As you can see if you look to the Northeast of the page (that shows my world orientation bias) I passed the 50,000 word mark a little while after we finished the turkey today. Yes, we ate turkey, but just a little. Sorry to any vegetarians we have offended. But I did finish. If you look on my facebook page which has a graph of how I did, you'll see that I almost stopped dead around the last of last week but I got my motivation back and pushed real hard through the end of the week and I'm very satisfied. The novel is admittedly not that great, it's pacing is terribly slow because I got wordy on purpose, but I feel it is a lot better than I had expected it to be. Some of the characters actually gained some death and the plot had some deeper meanings behind it. I don't know if I'll ever finish it off, but I definitely learned a lot and I got back into the writing groove, which was the real goal.
We'll post about Thanksgiving and some other recent stuff soon, but, for now, I wanted to brag. I won (which means I finished, there's no other way of winning.
trying our best to keep austin weird.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
My thoughts on the WRI aka how I lost my revolutionary fervor
(I wrote these thoughts a few weeks ago but was not sure how I felt about posting them until I really worked through my feelings on this controversial issue. I'm sure many of you are dying to hear my perspective, right?)
"My thoughts on the WRI aka how I lost my revolutionary fervor"
The announced closing of BYU's WRI has been a tragedy for those who were involved in the great work that was done there. It is a symbolic demise of important and substantial research on women. For me, though, it's been ever more tragic and life-changing. Through the closing of the WRI, I've realized just how much I've been moved by motherhood.
In September, I gave birth to a beautiful little boy. This little human being with his perfect little hands and tender little eyelashes has changed my outlook on life more than I could ever imagine. I knew I wanted to be a mother. I craved the pregnancy and the birthing and the breastfeeding for the past few years with an intensity that was not quelled until I experienced all that motherhood had to offer.
On the other hand though, I did not think motherhood would really change me. I expected to go on with my controversial feminist self, sparking dialogue about feminist issues everywhere I wandered. I figured I would just do so with baby in tow, nestled tight in the moby wrap, breastfeeding at meetings and rallies.
Then, the WRI closed. And I read the press release the night before it was published and my heart ached with sadness for the loss of this great institution. I joined the facebook group. I read the commentary. But it wasn't until I received a call one morning from a kbyu reporter that I realized I had lost what my husband refers to as my "revolutionary fervor." She called at 10 in the morning for an interview, and I groggily accepted (not realizing that it was um, tv? yeah, so if you've seen it, that's me, brand-new mother, straight out of bed so excuse the horrible hair and the bags under the eyes) not knowing yet what I was to learn about myself that morning. She arrived at my home a little while later, and we sat down to discuss the closing of the WRI.
Now the WRI has been the most influential part of my BYU experience. As a Women's Studies minor, I found my academic niche. I savored every class period and every discussion on women and the world. It was in these classes I have met my truest friends. They get me in an academic and social environment where I often feel lost and mistaken. As a WomanStats research assistant, I have come to know and love Dr. Valerie Hudson and her team of coders. Our Friday meetings have been salvation to me at times when I'm frustrated with certain BYU professors who openly proclaim gender inequality. They have been a listening ear and a crying shoulder when the doctrines of the Church or the culture thereof has hurt me deeply. WomanStats itself has taught me research skills and valuable academic lessons that I plan on carrying with me to graduate school. Finally, as the president of Parity, I found my voice for gender equality. I staged rallies, I organized meetings, I wrestled with administration. I simultaneously grew disenchanted and smitten with all that BYU has to offer us feminists. There is so much delicious contradiction in this institution, and I found that I had a knack for unearthing it.
So, you see, the WRI was as important to me and my education as any. But when I sat down to that interview, I realized I had nothing controversial to say. I, in a monotone that I didn't even recognize, ticked off the reasons our dear Dean Magleby gave for the shutting down of this important institution. I reiterated the role that the WRI had in my life, but I could not muster up the ability to even begin to explore the disheartening politics of power and money and gender at BYU, things that just last year would have enraged me.
What's more? I have no real desire to "Save the WRI" with the rest of the feminists. While I very much am sad to see it go and hope to everything that all of this noise makes a difference, I have turned over the reins of Parity to three very capable and ardent feminists. I see what they are accomplishing and the publicity they are getting and a part of me aches for my former life, single and babyless and revolutionary. But all I need to do to relieve that ache is roll over in my bed and cuddle up next to my very feminist husband and our future-feminist tiny child. They make me realize that all I accomplished in the past for women was worth it, and now I'm accomplishing an even more important task and the most feminist-y task of all. While I will never, ever stop voicing my opinions against injustice in the world and I will definitely not keep my voice down when a RS lesson turns awry, you will no longer see me on the frontlines of the protests. I plan on doing more behind the scenes work... in my home and over the internet. I will be here, teaching my children about equality and tolerance and love and respect.
What I actually did tonight instead of attending the meeting on saving the WRI? Made homemade soup and brownies, nursed my darling child to sleep, sewed a cloth diaper. And this is who I am, who I've become, and who I've always longed to be.
(adorable activist tee courtesy of "Save the WRI")
"My thoughts on the WRI aka how I lost my revolutionary fervor"
The announced closing of BYU's WRI has been a tragedy for those who were involved in the great work that was done there. It is a symbolic demise of important and substantial research on women. For me, though, it's been ever more tragic and life-changing. Through the closing of the WRI, I've realized just how much I've been moved by motherhood.
In September, I gave birth to a beautiful little boy. This little human being with his perfect little hands and tender little eyelashes has changed my outlook on life more than I could ever imagine. I knew I wanted to be a mother. I craved the pregnancy and the birthing and the breastfeeding for the past few years with an intensity that was not quelled until I experienced all that motherhood had to offer.
On the other hand though, I did not think motherhood would really change me. I expected to go on with my controversial feminist self, sparking dialogue about feminist issues everywhere I wandered. I figured I would just do so with baby in tow, nestled tight in the moby wrap, breastfeeding at meetings and rallies.
Then, the WRI closed. And I read the press release the night before it was published and my heart ached with sadness for the loss of this great institution. I joined the facebook group. I read the commentary. But it wasn't until I received a call one morning from a kbyu reporter that I realized I had lost what my husband refers to as my "revolutionary fervor." She called at 10 in the morning for an interview, and I groggily accepted (not realizing that it was um, tv? yeah, so if you've seen it, that's me, brand-new mother, straight out of bed so excuse the horrible hair and the bags under the eyes) not knowing yet what I was to learn about myself that morning. She arrived at my home a little while later, and we sat down to discuss the closing of the WRI.
Now the WRI has been the most influential part of my BYU experience. As a Women's Studies minor, I found my academic niche. I savored every class period and every discussion on women and the world. It was in these classes I have met my truest friends. They get me in an academic and social environment where I often feel lost and mistaken. As a WomanStats research assistant, I have come to know and love Dr. Valerie Hudson and her team of coders. Our Friday meetings have been salvation to me at times when I'm frustrated with certain BYU professors who openly proclaim gender inequality. They have been a listening ear and a crying shoulder when the doctrines of the Church or the culture thereof has hurt me deeply. WomanStats itself has taught me research skills and valuable academic lessons that I plan on carrying with me to graduate school. Finally, as the president of Parity, I found my voice for gender equality. I staged rallies, I organized meetings, I wrestled with administration. I simultaneously grew disenchanted and smitten with all that BYU has to offer us feminists. There is so much delicious contradiction in this institution, and I found that I had a knack for unearthing it.
So, you see, the WRI was as important to me and my education as any. But when I sat down to that interview, I realized I had nothing controversial to say. I, in a monotone that I didn't even recognize, ticked off the reasons our dear Dean Magleby gave for the shutting down of this important institution. I reiterated the role that the WRI had in my life, but I could not muster up the ability to even begin to explore the disheartening politics of power and money and gender at BYU, things that just last year would have enraged me.
What's more? I have no real desire to "Save the WRI" with the rest of the feminists. While I very much am sad to see it go and hope to everything that all of this noise makes a difference, I have turned over the reins of Parity to three very capable and ardent feminists. I see what they are accomplishing and the publicity they are getting and a part of me aches for my former life, single and babyless and revolutionary. But all I need to do to relieve that ache is roll over in my bed and cuddle up next to my very feminist husband and our future-feminist tiny child. They make me realize that all I accomplished in the past for women was worth it, and now I'm accomplishing an even more important task and the most feminist-y task of all. While I will never, ever stop voicing my opinions against injustice in the world and I will definitely not keep my voice down when a RS lesson turns awry, you will no longer see me on the frontlines of the protests. I plan on doing more behind the scenes work... in my home and over the internet. I will be here, teaching my children about equality and tolerance and love and respect.
What I actually did tonight instead of attending the meeting on saving the WRI? Made homemade soup and brownies, nursed my darling child to sleep, sewed a cloth diaper. And this is who I am, who I've become, and who I've always longed to be.
(adorable activist tee courtesy of "Save the WRI")
Best buds
It's been nice having Tim at home all day the past few months. He's taking 16 credits but mostly does his homework at home, and usually only goes to campus when I have to be up on campus too so we're pretty much always together. I hope we can continue this trend (as much as we can). I know Tim likes being at home with Atticus, and I know Atticus will appreciate how much his dad takes care of him and is involved in his life. Next year Tim might even take a year off and be full-time stay-at-home daddy while I either work (potentially) or start grad school (probably).
They are best buds.
They are best buds.
Random thoughts
Atticus continues to grow and amaze us. He is still pretty mellow, but has also found his voice and likes to use it when he's tired or hungry. All it usually takes to calm him down is a little milk and some time on the bouncey ball (with a blanket over his head... it helps him fall asleep, weird). His personality is really starting to shine through, and he loves more than anything just sitting and talking. In the mornings particularly, we can just lay in bed and talk and he just smiles and coos and oh. my. goodness. It's cute.
He wore his first pair of jeans to church on Sunday. Part of me is morally opposed to putting new babies in jeans (because come on, if you could wear fleece footie pj's all day, would you not?) but the other part of me thinks he is just adorable in them.
Forthcoming: the pacifier trick.
A necessary step
It's time to legalize marijuana. It's effects on public safety even with a much higher rate of usage than now is a lot less than alcohol. It's costing us a ton of money in enforcement and is fueling (although not solely responsible) for the drug war in South America that is leaking into America. I know it is a far way off from gaining the public support it needs, but I'm throwing in my voice for the legalization and taxing of marijuana. There are countries that have experimented with this with fairly good result, although nowhere has anyone implemented it on a large scale.
Here's a graph that shows the financial aspects pretty starkly.
Thoughts?
Here's a graph that shows the financial aspects pretty starkly.
Thoughts?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The ultimate carseat showdown
Buying a carseat should not be nearly as difficult as I am making it. I am incredibly indecisive, and I've been researching for hours to find the perfect seat for us (and our budget!) I've narrowed it down to three, but cannot decide. I know we'll be using this for six years, if we have no wreck until then. I want a seat that is small enough for our backseat of the tiny Honda Civic we drive and to lug to other countries but safe and comfy as well. I don't particularly care about high weight limits since my baby is pretty small and I don't imagine he'll be hitting 40 lbs before we have another baby, when I plan on skipping the infant seat and just passing down the carseat and buying a new one for Atticus. The three I like:
1. The Combi Coccoro: This one is my favorite and the one I'm leaning towards. It's a niche seat, very compact and really adorable. The weight limits are pretty standard, 33 lbs rear-facing and 40 lbs forward-facing. I like that it has an infant insert for a baby, since Atticus is still pretty tiny. It gets really good reviews, but some say the fabric snags easily and gets dingy. I like the colors but wish they were a little darker. I found it for $164 on Amazon.
2. The Britax Roundabout: There are really no cool perks to this seat like the Coccoro, but it's solid, safe, and easy to use. I found a cool print for $159.99 at Traveling Tikes.
3. The Maxi-Cosi Priori: Mostly this one just looks cool, but I've heard it's a great seat. I like that it reclines with the push of a button. And I found it for the cheapest: $133 on Ebay.
1. The Combi Coccoro: This one is my favorite and the one I'm leaning towards. It's a niche seat, very compact and really adorable. The weight limits are pretty standard, 33 lbs rear-facing and 40 lbs forward-facing. I like that it has an infant insert for a baby, since Atticus is still pretty tiny. It gets really good reviews, but some say the fabric snags easily and gets dingy. I like the colors but wish they were a little darker. I found it for $164 on Amazon.
2. The Britax Roundabout: There are really no cool perks to this seat like the Coccoro, but it's solid, safe, and easy to use. I found a cool print for $159.99 at Traveling Tikes.
3. The Maxi-Cosi Priori: Mostly this one just looks cool, but I've heard it's a great seat. I like that it reclines with the push of a button. And I found it for the cheapest: $133 on Ebay.
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