Lets train

....but I have random thoughts in my head. So it's time for a miscellaneous list, mmmmkay?

-I just spent approximately 2 more hours of my life uploading pictures from my computer onto CDs. These are the pictures I need from the last 1.5 years of my life to complete our album. I could have sworn I didn't take too many pictures over the last year and a half. I thought I only planned a freaking wedding and moved, but I guess I still took pictures because I'm sufficiently overwhelmed right now. I have a funny feeling that this "catch up" for our scrapbook may eat me alive.

-If I survive, I think I might do something a little wild. I may offer my scrap-booking services to some of you girls for free. I'd only ask to be reimbursed for the supplies I buy, but other than that I may just do it for fun. And to see if I like making scrapbooks for other people. If so, I may just TRY and start a little side business. But that's only if I don't die making my own. Any takers out there?

-Speaking of being overwhelmed....I managed to get 87 blogs on my Google Reader. It was too much and I'd waste too much time reading them all after work. So I downsized to 64 and feel very proud about this. Someday maybe I'll update my blog list on the right column. We'll see.

-Does anyone else think that people falling down is the FUNNIEST thing ever? Some of you may know that it's my weakness. It will always make me laugh to see someone bite it [as long as they are okay, of course.] Well yesterday morning, I was getting ready for work and heard this piercing scream outside, followed by an, "Ouch, ouch, ouch." Then I heard sobbing and mumbling of words. I thought, "Did someone just bite it outside on the ice? And are they talking and crying to themselves right now?" Just as my husband emerged from his slumber, we both went to the window to see our upstairs neighbor pull herself from the ground. I thought, "Ooooh, maybe I should go check on her to see if she is alright." But all of a sudden she threw herself into her car and sped off. Okay? I guess she wasn't all that injured. And why was she talking to herself after the fall? Seriously, she bugs the hell out of me for some reason [oh wait, I remember why....because she is one of those overly nice, peppy, and annoying girls. I also have a sneaking suspicion that she flirts with Nate a little too much. I will kick her arse if I have to, but apparently she can do that on her own]. So it's really funny to me. Does that make me a bad person?

-Tomorrow is friday. Some Ecards has a few freaking hilarious 'weekend' cards on there, but most of them include the F-bomb. Although the F word makes every card a little bit funnier to me, I cannot in good morals post one of them. So here is a backup:

-Speaking of Some Ecards, remember how one of my big ideas was to write for them? Well I had some really great ideas the other night. And now my geriatric mind lost them all. So why don't you help me fill in the blanks. You guys have to have some good ideas, right?
1. My New Years resolutions include: ________________________
2. I'm sorry, you must think I'm a person who ____________________
3. I should be exercising right now, but instead __________________
4. You strike me as the type of person who ____________________
5. Sometimes you remind me of _________________


- Go Packers, go! They play their first playoff game this Saturday and I expect you all to cheer for Favre. You have to admit he's a freaking hottie for being 38 years old. Henry will certainly be donning his jersey, Nate will be screaming at the TV, and I'll be pretending to watch the game while I'm on my computer:)

-I have an illness. It's called "I can't resist posting every day." I don't know why because most of the time I don't plan on posting each night. It just kind of happens. Does that make me a loser?


-My mom emailed me some pictures of their "wedding tree." No, it's not a Christmas tree because it's too skinny to qualify. But she liked their Christmas tree so much she wanted to use the wedding flowers and ribbon all year. So she went out and bought this little guy to keep up all year. It doesn't resemble a Christmas tree at all, right?
She scanned each picture from her wedding album and put them in frames. She doesn't help my "moving on from the wedding" cause, either. Love ya, mom!
-A new pet peeve: Michelob Ultra commercials. Why does everyone have to be running and exercising? It's not like I want to go for a jog and then down a Mich Ultra [not usually, at least.] Just because it has a few less calories doesn't make it healthy. Or a sports drink. Pay attention to the next commercial you see and it will annoy you, too, I hope:)

It is July and I promised that this month I would provide some examples of how other cultures are dealing with the work/family balance. In doing so, I promise to postulate some, what I would like to think are, workable hypotheses for how we might change our approach in this country to benefit mothers in a more efficient way.

There is a general consensus in the anthropological literature that it is intrinsically difficult for women to combine income-producing activities (ie: work) with the domestic responsibilities of child care and housework that almost universally fall primarily on the shoulders of women. The ease or difficulty in which women navigate this has a lot to do with the cultural realities in which they function. In other words, societal and material factors can either help or hinder a woman's efforts to provide an income for herself and family. This extends not just to income production, but the production of children as well. The number of children that a family HAS is often at odds with the number of children a family WANTS depending on the cultural and material context in which they live. In addition this can change historically over time.

Reading C.H. Browner's article, "The Politics of Reproduction in a Mexican Village" the women of a small municipio (township) were caught between the pressures of the Mexican government to restrict births and local pressure that was seeking to maintain and promote population in the area to avoid loss of autonomy. Browner found that the women were succumbing to village pressure to raise more children than they felt they could comfortably afford or care for because of the prevailing pro-natalist mentality that was characteristic within the specific area. Most women, because of economic and domestic pressures desired few children, but feared public censure for any attempt to curb fertility.

So, these women were having more children than they desired because of societal pressures.

Then there is the U.S. In some ways we are the opposite from that village in Mexico. I know many women in my circle of friends who have made the comment, "Oh we would have loved to have more children, but I just knew there was no way we could afford it." Our culture has it set up so that the resources required to care for, provide for and educate each child mean you have to have access to a fairly high income if you wish to have a larger family and avoid a daily struggle to eke out a living. I have even seen passing references in newspaper articles that have likened a large family in America to a status symbol, much like a big house, fancy car or expensive vacation. By that same token, I know women who want so badly to have a meaningful career that they would never risk it by having a family. The unspoken, but often acknowledged fact is that many women, through the mere act of procreation, are signing the death warrants on their employment future.

Just like the women in Browner's municipio, who should not be forced by society to have more children than they want, the U.S. should invest in families more so that women don't have to unwillingly restrict or forgo fertility.

I just couldn't resist. Look at this progression:



I will most likely have to work tomorrow because the hospital is absolutely swamped and they sounded rather desperate for help. I'll call first thing in the morning but I'm planning on working, so no more snowy fun tomorrow [or painting, or packing, or numerous other projects I'd like to complete.]

Oh what a day!