Synapses

Sunday, 12 July 2009

  • Sex Education

    Ok... so I am not going to give a lesson about Sexual Education, nor am I going to tell you how to use a condom (FYI condom boxes come with instructions).

    This is about the sad state of Sexual Education in the US.

    So last week we found out that I am pregnant. That was on purpose, we both knew we wanted kids and were aggressive in becoming pregnant. After I found out I started talking to other newly expectant mothers on WebMD's boards. Very insightful, interesting and fun to talk to other women (and some men!) who are going through the things my husband and I are going through.

    Then I walked over to the 'Ask an OB/GYN' board... in particular this post caught my attention. Please, take a few moments and read through the post and all the comments, really... my paraphrasing will not do it justice. After that take a gander at this board as well, there are some great posts from most likely teenagers that have no idea how their body really works.

    I can wait.

    So after you read about how you can not feel baby movements at 6 weeks, and how you can not have a true period and be pregnant... then the fun comments come in. Yes, girls asking about their boyfriends coming in them. I imagine a 16 year old girl sitting at her computer worrying because she went to the bathroom and dug it all out, can she still get pregnant???

    What?

    Wait a minute... in this age of technology (Obviously you have access to information, you are on WebMD's website) and a plethora of information why is there still so much ignorance when it comes to our basic reproductive system?

    I believe the problem has many facets. First of all as Americans we are ok with simulated/real sex in TV and Movies, but when it comes to giving the talk to our kids and making them understand how our bodies work it suddenly becomes a complete taboo. On top of that you have some religions preaching abstinence and not giving real information to kids, former (God, it feels great to type that!) President Bush was a huge proponent of abstinence only education.

    People I have some news for you. It's not working.

    Your children are paying for your lack of communication. So what if you can't find the words to explain everything? There are millions of webpages available to you that all you have to do is show them to your kid. You don't even have to talk. You can just let them read about it while you sit there and make sure they read. There is no reason for your kids not to be educated at this point. Actually there is a reason they would not be educated, it's because you are being lazy or are too scared to tell them about it.

    I full heartedly believe that Anti-Abortionist and Pro-Choice should put aside their differences and find a way to educate young people, get better access to birth control, and if a teenager becomes pregnant, adoption should be their first choice after deciding not to keep the baby instead of abortion.

    FYI this post was not intended to make fun of anyone, it is more of my shock at how little this girls know about their body. I have to say as well that the whole 'where babies come from' bit should be explained by the time you are 16. I know, it's difficult to remember 'Wrap it before you tap it' but really, unless you are old enough and mature enough to have a child, take care of them and provide for them.... then condoms should be your best friend in the entire world. Actions have consequences, if you can't handle the consequence then perhaps you should not do the action.

Sunday, 31 May 2009

Thursday, 28 May 2009

  • Prayer won't cure your canker sore

    There has been an influx of news stories where a poor child has been made to suffer because their parents do not understand their own religion. While I have read many atheists use this as ammunition for their own agenda, I have to say even the atheists do not truly understand prayer.

    Prayer is a tool, not a cure. Yet some so called ministers bilk people out of their money touting prayer as a cure all for their ailments. They should be arrested. They are causing more pain and strife then helping.

    Prayer can be useful, especially when you are dealing with a major event in your life. It can provide comfort in times of need and a way to express deep emotions that may be difficult to show in your daily life. I have used it in times that being outwardly upset would not be in my best interests. Yet if you are not willing to deal with the underlying causes of your pain and suffering then it will not help you. If you are unwilling to seek medical attention, then how can a prayer help you? It can't.

    Prayers are not magical, simply praying that something will go away will not make it disappear. Unfortunately most people do not understand this and get frustrated when their prayers are not answered. On top of that there are people who advocate only praying for things and not actually working for anything. They sell the unassuming masses that if they pray to be cured, or for money, and love they will receive it. I can pray all I want for those things, but if I am not willing to do the legwork on it then it will never come.

    This will change nothing though. There will still be 'Holy' men and women advocating prayer over everything else so they can take peoples money and lives for their own selfish reasons. They will then tell them they have fallen on hard times because of sin. Then atheists will take those examples of Christians and say that we are all like this. This is as ridiculous as saying all Muslims are terrorists. Or all Atheists are heathens without a heart. Those generalized statements create more problems then solve them.

    What is the answer? What can keep people from doing this? Nothing. Unfortunately. Legally they have every right to believe all of that. But what we can do, is try to talk to them. Get them to see the light that this is not the way to live and that the people telling them to do this are nothing but crooks taking their money.

    Thanks.

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

  • Keep away the flu

    With the recent outbreak of flu I thought it would be a good time to talk about what we can do to keep away the flu.

    Hand Washing

    This may sound silly but most people do not know how to wash their hands. Steps to hand washing are really simple and should be done when you use the bathroom, before you eat, after coughing or sneezing.

    1. Wet your hands with warm water
    2. Place about a dime of liquid soap on your hands
    3. Scrub vigorously on all surfaces, including under fingernail and wrists
    4. Rinse from your fingertips to your wrists
    5. When you dry your hands use only one paper towel per hand and the last thing it should touch is your wrist.
    6. Use a paper towel to turn off the water

    The reason you wash/dry from fingertips to wrists is that there is an area around your wrist you have not washed. By letting the water/paper run down from this area it can carry germs back to your hands that can get you sick.

    Cloth Towels vs Paper Towels

    In public areas I would always use paper towels, but at home as long as none of us are sick cloth towels are fine. They should be rotated out every few days. If someone is sick at home it would make better hygenic sense to use paper towels, this will keep the germs from them getting on to you. It is already a risk to be around someone who is sick so it is better to err on the side of caution.

    Hand Sanitizers

    These can be very useful when you can not wash your hands. Use these whenever you shake hands, open doors are use anything in a public area. They will not be useful if you have visible dirt on your hands. Using this is very similar to hand washing.

    1. Squeeze a dime size amount onto your hand
    2. Rub in much like you would hand lotion
    3. Wait until your hands are completely dry before touching anything else

    Sanitizing wipes

    Many large retail stores have them sitting out for using on shopping carts but I suggest also keeping them in your purse or pocket to wipe down doors and other things used by people. If your office does not already stock them, then you should push for wipes to be in the areas where equipment is commonly used like computers, phones, and desk areas.

    If you get sick

    Stay home! Keep your kids at home! The best thing you can do is to get over being sick before going back to work or school. It also prevents others from getting sick and passing diseases back and forth.

    If/When you go to a doctor or a hospital do not be afraid to ask them to sanitize things in front of you, you do not want to get more sick from the visit then you already were.

    If you have any questions on keeping yourself healthy then go ahead and ask! I work closely with nurses and doctors and can find the answers that you need.

Monday, 20 April 2009

  • Oops...

    I have been neglecting Xanga... and I apologize, although I have been reading my daily digest. The full time 3rd shift lady has become seriously ill and is hospitalized so I have been working 3rd shift for the past few weeks and probably at least another 2 or 3 weeks. So if you are religious, please pray that Rose will have a speedy recovery. If not then just disregard that. :)

    There have been some interesting posts that I am sad I have not been able to comment on... so tonight at work I will try to write my own blogs about them... though it won't be up til I get home from work tomorrow because Xanga is blocked at work.

    Quick update, I could use all the prayers/well wishes/good thoughts you can spare on Wednesday. I get my HSG test done that day and as it stands right now the best case scenario is that everything is good and I will need to start ovulation shots, worse case scenario I have to have surgery to fix some problems... I know what I am praying for and I have been trying to not think about it, mostly because the thought of what could be wrong gives me a panic attack. I guess I will post on Wednesday night what is going on.

    Happier news I got the job at Gamestop so starting next week I will work 10 hours/week which will give me a little bit of spending money.

    Thats all, thanks in advance!

    Angie

Friday, 10 April 2009

  • Growing up, Pt 1 of 3 "Friends"

    I want to show where I come from and how I am the person I am today. Part one is about friends, part two will be about family and part three will be about my religious experience.

    --------

    I tried my best to fit in... I really did. Yet I can only count one close friend from my childhood. Friendships for me barely lasted a few months. From what I know I didn't do anything wrong... they just moved on. I was isolated from my peers and had a horrible time at school. I was called names and shunned by most of them. I was always either too smart or too dumb depending on who you talked to.

    The one close friend I had was Megan. Her Dad moved into a house only a few blocks from my own. I remember meeting her since she was my first real friend. My mom and I went on a walk one day and her dog Muggins got loose and ran up to me. I was three or four at the time (it is one of my first memories - and still a bit hazy) soon after that the two of us were best friends and played together (and go in trouble!) all the time. She remained pretty much my only friend through all of elementary and part of middle school. We did eventually grow apart but we still talk now and then.

    Most of elementary I remember talking to some people, and while a few of them were sort of friends, none of them were close and most of the time it was fleeting.

    In 5th grade we had to write a one paragraph report and type it up for a book our class was putting together. Only a few students could be in the computer lab at a time... I raised my hand every single time to be picked to go type up my paper... yet no one picked me. I was so embarrassed that I had no friends in class that I didn't even tell the teacher that I wasn't picked... until she couldn't find my typed report. I had to confess that I wasn't picked for it - which she then told me I should have been raising my hand. Instead of telling her I didn't have any friends I just apologized and spent part of my recess typing it. It was mortifying knowing no one thought of me as a friend. That year I seriously felt like my best friend was the class hedgehog.

    Middle school was worse... I found some 'friends' but every other week they would ostracize me and be mean to me. It is safe to say that none of them were real friends. A point driven home one fateful day. It was 8th grade and some mean girls (Those extra mean and nasty girls that you knew were going to end up on welfare with 10 babies) said something to me, but I didn't hear them and they took my lack of answer and look of confusion as a threat. I had already switched lunches because my so called friends were being horrible to me and I had one sort of acquaintance in the other lunch. When the Welfare Girls came to find me they asked my 'friends' where I was. They then found me outside and beat the crap out of me. All for a confused look and lack of answer after an insult. I secretly thought everyone was happy that they did that. Most teachers didn't like me - one in particular that was also monitoring the kids that were outside. I remember watching the teachers and yelling help... they just stared at me and let me get beat up.

    I hated most of middle school, my one hiding place was music but I wasn't even safe there. I got made fun of by other kids in music for loving it so much... When we moved to a new neighborhood just before 8th grade I was happy to find out there were quite a few kids my age around (Different school district but I had applied to still go to the same middle school... I don't know why - it now seemed like a stupid thing to do). Yet I didn't know that my supposed reputation was already known by the time we were moving in the furniture. A few girls learned that I wasn't going to their middle school and spread rumors that I was a bitch. Safe to say I didn't have any friends there either.... there were two people that were friendly to me in that neighborhood. One was a boy named Dan and another girl named Sarah. Everyone just decided to hate me I guess...

    High School was better... sort of... Depended on the class. Most of my classes I did not have any friends in. One of them in particular was physics. We got to choose our own groups for a project and once again I didn't have any friends in that class. So I had to do the project by myself. I was so mortified by this when it came to show off your project I took a Zero for the grade instead of showing everyone how much I was hated. I know he felt bad for me and he did what he had to do. But I would much rather take an F then show how lonely I really was. I didn't need to be made fun of for yet another thing.

    The same thing happened senior year on my trip to London/Scotland. We were supposed to buddy up with someone... yet... I didn't have any friends on the trip. So I would stick with my teacher and did things with her so I didn't have to answer questions on why I wasn't wanted. Although a few times other class mates took me along - it had to be one of the loneliest weeks of my life. Although I wouldn't have traded that experience... and sometimes it was nice to be alone - I explored Edinburgh Castle on my own and even walked around the parks near the hotel by myself.

    Friends are still hard for me to make and find. Most of them live hours away from me. I don't know how to find them around my city. I wouldn't even know how to keep them if I could find them. Despite how much I love my husband, I really wish I had a few girls to hang out with and do stuff with. Oh well... I guess I was just destined to not really have friends.

Friday, 03 April 2009

  • Guess which state is the 3rd to allow Gay Marriage???

    IOWA!

    Wow! So I am actually suprised no one else has picked up this story!!!

    Here is an excerpt:

    In a precedent-setting ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court Friday upheld a lower court decision legalizing same-sex marriages in Iowa.

    The unanimous landmark decision is expected to carry national implications as Iowa becomes the first Midwest state to grant full legal standing to gay and lesbian couples and only the fourth state nationally to confer marital status beyond traditional one-man, one woman unions.

    “We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective,” the opinion stated. “The Legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification.”

    The case was brought by six same-sex couples who argued that Iowa’s law defining marriage as only between one man and one woman violated the equal protection and due process clauses of the Iowa Constitution.
    __________________

    Ok so I am Catholic but I tend to believe that Marriage is a covenant between man, woman and God. So I actaully believe that our system should have a complete overhaul. The government should not mandate who can and can not get married - instead registering as domestic partners should suffice. This would be similar to getting married in front of a judge except anyone can do it. That way if a church wants to define marriage more rigorously they can and the Government can't interfere with it.

    What do you think?

    Oh and for those of you that think the midwest is behind the times and too conservative! Think again! California is supposed to be more liberal then Iowa and we legalized it first! I don't know how long it will take for someone to try and strike it down... But that is all apart of the process.

Thursday, 02 April 2009

  • A pleasant distraction...

    Ok so since life kinda sucks right now my Mom and I went shopping for my AnimeIowa fabric. I didn't get all of it but I got all the patterns I need and had fun with my mom joking about how we didn't really know how much we needed since most of it we are just winging it... mostly when it comes to my Sweet lolita dress.

    So here it is, let me know if you think the fabrics won't work...

    Sweet Lolita:

    I know it's not really cosplay but I am going to dress in Lolita style one day. This is a reference picture. It will have the pleats seen on the mint dress with a ruffle on the bottom. The top of the dress will look like two seperate pieces but because of how hot it will be it will actually be all one piece to help keep it light.

    White is the 'blouse' and the pink print is the 'jumper' I hope I have enough left to make a cute little purse to match it!
      
    Fabric for Tenma's skirt - let me know if you think it is too bright... the flash makes it look a little shiny but it is really more of a matte color.
     
    Fabric for Momo's bag - I will probably have this pieced together and maybe even painted by this weekend... who knows it really depends on how well I remember to put together this type of bag, it's been only 12 years... *eep!* I feel old... that was middle school sewing class!


    Well thats all!

Wednesday, 01 April 2009

  • So another setback...

    I apologize in advance if this has any mistakes in it, I am writing through my tears.

    So this cycle I had a blood test to determine if I had ovulated or not. I got the news today that my levels were too low and I didn't ovulate. Which means I have to go through another cycle of provera to start my period, then testing on certain days to see what is the problem. I could have blocked ovaries which means  I will have to have a procedure to open them up... or there could be a million other things wrong with me that if I try to think about it I will just start balling and be unable to type...

    So I might have to go through IUI or injectable ovulation inducers. I have to say although I am upset with this news... at least he is making some sort of headway with us.

    So basically I will not be having a baby in 2009. Please don't ask me... it's so embarrassing to have to tell people that. Why can't they mind their own business?

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Friday, 27 March 2009

  • Style inspiration!

    Ok so I have been watching Dollhouse and I have to say Adelle DeWitt has wonderful style! Whomever designed that character is my new best friend. Just look at her!


    And now I am going to go to AnimeIowa this year. These are the characters I am thinking of going as:

    Momo Adachi - Peach Girl


    Tenma Tsukamoto - School Rumble


    **Edit** I have also considered Tae from School Rumble, she is the school nurse. There was a story centered around her and I really like the character.
     

    Bulma or Chichi - Dragon Ball (I can't decide!)


    Hmm... as I make the costumes I will show pics... The nice thing about being Chichi is that I could use the same wig as Tenma but then again I would love to have a big blue wig!

    Angie

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

  • New Obsession

    Ok so in my quest to broaden my anime horizon I have uncovered a freakin' gem! So I am totally in love with Peach Girl, I am totally a sucker for this high school love triangle, drama and overall kookiness! HAH! I have fallen under it's spell! The only problem? Only part of the manga was animated so I need to buy the Manga to get the rest of the story... does Momo stay with Kairi??? Does she end up going back to Toji? What about Sae??? Does she ever learn from her ways and become nice? Enjoy this!

    What do you think??

    I have decided that I want to go to AnimeIowa this year so I can dress up as Momo! :) I know I am a dork... do you have any anime suggestions? I am open to everything except Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist and Dragon Ball - the first two I know about and do not like, the last is one of my favorites!