TED and Girls

Have you ever watched TED? They feature all sorts of people sharing all sorts of ideas worth spreading and some of the ideas are really neat and innovative! Also, they are hosting a TED Women conference in December about how women and girls reshaping the future. I like that:)

So hubby J hooked me on TED. I was a bit skeptical at first (boring stuff to listen to on the web? Blah!) but most of the talks are very clever and intriguing. Here's one of my favs: 

Speaking of TED Women, I was thinking on my walk w/ C and Sadie how glad I am to have a boy as my first child. For some reason I think it will be much easier to raise a son who knows women are capable, strong, and able to do and be anything. Is this because most men in my life think this way and it seems natural to me? Maybe?

I sure don't surround myself with anyone (by choice!) who thinks women are not in every aspect of life as capable and resourceful as men. In every aspect except perhaps strength; I know men physically have (what is it, 5%?) more muscle mass than women. But when you think about it, do men push a baby from inside their body, out their vagina? Could they do that???? I DON'T THINK SO. 

But I guess they could if they wanted to and they were physically made for it. Which brings me to the thought that modern medicine would know SOOOOOO much more about morning sickness, pregnancy, and childbirth if men were able to give birth. But this bring us to the topic of how men dominated society and used religion to control gender and cultural freedom for thousands of years and I don't need to get started on that. 

But a daughter. What if everyone gifts her pink clothes? I don't want a 'frilly, dipped in pink girl' just as I don't want a 'dressed only in blue, playing with tools and cars' boy. What if she notices how women are portrayed in pop music, politics, and the media? What if she notices how the girl is so often being saved in movies and books, not doing the saving?

Boys are so much easier. All I have to do is let him grow up around me and J as an example and teach him how life should be. For some reason I don't think that's enough for a girl:( I have to hide her from what culture thinks she should be.

This portion of the post was inspired by Liberal Simplicity:)

White Christmas

Last night we watched White Christmas, just like we do every year. And every year I am fascinated by the same things:

1. Judy's horrifically thin legs. And shocking waistline. Did you know she was anorexic? I do now. Can you say Valley of the Dolls?
2. Sisters, sisters. When I was a kid, I loved this song:)
   
3. Snow, snow, snow, snow. J and I will sing this occasionally because what else can you sing when you want snow? Only 4 easy notes!!!
   
4. I now realize that Betty (Rosemary Clooney) was there to sing and Judy (Vera-Ellen) was there to dance.
5. Bing Crosby says "sexy" to Rosemary Clooney to describe the women sandwiches make him dream about. I didn't know they were allowed to say that word in movies in the fifties.
6. Rosemary Clooney was George Clooney's aunt! This morning I told my mom to go to George Clooney's mansion when she goes to Lake Garda in Italy! I don't think she'll take my advice though. Dang moms.....they never listen.

So, I think that's it. Colts are ahead by 10, 1:05 left in the 4th. I'm not terribly nervous.

We've had a lovely, lazy, relaxing day!

Pride and Prejudice

We're watching Bride and Prejudice today for Thanksgiving. Of course, right? Just thought I'd let you know how many Pride and Prejudice movies I've watched. I'm sure more have been made so I'll find them and watch them too. I PROMISE.

Oh Lawrence!!

So I found this lovely website somehow and I want this tea. It's actually been a tab in my Camino browser for a week or so. Once we get new grocery budget money this Friday, I'M ALL OVER IT.

Also, I'd like to add 6 hours to this week, one for each day.

And I'd like to see what happens in Lawrence of Arabia. J and I have been watching the movie for a few night now and last night, LAWRENCE WENT CRAZY!! Poor guy. It kinda ruined my day. I haven't seen the movie since I was a kid and only remember the most horrible parts (boy exploding, boy getting sucked into quicksand, torturous journeys across desserts). Sometimes I watch these old movies my parents let me watch when I was TINY and I think I WAS ALLOWED TO WATCH THIS?!?! This is like R in 1950's speak!!!

Really, I have 12,000 things to do tonight so I gotta go.

You Tube Clips:)

Th Sound of Music is one of my very favorite movies. I don't know how many times I watched it as a kid (12,001?) and I still get a kick watching it to this day:) When I was in Austria a few years ago, I went on a Sound of Music bus tour and got to visit the actual homes and locations where the movie was filmed. We sang Sound of Music songs while driving though the countryside. Corny, but oh so fun:)

The Story of Stuff

Being green is one of my favorite things to be. Just ask my husband. A while back, I asked his permission to let us only flush the toilet when we went #2. Otherwise, couldn't we save the water and consolidate flushes? He said no. However, he has cut down on his use of ziploc bags, probably to avoid my incessant shrieking at the sight of them.