The Daily Squishy--First Birthday Edition

Darling Gabrielle, I do not know what the future holds for you, what sort of life you will be drawn to, or how you will create your destiny. All of this lays out in front of you like like an invisible thread. What I do know is that you are loved very, very much. I know your parents cherish each moment they spend with you and I know you have aunts (so many aunts!) that want nothing more than to help you as you figure out this crazy world you've inherited.

No matter what adventures lay in your future, you are a very lucky girl because you have so many people that care about you. And we promise, we will be here for you, to listen to you, to see you for who you really are, to encourage you whatever way we can. We waited a long time for you and now that you are here, we are exploring the world through your eyes and remembering how pure and good life can be.

Thank you for being our little Squishy who loves books and balloons and exploring the vast terrain of your life.

Happy birthday.

Sweet Things My Husband Does

I came down with a slight cold this morning, enough to keep me in bed all day. While fretting over wasting a day where I could be writing articles, doing homework, researching papers, answering emails, I suddenly remembered the Pearl Jam concert. It's tonight. But going to this concert would wipe out any energy reserves I may still have. But I didn't want to not go, as I knew how fun this concert would be for my husband.

Monster came home twenty minutes ago and told me he wanted to sell the tickets. "You're health is more important. If you stayed sick all weekend, you wouldn't be able to get any work done." He was more concerned with my health and happiness than his own. Even though, fifteen years ago, he bought Pearl Jam tickets and then, at the last minute, his date bailed on him. He never went to the concert.

History may be repeating itself with the Pearl Jam tickets, but this date is certainly not going to bail on him. Ever.

Pictures of Me--with Screaming Red Hair

I wanted something different...

The Chador & Women's Bodies

Last week, I noticed a woman across the street. I think she lives in the university housing complex opposite ours. I noticed her because of what she was wearing--a black chador that covered her from head to foot. Walking behind her, I unexpectedly felt vulnerable myself. It was as if, by covering her body completely, I felt the sexualization of her presence and it projected onto me, another woman. I felt embarrased for myself, angry that I was embarrased and angry that this stranger in front of me provoked so many complex and unexpected feelings.

This is why I have chosen to research the laws of hijab for my Law and Religion class this term. There have been a few cases in Canada (and in Europe) where cases have been fought in court over whether or not women have the "right" to cover their bodies. Like the sex-selection abortion debate (where embroys are aborted if they are found to be female) that plagued me earlier this year, I am determined to use this research opportunity to decide where I stand on the issue. On the one hand, I believe criminalizing or forcing a woman to uncover is wrong. On the other, I believe forcing a woman to cover is wrong. Writing a paper last term on sex-selection abortion really helped clear up where I stand on that issue, and I hope to come back to this blog at the end of the semester with my thoughts on the issue after I write my Law & Religion paper.

Stay tuned.

iphone as Messiah

Really. It's that good. :)

Third Year Blahs

I didn't think it would happen to me, but I am already bored and apathetic as I begin my last year of law school. Today, I attended a few meetings and did some readings, but didn't really dive into school the way I assumed I would, the way I had the past two years.

I need some inspiration.

The Daily Squishy

Torture's Justification

Vice President Chaney is right. If torture works, then it is justifiable.

The Summer is Ended and We are Not Saved

Barack Obama has been president for six months. During that time, he has allowed special interests and the howlings of Fox News-ites to dominate his policy decisions. For what reason should I continue to support President Obama?

1) War: I don't agree with continuing any war in the Middle East (Afghanistan or the illegal Iraqi war).

2) Torture: I don't agree with the decision not to pursue charges against those who tortured prisoners, from the criminals who actually carried out the brutality, to former VP Dick Cheney (the mastermind behind the torture policy), Rove, Bush, John Bybee (who wrote the Torture Memos, making up legal rules as he went).

3) The Bailout: bailing out corporations and banks with taxpayers money made American taxpayers unwilling shareholders of these corporatoins. The Bush and the Obama administrations took money from hard working taxpayers in order to fund and keep afloat greedy bankers and corporations. Once these corporatoins were solvant again, they used their levity to penalize and abuse those whose used their services with extra high interests rates and banking fees.

4)Health Care: over the course of the summer, the Obama administration has basically given away the entire package, allowing the non-sensical bleatings of the Repubs to drown out any serious discourse on this very, very serious issue. Single payer was never on the table and the public option is all but destroyed. The only real question left is, how much of a profit margin will health insurance corporations and pharacuticals continue to make? How many more families will lose everything they have ever worked for--including each other--because of health care costs? How many insured Americans will be dropped by their insurance company due to illness or injury?

This administration has promised changed but has backed down on every issue important to Obama voters. Instead, Obama has turned out to be a typical politician. He lied about bringing change, he has continued to befriend Republicans who seek to his utter failure and the distruction of his administration.

President Obama campaigned for two years. During that time, he made a lot of cynical people believe in him. And he has thrown it away for the usual conveniences: corporate influence, lobbying, compromising with those who refuse to participate in compromise.

Naked & Stranded

On Friday, I decided to go to the gym.

Due to all the events at work to commemorate our final week, I hadn't worked out since August 30. What I didn't know was that the gym had given away my locker in that time. At the beginning of August, the gym staff started posting notices on lockers whose rentals were soon to expire. But I didn't have a notice on my locker and my gym membership didn't expire until December. I had been with that gym for nearly two years, and I was familiar with the process of renewing my locker, but this time, no notice. I thought I was safe.

Until my locker wouldn't open. I tried the combination over and over and then went up to the front desk at the other end of the building to find out why. As I am walking over, it occurs to me that my locker may have expired. "Nah," I think, "if my locker were to expire, I would get notice beforehand, like last time." Except, not. It turns out my locker did expire, was emptied out and given to someone else. All without me finding out.

I was upset but recovered. The gym had my stuff in a plastic bag in the back and it was all there. So I took the opportunity to rent two new lockers (one for my school books as the law school will soon be torn down and our swing space won't have lockers for us). The combinations for these lockers (the gym also provides the locks) were very similar. To keep track of them, I wrote them both down in my iphone since I always bring it into the gym with me.

After a long workout (which went a long way to sooth my nerves), I changed for the shower, but remembered to bring my iphone with me at the last moment. I didn't have the combinations memorized. "Wouldn't it be horrible," I thought, "if I didn't have the combination and was stuck here with just my towel?"

When I came back from the shower, I oponed the notes section of my iphone and...the combinations were gone. Gone! The entire note was erased. Later, I found out from Monster that if you jostle or shake the iphone in any way--even accidentally--when the notes are open, it erases the note. Just.Like.That. That is a demonic feature.

So, my note with the locker combos was erased and, try as I might, I couldn't remember either one of them, as they were so similar and kept blurring in my mind.
After five minutes of trying, I started to panic. I am dressed only in a towel and flip flops and desparately do not want to make my way across the entire gym to get to the front desk.

I just sat there for a minute contenmplating my next move. Should I venture out in my towel and flag down the front desk? Should I wait here and hope someone from the front desk wanders in to check the bathrooms or something? That is when some poor random girl walks into the locker room. I immediately accosted her and begged her to run over to the front desk for me. I don't think she spoke English very well but my desparation was universal, I guess, because a few minutes later the girl who works the front desk came in and I was saved.

Funny how you're worst fears can come true. And then be resolved.

Postsecret Awesomness!

I totally agree.

Summer Job Musings

Yesterday was the last day of my summer job. It was four months of working five days a week after nearly two years away. Working in a semi-legal field this summer taught me a lot...mostly about myself.

Where to start? For one, I used to think of myself as someone who could work in any environment. After all, my teen years and early twenties were all about being flexible. You had to be flexible to survive! I thought I was very good at it and that I would always be adaptable. However, after a few months of cubicle living in an open space, I learned that being able to control my immediate environment is important in controling my mood and general contentment at work. There were many, many days I wished I could close my door and just work in silence, without my co-workers conversations, emotions, and general gabbery permiating my space.

I also learned that I am not a good suck up to my boss. This should be good news--stickin' it to The Man and all. But, I am at the early days of my career and envision a lot of ass-kissing ahead of me. I don't think there is a way around it. The problem is, I am just not sure I'm up for it. A few things happened this summer with my manager and I gradually lost respect in his leadership. After that, while I would discuss work-related issues with him, I had a hard time making small talk and didn't even sign the "Thank-You-For-Being-Awesome" card that was making its way around the office. I didn't even want to mingle at the end-of-summer party the Board threw for us. I just.couldn't.be.bothered. I tell myself that if my summer job had further career possibilities, I may have worked harder at networking. I hope so. Networking is important and I like to think I am good at it. But this summer? Not so much.

The third thing I learned about myself is what a hard worker I can be. Seriously. I ended up as one of the top decision-writers at the office and I owe it all getting to work on time, working from the moment I sat at my desk until I left for the day, setting goals for myself and keeping track of my daily progress. Maybe I can do this law-thing after all!

Finally, I learned that how I dress for work is important. I tried to make an effort everyday to wear office-appropriate clothes, tailored and pressed. I wore my hair in a low bun and kept my assessories tasteful. While my personality may be a bit wild at times (I make up songs and dances and perform them for my co-workers) I was shocked when my co-workers described me as very refined. Refined!! It has just gotta be the clothes, no question.

As Monster & I Begin Our Seventh Year As a Couple

I got you, Babe.

The Daily Squishy