Those of you looking for high brow entertainment and thoughtful posts on the issues of our time, should probably look away. This and that should keep you busy while I attend to some hirsute business. I’m participating in a friendly little competition to see who can produce the gnarliest, hairiest legs by February 13. Click the on the hairy pits to your right if you’d like to play along or just investigate our lunacy.
Now. Down to business. My freshly shaved leg.
Filed under hair of the blog, ME, meme
During my extremely brief return to work after the birth of my only child I was treated to many disconcerting questions, statements and attitudes concerning my motherhood. My bookstore friends meant no harm. They were totally clueless. They were fearful of the awesome power of my womb and my seeping, heaving bosom. Most of my co-workers were childless by choice or too young and self-involved to even conceive of conceiving and gestating a human being. I’ve said it before. I was like a 9 month science experiment set up to gross them out, in a mildly amusing kind of way. I was not long for that world. A seismic shift had taken place and I was over on Mommy island waving to them on their distant shore. They couldn’t see or hear me anymore. I spoke a different language. I was invisible. People assumed that I no longer had anything valuable to add to their political discourse, that I would be offended by the abortion argument. Contrary to popular belief, they do not revoke your NARAL membership card when you give birth.
Pregnancy and motherhood reinforced my pro-choice convictions. It is freakin’ hard to be pregnant (and to be a parent for that matter). No one should continue with a pregnancy if they are not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to produce a healthy baby. Giving up a baby for adoption is a wonderful choice, but it is extremely painful to give a child away. I imagine it’s like being exiled to Mommy island and having to swim all the way back to shore. Wouldn’t it be better if all babies were wanted? Wouldn’t that make things simpler?
It is my sincere hope that our new President can end the see-saw battle over abortion. Pro-Lifers state that they want to reduce the number of abortions in this country (so do pro-choice folks) and yet the only way to do that is through education and access to contraceptives, which they oppose. If President Obama can somehow make pro-choice strides in the fight against unwanted pregnancies, he may be able to put a sock in it (the argument that is) so that we can all focus on living, breathing children who need better schools and health care. It’s all semantics. I mean, seriously, we have spent so much time quibbling about when that clump of cells comes into it’s rights as a human being that we have forgotten to feed, cloth and shelter all of the needy children who are already with us. C’mon people. Enough.
I cannot summon words to describe how I feel about today. It was a beautiful inauguration, with the possible exception of Rick Warren, but I’ll leave that be in the spirit of the moment.
Violet sensed the importance of the day and dressed appropriately. I think her wardrobe makes the best statement about our hopes for the future.
Vigilant. Confident.
Fabulously dressed.
Filed under barack obama
When sorting through the mismatched pile of magnetic poetry you find lurking on top of the refrigerator, you will suddenly remember that your husband gifted you with the Erotic collection. This will necessitate combing through each and every magnet before passing on the irresistibly tiny words to your 3 year old child. After awhile all the words will begin to look / sound suspiciously lurid.
Does MONKEY really mean PENIS?
Why are there so many TICKLE pieces?
Does ROCKET really mean PENIS?
APPARATUS!!??
Does FRIEND really mean PENIS?
I eliminated all of the words that I might find myself unable to define without sweating. So, along with throb and orgasm, I also tossed out God and worship.
*I know you can see the word breast there in the cast off pile. I am not afraid of the word breast, but I could not conceive of any story or poem that Violet might legitimately create that would include the word breast.
Filed under family life, parenting, project 365
Just like fasting can help detoxify the body and jump start a new routine of healthy eating, unplugging can help break a cycle of too much TV. January is a tough time for switching off the flickering box, but I’ve been inspired to do just that.
Play Activities is hosting Operation Playtime, 12 days of unplugged play. Starting January 20th, they will post a play activity everyday. As much as I decry conformity, I really do find that I need a boost of peer pressure to help break a nasty habit. I will gorge myself on the inauguration media frenzy tomorrow and then Wednesday morning we will go cold turkey for 12 days. No media (Okay, not really, I can’t unplug the internet. THAT would be taking things too far).
Won’t you join me?
