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My cousin uploaded her pictures today of the scrapbooking retreat we attended during my Seattle visit. I forgot my camera for this trip (what a thing to forget) so it was great to relive some of the moments we spent together through her photos.
This was my first scrapbooking retreat and my first attempt at creating those memorable pages laden with photos, embellishments and heartfelt verses that document a moment in time. I could not have been in better hands for my launch into this crazy world of "croppin and scrappin". This is some serious stuff and there is much to learn.
Now there is a lot to haul to one of these events -- paper, scissors, (no, I am not going to include rocks) photos, die cuts, glue, pens, and trinkets for decoration. I purchased a nice little "crop" bag on wheels to transport my supplies and figured everyone would have their stuff packed nicely into a similar tote. I couldn't have been more wrong!
While I entered the building, wheeling my stylish tote, the other 49 women arrived with vans and carloads of stuff! Suddenly a huge empty room was transformed into what looked like a factory with rows of long tables, carts, cutting machines, lamps, containers and organizers. This is not for the faint of heart people! This little hobby is a multi-billion dollar industry and they have left no stone unturned when it comes to providing everything necessary in turning one's memories into masterpieces.
My cousins chuckled as I gasped in disbelief. The stuff just kept coming, but everyone appeared to be in a "this is just a normal day" mode. These ladies set up in fierce speed, no fooling around and the race began Literally it was a race. Every time someone finished a page, they were allowed to take one of two helium balloons from the previous person who had finished a page. Every 25 minutes a timer would go off and whoever had the balloon at that point, got a ticket entered into the drawing for prizes at the end of the retreat.
So how did I fare through this two day event? Well, I finished three pages. Yes, I said three pages! I have already heard all the snide remarks from my family regarding "that's all you did?"
I picked a rather ambitious project for a newbie -- The Story of Our Women. I want to honor and create a remembrance of the women in my family who have either influenced me or made an impact in my life. I was being somewhat of a perfectionist, making small calligraphy letters from the Cricut (a fancy cutting machine) for my journaling and painstakingly gluing each letter onto the page. My cousin's daughter (my second cousin and a charismatic genius) taught me how to turn those letters into stickers so that the process went much quicker. I spent a great deal of time asking questions and observing others so I could learn the secrets of the trade.
There are a couple of things that this retreat did for me other than just teaching me the ropes on scrapbooking. I spent time with family and other women who were just having some good fun while accomplishing something they love to do. What a concept, huh? I have been out of that arena for a long time and it was enjoyable to just chit chat, cut loose and laugh. We did the hokey pokey and tried like hell to hold our laughter at each other's attempts at chair yoga. There was real hoopla as that time of night approached when the bra must come off and several ladies were waving theirs in the air for a photo shoot! You have to be a middle-aged female to understand this, or perhaps just female. We were there until midnight each night so deleting the bra was quite justifiable.
I met women who despite severe challenges in their lives, they live each day to the fullest. That may sound a bit cliche, but these women face their reality with the most positive of attitudes and strength, a characteristic often denied in describing women. They do not feel sorry for themselves, they are involved in life, and for anyone willing to see, they have incredible depth.
It is with definite certainty that I was inspired and motivated upon my return home. I did a complete redo of my office space, setting up a functional work area so I can continue to work on this monumental task of documenting all of our family photos and history. I am sure it will take me several years to get it all done which means I will have to return for next year's retreat and a little more cutting and pasting with the girls!
I was just bragging that since I left my job, I have not been sick, no nasty colds or the dreaded flu. Well, I should have knocked on wood when I boasted about that fact because I am now fighting a head cold.
Although stuffed up and sneezing, I was feeling delighted and pleased as I watched Barak Obama on the morning news signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law.
President Obama said, "It is fitting that with the very first bill I sign - the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act - we are upholding one of this nation's first principles: that we are all created equal and each deserve a chance to pursue our own version of happiness."
After watching for years as women, including myself, were handed paychecks totaling less than our male counterparts, I want this to send a clear message to employers. You can't pay women less for the same work based on anatomy! And, don't think about that double dipping stuff either --giving us the man's job too, plus our own -- without giving a pay raise.
Not being one who relishes another avenue for litigation, I really hope that employers will get a grip and abide by this law. If they would just do the right and fair thing, lawsuits could be avoided. It is sad that we have to make laws in order to create fairness, not just for women, but the handicapped, gays, minorities, the elderly, and everyone else in between. Since the beginning of time, folks have been taken advantage of due to differences. One group always thinks they are superior to another, but it just "ain't" so. I wonder if we will ever learn this lesson?
So ladies, do not accept your lot in life that you are any less than your male colleagues.
One more thing...please humor me here as yes, I put in a little dig. Ms. Ledbetter is 70 years old, not exactly a Gen Y/Xer. She will not benefit from the legislation, but stated that the richest reward is that the nation's daughters and granddaughters will have a better deal. While I could go on (again) about the generational thing, I'll leave it to my one snide remark and hope that it will make a difference in the minds of those who think you are washed up if you're over 40, don't twitter and can no longer make a meaningful contribution to society.
Thank you President Obama and thank you Lilly Ledbetter for fighting the good fight!
This photo is currently plastered all over the Internet.
Who are these boys groping on Hillary Clinton?
None other than Barack Obama's 27-year-old speechwriter, Jon Favreau with one of his friends. The photo showed up on Facebook, but was quickly taken down after about two hours of exposure.
There is a great deal of debate centered around this incident. "Oh, they're just kids, partying down, having a little fun, harmless", some are saying.
Granted, that may be the case, but fun at whose expense? I was 27 at one time too, but I was not in a position of assisting the future leader of the free world in writing his speeches. Putting that aside, why do I also post this photo and expose this "fun" little prank since it is plastered all over the Internet?
There are millions of angry women out there who are disgusted over the treatment of Clinton and Palin during the Presidential campaign. We may not agree with their policies, ideology or views, but to slam them for their gender is unacceptable. It was a historic moment for women too, but most folks seem to forget that. The marginalization of these women in 2008 will be difficult to forget for women who want to be taken seriously. Quite frankly we are tired of hearing, "relax, it's only a joke." Been there, done that!
To add insult to injury, no one has really come to the defense of these women, especially those in leadership positions, those who should have a voice for equality. Not the DNC, the RNC, Obama, McCain, no one. Nancy Pelosi even stated that she neither saw or heard any sexism during the campaign. Howard Dean did come out after the election and admitted to the rampant sexism, but it was too little, too late. The only thing American women heard in response was...crickets! Some women didn't care, but there are those of us who do care!
Where was the outrage from the leadership or the MSM over the the Hillary nutcracker, the Bros before Hos t-shirts, the mock lynching of Sarah or the Sarah Palin is a c*nt t-shirts. Again, crickets! There were no consequences for the pundits who said someone should take Hillary outside behind a shed, or Hillary sounds like someone's ex-wife, or Hillary's only where she is because of her husband, or Hillary needs to retire her broomstick. The list goes on.
Everyone seemed to jump on the defense wagon though in regard to any "racism" that surfaced during the election. Obama was wrapped in a warm and fuzzy blanket, sheltered and protected. And, that's okay, it was the right thing to do, but let's be fair. Some of the attitudes toward women were really vile and condoned acts of violence. Not good, and a large number of us are not going to take it anymore. No longer will we fall in line, taking these insults quietly and riding off into the sunset.
Mr. Favreau has reached out to Hillary and apologized, but I would really like to know where his head was given the position he holds. Is it acceptable to denigrate women and pooh-pooh it as a childish prank? Are women really equal or is it all just a smokescreen? While these things do not get reported in the MSM, I remind those who think this is acceptable behavior, this is the age of YouTube and cyber networking. There are those of us who will make this an issue and do so unapologetically. We are also asking for change and will hold those accountable who provoke this misogynist behavior toward women.
What would the response have been if the picture had looked like this instead? Would the Obama camp have reprimanded Jon Favreau? Would he now be standing with over two million other Americans in an unemployment line? You tell me.
Margaret Thatcher said, “In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.” This, however, does not just apply to politics.
On several occasions, my former boss would tell me that women were much better at their jobs than men because they could multi-task. He would say, "Women can get more done." Funny thing though, was that he wouldn't pay you for getting things done. No, the big bucks went to the men. He would unapologetically explain that he paid them (the men) for their experience and industry knowledge, albeit they couldn't get anything done. They could talk though and talk, and talk, and talk. This endless jaw jacking was considered important, an outlet for the decision-making process, full of self-important and authoritative statements, while anything a woman said was just emotional yakking.
I am not man bashing on this matter. I have worked with some amazing men, albeit they were young enough to be my sons. Perhaps gender bias will wane once my generation leaves the workforce, but I say that with some hesitation, given the misogyny we just witnessed during the recent Presidential election.
What I am saying is that Mrs. Thatcher's statement could very easily apply to the workplace as well. I am pointing out a case of poor management, and unfortunately, it was based on gender. I wish it wasn't so, but it happens to women over and over, everyday, in various situations. How many women get dumped on in the workplace and get paid less for their efforts? If a woman thinks out loud, asking questions, and processing this information in a public setting, what are the chances that she is labeled as weak, really doesn't know what she is doing, or worse yet, nagging?
In order to survive, it seems it is almost always the female, not the male, who must relearn her communication skills in order to succeed in the workplace. This is difficult in and of itself, let alone when you work for someone who believes you are there to be his underpaid work horse, and has no problem shoving it in your face. It is rare that a man will compromise his way of doing things to level the playing field with women. No, that would be weak on his part. It is perfectly acceptable that men should be powerful, have a voice, and intimidate. Ever been in a meeting and constantly interrupted by a man when you are trying to speak? Have you ever politely asked that you not be interrupted so that you can finish your point only to be told, "well, get to it then?" Has anyone ever been motivated by such arrogance? One can only imagine how these types of males treat their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters.
It's no secret that men and women are socialized differently from birth. Women are consensus builders while men are hierarchical. This is just a fact, but it is wrong to assume that women should be generalized as less intelligent, paid less for the same job, or disrespected because of the way society has stereotyped her. We are supposed to have laws that protect this sort of discrimination, but just ask Lilly Ledbetter how well that worked out.
So Ms.Thatcher's point is well taken, but most definitely reaches further than the political arena. It is still a man's world and a widely accepted belief that the King will always out rank the Queen.
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