tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79286884664389673232011-04-21T20:54:57.392-04:00Ramblings of a misplaced city girl in the heart of Red Country.maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.comBlogger741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-60950854938069867492007-12-12T09:26:00.000-05:002007-12-12T09:39:35.951-05:00

An Iowa Republican has introduced a bill that would legislate the importance of Christmas.As Space Cowboy says, if Christianity and Christmas are so all important to a majority of people in the world, why do we need the reminder? Do we really need Congress to acknowledge that Christianity is one of the great religions of the world? Maybe I could make some heads explode by reminding people that

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-16959653815667897182007-12-11T11:28:00.000-05:002007-12-11T11:53:04.117-05:00

This week brings to my attention two horrific stories about brutal gang rape. Have a barf-bag ready.First up, a judge in Australia has ruled that a 10-year-old aboriginal girl "probably agreed" to have sex with the nine men who brutally gang raped her. No punishment for the rapists. And she's standing by her decision. You know, just to show everyone that women can be misogynists, too!

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-38597116777382398192007-12-06T15:59:00.000-05:002007-12-06T16:06:25.101-05:00

So, there's this new trend called "push presents" that I learned about via Jezebel. Basically, a man gives his baby-mama an expensive piece of jewelry for birthing "his" child.Gag me with a spoon.I understand that the idea behind this is that the father doesn't have to go through nine months of weight gain, bodily distortion, stomach problems, incontinence, swollen hands and feet, mood swings,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-20877702496866071112007-12-02T10:02:00.000-05:002007-12-02T10:21:04.787-05:00

I'm really late getting to this Salon post, but I've been out of town and I'm just now getting caught up on my blog reading. Having a cold allows you to catch up on your reading. The article came at a very appropriate time of year: the holiday season. The article is about a movement in Britain, called No Music Day. As the graphic will show you, for one day no music is played, and we forget

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-32333021556462567162007-11-30T10:08:00.000-05:002007-11-30T10:33:48.811-05:00

I've written before about my experience with a breast tumor, having it removed, and specifically telling the surgeon that I did NOT want reconstruction on my breast other than a tidy scar.* I'm really very small chested, 32A, and while my adolescence and early twenties were difficult, I've come to appreciate my itty bitty titties. So, when faced with the terror of possible cancer, I just wanted

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-75942739297708953772007-11-08T12:09:00.000-05:002007-11-08T12:38:06.017-05:00

Via Jessica, this New York Times story was not fit to read over lunch, but I did anyway. Big mistake. *burp*Summary: Really wealthy people with powerful careers hire a woman to plan their lifestyles. Clothes, social activities, living quarters, even friends. All of her clients are men, she's had only one female client, and it sounds like she only got help finding a place to live. Quite

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-23512924477397597672007-11-01T09:19:00.000-04:002007-11-01T09:40:15.444-04:00

Hearing recently that Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! has Bell's Palsy, I was pleased to see her write about her experience in Alternet. Her story is very matter of fact, like much of her writing and other commentary, and I am proud to be in such good company. The story also had me asking an important question: Is Bell's Palsy a feminist issue?After last week's post about the woman who wrote to

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-39417109528254408952007-10-26T18:22:00.000-04:002007-10-26T18:25:25.868-04:00

So, over at Jezebel, they have their usual "Crap [Something] From a Dude" and today it's an eBay listing. But in the comments, there are actually two discussions going on:PTA bake salesSurprise anal sexIt's just unbelievably awesome.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-90216634920649317552007-10-26T11:07:00.000-04:002007-10-26T11:15:42.049-04:00

"Oh, painted flower box, nobody must know about our love. I shall kiss you and caress you, mwah mwah mwah!"And speaking of crazy cat ladies, I am totally addicted to this site: http://www.omgkitty.com/How can you not fall in love with that face? Is it wrong to be so in love with a cat I've never met? I need therapy.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-28279662495214074872007-10-25T17:37:00.000-04:002007-10-25T17:42:55.155-04:00

In honor of the War on Christmas, take a listen to Zuzu's adaptation of The Twelve Days of Christmas.And speaking of the War on Christmas, according to Wonkette, WorldNutDaily claims it has already begun. Fine. So be it.I have a theory on why there are so many suicides around the holidays. It's because people get sick and tired of Xmas! Seriously, folks, there are commercials on the radio and

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-24494032033187150982007-10-25T15:43:00.000-04:002007-10-25T15:48:38.852-04:00

So Mike Huckabee has trotted out the tired claim that because women have so many abortions, we have to import illegal immigrants to do jobs we don't have enough people to do. Right. He's apparently been hanging out with Tom Delay.Any time this argument comes up, I wonder how many illegal immigrants the speaker has employed either directly or indirectly. And I'm sure that Mike would be more

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-86871208991635694392007-10-25T11:39:00.000-04:002007-10-25T12:01:17.531-04:00

So, yesterday I wrote about how vain some people can be in the case of illness. I still stand by what I wrote, by the way. In fact, I feel compelled to write a post specifically about "reconstructive surgery" after mastectomy. I've got itty bitty titties. 34A's, to be generous. At no point in my life have I ever contemplated implants, although I have been less secure than I am now in my

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-67373485182155982772007-10-24T12:17:00.000-04:002007-10-24T12:53:17.057-04:00

I know I haven't written in a long time, but I've been kind of wrapped up in other things and not very motivated to write. But I saw something in Salon that really sparked me. I've been out of town for the past week at conferences, so I'm really late to this, but this letter writer who has Bell's Palsy is absolutely flipping her shit. She doesn't want to leave the house. She's trying to

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-46259715183593228542007-07-21T18:10:00.000-04:002007-07-21T18:16:52.708-04:00

As if I needed another reason to be terrified of College Republicans, this has been making the rounds:I know people like this. They seem to be too afraid of an original thought that they just parrot the party line. This video reminds me of something I noticed around 1998-99, while I was finishing college. After spending 4 years (shut it, I was on the 5 year plan!) in classes where formal and

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-49104571476170104612007-07-21T17:27:00.000-04:002007-07-21T17:31:23.711-04:00

I know, it's Saturday, get off my ass! Today's pic is of Miles a few years ago, back when we lived in Tampa. It's still one of my favorite pictures of him.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-53949540174453407312007-07-21T17:19:00.000-04:002007-07-21T17:26:57.273-04:00

A little late with the wine blogging, but I've been without a computer until yesterday. This week's wine is Barboursville's Cabernet Blanc. Rather sweet, but yummy. I don't think this is a regular offering from Barboursville, but I live in Virginia, and we have the best wines! The price was good, about $15. If you ever come to central Virginia, I strongly recommend visiting Barboursville

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-9878841976060021482007-07-13T13:28:00.000-04:002007-07-13T13:31:46.416-04:00

Miles loves his scratching post so much that he often cuddles with it.Stubby sunning his belly in my parents' backyard.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-15376970342663649202007-07-10T10:18:00.000-04:002007-07-12T14:41:48.794-04:00

I haven't written much lately because my home computer has been acting up. It finally died this weekend, prompting me to take it to a repairperson. They person informed me that my 4 year old laptop could not be repaired because there are no longer any parts available for that model. A 4 year old computer. As a side note, I was telling someone just 2 weeks ago how great it was that my computer

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-12269750708294935382007-07-06T11:00:00.000-04:002007-07-06T11:02:48.267-04:00

Maybe not in practice.In my opinion, a case of wine would be better, not some crappy Bud Light. Ah, well, it's still funny as hell.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-64520153063893110022007-07-05T14:03:00.000-04:002007-07-05T14:18:25.927-04:00

I've seen this plastered upon car bumpers before, and I've seen it on conservative t-shirts, and I've heard conservatives bleat it out when they realize they don't have a chance in an argument. Most notably, when the Patriot Act (the first one) was being hammered out and bandied about the political discourse, lots of righties were using this phrase to justify the dismantling of civil liberties

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-57346486003112035412007-07-05T12:38:00.000-04:002007-07-05T13:09:55.073-04:00

After Micheal Moore's SiCKO came out, the blogosphere has erupted with all sorts of reviews, mostly positive. Check out Pam, Amanda, and Jill. Of course, the always predictable trolls are out in full force in fear of a national healthcare system. And they're trotting out the same predictable argument, once you distill it down to it's pure form: that healthcare if a privilege and we're a nation

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-90610884839655546462007-07-04T17:29:00.000-04:002007-07-04T17:34:09.767-04:00

I've never felt the rush of patriotism on the Fourth of July like others profess to feel. To me, it's a day off from work, a good time to cook out with family and friends, maybe go to the beach, and watch some fireworks. If anything, it's more of a celebration of summer.This year, I'm feeling decidedly unpatriotic. There have been too many atrocities committed throughout the world in the name

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-82231079267408919932007-07-03T11:31:00.000-04:002007-07-03T11:57:57.398-04:00

What did I do during my summer vacation? Well, lots of stuff, but one thing I did was read Al Gore’s new book, The Assault on Reason. I’m such a dork, in fact, that I pre-ordered it from Amazon. It was a very interesting read, although, like An Inconvenient Truth, it was nothing I hadn’t heard before. Gore does a huge service to Americans who are not as interested in the nitty gritty of

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-67263671734023979612007-06-29T11:38:00.000-04:002007-06-29T11:45:17.971-04:00

To look at me, you'd think I was almost back to normal. I saw an otolaryngologist about a month ago, to figure out what was going on with my ear, and he didn't see any damage. We concluded that it was just muscle strain that was affecting my inner ear, and that it would just go away. I hadn't lost any of my hearing, so that was a relief! But he did insist that I see an opthalmologist because

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-52019594644583071022007-06-29T11:31:00.000-04:002007-06-29T11:37:36.759-04:00

This is one of my mom's cats, Stubby, named so because of his missing tail. No, he isn't a tailless cat, he was hit by a car as a kitten and had his tail amputated. This was all before he came to us.He just might be the sweetest, most affectionate cat ever. As soon as you sit down, he jumps in your lap to give you kisses. Oh, how I miss him!And here is my little man, hanging out in the window

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-57855317975360721122007-06-28T17:20:00.000-04:002007-06-29T11:38:24.752-04:00

Via Jessica at Feministing, I read this article at Marie Claire. I know, barf. The only real "magazines" I read are Bitch and Southern Living. My coffee table is quite the conversation piece, but I digress.The article is a personal account of one woman's experience with the abortion pill, Mifeprex. While this is a very safe drug to induce miscarriage, this particular woman had a horrible

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-15115415754631847122007-06-28T17:05:00.000-04:002007-06-28T17:20:13.037-04:00

I'm back, bitchez!And to get back in the swing of blogging, I'm enjoying a glass of El Portillo Sauvignon Blanc*, an inexpensive Argentinian white. So inexpensive, in fact, that it sports a screw top, which I didn't notice until I brought it home. Usually, I don't "do" screw top wine, so forgive me.As I was wielding the Ginsu knife to open the bottle, I anticipated a sugary sweet and unclean

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-14235492780884524262007-06-19T10:59:00.000-04:002007-06-19T11:02:11.367-04:00

It's been over a month since my last post. I've had some personal issues (everyone is fine) that I won't get into here, but I think I'll start blogging again next week. Lots of stuff cooking in my brain, and I hope to serve up an intellectual feast for the handful of people who read my blog.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-87132086114430974802007-05-13T11:28:00.000-04:002007-05-13T11:55:21.984-04:00

Dear Mom,It's Mother's Day, and every year I say it's a bunch of commercial crap that the corporatocracy has manipulated from the peace-loving observance it once was into a stomach-churning orgy of flowers, jewelry, and tacky cards. But then people start to talk about their mothers, without all the consumer driven hype, and I always get a little sentimental.Historically, I've been with you on

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-53175690277371592792007-04-27T10:38:00.000-04:002007-04-27T12:10:52.857-04:00

I work for "The Man."Of course, as an academic librarian, I'm not working to make some godlike CEO a profit, since academic institutions are nonprofit. But I still feel like I am part of that culture of profit, slaving away at a job while giving little thought to my actual life. I talked with my mother the other day about this, about how we spend most of our waking hours at a job that we may or

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-56657629345262350682007-04-23T14:26:00.000-04:002007-04-23T14:40:28.234-04:00

This story is really hilarious, once you get past the utterly ballsy bigotry. Yeah, I could go on and on about the father's bigoted views of homosexuality, particularly those dirty lesbians, but I won't. That would be too predictable.Instead, I'm going to laugh my ass off. It is so clear that these kids were looking for this book, or at least were goofing around the "naughty" section instead

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-91994594540501983542007-04-20T15:08:00.000-04:002007-04-20T20:32:46.208-04:00

As days went by this week, my reaction to the Virginia Tech shootings has grown stronger and stronger. I live about 50-60 miles from Blacksburg, which is close, but enough distance to feel insulated initially. I never feared for my safety or for the safety of my geographically local friends. To do so would be a waste of time and a waste of energy, because we can't live our lives in constant

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-89439225549111949922007-04-20T08:53:00.000-04:002007-04-20T08:54:11.862-04:00

You're getting very sleeeeeeeepy . . .

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-69914523595801148522007-04-18T15:50:00.000-04:002007-04-19T10:32:42.773-04:00

This is just really fucking scary. From what I understand, through all the medical and legal jargon, is that this procedure actually doesn't exist. The anti-choicers have mangled the language of late-term abortion to appeal to those who romanticize the fetus, and the ban was written vaguely enough to create that slippery slope into a full overturn of Roe.I was just talking to a friend the other

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-58671772160492485552007-04-18T15:15:00.000-04:002007-04-18T15:50:02.393-04:00

There's been a lot of talk about gun control in light of the VT shootings this week. That's highly understandable, and it's a necessary discussion to have. I do not want to address that because I am terrified of guns. As a girl, spending the night at a friend's house, I had a gun pointed at me by an intruder that forced his way into the bedroom while we were sleeping. That pretty much turned

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-70282771824628470232007-04-16T17:44:00.000-04:002007-04-16T17:46:34.943-04:00

Today has been a violent day in Virginia, as 33 people have been shot dead at Virginia Tech University. Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-8777306337097459862007-04-13T10:58:00.000-04:002007-04-13T11:04:31.882-04:00

This week's wine is Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc. It's another reasonably priced wine (otherwise I probably wouldn't be blogging it) although a bit pricier than the Meridian. (Yup, still lusting after that one, and the local market is out!)A bit sweet for a Sauvignon Blanc, but still enjoyable. There is a strong bouquet, which I can appreciate, but I'm not sure I want that with an SV. I'll

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-68540011803918369472007-04-13T10:15:00.000-04:002007-04-13T10:17:56.954-04:00

Taking a trip? Ha! We'll see about that!

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-73014491729586985502007-04-12T18:11:00.000-04:002007-04-13T10:57:33.119-04:00

I am a woman who is single. In fact, I'm a woman who has had a divorce, but consider myself more single than divorced because I don't want my past relationships to define me. I'm not sure I want my current relationship status (single) to define me either, but considering the fact that this status affects many aspects of our lives (think taxes, employment, social standing, insurance rates) I'm

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-60495167330214287082007-04-08T10:29:00.000-04:002007-04-08T11:08:29.131-04:00

As I stated in other posts, I was in Florida for a week for my cousin's wedding, which I was nervous about because I felt like I still looked weird from the BP. I'd had some progress, but my smile was still crooked and my bad eye looked like it was bulging.When I met my mother at the airport, she kept studying my face, trying to see the BP. You know how mothers are, but I hadn't seen her since

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-34934951231750497662007-04-06T17:26:00.000-04:002007-06-19T11:17:55.591-04:00

I think the topic of women and love has been studied to death, but I can't help my fascination. I know how some women feel. I met a man when I was in college, when I was 20 years old. He was two years younger than me, and was perfect for a scared little virgin like me. (To be frank, I dated a lot in college, and was known to be a partier, but was very aware of my sexuality and knew I wasn't

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-2585721833266283482007-04-06T17:10:00.000-04:002007-04-06T17:16:10.113-04:00

Miles loves to hang out in the bathroom. He spends a lot of upstairs time sitting in the doorway to the bathroom. He likes to hang out in the bathtub. He likes to lick up water splashes.What an idiot.(And anyone who comments on the rust in my sink can kiss my ass!)

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-61932664115557444252007-04-05T18:04:00.000-04:002007-04-05T18:11:55.590-04:00

That's right, suckas! Wine blogging is back!This week's selection was inspired by the warm weather in Florida and allows me to temporarily escape the cold gloom of Virginia's winter snap. Meridian Sauvignon Blanc has been nicely rated by several food and wine magazines, and the price was excellent, so I thought I'd give it a try.A beautiful bouquet greets the nose that is sweet, but fresh. The

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-29189016204274884032007-04-05T12:17:00.000-04:002007-04-05T12:42:39.384-04:00

My mini-vacation is over, the wedding went smoothly, my cousin is now married and off in Paris with his new spouse. I had never met her before Friday evening at the rehearsal dinner, and she really seems like she's got her head on straight. I think they'll be happy, since my cousin isn't a misogynist and she seems like she can handle her own. It's that damn power dynamic that breaks up a lot

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-16969599427045931712007-03-29T09:57:00.000-04:002007-03-29T10:12:52.916-04:00

I'm back home, basking in my love of Florida. I used to say I hated Florida, but now that I've lived away, I've begun to really appreciate the eclectic culture, the water, and the colorful people. (And, come on, it gets really old seeing only white people all the time.)Yesterday, as I was riding in the car with my mother down a particularly clogged part of the interstate that buzzes right through

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-23173651822758198542007-03-27T11:40:00.000-04:002007-03-27T11:55:38.311-04:00

Via Pam, I learned that at UNC-Greensboro the College Republicans are staging Morality Week. In front of the library. Honestly, I have no problem with groups like College Republicans, and feel they have every right to express their political concerns as any other group. Anti-choice? Fine. March against reproductive choice. Pro war? Go ahead and have a recruiter; hell, enlist yourself! But

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-1733117661221865012007-03-26T17:47:00.000-04:002007-03-27T07:19:36.858-04:00

I know, I know, I said I was taking a vacation, but I had to put in a plug for a new blog, Don't Be Silent. Read Golden Silence's intro post here. It's DC based, but I think we can all identify. Even myself, currently living in a town with a population of less than 7,000.I really hope that this tide of anger at street harrassment continues, and that society starts to hold these creeps

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-60078367376616140402007-03-26T15:59:00.000-04:002007-03-26T16:02:38.389-04:00

I'm so excited, because in about 28.5 hours I'll be boarding a plane back to my hometown in Florida. My cousin is getting married on Saturday, and I thought it would be a great excuse to head home and see family and friends. Needless to say, I probably won't be posting until I get back next week. (Tuesday to Tuesday, I got a total deal on the tickets!) Yay!

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-83424458110702090182007-03-23T18:28:00.000-04:002007-03-23T18:36:53.706-04:00

I'm going to start a Friday Cat Blogging series, just like many of my other favorite bloggers.Here's the first installment:I really hope I don't break the scale!

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-55783390850997240632007-03-23T18:23:00.000-04:002007-03-23T18:28:25.752-04:00

I think winter is finally leaving this part of Virginia, which means it's time for my favorite season. Spring! The daffodils are blooming, and tulips are shooting up green. Forsythia is glowing yellow. The pansies have perked up after a harsh winter.And it was 80 degrees today. Ahhhhhhh. It's nice to have my windows open again, and not have to dread going outside. I bought some pansies,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-35036042960845071682007-03-22T18:39:00.000-04:002007-03-22T18:47:17.327-04:00

It's been awhile since I've written about the BP, because I have not made much progress. When I last wrote, it was day 21 of my BP. On Tuesday, it had been 6 weeks since my BP struck.I'd been feeling sorry for myself, again, because I wasn't making any progress with my facial muscles. My mouth is getting every-so-slightly better, in that it moves a tiny bit when I try to smile. But my eye is

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-86062386583288541682007-03-22T18:00:00.000-04:002007-03-22T18:39:15.551-04:00

Not that any of the four people that read my blog are men, but just in case.A couple of weeks ago on a Saturday, I was walking home from (of all places) the hair salon. There's a stretch of road that's a little busy before I get to my apartment, and I usually avoid it with a shortcut, but construction has recently blocked that shortcut. I'm forced to use the busy stretch of road.As I was

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-72845503185229259122007-03-08T15:41:00.000-05:002007-03-08T16:20:19.114-05:00

Yay. We get a whole day. Men get 364 days, but we can celebrate our day. I think I'll treat myself to some chocolate and red wine through a straw. But first, I'm going to Blog Against Sexism.A group on my campus (I can't remember who) gave out long stem roses to all of the female faculty and staff. Which was nice, but wasteful and ineffective. (Neither I nor my assistant took one, just

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-5800645900201569252007-03-02T15:09:00.000-05:002007-03-02T15:11:09.165-05:00

I should be thankful that I'm not this girl. While I bitch about my BP, this girl has truly had her life interrupted. But at least, after five weeks, her life is back to normal.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-68151464575419295152007-03-02T15:03:00.000-05:002007-03-02T15:06:50.491-05:00

There’s been a bit of a kerfuffle in the feminist blogosphere again, this time with regards to those men, wreaking of entitlement issues, who will stop a strange woman on the street and order her to smile. Most of the discussion revolved around the entitlement complex that many men have, and how they act like royalty by demanding their servants (in this case, strange women) to perform for them.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-42955004710057627322007-02-27T17:30:00.000-05:002007-02-27T18:45:59.932-05:00

The Secret has been sweeping the nation. It was featured on Oprah, the Today Show, and the book and DVD have been selling like hotcakes. "The Secret" is that you can attain anything you want, as long as you envision yourself having it. It is based on physics, not something I'm getting into here, but is clearly looking to align with folks who aren't very spiritual, which is a very untapped

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-23486527705643940782007-02-27T16:57:00.000-05:002007-02-27T17:03:27.353-05:00

Wine blogging will be on indefinite hold until I get over my BP. Right now, I can only drink liquids through a straw, and drinking wine through a straw will surely hurt the flavor and aromatic experience of the wine. Most likely, a glass of wine would do me some good, but I'm going to live a dry life for a while until I'm over my flaccid face.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-70272974661419962292007-02-27T14:17:00.000-05:002007-02-27T17:06:11.370-05:00

I haven't posted on my BP in a while because not much has happened. The pain is basically gone on the affected side of my face. However, I've aggravated my TMJ on the left side because I've been holding my mouth funny. I've been taking ibuprofen for it and using a heating pad when I'm at home. It helps a little.I'm thinking about going into a physical therapy treatment called facial

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-23952481704244108252007-02-27T13:16:00.000-05:002007-02-27T14:16:30.154-05:00

Since the publication of this article, the feminist blogosphere has been buzzing with critique of campus Greek life. The article in question describes the National HQ's cleansing of a sorority chapter of its less-than-perfect sisters. In other words, the bigwigs at HQ swooped into this struggling chapter and, rather than help the chapter strengthen its membership in positive ways, like

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-1218152296396212892007-02-21T15:46:00.000-05:002007-02-21T16:17:23.344-05:00

I decided to write an "about me and my life" post, since it may help explain a lot of where I'm coming from. If you've read previous posts, you know I'm opinionated, so here goes.I'm an almost 31, divorced, unattached, liberal academic type. In fact, I'm an academic librarian, specifically science. I'm a born teacher, so librarianship has been ideal for me in that I can dabble in lots of

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-13626474563475479702007-02-19T18:50:00.000-05:002007-03-02T15:07:22.846-05:00

I work at a university. (I'm working on a post that describes what I do and why I remain anonymous.) We get a lot of support from work scholars, who are lifesavers most of the time. Every year, we do a student worker appreciation lunch toward the end of the year.It's actually a really nice event, and the students are given lots of attention and really appreciate the effort. Besides, what

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-91817531130707150162007-02-19T18:14:00.000-05:002007-02-19T18:50:09.385-05:00

So much for the daily log, huh?Really, not much has changed. I went to the doctor last week, and he ordered a CT scan, and told me to take a 3-day weekend to rest. I did that, and I think it helped. One thing I didn't know about BP was that it caused such exhaustion, which makes the BP worse. You really do need to take it easy while your nerves and muscles are recovering from what is a pretty

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-46587150325622943832007-02-15T18:03:00.000-05:002007-02-15T18:13:32.858-05:00

Oy. Not a good day. Last night was full of fitful sleep because the pain in my parotid gland was so bad. When I got up this morning, my eye and mouth felt stronger, but the pain was still there. I made an appointment with my doctor, and he seems stumped as to why my pain has persisted. So he's ordered a CT scan to make sure there isn't something else wrong. Like a tumor. This scares me

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-80663880949185191302007-02-14T17:12:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:27:09.237-05:00

I was watching the Today Show this morning (yes, I still watch even though Katie is gone and the show is really just one long advertisement) and saw this sickening feature: Does beauty plus money equal love?I missed most of Today's feature, but followed up at the ultra-creepy website, Pocket Change. From the website:Pocket Change is honoring the age old union of wealthy men and hot girls.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-64499785332991900912007-02-14T17:05:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:11:29.023-05:00

I've decided to write a daily log of my recovery from Bell's Palsy, which started a week ago today.I felt really good when I woke up this morning, and I even thought that I could close my eye better. My mouth seems to be working better, too, as in I don't dribble quite so badly when I drink or eat.At work, I was doing okay. I used the eye ointment instead of drops because it makes my eye feel

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-42263807733410618732007-02-13T13:36:00.000-05:002007-02-13T13:36:30.764-05:00

In my last post, I introduced my experience coming down with Bell's Palsy. At that time, I was very uncomfortable and annoyed that everyday activities required more effort, but I was in fairly good spirits.This past weekend was different. The BP kept getting worse, to the point where my face was drooping and my bottom eyelid was hanging open. Which is gross. And hurts like hell. For most of

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-9945119447001405322007-02-10T09:42:00.000-05:002007-02-13T13:56:04.880-05:00

(Originally titled "I'm a bad blogger, but I have a reason!")I've been neglecting my brand new blog for a week now, and the guilt has settled in. Maybe I shouldn't feel guilty, and I'm going to try to talk myself out of the guilt with this rambling post. Here goes.I woke up Wednesday morning with half of my face paralyzed. On Tuesday, my eye was really bothering me, but I just thought it was

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-48263039610786082842007-02-02T18:06:00.000-05:002007-02-02T18:11:18.411-05:00

My neighbor is a really happy guy. Which is a good thing, since my former neighbor was an abusive, demented drunk. Thing is, I don't think my new neighbor realizes I can hear everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that goes on in his apartment. Right now, he's singing in the shower. I'm sitting downstairs, and I can hear him all the way down here. And it's bad, in a totally hysterical way. If he

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-53804208757309068222007-02-02T15:15:00.000-05:002007-04-18T16:23:53.444-04:00

Two stories have really caught my attention this week. The first story comes out of Tampa, Florida -- my hometown. A 21 year old woman attended Gasparilla with some friends last weekend, and decided at about 1:30 p.m. to head back to her car and go home. On her way home, she was brutally raped. In broad daylight. When she finally made it back to her car, she called the police, who then took

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-78939262816043989272007-02-01T10:30:00.000-05:002007-02-01T18:11:13.270-05:00

Via Sheezlebub, I heard about this lovely column from the Statesman Journal. Yeah, yeah, it's supposed to be "humorous" but, come on, what a dickhead!I have a pretty good sense of humor, but this bile just trots out all the tired old jokes.One.More.Time.Just because Purcell's column is "opinion" and "humor" doesn't mean that you can't find offense in it.The product of Purcell's ego masturbation

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-60761105142273710812007-01-29T17:27:00.000-05:002007-02-01T18:09:16.589-05:00

One of my father's favorite phrases when I was growing up was "Shit or get off the pot!" He liked to use this phrase to jolt us into motivation, to keep us from dodging life's problems.Today, I found another use for this phrase.We've had some unreasonably (yes, you read that right, I did not mean "unseasonably") cold weather here in my corner of Virginia. I also have a window just above the

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-16687922952927964532007-01-29T17:14:00.000-05:002007-02-01T18:09:43.164-05:00

Since there's not a whole lot going on in my neck of the woods, I've become a bit of an oenephile. Which means I go through a lot of wine; in fact, I go through at least a bottle a week, just myself. When I first moved here, it was much more, but I've moderated myself since discovering that a hangover does not make for the most productive workday.This week's pick is White Hall Vineyards (a

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-60898797978246449992007-01-28T19:52:00.000-05:002007-02-01T18:10:15.240-05:00

I just returned from a conference in the beautifully rainy city of Seattle. I'm a big city girl who is temporarily living in a (painfully) small town, so whenever I get to go to a city it's a huge treat.Why do I love Seattle? Because after freezing my ass off in Virginia, a balmy day of 42 degrees and buildings with more than four stories was quite refreshing. And I want to go back. Let me

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928688466438967323.post-64789913826741077102007-01-28T19:22:00.000-05:002007-02-01T18:10:37.812-05:00

Sometimes when I'm going through my daily routines, the most bizarre things happen, and I feel like I just have to share these stories with the world. If I didn't laugh at my life, I'd probably be in a nut house, so I feel compelled to write it all down.I have no agenda here, although my politics will surely come through at some point. Sit back and enjoy the show.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284524261839952609noreply@blogger.com0