News! At Last!

I finally got the answer I have been waiting for: I got into UBC Law! I am truly, deeply excited and cannot wait to take my place as a law student this fall. Working towards this goal has been a long, slow process and many have encouraged me along the way, but no one more so than my husband, who has never doubted me. He has been my biggest fan and greatest strength and this is his victory, too.
So, now it's just a matter of ironing out the details. But we are on our way and hopefully this blog will continue to be a lot about love and a lot about what I learn of the law.

The Daily Show set, John McCain and exercycles

The new Daily Show set is horrible. I'm glad they got rid of a few things--like a background of the back of the control room complete with the back of control room controllers heads and the giant talking head of Brian Williams. Disconcerning as hell. But the set is still very Futurama-ish and not in a good way. The circular electronic counter they zoom into with each show reminds me of "Good quality exercycle for sale" from Futurama.
John McCain was on TDS yesterday. It's an interesting evolution to view John McCain. In 2000, when I had just joined the human race, McCain was barely a blimp on my radar. I watched the entire 2000 election (from Broward County, Florida no less) with detached interest, certain that whoever won wouldn't govern much differently from whoever lost. Wow! Such sweet innocence I had, such precious naivitee.
So, McCain. Yes, just last year I mentioned to my husband that if it came down to McCain v Hillary Clinton, McCain just may get my vote. I do like Hillary's politics, but that is, her politics before her bid, her "real" politics, the woman I was introduced to 15 years ago, not this new "let's chat" model. I thought McCain was thoughtful and progessive. But seeing him these last few months, bullet-proof vesting his trip to the market (with many armed "friends" in tow but on foot and the air) along with his lock step with the President, has brought me great disillusionment.
This is a man who questions my patriotism, my loyalty to my country, because I recognize that the loss of American life, the loss of Iraqi life, is more than my concscience can bear. This is a man who resp0nds to sincere questions with talking points. I an an educated American. I am thoughtful and well-read, he cannot talk to me through the TV as if I am four years old--or, like my mother, as if I am still a hormonal teenager. Shame on you, McCain. You had so much promise, so much integrity and I admired you. As Voltaire said (and no, I will not be constantly quoting Voltaire in this blog, like some kind of pompous nerd) "So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men."

Drasvidanya Yeltsin

Today Boris Yeltsin died at 76 years old. I still remember the dance he did for his re-election in 1996, the colors and lights. I rememer the old sad cow, dressed up with ribbons on his horns and posters of Yeltsin's face on his flanks, being paraded around Volgograd, a less glitzy city that also needed a "rock the vote" message, apparently. Yeltsin was my president for one and a half short years, and he taught me all I know of drunken excess. But, to me, he will always be the decisive figure standing on the tank. I rode on subways bearing his name, even while other subway cars around me were bombed, literally, on the same night. I felt Russia through Yeltsin and will miss him. Crazy, drunk old man from Ekaterinberg.
Spaseba bolshoya for the memories.

Brrr. Is it cold in here?

"For today, the women of this Nation still retain the liberty to control their destinies. But the signs are evident and very ominous, and a chill wind blows."
Justice Harry Blackmun Webster v Reproductive Health 1989

Yesterday at work, I logged onto Westlaw and printed out the decision and dissent for Gonzalez v Carhart and read every word. Justice Kennedy speaks of the fragility of women and the need to protect them from future regret. Please, Justice Kennedy, I have credit cards with high limits that I may use to make impulse purchases I cannot afford. Could you please come cut up my credit cards for me? Protect me from that regret?

As a woman, I am capable of making decisions for my own health. Yet, in America, I may not fully exercise autonomy over my being. This decision does not ban abortion, in fact it does not save one fetus from extinction. It merely limits women's options. And that is exactly the point. Five Catholic justices, distaining what can be a life-saving procedure for certain women in very specific circumstances, because it is "too icky" for them.

Thank you, Selma H.

As a professional woman who loves children but has made a choice not to become a mother, I face constant judgment and criticism from those who dislike my choice. (Or maybe they are jealous??) So, when I came across this quote from Selma Heyek I was encouraged:

“I think it’s terrible women are put in that position. Motherhood is not for everyone — it is for me, but there’s no reason women should feel rushed to have a child...I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but society thinks if you don’t have children, you’ve failed as a woman, even if you are CEO of a company. You’ve got to be beautiful, smart, skinny, tall, rich, successful at your job, married to the right guy — and have genius children.”

When people get all in my face about choosing to be childless, I just tell them, "Hey, more precious resources to go around for your children" and hope they are not in the camp that believes its ok to pillage the earth because King Jesus will return soon. Yeah, hard to reason with that camp, if you know what I mean.

Check it out for yourself: http://feministing.com/

Spa Time

Tomorrow afternoon I leave for Sarasota for a little fun in the sun at the Ritz Carlton hotel and spa with my mil. I should could use some girl time (not to mention an hour-long massage.) I haven't seen the beach in about a year, which is strange considering I have lived next to the ocean for the past seven years.

Thirty-two rhymes with "smerty-whoo"

So yes, I had my birthday. And now that we've gotten that out of the way: have you had success posting to Youtube? I wanted to post this adorable video I found on feministing.com (thanks, K.) featuring this "kiss-ask" three-year-old. I tried three times (once for every year of her life) but no video. The best I can do is link to the future Slayer.

You won't be sorry if you link to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2a8NLuVwIs

The Tudors

Showtime has a new series, "The Tudors" about the early reign of Henry VIII. It features a young, hot Henry (Jonathan Rhys Mehers) and an equally gorgeous suporting cast. It's also 85% accurate, so it's practially a history lesson. A history lesson with lots of steamy, raunchy sex. Just the way I like it. And K., M. says that he CAN DVD the episodes for you, so look out.

My lovely Friend

I have not given attention in this blog to a girl who has been so supportive of me and my decisions. While setting aside her own feelings of loneliness as I prepare to move, she has steadfastly encouraged me that moving to V. is the right thing to do. In a world that is not terribly supportive of my future plans, that is HUGE.
M. and I were just talking about you tonight, H., and commending you on your frienship and loyalty. You are a wonderful friend and it means the world to me.

Cookies are Yummy!

It is not just that I have been ignoring this blog--I also haven't been able to get into it, thanks to my ignorance of all things Internet and my laptop's spam blocker. But anyway, I inabled ("enabled" sounds too co-dependent) the cookies and am posting again. I'm posting, I'm posting!
I just found out one of my close friends, a smart gorgeous Blonde Girl who has been the subject of this blog before, has her own blog and I will soon get a link--or a cookie, if you will--to access it. I love bloggers and blogging (even though I suck at it). Am I the only one who thinks it's awesome that it is now deemed socially acceptable to paste diaries and journals for all to see? Between blogs and reality T.V., my inner voyeur is happily gorging on sweet sweet candy--and cookies!