Between The Blogs

• “I believe that men in this country would flip out if their rights were decided by a supreme court consisting of eight woman and one man.”

• “It’s not about finding yourself. It is about creating yourself.”

This is but a small sample of the words of wisdom, grace and humor you will hear in the five-minute film, “Believe It Baby!” by In The Trenches Productions. In a few short minutes, these women — some you will recognize, some you won’t — will take you on a journey of discovery and self-awareness.

Some woman state, rather convincingly, “I believe I am beautiful,” while others hesitate before uttering those words. By the time the closing credits roll, you will find yourself smiling and agreeing, wishing you could spend some time over lunch with this group.

Women of all ages and, yes, men too, will enjoy this thought-provoking short film.

 

Visit In The Trenches Productions and click on “Believe It Baby!”

When it comes to clothing and make-up, we tend to fall into particular patterns by our mid-twenties. We’ve decided which clothes look best on us and we’ve perfected our hair and make-up. We know what works and we stick to it. And that is precisely the problem. We go through our thirties and well into our forties, failing to notice that our appearance has changed in subtle — and not so subtle ways. What once worked simply doesn’t anymore. Fear not, for help is on the way!

Read Complete Article…

I didn’t know that everyone who runs for public office is supposed to be perfect in mind, thought, and deed. No only are they supposed to be so now, but they are supposed to have been that way every single day of their past. At least, that’s how it seems if you watch how the press went after NY’s new governor, David Paterson.

It seems that Gov. Paterson had an affair. OK, more than one. It seems that his wife did likewise. They had… what shall we call it… a fidelity crisis brought on by other problems within their marriage. My response to that is simply, ‘OK, thanks, but it’s really none of my business.’ Nor, dear reader, is it any of yours. Nor, dear horribly misguided press corps, is it any of YOURS.

Watching David Paterson handle this pack of wolves has made me smile, perhaps for the first time in quite awhile concerning the antics and goings-on of politicians. The Governor came clean because, as he put it, “I don’t want to be blackmailed.”

Good for you, Governor. Good for you. You’re my new hero.

Technorati Tags: America

From In The Trenches Productions, Politics and Sexism: Hold the ‘B’ Word, Please

Have you seen the story that was published in USA Today about Robert Kosilek? He’s a murderer. Killed his own wife back in 1990. Tried, Convicted, and Sentenced. Doing time — life — in Massachusetts.

Well, Robert has decided that he should be a Roberta. That’s right… Robert says he’s a man living in a woman’s body and that since he’s incarcerated the state must pay for a sex change operation. OK, that’s bad enough. Nice try, Robert. A rational person would, I think, nod kindly at Robert(a), remind him that he’s in prison and that he was convicted of murder, and tell him that he’s just going to have to go through live peeing upright. Sorry, no snip-snip for you.

But that isn’t what’s happened. You see, Robert(a) isn’t the real story here. He may, in fact, actually be a tragic fellow. He may be telling the truth. After all, why not? No, the real story here is that Robert(a) has managed to sue the state in Federal Court in an effort to get them to pay for the $20,000 operation. In response, the Federal Government has, to date, paid expert witnesses more than $52,000 to testify that Robert(a) doesn’t need the operation.

Read that again. Then get mad.

I was scanning the Sunday paper this morning when I came upon this gem in the Intelligence Report®, a section within Parade Magazine. It’s titled The Move Toward a National ID and goes on to talk about how the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is getting ready to face-off with renegade states who, for various reasons ranging from cost to potential privacy concerns, do not buy into the government’s plan to force us to each secure a National ID card.

The plan is called Real ID and, to cut to the chase, you’ll be required to show this ID card to do anything that the federal government has any influence over, which is to say, nearly everything. Needless to say, I think that’s a load of crap and that the states should fight it. The federal government is basically telling the states that they don’t trust them; that they don’t feel that their own internal security measures are stringent enough that ID cards issued by those states (think Drivers Licenses, etc.) can reliably be used to identify citizens any longer.

While some of that may in fact be true, is there really anyone among us that believes, even for a second, that the federal government, that bastion of ineptitude and inefficiency, can do it any better? Don’t make me laugh.

Anyway, the mucky mucks inside Homeland Security are stamping their feet like spoiled children. They’ve now threatened the 17 states who have passed laws opposing Real ID with the possibility that their citizens will, unless the states recapitulate, not be permitted to board airplanes or even enter federal buildings.

Are you a poker player? Do you know what it is to bluff?

Me? I’d call.

Do you know that old saying that goes something like “seeing through the eyes of a child” and that is meant to imply that one sees something pure, untainted, without prejudice, etc.

Well, here’s an interesting site that will actually let you see through the eyes of a child.

What is a caregiver? Does it apply only to those who must take care of someone 24/7/365? Do you fall into that category simply because you have a spouse or other family with a medical condition?

My husband, Jake, is what I call a “relapsing/remitting” caregiver. I bestow that title upon him because I have “relapsing/remitting” multiple sclerosis.

Sometimes he is simply my husband. Sometimes he does the extra things I can’t do. Unfortunately, when I have a full-blown relapse, he must step into the role of caregiver, taking charge of the household and keeping an ever-watchful eye on my condition.

People who find themselves walking that path have a unique perspective on chronic illness. Jake hopes to provide insight, provoke thought and generally share his viewpoint as the spouse of someone with multiple sclerosis.

Please take a moment to read his introductory post, “The Long and Winding Road”, on MultipleSclerosisCentral.com. We hope you will visit often and become part of our unique community.

Jake’s Posts on Multiple Sclerosis Central
Mandy’s Posts on Multiple Sclerosis Central

I’m proud of my wife, Mandy. Not more than six months ago, we started our blogs at Conversations over Dinner with the hope that we would find it a pleasant hobby that we could enjoy and that would help bring us even closer than we already were. That part has worked out just fine and, if you have any sort of writing ability whatsoever, I heartily recommend the exercise as a relationship-aide.

So, back to Mandy. A month or so ago she was approached by Health Central to write as an expert blogger on the section of their website devoted to Multiple Sclerosis; Mandy being afflicted with that disease and, in fact, penning posts in her own blog, MS Maze, devoted to its trials and tribulations. Well, Mandy accepted the challenge and, as I expected would happen, has become a much-read blogger on their site.

Now Mandy has stretched her wings once more. Two days ago she uploaded her first post to a west coast blog published by a team of women called In The Trenches Productions.  I believe Mandy mentioned the site here back on November 2nd. The blog itself is titled Women Over 40 Rock. Mandy fits the bill and felt that she has a few things she’d like to say about being a woman, being over 40, and the possibilities that are available to women today vs. days of recent past.

So do yourself a favor. Take a moment to read Mandy’s new post on Women Over 40 Rock titled Our Time is Now. With all that women are continuing to accomplish in our world these days, I believe she may be right.

Technorati Tags: freelance, Hillary, society

Brass and Ivory, a blog by Lisa Emrich, is aptly named. Lisa is a professional musician who teaches french horn, historic natural horn and classical piano. Among other things, her site is aimed at exploring healthcare and health policy. She “speaks as an individual patient with a little experience and some thoughtful opinion.”

Brass and Ivory also provides links to many other sources of information, including Prescription Assistance, MS Research Centers, News and Articles, MS Foundations and other MS and Healthcare Blogs. She also organizes a Carnival of MS Bloggers, enabling visitors to access many MS-related blogs from one easy location.

As Lisa says, multiple sclerosis can be an excellent teacher. But you don’t have to have MS to get something from Brass and Ivory. Her insightful articles on the state of healthcare in the United States will have you coming back for more. A recent post titled, “The Value of Money or the Value of Health - What Do You See?” used images of $7,000 worth of MS medication (that’s a four month supply) versus $7,000 cash to bring focus to the financial reality facing the un-insured and under-insured. These are people who who are forced to make the toughest choices possible while trying to stave off chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Click on over to Brass and Ivory and support Lisa in her efforts to keep healthcare policy issues on the national agenda.