Bend it like Beckman

After doing some Paris laundry, I decided that I needed a movie. So I headed downtown to one of the new theaters and saw Bend it like Beckman. I've wanted to see it for quite some time, but it kept losing out to other film picks. I ended up seeing it with a small crowd of girlfriends, moms-n-daughters, and a couple of eldery gentlemen. The movie was great...a real girl power kinda movie, cheesy, a tad predictable, but overall a great movie. It not only dealt with the idea of a girl from a traditional Indian family playing soccer, but it also dealt with sexuality, growing up, and balancing your dreams with your family pressures.

Some parents might not like their kids seeing this film - heck some parents might not like their adult kids seeing this film. A lot of the movie dealt with the main character realizing that her parents might not always know what is best. And yes, in the end her parents realize that - both main characters' set of parents in fact. I dunno what I'm going to be like in 18 years, when Paris comes to me and tells me s/he wants to do X and I've been thinking Y. But I do have to remind myself (as I'm sure others out there will also) that I've been living life since I was about 13 in a way that says "fuck you" to my parents.

I don't think it's as harsh as that, but sometimes to a parent I'm sure it can seem like that. I remember in high school some friends were fretting over making a choice that would be good for them versus making a choice that their parents would want. I always said to make the choice that would be good for them...our parents aren't living our lives. And if they really do love us, they'll get over it and understand. You know what? Mine did. Sure, feelings were hurt for a very long time, but eventually things got settled. It wasn't the happy ending that Beckman had, but then again, maybe it was.

I just really think that life is just too damn short for all of us to be living it for someone else. We have dreams, we have goals, and if we keep someone else in control of our lives, we just aren't living. Compromise, yes - take turns, yes - but never give in to someone else's whims.

Back to the movie itself...one plot point that America is the land of opportunity for the main characters, Jess & Jules, and their professional soccer dreams. At one point, the movie showcases a video of Mia Hamm playing to a full crowd of fans. *sigh* If only it was that way. If only Mia always played in front of a full house, if only we knew that all the Jesses & Jules in the world could play in front of crowds that weren't full of just relatives and friends. Gawd...I do think too much.

But not to leave us on a sour note, I must point out that Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is a hottie. He's also scheduled to be in the new telling of The Last Unicorn. *swoon*

Books for Paris

Yesterday was the last day of the big book sale at Women & Children First. I had the hubby & me hit the sale in an effort to use some book money Paris got from a friend of mine. I found the PERFECT book for a kid whose parent does some travelling. It's called Business in Bangkok.

The story is about a mom who has to go away for a 10-day biz trip. The lil boy keeps asking, "who will do X, who will do Y" and the dad replies either he will or the boy will. I figure that I travel enough that Paris might still ask about it when s/he gets older. Also, the hubby will be doing some biz travelling soon, so might as well be ahead of the game.

Still waiting...

Paris is much more active lately and the contractions are coming at a more regular interval, but nothing major. I'm thinking it may happen very soon because this morning I awoke without much pain. See, I've had pain in my pelvic area almost the entire pregnancy and this morning, bam!, gone. Hmmm....is my body loosening up? Could be. Now the only pain down there is when Paris is pushing to find a way out...like right now. Oww!

What's really getting me is that most of my family is starting to call and ask, "Is the baby here yet?" huh--huh?? Don't ask a very pregnant woman that! Especially one like me who gets very pissy, very quickly, and is trying her hardest to stay positive and know that Paris will come when Paris is ready. I didn't get pregnant thinking I had any control over this baby...I just never realized how little control I would have over my own body!

Speaking of loss of control, at least from Friday's entry, Isabelle is still being stubborn. *sigh*

Stubborn Babies

Well seems like Amy hasn't had lil Isabelle yet and was even sent home from the hospital. Send all the positive thoughts to Amy!! She needs them as she is having contractions, but just no Isabelle yet.

Paris is also being stubborn. Apparently Paris has moved so it's posterior...meaning back labor...meaning more pain for momma. So I need to work on getting Paris flipped back over (butt up) as well as started down my pelvic area. My midwife decided to check me today and Paris' head isn't even started to come down yet! argh! And it doesn't appear that I'm dilated 1 cm yet. argh! She's not expecting Paris to get here until at least next weekend (Cinnamon should be smiling) and August 6th is the latest she'll let me go. Of course, that puts Paris 2 days from Grandpa's birthday...so it'll be a tough call. So it looks like I just might have a week of being lazy in front of me. weee!!

It's never a good idea to invite the enemy in

So I'm here at home, tweaking the blog (see the new title graphic?) and listening to the game on the TV. So what do we do? We invite the legendary voice of the Phillies into OUR booth for some ass-kissing, er...goodwill. What do the Phillies do to repay our goodwill? Grandslam. Fuck.

Now we're losing, Kerry's starting to falter (after 2 straight complete games), and Paris is not happy. Maybe I explained baseball too well to the lil one and s/he's already exhibiting my tendencies to swear and yell at the TV. Makes me think...would I rather give birth to the person who brings about world peace or the player who magically brings the Cubbies a World Series? Hmmm...tough one. Damn...pitching change.

ISABELLE IS ON HER WAY

I got an email from Amy last night at 9:30, I think Chicago time, to let me know she's in labor. I knew I shoulda read email last night! But I was chilling out after a few contractions of my own. I don't know if she'll contact me before her hubby posts on his site, so keep taking a peek over there in the next day or two. It's been at least 12 hours since she emailed me, for her sake, I hope Isabelle is cuddling on her momma's chest.

On a side note, my first day of maternity leave is going ok. Relaxing and not much going on in the Paris department. Paris is moving A LOT and hard. I think that watching bad Cubs baseball seems to piss me off enough that contractions happen, so instead of sneaking out to the game today (it's fucking beautiful out!), I'll stay home and see if the bullpen can push me into labor. Hey, if it works, it'll be a great story, right?

Labels: sports

Hell ya! Comments!

I just noticed that ms. musings has real comments now. Before it sent you to the bulletin board and I'm not really into BBs (save a few kick ass ones). So don't be shy about commenting now.

It should also be noted that the awesome Kerri & Dawn are two of the featured links! As is we have brains! woohoo!! Maybe the group will get more hits & readers/members. Dang...that means I'll have to actually spell check my entries there. grr...lol

t-minus 30 mins until I'm outta here.

A new tv crush

I watched two hours of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy last night and totally crushed over Kyan. Shoor, I'm married, he's gay, it'll never last, but he's just too cute! I'm tempted to ask the guys over to make-over the hubby, even thou I think he already looks good, just to meet Kyan. *lol*

The show had be laughing so hard last night. I especially loved it in episode 3, when the guys all went back to the Fashion Cave to watch Tom pick up his girlfriend. She walks out wearing a teeny skirt, thigh-hi boots, and a leather trenchcoat. One of the guys, I think Carson, said "There's a hooker in Trenton looking for her boots." Brutal!

Cinnamon reports that Ted, the wine & food guru lives in Rogers Park. I knew this going into the show last night and I gotta say, he oozes Rogers Park. The glasses, the 'tude, the wine! *lol* Too hip for Lincoln Park, but just perfect for Rogers Park.

On a side note, today's my last day of work! *snoopy dance*

Working Grrls

This week's we have brains question is:
Do you feel that your gender has influenced your choice of work? Has it influenced your success at work? How has what you do for a living influenced your perspective on other things (be they feminism, work, life, etc.)?

I don't think my gender has, but my feminism has. I think I need to add that when I say 'my feminism' I really mean my whole outlook on life. That said, let's get to the question...

My feminism has only been violated once for a job. It's when I quit my job as a canvasser for Greenpeace for a better paying job at a brokerage firm. I was a freshman in college and was tired of being outside in the cold Chicago winter knocking on doors. Plus, I really sucked at the job. How's this for karma thou...I got fired from the brokerage firm. That'll teach me to compromise my feminism.

When selecting a job, I think about who it is I'm working for, how much they pay (I'm a tree-hugger, but I don't live in a tree), what I'd be doing, and if they are generally accepting of tree-huggers. My current job is advising college students.

It pays well, it's in an awesome environment, and I'm helping students figure out what they need to take and what to do after graduation. It also has a very flexible schedule, so it accommodates my occasion fling downtown to hold up a sign and agitate the right-wingers.

I wouldn't say it defines me, but it's close. All I really want to do is help people and that's what I do. Of course, I'd rather have a job where I can be roughing up a Senator's lackey and making sure her boss votes my way...a grrl's gotta have dreams, right? I think I have the makings for a good Capitol Hill thug, er...lobbyist.

Hot Topic on the hot seat

I just got the heads up that "Hot Topic", the suburban mall answer to "where can I find something to wear that's kewl, yet will freak my parents out?" has admitted to religious discrimination.

Since I'm an old geezer now (28), I've never picked up a copy of New Witch, but it's a sister magazine to some other wicca mags that I do read. So I know it must be a kick ass mag for the younger set. (whoa...that was an old geezer saying! yikes!) I love that their website starts out with the following:

Today while eating breakfast, I read the usual litany of depressing headlines in the morning paper. The hurts of the world are so many and so huge that the list of worthy causes seems infinite. What's a lone child of Mama Gaia to do?

No, sticking your head in the sand doesn't count. Bad Pagan, no doughnut! (Errr… organic wheat muffin.) And yes, I'm talking about more than lighting a candle and asking the Gods to bring balance to the Earth. Ritual has its place, but "the Gods help them who help themselves." So … how do you live your convictions without getting overwhelmed, discouraged and burnt out?

A spoiled brat?

Yesterday was Paris' baby shower and it was a great time. The best part was surprising the hubby with a Playstation 2. I bought it on Friday and hid it at his parents' over the weekend, where the shower was held. He told me afterwards that I totally embarrassed him. *pah-sha* Me thinks it was his mom's story of him being a tad jealous that the nephew got one for Christmas when he's been asking for one for the past 2 Christmases. *lol*

Of course that didn't stop him from running to Target to get the needed accessories (extra controller, memory card, couple of games) and then set the thing up. He loves it...naturally.

He totally deserved it too. He's been such a sweetie thru-out all the crap that is my life. He makes sure I'm ok, that Paris is ok, and that we're all ok. He also has been willing to spend money on my tech needs (digicam, handspring, etc) so why not spend a lil cash on my sweetie?

I did & you should be able too!

Sign the petition & join a Million for Marriage! I did hedge a bit about getting married because I knew the GBLT community couldn't. But I also balanced it out with my desire to marry, my hubby's desire to marry, and my knowledge that I would be committed to working towards universal marriage. So step up, straight, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, whatever and sign the petition.

Holy Blogrolling!

I just added a mess of blogs that I normally read at work so that I can read while I'm at work with Paris. Some of them are blogs that really don't update as often as some of us more insane bloggers. So they may come off as soon as I get home. I just didn't want to leave them at work for 10 weeks.

t-minus 2 days until I'm on leave!

CHEESE

I've put up three new photo albums this morning. I totally screwed up the baby shower index, but if you just click on the first picture, it'll be ok. I think I fixed it. Enjoy!

pssst...three extra photos over at paris' crib...

Oh-la-la

I decided to change layouts once again. The original font color for the text was far too light, so I picked this purple. But I'm thinking it's too bright...so let me know if it hurts your eyes. I'll just tone down the purple.

Full Moon Graphics

One of my fave places to get graphic sets from just did a little summer cleaning. It's got a new look and some of the really old sets are gone, most of the sold sets are gone, and it looks great! Now if only the graphics bug were to hit Miz Kitty with avengence...I really do love to see the new stuff she creates.

Profiles in Courage

I read JFK's book back in high school and was floored. I also didn't think that I'd ever really see a major political figure showcase a lot of courage in my lifetime. While I wouldn't say he's a hero, but you gotta admit that Senator Durbin (IL-baby!) has a load of cajones at the moment. He's continually filibustering radical right-wing judicial appointments and today he stated that the White House fought to include the phoney Iraq-Niger info into the SOTU address.

I didn't really like Durbin when he first got on the scene, but he's proven his worth. Heck, even Senator Fitzgerald has earned my respect for his ability to thumb his nose at both sides of the aisle. Of course now he's going to pay for it by not even running to defend the seat he bought won from Sen. Carol Mosely-Braun.

Next on the hot seat will most likely be Condi or Rummy. That should be on CNN...to see them lie thru their teeth would be fun to watch. Maybe we need to send Linda Tripp in to have tea with Condi or even Laura.

BITCH

Thanks to Bee for the heads up:

Dear friends--

As many of you know, Bitch has always functioned on a shoestring budget, especially in the spreading-the-word department. Well, our mid-year financial statements show that the shoestring has gotten even stringier of late. We're falling pretty short of our projected magazine sales for the year, and to ensure that there's a Bitch next year and for many years to come, we need your help now. To put it bluntly, we need more subscribers. About 3,000 more.

Here's why subscriptions are so crucial to our financial health: When people buy Bitch at a bookstore, we eventually (four to five months later) get between $1.77 and $1.98 of the $4.95 plus tax that it costs. When people subscribe, they pay only $3.75 per issue (better for them), and we get all of the money right away (better for us).

A lot of people think that buying Bitch on the newsstand supports us just as much as subscribing. Some even think it's more helpful because it convinces bookstores that Bitch is worth carrying. But the bottom line is that Bitch is much better off having you as a subscriber than as a newsstand buyer. (Of course we'd rather have people buying it in the bookstore than not buying it at all, but I promise that stores will continue to stock the magazine, and new newsstand buyers will always come along.)

And then there are all those folks out there who say, "Oh, yeah, Bitch, I've thumbed through that in the bookstore/been to the website/read a friend's copy, and I always meant to subscribe." Now is the time to get all of these people to actually sign up!

Here's what you can do to help:

-If you are not a subscriber right now, become one today. Go to www.bitchmagazine.com/merch.htm, call us toll-free at 877-21-BITCH, or send a check for $15 to Bitch, 1611 Telegraph Ave Ste. 515, Oakland CA 94612.

-Buy gifts for your friends and family. Multiple subscriptions are even cheaper: $15 for the first and $12 for each additional. See info above, and please note: If you are ordering online, the discount for multiple subscriptions will not show up automatically. Write a note in the comments field about it (along with the other addresses, of course) and we will manually adjust the price.

-Pass this message along. This e-mail is going out to about 700 or so people. To meet our goal, every one of you would need to buy 4.3 subscriptions--or we would collectively need to reach out to a whole bunch more than 700 of Bitch's closest friends. So please send this to anyone you know who likes the magazine or who you think would like the magazine. Help us get the word out!

-Tell people about Bitch. Read it on public transportation. Leave a copy in places where people will discover it (your local coffee house, your college's student center, the waiting room at your friendly women's health clinic, etc.). If you want to take part in a more formal effort to do this, e-mail publicity director Marisa Meltzer at marisa@bitchmagazine.com and tell her you're interested in helping to promote the magazine in your area.

-Buy a t-shirt, too. We have a bunch of styles now and they're super-cute. If you're an exhibitionist, we also have very happenin' underwear for sale. (Pictures and descriptions are at www.bitchmagazine.com/merch.htm.)

-Pester your local library to buy a subscription (they really do listen to patron requests).

-Donate a subscription to your local campus women's center, community resource center, or the like.

Anything you can do to get us further toward the goal of 3,000 subscriptions will help Bitch be strong and healthy!

With gratitude,
Lisa
--
Lisa Jervis
Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS!
1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 515
Oakland, California 94612
510-625-9390/
lisa@bitchmagazine.com
www.bitchmagazine.com

Labels: magazines

Support the Troops!

"If Donald Rumsfeld were here, I'd ask him for his resignation,"

I knew that it was just a matter of time before the troops started to step outta line and voice their own qualms with the administration. I especially like that the wives are willing to speak up.

Serenity just had to say good-bye to her hubby. I hope he returns soon. Maybe this is why we shouldn't go at it alone. We need help not just with the fighting, but with the aftermath. What a fuckin' mess. And I do hope that those muttering about Rummy remember him when it's time to cast a ballot. Somehow I don't think we'll get Rummy out until George is out.

Threat rating: High. The Bush administration is
concerned that it may not get a second term.
Therefore, we are going to change the rules so
that each Democrat vote only counts as 0.2
votes because Democrat is a shorter word than
Republican


What threat to the Bush administration are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

thanks to conflict girl for the heads up!

MEOW

I try to really never get catty about someone unless they royally piss me off. I normally get catty if I see someone try to take advantage of someone else. I can stand someone pissing on me, but piss on my friend and you're in deep shit. Especially when they don't deserve it.

begin rant to person who doesn't read this blog...

It is just when you prove yourself unworthy of a job, then lobby for said job, make yourself look like you can do the job (by playing on my inexperience), get the job, and then start to make sure your competition (me, others) look bad that finally pushes me to my wits end. Do you want me to step down? Leave you hanging? Not me. I'll stay and fight. I'll stay and fight dirty if you want. I don't have the same ethical hang-ups that others may have. I can get down & dirty with the pigs too. Just because my life is in shambles doesn't mean that I don't see what you're doing. Just because my heart is broken in places you don't have doesn't mean I'll go easy. In fact, I may be stronger for it. A wounded animal is more dangerous than a healthy one. You are warned. I warned you at the start. I warned you weeks ago...don't fuck with my friends or me. What comes next is up to you.

All-Star Break

Here are the current standings for the NL Central:
W L Pct GB
Houston 50 44 .532 --
St. Louis 49 45 .521 1.0
Chi Cubs 47 47 .500 3.0
Cincinnati 43 50 .462 6.5
Pittsburgh 41 50 .451 7.5
Milwaukee 37 56 .398 12.5

GB=games back from first place. IMO, that's the key number. Our division is so bad that there's no way that the wildcard team will come outta here. There are four other teams in the National League who are far more ahead in the wildcard chase, so that's out for the Cubs. Last night, after another terrible loss (we're 4-6 in the last 10 games), the sports reporters started to mention the dreaded phrase: WHITE FLAG FIRE SALE/TRADES.

What's this mean, my non-baseball sweeties? It means the Cubbies would raise the white flag on the season, give up, and start trading away players (esp expensive players) for younger players with the hope that the youngin's will blossom into older better players.

At this point in the season you have to start thinking about this option. July 31st is the official trading deadline (I won't get into the technicalities cause well it's harder to explain than the infield fly rule) so you have to start putting feelers out soon.

Yet, I also have not given up on this season. As I age, I'm getting more realistic about my Cubbies (No, I haven't subscribed to the George Will school of baseball), but if we're still thisclose to first place, despite playing sucky baseball, I say give us the rest of July. If we're behind by 7-10 games on July 30th, then deal away. That gives the team 12 games to shape up, including three games with the division leader, Houston. After that weekend series in Houston, then we start to pull out the famous Cubbie slogan...

Wait 'til next year!

That said, I'm also not hopeful that we can pull it out of our asses. Then I'll be subject to just rooting that we can keep a better record than the White Sux.

Labels: sports

The cutest boy I know

is the nephew. He's also the most challenging boy to come into my life (so far). So let's talk about his cute aspects...He has full understanding of my gestational diabetes. At 7, I think this is pretty damn remarkable. But then again, telling a 7-year-old that Aunt Roni can't have sugar is a big thing, eh? So we're at Jewel and he wants to buy ice cream for the weekend. He knows that I can't eat any of his ice cream, so I grab a tub of no sugar added. Almost everything I pick up, he looks at and I can see he's doing the "is there sugar in there?" analysis in his head. The hubby & him went up to Evanston while I was at yoga and the hubby wanted to get me some sugar-free chocolates from his fave chocolate shop. The nephew IMMEDIATELY warned the hubby, "She can't eat sugar, remember, because of the baby?" How cute is that?

As with the last weekend he spent with us, he kept patting my belly and saying "hello, little baby" is his cute voice. He's adorable in the way that he just says "I love you" to us, the way he smiles at us, and the way he cuddles up to you when you're sleeping. Because I need so much room in the bed, the hubby & him slept on the pull-out bed. I miss waking up and finding him in my belly.

He plays on my patience because he has none himself. Now, I know kids don't really have much, but the nephew has none, zero, zilch. Sure it ticks me off when he asks a million times on the way to mini-golf "are we going to play mini-golf? huh? huh?" What really gets me is his impatience with himself.

He is a pretty smart kid. And he expects the most from himself, but when he fails, he just cannot handle it. He's just finished the first grade and knows that he can't subtract or count money. Thus that means in his head that he's dumb. When I finally asked him about it, he almost cried. So I just held him and told him that we all have things that are hard for us to do, to learn. The hubby & I shared our academic failures with him, which blew him outta the water. I wish I had a picture of his face light up when we told him that there were things that I didn't like (history class) or was good at (writing) and the things that the hubby didn't like (math) or was good at (science).

So we told him that if he really wanted to learn subtraction, he has to practice it. The same way he practices his Playstation games. He can't give up. So I made up some homemade flash cards before I went to bed. The hubby gave them to him in the morning and said he was floored.

I wish I knew where he got the idea that he wasn't smart. I think I know where he gets the idea that school isn't fun, even thou he loves to write stories. I guess, I just wish I could pull out all that doubt and give him the confidence that he use to have, put the swager back in his step, and sit back and watch him bloom. Gawd, being a mom is going to break my heart, isn't it?

The grilling continues...

From a reader on the East Coast:

What is your #1 dream in life?
To look back and just smile at the things I've accomplished, the people I've met, and the lives I'm touched. Hopefully from the view of the Oval Office.

Where would you like to travel to-- by yourself? with hubby? with whole family? Pretend money and time are no object.
By myself? To a tropical island where I can hike thru the forest, lay in the sand, frolic in the water, and just take it all in.

With the hubby? A tour of Europe. I can't imagine not being able to share with someone, esp the hubby, all the great food, the awesome sites, and the culture.

With the whole family? Easy: Disney World. The nephew's already planning it for when Paris gets old enough. I guess the thought that DW was always my mom's fave place to take us, she wanted to take Paris there, and that the nephew can't wait to show his neice/nephew the sites just melts my heart too much. A close second is a travelling tour of the states. Of course with hotels every night!

"Americans may have nothing to fear but the fearmongers themselves."

Jim McDermott sums up everything that I bitch & moan about at home while watching CNN, local news, and The Daily Show.

If the destruction of the U.S. of A. was the ultimate goal of the terrorist attacks, then they've almost won. We can't have a major event (Super Bowl, World Series, 4th of July Parade) without an army of police hovering over us. I try to buy books with cash - no trail left behind. I go back & forth between paranoid and denial. It's utterly insane what we've let the government do to us.

I can't say that it would be different if the chads fell the other way, if Gore was strong enough to win his home state, or if everyone's vote did count (I'm tired of blaming Nader). What I can say is that IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER! What matters is what is going on now. Some people are too scared shitless to think straight and that's just the way the adminstration wants it. So straighten up, stand tall, and help that scared friend of yours see the light. We can battle terrorism without living in fear. If not, why battle it at all?

Next question...

More questions from Kira:

what was the first cause you ever fought for and what moved you to take action?
To play soccer with the boys at recess. I think I've told this story, so it'll be quick today. In 2nd grade, the boys were playing soccer and wouldn't let any girls play. I think maybe my girlfriend, Tracey (still miss her) and I were the only ones who really wanted to play. So we gathered up some of the other girls, sat on the playground equipment, and chanted "Let us play!" I think that recess ended before we got anywhere...it takes time to gather up a horde of girls, ya know? I really don't like soccer, but it was always more fun than jump roping...that was until I finally learned Double Dutch. Woot!

what is your biggest, most influential driving force?
"Our children's children children" quoteth the hubby. Seriously, it is all about my kids and my kids kids. I also see so much injustice in this world, that I just can't not do something. The hubby also says quite often that he wishes we were just numb and ignorant - maybe we'd be happier. But agreeing with an anti-choice man that abstinence is the best protection and then reminding him to always keep his dick in his pants does make me happy. I'm evil that way.

do you have a mentor and if so, who is it?
No one mentor. I think about fifth grade I realized that I should not look for one hero & role model and I adopted that to mentor. I know far too many kewl people to pick just one of them to look up to. I often feel like I'm a mosaic of what others have given me and thus, I have a buffet of mentors.

do you mentor anyone?
No one in particular. I just try to flit around like a butterfly in that manner. Help someone here and there...hoping that my sage advice actually helps. I think I got too burned as the big sister to ever want to mentor any one single person. But then again, I'd love to try again.

what is the one cause you could not ever lay aside...for anything. it's that important.
This is a tough one. My gut says, reproductive freedom. Cause without it, what's the use of everything else? Even if college was free or we could pay back our college loans with service to our country, what happens if we can't get the pill? Pay equity would be a sham if women had to leave the workforce every year to give birth. You can't train to be in the WNBA if you're always knocked up. I also see how there isn't ONE cause either. It's all tied together.

What is reproductive freedom if we still have to choose between our careers and affordable child care? If we have to choose between earning the same as Bob down the hall and getting home when the kids do?

It's an ugly cycle, but one that I do believe is rooted in reproductive freedom, be it to choose to have a baby or not to have a baby or to prevent a pregnancy.

Blogathon

So is anyone doing it this year? I enjoyed going blog to blog at odd hours of the day to check in on the blogathoners. I didn't see any real familiar names on the participant list, but I thought maybe some of you just haven't signed up yet.

Careful what you ask for...

A few days ago, my mind was mush, so I asked you all to ask me a question. Kira asked a listful. So here's my attempt to answer her questions:

how did you and your husband meet and how long did you date before you decided to get married?
We met at the mall. Typical 90s kids, eh? He was working at a shoe store that I had just applied for a job. He was the first person I met on my first day along with his friend/coworker. At first glance, I thought he was too old & too Mexican-looking, but hey it was a job. We dated for 4.5 years before he proposed and that's when we decided to get married. I dunno if there was an earlier time, but we just knew we were headed in that direction. Heck, we moved in together after 6 months of dating.

how did he propose and did you say yes right away?
He proposed at my college graduation party in front of our family & friends. He was as white as a ghost & shaking like a leaf. I didn't say yes right away cause I was in shock. I was crying, my mom was crying, and after what he says was forever, I finally said yes. I knew it was coming cause he really can't keep secrets and kept hinting that I was going to get a big surprise. Of course to throw me off he told me that he had gotten me a HUGE Winnie the Pooh, so after I said yes, I asked, "So no Pooh bear?"

The funniest part of the whole thing was that we were at a park BBQing. My dad and mom were at the grill and the hubby went over to ask for their blessing. My mom looked at him and said, "You are not asking us for permission to marry our daughter over a grill are you?" So he asked, "Can you step over here..." *lol*

Kira had more questions, but I'll save those for later.

Them Dixie Chicks Won't Die

The committee's chairman, John McCain, R-Ariz., sharply questioned Cumulus Media CEO Lewis W. Dickey Jr. if he felt his decision ban the Dixie Chicks from all of Cumulus' country music stations demonstrated the political danger present in having too few owners of the nation's media.

I saw Sen. McCain go at Dickey...Dickey looked like he was in the principal's office caught with a cherry bomb. It was freakin' fab.

Isabelle Watch

For readers of Amytart's blog...I'll be providing the inside scoop once lil Isabelle arrives.

For those of you wondering about Paris updates...Cinnamon has the keys to this temple, so she'll be able to post the scoop before the ink dries on the footprints.

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I use to have a radio in my office that was the only way for me to hear the Cubs game. I took that radio home last week for 1) to use at the hospital and 2) to use in Paris' room. Of course, I forgot to bring another radio in (clock radio) so I can listen to games.

So now I have to be a lame-ass and watch the game via the internet on Yahoo! with lil yellow spots as the players and no Ron Santo. The horror! *dramatic sigh with hand on forehead*

Labels: sports

Feminism in a tight short skirt

Christine Cupaiuolo (fellow Chicagoan) does it again. She's taking a nice hard look at the meaning of feminism, empowerment, and how it is reflected (correctly or not) in pop culture.

I have a lot to say, but I think this time, I'll let Ms. do the talking.

Laleh & Ladan

The hubby woke me up to the news of the twins' death. I dunno why, maybe it's the hormones, maybe not, but I just wanted to cry when I heard the news. Maybe it was because they went into this knowing the risks, but so wanting separate lives and bodies that they were willing to take the slim odds. It could also be because they always seemed so damn happy at the press conferences. Smiling, giggling, you could see them dreaming about their future in their hand waves.

Kira's grandmother said that she wants to die empty. That or dying racing after a dream have to be the best ways to die.

Giving Ashcroft a Constitution Exam

A fab article on how Atty Gen. Ashcroft neglected the constitution and our elected er, leaders on both sides of the aisle blindly followed his lead. Perhaps if we remind our Senators & Reps, they won't follow so damn blindly when Patriot Act II comes up for vote.

Ask Away...

As the time starts to dwindle on my non-mommy times, my mind can't think of much else. This type of stress is way more than the stress I had before the hubby & I got married. Heck, you can divorce a man, you can't really divorce a child. As much as one might joke about a husband being like a child, at least he doesn't need breast feeding! For the most part, most men are potty-trained.

So I open it up to you dear readers... Got any questions for this goddess? Ever had a question you were afraid to ask? Wonder what type of bread I eat? My inspirtation to blog is fading, so you get this lame entry, sorry.

"Bring Them On"

That lame attempt at being a real Texan* by George has long been forgotten by mainstream media, IMO. Over the weekend, we had 3 soldiers killed in Iraq. The media & administration seem to be blaming the latest audio tape by Saddam. Um...isn't this what our dear fearless (with our brothers) leader asked for?

BRING THEM ON (def.): We know you're gunning for us. We can take it. We're Americans, you fuckers. Just try to shoot at us. We'll kick your Iraqi ass.

Now George is starting to talk serious about nukes. I can say serious, cause the media's actually reporting it. IMO, using a nuke on a country that doesn't have it, is cowardly. You know damn well you won't get the same back up your own ass...be a man, George. Grab a gun and get in there yourself. I think you owe Uncle Sam a few months of service. If you can't, shut your trap and quit egging the resistance on! Our boys & girls in uniform have to stand out in the open. The resistance can hide and wait for us. It ain't a fair fight...we can kick their ass, but that doesn't mean that we have to be arrogant.

* I've met real Texans and they may be arrogant, sarcastic, and all that George tries to portray. BUT...they can walk the walk.

Our Story

(WOMENSENEWS)--A century after Abigail Adams had admonished her husband John to "remember the ladies" in the creation of the new republic, legions of women knew they had not only been forgotten, but deliberately excluded. An organized women's movement had been gathering force for almost 30 years. As the nation planned to gather in Philadelphia in 1876 to congratulate itself on 100 years of independence, women held bazaars and concerts in their towns and cities to raise funds.

[read the rest at Womensenews]

Hope that your 4th of July was full of fun! After a late start, we decided to hit Circuit City cause we thought the digicam was broken. Each time we looked thru the viewfinder, the view was blurry. No amount of wiping, blowing on the glass, etc would help it. So we went and lo-and-behold...the viewfinder adjusts for each user! All we had to do was turn a lil dial. D'oh! Afterwards, we headed up to Evanston and saw "28 Days Later." Damn fine film.

The hubby's not a scary movie kinda guy, so it took a lil pushing by me to get us to see it. The thing is, it's not that scary. It's more fucking disturbing than anything. So disturbing, there were 2 points in the movie where about 2-3 people stood up and just left. I won't explain those points, you just gotta see the movie. I have to admit, I haven't seen "Night of the Living Dead" in quite some time, so I can't make the same comparision...but this movie is a living nightmare. The film was also filmed in a fab way...I'm not good at explaining all that technical crap, but it was impressive.

Now off to wish my younger sis a happy birthday.

yoo-hoo!

Ah, the 3rd of July. An unofficial holiday in Chicago. A backwards holiday to boot. Everyone's on the road, but no one is at work. Where is everyone?

Well Chicago likes to have their big fireworks display on the 3rd of every year. They give the excuse that it's a good way for everyone to come out, have fun, and then spend the real holiday with family. Works for me. Or rather use to.

This morning there was more traffic than the usual rush hour. ack! Oh, well...hopefully with the fireworks & the Taste going on, no one will be headed out of the city. ZOOM all the way home.

The hubby and I still haven't created our own holiday rituals. Maybe cause we just kept doing what my family always did. Memorial Day - BBQ, 4th of July - BBQ, sunny day - BBQ. *lol* When they moved away, we really were left in the lurch. Now we just stay home guarding the homestead from our idiot neighbors who decide to throw fireworks everywhere and shoot off their stupid guns. I guess that is our 4th of July ritual - don't get shot.

Hope that your 4th of July is all that you want it to be! We'll be grilling tomorrow, I'm sure. Relaxing, reading, hanging out. Ah....

My Name is Roni and I'm a Bookaholic

If you don't read Zuly, then you might not know that she has set up a bookclub. It's not your typical book club, it harkens back to the bookclubs that you use to sign up for as a kid at the library. You read what you want and then report back. And what other book club would have a slogan like: my book club can kick your book club's ass.

Considering that I also am in a young feminist bookclub, I dunno if Zuly's bookclub could kick their ass. But it would be pretty close to a draw. I mean, sheesh, one of the women in the YFBC owns a sex shop...so she can bring yummy sex oil samples to the bookclub meetings. *lol*

Since I'm lame and can't TrackBack, I'll be posting my readings in the message board section. So come and see what everyone's reading! I just finished Written on the Body last night and I'm still crying over it.

Labels: Books

Oh, Scuttle!

"The Little Mermaid" is my ultimate fave Disney movie. I loved the story of a mermaid falling in love with a human since the first time I heard it as a Hans Christian Anderson tale. So in memory of the dearly departed Scuttle aka Buddy Hackett, I joined TLM fanlisting.

Am I an idiot or what?

So I'm trying to figure out all my debts and whatnot before the baby comes. I'm sure that at one point, I'll just throw my checkbook at the hubby and say, "take care of these, please!" What do I discover?

I HAVE TWO CREDIT CARDS FROM AT&T!!

How the hell did that occur? In the past, I've mistakeningly applied for two from MBNA (notorious for give-aways at ballparks) and had it returned to me stating that I needed to pick an account. No biggie.

So my story of woe starts after I decide to restart my credit...I get a nice AT&T card. They are nice. I play nice. I get a call 4 months ago stating that because I'm playing nice I can get a new card with rewards. Goodie I think! So I play nice. Then a few days ago, while trying to buy Cinnamon a gift certificate online, I find out that my card is overdue...Umm...I just paid that fucker online! What's been going on is that I've been paying for the first account on time and not the second account! Fuck me!

Thus, I just got off the phone with AT&T and they're all perky and say "You can have as many accounts as you want with us! Or with Citibank! *glee*"

*grumble*

That is NOT what I signed up for when the dude from AT&T called my apartment. What I signed up for was an upgraded account, not a separate account. I feel like a duped idiot. And I told perky AT&T chick as much. So I closed old account, since I tossed the old card. But me thinks that this account is going to be closed, paid off, and cut up into tiny bits.*

I'm sure that it's not just AT&T/Citibank pulling this scam, so be careful out there, ok? And people wonder why it's so damn hard to keep decent credit. I admit, I shoulda been more careful. Well from now on, I will. No more signing up for anything over the phone. Nada.

*unfortunately, I think this is the card I have with the best APR, so I'll need it. Unless I sign up for another card from another loan shark company.

George throws a fit...again

So now we're withholding money from allies because they want our men & women to be held to the same standards as the rest of the world? What were they thinking? They they are dealing with a rational administration? hahahaha!!

Althou, it appears most of the money went to training others to fight the way we fight. So I guess that's a good thing. I just hate it when George throws a fit and sends a country to its room without dessert.

Altar in a Box

I found this site via an eigth...it's a project to bring personal altars to pagan/wiccan/earth-based men and women serving in our military. Nifty, eh? Now to hit home and dig up all the extra Altoid tins that the hubby has around.

This project is based out of a website that sells some pretty nifty pagan-wear and has lil pagan clothing too!