Offensive!

On Tuesday night, Victoria's Secret broadcast a fashion show featuring models in Victoria's Secret under wear.  Stations around the country censored the broadcast because it was offensive. They are right, but their reasoning is wrong. I fully agree that it is offensive, but not because models are walking the cat walk in bras and panties. 

The Victoria's Secret show is offensive because of the models.  It is offensive that we allow women all over to believe that those models represent an ideal feminine body.  Hell, it's offensive that we allow them to represent a female's body at all!  Young girls, already struggling with their body image, now feel fat and ugly.  Wives, mothers, and single women doubt their attractiveness.  Even men wonder why they can't find a woman like that.

Women like we see on that stage don't exist.  Those models might as well be Stepford Wives robots.  Just read about the diets the women undertake prior to the show.  They are anorexic.  If you have ever looked into the real world of modeling, many of those women are chain smokers or drug users.  Both help them keep that unrealistic, skeleton like physique.  Their real hair is supplemented with weaves and extensions.  Their make up is caked on to remove all blemishes.  Their bodies are tanned and also made up to cover anything that may make them appear human.

I haven't bought Victoria's Secret products in years, and I am not about to start.  Shame on them, and so many others for continuing to spread this propaganda of unhealthy body image.  Yes, this post is written by someone that is 5 feet 5 inches and weighing in at 130 pounds.  But, I promise you, I can grab a handful of belly.  That belly has stretch marks.  My butt jiggles when I walk, and so do my thighs.  My boobs are small, my face has wrinkles, and while I naturally have a lot of hair, it will never look like what Victoria's Secret portrayed last night. 

I'm a real woman.  I've given birth to 4 kids.  I eat food, and enjoy it.  I don't smoke, or use drugs to stay thin.  The only tan I get is come by honestly as I work in my garden in the summer.  My kids love me, my husband loves me, my friends love me, and we are all real.  All of us ladies need to start loving ourselves.  We need to love each other.  We need to be real!  Stop letting corporations sell us robots as women, fight back!  Teach young women and men everywhere what real women are.  We can do it!

Parenting with an Open Mind

So quick question, answer it as quickly as possible (in your head is fine):

Is it ok to send your child to school with pink or blue spray streaks in their hair?

Got your initial answer?  Now think about it.  Was your initial answer based on what others have told you was ok?  Or was your answer something that you feel strongly about?

This exact question was a daunting one for me, and for Dana as well.  I admit that my first answer to my question, is not the same as it is now.  A few months ago my mom gave Kaia a can of pink hairspray.  I admit right now, my first reaction was, "Oh no, she didn't..."  The "mom" in me was cringing.  It wasn't ok to put pink spray in my 7 year old's hair. 

A few days later, the "me" in me grabbed the mom in a choke hold and called her a big hypocrite that had somehow lost touch with her own ideas.  Somehow the "mom" in me was listening to what society might think, or what other parents might think, rather than what I might think.  And it's true.  Prior to Kaia starting school I looked at all the local options.  First off, I'm a huge proponent of public schools.  I strongly believe that while they may be underfunded, the teachers are there not for the great pay and benefits (which they don't have) but because they have a passion for the next generation.  So I was ready to put Kaia into our local public school, but was concerned about child care before and after, and felt it would be best to look at all of our options.  The problem was, every single private school whether Catholic, Christian or Seventh Day Adventist all had a student handbook. And every student handbook had some rule about the length of hair for boys, and color of hair for boys and girls.  There were also rules on nail polish use, the banning of use by boys.  Most also had policy on clothing and it wasn't just about modest clothing.  With each rule I became upset. 

Dana and I are the parents of our kids.  If Dana and I are ok with our boys having long hair or painting their nails, I don't want a school telling us it's inappropriate.  If Dana and I allow Kaia to dye her hair purple and spike it, then it is our decision, And if our kids want to wear jeans with holes in the knees, and sneakers that are falling apart as part of their self-expression, then so be it.  We draw the line when clothing is immodest, or when the alteration is permanent like a tattoo or piercing, or last if the self-expression is actually rebellion that comes with attitude.  But most of all we don't need a school telling us what is acceptable for our children. 

I have heard the arguments that rules in school prep our kids for rules at work, and I'm fine if you feel that way.  I strongly feel that childhood and adolescent years are for figuring out who you are, and if you are too busy trying to fit into someone else's box of what is acceptable, how can  you do that?

Sure my initial reaction was very anti-pink hair, but this morning I sprayed 2 pink stripes into Kaia's hair, just like I did a few days ago.  Pink hair doesn't hurt anyone.

I'm definitely going to start doing a check on myself when I have gut reactions to things.  Too often, my initial reaction is not my own.  Have you spotted any areas in  your life where you are listening to others rather than listening to yourself?

Pet Peeve

Blind Dudley

Many of you may not know this, but Dana and I used to have 9 ferrets.  Yes, you read that number 9 (nine) correctly.  They were Frosty, Stoney, Holley, Haley, Harley, Dudley, Ashley, Chi Chi and Spud.  This may be obvious, but we didn't name Chi Chi and Spud.

We loved our ferrets, they were so sweet.  We lost Harley to cancer in the Fall of 2002.  Right after that we lost our hedgehog Thorndyke.  And right after that we learned I was pregnant with Kaia.  By the time Morgan was born we had lost all of our ferrets, but Dudley. 

Kaia loved Dudley.  He was our big baby.  Big, lumbering, dumber than a box of rocks, and so sweet.  He was mostly blind and had bouts of baldness, but he enjoyed being carried around by Kaia and was always up for some hopping around with her. 

So if ferrets are such vicious creatures, do you believe that Dana and I would have ever allowed our daughter to play with Dudley?  Of course not.  Yet every radio and tv commercial I've seen for the past 5 years has made ferrets out to be horrible biting creatures.  Even the APA recommends that they not be in homes with children (they don't like hedgehogs for pets either). 

Out of 9 ferrets, we had 1 (one) that bit.  Holley was a tiny, silky albino female.  We were her 5th owners, in just over a months time.  She had a biting problem. I personally had her bite down on my knuckle, hit bone and hold.  It started with the first owners, and each owner after brought her back because they couldn't handle her. 

Ferret babies, like kittens and puppies naturally nip when they get excited.  Ferret mommies or owners have to teach the babies not to nip.  Now at a pet store, you might hear the teenage worker tell a customer to "flick their nose" when the cute little baby nips.  Feel free to flick the teenage worker's nose, or whap them upside the back of the head.  Flicking their nose teaches them to bite because they fear hands.  Proper ferret training involves the scruff of the neck, pinch the scruff and drag the ferret while saying "no."  See, now you can educate any stupid pet store workers you may run into, although I think flicking his or her nose would really be more fun.

We don't know if Holley was flicked first and that started the biting habit.  What we did learn years later was that she had had her ribs broken prior to living with us.  They were broken and began to calcify, scaring the crap out of us when we were sure the big lump was cancer.  Even though someone did that to her, we were able to teach her that people were ok.  We took our time and handled her carefully.  We used proper training when she was naughty, and at the end of her life she only nipped if you made a sudden move toward her.  And then, it was only a little nip. 

I can't stop the media from demonizing these sweet pets, but I can at least tell my readers and you can spread the word too.  And if you ever need personal testimony just ask Kaia about Dudley.  But be prepared for the tears and lamenting over the loss of her pet.  She even used to ask me if Jesus would send Dudley back so she could have him here again.

This Poor Child

If your last name is Hooker, for goodness sake, do not give your child the middle name Heavenly! It is a perfectly suitable name for strippers and porn stars, but not for little girls!

A Miracle

You may remember in December, when I posted about the Christmas Angel? I said it was arragont of humans to believe we can interfere with God's plans through the use of birth control. I just never thought I'd be proving it.

In February of 2007 I had a tubal ligation. It wasn't the easiest decision, but Dana and I both decided that we had our hands full, and that 2 wonderful kids was enough for us. Fast forward 2 years. So if my tubal ligation could interfere with God's plan, how did I see this on March 1st?

This is the egg sac, no baby can be seen yet.

Not only was I definitely pregnant, which we knew from the labwork I was having every few days, but it wasn't ectopic. (yes, I realize that the date on the machine is March 14, 1998. Apparently they don't use this machine much and don't care about the date.) This week I went in to verify that all was well, and I saw the heartbeat.

You probably don't see much. But the arrow is pointing to a light spot. That light spot was clearly beating on the ultrasound. This baby truly is the work of God! While it is still a bit frightening (as in we got rid of almost all of our baby stuff, and we already have a big stack of medical bills) we are also excited to welcome baby number 3 into the world in early November.

Hacked!

I learned some very disturbing news this weekend. Jen, the Dust Bunny Hostage, was hacked! I'd link to her blog, but it is shut off for now. I'm already having withdrawls from Jen's great sense of humor, and am still shocked at the "Why?"

Then there is the thought, "What if someone hacks my blog?" But, why hack a blog in the first place? I guess there are some people out there with no life of their own. Come on people, if you want a blog, start one they are free. No need to go hacking into one of the funniest blogs out there.

Jen, I hope your quest for a safer, more hack proof blog is short and successful!

In case you were wondering...

Many readers may remember a few months ago when I stated that I was applying for my concealed weapons permit. To some that may seem strange, but around here, it's called protection.

Just yesterday, I drove home down Tieton Drive, about a mile past 16th Avenue, a police car came flying by, back toward 16th Ave. I learned on the news this morning that a man was shot in the leg right outside the convenience store on the corner of 16th Ave and Tieton Drive. I was at the stoplight right next to that convenience store. This must have happened within a minute or two of me leaving that intersection.

Also last night, in a town just a short drive from here, a man was shot dead, and another wounded.

Both of these incidents are gang related. Both are fairly common occurrences around here. We don't live in a big city, but we rival them with our crime rate. The police and swat team often close off the streets just East of our office. And last month a gang fight, luckily one that didn't include weapons, happened to be on the sidewalk in front of our office, and up against our front door.

We live in a town that has some amazing things happening. The downtown is being renovated, there are numerous shows, art activities and we are in a prime location for skiing, hiking and camping. It really is a great place to live, but until the gang problem is dealt with my family, and many more that I know, will have protection just in case.

A Christmas Angel?

Have you seen or heard about the video surveillance clip that shows a bright light in the doorway of a girl that had just been removed from life support? She was gravely ill, the support was removed, and then the camera and some staff saw a bright light. The girl who "should have" died, began to recover. Everyone is asking, was the light an angel?

Maybe it's because I've read so much Frank Peretti, and am currently reading "This Present Darkness" for the 2nd or 3rd time, but I believe that God can do anything. That includes sending an angel.

I know that there will be people who say that God cannot do that, or God doesn't do that. (I have heard Christians say this just as much as agnostics) But, every time we as humans try to place a limit on God, we are only attempting to raise ourselves up higher. We think that we can decide God's powers, as if we were on the same level as He.

One of example of this, and I apologize if I offend you, is the belief that birth control interferes with God's plan. Yet, Mary practiced the most effective birth control of all, abstinence, and she gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ. We take this time of year to stop and remember His birth (even though it was most likely in the spring or summer). His birth that should have been impossible, but wasn't because God has no limits.

Was it an angel or the sunshine? I do not know. I do know that this girl recovering is a miracle, and I know that God can make anything happen.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

My Decision

What happens when I don't like either the Democratic or Republican Candidate in any office? I vote Libertarian. I have never joined the Libertarian party, but I have always liked their philosophy. In a nutshell, government goes too far. On a Federal level the belief is that more power should be in the hands of the States. Or as the slogan on Bob Barr's site says "The Answer is Less Government." Since I cannot bring myself to vote for McCain or Obama, Barr will get my vote. Will he be elected? No, but at least I know I voted for someone that I felt could do a good job.

Kindergarten Chronicles: Shoes

Kaia hasn't even been in school a month, and already, I'm stirring up trouble. The problem all started with this:



The shoes. I put those shoes on her specifically for P.E. The rules are pretty strict for P.E. Students must wear exercise tennis shoes on their P.E. days. There is another rule too, kids that can't tie their shoes yet, are asked not to wear shoes with laces (for safety reasons).



Kaia wants you to know that the shoes are cute, but she can't wear them for P.E. Apparently they aren't tennis shoes. I found this out by white slip Friday evening. If you have never seen me mad, then you might just want to imagine smoke coming from my ears. Kaia had to sit P.E. out because they weren't just right. Now these shoes fit with everything sent home, but still were not ok.

I have talked to her P.E. teacher, but we are not in agreement on this. I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the philosophy that a child must have on just the right shoes to participate in physical activity. Children need to learn that P.E. is fun, and that they can be active in every day life, not just when they have on the right shoes.

Selling Fear

Boomer, whose only fear is not getting fed.

BigDumbDog is afraid of the water hose.

I wish I could tell you that last night went so much smoother than Monday, but it didn't. I really hate nights where I spend all my time yelling, because I'm being completely ignored when I talk. Morgan was even being naughty as he decided to dump half a bottle of pre-depilatory cleanser (expensive stuff that I bought with Birthday money last year) on the coffee table.

It wasn't completely the kids bugging me. We were standing outside for a bit while I watered the front garden, and my plants in the planters when a salesman walked up.

Cucumbers, green onions, and a jalpeno plant (in the middle of the onions).

My gift for Mother's Day from my Mom and Dad, I chose the John Deere Yellow, Dana helped me paint it. Those are tomatoes up on the steps. Never mind the weed in the bottom right corner.

Not one of you commented on my Swingtown post, so either you don't watch it, or are afraid to admit it. Well last week's episode was about finding your authentic self. When Rodger asks his boss for more money, he's fired. He tells his wife's best friend, Susan, that he's glad. You see he was an insurance salesman and he tells her that successful insurance salesman need to scare people to get them to buy products. They sell fear.

Last night we had an alarm salesman. Of course they aren't selling the alarm. They are giving the alarm away, plus the installation and warranty. You just have to pay $45 a month to have it hooked up and display a sign in your yard. We listened to his spiel and pointed out that our security system was in the house. Come in and threaten, you'll meet a bullet. Then he pointed out to Dana that of course Dana could take care of himself, but what about when he wasn't around. A system would be good for protecting the wife and kids, or the house when no one was home. Dana's answer? My wife's a darn good shot, she can take care of herself!

Salesman is figuring out that this isn't going quite how he planned. He points out that it's your sense of security that feels violated, and that an alarm will provide a deterrent. And it raises the value of your home! Ummm... my dog is a deterrent, and the fact that we have so many close neighbors that are home during the day. Thanks, but no! He left fairly quickly, having been beat. I didn't even point out to him, but did to Dana, that we could just put up some alarm stickers in the window if we wanted people to think there was an alarm. Also my co-worker installed the alarm at our office for far less, and there are no maintenance fees on that.

Really the issue is, I don't like being sold fear. Why should we pay for an alarm to go off when someone breaks in? Someone has to break in first, and that's why we have the required homeowner's insurance. Speaking of insurance, why should we pay huge amounts of money for a life insurance policy that will likely never pay out? All that money would be better put into a CD and earning interest. Washington requires liability on all autos and trucks. And we have opted for un-insured motorist coverage, because the number of un-insured motorists here in our city is huge! The more Dana and I talk about this, the more we are considering insurance changes. A higher deductible is something we are definitely discussing (for the home). The money saved will help meet that extra upfront cost if, big IF, it is needed. I'm really seeing insurance like playing the lotto, except instead of the big IF being good, the big IF is the worst case scenario. Do you really want to spend your life banking on the worst case scenario? The hardest part? Telling our insurance agent that we are switching companies.

For the Record...

I love the show Swingtown! Now before you judge, read my post through. So many people have a misconception that this show is all about sex. Wrong! Others say it's all about drug use. Wrong! While it is not for children and deals with adult issues, this show is dealing with a time of upheaval in society. The swinger who you think is so wild, well she is actually pretty insecure. The uptight one, really wants to have fun and be accepted, but doesn't quite know how. The one right in the middle, well she is struggling with her place in this new society she finds herself in.

Did you know that I actually read a biography on Halston for a book report my Sophmore year of high school? Oh yeah. I think out of the entire class I read the raciest book. More so, I was probably one of the last people to do anything naughty. Really. Sure I had my moments in high school, but for the most part I was a good girl. And this good girl read all about Studio 54. I'm not sure how I managed to make it a clean book report, but I think I focused on how Halston was always unsettled, unhappy, always searching for more.

I loved all of my sociology classes in college, so much so that I took far too many to count for my degree. Do I regret it? Not one bit, even when I continue to pay for my lovely student loans. And you all know how much I love retro, so I can't resist a show with great outfits like this:


So now my secret is out! The show is not for everyone, but I enjoy it. Because whether moral or immoral, it is all a part of America's history.

You have to be kidding me!

No matter what your view on the death penalty, if there is one crime that should be considered worthy of death, it's that of child rape! Maybe it's just mom's that think that. Or those of us that have had friends raped as a child. Apparently the Supreme Court considers murder and crimes against the state far worse.

SPAM???

I read an article this week about how many people are turning to SPAM to stretch their budget! Ok here is my first issue, SPAM costs $2.49 for a 12 oz can on average! Ummm... Hello???... A whole chicken costs between 79 cents and $1.30 per pound (16 oz). If it's not on sale get it on the sell by date and you are sure to pay less than $1 per pound. Ok, so you don't like chicken. I can buy ground beef at $1.78 all month long at Fiesta Foods. At other stores in town, depending on the sales, it is easy to pay less than $2 per pound. Don't like chicken or hamburger? Not a problem! This week at Safeway, I purchased Ranchers Reserve Bottom Round Steak for... $1.49 a pound! Serious! Cheaper than hamburger.

The article mentioned that many people liked the shelf stability of SPAM. You know, at the end of the month there would still be a can of SPAM in the cupboard. Well I'm here to argue that this is the worst possible reason to buy SPAM! Dana and I lived in duplexes the first 3 years of marriage. We didn't have a big freezer, just whatever came with the fridge where we lived. I still managed to purchase and freeze less expensive fresh meat during my frugal shopping trips. Anyone that claims lack of space as a reason for not being able to buy fresh meat, hasn't given their freezer a serious look. Sure I may have only been able to stock up for half of the month, but it was definitely cheaper than a can of SPAM.

Now if you like SPAM, then by all means buy and enjoy it. If you are trying to save money... there are so many better choices!

I want to say that I agree whole-heartedly with Mrs. Mordecai's comment! Beans are an excellent shelf stable source of protein, and extremely cheap. I'm not sure why the article didn't touch on that. It did touch on ramen noodles, and they may not be the healthiest of meals, a package can cost 10 cents or less and is fairly filling. I have a recipe that I will share soon, as in as soon as I can make it and take pictures, that uses the noodles to make a great, quick, almost no cost meal.

Late Night

I intended to go to bed at 11 p.m. That is staying up late for me. I just wasn't ready to go to bed after Hell's Kitchen, and the "sanitized" version of Sex and the City is on at 10 so I turned to that channel. (Thanks to Miley Cyrus for a new word for edited) When it was over I flipped channels. I'm still not sure why, but I wanted to check out all the PBS channels. First I checked 47.5 nothing interesting, then 47.3. PBS Create, my favorite, had Rick Steves eating froi gras in France. Ewww... Finally I turned to 47.1 and it was a documentary called China Blue. I was enthralled and disgusted!

Do you remember your history? Workers live on site and buy their food on site, so very little if any of them actually have money after all the work? Oh yes, that's what is happening. Except the young lady you are following is 16 or 17. Her friend that she meets there? She's 14. They get fake id's so they can work. They make almost nothing, but they are cutting, sewing and trimming string from jeans. Levi's and Wal-Mart were both mentioned several times throughout by the workers. There is no overtime. The generous factory owner gives the workers a free snack at midnight when they work all night! The end of the documentary there are some facts stated. In the time it took to watch the documentary, Jasmine and her friends have completed 15 pairs of jeans and earned just 97 cents for it. These are jeans that Wal-Mart might sell for $10 (just a guess since I don't shop there). Levi's charges $19-39 depending on the style. I could ramble on for ever on this. It's disgusting. Yet as long as we continue (and this includes European markets too) to purchase the items, and allow companies to outsource work this will continue.

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

That's right I'm back. Flew in about an hour ago! I'm tired (although the whole travel stuff means I need to wind down a bit before sleeping), and my lungs and eyes are glad to be back in good old Washington State! The liberal Wet-Side has one thing right on... No smoking indoors! I admit to feeling that it was treading on the rights of smokers when the bill was first past. Now after being in Vegas for two separate trips, I'm glad to be in smoke free WA!

The past few mornings my travel companion and I have had a smoker's cough, due to all the cigarettes we've inhaled, and my eyes are in need of the allergy drops the doctor gave me every few hours!

I tried to check in, but the internet connection was PRICEY! So I made a quick stop by Arts, to see he was on a break, and then while waiting for Jen's page to load, the PC shut down on me! I was paying 69 cents a minute and lost the connection. So I hurried over to end my session, which the PC had already ended so not another minute could be charged.

I will try to catch up with all soon! It is my busy weekend though. A certain little man's 2nd birthday party and a baby shower. Sad to say the shower is more planned than the party, but I'm working on that.

Global Warming: Myth or Reality?

First let me say this: I am not an expert or a scientist. Second: Hear me out. Don't read the first two paragraphs and assume that is all I have to say.

First of all I will tell you that Global Warming is a reality. There is no denying that our Earth has gone through cycles of warming and cooling trends. One of the first things I learned when I took Geology 101, was that fact. To be honest, I had no idea what in the world I'd be learning in the geology class, but quickly came to enjoy it, and actually did well considering I tend to struggle in science classes. My professor was adamant that yes, global warming was real, just as real as the ice age which left glacial deposits in Central Washington.

The real argument is: Are we as humans responsible for global warming? His answer, no. What do I believe? I believe that as humans we would love to think we are far more important in this world than we really are. We would like to believe that we know more than God, and we can do something to interrupt or destroy His plans. There is no doubt in my mind that He is in control, and no matter what we do on this earth, His plans will continue. So I don't think we are responsible for something that will be the earth's undoing.

That said, I fully believe that we are responsible for caring for this planet we are living on. The debate around global warming distracts from the real issue. We need to re-evaluate how we are caring for the world around us, not because we are bringing the end of the world upon ourselves, but as a matter of good stewards. We wouldn't trash our backyard, so why trash a park or forest land? (I have to admit that if you drive in certain areas around here, people do trash their backyards, but YOU, no, I know YOU would never do that)

I am amazed at how many people in our neighborhood put out two trash cans each week. This especially amazes me because most of the households immediately around ours are 2 person households. We have a 4 person household and only have 1 can. We currently recycle as much as possible. That is not to say we are perfect. I admit that sometimes a can or glass jar becomes so soiled that it would be a lot of work to prepare it for recycling and I toss it. Also we have purchased things in colored glass, and we don't have facilities that accept that here. And come birthdays and Christmas, there are always gifts that are so overpackaged to make it look good on store shelves. We end up with more than our one can after that.

To the horror of many, we do use disposable diapers, although not 100% of the time. I love the gDiapers and am not looking forward to the day I run out of those clearance priced bio-degradable liners! I also need large gPants for Mo, but at $16 a pair... yikes ((but they make a wonderful 2nd birthday present (wink, wink)). I am seriously considering moving him to cloth (with a liner for poopies) to help potty train him. He's almost ready.

While we are trying to do our part, there is always more to do. April is a great month not only because of Mo's birthday, but it also holds Arbor Day and Earth Day. So right now all over the web are tips to help you live greener. There are also wonderful activities for kids. I'm really working with Kaia on not using too much toilet paper and not playing with the water when she should be washing her hands.

My question for you is: What are you doing to live greener?

If only this weren't an issue!

I'm sharing this with all of you because I'm amazed at how many people do not understand endo. I had 5 years of pain before my diagnosis. Had a second surgery 10 years later (February 2007) and still suffer the pain. I have also had to fight with physicians over medication. I'm lucky to find one that will prescribe vicodin, and allow me enough each month to survive. None of us want to live on pain medication, it's a requirement for normal living. Yet we are treated like addicts. Fitting that the month of my birthday is also awareness month.

"MARCH IS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH! LIGHT A CANDLE TO FIGHT ENDO!

Dear Friend,

It is letters such as the one attached from Samantha that break our hearts but also make us realize how important our work is. Please help us reach the physicians who simply do not understand the horrific pain and other problems of endometriosis.

We really need your help to reach doctors, change attitudes, and improve our care.
· How do we help nurses, medical students and physicians in training, as well as physicians already in practice, to better understand the miserable experience of endometriosis and why we greatly need knowledgeable, caring help?
· How do we help them understand that we need to be diagnosed quickly, not 10 years into the disease as our research with the National Institutes of Health showed?
· How do we make them understand that the pain we experience interferes with our lives in major ways and is not in our heads or just something that we have to live with?

You can help with all of this. If each person receiving this talks to only one healthcare provider (start with your own if you haven’t already!), offers brochures to be distributed to other patients, or encourages a doctor to watch our powerful Physician’s DVD, we will have created a tremendous new understanding in just one month. Will you be part of this?

Email, call, or write us if you’d like some brochures and “Ask me about endometriosis” ribbons and if you have other ideas for improving the quality of medical education. For the Physician’s DVD, send us the name and address of your physician, the date of your next appointment, and a statement that you agree to personally put the DVD in the hands of your healthcare provider and will ask them to please view it. And tell us about your experiences. Our Translational Medicine Council is taking shape and appreciates any input or ideas—not just the difficulties we’ve had with medical care but how can we actually change it?

Thank you for lighting a candle to fight the darkness of endo!

Cordially,
Mary Lou Ballweg
President/Executive Director
Endometriosis Association
8585 N. 76th Place
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Phone: (414) 355-2200
Fax: (414) 355-6065
Email: endo@EndometriosisAssn.orgWebsite: www.EndometriosisAssn.org

***********************************************
I joined the Endometriosis Association today. I am a 25-year-old child protective services worker. I have had endometriosis symptoms since I started my period… Like most others with the disease, I saw specialist after specialist, had colonoscopies, was told I was a drug-seeker or had depression, and even told I just had gas….

Last year, I asked my mother why five of my aunts have had hysterectomies. (My mother had cancer at the age of 22, had a partial hysterectomy…) My mom said that my aunts all had hysterectomies because of endometriosis…they had all kept the reason quiet until my mother asked them.

I had a laparoscopy to confirm endo in February ’07. Finally, I thought the doctors would prescribe the only medication that works for me—Percocet—for the most painful part of my cycle. And, I thought they wouldn’t question whether I was a drug-seeker because I had a real diagnosis. I was wrong. My doctor was very hesitant to prescribe the narcotics and sent me to a pain management program. I have been doing it for two months, and yet, the pain doctor who prescribes the medicine hasn’t been able to fit me in.

My doctor prescribed Percocet a couple times. I take it only for the most painful times, but when I found myself in a lot of pain and it was gone, I ended up in the emergency room where they refused to give me the medication and offered Vicodin even though it hurts my stomach and makes me feel weird. I left crying. My doctor refused to fill my prescription last week and told me to take ibuprofen and Tylenol.

I was in so much pain, I was taking medication every two hours, until one night, I collapsed on my kitchen floor, sobbing. Then, I vomited all over myself. Knowing that the emergency room would refuse to help me, I had no one to turn to. I live in the U.S.A. and have great health insurance, and yet, there I found myself, in agonizing pain, laying in my own vomit in the kitchen, knowing that there was nothing that anyone was willing to do to help.

I began to write about my pain as a way to express how I feel. I hope to one day publish my poems about endometriosis as another way to help women understand that they are not alone... I’ve read your books so I know how much it can help. Thank you for all that you do.
Samantha, California"

I HATE Censorship

Ok I don't really hate censorship. I hate what I consider "subversive censorship." There are 2 different kinds of censored songs on the radio. Some songs they put a "scratch" over words that can't be said. You typically know what word the artist is singing, and you know that it's been censored. The subversive censorship just replaces the word or phrase with a completely different word or phrase. Sometimes the version is called a radio edit. But if you've never heard the artist's original song, you don't realize you are listening to a sanitized version.

I first noticed this with Toby Keith's Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue. When worked the 3 a.m. shift at the bakery, I would hear it on the overnight show on the radio in it's original version. Then at 6 a.m. when the station switched to local programming the line magically became "we'll put a boot in your eye." With the scandal over that song, everyone knows what the original line is. I don't care for the song though, so while annoyed I didn't give it too much more thought.

Fast forward 5 years, where I work normal hours (for the most part) and buy Kaia Taylor Swift's cd. We both know how the songs are written because before we owned the cd, we listened on You Tube. One song though has just hit the radio. "Picture to Burn" I heard it the other day, and wasn't paying much attention when I realized that sure enough one of the best line's in the song was censored. So now instead of "Go ahead and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine I'll tell mine your gay." Has been changed to "Go ahead and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, you won't mind if I say." Hopefully you won't mind that I say "Lame!"

When I listen to music, I want to hear the artists vision. I don't want to hear the industry or FCC's version of what's acceptable for me to hear!

Once Again...

Ahh I come into work to find that once again a window has been broken out in the office. This is the 3rd broken window, but nothing stolen. We're pretty sure the alarm system scared them off this time, as nothing appears to be missing. Co-worker said "Maybe this will deter any future attempts." I volunteered that moving to a new location would also solve this problem.

Too many crackheads in this neighborhood. Apparently they have nothing else to do, but steal from a non-profit. A non-profit that is raising money to help them get off drugs and back into mainstream. No good deed goes unpunished!