Share

So I'm reading the Chicken Soup for the Romantic's Soul. And it got me to wondering what are some of the romantic/sweet things that your partner has done for you? I'm collecting them for my own amusement, so provided you don't mind sharing, Share, share and then I can publish a book and make millions. Well, maybe it will just make me smile on days like I had yesterday. For example, Saturday, after I got off work, I got home to find out that Nick had ordered me my favorite pizza because he thought "I needed pizza." That's just one example of a little thing, but I would love to hear more about some of yours. So, share, share, share!

Today I had a meltdown. Well, not really. Hopefully some of you women and possibly men friends of mine will understand. But due to the stress of trying to remain calm in a situation that wasn't making me FEEL calm, I ended up sobbing. I HATE sobbing. I HATE crying. I don't think it really does much good other than to make you get a headache, red eyes, and make the people around you feel guilty or uncomfortable, usually both. I used to be able to control it. Seriously. I could feel tears coming on and just somehow stop them. I have lost this ability. So I just wanted to rant about how crying seriously sucks. And somehow, the situation feels resolved and also not resolved. I have no idea if this in anyway relates to crying or if it's just me.

I have puny, girly arms

So I did a shoulder workout today. I only used 5 lb. weights. But sadly, just typing this is making my arms turn to jello. I have very puny arms and it saddens me. In an effort to get better sleep and feel more energy and lose five pounds I've started up with my workout videos again. My cats helped me, they really like my resistance band. But it's the strength workout I did that really made me feel out of shape. I decided to lift weights and focus on arms today and I found out that I have girly arms. I want girly, muscly, strong arms so I'm going to have to do something about this. If anyone wants, I've also come up with the idea to send workout videos - like, if Kay, you have a yoga video but want to try a cardio that I have (I only have a few, but I'm hoping to get more) than we could trade for two weeks. Switch it up. Just an idea, let me know girls and guys.

I am in a funny mood today. I think it's just a stressful time right now. Anyway, I still haven't started the Einstein biography and now it's due in two days. It almost feels like homework to read it on a time crunch so I'm going to try and renew it, since I wanted to read it for fun. I finally got one of the books I reserved at the library called Our Mother's War - women during WWII. It's based on interviews and letters, etc. so it should be an interesting read. I'm going to recommend it to my grandma and then see if she can talk to me more about her experiences. I'm also reading the Church and the Second Sex about Christian misogyny. It was originally written in 1968 so I'm hoping to find another, more recent study and compare whether anything has changed, especially in the Catholic Church. Also, I CANNOT seem to make an appointment to get a haircut. I wanted to get something done before Wednesday, but I only trust two people: my sister and this spa/salon I go to because I know they're professional and do a great job based on recommendations. And both are impossible to get to: I have to work and can't make an appointment with Judy and I tried and failed to make an appointment at the salon before Wednesday night. I could chance somewhere else, but I have a gift certificate at the spa. I worked yesterday from 6am to 2pm. I am seriously thinking of quitting my job. Our manager is rather incompetent and also annoying. Plus, she asked me to cut short my Christmas vacation time, even though I requested off for it two and a half months before Christmas! Of course, it's already been approved and I won't actually be in the state so it was merely a request. I told her that it wasn't just MY vacation it was also Nick's and he hasn't seen his family since June I believe. I thought it was a bit ridiculous, especially considering that her vacations and time off days (which always seem to coincide with extremely big sales events or floorsets) are never denied or anything. But I digress into work madness and since I have today off, I'm trying not to stress myself out too much. Applications are still bogging me down. But I'm going to try to clear some of that off today, so YAY! Other than that...not much to talk about.
Things that really piss me off: calling pro-choice people "babykillers" and people not actually being informed of political and social issues but having a definite opinion that is NEVER going to change. Basically, close-minded people who can't see past black and white. I had a customer the other day like that; not with me, just her and a friend talking and she was so ignorant but was also so definite. People annoy me sometimes. USE YOUR BRAINS - that's why we have them, to think things through, become informed, see other peoples' points of view and then make a decision. You wouldn't just make a snap judgement about buying a house or a car, why do people do that regarding politics and such? Urgh!

Crazy Day

I've actually come up with a topic that I like but today I just wanted to vent about my day yesterday. Yesterday I got to work at 8 - rushing, because for some reason my contact lens would NOT GO IN MY EYE! It just kept popping out and laughing at me. I got a flu shot (my arm incidentally still hurts today, rather badly, plus I couldn't eat pizza because I was nauseous). Then, I ran some errands for G and took the minivan instead of the Lexus and therefore could not complete one of my errands. I saved a balloon for L, though and she was ecstatic. I got her to French. I took library books back. I loaded her up in her car seat and got her to the older kids school. And there, on the car, was a flat tire. Like really flat. Like, if I had driven it back to their house with three kids we would have had a blow up and possibly fiery car accident flat! T (the dad) had actually stopped at the school, which is strange, so he gave me his AAA card, we called up Gretchen, she called a tow truck and loaded up the baby in the minivan to come and pick us up. We waited until 4:40 ( the tow truck actually got there at 4:20 or so, but the kids were fascinated by watching them load up the car. Did I mention we were outside watching this and the wind was like -200 degrees and the actual temperature was like, 30? We pick up McDonalds for the kids (they don't get McD's alot at all, so you could see they were hoping that next time we might have something bigger happen) we finish up a few chores at the house. I get home at 6:30. Nick orders pizza - the delivery guy has a flat tire so the pizza is cold when it arrives. Pizza does not stay in my stomach (see flu shot above). I went to bed at 10:30 I believe. Thursday should be a relaxing day, considering it's piano day. Or maybe I'll just live through it and sleep in on Friday.

$41,509

I don't know how many of you use the link I put up to the Emily X blog. But I am proud to report that in 36 days (it's a 40 day campaign) the protesters at the Planned Parenthood Clinic have raised $41,509. Every time they showed up, the pro-choice movement made more money for women, for education, for health, for choice. And I got to hear about some very interesting and supportive people, and if I only had a set schedule at work, or the money to take a day off every week, I would love to volunteer and be a clinic escort. Soon, maybe. Anyway, congratulations to anyone who pledged!!

Families, Books, Adults

I think my family has fallen off the face of the earth. I haven't heard from anyone, except my stepmom for months! And I called HER! It's sad that we're so busy and that family gets pushed to the side; although when you think about it, who else would allow you to not call for months and then be happy to see you anyway. Only family, since they HAVE to love you. So to speak. I checked out the new Einstein biography written by Isaacson - I was wondering if anyone had read it yet? And Patricia Cornwell has a new Kay Scarpetta novel out too, although I haven't broken down and bought it = I'll put it on my Christmas list and hope that people know where my Amazon wishlist is - cause the list of books gets longer and longer! I'm still struggling through applications, and can't wait to get done - except I'm also a bit of a procrastinator so it's probably taking longer than it needs to - especially because I also want it to be perfect so I'll actually be accepted. I have a lot of worries lately, not that I'll detail them here, but for some reason, my brain doesn't want to turn off. It's horrible. I remember thinking that being an adult would be so much fun - when I was a kid. So here's a question? When you were a kid, why did you think (if you did) that being an adult would be more fun than being a kid and what do you miss about being a kid that you can't really do as an adult? Try to be original in presenting it, I'm sure that reasons are along the same page for a lot of people.

My Day Off

I finally had a day off. Between my two jobs, I haven't had a day off in three weeks. Today, I got up at 8:15. That's like totally extra sleep! I went downtown and got a bunch of new books from the library. I got a great coffee at my favorite coffee place and then got to have lunch with my amazing boyfriend at one of my favorite Italian places. I also got rid of almost all of my tension and knots (I get really bad knots in my shoulders and back) from a full-body, 75 minute hot-stone massage (using up some of my gift certificate so it was free!) and went shopping. I got everything I needed and a few things I didn't on sale at Kohl's. It was a great day off and I am so refreshed and ready for tomorrow's workday. Sadly, I didn't get the job I interviewed for; but it was at a bank, and I don't know if they really wanted a historian working there. Anyway, a parallel discussion from Kristi's blog has turned into an interest of mine: religiousness and morality - what makes them different? How do you separate your morality from your religion? What about agnostics and atheists and their morality? What make religion so moral, if it is? And etc. Those are just a few; feel free to meander the discussion along - Kristi, your blog gives me ideas. Thank you.

Stuff AKA I have got to come up with more creative titles!)

Have gotten further into my book. It's about more than pro-choice nuns. It's about their growing realization that the Catholic Church has a rather, ahem, medieval view of women, and that what they wanted to accomplish they could not because of the church patriarchal systems and hierarchy, as well as the church's view of women. It's so interesting and amazing. In further news, I have linked a blog (perhaps some of you have noticed it) called Emily X. It's also amazing. She's a doctor for Planned Parenthood in Aurora, Illinois and she's really defending women's healthcare and right of privacy and choice on this blog. People who are so inclined can pledge a certain amount of money toward Planned Parenthood - BASED on how many protesters there are; so for example, if you pledge a dollar per protester and there are 11 protesters, you just gave $11 to Planned Parenthood. The protesters are making money for Planned Parenthood and women's health - it's fantastic!!!! I love it! Anyway, it's an interesting blog whether you're pro-choice, pro-life, anti-choice, middle-ground, whatever. It brings the issue right out in the open, and that always spurs discussion I think. Or I hope. I also had a job interview, so keep your fingers crossed. I am also stressing about my statement of purpose for the Graduate Programs I want to get into - Nick's is worse though, cause he's getting his PhD and he has to write a research statement! I have to get ready for work now so just to put this out there: Who are you supporting in the Primaries? If anyone. Why? Why don't you like Barack Obama, if you don't? Are you crazy or stupid? :-) Hehehe. Okay, enough with the funnies. Have a good day people!

Short update

Am now reading a book written by two nuns who are prochoice and was asked by the Vatican to shut up about it. I doubt that's exactly what they said...but that's the gist. Ahh, the beauty of actually having free speech! Just started it, but so far, it's very interesting. Also, I had the weirdest dream last night where Kay, Kristi, Sara, and I were all back in high school...seniors, and we were all doing this very funny, strange class play. I'll have to email all of it to you, but it was very funny. Anyway, just wanted to update, even if it's short.

Interesting and Heartening

feminist wire | daily newsbriefs

October 1, 2007
CT Catholic Hospitals to Dispense EC to All Rape Victims

Connecticut Roman Catholic bishops softened their opposition Thursday to a new state law requiring hospitals to dispense emergency contraception (EC) to all rape victims. Previously, the Bishops had refused to allow Catholic hospitals to provide EC without first performing an ovulation test.

"Our efforts had only one goal, to protect the victims of rape," Sen. Jonathan Harris, a Hartford legislator who worked with the church to negotiate a compromise told the Associated Press. "There was no other agenda. It was started to just do that."

The church fought legislation for two years, arguing that it would force Catholic employees at the hospitals to behave immorally, according to the Associated Press. In a recent statement however, the bishops conceded that the use of Plan B cannot be judged as an abortion. "To administer Plan B pills without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act," the statement read.

During the first half of 2006, 40 percent of rape victims treated at Connecticut hospitals either were not offered EC or received an incomplete dose of it, Connecticut Sexual Assault Services Inc. told the AP.

Media Resources: Associated Press 9/27; Catholic Bishops of Connecticut statement 9/27

Read!

It's Banned Books Week. Maybe you've seen information in your library? I hope so. In any case I want to ask all of you to pick up a book, or two, or five, on this list and read it, in order to show support for the First Amendment and right to privacy and to help "ban" intolerance and narrow-mindedness.

I have a huge list and so I'm only going to give some. The first 10 are the "Most Challenged Books of 2006."
1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
2."Gossip Girls" Series by Cecily Von Ziegesar
3."Alice Series" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
4."The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler
5. "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
6."Scary Stories" by Alvin Schwartz
7."Athletic Shorts" by Christ Crutcher
8."The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
9."Beloved" by Toni Morrison
10."The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
These are the top ten challenged authors 1990-2004: Read one of their books if you don't want to read one of the above.
11. Alvin Schwartz
12. Judy Blume
13. Robert Cormier
14. J.K. Rowling
15. Michael Willhoite
16. Katherine Paterson
17. Stephen King
18. Maya Angelou
19. R.L. Stine
20. John Steinbeck

If you want more information go to Google and type in Banned Books or go to www.ala.org - That's the American Library Association's Home Page and they have tons of information and I think links.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Okay, well not dinner. But I am so excited because Barack Obama is going to be at the park across the street from Nick and I's apartment complex! How cool is that? Maybe I'll get to meet him! Get him to sign his book!

It's Thursday!

So, it's Thursday. At 12 today I get to have an hour long body massage, courtesy of my bf Nick, and my birthday. Also, tonight....drum roll...Season Premiere's of both Grey's Anatomy!!!! and The Office!!! It is sad how excited I am, but I have been missing my tv shows. Gilmore Girls is gone, and while The Office can't replace it, I think Thursday nights are going to be like my Tuesdays, merely because of G.A. and The Office. So yay!

Feedback please

So lately I've been weighing a lot of pros and cons. I THINK I have narrowed down two graduate schools as my top two picks and just want some feedback. They're pretty much equal, so now I have to just figure out which one I will choose if I get into both of them. And that's a big IF.
Now, the choices are:
1. University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana
2. University of Washington-Seattle
Would you like a pros/cons list or do you want to just go with your gut instinct? Let me know.

Tired

So my first week back from vacation. I already need another one. Anyone want to send me a thousand dollars to I can fly to the Bahamas or something? Anyway, Nick gave me my birthday present, and just so I can brag AND give an explanation as to why it has become important after I tell you what I did yesterday I will tell you what it was: An hour long massage, a manicure and pedicure, and a body steam treatment. Now, this week has been gearing up, getting busier and busier, and the pinnacle was yesterday.
1. Got up at 6:15. (Must say here that did not get to bed until about 1 because I babysat the night before and didn't get home until late. Then of course, had to shower and wind down). Got dressed and drank appx. 1/2 cup of coffee before rushing out door (not nearly enough, wish I had drank a whole pot.)
2. Arrived at G's house (Nanny-ing) at 7:25. A little early even. Helped her get kids going - luckily, they were already dressed so it was more, keeping kids occupied while she got dressed.
3. Buckled in LIla, Rosie, and Maggie. Drove Maggie 20 minutes to her school across town in Iowa City. Dropped her off. Headed back and drove all the way to North Liberty (20 minutes appx.) Unbuckled toddler and LIla and dropped her off at preschool spending 5 minutes trying to pry her off my leg.
4. Spent morning straightening house and playing with toddler. My most relaxed time of day.
5. Had lunch...then got small grocery list and prescription list. Went to pick up RX and groceries in Coralville. Drove to North Liberty. Picked up Lila. Drove from North Liberty to Iowa City. Dropped Lila off at Piano. Went to school and picked up Maggie. Drove back to piano lesson place. Picked up Lila, leaving Maggie for lesson. Drove back to school and picked up Liam. Drove back to piano lesson place. Dropped Liam off (very reluctant as he doesn't like piano that much). Picked up Maggie and managed to play with them on playground for half hour. Then played for fifteen minutes more with Liam so he'd get playground time in.
6. Drove all three back home. Left.
7. Got home, ate, didn't have any more coffee, stupid stupid! Drove to work at store. Spent two hours opening boxes of freight - supposedly only 50some, but felt like a billion. Also taking flat boxes to cardboard bin outside. ALL the boxes. Went home covered in cardboard pieces and barely able to feel hands. Took shower. Had two strong drinks and watched The Office. Am still tired just typing this down.
Sorry if this bored you, but I'm so proud of myself for doing all of this fairly well.

Another year.

Well, tomorrow I'm another year older. I don't feel much older than say, 23. But I am. Anyway. That's pretty much it. I could be all philosophical and try and remember all the things I've learned this past year and all, but really it can all be summed up with one statement: " Pay Attention!" And that's my own birthday message to me. I finished reading Forever, by Judy Blume because I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Teenagers having sex. That was it. Well, actually, I think that was only some of it. Safe sex, and love, and teenagers were the whole of it. Enough to piss off enough people who "know" how other people should live their lives.

666

I never thought I'd post two things, totally different on the same day...but this just cracked me up. I'm looking for work as a nanny to supplement what I make at the store and save up for several things. Anyway, one of the ads was for a child care provider at Grace Community Church. The rate of pay...... $6.66. Tell me that's not funny.

Victory - Except for Bush

September 7, 2007
Senate Votes to Repeal Global Gag Rule

In a 53-41 vote yesterday, the Senate passed an amendment to the $34 billion fiscal year 2008 foreign aid bill that would overturn the Global Gag Rule. Also called the Mexico City policy, the Global Gag Rule prohibits the US from funding overseas organizations that support abortion in any way -- including direct services, counseling, or lobbying activities -- even if the groups use their own monies for such activity. The amendment, introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would lift the policy, which was originally adopted by President Ronald Reagan, removed by President Bill Clinton, and reinstated by President George W. Bush on his first day in office.

The foreign aid bill itself passed 82-12. The House passed the foreign aid appropriations bill (HR 2764) in June with provisions exempting contraceptives from the global gag rule and repealing the abstinence-only funding restrictions for HIV prevention programs. According to Population Action International, this marks the first time since the Global Gag Rule has been in effect, from 1984-1993 and again since 2001, that both the House and the Senate have passed legislation to repeal or modify its restrictions.

The House and Senate versions of the bill will now move forward to a conference committee to be reconciled and sent to the White House. President Bush, however, has promised to veto any attempt to undermine the current policy, according to the Associated Press.

Media Resources: NARAL Pro-Choice America 9/6/06; Population Action International 9/6/07; Feminist Daily News Wire 6/22/07; Association Press 9/6/07

Stuff

I really like the woman I'm working for - well, the family I'm working for - as a nanny and today just confirmed my feelings. She's a great mom, volunteers at the kids' school, and I just learned today that she worked at Planned Parenthood. How totally awesome is that?! I am just excited.