WARNING: contains profanity, on purpose

It's so fuckin hot and dry on this little patch of weed infested land that I call the middle of nowhere. And fireworks are totally LEGAL!

Put the those two together and yes, this is what you get. FIRE!

My oldest son just got through putting a fire out in the backyard. Thank god I smelled it when I did. Damn fireworks.

On my column in the paper's website, I got my first criticism. Which is fine, because everyone has an opinion, like me. So I like to hear it all. And it was sent in the nicest way from Goodtime Charlie. He think I use too much curse words. Words that the initials are BS and such. He also thinks that I shouldn't write about people getting high and shit like that because I may be influencing young kids to do so. So even though I wasn't offended I had to write a letter to my readers, and here is what I submitted for this week.

Dear readers,

When I started writing for people, I started a blog on Yahoo 360. I made my blog public last January of 2006 and was surprised at the number of people that spoke up to support me and enjoy my writing. Of course there was always the naysayers who would step up and critique me or the one guy who wrote about my writing.

I knew there would be criticism and I know there always will be.

I finally got a bit of criticism on the Lakota Country Times website, but it was in the nicest way. He was a bit offended at my use of the word which initials are BS and the fact that I wrote about a guy I once worked with that would get high before he went to work. Well even though no offense was taken, I would like to explain more about myself and who I am. And why i write the way I do.

I am a strong winyan like he stated in the letter. Using curse words is something I do, probably too much. It is a bad habit for me, as my husband and children told me too many times. Sometimes that gets out in my writing. Anyone who reads my blogs would know that. I try to curb it, especially in public places. Like at the grocery store when the line is a mile long, and someone is writing a check. Or at the gas station when the person is done getting gas but decides to talk on their cell phone for the next 5 long minutes about Friday night. Or in the IHS waiting room when I take my kids up for a physical and it takes 4 hours because everyone is there with their kids for a runny nose. If the use of the BS word or any other words I use offend anyone I am sorry, but that is just who I am.

And about the guy I was talking about in the story "On bein' a skin", he was a dear friend. I don't condone his drug use because I wrote about it and I would actually like to express that I am against it. Especially after knowing that he moved onto harsher drugs that ultimately led to an early death. I miss him dearly as do many of his friends and family.

So here is my rant for this week. When I write about something, I write because it's me and it's mainly things i experienced in my life. I don't write with the intention that I hope I can make someone, whether it be child or adult say the BS word or run out and get high.

I write about things that I care about, that strike me funny, or things I think people should take notice of.

I write for me, first and foremost. That is how I always been. It is nice knowing that people read and appreciate it. I write as a way to release pent up emotions and feelings. If any offense is taken for my use of language, suck it up and deal with it. Just teasing, I am sorry to anyone that I may have offended. It was never meant but I will not change because I used the BS word.

After all, according to the Bill of Rights I am guaranteed Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press, right? Or is that all a bunch of b*llsh*t?

sincerely, Dana

For the record I don't think I cuss all that much. If I do, excuse the fuck outta me!