skysprite

Sheesh. In a forum where *vibes* posts are so common, I would have thought this thread would have gotten a few more replies. (Thanks to those you have replied - both for your comments and for the bumpage. Daizey - I'm sorry about that guy you know/knew. My half brother self injured so I know what it's like to have to stand by and watch, knowing there's nothing you can do.) Anyway, have people seriously never heard of this problem? Is it too uncomfortable to reply and/or spread the word? ~skysprite

I got my tattoo just after Spring break last year. I don’t have a pic of the tat itself, but have a pic of the original design that I’ll attach. I got my tattoo kind of randomly. I mean I knew for a long time that I wanted a tattoo, but didn’t know what or when. Early spring semester last year I had a friend do a few doodles with my initials for my first and two middle names (TDC). She did one I liked, so I figured that’s the one I want. But I still hadn’t decided when to get it. I ended up breaking up with my at the time boyfriend right after I came back from Spring break. The day after the breakup I decided “I’m going to get my tattoo today!” so I called up my friend and asked her to come with me. She was shocked that I of all people was going to get a tattoo on impulse. I got it that day, hung out with friends, also got blonde highlights done in my hair, then we all went out dancing that night. Funny thing when I think about it is my relationship with that boyfriend really screwed me up. He played a lot of mind games. In a way, I “forgot who I was” if that makes sense. So it’s almost fitting and symbolic that the day after I broke up with him I got my initials tattooed, in effect taking that part of me back. If I ever “forget” who I am, I can just look down and be reminded. It just has that kind of symbolism to me. ~skysprite

I used to have that cheap snorkel pool set when I was a kid! Does that count?? ~skysprite

Housing just called me back. They decided to go ahead and send a technician afterall. Gawain - I live in a University owned apartment so technically they are my landlord. I was trying to figure out where the leak was coming from and was feeling along the wall and oddly there were pockets of water, if that makes any sense. It's really odd. ~skysprite

It's been raining in LA since around 5. It's now almost 2:30 in the morning, still raining, and there is standing water throughout my bedroom in my apartment! I was just trying to go to bed when my feet got soaked as soon as I stepped onto the carpet. I've checked my windows incase it was a blonde moment and I left them open, but that's not it. We've had cases of stupid people leaving their bathtubs on and flooding floors belows theirs and I've checked that and that's not it either. The water appears to be coming from the outside, but I couldn't tell you where it's getting in from. It's only a certain floor area of my bedroom against the wall opposite outside, but it happens to be the area where all the electrical cords and wires are, and it's not exactly something I can just turn off/unplug and then fix in the morning. Since it's so late I went ahead and called DPS non emergency and they had me talk to someone with housing. Housing said there's nothing they can do tonight, and not to worry about it. In otherwords tomorrow's headline will either read "USC Film Student drowns in her bed as her apartment floods" or "USC Film Student gets electrocuted due to the rainstorm". Okay seriously now... is the housing person right? Am I worrying for no reason? I just grew up knowing that water and electricity don't exactly mix. ~skysprite

That's great! I'll definitely have to send that around. ~skysprite

I'm actually reading a book on the subject right now and so far it's a pretty good book. If you want to know more, check out A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong. Also I haven't seen or read it, but I've heard that Bodies Under Siege: Self-Mutilation in Culture and Psychiatry by Armando R. Favazza is a good one too. Supposedly that's the one that started opening some eyes in the late 80's. ~skysprite

At the encouragement of another dz.commer, I wanted to share with you guys a letter I submitted to my campus newspaper. I really hope that it gets printed. But even if it doesn't, why not tell the countless people who read and post here because that means there are that many more people aware of a growing problem. --------------------------------------- In recent years, self injury, or causing deliberate harm to oneself, has become more and more of a problem among people, but especially adolescents and young adults. March 1st is National Self Injury Awareness day, a day to promote awareness and understanding of this issue. About 1-2% of the people in the US use self injury as a way of coping during an emotionally difficult time. The forms and severity of self-injury vary, but the most commonly seen behaviors and methods of self injury are cutting, burning, and head-banging. Some who self injure say it helps them feel better temporarily because it gives them a way to physically express and release the tension and the pain they hold inside. Others say they’re convinced that hurting themselves produces chemical changes in their bodies that make them feel happier and more relaxed. Some self injure to “punish” themselves for whatever reasons. Most self injurers that I know say they self injure because words can’t express how they feel. Many who self injure will not talk about it because of the shame they feel over their behavior. They wear long sleeve shirts in the middle of summer in order to cover their cuts and scars so people won’t look or ask questions. Very little is known about self injury, and there is so much stigma attached to it. Some self injurers have sought therapy to discover answers to their behavior. Unfortunately psychological treatment has not helped for many who hurt themselves. Self injury brings out uncomfortable feelings in those who don’t do it and don’t understand it, including medical professionals. Many self injurers have told stories of therapists ignoring self injury out of ignorance, inexperience, fear, anger, or feelings of disgust. One fellow self injurer spoke of how she was told she must stop cutting or risk being sent to a psychiatric ward or hospital. The deeper emotional issues weren’t addressed at all by this therapist. As a result of this inability to get help, self injurers feel even more alone and scared than before. I encourage all people to educate themselves about self injury. Research it and talk about it to your friends and family. This needs to be a time for any self injurer who may be afraid to seek help to come forward and get the help they so desperately need. Awareness, acceptance, support, and prevention are asked of all people at this time, and National Self Injury Awareness Day is a day that everyone can come together in support and understanding of all who struggle with this problem. ~skysprite

That's great! I wasn't sure what to think when reading it. I don't watch the news (or tv really) much at all so rarely know what's going on. So this could have happened and I would have missed it! ~skysprite

Much love for Darcy! ~skysprite

Congratulations! Here's hoping for many many years of happiness for you two! ~skysprite

Ugh. I have laundry, and other various house cleaning types stuffs to do too. Visited my parents for the weekend and just got back to an icky apartment. ~skysprite

That is just too cool! I've always wanted to learn to sew so I could make costumes, clothes, whateva, but never got around to seriously learning. I know basic stuffs, but that's about it. ~skysprite

Some people.... ~skysprite

Yeah, sure. Make excuses for him! ~skysprite

I'm still trying to decide if you're on my cool list or not. First you send me a pm full of encouragement after my tandem and tell me to be sure to say hi the next time I'm out, then I come out for the burnout and say hi and you don't remember me! Sheesh! ~skysprite

Wow! Skydivers never cease to amaze me! Yes, that possibility is definitely something I'd love to talk about. If (When, rather, for positive thinking!) I get the internship, it should last anywhere from 8-10 weeks, and I believe it'll start mid to late May, maybe even early June. Let me know when a good time is, and perhaps we can get together for lunch or something, or even just chat on the phone about this.

Ewww! Funny story though! ~skysprite

Awesome! Awaiting your PM.

hehe I'm just saying Burbank because that is where the internship is and I don't want to have to commute tooooo far. Is there anyplace somewhat near there you'd be willing to go?

I actually am looking for an apartment + roommate situation near Burbank for the summer. (Cross your fingers for me that I get the internship first! haha!) ~skysprite

I actually just paid mine off last night! ...to bad I'm going to be charging more stuff to it again so soon. Student loans is another story for me as well. ~skysprite

Hot chai tea! Yummy! ~skysprite

Wow, crazy! I was talking to my Mom this morning (parents are in Rio Rancho/Albuquerque) and she said that it's been one of the biggest snowstorms NM has experienced in a couple of years! And I'm out here in sunny CA. ~skysprite

Everyone says that when I was a kid I never walked; I hopped. I'd take two steps, hop, two steps, hop, rinse and repeat. I got the nick name tigger from that. Later that whole deal morphed into the joke that I was an angel who wanted to experience being a little girl child, and so everytime I hopped, I was actually trying to fly. (step step, hop, look, "Where's those wings!") This morphed further when I started dancing, and somewhere along the way during one of my performances, someone said I looked like a little nature sprite. Anyway, with all of this talk of flying angels and sprites, isn't it only natural that I'd want to skydive? So I went with the whole sky-sprite idea. Tada. Oh, and the next person to refer to me as a carbonated beverage will look like this guy --> ~skysprite