Spring Cleaning

After what seems like a couple of gloomy rainy days, but what I THINK was really only one day, (right?), the sun is shining! Even though it's still ridiculously cold out, it feels good to have sun shining through my windows, and when I logged on this morning to check out to see what and if my fellow bloggers posted, I just had the urge to "redesign" for the spring. I wish we had more options, though.

The past few weeks, I have been itchin' with an itch that is just not normal. Well, not for me, anyway. As soon as the weather is warm enough for windows to be open, I am doing a serious spring cleaning. I plan on starting three big piles: Keep, Giveaway, Throwaway. I have so much STUFF that I don't use, wear, read, look at, or whatever, and this old house could use some nice empty SPACE. Removing the clutter in my home will perhaps remove the clutter from my brain? I think that is going to be my mantra for the spring..."I need space!"

Feeling Peevish?

One of the nice things about blogging is being able to blow off some steam every once in a while. I really have to start checking in here more often. I mean, I read my regulars every day or so, and post replies, but for some reason I have felt singularly uninspired lately when it comes to topics. But once again, Life of a Lunachick gave me an idea for this post...those adorable little pet peeves. Yeah, you know, those seemingly tiny things other people do that, in the grand scheme of things really have very little impact on your life or the world in general, but for some reason just push that button, YOUR button, and irritate the CARP (that's right, I'm trying to be family-friendly here) outta you?

Yep, I'm right with you, Lunachick, with the word "irregardless." NO such word, never has been, and I wish I could say never will be. But this world we live in bends to the popular masses, so it may someday be, simply due to "popular" use. And by popular use I mean consistent misuse. Ugh. Although at this moment, an example escapes me. Please feel free to post one.

The first of my two main peeves: there is a grammatical error that I see and hear ALL the time, but it really only makes me want to scream when I read it in a newspaper or hear someone who should know better screw up the use of "I" and "me." It's not all that hard to remember! I don't know why this is, but whenever I hear someone say something like, "The president wanted to be sure he gave the books to the vice-president and I," ARGH!!!!! I am assuming the people who regularly read this know the proper use, but for those who don't, I feel compelled (if you think that's a strong word, you don't know me) to explain. Just take out the "vice-president and" and use whatever fits. Would you say, "The president wanted to be sure he gave the books to I?" NO.

The second thing that bugs me is when people say "I could care less." Huh? When people use that phrase, they use it when they are trying to make the point that they don't care. The correct phrase it "I couldn't care less." If you could care less, that means you care SOME, because you have room to care even less.

Okay, all that being said (and satisfying as it was)...generally, in recent years, I've lived my life in pursuit of letting go - of not "sweating the small stuff." And generally, I've been pretty successful. I don't go nuts, I don't scream, I don't rant and rail when these buttons are pushed. I actually have gotten to a place now where these things really don't get to me the way they once did...the way I presented them above. Usually, when faced with one of these "button pushers," I now sort of inwardly roll my eyes and picture it rolling off my back, just letting it go, and that feeling of wanting to scream is gone. Usually. And that feels just as good as screaming. I wonder what Yoda would say... [see The Greatest Philosopher]

What's a Feminist to Do?

I know, it's been a while since I've posted. Been getting some gentle nudging...but it's been a while since I've really had anything to write about, plus I've been super busy. I recently had the opportunity to attend an introductory class at The S Factor in Roslyn for an article I wrote about them/it. It is a fitness program based on the art of striptease and pole dancing. And before I go any further, let me make this very clear - it IS an art, and it requires enormous skill and control over one's body, which must be strong and limber. If I learned anything in that class, it was that.

When I was younger, I went to a moderately nice strip club with my mate (at his request, and which turned out to be something I really didn't care to share with him, but hey, I tried). What struck me so strongly was the surprising realization that the women were in power there; they held all the cards. They loved seeing women come in, and they behaved almost as though we were sharing a private joke that the men weren't in on. When I took the intro class at the S Factor, something clicked for me, and my respect for these women "kicked up a notch."

Let me also say that I am sitting here three days later, STILL sore all over. When I got there, the instructor welcomed us into a high ceilinged room with four poles. There were no lights at all, just a few candles, no mirrors at all, and the atmosphere was very friendly and safe. The exercises themselves were Yoga and Pilates based, but done very slowly and sinuously. Which means a lot more work for muscles that aren't used to it. After about an hour, we learned how to walk a slow, sexy walk, sort of dragging the top of our toes on the floor as we moved that foot forward. I found that wasn't easy either, trying to do that, sway my hips and keep my balance all at once...you've seen those dancers in movies (or perhaps in real life) walk out on stage and up to the pole with that slow, liquid walk, eyes half shut, touching their own bodies, and then rolling around on the floor, hanging off the pole...I'll bet you've made a judgement - she's on something, some drug or booze. Admit it. Hey, I have. Well, I can now tell you, from the perspective of experience, that walk would be difficult at best, and everything else she does up there would be pretty near impossible unless she were stone cold sober. Especially the pole tricks! Strength, coordination, flexibility, and stamina - all necessary.

ANYWAY, beyond the obvious physical benefits, this fitness program is perfect for any woman who has never connected with her sexual self, and just as perfect for someone who needs to "get her sexy back." They swear you learn to love your body, no matter what it looks like. Who can't use that!! But, as a feminist, thinking about this in terms away from personal gain...placing it into the public arena...this once again sparked that internal debate in me: strip clubs - good or bad?

Like I said before, it's quite apparent that these women have the upper hand (if they want it). So, for the "small picture" I think it's great. The woman is in control, gets to be the sexual creature she is, makes good money, provides a service, and everyone is happy. But the big picture, that one I'm not too sure about. For the big picture, do they allow men to continue to see women as "things," without feelings, without humanity? Have men been able to evolve by now to know better? Do these kind of activities really dehumanize women in men's eyes? Do they promote violence against women? I wonder...

Sisters

I just wanted to give a shout out to my sister...I've added her new blogsite to my Links section - "Lady Guru." Karen is a very talented artist, in more ways than one. Check out her blog if you have a moment...you may find it different and interesting. Artsy-fartsy runs in the family :)

Vision Statement

Have you heard of The Secret? How about manifestation technology? I'm sure you've heard of positive visualization. These are all pretty much the same things, but basically, it boils down to creating your own reality through the untapped power of the brain. We have the ability to make something happen simply by believing it.

Whether you buy into this or not, the concept is nothing if not provocative. If you have about 15 minutes, get a cup of tea or coffee and click to this link. Watch both video clips. Myself? I buy it. I just think that, sadly, it's easier for most people to poo-poo this idea and sit and complain about the way things are than to admit this could work, go ahead and imagine what it would be like if things were better and focus all their/our energy on that.

Malcolm Cohan

I'd really like to hear what you think after you watch these.

If this really grabbed you like it did me, you can go to this link below, click on "friends" and you can see the videos that people made in response to Malcolm's suggestion.

VisionStatement