I’d like to think that I have a good sense of humor, but there are a few subjects that I just can’t manage to find funny and intimate partner violence (also known as domestic violence) is one such subject. A friend sent me a link to a sign she’d read about that reads “I like my beer like I like my violence . . . Domestic.” Continue Reading →
Recent posts
Shocking News: Birth Control Is Expensive
Put down your beverage of choice, I have shocking and jaw-dropping news: birth control is expensive. Should I wait for you to pick your jaw up off the floor? No? An article from Good News shared some stories of individuals’ views on how expensive their birth control is, including for those with insurance. I’m lucky – I have health insurance, and it’s pretty good insurance. Continue Reading →
Don’t Get Back With Your Ex!
A friend recently broke up with her long time boyfriend, and then a few days later posted a link that explains that getting back with an ex is just bad news – and now science backs that up! Some researchers at Kansas State University did a study and found out that often, it’s just better to break up and not get back together, as getting back together can often make the couple more miserable. Have you ever had a rough breakup where after you focused on the good aspects of your relationship? I did and had a good friend give me some excellent advice – she told me to list all of the bad things, even if I saw them as minor. Then, whenever I started to think, “Oh, my ex would love this book! Continue Reading →
Divorce Hotel
I may be tempted to give it a catchier name (Hotel Divorce-ifornia perhaps?), but in the Netherlands you and your soon to be ex-spouse can have a lovely stay in a hotel and a divorce in two days. I can tell you from personal experience that a dissolution or divorce (in America, it all depends on your state laws if there is even a difference) typically takes significantly more than two days. One of my favorite sites, Neatorama, posted about the Hotel Divorce a bit ago. In my state (Ohio), there is no waiting period to get married – you just apply for your marriage license and then you are good to go. I think the Hotel Divorce may have come in handy for Britney Spears when she had her very short wedding (the one in Las Vegas). Continue Reading →
Birthday Wishes?
What are the top things on your birthday wish list this year? What about when you were 14? I know that I wanted a puppy (ignore the fact that I already had a dog), and maybe a car (even though I didn’t end up getting my driver’s license until I was around 17). Now a 14 year old girl in Maryland has asked lawmakers to give her the “best birthday present ever” (her wording) – to not legalize gay marriage. While I do think that advocacy is an important practice and I applaud anyone who encourages advocacy in their child, I’m a little sad that this is someone’s birthday wish. Continue Reading →
Breastfeed In An Ice Cream Truck
People seem to be fairly passionate on the issue of public breastfeeding. More and more workplaces are now offering breastfeeding rooms so if employees need to pump their breast milk they are not stuck sitting on a toilet seat in the restroom. In Pittsburgh there is now the Milk Truck, which bills itself as a “Mobile Breastfeeding Unit.” Artist Jill Miller created the Milk Truck from an ice cream truck, and is considered to be “a combination of guerilla theater, activism and a little slapstick humor” – it’s a truck with a giant breast on it, so it can’t take itself too seriously. Ms Miller wanted to created a positive and supportive environment for women to breastfeed in, which I think is wonderful and would love for more of these to be in other cities. Continue Reading →
Technology To Help You Crash Weddings
I recently came across an article that focused on one of the latest smart phone app, Crash Corsage. This app allows users to locate weddings nearby, then provide the address and the dress code – so that if you crash the wedding you can dress to fit in. At my first wedding, I actually invited three of my own wedding crashers (one was a pedal cab driver who was a bit nervous about crashing the wedding, even though I insisted being the bride I was okay with it!). However, I invited those random strangers and I don’t think I would have been quite as happy if they just waltzed in on their own. If you are getting married (or know someone who is – and isn’t that almost everyone?) and want to keep your wedding off of Crash Corsage, just make sure that your wedding website is password protected. The app works by scanning wedding websites, so keeping it password protected will avoid letting your info show up on Crash Corsage (at least for now). Continue Reading →
What’s Important Is That They’re Polyamorous
A few weeks ago some friends of mine were returning from a lovely dinner out in New York City, and enjoying the evening on their walk back to their apartment. When they were close to their apartment, three young men attempted to mug my three friends. Attempted. They weren’t successful because my friend Rose Fox suspected that they were holding a fake gun. One of the suspects said, “I could blast you away right here.” Continue Reading →
Sex And Baseball
Let me first start this out by saying that I love baseball. If you’re out with me and there’s a television showing a baseball game, especially if the World Series is on, you may have a difficult time getting my full attention. When I travel, I love to be able to catch a game in person. The Padres are one of my favorite teams (don’t stop reading just yet!) and I loved being able to see them at Petco Stadium play the Pittsburgh Pirates in May when I was in San Diego for a conference. (FYI: you can get standing room tickets for only $5 at the gate day of game. Continue Reading →
Thank You For Being A Friend
Have you ever helped a friend through a difficult time? Sometimes I worry that I don’t always know the so-called “right” thing to say, and for many of life’s events there just isn’t a Hallmark card for the occasion. When a good friend of mine’s daughter passed away at only a few weeks old, I had no clue how to help. She doesn’t live locally, and I had no idea what she was feeling or going through. I didn’t want to tell her “I know how you feel” because, well, I didn’t. Continue Reading →