administration feel hopeful about our future. As much as I despise that friggin Perez Hilton, I always read his site to catch up on the latest Britney adventures. I also check out The Superficial as a balance against Perez’s idiocy. At least on The Superficial, I don’t have to look at Perez’s ugly mug every three seconds.

5. If you ain’t reading Crse’s hilarious blog, buddies, you ain’t living! She is a riot and even when she’s writing about “Operation Kiss My Ass” and it’s all angsty and whatnot, she’s funny. This is definitely one of my “happy place” blogs. Go. Read. Laugh. (I am thisclose to adopting the OKMA at my place of employ.)

6. So I read a lot of progressive political sites besides DailyKos. These three are my next favorites. Take a look at them – each offers a different perspective on the political landscape. I don’t always agree with The Rude Pundit or even like how he says it, but damn. He is so in your face that it just lays it out there smack dab and knocks you over. Hoffmania and Crooks and Liars are more mainstream. C&L always has excellent videos and they are up there almost immediately. Check them out when you can.

7. Who doesn’t love the Cute Overload? Name me one person. Go ahead. Think. I dare you to find one. This site is also one of my happy places for the cute pics but I am also partial to the goofy language she uses to describe the pics. I am always cheered up when I visit this site. Check this one out and tell me you don’t smile.

Pawsitude rocks!

8. Along with my friend, teacher and mentor, Rose Rosetree, the Dean of Sancta Sophia is now a member of the blogosphere. Reverend Carol E. Parrish is a magnificent writer and is able to take very esoteric concepts and put them into every day language. She writes as warmly as she speaks and it’s like having a chat with her. If you are so inclined, checkout her blog (and Sancta Sophia Seminary).

9. Not daily but every Sunday morning, I check Post Secret. You should too. Some secrets are banal, some appalling and some terribly sad. I read somewhere that many teachers use this site to stimulate discussion in their classroom. How cool is that? It shows we aren’t alone in some of our thoughts and fears. The postcard that resonated most with me? One that said this: “I take pains to poop in solitude.” Yeah, me too. (Well, I do!)

10. This is a site I checked once a month when the new posts would go up. The woman who writes it is on hiatus until November, and I miss it. It’s a monthly channeled message from a young man named Matthew (not coincidentally, her son) and they are most interesting and scarily accurate. Go back and read the ones from right around the election in 2004 and read forward until now. Verrrry interesting. Not for those who are loath to think outside the box or not open to looking at things in a different way. But for those who are, most rewarding.

11. Speaking of those who ARE willing to look at things in a different way, my mystical sistah Nancy has a very thought provoking (and lovely to look at) blog. She’s into books, astrology, her kids, gorgeous pictures and high level woo-woo and I love her dearly despite not having one clue what she looks like.

12. This is a new one and as usual, makes my 12 year old heart and soul happy. It’s sort of a takeoff on a goofy cat meme (ex: “I’m in your sammich, stealing your meats”) and just makes me giggle. Who couldn’t use that, eh?

13. Start with political, end with political – Huffington Post is my last entry. Lots of different writers and perspectives with (yes, of course) a left leaning bent. Lots to read there and updated all the time. A decent site (but not DailyKos, I admit!)