The (NOT SO) Skinny Girl

I am reminded on  International Women's Day that I am a woman, and that that is something that is a force to be reckoned with. I am reminded by Hillary Clinton, Ashley Judd and countless other feminists that being a woman is a bold, brazen (nasty?), and strong thing to be.  I just want to take a moment now to count down the times I truly felt like a strong woman. When I learned to throw, hit, and catch like a girl. When I put pen to paper and drew a detailed picture or wrote a moving poem. When I made it onto the honor and high honor roll (the first time and every time) The first time I rode a horse- and every single time after. When I won my first blue ribbon. When I fall off, and get back on. Also, when I realize it's ok to not get back on right away. The first time I decided I had to be strong for someone else. Even though I was dying inside. When I earned my Girl Scout Silver award. When I learned to drive a stick shift. And every time I get to drive one. When I...

I didn't used to be proud to say I was a Girl Scout- not while I was in middle or high school, at least. When you were in kindergarten, everyone joined up, did it until maybe 3rd grade. Then you started weeding out the sports people because practice and games got in the way. . . because sports earn big scholarships. Mind you, I was able to do Girl Scouts AND play sports, but that's just me. I missed a year somewhere, I want to say 8th grade when I went to a different school? So I fell behind in my scouting. But I joined back up in high school in the hopes of earning an award. I succeeded in earning a Silver Award, the second highest honor the Girl scouts had. I was unable to cram 2 years worth of work into one senior year of high school, so I opted not to go for the Gold Award. However, the Silver Award padded my college applications well enough. While in college, I worked for the local Girl Scout Council at a summer camp as a counselor, making a difference in young girl...

Maybe it's just me and my upbringing, I mean Italian mothers/grandmothers are top notch at laying on the guilt. God forbid you made ANY plans on a Sunday, or any other day designated as a family day, that didn't include getting together at Mom or Grandma's house for a 3 course (or more) army-sized meal. As I grew up and became aware and independent, I felt 'guilt' more and more. Not just for not spending time with family. For not thanking them enough. For not doing enough around the house. For not offering to do enough. For not having better grades or being better at something. For not having enough money for things. All sorts of guilt. I've carried this childhood notion of always feeling guilty about everything into my married, established, adult life.  Interestingly enough, where I thought it was just a "ME" thing, I'm starting to realize our culture, as a whole, is very geared towards placing guilt on people unnecessarily. It comes in a lot o...

I'm online shopping right now, and I know that it's a normal thing to see a few outrageous designs or fashion choices. But today, all of a sudden, I realize one of my favorite stores is subliminally messaging me through fashion, through clothing. Clothing- which is a necessity to humans, that necessity- has now become the platform for political statements. I can't help but roll my eyes and say "Nope, would never buy that" or "who buys this stupid shit?" or "REALLY?". Like, why are clothing stores making a political agenda into "fashion"? The stuff isn't even that fashionable, but then again some dimwit (Connie Briton) at some "Hollywood Night Out" event wore a 'Poverty is Sexist' sweater that cost $380... totally nailed her point. The sad part is, some of this politically charged 'fashion' is very divisive. It's lifting up one to put down another. Let me show you some of the dumb shit. I choose t...

3rd Wave Feminism at it's best... play the victim, provide no facts, feelings rule, have no responsibility.

Here's the article:  https://www.buzzfeed.com/natalyalobanova/ways-you-didnt-realise-youve-internalised-misogyny?utm_term=.xkrLmEXG0#.acBY3xOGR  Here's the title: 23 Ways You May Have Internalised Misogyny Without Even Realising Boy oh boy it's rant/response time!! Definition of misogyny: dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. So if I dislike some women, or things some of them they do, or judge some of them... then I am a misogynist? That seems extreme. Read the article, then move on to my response to it *I've been appalled by body hair on other women- mustaches and 5 o'clock shadows mostly- while allowing some of mine to get unruly at times (So I participate in no shave November, judge me). *I've felt uncomfortable having stubble under my arms, on my legs, and on my bikini line-- That's my personal feeling about it and my personal regret for overlooking it. I take responsibility for why I feel uncomfortable, and I usu...

If you're an American woman, 3/8/17 is "A Day Without Women", modeled after "A Day Without Immigrants". HERE WE GO AGAIN  (I almost sound like Graham Allan ).... The website for International Women's Day challenges you to "call on yourself to help forge a better working world". The organizers behind the January "Women's March on Washington" have also organized and planned walkouts, rallies and marches dubbed "A Day Without a Woman".Women are not only encouraged to stay home from [paid] work, but also to (if socially and economically able to do so) abstain from [unpaid]housework and child care, and shop only at small, women-owned businesses. So basically... shirk all of your responsibilities in general  and go shopping   to make a point.  NO RESPONSIBILITY NO ACCOUNTABILITY NO F**KS GIVEN.... Men are being asked to help with caregiving and other domestic chores on Wednesday. They are also being encouraged to rally f...