For a while Wednesdays were dedicated to my favorite eye candy. With the passing of Heath Ledger I thought this would be more of dedication than ogling. I just hope he's in a better place.
PS-I can't believe I linked E! News on my blog. Is this what grieving can do to you?
PP-I spent more time online than I ever ever ever expected in my life reading about Heath's package. Serious insight into male (gay/straight) psyche.
Dear GreenAprils,
This is your cervix writing. I know, you might've forgotten I existed until you got this e-mail just now (what with vagina and clitoris always hogging all the attention). I bet you wouldn't even recognize me if you saw me -- me, your very own cervix!
Well, that's exactly why my pals at Planned Parenthood have a few ideas for you on how to show me some love. They've been helping women screen against cervical cancer for decades, and right now they're offering a few easy ways you can take care ofyours truly (or, for you guys out there, how you can make sure your sisters, spouses, daughters, and friends stay healthy,too):
TOP THREE WAYS TO LOVE YOUR CERVIX(or the Cervix of Someone You Love)
1. GET A PAP TEST. I know, I know, this seems obvious. But think about it: When WAS your last Pap test? Start taking care of it this very moment. It couldn't be more important, and Planned Parenthood couldn't make it easier for you to find your nearest health center and make anappointment. Please don't put it off; you owe me a Pap and acervical cancer screening at least once a year: Make your appointment now.
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/l7z-ncs1PrzF/FindHealthCenter
2. GET THE HPV VACCINE. You may have heard about this one in the news -- well, now it'stime to take advantage of it. Protect me from the types of humanpapilloma virus (HPV) responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases, not to mention genital warts. Check out these YouTube videos to learn more about me, HPV, and the HPV vaccine.
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/07z-ncs1PrzK/
3. HAVE SAFER SEX. Okay, duh. But seriously, when I say safer, I mean using protection every time. Add HPV and cervical cancer to the longlist of reasons why safer sex is sexier sex, and remember: your cervix cannot protect you, so please protect your cervix. Find out more about protection and safer sex here.
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/lpz-ncs1Prz-/SaferSex
Did I mention making your appointment -- now?
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/l7z-ncs1PrzF/FindHealthCenter
Happy National Cervical Cancer Screening Month!
Love,
Your cervix
P.S. Don't have a cervix? Forward this e-mail to the people you love who do have cervixes!
OK, I recieved this is my inbox this afternoon. It's a little cheesy, but it made me laugh. And it sends a great message: Taking charge of you health=Taking charge of your life!!!
To all our parts!
I am a sucker for a well written song. Mr. Mraz is at the top of list for creative genius. One of my favorites is Plane. Sigh.......
I've been researching the possibility of converting a diesel truck to run on veggie oil or bio-diesel. I like the option. I dislike being so dependent on petrol. And with the turn of events that made 2007 henious, I'm looking for a new car and thought to purchase a truck to convert. I have been so over whelmed with the truck options out there that I was starting to lose it.
Then my sister called me and informed me that my mechanic that he had a Subaru for me if I still needed it. Then my chriopractor called to let me know one of his client needed to unload her Subi also (she was upgrading to a mini-van). Hmmm.
I think the universe is telling me something.
Well, my bank decided that I would be charged $100 in fees for my contracts not coming through. Someone will be yelled at today. I can feel it.
And on a completely unrealted note, Costco sells this item?
Help.
Finally recieved a check from one of my contracts. Of course, it was incorrect. Grrr.....
I was very hopeful that 2008 was going to be a little better to me than 2007. No such luck. I am furious about the happenings this past week. So much so, that I took a mental health day. With additional daily counseling from my best friend I made it through. But I still have a negative bank account and hours of lost driving time. Still, seriously pissed.
I contract with local businesses for my massage services. They take a percentage of my earings and in return I get a recetptionist, room, supplies, etc. Last week one of my contracts flaked and didn't pay me one the day agreed. I was out about $350 for a couple days. Wednesday I went to collect on another contract and no money. Thursday again at another contract, no money. Right now, I'm out about a grand. F-U-C-K!!!
Yes, that is a goat in a tree. For my birthday I want a Goat Brushers T-Shirt and a guard llama.
Logged onto Pandora and they mixed this song into my play list. I love this F*&^%NG song. Wish I had repeat on this.:
Marrow-Ani DiFranco
The answer came like a shot in the back
While you were running from your lesson
Which might explain why years later all you could remember was the terror of the question. Plus, you weren't listening
You were stockpiling canned goods making a bomb shelter of our basement.
And I can't believe you let the moral go by while you were soaking in the product placement. And where was your conscience?
Where was your consciousness?
And where did you put all those letters that you wrote to yourself but could not address?
I'm a good kisser, and you're a fast learner
And that kind of thing could float us for a pretty long time.
And then one day, you'd realized you've memorized my phone number
And you'll call it and find it's a disconnected line.
Cuz I got tossed out the window of love's el camino
And I shattered into a shower of sparks on the curb.
You were smoking me weren't you, between your yellow fingers
You just inhaled and exhaled without saying a word.
And where was your conscience?
Where was your consciousness?
And where did you put all those letters that you wrote to yourself but could not address? There's a smorgasbord of unspoken poisons
The whole childhood of potions that are all bottled up
And so one by one I am dusting off labels
I am uncorking bottles and filling up cups.
So go ahead and have a taste of your own medicine and I'll have a taste of mine
But first let's toast to the lists that we hold in our fists of the things
That we promised to do differently next time.
Cuz the answer came like a shot in the back
While you were running from your lesson which might explain why years later all you could remember was the terror of the question.
Cause I'm not listening to you anymore.
My head is too sore and my heart's perforated
And I am mired in the marrow of my "well ain't that funny?" bone
Learning how to be alone and devastated.
And Where was my conscience?
Where was my consciousness?
And what do I do with all these letters that I wrote to myself but can not address?
Marrow
WARNING: Content may offend.
My sister just called me to ask what would happen if you at an at home birth and the baby dies, could you be charged with murder? To be honest I have no idea, I'm in the process of consulting with some peers on this and will gat back to you. Too most having a child outside the conifes of a "safe" environment of the hospital is "unsafe" This is completely preputated by western standards (that is an oxymoron) of mother baby care. In recent examination of "practice protocol" it has come to light that some helpful interventions do exactly the opposite. I could blog about this for years and with passion. However, this valid question my sister asked was spurred by a segment that she watched today on Good Morning America, on which they featured a woman who gave birth to her fourth child at home with just her husband assisting. I find this facisinating for this reason: Instead of fearturing the huge range of choices that a women has when giving birth (and YES it is still the woman's choice), the reporters focus in on the two ends of the spectrum. Complete medical birth and at home with out anyone but yourself. Nothing inbetween. Then ask the question which is "better"? Annoying would be an understatement. This is one of the many interesting dichomoty of our culture. Picking what is best for yourself has to be supported by an expert or a narrow ideology. Think about it:, you be: Gay/Straight, Black/White, Male/Female, but not both. This is problematic in so many ways, but that is another bolg, I suppose.
GMA in the story featured a book titled "Pushed: The Painful Truth about Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block (Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2007)." and had an excerpt. I have heard very good things about this book. I was schocked while reading this section:
Goorchenko's first baby was born at the hospital. She was an unexpectedly pregnant 19-year-old and got "one heck of an episiotomy," she says. "I had a mirror set up so I could see the birth and all of a sudden I'm watching my vagina being cut with scissors." It took years to get over the psychological trauma. "And on top of that it just fucks up your vagina," says Goorchenko. "I had incontinence. I could barely feel sex for a year and a half."
Interesting. I think Eve Ensler might be joing the cause. In a way she already has. A year and a half? I want to believe that this is the exception rather than the norm, but my current training as a doula has opened my eyes. WOMEN: This is the norm.
In addition to national exposure thier are numerous educational and evidence based information about preganacy and the birthing process. I'll post these soon, but for now check out the Doulas of North America for the basics.
Also, this month a new documentary titled "The Business of Being Born" is being realeased. If you don't go and see the movie at least check out the website and watch the trailer. I work in this "industry" and I learned something.
It is truly hard to describe how shitty 2007 was for me. It will be a while before I recover. I hope to be able to laugh about it (maybe in about 25-30 years). I'm being dramatic of course, but the good thing about 2007 being crappy is that I have really low expectations for the upcoming 365 days. I'm hoping this is a plus beacuse I do not like the stentch of cyncism that I've noticed lately.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!
Stole this from OSCAR (friends blog). Feel free to copy and paste w/your own answers.
1.) Where did you begin 2007? Babysitting. It was a crazy night. Bedtime at 8:30pm. I should have know then what 2007 had in store for me.
2.) What was your status by Valentine's Day? Single and sick.
3.) Were you in school (anytime this year)? Doula school, does that count?
4.) How did you earn your money? Massage of course.
5.) Did you have to go to the hospital? Yes, when I rolled my car.
6.) Did you have any encounters with the police? Yes, too many to count.
7.) Where the hell did number seven go?
8.) What did you purchase that was over $1000? Deposit for the house, car rental fees, New tools for my business. Oh, and the lovely hospital bills.
9.) Did you know anybody who got married? Scott and Michelle, former roomates.
10.) Did you know anybody who passed away? Great Aunt Noreen and Uncle Lenny. How could I forget the deer that commited suicide with my car?
11.) Did you know anyone who had a baby? No, but I'm pretty set up for 2008.
12.) Did you move anywhere? Every week or so, I was camping for most of the summer.
13.) Did you have sex? Yes. Thank Goddess.
14.) What concerts/shows did you go to? G-Love, Bob Schinieder, Asylum Street Spankers, Greencards, Blue Turtle, Sol Jibe and some I can't remember.
15.) Are you registered to vote? No, my best friend is going to kill me.
16.) Who did you want to win American Idol? Huh?
17.) Where do you live now? In a house, thank goddess
18.) Describe your birthday? Forced fun until I had a good amount of Casadores in me. Then, as usual, I was a dancing queen.
19.) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2007? Roll my car. That stands out the most, but I could list about 17 other things.
20.) What has been your favorite moment? My sister still being alive.
21.) What's something you learned about yourself? Shit, really is this a question. I have an unusal tolerance for the universe F*&^ing with me. That and I was born to drive a Ford Mustang.
22.) Any new additions to your family? LuLoo, my pedigree Organian Camping Cat
23.) What was your best month? Feburary. Ah, blissful ignorance.
24.) What music will you remember 2007 by? Anything by Timbaland
25.) Who has been your best drinking buddy? Anyone giving me cider for free. Laura, Andrea and Andrea's mom of course.
26.) Made new friends? Yes, I did. Kindergarten paid off (finally).
27.) New best friend? My sister and I closer than ever. Maybe not best friends, yet.
28.) Favorite Night out? A long story, but the night of the G-Love show I was "left with no other option" than to go home with a guy because I had no place to sleep at my sisters house. It was a lucky night for a lot of people. Good times. Oh, and how could I forget Ellis Island Casino in Las Vegas. Damn that was fun!!
29.) Do you think 2008 will be better or worse? IT HAS TO BE BETTER.
