The Red Housewife

Aquaman Review

2018-12-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

Aquaman is another comic book-to-movie story centered on it's title character, Aquaman. You don't need to be a nerd or a geek or a comic book reader to know that Aquaman is a comic book character, drawn slender and blond, with no real talent other than talking to marine animals and possessing jinky water toys. Aquaman was reinvented to become the character we've seen in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice as well as Justice League. It was clear then that DC had decided to turn the flimsy orange and green clad character into an underwater, cowboy beefcake. There are very few complaints from those of us to thoroughly enjoy the eye candy that is and ever shall be Jason Mamoa. Unfortunately, that is pretty much all there is to this movie.

As usual we are dealing with an under-melanated world of people where the villains are black and our heroes likely visit the tanning salon, or lay out in the sun before each filming day to "get a little color". Before you try and tell me they were just sticking to the comic books, again, let me reiterate that the original Aquaman was an unremarkable man in orange and green. If they can revamp, the character, they can revamp everything else. This movie's release is on the dusk of the beauty of Black Panther and on the dawn of the announcement of a sequel. A movie that takes place off the western coast of Africa but the only people of color are villains is a trend that is beyond played out. Quite frankly it's inexcusable and likely to strike a bad chord with comic book-to-movie fans who relished every minute of the world of Wakanda.

On the night of the premiere, visual buffet, Jason Momoa performed a haka with his children. I have to say that this too left me slightly bewildered. If anyone wants to know why, look at a map. The Maori, Polynesians and other islanders that traditionally perform the haka originate from the Pacific, not the Atlantic, which is the setting for the film. But I digress.

As I said before, the film takes place off the western coast of Africa, in the fictional yet most likely factual place known as Atlantis. For those who are unaware, Atlantis has always been believed by historians and geologists to be off the coast of West Africa, yet the only melanin in the film is in the faces of the villains. Not sure how that's possible, but as long as they give us eye candy, we're satisfied right? The world of Atlantis is visually appealing but also strongly resembles a futuristic, live action version of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Approximately 30-45 mins into the film, absolutely nothing of substance has taken place. Yes, we've seen all but the most important parts of Jason Momoa naked at this point. We have also labored through Amber Heard's phenomenally talentless performance. But seriously, the only real talent in this film is, as expected, in the performances of Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe. So much so, that I longed for one or both of them to return to the screen to rescue me from this abyss of blandness. I mean, we all knew that Jason Momoa can't carry a supporting role in a film or tv series unless his shirt is off, so why they thought he could carry an entire film is beyond my comprehension. Don't expect any swarms of small children rushing to the Walmart to buy merchandise either. There is nothing cool about Aquaman at all. With all of his character redevelopment, he is still an unimpressive character in a world of weak character development and salt free, sugar free, gluten free plot lines. Seriously, I watched this movie twice and cannot tell precisely what the plot is or whether not it was resolved.

In short, Aquaman may be a movie Jason Momoa and his family can be proud of amongst themselves, but for the rest of us, we're better off buying the movie poster and moving on with life. The poster has just about as much going on as the film itself, which is flatter than the water that Aquaman swims in.

8 Things You Should Not Buy From Facebook Marketplace

2018-08-14T13:48:00.003-07:00

Facebook Marketplace pretty much replaces all other websites and apps designed for garage sellers. You can sell pretty much anything to anyone. It's not as secure as other sites, but it is far more convenient. Facebook's lackluster privacy settings makes people less likely to scam someone since buyers are granted access to their photos and check-in locations. There are a variety of sellers on Facebook Marketplace. You can find former Etsy sellers like myself due to their unreasonable fees, EBay sellers and other online sellers looking for a streamlined selling platform. You can find local businesses seeking to reach out to a larger consumer base. You can also find a fellow college student just trying to get rid of that $80 biology textbook that the professor never used. With so many things to buy with just a few swipes, you are bound to come across some things you shouldn't.

Make-up

Sealed or unsealed, new or used once. Never buy make-up from Facebook Marketplace. YouTube is the short answer as to why. Do a simple search and you will find ways to "disinfect" or refill make-up containers. There are also videos on how to reseal said make-up so that one can return it to the store without a hassle. This information is available to everyone who searches, including Facebook Marketplace sellers. The potential for contracting E.Coli and herpes is astronomical. There also is no guarantee that the product they claim is actually what's in the container. That NARS palette may be a knockoff refill in a NARS package. The fact that sellers can deceive you also means they too can be deceived. They'll have a friend who works at the drugstore or mall that gets them the inventory under the assumption that it's legitimate, but in reality, that unopened bottle of foundation was refilled and resealed by a customer who watched a YouTube video.

Hair Products

The same precautions listed for buying makeup should be heeded for hair care products. Also, people can be evil. The number of posts circulating from people claiming to put Nair or bodily fluids in these products is terrifying.

Home Cooked Foods

There are no checks or balances in place to prevent contamination or infections. We've all heard the saying "you can't eat everybody's cooking". There's a reason for that. Take the video where a group of white women and one black woman are discussing a new food product. The product boasts that you can dump the raw meat directly into the pan from the package into the pan without touching it. The women are all excited except for the black woman. She asks, "Am I the only one who washes their meat?" Many people understood her disgust and many had never heard of washing the meat before cooking it prior to seeing that video. There is also a video circulating of a woman washing collard greens with bleach, soap, salt, and water. That's death by collard greens. There is a more recent one where a man washes his chicken with soap while preparing to fry it. These hilarious mishaps are taking place in the same kitchens as the ones where the food you're purchasing on Facebook Marketplace is prepared. I don't even want to think about the variations of what is considered to be clean and sanitary compared to what actually is.

Pet products

This one is less of an "ick" factor and is more about animal abilities. Dogs have a keen sense of smell. They also are territorial. Purchasing a kennel, carrier, or other product that another dog has spent a considerable amount of time in may be a waste of money. Dogs don't like to use doghouses, kennels or even dog beds if another dog's scent is still there. Sometimes no matter how well you clean it, they won't use what you purchased because they've already smelled the other dog. Their memories take over and remind them that there was another dog's scent there before. In some cases, the dog may mark the product or the area where you've placed it with urine. That's a whole other problem.

Undergarments

You're probably thinking that no one would buy underwear online. The fact that there are hundreds of listings selling them proves otherwise. You don't usually see listings for panties or boxers unless they're in original packaging. Still, you can't trust that. Usually what you see are bodyshapers, swimsuits and bras. Women falsely believe that these items are more sanitary. There is a reason thrift stores don't carry these clothing items. One reason is that they're unsanitary and another is that they expire. Bras, shape wear and swimsuits lose their support as the materials breakdown over time. Bras and shape wear should be replaced every 3-6 months. There's no way to know how long a bra was worn before it was sold online. Those pristine tags are no indicator if age either as anyone can obtain a tag gun on EBay.

Skincare products

Perfumes are usually expired, refilled bottles. This includes body sprays and perfume rollers. You don't get the real fragrance and if you do, it's less than what you're paying or, even at a discount. Creams and lotions have the same problem. You're paying for Gold Bond Rough and Bumpy skin cream but you're receiving regular Jergens body lotion.

Hygiene products

Imagine buying a bottle of Vagisil feminine wash and winding up with an unidentifiable infection. Or brushing your teeth and tasting something "not right" with the toothpaste or mouthwash. The only safe hygiene products are pads and tampons because they are each individually wrapped. But even then, I'm sure there's a way to tamper with them.

Baby food and care products

The same way a mason jar is sealed at home, a jar of baby food can be resealed. Cans of dry formula are easy to tamper with, as are diapers, body washes, shampoos etc. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your baby.

Limit your Facebook Marketplace purchases to furniture, services, crafts, upcycles, toys etc. Stay away from anything ingestible, applied to the skin, or worn over the genitals or in the mouth. The possible negative outcomes ware not worth the savings.

Destroy a Fuckboy With One Question

2018-08-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

In general, a fuckboy is a boy or man who leads a girl or woman on for the sole purpose of sex. They are completely obsolete by design as there are many women who are fine with the concept of sex with no strings attached. All you have to do is be upfront and honest and you can eliminate all the drama. Honesty saves everyone's time. Still, these fuckboys exist, playing with your emotions, leading women to believe that they are in for a relationship but in reality, they're just being played for fools. In most cases, the sex isn't even worth the humiliation or the fact that your number is all messed up now.

Fuckboys not only waste your time, they also slut shame you. They make you feel low and used up if your number is higher than four or if you've slept with someone they remotely knew by way of their brother's, cousin's son. They will leave you discombobulated if you allow them. Here's how to beat them at their own game.

First of all identify the fuckboy swiftly to eliminate any wasting of your time. Here are a few of the symptoms:

Never calls or Facetimes you
Texts you dumb questions like "Wyd?" and "U up?"
Always wants to chill, or behaves like a total homebody all while wearing a wardrobe that screams "I like to be seen".
Smells like body spray.
Always on his phone when he's with you
Avoids commitment
Doesn't remember anything you say
Always steers the conversation to sex
Texts you around the same time the liquor stores are closing
Asks you to pay or go half on things
Has a Snapchat

Once you have determined he is a fuckboy, DESTROY him. Seriously, you must do this for the good of all humankind. Ask him one simple question...

"What's your number?"

Now, fuckboys are not the most intelligent men in the gene pool, so they will attempt to give you their phone number again. Women everywhere know what the above question means. For the people who don't know, what you're asking is, how many women has the fuckboy slept with? Now the fuckboy is a prideful creature. He will smile and gush before bragging a bit. For women to avoid slut shaming, we have to claim the universally low number of four. But fuckboys will inflate their number to boost their masculinity. So throw out a number like ten. Depending on the fuckboy, he will scoff at this low number and either give you a number or respond with wit. Throw out the next number, 20. If they remain vague, their number is between 10 and 20. If they become offended or provide you a number, it will undoubtedly be greater than 25. No matter the number, shame them. Example:

" Damn your number is (insert irrelevant number here)? Wow! You're a hoe. A straight up slut. Just a nasty, gutterbutt tramp.I gotta let all my homegirls not to mess witchu. Ugh."

This is going be uncomfortable for you both the first time you do it, but it will have a lasting effect on him. He will be immediately confused. He won't understand why his high number has had the opposite effect on you. And as you scowl at him and begin to avoid him, he will know what it feels like to be slut shamed. As you ghost him, he will question himself as he tries to move on. If you treat a fuckboy the way they treat women when they are done with them, they will ultimately feel the same pain and embarrassment that they inflict on others.

After The Job Interview

2018-08-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

There are many things in this world that erode our self-esteem. A job interview is one of them. To begin with, there is a lack of trust between the applicant and the potential employer. Applicants lie to get the job and employers lie to be more appealing. Another discomfort is the actual interview process. Whether your interview is one-on-one or with a panel, being judged by a stranger is weird and uncomfortable. Still, it is a requirement for securing employment.

So we dress our best, hand over a resume that took longer to write than a college term paper, and give our most professional interview possible. The interviewer(s) smile and shake our hands before leaving us with a heightened sense of hope. Then the waiting game begins, making us feel smaller and more dejected with each passing day. Sometimes, there is a rejection letter that is vague and impersonal. It sends the message, "you weren't selected and are therefore not worth a phone call to be told directly that you were not selected." In most cases, there is nothing.

What do you do when there is no response? Do you call? How many days do you allow to pass beforehand? Will you look desperate? It's high school all over again, and for many of us high school sucked. Nowadays, many employers require an online application. This places a greater distance between you and them. So make sure you nab a couple of business cards at the interview. It makes this next step easier.

After a job interview, it is important to find out why you were rejected if you can. The information you receive may help you in your next interview or may restore your self-esteem. Using the same format you use when writing a cover letter, be sure to write a post interview inquiry letter. Be polite, and thank the interviewer by name for the opportunity. If you do not have their name or names, address the letter to the Human Resources department. There are six bullet points you want to cover.

Thank the interviewer(s) for the opportunity to interview for their company.
Compliment the company. Give one strong sentence that illustrates what attracted you to the company in the first place.
Ask three post interview questions: What were the strengths of your interview? What were the weaknesses? Is there any information received from your background check or references of which you should be made aware?
Thank the interviewers in advance for their responses.

What if they still don't respond?

If the company still doesn't respond, be glad you don't work there. No human resources department or hiring manager is so busy they don't have time to send you a notification regarding your interview.

What if they give me a bad review?

This is actually a great thing. If they took the time to tell you what went wrong, then they are more likely to give you a second chance. Do your best make considerable improvements on your weaknesses before applying again. If you lack experience, you know where to volunteer or whether or not you are seeking employment outside of your skill set.

What if they give me a good review but still don't choose me?

In all probability, someone in house was hired over you. There's no defeating nepotism. You can try to befriend a person that works there to give you a way into the company. But that takes time and can be quite shallow.

If you're uncomfortable with sending a letter and hoping for a response, keep these questions near your phone. Be sure to ask them to the person who calls you regarding your application and interview. Remember, you're offering them a service for a fee not begging for a job. If they don't choose you, someone else will. Don't allow yourself to be defeated. Take on a salesperson attitude. It isn't "no" it's "not yet".

Never Work Overtime

2018-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking. "Overtime is more money." No, never work overtime. "But I don't have kids. It's not really that big of a deal for me." No, never work overtime. "But it's a good way to show my boss that i'm committed to the company." Your boss doesn't care. Never work overtime. EVER. Here's why...

1. You literally don't have time for it.

There are 24 hours in a day. A minimum of eight of them are for sleeping. Even if you abuse your brain and body by only allowing 4-6 hours of sleep, you should still be getting eight. You need about an hour to get ready in the morning and an average of 30 mins to commute to work. You work an eight hour day with an hour lunch for a total of 9 hours and another 30 minutes or so to get back home. At this point, you've utilized 19 of your 24 hours, assuming you haven't compromised sleep and that you don't live far from work. You have six hours left to feed your children, bathe them, spend time with them and put them to bed. This does not include the extra time needed to pick them up from day care, take a shower yourself, run any errands or socialize with other adults outside of work. If you're lucky, you have a partner to lighten the load but, guess what, your partner wants some attention too. The only way to fit overtime into a schedule like this is to reduce sleep or put things off until the weekend. But once the weekend comes, you're so sleep deprived, you won't tend to the unresolved matters then either. Come Monday morning, your weekend wasn't a weekend, and you hate Mondays.

2. Its not worth your time.

For simplicity's sake, let's say your hourly pay is $10 and hour. Overtime is $15 an hour. Your boss comes to you at the end of the day to ask you to work a couple more hours because someone else failed to do their job in the eight hours allotted. The average employee is underpaid, so the lure of increased income is very attractive. But in reality, the $15 an hour you're receiving for about two extra hours is what you should be making in the first place. So its not really extra pay. Take a moment to accurately account for the amount of income you're really being offered. Your base pay is $10 an hour. You're working overtime for two hours which means you're receiving an extra $10. That's $10 before taxes for two more hours away from your children, your partner, the priorities that have looming deadlines, your hobbies, your peace and serenity. Is it worth it?

3. Your relationships will suffer.

The average person has replaced real world socialization for social media. Partly because it is addicting, and partly because it takes up less time. With barely enough time in a normal work day to spend with family, spending time with your friends and associates is nearly impossible unless you're texting or reading status updates. If you add overtime to that schedule, your family will begin to suffer. Instead of precious time with your children or your partner, you're at work with people you don't necessarily like for just enough money to buy an extra value meal. Meanwhile the people who love you are seriously beginning to miss you. By the time you get home, you're so tired you are really a pleasure to be around. This is also when you begin to hate your job.

4. Your boss isn't going to appreciate you more.

The fact that you're being asked to work overtime exposes poor management in the first place. It is your supervisor's responsibility to ensure that everyone is working productively within the universally allotted eight hour work day. If there is overtime, someone didn't do their job, or someone overstated the company's or agency's ability to meet a deadline. Either way, it amounts to poor management. Now the supervisor wants you to make up for their mismanagement by working overtime. Meanwhile, they leave on time to go spend time with their family and friends. As far as your boss is concerned, you are being adequately compensated for making up their shortcomings. Expecting to receive anything more than a "thank you" from your boss is unrealistic. You will end up angry and bitter in the end.

Overtime, is rarely ever worth the pay and never worth what you lose in life. Always remember you work to live, not live to work. You need your paycheck for food and housing. If your base pay accomplishes this goal, then overtime should be declined. If you have to work overtime to make ends meet, you need to ask for a raise or seek a higher paying job. The higher the level employment you secure, the fewer hours you are expected to work. Just ask your supervisor.

Agrimony Benefits

2018-06-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Agrimony (Agrimonia) comes from the Greek word Argemone, meaning "plant that heals the eye." From ancient Greeks to modern Americans, people have put this herb to use for more than eye health. The Chinese used it to treat menstrual issues and insomnia. Some Native American tribes used it for skin conditions, cough, sore throat, and diarrhea.

The plant contains polyphenol tannin which is a natural astringent. Steep a strong tea with it and apply it several times a day to treat skin inflammation such as acne, rashes, psoriasis, and eczema. Use the essential oil or add it to coconut oil as well. Studies reportedly indicate that the plant may help fight skin cancer due to the palmetic acid. Although bitter, drinking a tea made from the plant aids with the health of hair, skin and nails.

The tea recipe:

1-2 teaspoons of Agrimony leaves /flowers
1 liter of hot water
Steep 5 minutes for weak tea.
Steep 15 minutes for strong tea.

Making a weak Agrimony tea and drinking it up to six times a day can help relieve diarrhea. Gargle a strong tea for a sore throat or a cough suppressant. Add the tea to an edible grade, liquid coconut oil and a spray bottle for a homemade Chloraseptic spray. Use the same strong tea to make a compress for skin wounds or styes on the eye.

Use Agrimoney as a protection and hex reversal herb. Hang it in a medicine bag in your foyer and in each bedroom to ward off evil spirits. Hang a bag in the kitchen to ward off poisoning. Dress a black candle or reversing candle with Agrimony oil or dried herb to repel hexes, and send them back to the person who sent them. Place the leaves in your pillowcase to prevent nightmares.

*I am not a doctor. Use at your own risk. Seek the advice of a healthcare professional before using any herbs.

White People Don't Belong in Voodoo

2018-06-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

First let's define Voodoo. Voodoo / Vodou / Voudon is a religion that is derived from African polytheism and ancestor worship. It teaches a belief in a supreme being named Bondye who is described as an unknowable, uninvolved, creator god. Practitioners worship Loa / Lwa, many spirits who represent different aspects of Bondye and life. They believe in a universal energy and a soul that can leave the body during dreams and spirit possession.

So why don't white people belong in Voodoo? Well, the simplest reason is their ancestry. As stated before, part of Voodoo is ancestor worship. Practitioners call upon their African ancestors to assist with their specific needs. Although there are many different branches of Voodoo (Haitian, Louisiana, West African, Dominican., Cuban, and Brazilian), all branches lead back to Africa.

Imagine being an African ancestor being called upon to assist with the struggles of this life. You cross the veil to assist your descendant and instead find the descendant of the colonizer who committed genocide against your people. They enslaved your tribe and stripped you of your indigenous language and religion before shipping you across oceans and delivering you into captivity. Now one of their great-grandchildren wants you to serve them for whatever trivial needs they seek to fulfill. How likely are you to grant that petition? Quite frankly it's an insult. After all that white people have destroyed in the name of colonization and Christianity, they now want to appropriate one of the last surviving sacred gems from the very people they sought to destroy.

Another reason is that white people commercialize everything they touch. Once white people were brought into Voodoo communities, Voodoo became accessible to anyone and everyone online. Wiccans were combining Voodoo spells with their own and were marketing it as authentic Voodoo spells. Etsy and Ebay stores popped up with goods and services by a "real initiated Voodoo Priestess." Shops in Louisiana became novelties, owned and operated by white people dressed in Gothic attire. Each proprietor claimed to be an authority on someone else's culture and religion. Today, there is no part of Voodoo culture or religion that is not for sale. It was never meant to be this way.

Though there are several more reasons, the final reason i'm going to list is appropriation. Cultural appropriation is the act of taking on another culture as your own, without permission, and presenting it to others with autonomous authority. Take Yoga for example. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines originating in Ancient India. Now, it is a way for white American women to stay fit and socialize during collective "me time". Yoga pants have disappeared and have been replaced with stretch pants bearing the stolen moniker. There is zero spiritual connection with yoga now. Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism have been replaced with the local gym instructor and goats. Honest to God, goat yoga exists now. Show me a white woman with a sippy cup of Starbuck's coffee and I'll show you a cultural appropriator on her way to yoga class. I can't remember the last time I found a yoga class led by an Indian man or woman. This is what white people do to Voodoo.

Herbs and candles have quadrupled in price as they invade the botanicas and nurseries that used to be exclusive. Voodoo dolls are sold as cute emo toys and key chains. They vacation in Africa and post sacred rituals on YouTube. Everywhere there is an offbeat African drum, there is a white person being initiated into a religion that was never meant for them. They then create Facebook groups where they regulate conversations they have no authority over in the first place.

If you're a white person seeking spiritual guidance and belonging, try wicca or Christianity since your people committed genocide across the globe in honor of it. But please, leave voodoo alone. It isn't for you. It never was and never will be.

A Wrinkle in Time / A Loint of Paw Reading Assignment

2018-06-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

After reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, I assigned reading comprehension and writing activities to my child. One of many assignments was the short story A Loint of Paw by Isaac Asimov. No, that was not a typo. The assignment is as follows:

Read the short story here.

Answer the following questions.

1. In what year is this story set?

2. What point of law is raised in the story?

3. What do you think happened with the law after the judge handed down this decision? Why?

4. If the tesseract had become common knowledge, as time travel was in "A Loint of Paw," how might it have affected the laws of the word? Give examples of laws that have been made to regulate the effects of technological advances.

5. Why types of new technologies have come about in your life time?

6. What laws were written or changed to govern these new technologies?

7th Grade Summer Math Lesson 2

2018-06-26T09:13:00.001-07:00

The second lesson was a short review of powers and exponents. This is to prep for 7th grade exponents and radicals.

Begin with reviewing the basics.

3⁴= (3)(3)(3)=81

3 is the base
4 is the exponent
(3)(3)(3) are the common factors

ex. Write 6³ as a product

=(6)(6)(6)

ex. Evaluate 5⁴

5⁴= (5)(5)(5)(5)
=625

ex. Write (4)(4)(4)(4)(4) in exponential form.

The base is 4. It is used as a factor 5 times. So the exponent is 5.
(4)(4)(4)(4)(4) = 4⁵

Practice

Write each power as a product of the same factor.

7³
2⁷
9²
15⁴

Evaluate each expression.

3⁵
7³
8⁴
5³

Write each product in exponential form.

(2)(2)(2)(2)
(7)(7)(7)(7)(7)(7)
(10)(10)(10)
(9)(9)(9)(9)(9)
(12)(12)(12)
(5)(5)(5)(5)
(6)(6)(6)(6)(6)
(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)

How to Transform DIY Cleaning Products into Spiritual Cleansing Products

2018-06-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

Spiritual cleansing for me is like performing a hard drive clean-up or pressing ctr+alt+del on my computer. When I am feeling overwhelmed or under spiritual attack, I like to take a spiritual bath. Living in a home where the master bath has only a shower, I don't really have the opportunity to take baths at all. I just can't relax in a tub located in my children's bathroom. So, I have to cleanse my home to make up for the times I can't take a spiritual bath.

I make all of my own cleaning products. From dusting spray to laundry detergent, toothpaste to floor polish. All of it is DIY. I find that the act of cleaning my home can de-clutter my mind and liberate my spirit. Part of the reason is the aromatherapy derived from the essential oils and other ingredients used in my cleaning recipes. I began to wonder what would happen if I combined the ingredients from my spiritual bath with my DIY cleaning recipes. The results were wonderful.

This is an easy thing to do. All that is required is adding a few more ingredients to your cleaners and documenting your new recipe for safety reasons. You don't want to accidentally mix incompatible ingredients.

Depression

Add lemongrass, lemon oil or even lemon water to your dusting, glass and all-purpose cleaners. The smell is invigorating and aids in fighting depression and even procrastination. In the absence of lemon, use citronella. You can use the oil or the plant itself.

Romance

Add rose oil or rose water to your homemade Febreeze or fabric freshener and spray it all over your bedroom to improve romance. Magnolia oil can be used to improve romance and ensure fidelity. Add both to your laundry to improve your sex life.

Negative Energy

Add Florida water to your floor cleaner and all purpose cleaner to purge your home of negative energy. Add sage oil to your fabric freshener, floor cleaner or all purpose cleaner to wipe away negative energy.

Insomnia / Anxiety

Lavender, Chamomile, and sandalwood can help soothe a person to sleep or ease anxiety. Add it to your fabric freshener, laundry, or furniture polish.

Pretty much anything you use in your spiritual baths can be added to your current cleaning recipes. Just tailor the recipe to your specific needs.

DIY Dusting Spray

2018-06-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have used this recipe for the past three years and I don't think I will change it. This recipe not only cleans dust, it prevents it from adhering for at least a week after use.

You will need:

8-12oz spray bottle

1 cup water

1/4 cup citrus vinegar

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1. If you already have citrus vinegar on hand, you will combine it with the other ingredients and shake well.

2. When dusting you want to spray first then wipe away the dust. Then spray again before using a polishing cloth for shine and restoration.

3. You can follow the instructions for making your own citrus vinegar here.

Summer Journal Prompts Month 1

2018-06-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Both of my children are being asked to maintain a summer journal. My rising 7th grader and rising 3rd grader are given the same writing prompts. My eldest child is given the option to share what is in his journal as he has reached the age where his private thoughts may be included in his journal entry. My youngest child loves to share her writing, so she reads her entry out loud to me. If at any time she feels she doesn't want to share what she writes, that's okay too. The point of the activity is to stimulate creative thought, improve writing skills, and to encourage the use of journals as an outlet for expression.

They're only required to write once a week but they are welcome to write as many different times a week as they prefer. Here are the first five writing prompts of the summer.

1. Describe what your family would be like if every member became a super hero.

2. If you had a time machine, what year would you travel to and why? What do you expect to find once you arrive?

3. What is your favorite memory from this past school year? What was your worst memory?

4. Name three things you want to accomplish this summer and why?

5. Describe your favorite video game and how you would improve it?

3rd Grade Summer Slide Spelling Words Week 2

2018-06-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

This week's list is inspired by the movie The Incredibles 2. Children tend to remember practically every word of dialogue from their favorite movies. So, I decided to take advantage of that fact and create a spelling list out of words from the film. My child found the assignment more exciting and was able to write more creative sentences using her new vocabulary. She even noticed that some of the words happened to be the names of characters in the movie and asked if the words should be capitalized.

As always, your child should learn to spell, alphabetize, and utilize the words in a sentence. Usually, I have my child complete a fill-in-the-blank assignment to test her comprehension of the vocabulary. This week I decided to help develop her narrative writing skills. Instead of fill-in-the-blank, she wrote a short narrative about the film she watched using her spelling words. Allow your child to alter the spelling word to fit their narrative. My daughter chose to capitalize void and freeze to use as character names. She did not choose to capitalize the word incredible, choosing instead to utilize the word as an adjective to describe the events in the film.

The Incredibles 2 Vocabulary List

super
hero
family
suit
stretch
elastic
freeze
crush
train
incredible
zone
destroy
helicopter
together
babysit
void
invent
power
Mr.
Mrs.

7th Grade Summer Reading List Month 1

2018-06-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

My rising 7th grader tends to struggle with reading speed, vocabulary and writing. The best solution for this is to read more. Reading more, increases vocabulary and reading speed due to word recognition. Writing skills improve due to access to a greater vocabulary to express comprehension of the text.

My child is a rising 7th grader in a public school system. Needless to say, more attention was paid to the ability to pass 6th grade standardized testing than to actual education. This summer I decided to celebrate my child's freedom from AR (Accelerated Reader) and return to the love of reading. In the 7th grade, there will be 7 different classes, all requiring a fair amount of reading. In our particular district the workload is almost double that of the surrounding school districts. In short, my child needs to read more.

For the first month of summer we began with a science fiction / fantasy theme. My house rule is, book before the movie. All the best science fiction and fantasy books seem to have been turned into movies. I want my children to read before watching the movie to develop their imagination first before seeing what someone else produces from theirs.

A Wrinkle in Time
- Madeleine L'Engle

This science fiction classic is usually read in the 6th grade. My school district is so focused on testing and AR that books like these never make the list. I chose this book for the genre, the subject of time travel, and the importance of family to the success of the protagonists.

My child is also a Doctor Who, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking enthusiast. This novel provided for some very stimulating discussions that allowed me introduce history, science, and engineering assignments.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- C.S.Lewis

I chose this fantasy novel as a transition from A Wrinkle in Time. The concept of time travel is replaced with a portal to another world. There are many discussions that can be held to consider if a portal to another world is a point of access to another time. How does time in this alternate world compare to time in the main setting? Are the characters different in Narnia simply because they are in a different place, or is this a different place in the same time? If one were to time travel what worlds would they expect to encounter?

There is also a continuity of certain aspects in both novels. The protagonists are all kids, siblings, and rely on each other to be successful. There are also christian themes in both novels that some parents may chose to touch on for reading assignments.

Follow The Red Housewife blog for more summer reading ideas and activities to accompany the readings.

7th Grade Summer Spelling List Week 1

2018-06-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, even junior high school students need to have spelling tests. My rising 7th grader is given a new vocabulary list every week. He learns to spell, define, and create unique sentences. The goal is to reduce test anxiety, increase vocabulary, improve reading comprehension and writing skills. Follow my blog for weekly spelling words.

deprive
academy
appreciate
advice
tragedy
argued
gazelle
official
favorite
identity
controlled
inherit
evaluate
collision
technology
Argentina
nonessential
cross-examination
Connecticut
discourage
binoculars
shirked

You can also create lists based on the books your child is reading for the summer. This helps to gauge just how much of the material they understand.

7th Grade Summer Math Lesson 1

2018-06-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

My eldest child is an incoming 7th grader. The amount of information he loses over the summer is immense. He also has a bit of test anxiety. He panics when he sees something he doesn't know on the test and it causes him to shut down for the remainder of the exam. When it comes to math, he is a natural, however, he requires more time to initially acquire the skill. I like to spend the summers reinforcing the lessons he learned at school so that he will return to school in the fall with enough confidence to excel on his exams. Entering 7th grade, he will be stressed about the number of class changes, keeping track of seven different assignments and books, and don't get me started on the locker combination. He doesn't need to feel like he's behind on something as simple as a review.

I provide him with two math assignments per day for 5 days. If I find that he needs more time on a skill, I will take the week to remain on that one lesson so that he can grasp the concept in his own time. the goal is to have your student stay in the habit of working math problems. Acceleration is not the goal, retention is. Give weekly or bi-weekly quizzes and exams to reduce test anxiety. Feel free to follow my blog to follow along with my summer lesson plan.

Lesson 1 Rounding Decimals

Round to the nearest whole number.

41.803
119.63
20.05
3.45
79.531
8.437
29.37
109.96

Round to the nearest tenth.

33.335
1.861
99.96
103.103
16.031
281.05
8.741
27.773

Round to the nearest hundredth.

69.713
5.569
609.906
247.898
5.535
67.1951
14.0305
6.9372

This last section was a bit challenging as it requires the student to pay closer attention to the function (x, /). It also requires them to memorize which way the decimal moves for both functions. Expect a few slip ups. Add more problems like these throughout the week to keep your student alert so these mistakes aren't made during test time.

Multiplying and Dividing by 10, 100, etc.

4.81x100
37.68/10
0.46x1,000
7.12/10,000
5.4x10
27,500/1,000
4.395x100,000
0.0075/100
2.274x10
90,000/100
0.000618x1,000
39.006/1,000
16x100
28.889/10,000
36.89x10,000
0.091/100
0.0336x100,000
1,672/100,000

3rd Grade Summer Slide Spelling Words Week 1

2018-06-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have an incoming 3rd grader who needs to stay on top of what she learned in 2nd grade. Summer slide in general is a program that is aimed at preventing the academic regression that takes place over the summer. Many children don't have issues with forgetting what they learned the previous year and do well with the usual review that takes place the first month of the fall school quarter. My children are not a part of that group.

If your child needs to stay on the grind like mine, feel free to follow my blog to stay up to date on useful links and assignments to prevent the summer slide. Each week I will post a new spelling list like the one below. Your child should be able to read, spell, define and use each word in the list. Tailor the list to your child's needs. If your child is reading at least two books per week like my own, you can create a list of your own using the words in the books.

There are five lessons per list:

Write the spelling words 3 times each.
Alphabetize the words.
Define the words using a dictionary.
Create unique sentences using the words.
Fill in the blank using the words.

A weekly spelling test is optional. The goal is to expose your child to as much new vocabulary as you can before school this fall. This makes reading comprehension easier and reduces test anxiety and frustration during the school year. If test anxiety is an issue for your child, I would advise a weekly test. This will help your child develop a tolerance and a system of preparation for test taking.

Week 1- Short a/e sight/vocabulary words

high
every
near
west
dress
best
next
else
checked
grand
stand
punish
monarch
migrate
butterfly
nectar

As you can see, with the above list the main topic is butterflies. I recommend reinforcing this list with a child's non-fiction book on Monarch butterflies.

5 Reasons Black Women Wear Weaves That have Nothing To Do With White Women

2018-06-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

1. We look great.

The most probable and rational reason we wear weaves is the same reason white women wear weaves. We look great. We saw a look we wanted to try and didn't want to wait to grow our hair out, or have to cut it to try it. We saw a color we wanted without the commitment. It doesn't matter how we reached the conclusion, once we've decided it was a good look we did it. Nope, nothing to do with wanting to be like white women.

2. We're protecting our natural hair.

Relaxed and heat treated hair is especially fragile. It becomes more fragile during the summer months when the sun acts like a heat dryer and the chlorine acts as a hair bleach. Having our hair protected under a braided weave eliminates the heat damage our hair suffers which reduces breakage and hair loss. No white people, that doesn't mean our hair does not grow. It means it grows better when its being protected. Still nothing to do with white women.

3. We're eclectic.

I may be emo the first week of June and pop star on the third week of June. I have a range of personality quirks that need to be individually expressed. Its humanly impossible to do so with my own hair. Weaves make that possible. Nope, still not trying to be white. Just trying to express myself artistically.

4. We're pressed for time.

The twist out/braid out method takes time to achieve. So does straightening. Between work, philanthropy, children, a husband and two large dogs, I don't have time to do my hair daily. I'm often too exhausted to remember to put on my bonnet at night. A weave makes my life easier by saving time. Surprise, surprise, still not trying to be white.

5. We're hiding a mishap.

Sometimes the stylist cuts my hair too short when all I asked for was a dust or a trim. Other times, she got the color wrong. Or maybe I left the flat iron on or the relaxer in too long. Maybe I need more time to pull off the Big Chop. Any of the above will result in me needing an immediate cover-up until I can once again be presentable in a way that makes me comfortable. You guessed it, nothing to do with white women.

So why this persistent assumption that black women wear weaves solely to assimilate to whiteness? The evidence often presented by white people and black hoteps alike is that black women don't have blond hair or straight hair. But this is categorically false. It has been proven numerous times that dark skinned black women have been known to have all hair textures and eye colors. Yet, still this false stereotype persists.

Are we even going to address the fact that white women themselves learned about weaves from black women? Show me a white female celebrity, and I'll show you a celebrity with a weave. Is anyone going to accuse them of trying to be black? No? Didn't think so. When we do it, we're assimilating. When they do it, it's fashionable.

I'll leave you with this one freebie. The only time a black woman wears a weave to assimilate to white standards is when we are applying and interviewing for a job, or are facing a judge. The reason is because we have learned that Keisha with the purple braids won't get the job but Keisha with the 14" yaki straight center part will. We know that Tenesha with a fro will be charged with a felony but Tenesha with an 18" wet and wavy blond ombre will be charged with a misdemeanor. So congratulations white women, there is one instance when black women will wear a weave to be more like you, survival.

Election Day Tips

2018-06-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Today, Californians are voting in their 2018 Gubernatorial election. A large number of voters have chosen to vote by mail. For those who are still heading to the polls today, here are some tips to consider.

1. Unopposed candidates shouldn't get your vote by default.

Incumbents in certain offices tend to run unopposed. County District Attorney, Tax assessor, and County Property Assessor are a few positions that tend to have no challengers. This doesn't mean that the candidate should automatically inherit your vote. You have two options when faced with this scenario. You can write in a candidate's name or you can not make a selection at all. If you choose to write in a candidates name, first research the position to see if there happens to be a challenger who entered the race late. Writing in this candidate's name will reduce the percentage of the total vote that the incumbent or unopposed candidate earns. That can send a message to the candidate that may inspire a change. The other option is to abstain. This has the same effect and will also cause the candidate to re-evaluate their course of action while in office. This also sparks the drive of another potential candidate come the next voting term. The likelihood of the incumbent running unopposed more than once will be greatly decreased.

2. Your political party doesn't define you.

Choose the candidate with the best resume. Be clear and focused on what policies and qualities you need from the candidates to best represent you, your district, city, county, and state.

3. Research the candidates.

Campaign ads and commercials are methodically planned PR productions. Don't base your opinion of a candidate on them. Take the time to investigate them, their voting trends, their professional and educational backgrounds and their public statements. Race and political party affiliation is irrelevant. Be wary of a client that depends on name dropping, party representation, or race to help sway your vote.

4. Read the voter guide as a time saver.

When it comes to propositions, the wording can be misleading. You think you're voting for something that accomplishes one goal but it turns out to be something completely different. Read the pros and cons and take note of the organizations and individuals supporting or opposing the ballot measures.

When it comes to voting, you want to make informed decisions not emotional ones. Research, investigate, make the best choice possible and abstain if necessary.

Happy voting!

How Get Out Made Me Hilariously Paranoid

2017-03-15T16:15:00.002-07:00

Get Out is a surprise box office hit by Jordan Peele, that has grossed over $100 million dollars. If you have not seen the movie, STOP. DO NOT READ THIS POST. Go watch it first, then come back to this blog and any other blogs that reveal all of the Easter eggs in the movie. Then go watch it again. Since I saw the movie, certain things in pop culture seem suspicious to me now. Things that made perfect sense before, no longer add up. I feel as paranoid as a conspiracy theorist now.

Men In Black

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones starred in this sci-fi comedy along with appearances by Tony Shalhoub (Monk) and Vincent D'Onofrio. The basic premise is that aliens are hijacking human bodies and are walking around Earth in disguise. The MIB have to capture these "illegal aliens". Sometimes, humans see the MIB doing their job. In this case, the MIB use a pen-like device that flashes and clears the human's memory. Their memories are later reprogrammed to remember whatever the MIB planted into the person's head.

If you've seen Get Out, this almost seems like a foreshadowing. Strange people, take over the bodies of black people. However in this case, the flash of light doesn't make the inhabited person forget anything, it helps them remember. Still, they are hypnotized just the same. At which point, any requested thoughts or behaviors are transplanted into the victim's brain.

Spill the tea

This phrase is most commonly used to request more juicy gossip. But what if all this time, the black person being asked to spill the tea was in fact receiving a warning from another black person who was already victimized by those evil body snatchers?

Tea shops

Have you ever noticed how much white people LOVE tea? Like, they love it more than the people who made it in the first place. There are even stand alone tea shops that are as popular as Starbucks. They take a traditional herbal tea from a particular ethnic group or indigenous region and totally revamp it into something no one can resist. There is definitely something suspicious there.

And lets not ignore the fact that they invented tea parties. They had so many, they have to have special China to serve it with. There's an entire etiquette designed around tea, when to drink it, how many times to stir it, tapping the spoon before putting it on your saucer. Perhaps these are instructions for hypnotism.

Skeleton Key

Someone sort of ruined the movie Get Out for me by telling me it was just like a reverse Skeleton Key. Of course this was black people occupying white people with hoodoo, but the premise was basically the same. At the time Kate Hudson starred in the Skeleton Key, black people were still attempting to assimilate to white standards. Our skin prevented complete assimilation, so the idea of a black person becoming a white person against their will was particularly terrifying for a white person. With Get Out the tables were turned. White people wanted to become black people. Perhaps this movie was trying to tell us something.

Kardashians

No one is more guilty of robbing black people of their culture like any one of the Kardashian / Jenner Klan. (The "K" in "Klan" was intentional). Each time a Kardashian couples with a black man, they behave more black, having fully absorbed our culture. However, the black man they were once with, is left to become nothing more than a shell of himself. Lamar Odom wound up in a coma. Perhaps his transplant didn't take. With each new black man, their butts get bigger, their skin gets darker, they start cooking soul food, they have black babies. The Kardashians may be hiding in plain sight. This is not a drill.

Master Race

Show me a post about any set of twins where one is black and the other is white, and I'll show you a comment from a reader that says, "the only way to erase racism is to make more mixed kids." It's the creepiest thing I've ever heard. White people who choose a black mate for the sole purpose of genetic engineering may as well have been a scene in the Get Out movie. If no one can fully claim black or white, no one can be labeled inferior or superior. Which was the focus behind the body snatching in the movie.

This entire post is merely a joke I came up with when a Hotep friend of mine got melodramatic about the movie. Just in case he's right about any of this, I want you all to know that you can count on me to be a friend like Rod. I hope you enjoyed my geeky sense of humor.

Woman Work by Maya Angelou

2017-03-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Woman Work

I've got the children to tend
The clothes to mend
The floor to mop
The food to shop
Then the chicken to fry
The baby to dry
I got company to feed
The garden to weed
I've got shirts to press
The tots to dress
The cane to be cut
I gotta clean up this hut
Then see about the sick
And the cotton to pick.

Shine on me, sunshine
Rain on me, rain
Fall softly, dewdrops
And cool my brow again.

Storm, blow me from here
With your fiercest wind
Let me float across the sky
'Til I can rest again.

Fall gently, snowflakes
Cover me with white
Cold icy kisses and
Let me rest tonight.

Sun, rain, curving sky
Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone
Star shine, moon glow
You're all that I can call my own.

Xfinity vs. AT&T Uverse

2017-03-08T09:40:00.001-08:00

Last Friday I made the switch from AT&T Uverse 300 to Xfinity Double Play. There were two reasons why I left AT&T after over 10 years as a customer. The first was realizing that paying over $200 to watch tv, have a phone I never use, and to surf the internet was an act of insanity. The second reason was the substandard customer service. After surveying my friends, the consensus became clear, Xfinity had better rates, better customer service, and faster internet. I was apprehensive about switching companies. I am a person who doesn't like to change once I've made myself comfortable. Yet, I was no longer comfortable with my provider. I had to remind myself that I don't owe loyalty to a company. That is a privilege reserved for humans. If a company has high rates and poor service, I should find another as quickly as possible. So I made the call to Xfinity.

Customer Service

As I said before, customer service is one of only two reasons I left AT&T Uverse. I live in California. The call center hours changed from 6am-10pm, to 7am-8pm, to 8am-6pm. The wait to speak to a representative averaged 8 minutes per call. I tracked my hold times. This was an unintentional practice that I started once my husband began working as a call center supervisor for a health exchange. At one point I was able to speak to a representative located in the United States. I should state for the record that I am xenophobic in the sense that I don't like strange people but not in the sense that I dislike foreigners. I truly don't care where a representative is, or what type of accent he or she has, so long as we can understand each other and my concern is resolved. This was not the case for AT&T Uverse. All of my calls were routed outside of the country to people who could not understand what I was saying. I understood their accents. They did not understand my California accent. The first 5-7 minutes of every call involved me repeating the pronunciation of my name several times, along with my account number, Uverse phone number, the last 4 digits of my social security number and my 4 digit passcode. Bear in mind, all of this information had already been entered into the automated system. Almost every call resulted in a statement credit due to representative error or flat out rudeness. I was yelled at, cursed at, and hung up on several times. Imagine my frustration having to call back and speak to a voice activated system, only to be routed to the wrong department before finally being transferred to the right place.

Xfinity customer service was the polar opposite. The first thing I noticed was that I could schedule a call back. There's no waiting on hold. There also isn't an annoying voice activated system that refused to allow me to key in my responses. There was a human, available at a convenient time, who understood what I said the first time and never once mispronounced my name.

Installation

Uverse installation was free the first time I had it. However, when I moved into my new house, I had to pay $99. The technician was scheduled to arrive from 1pm to 4pm. At 6:42pm he had not arrived, nor had he called to inform me that he was running late. I had to go through the customer service, voice activated maze to reach a representative. She flatly responded, "Your technician has until 8pm to arrive." That was it. No explanation, no offer to locate the technician, no apology, no credit for the time I had to sit there. The technician arrived at 8pm on the dot and didn't leave until 9:30pm. I had already been up since 5am that morning. In the end, he needed to schedule a second appointment to complete the installation because he couldn't see what he was doing in the dark. After one month of technician appointments, my phone, internet and cable finally worked properly. I was given a one month statement credit due to being without services for a month.

Xfinity installation was $89. Unlike Uverse, I was allowed to break up the cost over my billing cycles. My technician arrival time was between 1-4pm as well. If he was late, I would receive a $20 credit. My technician arrived at 2pm and left my house by 3pm. My services have worked flawlessly.

Cost and Quality of Service

I found that both Xfinity and Uverse were equal in prices. Xfinity offered less channels for the same price. I also had to drop the home phone to keep my monthly rates as close to $100 as possible. With Uverse, I could have phone internet and cable for about $150. My Xfinity Double Play is about $120. Having a home phone wasn't worth the extra $30. It should be stated for the record that the Uverse price is only with a special discount. The actual price would be about $190 a month, $213 with tax, for what I received in the Xfinity Double Play. But again, I would have more channels.

Let's talk about those channels. The channels I lost were channels I didn't even know I had. So I don't miss them. I do however miss having Cartoon Network West and AMC West. Having Cartoon Network West means that my children can watch a cartoon that normally comes on while they're at school, just before leaving for school in the morning. This is because the channel is on eastern standard time. I am a die hard fan of The Walking Dead. I don't like waiting until 9pm pst to watch. With AMC West, I watched at 6pm with the east coast. I don't have that option with Xfinity Double Play. Majority of my channels are sports channels I will never watch until football season. So, not only am I getting less channels for the price, but also, the channels I have are channels I don't watch. There is a balance to this. Shows that were not available to me on Uverse On Demand are available on Xfinity. I didn't need the apps I downloaded to watch past episodes of Underground or Supernatural because they were all On Demand, unlike on Uverse. This makes up for the fact that there is absolutely nothing to watch in my Xfinity channel line up. Still, I may downgrade to just internet only this summer.

Then there's the quality. The first thing I noticed about my cable was that it made my eyes hurt. The first time I got an HD tv, my eyes hurt becuase I wasn't used to the high resolution. That happened again with my Xfinity HD channels. Shows I had seen at least 5 times each episode, looked almost like they were in 3D. I was paying an extra $10 per month for lower quality HD channels with Uverse. After the first day or so, my eyes adjusted to the higher quality Xfinity HD channels. Almost every channel I had was in HD. This was not the case with Uverse.

Even the Xfinity equipment is of a higher quality. I love being able to talk to my remote. It is larger than the Uverse remote but also simpler. Xfinity turned my smart tv into an even smarter tv. Everything is streamlined. When I needed start over with programming my DVR since all of my recordings left with my Uverse DVR, all I had to do was speak the name of the show and press "ok". This was such a time saver. Also, my children are less likely to alter a setting on the tv by pressing the wrong buttons, which happened frequently with my Uverse remote. My 6 year old can record her PowerPuff Girls without waking me up in the morning.

Conclusion

There are only 3 downsides to Xfinity. The first, I can't preview the shows in the guide. I have to change the channel first to see if the show is on a commercial break or to see if this is a channel I am even subscribed to. Uverse allows a preview of what's on the channel before you click "ok". Tis keeps you from channel hopping because every choice you make lands you on a commercial break or an unsubscribed channel. The second, wifi that is supposed to be available outside of the home, isn't really available in my area. When it is available, the signal is so weak it's pointless to try. The third is that I am getting fewer channels for the same price.

None of those issues are enough to send me back to Uverse. They offer stellar customer service, streamlined technology, higher quality HD channels and internet speeds. For an example of the frustrations I faced as a UVerse customer, follow me on Twitter, and see for yourself the tweets I posted while enthralled in poor customer service.

3 Reasons I'm Grateful for Donald Trump's Presidential Candidacy

2016-07-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

Like many Americans, I have experienced an ebb and flow of emotions in reaction to Donald Trump's Presidential candidacy. My initial response can be deemed a knee-jerk comical reaction. I felt the same way when I learned of his candidacy as I did when porn stars announced their candidacies for the California Gubernatorial race years ago. I was entertained, and on some level I welcomed the minstrel show. I considered our government a laughable disgrace. The fact that such unlikely candidates were on the ballot was both a protest and a passive aggressive attack. After all the laughter subsided, I truly expected Donald Trump's candidacy to disappear with it. It didn't.

I have always been one to support the underdog. Naturally, I threw my support in the direction of any unlikely candidate on the ballot. I'm an Independent voter who considered Carly Fiorina, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Chris Christie, Ben Carson and Donald Trump. Basically, anyone but Bush, because my bush is still the only one I trust. But as time went on, the curtains of the sideshow act began to catch fire. There were the Planned Parenthood videos, emails, bridge scandals, potential lawsuits over pensions, and assimilation in the time of Black Lives Matter. Viable candidates began to burn up with the stage. I was left with only serious candidates. You can imagine my confusion when the smoke cleared and Donald Trump was still there. This was no longer entertaining.

I am a realist who teeters dangerously close to becoming an optimist on a daily basis. I try to find something salvageable in every disaster. As November hovers above the horizon, I must come to terms with the terrifying reality that Donald Trump may actually be my next Commander in Chief. I tried to find something good about the possibility. I did my best to seek desirable qualities that were strong enough to mold the useless parts of him into something valuable. I found three, unfortunately, none of these will make me feel better about him as the next President. Still, I am grateful his three greatest accomplishments this election year.

1. He ended the denial of the existence of racism.

People of color know all too well that the denial of the existence of racism is one of our most frustrating hurdles to abound. When Native Americans fought against appropriation of their images as sports team mascots and the term Redskins, White America resisted. They claimed Redskins wasn't a racist term. It was a term of endearment, like the n-word. It is a show of pride and honor. Racism didn't exist anymore and all those rich casino Indians needed to just get over it. Black Americans shouted Black Lives Matter and were told All Lives Matter. They were accused of creating racism where there was none before.

Then along came Donald Trump in all his Seig Heil glory. He attacked Mexicans, then Native Americans and Black Americans. Somewhere in his racial cleansing campaign he even included the Chinese in his xenophobic rhetoric. White America was elated that someone was finally saying what they had been holding in for years. They could be finally be free, free to be their racist selves. Just like that, White America lost the ability to deny the existence of racism. Once they could no longer deny it, White allies began to emerge from places we never expected. There were White Americans in every industry, every state, every religion and political party who could no longer consciously deny the existence of racism. The Black Lives Matter Movement grew stronger. People of Color began to unify and organize to take action. And when a Facebook or Twitter troll attempted to blame people of color for "inventing racism", people of color simply had to point to White America's Presidential candidate and the argument was over.

2. He became the catalyst for the reconstruction of the GOP.

History tells us that people who are Democrats today, would have been Republican in early America. Somewhere down the line, Republican became synonymous with anti-mercy, anti-womanhood, and pro-racism. Many conservative Democrats were left to choose between embarrassing themselves by joining the Republican party, or suppressing some of their values to accept the Democratic party as a consolation. There were those of us who refused to choose between the lesser of two evils. We became Independents, the most powerful voters this election year.

Now that Donald Trump has presented himself as an ignorant, racist, con artist, anyone who proudly and openly supports him is placed in that same demographic. Donald Trump represents the Republican party, even though most of them can't bring themselves to vote for him. He came in like virus, infecting the entire party and ultimately causing the demise of the GOP. Now, it can be reconstructed in a way that reconciles conservative values with the original mission and core structure of the Republican party. If they succeed in doing so, the result could be the drafting of many conservative Independents and Democrats. It could even result in the construction of a separate political party altogether, further breaking down the antiquated bi-partisan system.

3. He destroyed his own empire.

During his campaign, Donald Trump went out of his way to suppress and subsequently defend his frequent out of court settlements with disgruntled people. The general public learned of the failed business ventures he hid so well. There was Trump University, steaks, casinos, real estate scams, you name it, there was a scandal and a payoff for it. Win or lose, when this election is over, no one in their right mind will do business with him again. He has been exposed as a broke con artist with multiple bankruptcy court filings. Win or lose, Donald Trump is bad for business, including his own.

Donald Trump is not a great man. Should he become President of the United States, it will be his singular triumph. And as Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "Never interfere with an enemy while he is in the process of destroying himself." Or in this case, his entire political party.

Signs of Iron Deficiency Anemia

2016-05-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Anemia is a lack of hemoglobin. The most common cause is an iron deficiency. I have been an iron deficiency anemic my whole life. The simplest solution is to increase your intake of iron through dietary changes or to take iron supplements. The cause of this iron deficiency varies. It can be due to: menstrual bleeding, ulcers, the use of NSAIDS like aspirin or ibuprofen, childbirth, breastfeeding, blood donation, endurance training, caffeine and poor diet. Unfortunately, the symptoms for iron anemia can be categorized for at least two other conditions each. Over the years, I have come to isolate which symptoms usually pan out to be an iron deficiency for me.

Extreme fatigue - If I take a 2-4 hour nap and I still feel exhausted, or if I sleep through the night and am still sleepy, I classify that as extremely fatigued.

Pale skin - As a woman of color, this may present itself differently. I find that I get dark circles under my eyes that are not cured by water or sleep. Also, If I get a pimple or mosquito bite, there is immediately a black mark left behind, even if I don't pick at it. I also seem to bruise easily.

Weakness- During roller derby practice I find that I can't skate nearly as many laps as I could when I am not anemic. Unfortunately, the endurance training I go through in practice is also lowering my iron levels.

Shortness of breath - Just walking two blocks to my child's school can wear me out.

Headache - These headaches feel like migraines for me. They can literally knock me out.

Dizziness or lightheadedness - This isn't just when I stand or sit. This is simply turning my head really fast, once, from left to right. I also notice vision changes. Television and other moving images become blurry.

Cold hands and feet - No matter how hot it is, I get the chills. This is usually my first sign.

Fast heartbeat - This can sometimes feel like a panic attack or having too many espresso shots in my coffee.

Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch - I'm all but obsessed with ice when I'm anemic. I know it's reached a dangerous level when I am eating the ice and not drinking the liquid.

Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia - I tend to lose weight when I am anemic because I don't have an appetite anymore. All I want is ice. When I do eat, it's red meat but usually only one serving a week. This is usually when I take an iron supplement. or go see the doctor.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away. These could also be symptoms of even more serious illnesses than anemia. Anemia itself is pretty serious. You may wind up needing a blood transfusion after childbirth or during a simple surgical procedure that normally wouldn't call for it. Better to get in front of it now than to put it off.

3 Simple Ways to Combat Mansplaining in the Workplace

2016-05-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Mansplaining is a portmanteau of the words man and explaining. It is when a man explains something to a woman in a condescending or patronizing manner.

Most incidents of mansplaining takes place at work. This is particularly frustrating due to the codes of conduct most companies have in place. When mansplaining happens at a social gathering, a woman is free to speak her mind without fear of losing her income or feeling the glass ceiling fall even lower than it was before. To put it simply, a woman can clapback at a mansplainer at the family barbeque but not at the office. Here are three simple ways to clapback without backlash at your job.

1. "Don't interrupt me. It's unprofessional."

This is one has been the most successful for me. It has resulted in me being treated more like a supervisor than a subordinate, by my own supervisor. The reason is the buzzword "unprofessional". No one, especially not a misogynist, wants to be called unprofessional. A chauvinistic male operates under the belief that he is inherently more professional and intelligent than his female equal. To infer that he is being unprofessional immediately puts an end to their interruption, mid sentence in fact. This also effects those around you. People will become more respectful about interrupting someone because they don't want to be the unprofessional one. Sometimes interruptions are necessary, but there is a polite way to do it. People will realize that because of you, and your workplace will improve in respect to mansplaining.

2. Remove emotions from the situation.

Male chauvinists believe that women are too emotional. They think that we take everything personally. Any disagreement with them must be an emotional outburst, as far as they are concerned. So let's dumb it down for them. Instead of saying words like rude, disrespectful, or inconsiderate, use words like unprofessional for the reasons stated above. A phrase that often works for me is, "Your behavior is inconducive to our company's core values". This is highly effective because the person must stop what he is doing to evaluate your statement. What are the company's core values? Which ones am I violating? Imaging the impact this statement has when members of your corporate departments are present. What image is he creating for the company or organization by being rude and disrespectful? Essentially, you're telling the person they are being rude and disrespectful without using those exact words. Why do we need to avoid those words? It's simple, emotion.

The determination of someone's rudeness is based upon your opinion. Opinion involves emotion. For you to ascertain that someone is rude, you would have to feel insulted or offended. This also involves emotion. Telling a male chauvinist that he is rude or disrespectful will cause him to dismiss anything you say as a gusher of emotion not worth his time or acknowledgment. So, keep your objections emotionless, factual, and refer to the company's mission statement and core values for support.

3. Womansplain

Yes, womansplaining is a thing, but what man would bravely admit to it? It is essentially the same as mansplaining with a mere gender role reversal. Once at a business meeting a man interrupted me to mansplain. I was feeling petty so I responded, "Woa, someone didn't make par at the golf course this weekend." It was rude, disrespectful, and condescending. Everyone in the room laughed. Immediately this man had to make a decision. Would he become the overly sensitive person he once accused me of being and complain about my comment? Or would he call me out on my behavior in one of the other two ways I have previously suggested? He chose to become emotional. He went on about how great his golf game was and attempted to get back to his mansplaining. But as I said before, I was feeling petty. So I womansplained him again. "Easy there. There's no need to be so emotional. Calm down." He was livid. He called a meeting with my supervisor for sexual harassment. There was only one problem, He had done the same thing unchecked almost every single day to every woman in the office. So, my supervisor informed him that he would pursue a vigorous investigation and ensure that everyone who was found in violation of the policy would be disciplined. He opted out of the complaint and a truce was called in that meeting. He had a more difficult time changing his behavior. I, on the other hand, became Wonder Woman at the office.

Male or Female, no one likes to be interrupted. No one likes to be disrespected or stereotyped for any reason, including gender. So don't assume that all men are sexist and that woman are not at all sexist. Standing up for yourself is quite effective, as is standing up for others. This includes a person of the opposite gender. If each one of us makes an effort to create an environment of respect, we will all spend less time dreading our work days.