Geeky Girl 101

AP Bodily Fluids & Waste

2013-02-26T05:30:00.002-08:00

I enjoyed a temporary moment of satisfaction as I stood back and admired the afternoon's work I had just put into my room. Desk finally cleaned off, paperwork filed, clean sheets on the bed, furniture dusted, and the carpet vacuumed, my bedroom finally felt clean...that was when I heard the dreaded noise. A heave, a hack, a hack, a heave; the cat was about to throw up a hair ball. And, she did. This one not a tightly compacted clump, but rather the vomit that comes right after a large meal with plenty of water and bits of unc-hewed food and orange, rug staining orange. As if that wasn't bad enough, the cat was perched up on my desk, enjoying its cleanness also, and she hacked her stomach's contents over the edge of the desk. Now, between the vomit and the carpet was file folders, so the orange chunky soupy stuff was able to cover the file boxes, trickle down in between cracks and crevices and THEN onto the carpet. I believe I may have groaned or grunted aloud and turned to go get the clean up tub, it was at this moment I had a thought: I have been cleaning up the bodily fluids of other people and animals for at least 25 years now, someone really should have implemented a 'what it means to really be a parent' into the high school curriculum, and one of the classes should be Intro to Bodily Fluids & Waste.

The ideal class room would be the same rooms that used for science classes so that a full, hands on training can occur. Every day, the young people would come into their class and spend 70 minutes handling some type of vomit or feces, like one lab could be 'the toilet bowl' where the kids would have to march down to the toilets and (I suppose the feds would force up to let them use gloves) have them put their hands down into the water and scrub off and wipe up the leftover feces, urine, and pubic hair that has been left there for a week by someone else. There would be 'dog day' at least once a week. The kids could go into the park and clean up dog poo. There would be a diarrhea day, a 'kid drank chocolate milk then got unbelievable car sick' day where the final lesson would be that you can never TRULY get that smell out of your car.

The more I thought about it, the better the idea sounded. I started running through all the momentous 'cleaning up someone else's sick or someone or something else's bodily waste' moments in my life, and damn there is a lot of them. Now that I own a cat, a dog, and two teenagers, girl and boy, part of my responsibility as a parent and head of household is to clean up the 'messes'. Yesterday, kitty puked her lovely green stuff on my reading pyramid pillow, and this morning, as I sat enjoying my coffee and the episode of 'Death Masks', puppy hacked up his morning green chewie, all over me, my throw and lumbar pillow. After it happened, I looked around me for a tissue or napkin, because I could not even get up without knocking the green goo all over the floor, alas there was nothing, so I took a deep breath and went to into the steely mental mode I knew would be needed as I picked up the warm , green, chunky , gooey vomit and put it in the palm of my other hand. That deed done, I there the throw and pillow case in the washer and decided that from now on, every time I have to clean up the vomit or other bodily waste of a member of my immediate household, I would blog it. And if this helps even one person understand the REAL commitment that comes with raising a family, then I feel the effort is worth it.

I believe that one thing that is lost on today's younger generation is the tangible reality that comes with surviving in the real world. Reality is NOT the consequence free lifestyle enjoyed by the Kardashians and their lot, but instead can be found in the day to day bodily waste that you are responsible for. .

All the single ladies

2012-10-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

The following is the thesis statement that I hope will eventually help me obtain my Master's Degree. For all you single moms, this is dedicated to the sacrifices that you make every day.

The modern welfare system can trace its roots to the Elizabethan Poor Laws; however, as much as it has evolved and/or changed over the last five hundred years, today’s social welfare programs have taken on the same patriarchal overtones that continue to dictate policy in the United States. In early colonial America, poverty was not an indication of flaws in the character of the needy or society, but by the 19^th century, the idea of benevolent relief for the less fortunate had evolved into a common belief that being poor not only was an indication of a defect in character it had also become an imposition to the wealthy. Researching the welfare laws through the next two hundred years indicated a trend that this notion has become the heart of how the welfare system is set up today and further demonstrates that these laws have simultaneously ensured that the class system remains intact. As the number of female headed households has increased, the welfare system has not been modified in a way that reflects what is most beneficial to this particular family structure, but instead has been altered to such an extent that it almost ensures single mothers remain in poverty. There remains a popular public notion that today’s relief system is nothing more than an overly generous handout to the lazy which in turn has only exacerbated the stigma that is attached to single motherhood. In the last fifty years, the percentage of female headed households has almost doubled, yet the higher frequency has not lent to ease the shame that is attached to single moms any more than public assistance has improved the probability that these women will rise above the poverty level. The public assumption that welfare is a handout attests to the fact that the general public is ignorant of the ‘feminization of poverty’ and how living this way forces single mothers to live in unhealthy states of anxiety, often having to choose between obligation to their child’s needs and keeping the electricity on or a roof over their head. This paper will explore the evolution of the United States of America’s social welfare policy while highlighting how it has contributed to the economic and social discrimination of single mothers with a non-widow status.

Happy News is Swinging Through

2012-10-02T18:01:00.001-07:00

I know that there are others who were not as pleased as I was with The Amazing Spiderman, but I am happy to repost this article...

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-andrew-garfield-spider-man-sequel-20120928,0,3044828.story

I Can't Make Bricks Without Clay

2012-09-28T20:59:00.004-07:00

I was not even going to do it, I swear. My schedule is full, I am supposed to be devoting the rest of my waking hours to homework, but like a moth to the flame, I was lured in by my enduring affection for Johnny Lee Miller and my life-long devotion to one Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Weeks ago, I perused the upcoming Fall TV series, picking and choosing which shows I couldn't wait to return, the ones that I was definitely going to preview, created a short 'maybe if I have time I'll give it an auditio' (i.e. Revolution) list. When I read the review for CBS's new show Elementary starring Lucy Liu and Johnny Lee Miller, it the hit my very long NO list. My reasoning, it just did not seem like now was a really good time to introduce another interpretation of Sherlock. I would have to say that even in our culture of excess, the Sherlock market seems a bit saturated right now. There is the Downing/Law duo of the big screen, BBC's excellent Cumberbatch/Freeman combo that has been, in my opinion, as close to perfect as a show can come in.

But sometimes the Universe just offers pleasant little surprises, and who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

So there it was, ten o'clock, we have just finished watching Glee and the kids are off to bed and I am soon to follow. But, first I have to do the nightly before bed chores. I hear a distressing noise, realise that Fox News has started, so I ran for that remote like I was on fire and it was a bucket of water. I grabbed it, randomly hit the first channel button, which happened to be the channel down, and there it was, the new Sherlock Holmes show. A murder is taking place (I'm folding laundry), Lucy Liu is running through Central Park, (I'm blowing out candles), then she is on the phone discussing someone who left rehab early, but that she was now at the house of said someone...enter Mr. Johnny Lee Miller. She enters his brownstone and proceeds to introduce herself as the employee of Holmes' father whom he has hired to be the recently released from rehab Sherlock's sober companion for the next six weeks. 8 TV's are playing at once, Sherlock pauses them, turns to Liu and....Hallelujah, he gets to keep his original English accent for this role, which in my opinion gives his character a certain authenticity. And he really has no trouble introducing himself even on an intimate level.

Holmes finds sex repellent, all those fluids, all that noise, but he feeds his body's needs as required, but don't get too comfortable because you won't be here long. The two head of to a crime scene, taking the 'tube', where Holmes informs his new addict sitter that "prior to [his] stint in junkie jail, [he] worked as a consultant for Scotland Yard," and part of his post rehab plan is to assume his investigative consulting role in New York. At the scene of a murder, we meet the police investigator, Captain Greggs (so good to see Aidan Quinn), where we see Holmes' famous observation skills at work. Introducing Watson as his valet, or helper helper monkey, Liu is quiet as she observes Holmes at the scene. If you had the same doubts as I did about changing Watson's character to a female, I can assure you that you will be more than pleasantly surprised at the Dynamic Chemistry (in a non-sexual way) between the two. Joan Watson is quiet, observant, tough, and intelligent; she is not intimidated by Sherlock and has no trouble calling him out on his insensitive behavior as well as his bullshit. Miller in this role entertains and enraptures me in the same way that Matt Smith's interpretation of Dr.Who does. Quirky, fast talking, incredibly intelligent, and most importantly witty in his interpretation of the world as well as his own self.

The murder investigation is interesting enough and offers a great introduction into the characters. Proper modernization factors were wonderfully worked in as Google and Facebook were given their due by the detective as one of the ways he uncovers information. There were so many great lines during the show, if I wrote them all down for you, I believe I would be writing the majority of the script. Here were some of my favorites.

Sherlock to Watson: "Why do you hate your job? Two alarm clocks means it is a chore to get up in the morning. No one with two alarm clocks loves their job."

At an Opera where Sherlock is trying to convince Watson to come with him to investigate something, he is hushed, his response: "Shh yourself, they're not even on key."

Again, there were so many more great lines from the overall fantastic first episode. I am looking forward to watching it again. If you like witty and smart TV, then the game is afoot! Take a look at CBS's Elementary and enjoy the show!

The Fall of the Geeky Girl

2012-09-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

It is my favorite season of the year, fall, and here in the valley, Mother Nature really likes to show off. The morning air is crisp and cool, slowly heated up by the afternoon sun, which takes its warmth along with it as it disappears beyond the western horizon. Tonight, I had to close my windows to ward of the chill that had crept into my bedroom; I did so gladly.

Along with the change of weather, the new season is also blowing in other new life changes...and consequently, a necessity for some new coping skills.

Despite all of the dark that life throws my way, there had been comfort found in the new Fall TV season. A return of some of my favorites, as well as a refreshing influx of new and intelligent shows.

I become increasingly more grateful for the intersession of BBC television that I can turn to when I need a dose of just damn good entertainment. With shows like Sherlock, Luther, The Hour, and of course, my beloved Doctor Who fulfilling my empty art starving soul, I maintained high hopes for BBC's newest addition, Copper. Set in the Five Points of New York City in the last year of the American Civil War, the show boasts characters that are as rich and legitimate as the scenery. The overall arc of the story is cliche', a tormented father, Detective Cochran, returns from the war to find his daughter dead and wife missing- he is distraught, feels responsibility, and is determined to discover the truth. A played out plot to be sure, but the setting, actors, and writing are all brilliant enough to make the old and tired feel new and invigorating. The Race issue is finally handled in a way that demonstrates that it was not just the southerners who were prejudiced, Northerners had no more love for the African American race than the Rebels. The Irish struggled to understand how they were fighting and dying in droves in a war for a country that ostracized them. For the elite women, being a widow was considered a blessing while a whore considered marriage the ultimate prize. Copper covers a broad range of the social ails that were occurring in this small area during this era, and somehow, all of them feel contemporary. The distance between the classes, races, sexes, and the confusion that conflicts an individual as the political becomes personal.

I tried out NBC's Revolution, but I could not even get through the first half hour. If that is what we will be wearing 15 years into the apocalypse, then who the hell cares? Yup, just couldn't get past the outfit to even try to get into the rest of it. It really made me long for a good dose of Whedon's Firefly. Now he knew how to do future...

Joe and I are eagerly awaiting Arrow (please let it be good, please let it be good.) Alphas seemed to have lost a little of its magic in the first episode of Season 2, so while I am not current, I will give it another go when I find a little extra time. But with Dexter, Homeland, New Girl, and Treme all coming back, it may have to wait until the mid season break.

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2012-08-09T20:38:00.002-07:00

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The Single Mother Stigma

2012-08-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/24/134031175/For-Single-Mothers-Stigma-Difficult-To-Shake?sc=emaf

Why Google Why?

2012-07-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

In an average day of my life, I am already faced with a multitude of decisions, a fact that leaves me feeling quite weary on most days. I come home today, looking forward to a relaxing evening that includes a new potato recipe, a new episode of Awkward, and a few chapters of some Stephen King. No big decisions tonight, no siree Bob. The last choice I plan on making tonight was how long exactly to stay on the treadmill. Feeling fortunate as I swing by mail box on the way home, I truly believe life is going my way when my issue of Entertainment Weekly is here a day early. I reach that fabulous part of a rare day where I can sit out on my porch and read through my weekly Entertainment News (void Cruise and Holmes) and SLAM! WHACK! BANG! KAPOW! A pie right to the face. There it is, a choice that I don't want to have to make, "Google's Turn for a Tablet" is the article's title. I read through the tech update because I am now confident than a Mac or an iPad2 is in my near future only to discover that Google, the great maker of the only browser or search engine I will use; the place I travel to SEVERAL times every day, no matter what is happening in my life; the word itself has daily found itself in my conversations, them, yes GOOGLE is introducing their Nexus 7, their version of the growing popular tablet. Yes, it is already being hailed as having "all the makings of a hit: It's thin and extremely light (three-quarters of a pound-or half the weight of Apple's new iPad), has a seven inch screen (just like Amazon's Kindle Fire, but in HD resolution), and packs serious processing muscle." The price is extremely tempting as well, $199, which is $300 less that the iPad starts at. So at this point, I am sure you are wondering, 'What the hell is the problem then? Go for it!' Well, here is the problem. Nexus 7 is more than just Google's pad, it is a sign that Google is expanding their influence in the tech game. What Apple has done so well over the past few years, with iPhone's,iTunes, Mac Books, and iPad's syncing up so nicely and working so harmoniously with ones another, Google is mimicking, and they are doing it well. Google has "revamped cloud-based content store, Google Play...[and] Play will use the cloud to create a consistent experience across Android devices." The intro of the Nexus Q which streams content from the Play account to a TV or stereo using Android devices, but is a bit pricier than Apple TV, but...It is "Born in the USA" and made here as well. In an era where we import way more than we export, some home grown technology rouses the patriotism in me and I think, 'I would pay for that little added benefit.' And herein is where the problem lies, "in the end, users aren't just buying a device but the entire ecosystem," where, up until this point, Apple has cornered the market on. I love Google, I can afford Google, but I have already taken steps down Apple lane, and I can't imagine not having my iPhone.

So as our old ecosystem is being destroyed all around us, and I live in an age where I get to choose my new one, I just really didn't want to have to make such a big decision- will they never end?

Google vs. Apple...let the battle begin!

All God's Children have Fathers...right?

2012-07-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

When did we become a society where the best interests of the child are usurped by the rights of the father? So, if a man ducks out and moves around a lot, then he can avoid having to support his offspring in any manner….

Look at this way, even the first homo-sapien clans had a family structure that included a father who was the ‘provider’ of food and protection for not just the child and its mother, but for the small group as a whole. If the man went out in search of food, hunting, he brought back meat, as well as the other supplies made from animal leftover parts; hides, tusks, fat for oil. Anyways, he helped ensure the survival of his family, the women and children of the group. If, and this was a much larger risk than we can imagine today, the father, hunter, man were to die while in the line of duty, it was customary that another member of this family either ‘marry’ his wife or take over the responsibility of her welfare as well as any children in her care. A man need never let the fear of someone being able to provide for his family stand in the way of his duty.

So, as a hunter-gatherer more animalistic, more primitive human society, we took better care of our children. As it stands today, a man can father a child and then evade any and all responsibility for the children, and the laws established by civilization have enabled this to become the rule rather than the exception. In my case specifically, because he is receiving his income through VA disability, my child is not entitled to any of that money because it is like “welfare” as I was told by my case worker. But, if we were still kept house together, that income would go to help provide for the child’s everyday necessities, so why would that money not be considered a way for the man to help with the child?

I asked my case worker that if my ex-husband were to die, my child would receive Social Security benefits, right? She agreed, that she most certainly would, around $1000.00 a month. So, if my ex is dead, the child can receive the resources to survive and thrive, but if the father lives and does not work, the child is left to suffer. Am I the only one who thinks that there is something that is incredibly wrong with this picture? Civilization has evolved indeed, and in the process (I imagine it has something to do with the patriarchal infrastructure of our society) managed to remove the responsibility that a father has toward his child to be what he has always been throughout human history; a provider.

It's a great time to be me...

2012-06-03T12:52:00.001-07:00

The Game of Thrones season 2 finale is tonight; Joss Weadon has scored huge with Avengers, meaning the mind that created Firefly is going to have an open ticket to allow his creative genius to run loose; Once Upon a Time on ABC continues to surprise me week after week as it interprets the fairly tales of generations into interesting plots that are fun to watch week after week; and this summer movie season, I have hit the mother load of my favorite types of movies, comic book superheroes and Disney's second movie featuring a bad ass female who does not need to be rescued by a prince; BBC's Sherlock just knocked my socks off and is begging to be watched again; The Long Walk reminded me is Stephen King's Hunger Games, only it came first and is, in the King fashion, a wonderfully gruesome mind fu8%; and American Gods is just sitting there, waiting to be read. My whole life, I belonged to an eclectic group that lived in a world of magic and advanced science, a group that was labeled 'nerds' and 'geeky' by society for their affinity for believing that the force was really with them and that 'He who controls the spice, controls the universe.' A group who knew that as " The man in black fled across the dessert," the gunslinger was close on his heels. I loved Michael Keaton as Batman and Farukah was the Worst Witch and Aunt Em's niece to me before she was Bobby Bouche's girlfriend.

It has occurred to me that now is a very good time to be me. All my sci-fi and fantasy cravings are being lavishly indulged these days; what was once eclectic has now become trendy and popular. I can only thank ka that I am alive to be a part of this ka-tet style surge in society.

Thinking Out Loud: Harry and Hermione: More Than A Dance (by Amanda Lowery)

2012-05-23T17:07:00.001-07:00

Thinking Out Loud: Harry and Hermione: More Than A Dance: So, after the billionth time watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (my favorite in the series of movies) I began to reall...

The (Not So) Daily: Game of Thrones Episode Review "Prince of Winterfe...

2012-05-23T16:51:00.001-07:00

The (Not So) Daily: Game of Thrones Episode Review "Prince of Winterfe...: By: Amanda Lowery Warning, Spoilers Ahead..... Last Night’s Episode of Game of Thrones The Prince of Winterfell reminds us all t...

Point of No Return; One Second to Go...

2012-04-15T09:06:00.001-07:00

It is another regular Sunday here in Winchester. I am sure that a good portion of this town was up and at church this morning, perhaps even indulging in a little family breakfast. The birds are chirping outside, the roller coaster that has been this April's weather has given us a preview of the hot, humid months ahead. Just two days ago, the frost and the biting wind reminded us of what we had left behind. Today may seem like a regular Sunday to some folks, but in my world it is the day that the countdown clock has begun.

As I poured my coffee this morning the thought occurred to me that in exactly two weeks from this day, this moment, I will be immersed in the Magic Kingdom and while the thought of being there so soon makes me smile it is quickly replaced with the reality of all that I have to accomplish before I get there. I have six papers left to write, two of them research papers. Lacey's opening night is this coming Friday, therefore she is on 'hell week' schedule, and guess who is her chauffeur? I have items to purchase for the trip, a dog that is getting neutered on Friday, and two teenagers who are accustomed to eating a prepared dinner every night. Let's not mention my new full time job that now expects me to show up regularly. Packing has to begin, reservations need to be double checked, and birthday presents and card need to be bought and sent to my step-mom. Let's face it, my kitchen now looks like a tornado hit it, I can not remember the last time I cleaned my floors or the bathroom, and the carpets are screaming for a shampoo. I managed to complete my FAFSA this week, and start the set up of a student loan for the summer classes I have to take, but I still have not written my adviser about adding a class I am doing as a one on one basis with the professor.

And this all needs to be done in less than 13 days. I don't write this down to whine, but to simply make sure that I am not dramatizing when a moment of panic sets in and I think, HOLY SHIT I HAVE A LOT TO DO; how in the hell am I going to get all this done...when am I going to get all this done? It is a few minutes before the blessed calm takes over and the voice of reason whispers,'this always happens at finals time'. The daily expectations of life become daunting prospects and a feeling of terrifying helplessness seizes control that forces me to react in the only way I can: by digging my heels in with the fortifying resolve that I will not fall. Not fail, fall. Well, I suppose the two are mutually exclusive to me, I will not fail unless I fall...apart.

My name is Christina and I am a junkie; this is what keeps bringing me back to school, this is what I am addicted to: the adrenaline rush and the overwhelming sense of power that comes every time I conquer a semester. The only thing that is comparable to this feeling is probably the moment my children first left my body and entered the world. It is a moment of startling realization when you realize you just achieved the most demanding and arduous of feats, and for a small period of time after, I always feel invincible. Like labor, the duration of the semester is a period of coping with the pain, breathing in all the right places, and dealing with the sense that you are completely vulnerable. In a situation where all you can do is lay yourself out there while people poke, prod, and grade your innermost being, when the end comes and you realize that not only did you survive the ordeal and live to tell about it, you also contributed something meaningful to the vastness of time and space. A tiny ripple in the ocean perhaps, but a ripple nonetheless.

So here I go again, off to create a ripple. With so few days left, I am at the point of no return in the semester. There is always this feeling I get, a feeling of 'there is no going back now.' Probably like when I was ten centimeters dilated, ready or not, that baby was coming. One more second to go, and ready or not, I will be finished with another semester and then, "I'm going to Disney World!"

The (Not So) Daily: Game Of Thrones Review: 'The Night Lands'

2012-04-09T16:01:00.001-07:00

The (Not So) Daily: Game Of Thrones Review: 'The Night Lands': by Amanda Lowery POSSIBLE SPOILERS! Game of Thrones is very much a show that must be taken in as a sum of its parts. With such a...

I Know I am a Woman

2012-03-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

Women are a complex specimen, so much so that our history is filled with songs, literature and drama inspired by the multifarious nature of the woman. The intricate design of women is a series of convoluted physiology conducted by a compound of anatomical parts, working harmoniously to achieve the impossibility that is the human female. The woman encompasses labels such as the lady fair, the maiden, and the giver of life, the nurturer, and the weaker sex. What is more confusing than the makeup of a woman is how the power of their composition has translated to anything less than the almighty power that it actually is. The Greeks made an example of the forceful nature of woman which can be seen in the popular myth of Helen of Troy: a woman who’s biological make up was so great and so desired; it inspired a great Trojan War. Even today, the biology of women is influential enough to dominate the political scene proving that women’s biological capabilities are so significant that the most powerful of America’s men still spar for the right to control it. Cultures take violent measures to dictate how the biology of women is managed, some going as far to mutilate the female genitals. How is it possible then that woman, who harbor this ultimate power, have been procured a subjugated role throughout the majority of societies? Natalie Angier sheds light on this great question in Woman: An Intimate Geography. By supplementing the biology of women within historical and cultural contexts, the physiology becomes comprehensive so that the non-academic and or non-scientific readers are able to appreciate the incredible intimate geography of a woman.

Angier’s tour of women appropriately begins at the beginning, with the A’s; Apoptosis, Atavism, Art and Adam’s first wife. Apoptosis is a most fascinating function, and results in something that most humans ignore, the endeavor that results in each individual’s existence. It is a sobering moment when you embrace the idea that we, the entire human race alive today and all those that came before us, “are all yeses. We are worthy enough, we passed inspection…we are meant to be….we are all good eggs.” (Angier, 4) For humanity itself, there is nothing as precious as those eggs; they ensure the survival of our species. As a reflection of their importance, both historical and modern societies pay them great homage as reflected in varying degrees of religion, mythology and rituals. The heavenly ovoid of Christus Regnans, the Easter eggs of a Christian holiday, the egg shaped backdrops of Hindu Gods, and famous art, like the works of Georgia O’Keefe, all represent a cultural acknowledgement of the worth of the female egg. (Angier, 5) The egg has power, and Atavism is symbolic of this. The ova have seniority and they occasionally like to remind us of this when a prehistoric dormant gene makes an appearance in a modern homosapien. Atavism could also be referred as evolution’s exhibit A. Then there is the fascinating little detail that would rock the organized religions of the world by knocking their foundation out from under them; Adam was not and could not have been ‘first.’ The science supports that all fetuses are “primed to become female… [b]y the conventional reckoning of embryology, females are said to be the ‘default’ or ‘neutral’ sex.” (Angier, 42) Angier’s assessment proves that the egg was first; the fallopian tubes are the recipe for the penis and not, as our religions and cultures would have us believe, the other way around.

Perhaps what is best about Woman is the fact that even if you cannot understand the mechanical terminology of the biological function of women does not mean that you cannot understand its power. The anatomical framework of women has given rise to the most enduring myths and contributed a large amount of work to the art world. Angier notes that for our ancestral sisters, the clitoris was the universal key, “a woman’s best appendage,” and for the most part, it gave them power over their male counterparts. (Angier, 73) Men are often accused of thinking with their penises, perhaps if women thought with their clitorises, there would be a woman in the Oval office, with a woman as her second in command. The clitoris “hates being scared or bullied… [it] loves power and strives to reinforce the sensation of playing commando… [t]he clitoris is our magic cape.” (Angier, 78) It is empowering to think that such a small anatomical feature has that much capability. The uterus does not have the same fearless reputation as the clitoris, rather it has succumbed to stereotype generated by Hippocrates conclusion that the uterus was the ‘gypsy’ of the female organs, wandering around her body aimlessly, giving rise to all of women’s failings. Thereby, the Greek word for womb is hysteria, and this eventually pervaded the idea that when a woman is ‘out of line’, she was hysterical. As if her out of control organs override her good sense to behave and be quiet. Angier explains this erroneous view; the uterus is anything but weak and wandering.

The uterus is so much more than just a source for the ‘hysterias’ of women, it is an organ that can incubate an ovum, accommodate it through nine months of growth and produce a new human being. This pouch that is the size of a child’s fist expresses and responds to hormones, makes proteins, sugars, and fats, “fabricates drugs that in other contexts would be illegal,” it is also the organ women often associate with defining themselves as women. (Angier, 121) The egg is a woman’s miracle, her clitoris a source of strength and the uterus harbors the survival of the species; yet is the non-functional breasts that often receive all of the attention. When a dog becomes pregnant, her teats grow in accordance, after she is done nursing, they shrink back. This is the case with all mammals, except humans. According to Angier the human female serves an aesthetic purpose only, it “is nonfunctional to the point of being conunterfunctional.” (Angier, 138) A closer personal examination of this point proves to be so true. I have had developed breasts for twenty three years, and in those twenty three years, they have been used for only two years. So for twenty one years now I have been carting around two orbs of fat tissue and binding those babies up to the point of discomfort, and all the while ignorant to the blatant fact of their uselessness. Yet, the breast, like so many other facets of the woman’s body, is a popular aspect in art and culture. Minoan statues depicted priestesses with commanding bare breasts, while Canadian sculptures, ancient Indian, Tibetan, and Creation art all display “celestial…zero-gravity planet breasts.” (Angier, 140) The period of time in a woman’s life when the breast is functional also has its place in the artistic arena.

As a mother who nursed, I maintain an intimate knowledge of nursing, but I was ignorant of the sacredness that has been derived from the act. When the occasion arose for my infant son or daughter to eat while we were in a public setting, I either found a dressing room or threw a blanket over my shoulder to cover the suckling babe. I did this always for the comfort of others, and never myself. Had I had the occasion to read Angier’s assessment of the sacred performance prior to these occasions, I would certainly have been less inhibited. Angier notes that one of the “most prevalent images in Western art” is the Maria lactans, a depiction of Mary nursing the baby Jesus. (Angier, 157) Greek mythology pays homage to sacredness of lactation with the story of the Greek goddess whose milk gave infinite life, and alone gave birth to the Milky Way. In ancient Egypt as well, respect to the importance of nourishment through nursing was shown as wet nurses held the highest distinction among the class of servants. From the production of colostrums, human milk is indeed ‘nature’s perfect food.’ The chemistry of breast milk is manufactured so perfectly that nursing babies’ diapers hardly smell because “there’s very little waste matter, very little excreted protein” to emit an odor. (165) in my kitchen, no matter the recipe, and no matter how natural the ingredients, there is no meal I can prepare for my children that will ever again agree with their bodies’ needs so perfectly.

The biology of a woman is a densely involved process down to the cellular level. When examining it in detail, there is power to be found in the anatomical and physiological make-up of a woman. It is a force that is underutilized and the facts as produced by Angier could go a long way in uniting women to exert their influence. The power is there, it literally resides within.

Bibliography

Angier, Natalie. Woman: An Intimate Geography. Random House, 1999.

Don't get a Puppy

2012-03-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

I can not say that I was not dully informed, but I have been known to ignore good advice more than once. "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it." At my last visit with my physician we were discussing my health and my stress level. I mentioned I was considering getting a puppy and his head snapped up so quick, his look clearly read "Are you crazy?" His mouth asked, "Why would you want to do that?" I told him, the kids want one and maybe it will be good for me. He said don't do it, that it was additional stress that I and my busy schedule do not need...I went ahead and did it anyways.

I love my puppy, I really do, but he is more than just additional stress, he is almost a full time job. My babies were easier, at least I could put them in a swing or lay them down for a nap so I could have a minute or so, the puppy, well, not so much. Then, to add to the change the puppy has brought to our already busy lives, I received a job offer I couldn't refuse. Sure it is more hours, 14 to be exact, a week and sure I don't have the extra time to spare, but there are some offers in life that you just can't turn down.

I use my hour lunch to do reading for class and the fifteen minutes I wait for Lacey to finish rehearsal is also spent reading. I have juggled worse than this....I can't remember when, but I am sure I have. Time management, time management, time management. This is key ladies and gents. Less knocks on my door at night while I am reading would help too!

So ladies, the point of tonight's blog? When your doctor tells you no puppy, listen. And when a job offer comes up that means more hours at work, less at the books. Rearrange your time, create a schedule and do your best to stick to it. If all else fails, do what I do, hide in the bath tub under some hot bubbles with a good book!

The (Not So) Daily: Politics On A Tuesday

2012-03-13T18:57:00.001-07:00

For all you ladies who are paying attention to the war against women the GOP is waging, here is a great read. For those ladies who are not, read this!

The (Not So) Daily: Politics On A Tuesday: Courtesy of dailypolitical.com As we hurl towards the November election the headlines are chock full of POLITICS! POLITICS! POLITICS! So...

The (Not So) Daily: READ: Rick Santorum, Please Shut Up

2012-03-13T18:56:00.003-07:00

The (Not So) Daily: READ: Rick Santorum, Please Shut Up: In lieu of today's Politics On A Tuesday post, I thought I'd share this. NSD writer Amanda Lowery is pissed . Head over to her blog, Thi...

The (Not So) Daily: The Walking Dead Review Redux, Episode 212: Better...

2012-03-13T18:56:00.001-07:00

The (Not So) Daily: The Walking Dead Review Redux, Episode 212: Better...: SPOILERS AHEAD! It's time again for the Review Redux. Hopefully, everyone has had time to fire up the DVR and watch Episode 212 Bet...

Fafsa Time

2012-02-14T05:35:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

It is that time of year again, tax time that is, and that means it is time to grab a copy of your returns and head to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Click on the 'start here' tab and follow the instructions. It is very user friendly and should take longer than a half an hour to complete. In a few days you will receive your EFC, which is your Expected Family Contribution. This is the number that financial aid is based on and after you have this, you can start applying to local colleges. Here is a link that will help you find community colleges in your area, http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Pages/CCFinder.aspx. You will need to select a school before you begin the application so that your information can be sent directly to your selected school. There will be a section in the fafsa app that will ask you the name of your selected school, and you can have more than one!

All college websites are set up differently, however, they will all have a link for the 'potential student', and this is where you will head to in order to find out how to begin the enrollment process.

Single Motherhood for Dummies

2011-11-22T07:05:00.000-08:00

How many of you wish you could head to your nearest bookstore and order a copy of Single Mothering for Dummies? Remember when you were pregnant that book, What to Expect When You Are Expecting? I can't seem to find a copy of the follow up to it called, Oh Shit, They are Teenagers Now! If you are still single when they reach this age then you have A: been a few more failed relationships. B: too exhausted from working and worrying to make ends meet to even think about a relationship. Or C: a combination of both. It is a dog eat dog world out here ladies and when you are just trying to protect and feed your pack, it is probable that you more often feel like the hors d'oeuvres than the chef.

If you are like me and on the lower section of the economic ladder, you have been through support enforcement, you have been to the social service office, and you have been to the unemployment office. You know that you the Salvation Army will help you with an electric bill in the amount of $35.00 once a year and that the local charity group CCAP is more help than any government agency has ever been. They will help every three months with either your rent or utility in the amount of $65.00 every 4 months. There are local churches that offer assistance, but unless you belong to one, it is hard to get help. By now, you should have a basic feel of the 'system' and how to maneuver in it, even if it is uncomfortable. If you don't, now is the time to get familiar with it. It can be painfully tedious and unproductive at times, but it will be an asset to help you survive.

There is a chance that you will meet Prince Charming, or you will find a sugar daddy who treats you splendidly but I wouldn't hold my breath. If you are an hourly employee and wear a name tag, you probably have no future aspirations. Have you wondered yet, what are you going to do when the kids graduate? What are the kids going to do when they graduate? What do YOU WANT YOUR kids to do when they graduate? If your answer to the last question was, go to college, then I suggest you do it yourself. Children learn by example, so be one for them. Show them that college is possible, regardless of your social or economic status. What have you got to lose? If you are reading this, then you have given thought to a solution or a way out of your current situation. Whether the desire for improvement stems from wanting to help yourself or your children, it does not matter, you CAN do this.

Dig and look deep, there is strength there, even if you have never been able to tap into it before. The resources to help you succeed are there also. I can not promise that you will always perform the 'dance' gracefully, but I can promise that you WILL learn the dance routine. Come recital time, you will be able to get up there on the stage and dance with the rest of them, even if you are wearing second hand leotards. I hope that you are asking HOW right now. If so, then keep Reading.

The first step is to have children with your dinner tonight and listen to them, actively, not passively. Block out the rest of the world, including everything you are worried about and everything on your to do list to just listen to them for one hour. Give them your 'undivided attention' really. Turn off the phone, the TV, and the computer and just LISTEN. Listen to what they take joy from in their daily routine, be aware of how they take joy just from being in close proximity to you, and then take a vow. Say 'I DO' to your children, marry yourself to your family as it is and then commit to making it all it can be. After you put the kids to bed, get a copy of last year's taxes, pour a glass of wine sit down at your computer and put your google to good use. Find the name, only the name, of the Community College closest to you (NOT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX). There is no need to visit the campus yet and don't worry about what classes you will be taking, just click here:

https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/fafsa?locale=en_US

The form is very user friendly, and if you get stuck while filling it out, there are numbers to call or you can let me know by replying to this and I will help. DO NOT, while you are filling this out, over think things. Don't get caught up on the little but overpowering thoughts like, "I wasn't a good student in school", "I hated school", or "It will be too hard." First, I can assure you that of course it will be hard, but so is surviving solo day to day and you have done that. You may have hated school previously because, chances are, that you attended a public school that was diffused with social stigmas and where status was more important than learning. You may have been a bad student because you were forced to take subjects that you had no special interest in. You may never have been taught HOW to study. However, not one of these excuses holds any relevancy when you are at a Junior College.

Socially, there is such a broad mix of students: young, old, middle-aged, in between. You realize you are not one of many, but one AMONG many! You are required your very first semester to take "Student Survival Skills" classes where you will learn how to study, how to get help, and how to take classes that are particular to your interest. There is a whole school faculty that wants you to succeed and is willing to do whatever it takes to help you. All that you have to do is show up with the desire to help yourself. The professors are very responsive to this desire in students and you will be amazed at how far just the desire to help yourself actually propels you forward into the actuality of helping yourself!! This is not about what you are going to learn or what your are going to 'be', well, not yet anyway. At this stage it is about taking the first, and hardest, step: committing to improving yourself and the lives of your children.

In the next blog, we will talk about Financial Aid and the importance of being Vigilant.

A Son's Room

2011-09-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Even though I had two brothers growing up and have been married twice, the male mind remains a complete mystery to me. This holds true in the case of my 12 year old son as well. The biggest mystery so far, what IS that smell coming from his room?? I entered today, unwillingly, to locate some folders he told me had. The result? I found the folders, and so much more. The mess, the dirty laundry, and of course, the smell.In order to go in and repair the damage, I have to burn incense to make it even tolerable. Is it possible that something died underneath our manufactured house directly under his room?

The folders are for the beginning of another semester. My syllabi are downloaded, my first round of books are on their way, and I suppose so am I. The next week includes the baking of a sheet cake for Lacey's choral booster club dinner, selling tickets to it, and Joe's football practice starts. I do so love fall.

On a larger scale, the economy is falling apart. I predict that soon stores like Victoria Secret and Yankee Candle will begin to struggle as the 99% of the population that is not wealthy is now being absorbed into one class, the lower one. And the lower class, the impoverished, can not afford such luxuries. The sooner we all come together, the sooner we can begin the overhaul that is necessary to reboot our system. But today, the only battle I feel empowered enough to tackle is the grocery store and a son's room.

First Day

2011-02-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

Over the past 3 and 1/2 years, I have thought several times about starting a blog detailing all the ins and outs of going back to school full time as a single mother. I wish now that I would have started sooner, but it is not too late...I still have far to go in my adventure.

As a mother of a 13 year old daughter and an 11 year old son, my life is busy just keeping up with the daily routine of cooking, cleaning, laundry, chauffeuring, and nursing. Add a full-time college course and one part time waitressing job, stir...and my life has become a blur of color as I move from one activity to the next. I never knew I could juggle so well. Along this hectic path, there have been challenging days, horrible days, happy days, I just don't have the energy to get out of the bed days; underneath all of those days though, something magical has taken place. What started out as three people tolerating the day has grown into three people learning how to embrace life, hardships and all.

I have learned important lessons, some big, some small, and each day brings a new lesson, a new laugh, a new memory to add to our ever growing collection. And if my struggles and occasional achievements can provide inspiration, entertainment or even guidance for others than it is my pleasure to begin sharing our journey.

One more reason I decided to start this blog is to help those single moms that are interested wade through the confusing conglomerate of 'assistance' and 'grant' gimmicks that are everywhere. There ARE actual programs that can help...but sometimes the process is so intimidating that women don't take advantage of the opportunity. I would love to help remedy that by assisting others through the murky process. You really CAN do it!