~ Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Women Who Run with the Wolves
Photograph credit - Jenn L. MasonGambitta
Monday, September 3, 2018
Saturday, January 20, 2018
January 21st
January 21st
Today
millions of my sisters have donned pink pommed caps and swarm the globe singing
songs of solidarity.
Today they
air dirty patriarchal laundry.
While I..
I stand alone amid a million domestic chores
after a million hours worked.
There was
no energy for the conversation,
to give
the million reasons why
I
should be somewhere else.
Even in a
pseudo liberated society,
marriage
conforms to antiquated roles.
So, I stay
in my suburban safe-house surrounded
by
first world blessings
and
frustrations.
Only my body is here,
Going
through the motions.
Faking it.
Heart
wears a pink, fuzzy, fierce pussy hat.
Mind
shouts snarky slogans.
Spirit sings
Chants
Howls
Calling bra burning mothers
Civil
rights grandmas
Great
grandmother suffragettes
Matriarchs
of the burning tymes
Pagan
Bellatrix
Priestesses
and goddesses from before the world was linear.
When stories and legends had
beginnings
Endings
And beginnings again.
This wave
of feminine force has crashed upon the shores before;
Has pulled
small bits and pieces of oppression into the deep,
Only then,
that force subsided into a pool of compromise
Acceptance of
Marriage proposals
Promotions
Titles
Eighty-three
cents
change for
a
dollar
So, my
beautiful strong sisters, I ask you.
What’s
next?
After the
streets are swept of colorful hand crafted protest signs
And hats
are hung on hooks.
After
millions are reduced to one, the rights for which our aunt-cestors fought
are
still at stake.
Now what?
After the
storm,
be
the raindrop.
One voice
One
phone call,
one letter,
after another
after
another
after another..
copyright
Jennifer MasonGambitta 2017
Monday, June 12, 2017
I went to VegFest..
I went to Cleveland VegFest and was shamed for being a vegetarian. A lady with that glassy look that's often seen in the eyes of a tele-evangelist's groupie, approached and asked my husband and myself to watch a movie for a dollar.
She would pay us the dollar. It was worth it to her to expose us to the horrors of factory farming.
"Oh, no," we said. "We're aware."
My husband had the good sense to step back and to the the side. This gave her room to step in close to me. Too close. "Oh. Are you vegan?"
Damn. Her eyes were really glassy. She had that weird, spaced out, happy, crazy, possibly dangerous look. She may as well have asked me if I know her Jesus. And, had she asked me that, I would have said, "Why yes. Yes I do," then walked on.
But, no. All about honesty.
"Vegetarian." I said this nonchalantly and glanced at my husband who was now looking around the crowded convention center with the same distracted curiosity as a six year old playing outfield.
Happy lady's face darkened. Just for a minute. Having grown up with evangelical types who felt it was a duty to ask strangers if they knew where they would spend the afterlife if they died RIGHT NOW, my inner town crier started ringing her bell.
She pressed me to watch the video.
She started talking about factory dairy farms and did I know..
"Yes. I have youtube."
She moved in even closer to me and lightly grabbed my wrist. I could smell kimchee on her breath.
"My friend, I hope one day you will become vegan." She said with a smile a bit too big and eyes too sparkly.
And, I now understood why people mock vegans. Not that I agree with it. But, I get it.
To be fair, Vegfest was a Vegan fest. This I did not clearly understand. And though I feel that vegetarians and vegans are cousins so to speak, I guess I was wrong. Their reduction of carbon footprints is so much more important than mine, apparently.
Also, not all vegans are evangelical in this way. I don't think they are anyway. And, although I felt a smidgeon of guilt about eating cheese, it was only for a minute. I've been a vegetarian for 25+ years. I became a vegetarian when I learned about factory farming. See, my family had strong ties to the farming community. I spent at least two weeks every summer on my uncles' dairy farm. My brother is a small dairy farmer on the eastern shore of Maryland.
The cows on uncles' farm spent their days in the pasture, came in for milking, then went back to the pasture. The chickens had a cozy little coop with plenty of freedom to move and be chickens. Sure, not so great things happened on that farm as with all farms animals, those animals were butchered. However, they were not tortured their whole lives then butchered. And, yes. There is a difference.. in my opinion anyway.
When I learned about the cruelty that is imposed upon living creatures to serve the gluttonous behavior of people, I gave up burgers and gave my burger money to PETA. I also know my limits, economic status and level of discipline. I knew from the very beginning I wouldn't be able to maintain a vegan lifestyle in a disciplined manner. So, I let that go.
Like I mentioned earlier, not all vegans are obnoxious. No one wants to be judged by the food police and being pushy and judgmental is never the way to get people to see your point of view on anything. However, had I been a carnivorous tourist at Vegfest, I may have come away with a very different outlook on vegetarianism and veganism.
Joe and I got there later in the day. There was a nice offering of speaker and movies, but we missed the ones that we would've interested us. Therefore, we spent our time moseying through the crowded bazaar.
Sherman Alexie once wrote a scathing response to his imagined response from vegetarians in regard to his reminiscences about his excitement as he and family gobbled down a bucket of KFC when he was a child on the reservation. To the best of my memory, it went something like this:
"To all you vegetarians reading this and judging, I say FUCK YOU."
He then expounded on the economic disparity between having to eat, and being able to choose what to eat. His words resonated with me when I read them and again as my husband and I looked for a bar of homemade soap to purchase that perhaps was less than 12.00. Seriously, that shit was expensive. I'm sure it was great soap. But, here's the thing. We use good soap as a rule. Our skin reacts poorly to the usual soaps. And thankfully, we are blessed to be able to sacrifice the 6 or 7 dollars for a bar of quality soap. And when I say "sacrifice", that's what I mean. We don't buy a lot of frivolous items, so we can purchase 7.00 bars of soap when needed. But, 12 dollars? Hmm.. can't do it.
To be fair, the place was packed with people, which I thought was very cool. Pride fest happened the same day and the city was busy. So, our explorations were based on what booths looked interesting and weren't surrounded by a throng of people. I am sure that there were items more reasonably priced. We just didn't see them.
Plenty of food vendors were at the fest. Because we don't have the pleasure of having an Indian restaurant close by, we opted for, nay, ran, salivating to Choolah Indian BBQ. Had we known that this was a corporate run place, we would've chosen differently. The food was tasty enough, although not nearly as good as some of the independently owned places like Taste of Keralam or South Indian Cuisine (neither of which were at the event, that I saw. But they are very good). We both had the paneer which looked to be the fastest moving item. We later learned that it wasn't vegan paneer. Not cool Choolah. Not cool.
While the food was reasonably priced, and the mango exceptionally yummy. We needed something extra to quench our thirst. J. went foraging for liquid and came back with a bottle of quality juice made with organic fruits. I think it was organic. There was no label of any kind. Oh, the 16 oz. drink cost 10 dollars. He purchased the juice from one of the small independent businesses. We do understand price point and all that. However, 10 dollars for a bottle of juice is a bit out there. It wasn't juiced in front of him and while they told him the ingredients, they were busy and speaking quickly. So, we had no idea what we were drinking. It could've been merely a mixture of Tropicana Twisters with a squirt of lemon for all we know. Packaging is important. At least write on the bottle with a sharpie.
At any rate, a 10 dollar bottle of juice is not something that most people will be able to purchase on a regular basis. Especially if its pre-packaged, and really, even if it's freshly juiced.
There is a nice little vegan place close to me that serves pre-packaged cold pressed juices. They also have food. I would love to patronize them more often, but a cup of chili and juice cost 17.00. Can't do that on a consistent basis. However, it does look like their prices have become more reasonable. So, maybe I will give them another try.
My point is, if I had no idea what veganism is, and I had stumbled into Vegfest, I would really think that this is a lifestyle for affluent fanatics. Even if it was something I wanted to explore, the costs of products that I saw would dissuade me from doing so.
And here's the thing. I do believe that vegan and/or vegetarian diet is becoming a necessity. Anything that will reduce our carbon footprints is a necessity at this point. I would have liked to have seen more education and vendors that focused on growing your own vegetables. Grow your own veggies, make your own juices. Become a bit more self sufficient and help heal the planet. Maybe next year?
For now, I leave you with this quote from Sherman Alexie:
"How self-centered, how arrogant... Imagine the awesome privilege of living in a society where you get to choose what you eat at each and every meal. When I was a kid, I was a vegetarian and a vegan for long stretches... I was a commodity cheese-atarian."
And this one from Albert Einstein:
“It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.”
She would pay us the dollar. It was worth it to her to expose us to the horrors of factory farming.
"Oh, no," we said. "We're aware."
My husband had the good sense to step back and to the the side. This gave her room to step in close to me. Too close. "Oh. Are you vegan?"
Damn. Her eyes were really glassy. She had that weird, spaced out, happy, crazy, possibly dangerous look. She may as well have asked me if I know her Jesus. And, had she asked me that, I would have said, "Why yes. Yes I do," then walked on.
But, no. All about honesty.
"Vegetarian." I said this nonchalantly and glanced at my husband who was now looking around the crowded convention center with the same distracted curiosity as a six year old playing outfield.
Happy lady's face darkened. Just for a minute. Having grown up with evangelical types who felt it was a duty to ask strangers if they knew where they would spend the afterlife if they died RIGHT NOW, my inner town crier started ringing her bell.
She pressed me to watch the video.
She started talking about factory dairy farms and did I know..
"Yes. I have youtube."
She moved in even closer to me and lightly grabbed my wrist. I could smell kimchee on her breath.
"My friend, I hope one day you will become vegan." She said with a smile a bit too big and eyes too sparkly.
And, I now understood why people mock vegans. Not that I agree with it. But, I get it.
To be fair, Vegfest was a Vegan fest. This I did not clearly understand. And though I feel that vegetarians and vegans are cousins so to speak, I guess I was wrong. Their reduction of carbon footprints is so much more important than mine, apparently.
Also, not all vegans are evangelical in this way. I don't think they are anyway. And, although I felt a smidgeon of guilt about eating cheese, it was only for a minute. I've been a vegetarian for 25+ years. I became a vegetarian when I learned about factory farming. See, my family had strong ties to the farming community. I spent at least two weeks every summer on my uncles' dairy farm. My brother is a small dairy farmer on the eastern shore of Maryland.
The cows on uncles' farm spent their days in the pasture, came in for milking, then went back to the pasture. The chickens had a cozy little coop with plenty of freedom to move and be chickens. Sure, not so great things happened on that farm as with all farms animals, those animals were butchered. However, they were not tortured their whole lives then butchered. And, yes. There is a difference.. in my opinion anyway.
When I learned about the cruelty that is imposed upon living creatures to serve the gluttonous behavior of people, I gave up burgers and gave my burger money to PETA. I also know my limits, economic status and level of discipline. I knew from the very beginning I wouldn't be able to maintain a vegan lifestyle in a disciplined manner. So, I let that go.
Like I mentioned earlier, not all vegans are obnoxious. No one wants to be judged by the food police and being pushy and judgmental is never the way to get people to see your point of view on anything. However, had I been a carnivorous tourist at Vegfest, I may have come away with a very different outlook on vegetarianism and veganism.
Joe and I got there later in the day. There was a nice offering of speaker and movies, but we missed the ones that we would've interested us. Therefore, we spent our time moseying through the crowded bazaar.
Sherman Alexie once wrote a scathing response to his imagined response from vegetarians in regard to his reminiscences about his excitement as he and family gobbled down a bucket of KFC when he was a child on the reservation. To the best of my memory, it went something like this:
"To all you vegetarians reading this and judging, I say FUCK YOU."
He then expounded on the economic disparity between having to eat, and being able to choose what to eat. His words resonated with me when I read them and again as my husband and I looked for a bar of homemade soap to purchase that perhaps was less than 12.00. Seriously, that shit was expensive. I'm sure it was great soap. But, here's the thing. We use good soap as a rule. Our skin reacts poorly to the usual soaps. And thankfully, we are blessed to be able to sacrifice the 6 or 7 dollars for a bar of quality soap. And when I say "sacrifice", that's what I mean. We don't buy a lot of frivolous items, so we can purchase 7.00 bars of soap when needed. But, 12 dollars? Hmm.. can't do it.
To be fair, the place was packed with people, which I thought was very cool. Pride fest happened the same day and the city was busy. So, our explorations were based on what booths looked interesting and weren't surrounded by a throng of people. I am sure that there were items more reasonably priced. We just didn't see them.
Plenty of food vendors were at the fest. Because we don't have the pleasure of having an Indian restaurant close by, we opted for, nay, ran, salivating to Choolah Indian BBQ. Had we known that this was a corporate run place, we would've chosen differently. The food was tasty enough, although not nearly as good as some of the independently owned places like Taste of Keralam or South Indian Cuisine (neither of which were at the event, that I saw. But they are very good). We both had the paneer which looked to be the fastest moving item. We later learned that it wasn't vegan paneer. Not cool Choolah. Not cool.
While the food was reasonably priced, and the mango exceptionally yummy. We needed something extra to quench our thirst. J. went foraging for liquid and came back with a bottle of quality juice made with organic fruits. I think it was organic. There was no label of any kind. Oh, the 16 oz. drink cost 10 dollars. He purchased the juice from one of the small independent businesses. We do understand price point and all that. However, 10 dollars for a bottle of juice is a bit out there. It wasn't juiced in front of him and while they told him the ingredients, they were busy and speaking quickly. So, we had no idea what we were drinking. It could've been merely a mixture of Tropicana Twisters with a squirt of lemon for all we know. Packaging is important. At least write on the bottle with a sharpie.
At any rate, a 10 dollar bottle of juice is not something that most people will be able to purchase on a regular basis. Especially if its pre-packaged, and really, even if it's freshly juiced.
There is a nice little vegan place close to me that serves pre-packaged cold pressed juices. They also have food. I would love to patronize them more often, but a cup of chili and juice cost 17.00. Can't do that on a consistent basis. However, it does look like their prices have become more reasonable. So, maybe I will give them another try.
My point is, if I had no idea what veganism is, and I had stumbled into Vegfest, I would really think that this is a lifestyle for affluent fanatics. Even if it was something I wanted to explore, the costs of products that I saw would dissuade me from doing so.
And here's the thing. I do believe that vegan and/or vegetarian diet is becoming a necessity. Anything that will reduce our carbon footprints is a necessity at this point. I would have liked to have seen more education and vendors that focused on growing your own vegetables. Grow your own veggies, make your own juices. Become a bit more self sufficient and help heal the planet. Maybe next year?
For now, I leave you with this quote from Sherman Alexie:
"How self-centered, how arrogant... Imagine the awesome privilege of living in a society where you get to choose what you eat at each and every meal. When I was a kid, I was a vegetarian and a vegan for long stretches... I was a commodity cheese-atarian."
And this one from Albert Einstein:
“It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.”
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Floor Scrabble
Decided to do a modified version of Scrabble.
Sometimes, a big challenge to playing normal games w/the elderly is simply that the game pieces are too small and/or the print is too small as well.
Hence - floor Scrabble:
Super simple to make. Just print out the letters and laminate.
I didn't put any point values on the letters. And my staff did more of a crossword puzzle than an actual game.
But, you know, you could do whatever you wanted.
Yup.
There ya go.
Peace.
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Round Table Reading
Round table reading is a montessori style activity that can be done w/residents of varying level of cognitive impairment.
According to Michelle S. Bourgeois, a professor of speech and hearing at Ohio State University and the author of "The Sunshine on my Face," "people who were literate maintain their ability to read until the end stages of dementia."
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/many-alzheimers-patients-find-comfort-in-books/?_r=0
Round table reading is the same as "buddy reading" in school. Everyone one is given the opportunity to read a page.
Of course, when you are working w/residents w/varying levels of cognition, physical abilities, and motivation, you respect them for where they are in that moment.
Often, activity professionals and other caregivers just do not understand how round table reading can ever be a successful activity.
This, as most other activity programs, is not something that you can simply place in front of people then walk away from. You may even have to stand and move around the table assisting as needed.
People are successful in different ways on different days. There may be an individual who can read every page. Someone else may only be able to read a word or two and need assistance. Another, may be able to turn the page w/the group. While another may need assistance w/turning pages and may simply enjoy looking at the pictures and listening to the story.
Not every story has to have pictures. The books presented were designed for mid to low level Alzheimer's.
You can purchase read along books too. The following are pictures of ones I made. They were time consuming but simple to make with the help of the internet. Basically, I just copied, pasted and printed.
The most challenging aspect of this activity is helping your workers to be into it. I've worked with only a few people who have "gotten it" and only a couple of them who had the knack to make this enjoyable and empowering for the residents. It's really helpful to celebrate the small things and be enthusiastic.
According to Michelle S. Bourgeois, a professor of speech and hearing at Ohio State University and the author of "The Sunshine on my Face," "people who were literate maintain their ability to read until the end stages of dementia."
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/many-alzheimers-patients-find-comfort-in-books/?_r=0
Round table reading is the same as "buddy reading" in school. Everyone one is given the opportunity to read a page.
Of course, when you are working w/residents w/varying levels of cognition, physical abilities, and motivation, you respect them for where they are in that moment.
Often, activity professionals and other caregivers just do not understand how round table reading can ever be a successful activity.
This, as most other activity programs, is not something that you can simply place in front of people then walk away from. You may even have to stand and move around the table assisting as needed.
People are successful in different ways on different days. There may be an individual who can read every page. Someone else may only be able to read a word or two and need assistance. Another, may be able to turn the page w/the group. While another may need assistance w/turning pages and may simply enjoy looking at the pictures and listening to the story.
Not every story has to have pictures. The books presented were designed for mid to low level Alzheimer's.
You can purchase read along books too. The following are pictures of ones I made. They were time consuming but simple to make with the help of the internet. Basically, I just copied, pasted and printed.
The most challenging aspect of this activity is helping your workers to be into it. I've worked with only a few people who have "gotten it" and only a couple of them who had the knack to make this enjoyable and empowering for the residents. It's really helpful to celebrate the small things and be enthusiastic.
Additional resources:
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Random thoughts while trying to process
On Wednesday, my son texted to ask me if I could look for his birth certificate.
Seems his GFF is intent on getting passports.
Passports are good. Everyone should have one. Just in case.
------------------
I feel that this election should've been a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing.
No matter how good I felt a person was, if that person is a Trump supporter, I see only racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and an fairytale like belief that natural disasters are due to god's anger over the marriage equality act.
Quite frankly, these people frighten me.
_______
40% of women voted for Trump. Whaaaaat?
_______
Is this another case of 'Muricans voting for the person they would rather have a beer with? 'Cause, I don't think Trump would really want to spend "quality" time with the majority of his supporters.
And, I doubt he drinks MGD. But, I could be wrong.
_________
Seriously - 40%?
_______
I have heard comments from women including:
"I don't think a woman should be president. Women aren't strong enough."
"She would be o.k. You know, it wouldn't really be her running things. Bill would be the one in charge. And he did an o.k job."
These were comments from the geriatric group. So... o.k.
But then from a 21 year old who allegedly allowed her 2 year old daughter to just pick someone:
" Hillary would've been o.k. I mean, Bill would've been there to help her if she got into a jam."
The woman was the fricking secretary of state. She had to diplomatically negotiate all kinds of deals and tactfully play the political game aaaalllll over the world. The world!!!!
But, you know..... she would've been o.k. as president because Bill would've backed her up.
Maybe we aren't good for anything except popping out kids and baking grits or whatever we are supposed to do while barefoot and in the kitchen.
__________
The man said that global warming is a hoax made up by the Chinese! I guess people really believe that?
I need to start stockpiling water and learn how to can food. Because, we are dooooomed.
See, we need a healthy environment to help us produce things like ...... food.
I guess we can become breatharians.
But then we would need air.
Preferably clean air.
___________________
People try to say that they voted for him because he is a businessman and knows how to make money.
He took advantage of the same laws that he now vows to change. Do people really believe that he's going to change those laws?
"He's an outsider".
Have you heard of ALEC (if not, google it)? Lobbyists? Corporate interests? If you still think that the government actually governs, well.....
oh, wait. You probably also believe that global warming is a hoax made up by the Chinese.
Never mind.
Trump is the establishment. Can we just say that?
________
Look, Hillary is no shining star. I did not vote for her in the primary and seriously, seriously considered my general election vote.
I truly voted against a person as opposed to for a candidate I felt I could trust and who cared about people like me.
She supports fracking. But at least she gives lip service to the environmental crisis.
_______
There are those who voted on a single issue - abortion. Seems that silly women shouldn't have control over anything ... especially their bodies.
There are about 400,000 children currently in foster care in the U.S. A little over a 100,000 of these are available for adoption.
So, I know it's much cooler and to get a baby from out of the country, but c'mon now.
Time for the anti-choicers --- all the women who are past the age of breeding, the men who could never breed, and the breeders who think it's cool to pop out a baby every 1 - 2 years to jump on board and take care of the little ones who are already here and in need.
Oh, and instead of organizing and holding signs along the road and trying to look cool and concerned. You all can organize and work to make the adoption process in this country a bit easier.
Oh. And hopefully these folks will ease up on the idea of birth control.
You may think that abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.
But our brains are programmed to explore and experience.
People ... especially young people ... are going to explore their sexuality.
Stop slut shaming and start educating.
Especially if you truly do care about what happens to those unwanted babies after they're properly baked and ready to pop.
Personally, I am more saddened by all the stories of insane people, who should have had an abortion, inflict unspeakable acts of abuse on their unwanted children.
_________
40% of women.......
Did they hear about the pussy grabbing?
Maybe they like that idea?
Often men who are insecure about their sexual prowess will engage in braggadocio. But they have no game - (3 marriages).
I just don't know.
This is the party whose many members were convinced that rape isn't really a thing. A woman's body can "shut it down" and such nonsense.
So.....
I just don't know.
_______
So, I guess I cannot be complacent for the next 4 years.
Dammit!!
Seems his GFF is intent on getting passports.
Passports are good. Everyone should have one. Just in case.
------------------
I feel that this election should've been a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing.
No matter how good I felt a person was, if that person is a Trump supporter, I see only racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and an fairytale like belief that natural disasters are due to god's anger over the marriage equality act.
Quite frankly, these people frighten me.
_______
40% of women voted for Trump. Whaaaaat?
_______
Is this another case of 'Muricans voting for the person they would rather have a beer with? 'Cause, I don't think Trump would really want to spend "quality" time with the majority of his supporters.
And, I doubt he drinks MGD. But, I could be wrong.
_________
Seriously - 40%?
_______
I have heard comments from women including:
"I don't think a woman should be president. Women aren't strong enough."
"She would be o.k. You know, it wouldn't really be her running things. Bill would be the one in charge. And he did an o.k job."
These were comments from the geriatric group. So... o.k.
But then from a 21 year old who allegedly allowed her 2 year old daughter to just pick someone:
" Hillary would've been o.k. I mean, Bill would've been there to help her if she got into a jam."
The woman was the fricking secretary of state. She had to diplomatically negotiate all kinds of deals and tactfully play the political game aaaalllll over the world. The world!!!!
But, you know..... she would've been o.k. as president because Bill would've backed her up.
Maybe we aren't good for anything except popping out kids and baking grits or whatever we are supposed to do while barefoot and in the kitchen.
__________
The man said that global warming is a hoax made up by the Chinese! I guess people really believe that?
I need to start stockpiling water and learn how to can food. Because, we are dooooomed.
See, we need a healthy environment to help us produce things like ...... food.
I guess we can become breatharians.
But then we would need air.
Preferably clean air.
___________________
People try to say that they voted for him because he is a businessman and knows how to make money.
He took advantage of the same laws that he now vows to change. Do people really believe that he's going to change those laws?
"He's an outsider".
Have you heard of ALEC (if not, google it)? Lobbyists? Corporate interests? If you still think that the government actually governs, well.....
oh, wait. You probably also believe that global warming is a hoax made up by the Chinese.
Never mind.
Trump is the establishment. Can we just say that?
________
Look, Hillary is no shining star. I did not vote for her in the primary and seriously, seriously considered my general election vote.
I truly voted against a person as opposed to for a candidate I felt I could trust and who cared about people like me.
She supports fracking. But at least she gives lip service to the environmental crisis.
_______
There are those who voted on a single issue - abortion. Seems that silly women shouldn't have control over anything ... especially their bodies.
There are about 400,000 children currently in foster care in the U.S. A little over a 100,000 of these are available for adoption.
So, I know it's much cooler and to get a baby from out of the country, but c'mon now.
Time for the anti-choicers --- all the women who are past the age of breeding, the men who could never breed, and the breeders who think it's cool to pop out a baby every 1 - 2 years to jump on board and take care of the little ones who are already here and in need.
Oh, and instead of organizing and holding signs along the road and trying to look cool and concerned. You all can organize and work to make the adoption process in this country a bit easier.
Oh. And hopefully these folks will ease up on the idea of birth control.
You may think that abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.
But our brains are programmed to explore and experience.
People ... especially young people ... are going to explore their sexuality.
Stop slut shaming and start educating.
Especially if you truly do care about what happens to those unwanted babies after they're properly baked and ready to pop.
Personally, I am more saddened by all the stories of insane people, who should have had an abortion, inflict unspeakable acts of abuse on their unwanted children.
_________
40% of women.......
Did they hear about the pussy grabbing?
Maybe they like that idea?
Often men who are insecure about their sexual prowess will engage in braggadocio. But they have no game - (3 marriages).
I just don't know.
This is the party whose many members were convinced that rape isn't really a thing. A woman's body can "shut it down" and such nonsense.
So.....
I just don't know.
_______
So, I guess I cannot be complacent for the next 4 years.
Dammit!!
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Yes, it had been a trying day, an experience in frustration, a day from devised by demons.
Then, I dropped my snacks. Then I took a picture of said snacks & posted it on Instagram with the caption, "Et tu, snacks?" as though it was my snacks fault that they were dropped. As though my walnuts, wasabi peas, and raisins decided to revolt and started shaking and jumping about like Mexican jumping beans on Flakka until they flung themselves from my hands. My stressful clumsiness was not to be blamed. It was the snacks! They deserved to be humiliated on social media. I earned that moment of American exceptionalism. I was having a bad day. (Insert eye roll emoji here) Aaaaand action!
To be honest, this summer, nay this past year, has felt a bit like Chinese water torture or Spanish water torture as it's sometimes referred to in Europe (no offense to Chinese people or Spaniards. If anyone has a more politically correct name for the act of restraining a person then dripping water on the same spot on her forehead until she goes insane, please let me know). While everything major has stayed pretty status quo, there has been a constant pick, pick, picking quality of existence that is about to send me screaming into the wild. It's as though the universe is a bratty child poking me in my arm repeatedly saying "are you annoyed yet?"
In retaliation, I instagram my fancy snacks and play Candy Crush more than is good me. What a loser.
See, here's the thing. I know things can be way worse. I know that performers canceling at the last minute, or simply not showing up (so my day has to do a complete turn-around and tasks that would've been completed still sit wait), working 50 hours a week and being paid only for 40 and not being eligible for any comp. time or allowed to even document the actual number of hours worked ( so it looks as though 50 hours of work were completed in 40), working short for close to 2 months (again) d/t to call offs (b/c when your staff is very very tiny, that's just what happens), being viewed as a non-essential employee in the health care world and having everyone think your job is "so much fun"(especially nurses who get paid for all their hours worked. Oh, and get bonuses for shifts picked up). None of this compares to having your house blown up, your city bombed time and time again, having to choose which belongings to pack in a backpack as you flee your home.
None of this compares to this:
Then, I dropped my snacks. Then I took a picture of said snacks & posted it on Instagram with the caption, "Et tu, snacks?" as though it was my snacks fault that they were dropped. As though my walnuts, wasabi peas, and raisins decided to revolt and started shaking and jumping about like Mexican jumping beans on Flakka until they flung themselves from my hands. My stressful clumsiness was not to be blamed. It was the snacks! They deserved to be humiliated on social media. I earned that moment of American exceptionalism. I was having a bad day. (Insert eye roll emoji here) Aaaaand action!
To be honest, this summer, nay this past year, has felt a bit like Chinese water torture or Spanish water torture as it's sometimes referred to in Europe (no offense to Chinese people or Spaniards. If anyone has a more politically correct name for the act of restraining a person then dripping water on the same spot on her forehead until she goes insane, please let me know). While everything major has stayed pretty status quo, there has been a constant pick, pick, picking quality of existence that is about to send me screaming into the wild. It's as though the universe is a bratty child poking me in my arm repeatedly saying "are you annoyed yet?"
In retaliation, I instagram my fancy snacks and play Candy Crush more than is good me. What a loser.
See, here's the thing. I know things can be way worse. I know that performers canceling at the last minute, or simply not showing up (so my day has to do a complete turn-around and tasks that would've been completed still sit wait), working 50 hours a week and being paid only for 40 and not being eligible for any comp. time or allowed to even document the actual number of hours worked ( so it looks as though 50 hours of work were completed in 40), working short for close to 2 months (again) d/t to call offs (b/c when your staff is very very tiny, that's just what happens), being viewed as a non-essential employee in the health care world and having everyone think your job is "so much fun"(especially nurses who get paid for all their hours worked. Oh, and get bonuses for shifts picked up). None of this compares to having your house blown up, your city bombed time and time again, having to choose which belongings to pack in a backpack as you flee your home.
None of this compares to this:
This photo came out sometime during the week that almost broke me. The same day I saw this during a moment stolen from the workday to hurriedly check in with the virtually real world. Later that afternoon I was confronted by an mob of angry grandmas protesting the rules of bingo. Yes, bingo. Not my rules - the official bingo rules(yes there are official bingo rules).
Them: Today in bingo somebody won with a postage stamp but it was wrong.
Me : Oh.. o.k (shrug) What?
Them: It was in the wrong corner.
Me: There is a right corner?
Them: It's always the upper left hand corner.
(They are very upset about this, getting louder, people are starting to talk at the same time)
Me: I was unaware that there was a specific corner. Whatever you want to do ....
Them: We've always played it like that.
Me: O.k. I did not know that.
Them: She said it's not in the bingo rules
Me: There are bingo rules??
At this point my assistant approaches, hands me her phone with the page to the official bingo rules pulled up. A postage stamp can be in any corner, by the way.
Me: Oh, a postage stamp can be in any corner according the official bingo rules.
Cacophony. Verbal chaos.
We are frustratingly blessed. Or maybe it's just me
who is frustrated
or blinded to the blessings.
or cracked open wide by the frustration.
"They" say that the Universe only gives you what you're strong enough to handle.
Thank the gods I'm a weakling.
________
This post was started in August/September & was hurriedly finished & published yesterday.
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~ Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes Women Who Run with the Wolves Photograph credit - Jenn L. MasonGambitta
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