| Blog For Choice Day 2008 |
[Jan. 22nd, 2008|06:51 am] |
Today is the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court case which guaranteed a woman's right to an abortion finally being protected under the constitution. Today, pro-choice bloggers everywhere are celebrating by taking part in Blog for Choice Day. From the website: "Blog for Choice Day provides us with an opportunity to raise the profile of reproductive rights in the blogosphere and the media, while celebrating Roe's 35th anniversary. Plus, it's a great way to let your readers and the mainstream media know that a woman's right to choose is a core progressive value that must be protected.
This year's topic: tell us, and your readers, why it's important to vote pro-choice."
Despite what you may think of America, our often bullshit electoral system and our woefully limited two-party system, the fact of the matter is that being educated about our political candidates and who we choose to support with our vote is vital if we want our country to truly become the free and fair place we imagine it to be. Many people take our reproductive rights for granted, thinking that we'll never go back to a time of back-alley abortions and illegal contraception. However, the reign of Bush and Co. and the last eight years of seeing access to our legal rights limited and attacked shows how important it is to vote for pro-choice candidates.
The clever rhetoric of pro-lifers boils down to a few simple ideas. First, that woman are "too emotional" to decide whether or not abortion (or motherhood) is right for them. That we need to be protected from difficult decisions by having those choices taken away from us. That life begins at conception, and so EC is immoral. That we should "take responsibility for our actions," implying that pregnancy is a punishment for having sex for any reason other than procreation. Pro-life politicians support and promote laws that would only work in a "perfect" world, a world where every woman wants to be a mother and has the emotional fortitude, the financial stability, and the supportive network to raise a happy and healthy child. A world where birth control never fails. Where rape and incest never happen. Where we all guide our lives by the same moral compass and believe in the same god and have the same goals for our lives. That world doesn't exist. I doubt it ever will.
Pro-choice politicians are a little more realistic. They recognize that abortion is an unfortunate circumstance, a difficult decision, a private matter that is almost never taken lightly or without thought. They agree with pro-lifers that it would be a wonderful thing if abortion was never necessary and they take (rational and realistic) measures to minimize the number of abortions. But pro-choice politicians realize that there will always be unplanned pregnancies, and they trust women to make the choice that is best for them under their circumstances.
I vote for politicians who respect me and my choices. Who protect my basic rights, and see me as an equal, and believe reproductive rights are important and necessary for a truly democratic society. We have our rights because we fought for them, and if we want to keep them we'll have to keep on fighting. This is why I vote pro-choice. I hope you will consider doing the same.
PS - I'm Not Sorry has real stories from real women who have had abortions. Any speech by any politician pales in comparison.
x-posted to The New Me |
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| changes |
[Nov. 26th, 2007|02:12 pm] |
I just officially resigned from Piney Woods Roller Derby. Madame Furie is no more.
This may come as a shock to many of you, since I hadn't been talking or writing about roller derby in a while. Or maybe it's not so surprising, since I hadn't been talking or writing about roller derby in a while. The thing is, I've been feeling pretty ambivalent about derby for weeks now, maybe months. I never fully recovered from the split with NRG way back in June, I felt resentful about having to start from scratch after putting in so much work already, and while I still love the sport, the pure, unadulterated passion I once felt was missing.
And then there was the time issue. Roller derby takes up a lot of time. There's the time spent practicing and training, which was always my favorite. But then there is also the time spent at meetings, planning events, moderating discussion boards, creating promotional material, writing press releases, attending events, calling people on the phone, leaving messages, returning messages - the list goes on and on. The mental energy that running a roller derby league requires is not a feat for the faint of heart, and my heart? My heart has been faint.
Mostly though, the ups and downs of this past month have taught me some lessons. Sometimes I need to be selfish. I need more time to myself than I thought. And if I am going to live my Personal Legend, then I need to shut up, sit down, stop filling my life up with a thousand different distractions, and write a fucking book. I'm 25 years old. Jonathan Safran Foer wrote Everything Is Illuminated when he was 24. I don't know what this means, except that I love that book, and I love writing, and I have wanted to be an author since I was ten years old. And living your dream means making sacrifices. Roller derby is the first sacrifice I'm making, and I have a feeling it won't be the last. But it's okay. I'm not afraid. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm finally on the right path.
(cut and pasted from The New Me.) |
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| breathe in, breathe out |
[Oct. 10th, 2007|12:10 pm] |
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I'm having a hard time sitting still today. I wish I had roller derby practice instead of yoga tonight. I hope I don't "accidently" hip-check someone out triangle pose. Because that would be wrong... right? |
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| it's the little things |
[Oct. 9th, 2007|02:57 pm] |
I was going to recommend that driver's ed be included in the litany of required classes for college freshman, but now I think we're going to have to start with how to walk.
Seriously, how hard is it to ambulate in a straight line without wantonly changing direction at the drop of a hat? As a cyclist who rides her trusty bike to and from the university library twice a day, five times a week, I can attest to the fact that y'all are idiots. My (totally rad, 1975 blue Raleigh) cruiser has a little bell, but what's the point in politely ringing it when you're either on your cell phone or listening to your iPod? And did you know that cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk? Did you think that your gargantuan pick-up truck covered in faded George W. stickers and blasting god-awful country music doesn't count? Well guess what - it counts extra.
Just back from lunch break and fuming. Back to your regularly scheduled blog reading. |
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| putting things in order |
[Oct. 4th, 2007|02:40 pm] |
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So. This whole "I'm a writer who doesn't write anything but blogs and book reviews" shtick is getting pretty old. I need to start writing again. For serious. I've decided to take small steps, so as to avoid total and complete failure. I will work on my zine all weekend. Then, I will begin waking up an hour earlier on Tuesdays and Thursdays to sit at the computer, NOT turn on the Internet, and write something with the intention that said something is a form of fiction which will not be published on any one of my five or so blogs. I write too much about myself for having such an only marginally exciting life. |
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| priorities |
[Oct. 1st, 2007|09:57 am] |
No one seems to care about roller derby as much as I do. At least, not at work. And Nathan was only mildly interested in my extended play by play of the breathtaking action at Nationals. What is wrong with these people? Priorities! For serious! I even acted out a leg whip for my co-worker and all I got was a raised eyebrow. Granted, I'm not wearing skates and it's 10 AM on a Monday morning, but still. I feel so alone.
Full recap, with links to even fuller recaps, at The New Me. |
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| shambles |
[Sep. 19th, 2007|01:50 pm] |
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My apartment is falling apart. From the broken pipe in the bathroom, to the stove that won't get hotter than 53 degrees, to the dryer that can only be turned on as we're going to bed lest we shout how our day was to each other over the racket. Too much furniture and no one wants to buy it. The kitchen floor won't stay clean and the dog is secretly sleeping on the bed while we're at work. I know this, though I haven't seen it myself, as he is always at the door when I come home, jumping in the air and wagging his tail. But the comforter is always flipped up on the side, which can only mean that he has found a way to crawl underneath the blankets despite lacking opposable thumbs. He's a crafty one, that dog. Now if only he could figure out how to fix the plumbing. |
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| twitter |
[Aug. 31st, 2007|02:17 pm] |
I need another web-based distraction like I need a hole in my head. And yet...
Twitter. |
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| underwhelmed and over easy |
[Aug. 24th, 2007|03:45 pm] |
I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, but also kind of bored. I think it has something to do with the end of summer, the start of September, and the fact that I am not gearing up for yet another semester of school. I'm graduated, got the degree, and now all the little projects I've had lined up for months - years! - can finally be completed, attended to, enjoyed. And yet... I haven't done a damn thing since I handed in that last paper. Sure, I'm going to work every day, and I started up yoga again, and my fledging roller derby league requires a lot of time and attention - so I have been doing things. Just none of the things I pictured myself doing during all those daydreams at the computer when I was supposed to be writing papers. I think I need a vacation, a few days to put my affairs in order, mop the kitchen floor, adjust to a slower pace of living, make time for coffee and writing and mailing letters and embroidering and doing a new zine. I want to make a list of Top Five Things To Do, things that are on my 101 list and things that will just plain old make me happy. I like lists. Lists are good.
Top Five Things To Do
1. Make curtains for the office.
2. Finish projects for craft swap.
3. Organize and clean kitchen.
4. Donate or give away all the clothes I own, but do not love.
5. Make my zine (I have all the text, I just need to lay it out and doodle).
There. That feels better. |
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| 101 in 1001 |
[May. 22nd, 2007|01:34 pm] |
I've decided to take part in a project that I stumbled across while surfing the tubes. It's called 101 in 1001, and the conceit is that each person who signs up for the challenge creates a list of 101 goals they would like to complete, and they have a time frame of 1001 days in which to do these things. I started my clock on May 17, which means my deadline is February 11, 2010. Ample time! I'm going to be tracking my progress at my new 101 blog, but for the link-phobic or just plain lazy, my list of goals can be found below.
The List!
Writing and Reading
1. Finish a completely revised manuscript for Barracuda Betsy.
2. Make a new zine.
3. Attend a zine fair.
4. Find three new zines I really love (0/3).
5. Send two handwritten letters per month (0/72).
6. Write one short story per month (0/32).
7. Write in a different place (coffee shops, libraries, etc) once a month (0/32).
8. Join a book club.
9. Be a NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison.
10. Sign up for and win NaNoWriMo again.
11. Create a file system for works-in-progress and future ideas.
12. Create a portfolio of all published articles, reviews and clips.
13. Write a Letter to the Editor about something positive.
14. Attend a Writer’s Retreat.
Travel
15. Take a road trip to the Hill Country in West Texas.
16. Visit New Orleans.
17. Take part in a Sustainable Energy in Motion Bicycle Tour in Oregon.
18. Ride the Amtrak to the West Coast.
19. Drive to NY with Nathan and Seamus for Christmas 2007.
20. Go to the WFTDA championships in Austin in September 2007.
21. Leave the country (returning is optional).
22. Go on a rock-climbing/camping trip.
Self and Health
23. Leave Texas and move back North.
24. Join an established roller derby league in a larger city.
25. Try and attend a Gotham Girls roller derby practice when visiting New York.
26. Finish my Masters program at TWU (August 2007).
27. Give up dairy products for good.
28. Run in a 5k.
29. Read How to Practice by the Dalai Lama.
30. Practice.
31. Weight train two to three times per week.
32. Do 50 push-ups in a row.
33. Go on a long bike ride (20 miles, minimum).
34. Get rid of my cell phone and revert back to a landline.
35. Go one month without drinking any alcohol.
36. Get a professional massage.
Organization and Finance
37. Pay off my First Financial Bank credit card.
38. Save at least $5,000 ($1,667 per year).
39. Start an IRA.
40. Find a librarian position that I love. Get hired!
41. Purchase my own laptop. (This can be new.)
42. Acquire a more professional wardrobe. Aim for second hand!
43. Learn how to design a website.
44. Create a professional website for my budding freelance career.
45. Get rid of all my CD’s that are scratched and won’t play.
46. Find 5 new female musicians/bands to fall in love with (0/5).
Crafting and Cooking
47. Make the ReadyMade dog bed for Seamus.
48. Transfer all my loose recipes into an organized binder.
49. Build a letter box (seals, wax, stationery, stamps, stickers, postcards, regular cards, envelopes, etc).
50. Complete and submit an assignment to Learning to Love You More.
51. Grow mint and make Mint Juleps.
52. Learn how to use my sewing machine.
53. Sew a whole outfit (underpants optional).
54. Learn how to play one Ani DiFranco song on my guitar.
55. Make a worm hotel for composting.
56. Learn to make my own jam.
57. Get everything on my walls into frames.
58. Learn to use the screen-printing kit.
59. Do three craft swaps at crafster.org (0/3).
60. Purchase three pieces of original artwork (0/3).
61. Make my mom a quilt.
62. Bake a pie from scratch.
63. Get a funny family photo taken of myself, Nathan and Seamus.
64. Turn the photo into a New Year’s card and send it.
65. Brew my own beer.
66. Take an interesting photo every day for a month.
Activism
67. Participate in a Critical Mass event.
68. Donate money to Planned Parenthood.
69. Volunteer at an Animal Shelter.
70. Work with Radical Reference.
71. Go green and use only natural, non-toxic cleaning products in my house.
72. Join the American Library Association.
73. Buy used whenever possible.
74. Support small, independent businesses, especially those owned by women.
75. Introduce a teenaged girl to feminism.
76. Volunteer at a Rape Crisis Center.
77. Be an active supporter of my presidential candidate of choice in the 2008 election.
Fun
78. Get a tattoo.
79. Return phone calls within three days.
80. Send friends birthday packages so they arrive on or before their birthday.
81. Get a grown-up bed (including new comforter, pillows, and bed frame).
82. Use all seven tiles at once while playing Scrabble.
83. Take a more proactive role in the Netflix que.
84. Make a Nacogdoches Rollergirls scrap book.
85. Give someone the gift of a subscription to Bitch.
86. Spend one whole day in bed.
87. Adopt another pet.
88. Take my mom out to lunch.
89. Get a pair of Converse sneakers, even though they’re super trendy.
90. Make a mix CD for each season (0/10).
91. See an off-Broadway show with Nathan.
92. See Ani DiFranco in concert.
93. Eat at a really good Indian restaurant.
94. Dress up as something really scary for Halloween.
95. Get my ears re-pierced.
96. Acquire a pair of pearl earrings.
97. Host a clothing swap.
98. Take Seamus for a swim in an ocean.
99. Get a Purchase College hooded sweatshirt.
100. Teach Seamus a new trick.
101. Create a new blog to keep track of my progress with this list and update with photos of my accomplishments. |
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| baby i'm bad news |
[May. 8th, 2007|03:23 pm] |
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Through the course of the day, my mood has slowly gotten worse and worse until now, I am sitting at my desk with a hour and a half left of work, glaring at the computer screen while desperately trying to find anyone in town in possession of season 3 of 24, disc 3 specifically. Hastings' only copy is missing and I'm pretty sure it's all part of a terrorist conspiracy. |
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| the way we roll |
[Apr. 30th, 2007|01:21 pm] |
We had our second bout of the season last night, and the Iron Maidens once again emerged victorious, though the Brick Street Brawlers are steadily closing the gap. Final score: Maidens, 99, Brawlers, 96. The score went back and forth until the very end and if it wasn't for Bad Apple taking a flying leap over a fallen blocker and sprinting to the front of the pack, we never would have jumped back into the lead. I was really impressed with everyone's teamwork - we really looked out for each other, there was lots of communication during the periods, and overall we displayed a lot more control and professionalism this time around. The pack was way more aggressive, and we actually got lead jammer the majority of the night, which was the single best improvement from the first bout. Two minute long jams are murder.
Because we only had five skaters on each team, we played three, 12 minute periods. Brutal. In the first period, Bad Apple and I jammed back to back almost the whole time. At one point, I was in the penalty box and Bad Apple was too tired to jam twice in a row, so she threw the helmet panty to Seoul Crusher, our main blocker, who promptly got lead jammer and racked up serious points. Needless to say, she jammed some more in the 2nd and 3rd periods and never disappointed. LaLa only got five penalties the whole night and was solid both blocking and jamming, and Bitter Kraut played her heart out the whole time, despite breaking her nose during the first period (we're waiting on a second opinion). Damn, I love my Maidens.
As for the Brawlers, those ladies put up a tough fight. My ribs are sore from all their brutal hits and I hit the floor more times than I care to remember. No Merci proved to be a crafty little captain and Smack Bauer is totally Rollergirl Incarnate. Coco Fusion was her usual bad ass self (she played both a soccer game and a roller derby bout in the same day!) and Crash McQueen was cool as cucumber the whole night long. We went head to head as jammers in the second to last jam of the night, and damn was it exhausting. And Roly Ghost, who has only been with us since November, has improved ten-fold since she last hit the track. At one point, she slammed into the wall so hard the whole rink gasped, but then got up and finished out the jam before collapsing in the corner with what may have been a broken rib. You don't mess with a Roly Ghost, that's for sure.
Unfortunately, our crowd was much smaller - about a 1/3 of what it was at our first bout. Granted, we didn't have 50 extra rollergirls filling out the seats as spectators, but we were also up against the Multicultural festival downtown and the rodeo. In addition, we decided not to pre-sell tickets in case we had to cancel at the last minute, and I think that really affected our turnout. And if it wasn't for the whole trying-to-make-rent thing, I wouldn't care about the crowd at all. Unfortunately, roller derby leagues don't run on bruises and broken bones alone, and we gotta pay the bills somehow. Luckily we're having a yard sale in May and a few other fundraisers, so we should be out of the red soon enough.
On a better note, after the bout was over and I was at the after-party, drinking cheap beer straight from the pitcher, it occurred to me that all the stress, the trash talking, the bickering, the second guessing and constant headaches - all of it was worth it. I love this sport and the truth is I'll put up with almost anything for the chance to play it.
Today, I'm nursing a nasty hangover and some very sore muscles. But for now, at least, I'm happy. |
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| I Heart Texas |
[Apr. 24th, 2007|12:53 pm] |
A few weeks ago, the Daily Sentinel, Nacogdoches' esteemed news source, published a letter to the editor that I wrote defending Planned Parenthood and lambasting those who protest the construction of it's newer, bigger building because PP is a "killing compound" - this, despite the fact that every time the PP is mentioned, reporters make sure to quickly add that this particular branch does NOT offer abortions on the premises. So this Sunday, they publish a response to my letter, which I will excerpt here. The letter is titled, "A Proud Conservative".
"Ms. Hennessey, you attempted to portray pro-life people as a bunch of ignorant
rednecks. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Unlike the liberals in this country, most people (especially here in the Bible
Belt) are pro-life and well-educated.
Before I get married, I would want my future wife to sign a pre-nuptial
agreement, which would include the following stipulation: If she had an abortion
during our marriage for any reason, not only do I have the right to kick her out,
but she would get nothing from me in the divorce settlement.
If she refuses to sign it, then I know she is not worth my time, because it would
be proof that she does not share my values. I am ultra-conservative, pro-life and
condemn a woman's alleged "right to choose".
Ms. Hennessey, I am very proud of all three of these views."
Oh, where to begin? With how his response just oozes misogyny? His assumption that any woman he married would be screwed if he kicked her out and cut her off, because obviously she wouldn't have her own career to fall back on? The idea that abortions are never performed for the best interest of the mother, due to health reasons, rape or incest? That I never, ever called pro-lifers rednecks or made any allusion to education levels? Seriously, all I did was talk about how the pro-choice movement cared about women, their families and their choices, and I said that anyone who tried to limit a person's natural human right to control what happens to their own body should be ashamed. All perfectly valid points, if you ask me.
I suppose I need to write a response. The opportunity to engage in public debate over an issue so near and dear to me can't be passed up. |
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| diamonds in the rough |
[Apr. 23rd, 2007|09:53 am] |
We're back in Nacogdoches, after an enthused weekend traipsing around Arkansas, alternately looking for diamonds (to no avail) and admiring bathhouses in Hot Springs. The weekend was fun, a great break from our usual routine, and it was, as always, wonderful to see Nathan's parents. They are such kind people and seeing as I spend so much time missing my own family, being able to visit with his is important. Plus they had to drive nearly 10 hours to get to Crater of Diamonds, while we were on the road for a scant 4 and a half. I guess Arkansas isn't exactly in the middle after all...
To sum up our trip: We left work early on Friday and combed and washed Seamus for an hour, trying to rid his sorry coat of fleas. We were successful, and hit the road. Got to the park at about 7:00pm and played dominoes in the camper. Nathan, Seamus and I slept in the tent ("real camping", said Nathan in a superior tone of voice) and we woke up early the next morning. Drank about six pots of coffee and hit the crater.
Crater of Diamonds State Park is pretty much a large field of dirt (36 acres!), turned over every few weeks. It's not much to look at but that doesn't matter, because hidden among the stones and sand are diamonds. Real diamonds, and if you find one you get to keep it. I think the park averages about 600 finds a year, though we didn't discover anything other than glass and bits of plastic. There was a girl ahead of us in line, however, who had found a diamond. It was tiny, and I wouldn't have even thought to pick it up had I seen it lying in the dirt. Which means I could have thrown aside countless diamonds in my quest for a student-loan-paying rock. C'est la vie.
We went to Hot Springs that evening and while Nathan's parents went to Church we wandered downtown, looking at the bathhouses and poking through the tourist trap shops. It was the 175th anniversary of Hot Springs National Park and there was a huge party going on in the center of town, which we had a grand time crashing. These little old ladies were doing a choreographed line dance right in front of the rock'n'roll band on stage. It was awesome.
Sunday we ate some more Sonic for breakfast (I am never eating at Sonic again) and bid the 'rents goodbye. Nacogdoches was calling and we had no choice but to answer. The trip back was uneventful and the evening upon our return appropriately restful. And now I'm back in the swing of things, looking forward to a long week of homework and the last of the semester's assignments, and oh my god, our second roller derby bout on the 29th, which I am not at all prepared for. And I am not sure how to end this post eloquently, so I won't even try. My aplogies... |
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| the nacogdoches rollergirls |
[Jun. 6th, 2006|03:49 pm] |
check out the nacogdoches rollergirls, currently storming the oldest town in texas.
www.nacogdochesrollergirls.com
www.myspace.com/nacogdochesrollergirls
yee-ha. |
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| never ever |
[Feb. 24th, 2006|07:00 pm] |
i don't ever update this journal. too busy on myspace and with my real blog, which you can read here.
xo
chrissy |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 30th, 2004|08:15 pm] |
i hardly ever update this thing.
i spend all my time on diaryland.
and i just discovered friendster, which could be dangerous.
let's see...
i wrote a novel this month (nanowrimo.org) and since i haven't surfed the net at all in the past 30 days i'm well into a three hour binge. hence livejournal.
also, texas is cool, however i will be in new york for x-mass. which i want to call home but i guess nacogdoches is home now. i'm okay with that.
nathan and i got a puppy. part pit, part weimaraner, all seamus. that's his name. seamus. and we love him.
that is all.
mua. |
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| humane extermination |
[Aug. 29th, 2004|12:08 am] |
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just moved to texas, and the previous resident had left a bag of rotting potatoes in the cabinet which in the dank darkness had begun to root. when i tried to scrape up the moldy mess it broke apart and tons of baby cockroaches scuttled out. i do not want to share my kitchen with roaches, but i'm not in the habit of killing insects. does anyone know a nice, humane way i could kindly convince these buggers to leave my kitchen? they are very stubborn and refuse to listen to rational arguments. |
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| tejas |
[Aug. 25th, 2004|09:30 am] |
so i live in texas now. i got a house, i got a bed, i got a kitchen and a porch, a treehouse and a frog, a minivan and a job interview. oh yeah, and a boyfriend. like a real live relationship and no more of this, "see you once every 5 months for a week or two" bullcrap. no, this is the real thing, the fighting over the blanket while we sleep, the sharing of the rent, the driving each other to work, the taking showers together not once but two times a day because even breathing makes you sweat down south.
yeah. i live in texas. texas is good. |
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| i wrote a letter to the newspaper! |
[Aug. 12th, 2004|08:27 pm] |
Reguarding "No To Kerry" [Letters, August 9]: The writer rationalizes voting against Kerry based on the writer's beliefs as a Catholic. He believes that because Kerry calls himself a Catholic and claims to be personally against abortion while at the same time supporting a woman's right to choose, he shows himself to be both inconsistent and unable to defend us against terrorists. I see this as proving exactly the opposite.
What Kerry is doing by supporting abortion is showing that he will be a persident who will not allow his personal ideologies and religious morals interfere with his ability to lead our country. The wonderful thing about America is that it's so diverse, filled with people of so many backgrounds, so many beliefs. It's fine for the Catholics to not believe in or support abortion, but we in America are not all Catholics and should not be forced to adhere to Catholic dogma.
I, for one, will be voting for a president who seeks to protect my rights, not take them away, and I'm reminded of a sign I saw at the March for Women's lives in Washington DC this past April: "If you don't believe in abortion, don't have one." |
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