I know it sounds pathetic but I love reality TV. I love coming home and watching something completely mindless. I spend my whole day talking about violence so I like to come home and have nothing to do with it.
I tried to start watching the news, but all they ever talk about is people being killed and more violence. So I gave up on that. I tried to start watching drama shows, but the majority of them are about being killed and violence so I also gave up on that. And I realized reality TV is my favorite
While I know some reality TV has violence- it's the funny kind. You know women screaming at each other, people getting drunk and doing stupid stuff, fighting over a man, etc.
Some of my favorites:
Real Housewives. I don't care which city they are from, I love them all. I love watching how they treat money like it is no object, I love how they fight all the time and I love how they are such bitches.
The Bachelor. I began watching The Bachelor with the first season. I remember Alex, the first, and I remember that the girl he picked is from Chanute, KS. Now, if you know anything about Chanute that should say enough about this girl. I forgot watching it while I lived at Alpha Chi, mainly b/c it was hard to fight over the TV. But rest assured I began watching it again as soon as I moved out of there. It is on every Monday, and I have to bribe my husband to let me watch it. He sits there and complains the whole time but I don't care I love it. And yes, I know that most of the relationships won't work out but I still love the idea of it.
Top Chef. I LOVE COOKING. Every night when I get home from work my favorite thing to do is cook. I kick Paul out of the kitchen and I cook. Sometimes it is something simple, but shows like Top Chef inspire me to do more. Of course my husband doesn't complain. Last night Paul told me that when he was little his dad told him "find a girl that can cook". And Paul is lucky that he did. I think he knows how lucky he is. :-)
What I know today is that no matter how difficult your day may be, TV can truly turn your day around and make you forget all the negative things that happen. While some of the reality tv has violence- it is not as violent as the stuff I hear about all day long. Sometimes I just need a break from all of that and let my mind be filled with pure Crap.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
I am going to be in the paper!
I was asked to write a letter to the editor regarding the recent legislation that was passed taking away government funding from Planned Parenthood as well as Title X funding.
This is the biggest attack on women's reproductive health rights in a really long time. This attack means that women that are not insured would not be able to get affordable cancer screenings, HIV/STI testing and treatment, well woman exams, and contraceptives. As stated in my previous blog this is very needed in this country to help prevent un intended pregnancies. I find it ironic that the GOP is trying to take away these services that help to prevent un intended pregnancies and keep the numbers of abortions down.
It seems as though they will do anything to oppress women and make sure we understand that they are in charge.
The vote is going before the Senate next. It is very important everyone contacts their Senators in Washington and ask them to vote against this bill.
Here is what I wrote for the Kansas City Star- which will be published in the next few days.
What I know today is that I can relate to the women that fought for abortion rights, and to the women that fought for our right to vote. I know that women have come a long way in equal rights but that there may never be a day where we are truly equal. I know that until there is an equal rights ammendment, until we are paid the same, until we are no longer beaten, oppressed and controlled reproductively there will always be a fight. And that this is a fight worth fighting.
This is the biggest attack on women's reproductive health rights in a really long time. This attack means that women that are not insured would not be able to get affordable cancer screenings, HIV/STI testing and treatment, well woman exams, and contraceptives. As stated in my previous blog this is very needed in this country to help prevent un intended pregnancies. I find it ironic that the GOP is trying to take away these services that help to prevent un intended pregnancies and keep the numbers of abortions down.
It seems as though they will do anything to oppress women and make sure we understand that they are in charge.
The vote is going before the Senate next. It is very important everyone contacts their Senators in Washington and ask them to vote against this bill.
Here is what I wrote for the Kansas City Star- which will be published in the next few days.
Rep. Mike Pence’s “Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act” would have a devastating impact on women’s health care across the country. Title X funding provides family planning, annual exams, cancer screenings, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections - all services provided by Planned Parenthood.
More than 90 percent of the health care services offered by Planned Parenthood are preventative and Title X helps fund those types of services, making them affordable for low income women. In many rural areas this is the only place women have to go for family planning services. Title X services are incredibly effective, helping to prevent nearly one million unintended pregnancies each year, almost half of which would otherwise end in abortion.
Title X has played a critical role in our nation’s health care system for over 40 years. Rep. Mike Pence’s proposed bill is a clear attack on women’s reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood. I encourage all to tell their Representatives that this bill is extremely counter productive, and will not only increase the number of unintended pregnancies but also the number of abortions in the United States, which is the exact opposite of what Planned Parenthood and their opposition want.
What I know today is that I can relate to the women that fought for abortion rights, and to the women that fought for our right to vote. I know that women have come a long way in equal rights but that there may never be a day where we are truly equal. I know that until there is an equal rights ammendment, until we are paid the same, until we are no longer beaten, oppressed and controlled reproductively there will always be a fight. And that this is a fight worth fighting.
Friday, February 11, 2011
My Best Friend, Lacy
I was in the car this morning listening to some tunes thinking about the day and a song came on the radio that made me think of my best friend, Lacy.
"Jesse's Girl" That may seem weird to others that this particular song makes me think of her but here's why:
In college we took a Sociology of Women class. During that class we were put in to groups for a big project. Our project focus was the objectification on women in music. And Jesse's Girl was one of the songs we picked. If you really listen to the words you would understand why. But now, every time I hear that song I think of that project and Lacy. That project got us an A- no thanks to the other 2 people in our group. In case you are wondering we also talked about how empowering Pat Benetar and Janet Jackson are for women- haha.
Lacy and I have been best friends for 11 years in September. So as you can imagine there are a lot of songs that remind me of her.
"I love you Alway Forever" by Donna Lewis-
Lacy and I were a little obsessed with these 2 guys in high school- I won't mention their names out of pure embarassment. But one night we drove around in my truck for 3 hours and listened to this song over and over again. We even replaced the "blue eyes" line with "green eyes" b/c the loves of our lives both had green eyes. We made a pact that night that when we lost of virginity we would play that song. But neither of us followed through on that pact. (Mom and Scarlett- that is of course because Jimmy and Paul were not fans of the song :-) )
"Like a Prayer" by Madonna
This song is our anthem, with Ltrain of course. Ltrain aka Lindsay Hoogner. We used to drive around in Lacy's Lebaron Convertible blaring this song. It was simply our favorite. And really is our anthem. Every time it comes on the radio I call Lacy and just play it on her voicemail. If Lacy and I are together we call Lindsay- If Lindsay and Lacy are together they call me. You get the picture.
Those are probably the three songs that remind me the most of my Lacy.
Lacy and I have been through heartache, marriage, divorce, death, illness, crazy ex-friends, and so much more. She truly is my best friend in the entire world.
What I know today is that having a best friend is the most important thing in the world. There is NOTHING I wouldn't talk to her about or not be comfortable telling her. She literally knows everything about me- more than my mom, sister, or husband. And that's b/c she is my best friend. She is non juding, caring, kind and quite simply one of my favorite people in the world. I know that without her I might have turned out to be incredibly boring.
I love you Lacy:-)
"Jesse's Girl" That may seem weird to others that this particular song makes me think of her but here's why:
In college we took a Sociology of Women class. During that class we were put in to groups for a big project. Our project focus was the objectification on women in music. And Jesse's Girl was one of the songs we picked. If you really listen to the words you would understand why. But now, every time I hear that song I think of that project and Lacy. That project got us an A- no thanks to the other 2 people in our group. In case you are wondering we also talked about how empowering Pat Benetar and Janet Jackson are for women- haha.
Lacy and I have been best friends for 11 years in September. So as you can imagine there are a lot of songs that remind me of her.
"I love you Alway Forever" by Donna Lewis-
Lacy and I were a little obsessed with these 2 guys in high school- I won't mention their names out of pure embarassment. But one night we drove around in my truck for 3 hours and listened to this song over and over again. We even replaced the "blue eyes" line with "green eyes" b/c the loves of our lives both had green eyes. We made a pact that night that when we lost of virginity we would play that song. But neither of us followed through on that pact. (Mom and Scarlett- that is of course because Jimmy and Paul were not fans of the song :-) )
"Like a Prayer" by Madonna
This song is our anthem, with Ltrain of course. Ltrain aka Lindsay Hoogner. We used to drive around in Lacy's Lebaron Convertible blaring this song. It was simply our favorite. And really is our anthem. Every time it comes on the radio I call Lacy and just play it on her voicemail. If Lacy and I are together we call Lindsay- If Lindsay and Lacy are together they call me. You get the picture.
Those are probably the three songs that remind me the most of my Lacy.
Lacy and I have been through heartache, marriage, divorce, death, illness, crazy ex-friends, and so much more. She truly is my best friend in the entire world.
What I know today is that having a best friend is the most important thing in the world. There is NOTHING I wouldn't talk to her about or not be comfortable telling her. She literally knows everything about me- more than my mom, sister, or husband. And that's b/c she is my best friend. She is non juding, caring, kind and quite simply one of my favorite people in the world. I know that without her I might have turned out to be incredibly boring.
I love you Lacy:-)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Why I volunteer with Planned Parenthood
I was recently asked to write about why I volunteer with Planned Parenthood. I wrote a long piece all about my upbringing- how my family taught me about equality and women's rights. How I work in the domestic violence field and hear women say on a daily basis that they are scared to bring a child into their home, and how I truly believe in the work that they do there.
There has been a lot of oppostion to Planned Parenthood in the last few weeks. Bills being written to take away funding, to penalize people who's insurance will assist with abortion services, etc.
I posted something on my facebook today- asking people to stand with planned parenthood.
I got a response from someone I went to church with in Wichita that said "their take on abortions. one billion dollars annually". It made me disgusted. I know that people believe Planned Parenthood is only in it for ALL the money they are making. I mean they are obviously one of the most successful, rich organizations in the country... I mean seriously?? That is not the case. Planned Parenthood believes in providing affordable healthcare to low income families, education and prevention before anything else, in hopes to prevent women from ever having to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy. But also believes in a woman's right to choose and fears what would happen if that was ever taken away.
There are so many reasons why pregnancies are terminated and before we go placing blame on the agencies that assist women in need why don't we address the issue of unintended pregnancy in the first place.
-Educate youth on birth control and safe sex.
-Provide condoms and contraception to people that need them or can't afford them.
-Understand that victims of domestic violence are often experiencing reproductive control and might be terrified to bring a child into that relationship
-Provide/Offer victims of sexual assault with Plan B- in all cases
My mom sent me a quote today that really made me start to think
“There are tens of millions Americans who oppose abortion because of deeply held moral principles. But they’re attached to a political movement that sometimes seems to have come unmoored from any concern for life after birth.”
For anyone that has ever protested at a Family Planning Clinic, worked at a Pregnancy crisis center or convinced someone to not terminate a pregnancy. I sure hope you helped her after the baby was born.
What I know today is that so many people are focused on a political movement. And that unintended pregnancies will continue to happen and if a woman's right to choose is ever revoked people will still find a way to terminate pregnancies- which would cause illness and death to many women. Which would be a huge step back.
I also know that if Planned Parenthood's funds were taken away it would be extremely counter-productive. Planned Parenthood provides affordable health care and contraceptives, and SOME of their agencies provide abortion services- if they lost funding people would not have a place to receive affordable contraceptives, STD screening and exams- thus increasing STD's, unintended pregnancies and abortions. Which seems to be opposite of what anti-choice folks want.
I know that Planned Parenthood is an amazing organization and I will always support and stand by them. I am proud to be associated with such a place!
There has been a lot of oppostion to Planned Parenthood in the last few weeks. Bills being written to take away funding, to penalize people who's insurance will assist with abortion services, etc.
I posted something on my facebook today- asking people to stand with planned parenthood.
I got a response from someone I went to church with in Wichita that said "their take on abortions. one billion dollars annually". It made me disgusted. I know that people believe Planned Parenthood is only in it for ALL the money they are making. I mean they are obviously one of the most successful, rich organizations in the country... I mean seriously?? That is not the case. Planned Parenthood believes in providing affordable healthcare to low income families, education and prevention before anything else, in hopes to prevent women from ever having to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy. But also believes in a woman's right to choose and fears what would happen if that was ever taken away.
There are so many reasons why pregnancies are terminated and before we go placing blame on the agencies that assist women in need why don't we address the issue of unintended pregnancy in the first place.
-Educate youth on birth control and safe sex.
-Provide condoms and contraception to people that need them or can't afford them.
-Understand that victims of domestic violence are often experiencing reproductive control and might be terrified to bring a child into that relationship
-Provide/Offer victims of sexual assault with Plan B- in all cases
My mom sent me a quote today that really made me start to think
“There are tens of millions Americans who oppose abortion because of deeply held moral principles. But they’re attached to a political movement that sometimes seems to have come unmoored from any concern for life after birth.”
For anyone that has ever protested at a Family Planning Clinic, worked at a Pregnancy crisis center or convinced someone to not terminate a pregnancy. I sure hope you helped her after the baby was born.
What I know today is that so many people are focused on a political movement. And that unintended pregnancies will continue to happen and if a woman's right to choose is ever revoked people will still find a way to terminate pregnancies- which would cause illness and death to many women. Which would be a huge step back.
I also know that if Planned Parenthood's funds were taken away it would be extremely counter-productive. Planned Parenthood provides affordable health care and contraceptives, and SOME of their agencies provide abortion services- if they lost funding people would not have a place to receive affordable contraceptives, STD screening and exams- thus increasing STD's, unintended pregnancies and abortions. Which seems to be opposite of what anti-choice folks want.
I know that Planned Parenthood is an amazing organization and I will always support and stand by them. I am proud to be associated with such a place!
Monday, February 7, 2011
My First Post
Hello Blogging world! I never thought I would blog. I honestly love reading other people's blogs but never thought I had anything to write about, or that any one would actually read it.
I decided to start blogging because I feel as though there is a lot I have to say. Regarding family, friends, social issues, work, etc.
I was thinking that maybe my blog should have some sort of theme so I decided to write about what I know. What I have learned, what I have witnessed, what I have experienced. I am actually not sure if that is a theme but just go with it.
So a little about me-
-I am 25 years old
-I have 2 dogs- Charlie and McGehee. They are very spoiled and next to my husband the loves of my life.
-I have been married for almost 2 years. My husband, Paul, and I will celebrate our 2 year anniversary this year. I met Paul at a bar. Yep, that's the truth. My grandmother tells people that we met at the domestic violence shelter I was working at and that he was the police officer that brought a woman to shelter. While I love the idea of that story- there is absolutely no truth in that. We simply met in a bar and the rest is history!
-I love my family- old and new! My family is very close and we all live in the same area. My sister is engaged and getting married Oct. 1st- of course I am the Matron of Honor and my husband is the best man! Paige works for a non-profit and is truly amazing. My brother just moved back in with my parents. He is "in between" things right now- but really a cool kid with a lot of passion for music and life. My parents live 10 minutes from me. My dad was recently laid off and my mom works for Planned Parenthood. I am so proud of my mom and really look up to her. My new family- meaning my husband's parents- live 2.5 hours from us. I am truly blessed to have married into such a close knit family that is loving and kind. I really love my in laws.
-I am very passionate and I hope that comes across in this blog. I believe strongly in equality for women, women's reproductive rights, that violence against women is and epidemic and has to stop, that our country is ruining itself, and that in order for anything to happen people have to listen to each other, accept differences and figure out common ground.
What I know today is that the last 4 years have truly challenged my family and friends. In good ways and bad. We have had death, separation, cancer, strokes, seizures, addiciton, lay offs, and so much more. But we have also had babies, weddings, graduations, engagments, and so many things to be thank ful for.
I am so thank ful for my family and friends. And truly know that I would be lost without them.
So enjoy reading my blog...who knows what I will write about next!
I decided to start blogging because I feel as though there is a lot I have to say. Regarding family, friends, social issues, work, etc.
I was thinking that maybe my blog should have some sort of theme so I decided to write about what I know. What I have learned, what I have witnessed, what I have experienced. I am actually not sure if that is a theme but just go with it.
So a little about me-
-I am 25 years old
-I have 2 dogs- Charlie and McGehee. They are very spoiled and next to my husband the loves of my life.
-I have been married for almost 2 years. My husband, Paul, and I will celebrate our 2 year anniversary this year. I met Paul at a bar. Yep, that's the truth. My grandmother tells people that we met at the domestic violence shelter I was working at and that he was the police officer that brought a woman to shelter. While I love the idea of that story- there is absolutely no truth in that. We simply met in a bar and the rest is history!
-I love my family- old and new! My family is very close and we all live in the same area. My sister is engaged and getting married Oct. 1st- of course I am the Matron of Honor and my husband is the best man! Paige works for a non-profit and is truly amazing. My brother just moved back in with my parents. He is "in between" things right now- but really a cool kid with a lot of passion for music and life. My parents live 10 minutes from me. My dad was recently laid off and my mom works for Planned Parenthood. I am so proud of my mom and really look up to her. My new family- meaning my husband's parents- live 2.5 hours from us. I am truly blessed to have married into such a close knit family that is loving and kind. I really love my in laws.
-I am very passionate and I hope that comes across in this blog. I believe strongly in equality for women, women's reproductive rights, that violence against women is and epidemic and has to stop, that our country is ruining itself, and that in order for anything to happen people have to listen to each other, accept differences and figure out common ground.
What I know today is that the last 4 years have truly challenged my family and friends. In good ways and bad. We have had death, separation, cancer, strokes, seizures, addiciton, lay offs, and so much more. But we have also had babies, weddings, graduations, engagments, and so many things to be thank ful for.
I am so thank ful for my family and friends. And truly know that I would be lost without them.
So enjoy reading my blog...who knows what I will write about next!
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