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Cost of the War in Iraq
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Saturday, May 31, 2003
My weekly alphabet list .... an idea pilfered from my sister Victoria who pilfered it from someone else who borrowed the idea from another page :-)...
A is for APPLES…I have to remember to get some while shopping
B is for BILL – Keith’s friend who visited us over last weekend and updated both our computers
C is for CATS… and hoping we don’t have any more health crisis for awhile
D is for DIET – my new obsession
E is for EATING – something I need to do less of to stick with my DIET (see D)
F is for FAT – something I am losing while EATING less on my DIET
G is for GINGER CAT – who likes to get scratched every and night
H is for HEALTH and HAPPINESS – I’m working on both
I is for INJUSTICE – of which we have too much in this world
J is for JUSTICE – something there is too little of in this world
K is for KEITH – my husband whom I want to keep HEALTHY and HAPPY
L is for LIFE, LIBERTY and the right to still pursue HAPPINESS
M is for MENTAL ILLNESS – I can live with mine J
N is for NO MORE abuse of power
O is for ONIONS – also on the grocery list
P is for PEDOMETER to measure my WALKING – see W
Q is for QUESTIONING the judgment of our current administration
R is for RUNNING towards tomorrow not away from today
S is for SANDS through the hourglass
T is for TIME – there never seems to be enough
U is for UNITY and sisterhood
V is for VICTORY over our miscarriages of JUSTICE
W is for WALKING – something I am doing much more of these days
X is for X-rays and mammogram results from my tests last Thursday
Y is for YESTERDAYS gone so Don’t Stop Thinking about Tomorrow
Z is for ZEPHYR – my husband’s nickname for me
A is for APPLES…I have to remember to get some while shopping
B is for BILL – Keith’s friend who visited us over last weekend and updated both our computers
C is for CATS… and hoping we don’t have any more health crisis for awhile
D is for DIET – my new obsession
E is for EATING – something I need to do less of to stick with my DIET (see D)
F is for FAT – something I am losing while EATING less on my DIET
G is for GINGER CAT – who likes to get scratched every and night
H is for HEALTH and HAPPINESS – I’m working on both
I is for INJUSTICE – of which we have too much in this world
J is for JUSTICE – something there is too little of in this world
K is for KEITH – my husband whom I want to keep HEALTHY and HAPPY
L is for LIFE, LIBERTY and the right to still pursue HAPPINESS
M is for MENTAL ILLNESS – I can live with mine J
N is for NO MORE abuse of power
O is for ONIONS – also on the grocery list
P is for PEDOMETER to measure my WALKING – see W
Q is for QUESTIONING the judgment of our current administration
R is for RUNNING towards tomorrow not away from today
S is for SANDS through the hourglass
T is for TIME – there never seems to be enough
U is for UNITY and sisterhood
V is for VICTORY over our miscarriages of JUSTICE
W is for WALKING – something I am doing much more of these days
X is for X-rays and mammogram results from my tests last Thursday
Y is for YESTERDAYS gone so Don’t Stop Thinking about Tomorrow
Z is for ZEPHYR – my husband’s nickname for me
Friday, May 30, 2003
Good one this week. One that actually makes you think!
1. What do you most want to be remembered for?
For writing the great American novel… since I will probably never get it written, then I would like to be remembered for being a good friend.
2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?
Sing like you don’t need the money,
Love like you’ll never get hurt,
Dance Like nobody’s watching.
3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the past year?
Hmmm….in the past year… I guess I would have to say I am most proud of having helped my husband lose more weight and for helping him see there is still some sunshine in the world.
4. What about the past ten years?
For taking the chance to follow a dream I have had since my early teens and finally open my own music production company. It only lasted three fun filled years, but we did produce a CD, a follow up demo, manage on two others, and do promotional and sales for a number of other musicians. I had the time of my life.
5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say?
Take pride in yourself, your family, your life, and your job regardless of whether you are the owner of a large corporation or the janitor who sweeps up. Everyone has value.
1. What do you most want to be remembered for?
For writing the great American novel… since I will probably never get it written, then I would like to be remembered for being a good friend.
2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?
Sing like you don’t need the money,
Love like you’ll never get hurt,
Dance Like nobody’s watching.
3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the past year?
Hmmm….in the past year… I guess I would have to say I am most proud of having helped my husband lose more weight and for helping him see there is still some sunshine in the world.
4. What about the past ten years?
For taking the chance to follow a dream I have had since my early teens and finally open my own music production company. It only lasted three fun filled years, but we did produce a CD, a follow up demo, manage on two others, and do promotional and sales for a number of other musicians. I had the time of my life.
5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say?
Take pride in yourself, your family, your life, and your job regardless of whether you are the owner of a large corporation or the janitor who sweeps up. Everyone has value.
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Charles Schultz Philosophy
You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read the email straight
through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one, that it is trying to
make!
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and
actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones that care.
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow
in Australia.
----- Charles Schultz
You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read the email straight
through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one, that it is trying to
make!
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and
actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones that care.
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow
in Australia.
----- Charles Schultz
Monday, May 26, 2003
I don't know where this list originated, but my husband sent it to me and I thought it was worth passing on...
Subject: Rules for being a good Republican
1) You have to believe that the nation's 8-year prosperity prior to W's administration was due to the work of Ronald Reagan
and George H. Bush, but that today's growing deficit and rising gas prices are all Clinton's fault.
2) You have to believe that those privileged from birth achieve success all on their own.
3) You have to be against government programs, but expect Social Security checks on time.
4) You have to believe that government should stay out of people's lives,yet you want government to regulate only
opposite-gender marriages and what your official language should be.
5) You have to believe that pollution is ok, so long as it makes a profit.
6) You have to believe in prayer in schools, as long as you don't pray to Allah or Buddha.
7) You have to believe that only your own teenagers are still virgins.
8) You have to believe that a woman cannot be trusted with decisions about her own body, but that large multi-national
corporations should have no regulation or interference whatsoever.
9) You love Jesus and Jesus loves you and, by the way, Jesus shares your hatred of AIDS victims, homosexuals,
and ex-President Clinton.
10) You have to believe that society is color-blind and growing up black in America doesn't diminish your
opportunities, but you still won't vote for Alan Keyes.
11) You have to believe that it was wise to allow Ken Starr to spend $50 million dollars to attack Clinton
because no other U.S. presidents have ever been unfaithful to their wives.
12) You have to believe that a waiting period for purchasing a handgun is bad because quick access
to a new firearm is an important concern for all Americans.
13) You have to believe it is wise to keep condoms out of schools, because we all know if teenagers
don't have condoms they won't have sex.
14) You have to believe that the ACLU is bad because they defend the Constitution, while the NRA
is good because they defend the Constitution.
15) You have to believe that socialism hasn't worked anywhere, and that Europe doesn't exist.
16) You have to believe the AIDS virus is not important enough to deserve federal funding proportionate
to the resulting death rate and that the public doesn't need to be educated about it, because
if we just ignore it, it will go away.
17) You have to believe that biology teachers are corrupting the morals of 6th graders if they teach them
the basics of human sexuality, but the Bible, which is full of sex and violence, is good reading and right
on the mark.
18) You have to believe that Chinese communist missiles have killed more Americans than handguns,
alcohol, and tobacco.
19) You have to believe that even though governments have supported the arts for 5000 years and
that most of the great works of Renaissance art were paid for by governments, our government should
shun any such support. After all, the rich can afford to buy their own art and the poor don't need any.
20) You have to believe that the lumber from the last one percent of old growth U.S. forests is well
worth the destruction of those forests and the extinction of the several species of plants andanimals therein.
21) You had to believe that we should forgive and pray for Newt Gingrich,Henry Hyde, and Bob Livingston for their
marital infidelities, but that bastard Clinton should have been impeached.
Subject: Rules for being a good Republican
1) You have to believe that the nation's 8-year prosperity prior to W's administration was due to the work of Ronald Reagan
and George H. Bush, but that today's growing deficit and rising gas prices are all Clinton's fault.
2) You have to believe that those privileged from birth achieve success all on their own.
3) You have to be against government programs, but expect Social Security checks on time.
4) You have to believe that government should stay out of people's lives,yet you want government to regulate only
opposite-gender marriages and what your official language should be.
5) You have to believe that pollution is ok, so long as it makes a profit.
6) You have to believe in prayer in schools, as long as you don't pray to Allah or Buddha.
7) You have to believe that only your own teenagers are still virgins.
8) You have to believe that a woman cannot be trusted with decisions about her own body, but that large multi-national
corporations should have no regulation or interference whatsoever.
9) You love Jesus and Jesus loves you and, by the way, Jesus shares your hatred of AIDS victims, homosexuals,
and ex-President Clinton.
10) You have to believe that society is color-blind and growing up black in America doesn't diminish your
opportunities, but you still won't vote for Alan Keyes.
11) You have to believe that it was wise to allow Ken Starr to spend $50 million dollars to attack Clinton
because no other U.S. presidents have ever been unfaithful to their wives.
12) You have to believe that a waiting period for purchasing a handgun is bad because quick access
to a new firearm is an important concern for all Americans.
13) You have to believe it is wise to keep condoms out of schools, because we all know if teenagers
don't have condoms they won't have sex.
14) You have to believe that the ACLU is bad because they defend the Constitution, while the NRA
is good because they defend the Constitution.
15) You have to believe that socialism hasn't worked anywhere, and that Europe doesn't exist.
16) You have to believe the AIDS virus is not important enough to deserve federal funding proportionate
to the resulting death rate and that the public doesn't need to be educated about it, because
if we just ignore it, it will go away.
17) You have to believe that biology teachers are corrupting the morals of 6th graders if they teach them
the basics of human sexuality, but the Bible, which is full of sex and violence, is good reading and right
on the mark.
18) You have to believe that Chinese communist missiles have killed more Americans than handguns,
alcohol, and tobacco.
19) You have to believe that even though governments have supported the arts for 5000 years and
that most of the great works of Renaissance art were paid for by governments, our government should
shun any such support. After all, the rich can afford to buy their own art and the poor don't need any.
20) You have to believe that the lumber from the last one percent of old growth U.S. forests is well
worth the destruction of those forests and the extinction of the several species of plants andanimals therein.
21) You had to believe that we should forgive and pray for Newt Gingrich,Henry Hyde, and Bob Livingston for their
marital infidelities, but that bastard Clinton should have been impeached.
Thursday, May 22, 2003
When was the first time you surprised, shocked, awed, or in some way made your parents look at you differently?
I was sitting in my bubble bath tonight, sipping on a glass of wine and thinking about poetry. Probably because of the last blog I wrote. Then a memory surfaced. I was 15 and had a reputation for being a bit boy crazy. I had to write a poem for English class and my parents knew I had been working on mine and I am quite sure they thought it would be a sappy love poem or somehow involving boys.
When I finished my father challenged me to read it to him and my mother. I could tell by the tone of his voice they were ready to ridicule me for my poem. So, I read…
The wind is a beauty unseen,
Invisible to the human eye,
For our sight is not so keen,
To watch it as it goes by.
It rocks the birds to sleep each night,
As it whispers through the trees,
Singing sweet lullabies,
In it’s soft and soothing breeze.
I can’t remember all of it, but I do remember how quiet my parents were as I read. When I stopped I looked up and the looks on their faces told me this is not what they had expected. That they had seen a different side of me they had not seen before and their preconceived notions of who I was had been shattered in that brief moment. Their airhead, boy crazy daughter, actually thought deeper than they knew she could. All my father said, with a surprise tone in his voice, was “that was good” and my mother just said “yes, it was.” They both turned and walked into the living room and I stood smiling at their backs somehow feeling victorious in making them see a different me and making them understand that yes, I liked boys, but there was a whole lot more to me than just that.
So, I was wondering if anyone else remembered the first time they made their parents see them differently.
I was sitting in my bubble bath tonight, sipping on a glass of wine and thinking about poetry. Probably because of the last blog I wrote. Then a memory surfaced. I was 15 and had a reputation for being a bit boy crazy. I had to write a poem for English class and my parents knew I had been working on mine and I am quite sure they thought it would be a sappy love poem or somehow involving boys.
When I finished my father challenged me to read it to him and my mother. I could tell by the tone of his voice they were ready to ridicule me for my poem. So, I read…
The wind is a beauty unseen,
Invisible to the human eye,
For our sight is not so keen,
To watch it as it goes by.
It rocks the birds to sleep each night,
As it whispers through the trees,
Singing sweet lullabies,
In it’s soft and soothing breeze.
I can’t remember all of it, but I do remember how quiet my parents were as I read. When I stopped I looked up and the looks on their faces told me this is not what they had expected. That they had seen a different side of me they had not seen before and their preconceived notions of who I was had been shattered in that brief moment. Their airhead, boy crazy daughter, actually thought deeper than they knew she could. All my father said, with a surprise tone in his voice, was “that was good” and my mother just said “yes, it was.” They both turned and walked into the living room and I stood smiling at their backs somehow feeling victorious in making them see a different me and making them understand that yes, I liked boys, but there was a whole lot more to me than just that.
So, I was wondering if anyone else remembered the first time they made their parents see them differently.
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
From We Have Brains we are challenged to answer the question are we who we are by nature or by nurture? To read the entire question you can link to their blog. But here is my response.
Recently AOL put out a poll asking if Annika Sorenstam deserves to compete in the Colonial PGA tournament. It is a moot point now as she is competing, but it was the nature of the questions that bothered me… you were given choices between
Yes, women are just as good as men (an ambiguous question if there ever was one)
No, women should not compete with men
I’m not sure. ( I always like seeing this response...i mean why even bother responding if you're not sure :-))
And here is where my point begins. Biology, or nature, determines our sex, but having a penis or vagina does not determine who we will be. It is through nurturing by parents, friends, and social acceptance that we develop and grow. Male and female start out equal physically, mentally and emotionally.
It could be argued ALL Men are not created equal. The question regarding Annika could also have read should a 5’4” 120 lb. man be allowed to compete alongside men who are 6’ and 220 lbs.?
It could also be argued that men (given equal weight and height) are physically stronger than women. But this concept is nurtured through childhood development and not always a true statement. A 115 lb. female body builder is stronger than a 115 lb. man who is not a body builder. And probably stronger than a lot of men who outweigh her. We are looking at antiquated concepts if we still believe all men are physically stronger than all women. By the time we reach junior high boys are encouraged to join sports, excel in math and sciences, take shop, etc.
Are men and women different intellectually by nature? Now, I can only speak from my generation, but when I was in school when it came to math and science girls were seated in the back of the room and basically ignored. They are nurtured to not be too intelligent and not “show up” the boys or they won’t have dates. They won’t be popular. Girls are encouraged to learn how to attract a boy. By nature girls can learn just as quickly as boys, but by nature we still put girls in the “don’t bother your pretty little head with details” category. Girls were encouraged to excel in English, writing, the arts, while boys were again looked upon as sissies if they even admitted to liking poetry and were not expected to be able to spell as well as the girls. While the boys were making the grade on the sports field or in the math classes the girls were winning the spelling bees and poetry contests. A separation encouraged and nurtured by the educational system.
We are taught that women mature emotionally quicker than boys, but let’s look at this. Boys are taught not to cry or they will be called a sissy. Girls are taught it’s okay to cry because women should be weak and vulnerable. By nature it is natural to cry when sad or hurt or just plain upset. But by ‘nurture’ crying is associated with weakness and we all know boys must be strong.
The question was also broached regarding sexual preference. Is this determined by nature at birth? If we look at the number of gay people who get married to hide their gayness, I would have to say we are born with our sexual preference instilled. We cannot change it and to try to change it only ads confusion to your life. Since it is a crime in most religions to have same sex relationships many gay people try to pretend they are not gay. They are nurtured, by parents who don’t want friends and relatives to find out, to believe their gayness is wrong and they are wrong to feel this way. Even now with more openness regarding gays I still believe many feel they will be chastised for going against ‘nature’ so pretend they are something they are not…straight.
To sum up my response it is my feeling boys and girls start off equal, but are nurtured to be different. That gays are born gay by nature, but are nurtured to hide their gayness for fear of discrimination.
Recently AOL put out a poll asking if Annika Sorenstam deserves to compete in the Colonial PGA tournament. It is a moot point now as she is competing, but it was the nature of the questions that bothered me… you were given choices between
Yes, women are just as good as men (an ambiguous question if there ever was one)
No, women should not compete with men
I’m not sure. ( I always like seeing this response...i mean why even bother responding if you're not sure :-))
And here is where my point begins. Biology, or nature, determines our sex, but having a penis or vagina does not determine who we will be. It is through nurturing by parents, friends, and social acceptance that we develop and grow. Male and female start out equal physically, mentally and emotionally.
It could be argued ALL Men are not created equal. The question regarding Annika could also have read should a 5’4” 120 lb. man be allowed to compete alongside men who are 6’ and 220 lbs.?
It could also be argued that men (given equal weight and height) are physically stronger than women. But this concept is nurtured through childhood development and not always a true statement. A 115 lb. female body builder is stronger than a 115 lb. man who is not a body builder. And probably stronger than a lot of men who outweigh her. We are looking at antiquated concepts if we still believe all men are physically stronger than all women. By the time we reach junior high boys are encouraged to join sports, excel in math and sciences, take shop, etc.
Are men and women different intellectually by nature? Now, I can only speak from my generation, but when I was in school when it came to math and science girls were seated in the back of the room and basically ignored. They are nurtured to not be too intelligent and not “show up” the boys or they won’t have dates. They won’t be popular. Girls are encouraged to learn how to attract a boy. By nature girls can learn just as quickly as boys, but by nature we still put girls in the “don’t bother your pretty little head with details” category. Girls were encouraged to excel in English, writing, the arts, while boys were again looked upon as sissies if they even admitted to liking poetry and were not expected to be able to spell as well as the girls. While the boys were making the grade on the sports field or in the math classes the girls were winning the spelling bees and poetry contests. A separation encouraged and nurtured by the educational system.
We are taught that women mature emotionally quicker than boys, but let’s look at this. Boys are taught not to cry or they will be called a sissy. Girls are taught it’s okay to cry because women should be weak and vulnerable. By nature it is natural to cry when sad or hurt or just plain upset. But by ‘nurture’ crying is associated with weakness and we all know boys must be strong.
The question was also broached regarding sexual preference. Is this determined by nature at birth? If we look at the number of gay people who get married to hide their gayness, I would have to say we are born with our sexual preference instilled. We cannot change it and to try to change it only ads confusion to your life. Since it is a crime in most religions to have same sex relationships many gay people try to pretend they are not gay. They are nurtured, by parents who don’t want friends and relatives to find out, to believe their gayness is wrong and they are wrong to feel this way. Even now with more openness regarding gays I still believe many feel they will be chastised for going against ‘nature’ so pretend they are something they are not…straight.
To sum up my response it is my feeling boys and girls start off equal, but are nurtured to be different. That gays are born gay by nature, but are nurtured to hide their gayness for fear of discrimination.
Monday, May 19, 2003
What did you do on your summer vacation? Remember that question when starting a new semester in school? Well, my husband gets a two week break from teaching between regular session and summer session. So, I thought I would list what we have done and are doing for our vacation :-). This mornings blog pretty much covered last week, except for the visit to the vet with another of our cats, Heidi, who had stopped eating and was hiding under the bed. Turned out she had some liver issues and is on antibiotics now and doing much better. Tomorrow I get to go in early to get some routine blood work done, then from there go to the eye doctor for an eye exam and then go get new glasses. Wednesday, Keith has a 2:30 eye appt. and at 4 PM he gets his protime checked. Thursday at 3:00 I get to go have that wonderful mammogram all of us women look forward to :-)... sometime in between there we have to rescue Mr. Fuzz from the vets. Hey, it looks like Friday is open!! Maybe we can squeeze one more doctor in there :-). So, how did you spend your summer vacation?
What a morning!! Well, actually this mornings activities started last Tuesday night. We have an asthmatic cat. Tuesday night he had an extremely bad attack. Calling the vet for 24 hour emergency service we learned that is no longer available. Our vet was the one who did most of that and she had recent back surgery so could no longer handle the emergency calls. Now, she is open Saturdays and no other vets are and she takes their emergency clients during her Saturday hours. But, because she no longer does it 24 hours a day they refuse to take her emergency patients at all. So, we called the emergency clinic in Columbia. Almost and hour and half away. Thank goodness we have a great neighbor who not only knew where the clinic is located, but went with me to help me find it. We got Mr. Fuzz stablized and finally got home around 4:30 A.M. Wednesday. He did fine Wed. but on Thursday we had to take him back to our vet. Friday was a good day. Saturday looked to be good until the evening when he started with his breathing again. Nothing seemed to help, but he didn't get real bad. Sunday he had attacks off and on and was still going at it when we got up this morning. Another trip to the vets was called for so I got things ready and as I went to get him, usually a very cooperative cat he decided to hide under the bed. Far enough under where I couldn't reach him. Finally it meant moving boxes out from under the bed and using a broom to push him out the other side. Mission accomplished. Cat in carrier. Overnight bag packed just in case. Off to the vets. She is keeping him for observation and is going to add an anti-anxiety medication for him so he will be calm when he does come home. We will call tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. to see how he is doing and if he can come home. If not we will go visit him. They did get a chuckle out of the overnight bag. All his favorite foods, a favorite mat to lay on, my nightshirt so he will still have my scent, etc. I wonder why they call our cats the Johnson children :-).
Saturday, May 17, 2003
My husband was on the phone with a friend of his today. During the conversation they were speaking of another friend of both of
theirs. Apparently this friend, who plays the stock market and has a great deal of money socked away, refuses to spend even a penny of it on anything he considers nonessential. There is no spending just to do something for fun or to buy something just because he or his wife might want it. He has taken frugalness to the limit. My question is this? Have we gotten so money hungry in this country we have forgotten how to have fun and that we truly can't take it with us? Is it a he who dies with the most marbles wins mentality or are there more people like my husband and myself out there who believe we work hard for our money and yes, we should save in case of emergency, but also money should be used to enjoy life a little. All comments are welcome.
theirs. Apparently this friend, who plays the stock market and has a great deal of money socked away, refuses to spend even a penny of it on anything he considers nonessential. There is no spending just to do something for fun or to buy something just because he or his wife might want it. He has taken frugalness to the limit. My question is this? Have we gotten so money hungry in this country we have forgotten how to have fun and that we truly can't take it with us? Is it a he who dies with the most marbles wins mentality or are there more people like my husband and myself out there who believe we work hard for our money and yes, we should save in case of emergency, but also money should be used to enjoy life a little. All comments are welcome.
Wow!! My sister is a genius. I couldn't get my comments up or my archives to work so sought out the help of little sister, Victoria, and voila! I have comments! I have archives! I even have links!!! I'm so excited I have sent out invitations to everyone I know to check me out here. Now to see if anyone cares enough to visit and leave some feedback :-). Back to real posting tomorrow, but for now I am so excited over having a real blogger page. Hope to see some feedback soon.
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
More on Marianismo or women sacrificing their lives for children.... another blogger has stated there is no debate on this subject. I beg to differ! She now states as "Quite simply put, until men can give birth, it will be the woman’s decision to have children. She is the one to make the final choice and sacrifice. She is the one that will gain weight, vomit, go through major hormone changes etc. For nine months her body will be the sole support for a new life, totally dependent upon her. Everything she does, eats, drinks will have an effect on that life. During that nine month period a bond of total dependency forms between a mother and child. If a mother chooses to breastfeed, the child is still dependent upon the mother’s body total nourishment. This is a bond men simply can not comprehend because they don’t live it. That’s not to say men don’t form a bond, they do, but it’s not quite the same bond.
There is more to her post but I am going to deal with this part for the here and now. Is there a different bonding between mother and child and father and child. Of course, but does it make the father's bonding any less significant? No. Yes, women go through all the biological changes and are the ones to give birth. That is a fact of nature. I almost get the impression from the post the woman who posted feels it was men who decided women would be the ones to go through the birth process. No, she didn't state that, it was just a feeling I got. I also have the feeling she has never given birth and shared that experience with a male partner, be it a husband or a boyfriend. As I stated before I have not raised children, but I did go through the birth process and because I had a choice I chose to put my daughter up for adoption. More on choices later, but for now, I just want to clear up that gaining weight, the hormone changes, having the child growing inside you depending on you and even the vomiting :-) is not a sacrifice. Until you have carried that child inside you you will never know the pure joy you feel. I do feel it is too bad men cannot experience this as in all my life and all the thrills and excitement and adventures I have experienced none have come close to the experience of carrying that child inside me and ultimately giving birth. Even knowing I would not be raising her I have to say that was the greatest experience of my life. Love is not sacrifice.
And if you believe her statement men do not form the same strong bonds with children as women do please read Karl's post Being In Love
There is more to her post but I am going to deal with this part for the here and now. Is there a different bonding between mother and child and father and child. Of course, but does it make the father's bonding any less significant? No. Yes, women go through all the biological changes and are the ones to give birth. That is a fact of nature. I almost get the impression from the post the woman who posted feels it was men who decided women would be the ones to go through the birth process. No, she didn't state that, it was just a feeling I got. I also have the feeling she has never given birth and shared that experience with a male partner, be it a husband or a boyfriend. As I stated before I have not raised children, but I did go through the birth process and because I had a choice I chose to put my daughter up for adoption. More on choices later, but for now, I just want to clear up that gaining weight, the hormone changes, having the child growing inside you depending on you and even the vomiting :-) is not a sacrifice. Until you have carried that child inside you you will never know the pure joy you feel. I do feel it is too bad men cannot experience this as in all my life and all the thrills and excitement and adventures I have experienced none have come close to the experience of carrying that child inside me and ultimately giving birth. Even knowing I would not be raising her I have to say that was the greatest experience of my life. Love is not sacrifice.
And if you believe her statement men do not form the same strong bonds with children as women do please read Karl's post Being In Love
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
My score was 15
Quiz: Are you too vain?
Margot Carmichael Lester, Match.com
Can you walk by a mirror without checking yourself out? Do you seize every available opportunity to make sure there's not a single hair out of place?
Caring about your appearance is admirable, but there is such a thing as carrying it too far. Take this quiz to calculate your vanity quotient.
1. If you had a vanity plate on your ride, it would read:
• 2HOT4U (Score = 1)
• AS IF (Score = 2)
• GR8CATCH (Score = 3)
• JUST4YOU (Score = 4)
• DREAMON (Score = -1)
2. When you get a little full of yourself, your friends call you this nickname:
• I'm too cool for nicknames (Score = 1)
• Vainy Vainerberg (Score = 2)
• Mr. Big or Miss Thang (Score = 3)
• I don't get full of myself. (Score = 4)
• I don't really have any friends (Score = -1)
3. You're invited to a last-minute come-as-you-are party. You:
• Placate the host by saying you'll show, but have no intention of doing so. (Score = 1)
• Streamline your beauty routine and arrive fashionably late. (Score = 2)
• Decline. You simply don't have enough time to get ready. (Score = 3)
• Jot down the coordinates and head out as you are. (Score = 4)
• Know that even on your least-prepared day, you're way more attractive than everyone else. (Score = -1)
4. Which TV show's title best describes your self-image:
• Absolutely Fabulous (Score = 1)
• Will & Grace (Score = 2)
• Survivor (Score = 3)
• Law & Order (Score = 4)
• American Idol (Score = -1)
5. Your motto is:
• Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. (Score = 1)
• I look marvelous. (Score = 2)
• You have to take the good with the bad. (Score = 3)
• I'm terrific just the way I am. (Score = 4)
• I never met a mirror I didn't like. (Score = -1)
Scorecard
Less than 0:
Your ego is huge. If you don't bring it down a notch, you're going to get knocked off your high horse.
0-5:
"You're So Vain" really WAS written about you.
6-10:
You hold yourself in pretty high regard, but others may find it a turn-off.
11-15:
You've got a little attitude, but it's easily managed.
6-20:
You've got the right mix of humility and confidence. And that is VERY sexy.
Got just the right amount of confidence? Now's the time to search for singles near you.
Quiz: Are you too vain?
Margot Carmichael Lester, Match.com
Can you walk by a mirror without checking yourself out? Do you seize every available opportunity to make sure there's not a single hair out of place?
Caring about your appearance is admirable, but there is such a thing as carrying it too far. Take this quiz to calculate your vanity quotient.
1. If you had a vanity plate on your ride, it would read:
• 2HOT4U (Score = 1)
• AS IF (Score = 2)
• GR8CATCH (Score = 3)
• JUST4YOU (Score = 4)
• DREAMON (Score = -1)
2. When you get a little full of yourself, your friends call you this nickname:
• I'm too cool for nicknames (Score = 1)
• Vainy Vainerberg (Score = 2)
• Mr. Big or Miss Thang (Score = 3)
• I don't get full of myself. (Score = 4)
• I don't really have any friends (Score = -1)
3. You're invited to a last-minute come-as-you-are party. You:
• Placate the host by saying you'll show, but have no intention of doing so. (Score = 1)
• Streamline your beauty routine and arrive fashionably late. (Score = 2)
• Decline. You simply don't have enough time to get ready. (Score = 3)
• Jot down the coordinates and head out as you are. (Score = 4)
• Know that even on your least-prepared day, you're way more attractive than everyone else. (Score = -1)
4. Which TV show's title best describes your self-image:
• Absolutely Fabulous (Score = 1)
• Will & Grace (Score = 2)
• Survivor (Score = 3)
• Law & Order (Score = 4)
• American Idol (Score = -1)
5. Your motto is:
• Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. (Score = 1)
• I look marvelous. (Score = 2)
• You have to take the good with the bad. (Score = 3)
• I'm terrific just the way I am. (Score = 4)
• I never met a mirror I didn't like. (Score = -1)
Scorecard
Less than 0:
Your ego is huge. If you don't bring it down a notch, you're going to get knocked off your high horse.
0-5:
"You're So Vain" really WAS written about you.
6-10:
You hold yourself in pretty high regard, but others may find it a turn-off.
11-15:
You've got a little attitude, but it's easily managed.
6-20:
You've got the right mix of humility and confidence. And that is VERY sexy.
Got just the right amount of confidence? Now's the time to search for singles near you.
Recently We Have Brains posted a question on women and sacrificing their careers to raise children. Stating that women are expected to be selfless in love, devoted to their families and always postpone their own goals in favor of family members. The following questions were asked and I am going to try to reply from the point of view of a woman who does not have children. I want to preface my remarks by stating generally I find myself agreeing with the posts on this page.
What is it in our global culture that has the majority of women convinced that sacrifice and selflessness signify a morally sound woman?
First I have problems with the wording. Since when is raising children, one of the most precious gifts we can give the world, a sacrifice? I have always admired mothers as they have the hardest job in the world. Yes, it should be and today as more and more men are seeing they need to be more a part of their children's lives, it is more of a joint effort. There are even Mr. Mom households in todays society, where the mother works and the husband stays home to raise the children. The point is, someone has to raise the children. I see the results of some households where both parents put their careers before the children and then wonder why the children have no values, principles and no respect for them or people in general. Speaking from my own experiences only I have seen many families where there is cooperation between the parents in raising the children. It is not always the mother who takes off work to care for a sick child. It is divided between the two. Or the one who would lose the least in pay (and this is not always the woman these days) would stay home.
What do you think of the assumption that females, if mentally stable, are all willing to not only play the role of mother, but give up their own lives to do so, while men are never questioned about why they did not put their careers on hold around age 30 to start a family? I am sure exceptions to the rule exist, but what is important here is that these assumptions and expectations are the rule. ...
Again I have problems with the words PLAY the role of mother. We play when we are children, we play parts in theater productions, we play musical instruments and even have role play in therapy, but we do not PLAY the part of mother or father for that matter. This is for real and to state a woman sacrifices her life to play at being a mother belittles the role of motherhood. Are all mothers and fathers perfect? Of course not, but to put down all women who choose to raise their children in that one sentence just totally floored me.
What I am asking is a loaded question: What is wrong when in a society, instead of encouraging cooperative childrearing, competition is promoted among moms to see who can, in the spirit of Marianismo, sacrifice the most? How do we change this narrowminded thinking?
This is not such a loaded question, but a legitimate one. Does society encourage women to be the main parent? Probably. Can a man raise a child as well as a woman? I am sure they can given the chance. I have many friends with children and I have yet to see this who can sacrifice the most syndrome. I would have to agree women probably do contribute more to the childcare and raising than the man, but are we letting the men in or are we making them feel somewhat inadequate when they do try? After all this has been a woman's private club for years and years and we are only recenly opening it up to male members.
I will add more later, but wanted to post something in response as I felt while it had a good point it got lost in the wording.
What is it in our global culture that has the majority of women convinced that sacrifice and selflessness signify a morally sound woman?
First I have problems with the wording. Since when is raising children, one of the most precious gifts we can give the world, a sacrifice? I have always admired mothers as they have the hardest job in the world. Yes, it should be and today as more and more men are seeing they need to be more a part of their children's lives, it is more of a joint effort. There are even Mr. Mom households in todays society, where the mother works and the husband stays home to raise the children. The point is, someone has to raise the children. I see the results of some households where both parents put their careers before the children and then wonder why the children have no values, principles and no respect for them or people in general. Speaking from my own experiences only I have seen many families where there is cooperation between the parents in raising the children. It is not always the mother who takes off work to care for a sick child. It is divided between the two. Or the one who would lose the least in pay (and this is not always the woman these days) would stay home.
What do you think of the assumption that females, if mentally stable, are all willing to not only play the role of mother, but give up their own lives to do so, while men are never questioned about why they did not put their careers on hold around age 30 to start a family? I am sure exceptions to the rule exist, but what is important here is that these assumptions and expectations are the rule. ...
Again I have problems with the words PLAY the role of mother. We play when we are children, we play parts in theater productions, we play musical instruments and even have role play in therapy, but we do not PLAY the part of mother or father for that matter. This is for real and to state a woman sacrifices her life to play at being a mother belittles the role of motherhood. Are all mothers and fathers perfect? Of course not, but to put down all women who choose to raise their children in that one sentence just totally floored me.
What I am asking is a loaded question: What is wrong when in a society, instead of encouraging cooperative childrearing, competition is promoted among moms to see who can, in the spirit of Marianismo, sacrifice the most? How do we change this narrowminded thinking?
This is not such a loaded question, but a legitimate one. Does society encourage women to be the main parent? Probably. Can a man raise a child as well as a woman? I am sure they can given the chance. I have many friends with children and I have yet to see this who can sacrifice the most syndrome. I would have to agree women probably do contribute more to the childcare and raising than the man, but are we letting the men in or are we making them feel somewhat inadequate when they do try? After all this has been a woman's private club for years and years and we are only recenly opening it up to male members.
I will add more later, but wanted to post something in response as I felt while it had a good point it got lost in the wording.
Thursday, May 08, 2003
I have been reminded I should update my blog more often. The problem is I look at my sister (Victoria's) blog, her husband (Karl's) blog and I feel my little blog is just an effort in futility. Perhaps I will try it again :-). But not tonight...tonight I am brain dead... manana she is good enough for me :-). Also, not being a computer person I am frustrated trying to archive my posts. I gave up for awhile, but if anyone can help me, please do!!! I have tried to do follow what is posted in the directions but I get no results or strange results. what to do! what to do!!! :-) Also, in changing my format I see all my response links have disappeared. Victoria!! help!! how do I get them back again?