When did protecting women mean taking away their choice?

Look, Texas, I love you. I might not have been born and raised here, I might not even have really even liked living here when I first moved here (who really enjoys 100+ heat in the summer?) but this is my home. I know that this is still a very Republican state and as a Democrat my voice is not very loud or even likely to be heard. But let me take the time to tell you that you have got to stop trying to limit my rights as a woman.

When Wendy Davis stood up for 13 hours and talked to the Senate about how terrible SB5 was, you tried to impose rules that you don't impose on the male members of the Senate when they decide to filibuster a bill. Male members were allowed to try and talk over her, interrupt her and completely ignore the other members that were trying to speak out in support of Davis. Then, after it was past time to vote, you went ahead and let the vote happen. Supports of Davis lined the walkways circling the gallery and yet you ignored them in order to try and push this through. When it was determined that the vote was void and the bill was dead, our Governor Perry decided to call a special session beginning July 1 to consider this bill again.

I'm really baffled by Republicans in the Senate that keep saying that the government needs to stay out of citizens' lives but then create (and pass) legislation like SB5 that trample all over a woman's right to decide what to do with her body. Let me explain something to you, Texas, I know my body better than you do. I know what I need to eat, what exercise I need, what birth control suits me best, and even what sort of medical care I need. Let me decide what I do with it. If I know I am not fit to be a mother, let me make that choice. I know you don't want to have people on Welfare and other government programs, so allow me to make the choice that will keep me off of them. Doesn't that sound better?

I know that there are some politicians like Sen. Jodie Laudenburg seem to think that even something as procedural as a rape kit can cause an abortion, and there are other Senators elsewhere that seem to think that the female body can even stop a pregnancy from happening in the instances of "real" rape, so maybe it would be best for politicians to stop trying to create legislation about something that they don't understand. Did you realize that, while SB5 says abortions after 20 weeks after conception will not be allowed, it is scientifically impossible to determine the date of conception? Did you realize that most women don't consider having an abortion without serious consideration of their actions?  And can I let you in on a little secret? Banning abortions won't mean abortions don't happen. It means that they don't happen in a safe environment. It means they will happen illegally. It means they will be dangerous. It means women will travel out of state in order to obtain an abortion.

So, Texas, instead of revisiting a bill that that the people have made it clear they don't want, maybe you could spend your time in the special session working on issues that we actually need to focus on. Could you maybe spend some time looking at the fact that the education system in Texas is laughable at best? I don't think I'm asking too much here. I'm only asking for you to recognize your own rules and your own voting rules. Texas, I know we don't always see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues, but can you just take the time to look at how unabashedly wrong this is? The people literally spoke and you didn't listen. People chose to stand with Wendy Davis both in Austin and across the nation.

I know a lot of Texas is a believer of the "right of the fetus" argument, but it is, pardon my French, absolute bullshit. Let me ask you something, if I have a baby in one hand and a petri dish with 1,000 embryos in it and I drop them both, which one would you rush to catch? 

Question and Answer: Game of Thrones

So I uploaded this to Youtube a couple weeks ago but there was some sort of issue that wouldn't allow Blogger to sync up with my Youtube account. Whatever the problem was, it has been resolved. So to tide you over until I have a new post/video to post, you can enjoy this. I'm hoping to have some very exciting news with my next post. But I don't want to spoil anything or jinx myself, so I won'w say what it is.

Enjoy and happy Monday! 

What does it mean to be a woman?

Being a woman is difficult. Guys like to joke about the fact that it would be nice to have boobs in order to get stuff, but I don't think they really get it.

Being a woman means getting paid less than a man for doing the same job. Or doing the same job better. Being a woman means accepting the fact that you will get passed over for jobs because of your gender. It means accepting the fact that some women in the office will not like you because you are "competition" (regardless of whether or not you're actually in a relationship). Being a woman means people will expect you to wear certain clothes. Being a woman means people deciding whether or not your clothing is too tight or revealing. Because obviously men have no control over their urges. 

Being a woman means listening to people catcall as you walk from your car to a restaurant. Being a woman means you have to accept these "compliments" or you're a frigid bitch. Being a woman means you have to sleep with a man after he buys you dinner a certain number of times or you're "leading him on". Being a woman means it was your fault for getting raped. Being a woman means you are responsible for a man's happiness because he has done a number of nice gestures. Being a woman means your goal in life is not a career but children otherwise you're selfish. 

Being a woman means you ave to look like the models you see in commercials (even though the models don't look like that). Being a woman means you have to spend hundreds of dollars on makeup and cream and sprays in order to look acceptable. Being a woman means being held to unattainable beauty standards.Being a woman means you are only allowed to sleep with a certain number of men or you're a slut or a prude. Being a woman means you want marriage (to a man) and children. Being a woman means you need to have curves, but not too many. Being a woman mean being afraid of being too skinny. Being a woman means fearing natural things like aging because then we aren't valued. Being a woman means you need to rid yourself of body hair. Except your eyelashes and the hair on your head.

Being a woman means fearing large numbers, whether it is your age, weight or dress size. Being a woman means being afraid to call yourself a feminist. Being a woman means faking it even if he isn't doing it for you. Being a woman means not being able to tell him he isn't doing it because you can't hurt his ego. Being a woman means accepting if you're in a toxic relationship, you have to act just so or its your fault for staying. Being a woman means acting dumb.

Being a woman means using your body in order to get free meals and drinks. Being a woman means men acting like these are not real issues that happen every day. Being a woman means not being able to tell people that you were raped because it was your fault. Being a woman means you're pushing back women's rights if you want the "traditional" life of being a mother. Being a woman means not being able to make the decision of whether or not you want to have something growing inside of you. Being a woman means accepting that politicians have a right to make decisions for your body.

Being a woman means labeled as "crazy" simply having the audacity of breaking up with a man. Being a woman means you're emotional and not to be trusted. Being a woman means you're obviously PMSing every single time you're upset. Being a woman means you have to change if you want a relationship to work. Being a woman means not being allowed to someone on a date because that would be too forward. Being a woman means being shamed by your own body. Being a woman means remembering that "girls don't count". Being a woman means being bisexual is just a phase, a way to grab attention.

But you're right, being a woman is obviously all about how easy life is "because you have boobs". 

Lifescouts Friday: Growing Up

I know it has been a few weeks since I did an edition of Lifescouts Friday, but they are back. At least for a little while. For some reason my Fridays have gone from slow and easy to chaotic and insanely busy. I'm not sure which I prefer.

Ride a Bike

Like most people, I learned to ride a bike as a child. Since I wasn't able to drive for obvious reasons and I didn't want to be at my own house unless absolutely necessary, I would spend a lot of time at my friends' houses growing up. And the only best way to get there? Riding my bike.

Camping

My husband and I disagree as to whether or not I have really gone camping. My idea of camping is the time my parents rented a cabin in the woods. Sure, we may have had electricity and plumbing and possibly internet, but it was still in the woods. So it counts as camping. Right?

Fly a Kite

I don't remember exactly when I have flown a kite since it really isn't something that most people spend hours doing, but I do have distinct memories of flying a kite and running around trying to get it to stay up longer. The problem with having repressed much of your childhood do to trauma is that you only have snapshots of memories like this. I know it happened but I can't remember where.

Rollerskating

In the 90's, everyone thought it was the coolest thing to be able to roller-skate. In the late 90's when I realized I wanted to be cool and liked, I took it up as well. The last time I did was when I lived up in DC, so it was at least 10 years ago. I don't know why I stopped, possibly because it wasn't "cool" anymore, but I remember it was a lot of fun with my friends.

Yo-Yo

In the fifth grade, we had some sort of assembly about DARE and keeping off drugs. And what did they suggest to do instead of drugs? Why, yo-yo of course! In the late 90's, yo-yoing was still kinda cool for kids and we would all try to learn better "tricks" and have the cooler yo-yo. I'm sure if I could even find a yo-yo I would succeed in nothing more than knotting it up.

Spring VoxBox: Tastykake® Kandy Bar Kakes

Last week, I told you that I had received my Spring Fever VoxBox, today, I'm telling you about it.

The Product The first thing I decided to try out was the Tasty Kakes Smores Bar I received. Why did I try this product first? Because it was around noon when I opened my box and I was hungry.

My Thoughts It wasn't too bad, but far too sweet for me to eat on a regular basis. It was soft and was good, I couldn't eat the entire thing since I simply don't eat sweets. I had about half of it and I was done. I think if Tasty Kake offered these bars in some sort of less desert-type option, it would be something I would definitely look at buying and keeping at my desk for a quick snack.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.