Lilly is now two years old! She loves to prove it too by crying and being frustrated at things I'm not even sure what's wrong. She also likes to do things herself and she likes to order her Da to mow. Da! Mow! and points outside authoritatively. She's learning new words every single day. She got a bike helmet for her birthday and she looked at it and said "Helm" without us telling her what it was! Just amazing.
I want to get her a pretend makeup set so that she can do her makeup while I do mine. I also hope it will curb her drawing on her face. She loves to draw on her face the most.
Thinking about getting her a pretend makeup set reminded me of when I got one when I was little. My Grandma would pick me up for my birthday and take me out to lunch. Even if I was at school! We would go to Pizza Hut and I would use my Book It! coupon to get a free personal pan pizza AND sticker for my BookIt! pin. Then we would go to the Big Wheel and pick out a toy for me. I picked out the pretend makeup and she wasn't sure if my mom would allow me to get it. I said yes because my mom never said I couldn't get it. Heh heh heh.
I was probably 8 give or take a few years. And now I'm asking for one for my two year old. I want her to grow up knowing about makeup. When to wear it, when you don't need to, what type of makeup to wear when she's going out on a date vs. to an interview. I have fought learning this my whole life. I love wearing makeup for me, but I hate wearing makeup when people expect me to and say I have to. Makeup is part of being a woman in this culture, even if it is against your feminist views or your hippie views. I think it's important to be embraced and understood so that it you can control it instead of having it controlled onto you.
Off topic, but a thought to think about: If everyone wants to keep their right to fly the confederate flag, and their right to not vaccinate their children (which I think they should keep that right, but would use my right to not fly the flag and my right to vaccinate my kids), why do women not have their right to their bodies? Women should have the right to easily accessible birth control (all types, Plan B especially), and a right to an abortion. Why does an embryo have more rights than a fully formed human that has lived a minimum of 11 to 13 years? A possibility has more rights than a fact. It doesn't make sense. I would like to see birth control freely available and covered by basic insurance and maybe the government, but that's going above and beyond the basic rights issue. That is a socialist political view, and can be argued. But did you know you can buy Plan B over the counter at a pharmacy? You don't need a prescription. Why don't young girls know that?!?! What if a woman is raped and can't see her doctor in time? There is only a 3 day window for it. And it doesn't kill an embryo, it prevents the embryo from forming. At the very least, I would like to see more knowledge openly talked about and spread about birthcontrol to women. At the very least, I wish it was part of the yearly woman checkup, to discuss all the types of birthcontrol and where to get it.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
One Adventure After Another...But No Boats
Yesterday was an excellent day. It was the first day of Lilly not being sick after a week, and sick Josh was back to work, not promoting resting in the house. I took it as a day to get shiza done! But, what to get done? Do I clean the house? Do I complete a homemaking chore to make life better for my family? (aka finish sewing Lilly's curtains? or work on any of my crafts?) Or do I plan a day of adventures for Lilly and skip all the other house work?
I asked Lilly what sort of adventure she wanted to go on. She was staring out the window in the kitchen at the backyard. She thought about it and thought about it. I wondered if she knew what an adventure was. Then she looks at me and says "BOAT!" She sure did know what an adventure was! I unfortunately couldn't find a person who both owned a boat and wasn't working. Soooo...I only asked my mom. They have at least three boat like things.
I noticed that the ants were out in force, and I saw three or four extra around the couch, so cleaning took precedent. I do NOT want ants in the couch, or any where in the house, for that matter. Plus it was dirty due to the week of sickness, and Lilly had cereal for breakfast and spilled it all over. (Dry, no milk). That's how you get ants. I picked it all up (the toys, the clothes, the random stuff, boxes, recycling, etc) and vacuumed the floor and the couch. It's easy to vacuum the couch. I read it in a homemaking book, and I thought it was a great idea. If you do it every time you vacuum, it gets fast and easy, and the ants don't come.
If you didn't know, Josh and I battled the ants every spring in Antioch, TN. Second floor apartment and everything, but damn, those ants won more battles than they lost. They forced us to clean the pantry yearly and be aware of what is open (even if it's tightly sealed). We couldn't keep clothes on the floor in the bathroom because you do NOT want to put on pants filled with ants. Trust me. And, they found the couch. And once they get in the couch, and it's 90 degrees out and humid, they crawl up and bite you in your sensitive upper inner thigh. Ackbar was our best defense. He would lay down on their path and they would be forced to try and crawl the wrong way up into his extra fluffy tail.
Okay, so the best defense is vacuuming up the food in a timely manner. Especially behind the couch and in the cracks and cushions. Ackbar is just the cutest defense.
During the vacuuming, Lilly played on my phone in Kids Mode. She can call four people in that mode, Oma, Grandma, Aunt Mandy and Opa. And she chose to call Oma, and she talked to her and said Hi. I think then, Oma asked if everything was okay or if there was an emergency, and Lilly said YES and started crying and hung up on her. So Oma called me back and it was twice before I heard it and had no idea that the first Lilly call even took place. And of course there was an emergency...according to Lilly vacuuming is a terrible emergency that needs to be stopped. It was Lilly's first independent phone call! I'm so proud of her.
Back to my productive day. After the cleaning, I rested, paid some bills and played with Lilly. I was doing my hair in the bathroom or I was dressing in the bedroom, I don't remember, but Lilly was in the bathroom. She usually stands on the toilet now and plays with everything she can find in the cupboard above the toilet. It's very hard to get her out. And this time, she was playing, then she quick ran out fast and it was very suspiciously quiet. I went to find her, and she was sitting in the living room putting the deodorant on her chin, looking very pleased with herself. "Finally! It's mine!!!!" It was a dream of hers come true. She also put it on her armpits and her elbow.
Then it was lunch time. We had sandwiches, but she spit out her lettuce. Normally she doesn't notice the lettuce at first and gets a few bites of it eaten before she picks it off. Nap time did not go as planned, and Lilly did not sleep. I still insist on naptime being my time, so she watched tv and rested. She chose Peep and The Big Wide World which is my favorite show because it is so innocent and funny and peaceful. I think it is one show that truly captures adventures and exploring as a child from a child's point of view. And there is a duck, and nothing is better than a duck. That's a joke for the people who watch the show.
Then I remembered that I needed to make a crock pot of pork butt for dinner. About three hours later than I meant too. I cut up the veggies, carrots, celery, onions, whole garlics, and forgot the potatoes. I salted and peppered the meat, and then added some vinegar and worschesteir sauce. I forgot the fresh herbs. Oh, and I added a whole jalapeno, but no seeds. It made everything VERY hot and spicy. That was not my plan.
After nap time we were bored. I asked her if she wanted to go to Walmart so I could buy her a pretty birthday outfit. She said "no." And I respect that decision, so we didn't go. She did have her frog boots on and was ready to play in the rain (it had started raining hard instead of being beautiful and sunny and perfect like the morning was). And that's what we did; Splashed in puddles and played with umbrellas.
Afterwards, we were still bored, so I decided it was time to do what I needed to do. We drove out and bought some Amish grown strawberries, and I brought them to my mom's to make jam. Only, my mom didn't know we were coming, and I didn't think about what one needed to make jam. Like, jars and pectin and sugar and new jar lids. So I just cleaned them and froze them in bags instead. Lilly would stand by the bowl and eat the berries as fast as I was cleaning them! She loves berries!
While there, my dad called and said he needed dinner at 5:30 that day for reasons. Which was awesome because I was going to leave to go eat dinner at my house at 5:00...but this meant FREE DINNER FOR ME. Only not for me, just Lilly and I'll take that. I got the tiny plate to eat off of, gotta keep my figure.
Lilly fell asleep on the ride home and stayed asleep! This meant she fell asleep 2 hrs earlier than normal and Josh and I had extra time!! We were in the kitchen and I told him: There was no clean dishrags upstairs, so I didn't do the dishes today.
This morning I found a clean one he carried upstairs from the basement on the sink. He's always thinking of me.
Today my work is getting Lilly a balloon. PEEEZ!
I asked Lilly what sort of adventure she wanted to go on. She was staring out the window in the kitchen at the backyard. She thought about it and thought about it. I wondered if she knew what an adventure was. Then she looks at me and says "BOAT!" She sure did know what an adventure was! I unfortunately couldn't find a person who both owned a boat and wasn't working. Soooo...I only asked my mom. They have at least three boat like things.
I noticed that the ants were out in force, and I saw three or four extra around the couch, so cleaning took precedent. I do NOT want ants in the couch, or any where in the house, for that matter. Plus it was dirty due to the week of sickness, and Lilly had cereal for breakfast and spilled it all over. (Dry, no milk). That's how you get ants. I picked it all up (the toys, the clothes, the random stuff, boxes, recycling, etc) and vacuumed the floor and the couch. It's easy to vacuum the couch. I read it in a homemaking book, and I thought it was a great idea. If you do it every time you vacuum, it gets fast and easy, and the ants don't come.
If you didn't know, Josh and I battled the ants every spring in Antioch, TN. Second floor apartment and everything, but damn, those ants won more battles than they lost. They forced us to clean the pantry yearly and be aware of what is open (even if it's tightly sealed). We couldn't keep clothes on the floor in the bathroom because you do NOT want to put on pants filled with ants. Trust me. And, they found the couch. And once they get in the couch, and it's 90 degrees out and humid, they crawl up and bite you in your sensitive upper inner thigh. Ackbar was our best defense. He would lay down on their path and they would be forced to try and crawl the wrong way up into his extra fluffy tail.
Okay, so the best defense is vacuuming up the food in a timely manner. Especially behind the couch and in the cracks and cushions. Ackbar is just the cutest defense.
During the vacuuming, Lilly played on my phone in Kids Mode. She can call four people in that mode, Oma, Grandma, Aunt Mandy and Opa. And she chose to call Oma, and she talked to her and said Hi. I think then, Oma asked if everything was okay or if there was an emergency, and Lilly said YES and started crying and hung up on her. So Oma called me back and it was twice before I heard it and had no idea that the first Lilly call even took place. And of course there was an emergency...according to Lilly vacuuming is a terrible emergency that needs to be stopped. It was Lilly's first independent phone call! I'm so proud of her.
Back to my productive day. After the cleaning, I rested, paid some bills and played with Lilly. I was doing my hair in the bathroom or I was dressing in the bedroom, I don't remember, but Lilly was in the bathroom. She usually stands on the toilet now and plays with everything she can find in the cupboard above the toilet. It's very hard to get her out. And this time, she was playing, then she quick ran out fast and it was very suspiciously quiet. I went to find her, and she was sitting in the living room putting the deodorant on her chin, looking very pleased with herself. "Finally! It's mine!!!!" It was a dream of hers come true. She also put it on her armpits and her elbow.
Then it was lunch time. We had sandwiches, but she spit out her lettuce. Normally she doesn't notice the lettuce at first and gets a few bites of it eaten before she picks it off. Nap time did not go as planned, and Lilly did not sleep. I still insist on naptime being my time, so she watched tv and rested. She chose Peep and The Big Wide World which is my favorite show because it is so innocent and funny and peaceful. I think it is one show that truly captures adventures and exploring as a child from a child's point of view. And there is a duck, and nothing is better than a duck. That's a joke for the people who watch the show.
Then I remembered that I needed to make a crock pot of pork butt for dinner. About three hours later than I meant too. I cut up the veggies, carrots, celery, onions, whole garlics, and forgot the potatoes. I salted and peppered the meat, and then added some vinegar and worschesteir sauce. I forgot the fresh herbs. Oh, and I added a whole jalapeno, but no seeds. It made everything VERY hot and spicy. That was not my plan.
After nap time we were bored. I asked her if she wanted to go to Walmart so I could buy her a pretty birthday outfit. She said "no." And I respect that decision, so we didn't go. She did have her frog boots on and was ready to play in the rain (it had started raining hard instead of being beautiful and sunny and perfect like the morning was). And that's what we did; Splashed in puddles and played with umbrellas.
Afterwards, we were still bored, so I decided it was time to do what I needed to do. We drove out and bought some Amish grown strawberries, and I brought them to my mom's to make jam. Only, my mom didn't know we were coming, and I didn't think about what one needed to make jam. Like, jars and pectin and sugar and new jar lids. So I just cleaned them and froze them in bags instead. Lilly would stand by the bowl and eat the berries as fast as I was cleaning them! She loves berries!
While there, my dad called and said he needed dinner at 5:30 that day for reasons. Which was awesome because I was going to leave to go eat dinner at my house at 5:00...but this meant FREE DINNER FOR ME. Only not for me, just Lilly and I'll take that. I got the tiny plate to eat off of, gotta keep my figure.
Lilly fell asleep on the ride home and stayed asleep! This meant she fell asleep 2 hrs earlier than normal and Josh and I had extra time!! We were in the kitchen and I told him: There was no clean dishrags upstairs, so I didn't do the dishes today.
This morning I found a clean one he carried upstairs from the basement on the sink. He's always thinking of me.
Today my work is getting Lilly a balloon. PEEEZ!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
How I Make Soup
My favorite recipe at the moment is Cheesy Asparagus Soup. I use this one: The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup from Averiecooks.com. I found it through a google search...I have not read any of the other posts on the blog. Broccoli and Asparagus are both dark green, and I like to cook meals and add foods to meals based on color. So, clearly they are inter-mixable.
Josh and I don't like asparagus normally, but as a good friend taught me once, all gross vegetables are good if you cover them in cheese. Enter Eggplant and Zucchini Parmesan. Right now, asparagus is in season and locally grown, so it is as fresh and as cheap as you can get food, which means we should eat it, even if it's not our favorite. It's only around for a month or so anyways.
The recipe has you make a roux with butter, flour and fat free half and half. WHAAT? I never read that when I cooked it, I don't ever have half and half. But fat free? What IS that? How can that be? Is it more like half skim milk half water? Let me tell you, I make this better. Take your two cup liquid measure cup and add sour cream and plain yogurt. Or just one of those. I mix them until I get one cup of thick creams then pour in one cup of milk and mix it together. You could do just half a cup of sour cream. Or probably cream cheese. Just use a white delicious full fat food.
Okay back up. So sorry. I add two cups chicken broth to the butter and flour roux (if you want to know how to make a roux, you should probably google or youtube it), THEN add the two cups of the white creamy liquid milk. For the broth, I happen to have fresh broth on hand I made a few days ago. But I would do two cups hot water with two bouillon cubes dissolved in, and be very careful how much salt I add in later.
In the recipe, the author has you cook the onions and garlic and then set them aside. I don't have that much room or dishes to do that. I just cook the onions and garlic in the 1/4 c butter I use to make the roux and just keep the onions there as part of it all. I can't see a difference. Once all the liquid is added, it is boiled/simmered for 20 min. I don't know why. I do it so that I can take the time to wash all the dishes I made dirty to get to this step and cut up the vegetables. I would not have thought to add carrots to a soup like this. Carrots are orange and cheese is orange...too much color similarity. But it adds a nice texture change to the soup and a little sweetness. I added red pepper to the onions because I had it and needed to use it up. I didn't like it, but I don't really like bell peppers in soups. I would have added a delicious jalapeno but I didn't want to make it too spicy for Lilly.
You add all the veggies and spices and boil it for another 20 min. I don't think you should skip the spices for this soup. The recipe suggests paprika and dried mustard powder. It's very good. In the future I might add cumin too, or a curry powder. Be careful about the salt though. Some chicken broths are very salty and cheese (which hasn't even been added yet) is also salty. For this I added just less than a full teaspoon.
Cheese. I pick yellow cheddar, but I like cheddar cheese for soups. Josh's mom brought us a great smoked cheddar cheese that I added and it provided a nice smokey flavor to the soup. Just shredd it and add it and stir and then serve the soup when you are ready. I served it with tiny steaks that were 2$ at the grocery store. Meat on the side!
Cheese Story: The other morning I got to sleep in! Josh got up with Lilly and I stayed in bed. Lilly came in and brought me the unopened package of smoked cheese. I thought Josh gave it to her as a surprise for me, so I opened it and shared it with her in bed. I called Josh in, and he was soo surprised! Where did the cheese come from?!? Apparently it was all Lilly's idea, and she also learned how to open and close the fridge.
Josh and I don't like asparagus normally, but as a good friend taught me once, all gross vegetables are good if you cover them in cheese. Enter Eggplant and Zucchini Parmesan. Right now, asparagus is in season and locally grown, so it is as fresh and as cheap as you can get food, which means we should eat it, even if it's not our favorite. It's only around for a month or so anyways.
The recipe has you make a roux with butter, flour and fat free half and half. WHAAT? I never read that when I cooked it, I don't ever have half and half. But fat free? What IS that? How can that be? Is it more like half skim milk half water? Let me tell you, I make this better. Take your two cup liquid measure cup and add sour cream and plain yogurt. Or just one of those. I mix them until I get one cup of thick creams then pour in one cup of milk and mix it together. You could do just half a cup of sour cream. Or probably cream cheese. Just use a white delicious full fat food.
Okay back up. So sorry. I add two cups chicken broth to the butter and flour roux (if you want to know how to make a roux, you should probably google or youtube it), THEN add the two cups of the white creamy liquid milk. For the broth, I happen to have fresh broth on hand I made a few days ago. But I would do two cups hot water with two bouillon cubes dissolved in, and be very careful how much salt I add in later.
In the recipe, the author has you cook the onions and garlic and then set them aside. I don't have that much room or dishes to do that. I just cook the onions and garlic in the 1/4 c butter I use to make the roux and just keep the onions there as part of it all. I can't see a difference. Once all the liquid is added, it is boiled/simmered for 20 min. I don't know why. I do it so that I can take the time to wash all the dishes I made dirty to get to this step and cut up the vegetables. I would not have thought to add carrots to a soup like this. Carrots are orange and cheese is orange...too much color similarity. But it adds a nice texture change to the soup and a little sweetness. I added red pepper to the onions because I had it and needed to use it up. I didn't like it, but I don't really like bell peppers in soups. I would have added a delicious jalapeno but I didn't want to make it too spicy for Lilly.
You add all the veggies and spices and boil it for another 20 min. I don't think you should skip the spices for this soup. The recipe suggests paprika and dried mustard powder. It's very good. In the future I might add cumin too, or a curry powder. Be careful about the salt though. Some chicken broths are very salty and cheese (which hasn't even been added yet) is also salty. For this I added just less than a full teaspoon.
Cheese. I pick yellow cheddar, but I like cheddar cheese for soups. Josh's mom brought us a great smoked cheddar cheese that I added and it provided a nice smokey flavor to the soup. Just shredd it and add it and stir and then serve the soup when you are ready. I served it with tiny steaks that were 2$ at the grocery store. Meat on the side!
Cheese Story: The other morning I got to sleep in! Josh got up with Lilly and I stayed in bed. Lilly came in and brought me the unopened package of smoked cheese. I thought Josh gave it to her as a surprise for me, so I opened it and shared it with her in bed. I called Josh in, and he was soo surprised! Where did the cheese come from?!? Apparently it was all Lilly's idea, and she also learned how to open and close the fridge.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Climbing Babies and the Barn Store
Yesterday I walked into the living room and Lilly was standing naked, on my (closed) laptop, waving the dress she was wearing around in defiance to the world.
We went to the library and when I was looking at the new release books in the adult section she climbed up onto a computer table and started laughing. We had to leave.
We were checking out the JnJ Auction stuff in person and somehow she climbed up onto a table that was too high for her to climb up onto, while Josh and I were standing right there but didn't see her do it.
She hung off my arm like I was a jungle gym. And my arm and the stair railing at the library too.
Lilly and I and a friend and her sons all had our picture in the paper this week because we visited the blacksmithing demonstration and pictures of moms and kids make good press. Plus, we were all so beautiful, it was difficult not to put us in. he he he.
Last Friday we went to my Edward Jones person's open house at his new office. He called me up to invite me, and I told him it was already on my calendar and had posted the newspaper article on my board. He was shocked! I, on the other hand, realized that I cling to anything that offers free cake. And, it was delicious cake.
The office was next door to a Barn Store (like Farm and Fleet, etc.), so we went in to show Lilly the chickies and baby ducks, and to let her ride the lawn mowers. I was waiting in line to buy fertilizer and lime for our yard at my landlords direction. A guy with a big (see: fat) hunting dog was in line behind me and talked to me about how he doesn't need a lawn mower (Josh and Lilly were climbing them) because he has such a large garden and he lets the goats and chickens mow the rest. He told me that he doesn't like buying fertilizer etc. for the yard. As I have a cart full of it. I explained to him that I would choose something different, but my landlord insists...and it's not actually my yard. And I told him about how I had to put down treated mulch and am having a hard time gardening b/c I don't want to eat food grown in treated mulch. He agreed and said "You could grow a garden in pots...OR grow a garden of pot!!!" He found that so amusing. I told him that would be tough to do in town.
Then it was my turn to pay. The cashier asked me "Would she like a cookie?" and I was confused. She? Lilly? Lilly isn't even in eyesight right now. I even looked around for her. And even though it was a free cookie I said "no, she just ate a bunch of cake." and the woman gave me the same confused look I just gave her. Then she says "Yeah, my dog loves hamburgers. We went on a road trip and that meant lots of stops at fast food places and she got a hamburger everytime. My husband insisted." Whaaaaaat? I realized she thought the guy with the dog was with me. I didn't correct her. I just made the appropriate responses and left.
I put my heavy purchases in the trunk of the car while Josh got Lilly in the seat, and I returned the cart to the store. As I was walking it in, this bigger older man asked me if he could have a ride. I was like...ummm...no. And he said, pardon? and I said No.... and furiously tried to think of a funny response but couldn't. I hate it when men come up and "flirt" with me by making a funny joke. I never have a response, nor is the initial ever that funny. If you are a man, has a woman ever come up and asked you for a ride in your cart?
I got back to the car and told Josh we have to leave...that store is just too weird.
We went to the library and when I was looking at the new release books in the adult section she climbed up onto a computer table and started laughing. We had to leave.
We were checking out the JnJ Auction stuff in person and somehow she climbed up onto a table that was too high for her to climb up onto, while Josh and I were standing right there but didn't see her do it.
She hung off my arm like I was a jungle gym. And my arm and the stair railing at the library too.
Lilly and I and a friend and her sons all had our picture in the paper this week because we visited the blacksmithing demonstration and pictures of moms and kids make good press. Plus, we were all so beautiful, it was difficult not to put us in. he he he.
Last Friday we went to my Edward Jones person's open house at his new office. He called me up to invite me, and I told him it was already on my calendar and had posted the newspaper article on my board. He was shocked! I, on the other hand, realized that I cling to anything that offers free cake. And, it was delicious cake.
The office was next door to a Barn Store (like Farm and Fleet, etc.), so we went in to show Lilly the chickies and baby ducks, and to let her ride the lawn mowers. I was waiting in line to buy fertilizer and lime for our yard at my landlords direction. A guy with a big (see: fat) hunting dog was in line behind me and talked to me about how he doesn't need a lawn mower (Josh and Lilly were climbing them) because he has such a large garden and he lets the goats and chickens mow the rest. He told me that he doesn't like buying fertilizer etc. for the yard. As I have a cart full of it. I explained to him that I would choose something different, but my landlord insists...and it's not actually my yard. And I told him about how I had to put down treated mulch and am having a hard time gardening b/c I don't want to eat food grown in treated mulch. He agreed and said "You could grow a garden in pots...OR grow a garden of pot!!!" He found that so amusing. I told him that would be tough to do in town.
Then it was my turn to pay. The cashier asked me "Would she like a cookie?" and I was confused. She? Lilly? Lilly isn't even in eyesight right now. I even looked around for her. And even though it was a free cookie I said "no, she just ate a bunch of cake." and the woman gave me the same confused look I just gave her. Then she says "Yeah, my dog loves hamburgers. We went on a road trip and that meant lots of stops at fast food places and she got a hamburger everytime. My husband insisted." Whaaaaaat? I realized she thought the guy with the dog was with me. I didn't correct her. I just made the appropriate responses and left.
I put my heavy purchases in the trunk of the car while Josh got Lilly in the seat, and I returned the cart to the store. As I was walking it in, this bigger older man asked me if he could have a ride. I was like...ummm...no. And he said, pardon? and I said No.... and furiously tried to think of a funny response but couldn't. I hate it when men come up and "flirt" with me by making a funny joke. I never have a response, nor is the initial ever that funny. If you are a man, has a woman ever come up and asked you for a ride in your cart?
I got back to the car and told Josh we have to leave...that store is just too weird.
Friday, May 8, 2015
NonViolence and How To Use It To Your Advantage
Do you want to learn how to Stick It to The Man peacefully, nonviolently, and hopefully righteously? What do you care about? Women's rights? Equal rights? The environment? Taxes? Laws? Big corporations seen as people? Food, from how it's grown to how it's manipulated by man? Education improvements? Fracking? The size of the government? The welfare of our poor? Immigration statuses? Bringing down the baker, the banker and the candlestick maker?
There are 198 different ways to protest non-violently, so if you think non-violence isn't for you, I'm sure you can find something on the list to float your boat. There are 24 different types of strikes. There are citizens' noncooperation with government through boycotts of elections (seems like the young already do this), and refusal to accept appointed officials (what would that look like?), among others. Refusal of a government's money. Lockout. Domestic embargo (that's a government action). To really get these to work though, you need to know what you are doing and how to best utilize these tools.
Which is why I am letting you know that Rivera Sun, author of The Dandelion Insurrection, is coming to Grant and Fremont to teach you how to use these nonviolent actions to further your social change cause. AKA, teach you how to get what you want through non-violence. The logistics and information is listed below.
If you want me to reserve a place (it's not too late!) let me know and I'll make it happen. I have tickets! All of these discussions do not focus on one issue, but teaches you to promote your issue, whatever it is. There are also a few scholarships available. If you want to go to the bookreading and dinner, all I can say is Hit The Road Joe's serves amazing locally sourced, house made food! It is by far the best place to eat in the area.
Rivera Sun - Seeds of Change
Newaygo County, Michigan
Love-in-Action – May 21-23
Rivera Sun, author, co-host of Occupy Radio, and co-founder of Love-In-Action Network, will bring a focused approach to the dynamics and strategy of non-violent action, timely to people everywhere.
Thursday May 21: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Hit the Road Joe Café at 7291 Elm Ave.
Rivera will read from her book, The Dandelion Insurrection. Dinner at 6:00. Rivera at 6:45. Reserve by 5/5/15 – Dinner: $10 Reading only, 6:45, free. Call 231-652-6020
Friday, May 22: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm Social Media for Social Change Workshop. Grant District Library Community Room, 122 S. Elder, Grant.
Learn how to use social media to bring your message to the people. $10.00. Reserve by 5/15. Call 231-335-3127 or michigandandelions@gmail.com
Saturday May23, 10:30am – 2:30pm. Seeds of Change Workshop, Fremont District Library Community Room, 104 E Main.
Learn skills for planning powerful campaigns that use nonviolence effectively. Includes lunch. $30.00. Reserve by 5/5/15Call 231-335-3127 or michigandandelions@gmail.com
There are 198 different ways to protest non-violently, so if you think non-violence isn't for you, I'm sure you can find something on the list to float your boat. There are 24 different types of strikes. There are citizens' noncooperation with government through boycotts of elections (seems like the young already do this), and refusal to accept appointed officials (what would that look like?), among others. Refusal of a government's money. Lockout. Domestic embargo (that's a government action). To really get these to work though, you need to know what you are doing and how to best utilize these tools.
Which is why I am letting you know that Rivera Sun, author of The Dandelion Insurrection, is coming to Grant and Fremont to teach you how to use these nonviolent actions to further your social change cause. AKA, teach you how to get what you want through non-violence. The logistics and information is listed below.
If you want me to reserve a place (it's not too late!) let me know and I'll make it happen. I have tickets! All of these discussions do not focus on one issue, but teaches you to promote your issue, whatever it is. There are also a few scholarships available. If you want to go to the bookreading and dinner, all I can say is Hit The Road Joe's serves amazing locally sourced, house made food! It is by far the best place to eat in the area.
Rivera Sun - Seeds of Change
Newaygo County, Michigan
Love-in-Action – May 21-23
Rivera Sun, author, co-host of Occupy Radio, and co-founder of Love-In-Action Network, will bring a focused approach to the dynamics and strategy of non-violent action, timely to people everywhere.
Thursday May 21: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Hit the Road Joe Café at 7291 Elm Ave.
Rivera will read from her book, The Dandelion Insurrection. Dinner at 6:00. Rivera at 6:45. Reserve by 5/5/15 – Dinner: $10 Reading only, 6:45, free. Call 231-652-6020
Friday, May 22: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm Social Media for Social Change Workshop. Grant District Library Community Room, 122 S. Elder, Grant.
Learn how to use social media to bring your message to the people. $10.00. Reserve by 5/15. Call 231-335-3127 or michigandandelions@gmail.com
Saturday May23, 10:30am – 2:30pm. Seeds of Change Workshop, Fremont District Library Community Room, 104 E Main.
Learn skills for planning powerful campaigns that use nonviolence effectively. Includes lunch. $30.00. Reserve by 5/5/15Call 231-335-3127 or michigandandelions@gmail.com
Monday, May 4, 2015
Having Fit Pelvic Muscles Is An Important Thing
Saturday was Girl's Shopping Day for my mom, sister, and I. Normally I don't like shopping and going to the mall, but my mom was going to buy Mandy and I something nice, and when she offers, one does not say no! Plus, she buys quality stuff, and I love quality.
First we went to TJMaxx and were suppose to meet up with Mandy. My mom told me to tell Mandy we'd be there in 20 min, and I said that to Mandy, but added that I didn't think that was right. We got to TJ's earlier than I thought and Mandy wasn't there. I went to text her, and surprise! She was calling me! At the exact same moment! Turns out she didn't believe mom either, and was late, and then showed up to a different TJMaxx. Well, no wonder we were confused...there's more than one!
As a mom now, I have connected to my mother in a new way. The second we get to a store in GR, we have to pee. Right away, first thing. Mandy and I spent many of these shopping trips in the past making fun of her for that. We sang the Gotta Go Right Now jingle to her and reminded her there was medication for that. Turns out it's just a side effect of moms. So, you non-moms, you have been warned. Birthing babies messes up your bladder too. Guess what happens when I have a particularly violent sneeze. Anyways, we headed to the bathrooms first thing and one stall was being cleaned. No matter, there were two more, and there were no signs up about not coming in. When we washed our hands, we noticed that the person cleaning was a guy! A guy heard us pee!!! Ha ha ha. It was such a strange experience. It was only weird because our culture says it's weird and uncomfortable, but rationally, I didn't care. I mean, peeing is peeing. I clearly talk about it all the time in public. So I just pretended I was in Europe or on Ally McBeal. Also, I realized, I do like separate bathrooms, but wouldn't at all care if a transgender woman was in there with me. Woman's bathrooms are a secret club all about being a woman. If a person is transitioning into being a woman, the woman's bathroom is the best place to go about learning about how to be a woman.
We met up with Mandy at Cabella's. It apparently was a big shopping weekend, and they were grilling out out front. We got free smores and I split a braut with Mom and then split another one with Mandy. Then I returned a pair of shoes, getting cash back! Woot. And then we left. Why ruin a perfectly good trip to Cabella's with shopping and stress? Instead I got money and free food. Perfect.
At the mall I insisted on stopping at Sephora. There I asked for a person to help me find a concealer, and the Color Associate they called up was a guy too! So, for the first time ever, I had a guy put makeup on me and help me. He did an excellent job. My very first reaction was "Does he even know about makeup?" but really, he wouldn't work there if he didn't. Plus, he was wearing some too.
Then we headed to the good store, Eddie Bauer, and tried on ALL THEIR CLOTHEs and took up a big changing room and made the helpers run around getting us different sizes. I stepped out to find my own clothes to try on and another worker came up and asked me if I needed help. His name was Troy, and he reminded me of me when I worked at J. Jill. He was doing his best to do a good job and be genuine, but really, this was just a job to him. He was also 19. He asked me if I needed help picking out clothes and what colors I liked. I didn't, but I was just sooooo curious to see what he would say, so I let him help me. He basically gave me the speil I would give at J.Jill...just repeating what he was coached to say and not doing a good job of making it original and his own. Only people who are passionate about jobs like this, I think, would make it original and their own, so it wasn't bad at all. I just saw through it easily. He just finished his freshman year at Grand Valley State Uni and is going to be an industrial artist...designing cars and the stuff we use everyday in our houses. Isn't that amazing? I love asking college kids what they are studying because they always want to be something amazing I had never even dreamed was a job possibility.
Sidenote: My mother gifted me with an awesome spring/fall jacket!
To summarize, on one trip, a guy heard me pee, put makeup on me, and helped me buy clothes. Is this progress towards gender equality? Or, are these men taking all of our (women) jobs? Sort of reminds me of the argument that all of the immigrants (legal or illegal) are taking all of our American (white) jobs.
I don't know or care to think about it right now. I'll rest on it. Just putting it out there as Thought Food. But that last paragraph is super opinionated and fight charged. Pretend I said it while shoving my tongue into my cheek. That's how I wanted it to sound.
OR I JUST REALIZED THIS!! I was waited on by men all day. Maybe us women's finally made it to the top! Heh. I like this one.
First we went to TJMaxx and were suppose to meet up with Mandy. My mom told me to tell Mandy we'd be there in 20 min, and I said that to Mandy, but added that I didn't think that was right. We got to TJ's earlier than I thought and Mandy wasn't there. I went to text her, and surprise! She was calling me! At the exact same moment! Turns out she didn't believe mom either, and was late, and then showed up to a different TJMaxx. Well, no wonder we were confused...there's more than one!
As a mom now, I have connected to my mother in a new way. The second we get to a store in GR, we have to pee. Right away, first thing. Mandy and I spent many of these shopping trips in the past making fun of her for that. We sang the Gotta Go Right Now jingle to her and reminded her there was medication for that. Turns out it's just a side effect of moms. So, you non-moms, you have been warned. Birthing babies messes up your bladder too. Guess what happens when I have a particularly violent sneeze. Anyways, we headed to the bathrooms first thing and one stall was being cleaned. No matter, there were two more, and there were no signs up about not coming in. When we washed our hands, we noticed that the person cleaning was a guy! A guy heard us pee!!! Ha ha ha. It was such a strange experience. It was only weird because our culture says it's weird and uncomfortable, but rationally, I didn't care. I mean, peeing is peeing. I clearly talk about it all the time in public. So I just pretended I was in Europe or on Ally McBeal. Also, I realized, I do like separate bathrooms, but wouldn't at all care if a transgender woman was in there with me. Woman's bathrooms are a secret club all about being a woman. If a person is transitioning into being a woman, the woman's bathroom is the best place to go about learning about how to be a woman.
We met up with Mandy at Cabella's. It apparently was a big shopping weekend, and they were grilling out out front. We got free smores and I split a braut with Mom and then split another one with Mandy. Then I returned a pair of shoes, getting cash back! Woot. And then we left. Why ruin a perfectly good trip to Cabella's with shopping and stress? Instead I got money and free food. Perfect.
At the mall I insisted on stopping at Sephora. There I asked for a person to help me find a concealer, and the Color Associate they called up was a guy too! So, for the first time ever, I had a guy put makeup on me and help me. He did an excellent job. My very first reaction was "Does he even know about makeup?" but really, he wouldn't work there if he didn't. Plus, he was wearing some too.
Then we headed to the good store, Eddie Bauer, and tried on ALL THEIR CLOTHEs and took up a big changing room and made the helpers run around getting us different sizes. I stepped out to find my own clothes to try on and another worker came up and asked me if I needed help. His name was Troy, and he reminded me of me when I worked at J. Jill. He was doing his best to do a good job and be genuine, but really, this was just a job to him. He was also 19. He asked me if I needed help picking out clothes and what colors I liked. I didn't, but I was just sooooo curious to see what he would say, so I let him help me. He basically gave me the speil I would give at J.Jill...just repeating what he was coached to say and not doing a good job of making it original and his own. Only people who are passionate about jobs like this, I think, would make it original and their own, so it wasn't bad at all. I just saw through it easily. He just finished his freshman year at Grand Valley State Uni and is going to be an industrial artist...designing cars and the stuff we use everyday in our houses. Isn't that amazing? I love asking college kids what they are studying because they always want to be something amazing I had never even dreamed was a job possibility.
Sidenote: My mother gifted me with an awesome spring/fall jacket!
To summarize, on one trip, a guy heard me pee, put makeup on me, and helped me buy clothes. Is this progress towards gender equality? Or, are these men taking all of our (women) jobs? Sort of reminds me of the argument that all of the immigrants (legal or illegal) are taking all of our American (white) jobs.
I don't know or care to think about it right now. I'll rest on it. Just putting it out there as Thought Food. But that last paragraph is super opinionated and fight charged. Pretend I said it while shoving my tongue into my cheek. That's how I wanted it to sound.
OR I JUST REALIZED THIS!! I was waited on by men all day. Maybe us women's finally made it to the top! Heh. I like this one.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Were All Religions Cults At Some Point?
I've been reading Going Clear by Lawrence Wright. It's about the history of L.Ron Hubbard and Scientology. Reading it is like watching a car wreck...it's horrible and you just can't look away. You can read the book if you want to know more. I do suggest it, but it is horrible. Well, the topic is terrible, the book is well written.
The book is careful not to say that Scientology brainwashes it's people through isolation and disconnection from actual life and the world, but it is implied that it does. Right or wrong, for this post, I'm going to connect those dots and say that they do brainwash people to keep people in their 'religion'. (side note, I believe more in The Flying Spaghetti Monster as a religion than Scientology, you don't have to pay the Flying Spaghetti Monster to learn more about his tenants.) I just can't stop thinking about this book and Scientology...it's the dark side of democracy, of America, of Freedom of Speech and Religion, and of Capitalism. It works slower than the Hitler and the Nazi's, but Democracy has always been slower than Fascism for change, but I see little difference...maybe lack of complete success?
When I was in college, I belonged to a campus religious group that were Born Again Non-Denomination Christians. I went with close friends and I liked learning about Christianity in a way I had never learned before. Before this, I was convinced that most Christian friends I had were brainwashed...nothing they said made logical sense! And then they would criticize me for having an interest in astrology. It was just so confusing and unfair to me. When I joined the Jesus Group in college (I call all of my bible studies and religious groups I join Jesus Groups because it's easier to explain to my non-religious friends) I thought that since it was Non-Denominational, it would be open to more beliefs systems and look at all the different types of Christianity. In my hometown, there is a lot of tension between denominations and we have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Christian Reformed Church. Someone recently mentioned to me that as parts of a church disagree, the break-off and form another church in the same town. We have 30+ churches and the rumor mill says they are well known for fighting among each other. So, I thought I had escaped this by joining a non-denominational church.
I was very wrong.
Turns out that Non-Denominational means that all other denominations are wrong and theirs is the only right one. Tricksy tricksy. I sat through a whole talk once on how amazing God is because in the old testament, he made the shadows go backwards...so he turned the Earth backwards to do that. The conclusion of the meeting was to discuss how if we don't believe that literally, well, then how can I call my self a proper Christian? Having Faith meant to whole heartedly jump in and believe literally and fundamentally everything in the Bible. Since I can't believe that the Earth rotated backwards, I felt very alienated and wrong and like a bad person. My Faith was challenged by my Church many times, and I was forced to pray and question what I believed, and it did draw me closer to God and it did strengthen my Faith. It also, simultaneously pushed me farther and farther way from that Jesus Group and the people in it. That's an odd place to be, loving God and Jesus and also being very angry and unhappy with Christians. To the point that I don't like to belong to a Church or group because I don't like the be around other Christians. I really really don't like being told what to do or what to believe, especially if there is an unspoken assumption that if I question or dissagree, I will be judged and ousted. Or prayed for! LOL. That really makes me laugh.
We also had lots of discussions and lectures on how if we truly want to be more like Jesus and to be closer to God and to make him happy, we need to give up all things non-Christian...like modern medicine, non-Christian music, books, movies, tv, and especially non-Christian friends. Even your thoughts, if impure, are sins. The thought is the starting point of sin, so if you can keep your thoughts sin free, you will live sin free. Doesn't that sound like the start of brainwashing? I spent far too much time feeling guilty and like I was betraying God because I hated Creed, the Left Behind Series, and didn't like Mandy Moore movies, and I loved the Gorillaz, System of a Down, Independence Day, and, you know, regular human stuff.
After I went to these meetings and did happy Christian sin-free things with these people (except once when I was forced to watch the unrated sex scene in The Notebook over and over again), I would go out partying with my Buddhist boyfriend.
I have been "saved" three times before I left high school, once by surprise attack, and once or twice in college. Now that I know I am a Christian and no longer need to be saved, people are still trying to save me all the time!!! They just sort of ignore me when I say, I am a Christian. I have been Saved. I chose to remain Catholic. Before I was married, Christians would lecture me on the Unequal Yoke (I always hear Yolk in my head) Bible verse on why I should break up with Josh. Since he is not a Christian, I am like an Ox carrying more than an equal share of the yoke of teaching my child christianity and saving myself or something. The oddest thing is that someone tried to 'save' me since I've moved home and am married. I could tell it was a script and when she got to the Unequal Yolk part, it just didn't work...I'm already married and divorce is a big no-no. HOW THE HELL DO YOU SAVE A SINNER LIKE ME?!?!
God.
In the college Jesus Group, being baptised was a big deal and I went to several baptisms and I was even re-baptized in the Pacific Ocean. It was not the best most happy experience that the group said it would be. I felt guilty and like I was betraying my family and my faith (which I felt every time I was 'saved' and accepted Christ into my life...I was born with him there...it just doesn't make sense). I have never felt the need to be saved my whole life (leading to my suspicion that Born Again Christians are brainwashed) because I was saved as a baby. As a Catholic, I was baptised as a baby. There are pictures, there was a party, I already did it. Just because I don't remember it and just because my parents didn't push religion on me, doesn't mean God wasn't there and that God wasn't at work. But since it was a non-denominational group, my past thoughts and beliefs don't count...what the group thinks is what counts.
I did not like that group because they did try to brainwash me, inadvertently, I'm sure, but I would do it again. It forced me to face myself and my beliefs and I formed a personal relationship with God that was amazing, and I'm so glad I came out stronger and more independent than I was before. At the same time I would discourage anyone (especially my children) from going through that. There are easier ways.
The book is careful not to say that Scientology brainwashes it's people through isolation and disconnection from actual life and the world, but it is implied that it does. Right or wrong, for this post, I'm going to connect those dots and say that they do brainwash people to keep people in their 'religion'. (side note, I believe more in The Flying Spaghetti Monster as a religion than Scientology, you don't have to pay the Flying Spaghetti Monster to learn more about his tenants.) I just can't stop thinking about this book and Scientology...it's the dark side of democracy, of America, of Freedom of Speech and Religion, and of Capitalism. It works slower than the Hitler and the Nazi's, but Democracy has always been slower than Fascism for change, but I see little difference...maybe lack of complete success?
When I was in college, I belonged to a campus religious group that were Born Again Non-Denomination Christians. I went with close friends and I liked learning about Christianity in a way I had never learned before. Before this, I was convinced that most Christian friends I had were brainwashed...nothing they said made logical sense! And then they would criticize me for having an interest in astrology. It was just so confusing and unfair to me. When I joined the Jesus Group in college (I call all of my bible studies and religious groups I join Jesus Groups because it's easier to explain to my non-religious friends) I thought that since it was Non-Denominational, it would be open to more beliefs systems and look at all the different types of Christianity. In my hometown, there is a lot of tension between denominations and we have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Christian Reformed Church. Someone recently mentioned to me that as parts of a church disagree, the break-off and form another church in the same town. We have 30+ churches and the rumor mill says they are well known for fighting among each other. So, I thought I had escaped this by joining a non-denominational church.
I was very wrong.
Turns out that Non-Denominational means that all other denominations are wrong and theirs is the only right one. Tricksy tricksy. I sat through a whole talk once on how amazing God is because in the old testament, he made the shadows go backwards...so he turned the Earth backwards to do that. The conclusion of the meeting was to discuss how if we don't believe that literally, well, then how can I call my self a proper Christian? Having Faith meant to whole heartedly jump in and believe literally and fundamentally everything in the Bible. Since I can't believe that the Earth rotated backwards, I felt very alienated and wrong and like a bad person. My Faith was challenged by my Church many times, and I was forced to pray and question what I believed, and it did draw me closer to God and it did strengthen my Faith. It also, simultaneously pushed me farther and farther way from that Jesus Group and the people in it. That's an odd place to be, loving God and Jesus and also being very angry and unhappy with Christians. To the point that I don't like to belong to a Church or group because I don't like the be around other Christians. I really really don't like being told what to do or what to believe, especially if there is an unspoken assumption that if I question or dissagree, I will be judged and ousted. Or prayed for! LOL. That really makes me laugh.
We also had lots of discussions and lectures on how if we truly want to be more like Jesus and to be closer to God and to make him happy, we need to give up all things non-Christian...like modern medicine, non-Christian music, books, movies, tv, and especially non-Christian friends. Even your thoughts, if impure, are sins. The thought is the starting point of sin, so if you can keep your thoughts sin free, you will live sin free. Doesn't that sound like the start of brainwashing? I spent far too much time feeling guilty and like I was betraying God because I hated Creed, the Left Behind Series, and didn't like Mandy Moore movies, and I loved the Gorillaz, System of a Down, Independence Day, and, you know, regular human stuff.
After I went to these meetings and did happy Christian sin-free things with these people (except once when I was forced to watch the unrated sex scene in The Notebook over and over again), I would go out partying with my Buddhist boyfriend.
I have been "saved" three times before I left high school, once by surprise attack, and once or twice in college. Now that I know I am a Christian and no longer need to be saved, people are still trying to save me all the time!!! They just sort of ignore me when I say, I am a Christian. I have been Saved. I chose to remain Catholic. Before I was married, Christians would lecture me on the Unequal Yoke (I always hear Yolk in my head) Bible verse on why I should break up with Josh. Since he is not a Christian, I am like an Ox carrying more than an equal share of the yoke of teaching my child christianity and saving myself or something. The oddest thing is that someone tried to 'save' me since I've moved home and am married. I could tell it was a script and when she got to the Unequal Yolk part, it just didn't work...I'm already married and divorce is a big no-no. HOW THE HELL DO YOU SAVE A SINNER LIKE ME?!?!
God.
In the college Jesus Group, being baptised was a big deal and I went to several baptisms and I was even re-baptized in the Pacific Ocean. It was not the best most happy experience that the group said it would be. I felt guilty and like I was betraying my family and my faith (which I felt every time I was 'saved' and accepted Christ into my life...I was born with him there...it just doesn't make sense). I have never felt the need to be saved my whole life (leading to my suspicion that Born Again Christians are brainwashed) because I was saved as a baby. As a Catholic, I was baptised as a baby. There are pictures, there was a party, I already did it. Just because I don't remember it and just because my parents didn't push religion on me, doesn't mean God wasn't there and that God wasn't at work. But since it was a non-denominational group, my past thoughts and beliefs don't count...what the group thinks is what counts.
I did not like that group because they did try to brainwash me, inadvertently, I'm sure, but I would do it again. It forced me to face myself and my beliefs and I formed a personal relationship with God that was amazing, and I'm so glad I came out stronger and more independent than I was before. At the same time I would discourage anyone (especially my children) from going through that. There are easier ways.
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