Category Archives: Personal

Be Better Than That

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So there’s been a lot of talk, all over the place, about what Mike Jeffries, the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch said about not liking or selling to fat and unattractive people.

Which makes him an ass and probably sexist and definitely not someone I would want to have a coffee with.

However, that does not give everyone else the right to make fun of the way he looks.

Yes, he is not an average looking person, it’s true. He’s either had an accident or some sort of condition that has damaged his face. Or perhaps not and he’s was just born that way. I have no idea and I don’t really care.

But calling him a freak or Frankenstein’s Monster is stooping to his level.

Be better than that.

Gosh, It’s Been Awhile Again

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Not much to say and have been doing other things.

Like what?

Like learning how to program in PHP and CSS on WordPress. ::head explodes::

Like working on my entry for One Word Brief. I would like it officially noted that I did not vote for the word ‘be’. ::head exploded and then came up with something::

Like working on creating a flower and vegetable garden with my son. ::digs dirt out from under fingernails::

Like working on Mumsnet Belfast, for which I am the Local Editor. ::begs for listings::

Like working on my new fitness routine, based on Eat Less, Move More, Gain Control. ::Come like me and join in::

I have, however, been Tweeting, on Tee Tweets, on MNBelfast, on DTATTweets and with the #ELMMGC tag.

What have you been doing?

Prayers For Boston

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Yesterday I was logging in to Skype with my sister in law in California when Twitter started reporting the explosions at the Boston Marathon.

She and I kept one eye on the news sites and one eye on each other as Twitter’s feeds became impossible to follow due to the refresh speed and the legitimate news sites began reporting the story.

My family origins are Bostonian. My parents grew up there, all of my biological cousins did as well. I have been there many many times. I still have a few members of my family and some friends not far from where the explosions occurred. All had reported, via Facebook, within the hour and all were, thank god, fine.

My sister in law pointed out that we had done the exact same thing not quite 12 years ago, only we were in the same timezone, in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was off work because my grandmother had died the day before and I heard on the radio about the Twin Towers, turned on the TV, rang her and we sat on the phone for about an hour watching with horror as the Towers fell.

Last night we had about the same amount of time because it was lunchtime in Berkeley and nearly my bed time here in Belfast. And we chatted and exchanged websites to check and watch online video.

And sent up prayers for Boston.

I Seem To Have Ranted And Disappeared

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I’ve been busy.

Cleaning my house.

Dealing with a freaking blizzard in freaking Belfast!

And a touch of D&V in A Small Boy™.

My mom gets here tomorrow. She’s going to freeze to death. She’s from Florida, you know. Of course, she’s coming off a river cruise on the Danube. She is currently in Bucharest. Which is going up to 20 this week. Just in time for her to come here. We’re suppose to hit 5. Those are Celsius, BTW.

So have a happy Easter or Passover or whatever you want this time of year.

I Am So Proud Of My Son

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There’s been some stuff going on with him that I’ve not been blogging about and I’m not going to get into details yet. He’s fine, just having some challenges at school and in life that we’re working on.

One of his challenges has been letting the dentist look at his teeth. Not clean them, or anything, just look at them.

Yesterday, my son conquered his fear and let the dentist look.

I nearly cried. It was such a huge step for him.

All his teeth are there, they look in fairly decent position and as clean as can be expected.

And my son let the dentist look at them.

I’ve never been prouder.

You’re Damn Right Their Lives Are Ruined

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and it’s no one’s fault but their own.

Oh wait…and their parents.

And their teachers.

And coaches.

And anyone else who influenced their lives and never said to them “silence does not equal consent” and “drunk is not a free pass” and “so you can throw a freakin’ ball, so what?”

You know who else’s life is ruined? That girl’s. And any other girl they may have done this too that has never been found out.

I am not and have never been a radical feminist and I never will be.

But I am fucking sick and tired of rape culture and victim blaming.

I am fucking sick and tired of the belief that being able to throw or kick or whatever a fucking ball makes you a hero.

It doesn’t. It makes you someone who can kick or throw or whatever a fucking ball.

Real heroes don’t rape girls and post the pictures on the internet.

Real heroes stop the people doing what those boys did.

I wonder where that poor girl’s heroes where that night. Apparently that town doesn’t have even one.