So what on earth am I doing writing about the world's oldest profession aka prostitution? Well, a judge in Toronto, ON has ruled that Canada's prostitution laws are unconstitutional; effectively decriminalizing prostitution in Canada. Cue the outraged conservative right and let the floodgates open!
A quick note before any readers decide to head out and get lucky tonight: the judge also placed a 30-day stay on her decision. Anticipating (wisely) that her judgment is likely headed for the Supreme Court. Needless to say this will be what we're all hearing about for the next 6 months. I wonder if any politicians will be brave enough to weigh in on the issue? Feminists and women's rights activists are divided on the issue.
I personally don't see anything wrong with it. It is one of the easiest and most lucrative ways for a woman to make money. Wait! Don't take away my feminist card just yet! Just because it's lucrative doesn't mean I'm advocating it. I think every woman should be able to make decisions for her own life. There are plenty of jobs and/or careers that I could have that would be quite lucrative. The difference being that I don't want those jobs. I could (in my younger and skinnier days) have been a stripper had I so desired. So why didn't I? Because morally it felt wrong to me. But it was my decision. If a woman wants to be a prostitute, why should society stop her?
If prostitution is legal, it can be enforced thus offering women in that profession some protection. It would keep minors away from the profession and get rid of the men who seek to take advantage of women making money in an illegal fashion.
"But it's degrading to women!" the hardcore feminists will scream. To which I simply shrug my shoulders. Sex can be powerful. In fact, sex can be a powerful weapon. Being in control of your sexuality can be empowering. And let's not delude ourselves here. Men pay for sex every single night, we just don't notice it. I asked the Sperm Donor one night if he had ever paid for sex. His response? "Not with cash." Thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. If a guy wants to seduce a woman, what does he do? Buy her drinks, buy her dinner, buy her flowers etc. Where's it all leading? This isn't the 1900's. It's leading where (hopefully) both halves of the couple want it to lead.
Taking the stigma away from prostitution, removing it from the "taboo" list and working towards a healthier mindset about sex in general is a step in the right direction. I, for one, am all for it and can't wait to hear Stephen Harper's Conservatives fumble their way through this one. Bring on the political missteps! Now...where's my popcorn?
September 28, 2010
September 27, 2010
Our First Fight
Trouble Maker definitely earned her nickname last night. Although, I think my sister should take partial blame. I was talking to Tracy last night and she asked if her niece was allowing me to sleep at nights. I jokingly responded: "very rarely." She cursed me!
I went to bed at 10pm all set to get a good night's sleep before yet another week of work. Right around that time the little Trouble Maker decided to lodge herself on my right side. Head and arms pressing on my right hip and feet firmly lodged against my back. Oh. My. God. The pain! The pressure on my right hip was pinching nerves and the pain in my back felt like I had fallen down a flight of stairs.
I tried everything. There was no getting the Trouble Maker to move. I did laps around the house, I poked and prodded at my belly, I tried reasoning with her and even tried blackmailing her! "Mommy will eat that chocolate cake you've been wanting if you just move a little bit!" No such luck. I muttered under my breath, I tried stretching, a hot shower, a heating pad...nothing! On my fifth lap around the house I passed the Sperm Donor. I asked him if it was wrong to want to swear at my unborn child. He said: "yeah, probably" and even tried to help as the baby usually moves when he touches my stomach.
Eventually I just gave up and curled up in bed determined to get some sleep at least. It was now 3am and I had to be up in 3 hours! As I laid there in pain and muttering under my breath to the Trouble Maker I couldn't help but smile. As painful and tiring as it was, it beats the hell out of the alternative. Not having her causing me pain at all. How ironic that something many women would spend their Monday complaining about has actually put me in a good mood today. Even with the lack of sleep! Yet one more gift that I can thank Kaycie for.
Of course, when I woke up this morning, the Trouble Maker had moved to the middle of my belly again and was happily kicking away.
I went to bed at 10pm all set to get a good night's sleep before yet another week of work. Right around that time the little Trouble Maker decided to lodge herself on my right side. Head and arms pressing on my right hip and feet firmly lodged against my back. Oh. My. God. The pain! The pressure on my right hip was pinching nerves and the pain in my back felt like I had fallen down a flight of stairs.
I tried everything. There was no getting the Trouble Maker to move. I did laps around the house, I poked and prodded at my belly, I tried reasoning with her and even tried blackmailing her! "Mommy will eat that chocolate cake you've been wanting if you just move a little bit!" No such luck. I muttered under my breath, I tried stretching, a hot shower, a heating pad...nothing! On my fifth lap around the house I passed the Sperm Donor. I asked him if it was wrong to want to swear at my unborn child. He said: "yeah, probably" and even tried to help as the baby usually moves when he touches my stomach.
Eventually I just gave up and curled up in bed determined to get some sleep at least. It was now 3am and I had to be up in 3 hours! As I laid there in pain and muttering under my breath to the Trouble Maker I couldn't help but smile. As painful and tiring as it was, it beats the hell out of the alternative. Not having her causing me pain at all. How ironic that something many women would spend their Monday complaining about has actually put me in a good mood today. Even with the lack of sleep! Yet one more gift that I can thank Kaycie for.
Of course, when I woke up this morning, the Trouble Maker had moved to the middle of my belly again and was happily kicking away.
September 23, 2010
Friday Funnies
Today's edition of Friday Funnies is coming right from my own house! First for a quick recap, I moved from a city to a small town last September. A definite change of pace, but one that I was ready for at that time. Fast forward almost one year to the day...
The Welcome Wagon (aka one lady looking for gossip) showed up at the door. Better late then never? Anyway, she handed me some flowers, some papers, and some gift certificates fromthe four various businesses in town. I nodded and smiled and did my best to avoid her obviously prodding questions and she soon left me alone.
This is when I started going through all the papers to see what goodies were there. Of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the flowers she brought me...
But wait, what is that in front of the flowers? It was a blank postcard that came with my welcome package. I guess to send to someone you forgot to tell that you moved? Let's take a closer look at that postcard shall we?
No, you're not seeing things. That is a postcard of a bunch of dead birds! Curiosity got the best of me and I flipped the card over...
Well thank goodness this is a duck and goose hunter's hunting paradise. Just what I've always looked for in a home! It honestly doesn't get much more redneck than this!
Just had to share and let you all join in the laughter of what I've gotten myself into. *sigh*
The Welcome Wagon (aka one lady looking for gossip) showed up at the door. Better late then never? Anyway, she handed me some flowers, some papers, and some gift certificates from
This is when I started going through all the papers to see what goodies were there. Of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the flowers she brought me...
But wait, what is that in front of the flowers? It was a blank postcard that came with my welcome package. I guess to send to someone you forgot to tell that you moved? Let's take a closer look at that postcard shall we?
No, you're not seeing things. That is a postcard of a bunch of dead birds! Curiosity got the best of me and I flipped the card over...
Well thank goodness this is a duck and goose hunter's hunting paradise. Just what I've always looked for in a home! It honestly doesn't get much more redneck than this!
Just had to share and let you all join in the laughter of what I've gotten myself into. *sigh*
Another blanket
I couldn't resist! I saw some blankets like this for sale online and thought to myself: "I can make that!" After doing some google research to figure out what the heck I was doing I went fabric shopping. I also made the mistake of looking online for fabric. I now know what is out there. My local post office is going to become overwhelmed with incoming fabric orders.
Anyway, it's the first one I've done, but I had so much fun I'm sure there will be more in the future. For a first attempt I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
Here's the front...made up of four different patterns of flannel:
A close-up of the front so you can see the "rock star" idea that I went with:
The back is done with the super-soft minky fabric again. However, this time I cut it all individually and X-stitched it to the front flannel for that quilt look:
The ruffled look on the front will only become even more ragged and soft with each washing. Here's one of the blanket all washed and folded up ready for baby:
That'll be it for new projects for about the next month. I need to catch up on some receiving blankets, burp cloths, scratch mittens and hats. I want complete sets for everything I've done so far. After that it will be on to something new. Now, what should I sew next...
Anyway, it's the first one I've done, but I had so much fun I'm sure there will be more in the future. For a first attempt I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
Here's the front...made up of four different patterns of flannel:
A close-up of the front so you can see the "rock star" idea that I went with:
The back is done with the super-soft minky fabric again. However, this time I cut it all individually and X-stitched it to the front flannel for that quilt look:
The ruffled look on the front will only become even more ragged and soft with each washing. Here's one of the blanket all washed and folded up ready for baby:
That'll be it for new projects for about the next month. I need to catch up on some receiving blankets, burp cloths, scratch mittens and hats. I want complete sets for everything I've done so far. After that it will be on to something new. Now, what should I sew next...
Celebrating and catching up...
I had initially meant to get this post up yesterday, but an impossibly slow Internet connection prevented me from doing much of anything. Ahhh, the joys of small town life.
Anyway, yesterday was one of those days where two good things happened on the same day. It was Yasmin's birthday. Happy Birthday Yaz! It hurts that I wasn't able to spend the day with her, but we have a great day planned for Saturday, so at least I have that to look forward to. It was also the day that I hit 28 weeks. Third trimester! I never thought I would get this far. I had such a feeling of peace and happiness when I woke up yesterday morning.
Another great thing happened yesterday as well. The photographer that I went to last weekend emailed me a couple of the pictures that she had taken. I still have to wait a couple more weeks for the edited final versions, but I was so happy I got to see at least a couple!
When I hired this photographer I told her about Kaycie and that I wanted the pictures to reflect the fact that I wasn't the naive, happy, pregnant person. That I am all too aware that pregnancy is a hope...a chance, not a promise, of a baby. I also wanted a couple of the pictures to represent more than just myself. I wanted them to represent all women who go through a subsequent pregnancy after a devastating loss. The fear and hope that, all too often, exist simultaneously within us. That is what these two pictures below are of. I think she did a great job.
28 Weeks:
28 weeks 1 day down, 11 weeks 6 days to go.
Anyway, yesterday was one of those days where two good things happened on the same day. It was Yasmin's birthday. Happy Birthday Yaz! It hurts that I wasn't able to spend the day with her, but we have a great day planned for Saturday, so at least I have that to look forward to. It was also the day that I hit 28 weeks. Third trimester! I never thought I would get this far. I had such a feeling of peace and happiness when I woke up yesterday morning.
Another great thing happened yesterday as well. The photographer that I went to last weekend emailed me a couple of the pictures that she had taken. I still have to wait a couple more weeks for the edited final versions, but I was so happy I got to see at least a couple!
When I hired this photographer I told her about Kaycie and that I wanted the pictures to reflect the fact that I wasn't the naive, happy, pregnant person. That I am all too aware that pregnancy is a hope...a chance, not a promise, of a baby. I also wanted a couple of the pictures to represent more than just myself. I wanted them to represent all women who go through a subsequent pregnancy after a devastating loss. The fear and hope that, all too often, exist simultaneously within us. That is what these two pictures below are of. I think she did a great job.
28 Weeks:
28 weeks 1 day down, 11 weeks 6 days to go.
September 20, 2010
Pregnant me vs. Non-pregnant me
For the last 27 and a half weeks there's been a battle waging. The battle between Pregnant me, and Non-pregnant me. I've got to say, up until very recently, Non-pregnant me has definitely been winning. This battle started as self-preservation. It was easier to believe I was Non-pregnant me in order to not get my hopes up too high. I've been waiting for the day when Pregnant me would take over and I think that day is coming soon.
This weekend proved that denial might not be an option for much longer. Here's how the weekend played out:
Non-pregnant me - "I'm going to get so much done this weekend! So many appointments and things to do plus some shopping and of course, house cleaning, laundry and cooking!"
Pregnant me - "Guess again sucker!"
Non-pregnant me got off to a great start at 5am on Saturday morning. Up and getting things accomplished and had my blood tests and glucose test done by 9am. Followed that with breakfast, shopping, more appointments, shopping, pictures, more running around and finally got home at 10pm.
Pregnant me was quiet all day letting Non-pregnant me lead the show. However, Pregnant me was apparently just biding her time. Sunday brought this:
Non-pregnant me - "One more day off still to get all the house cleaning, laundry and cooking done. I can probably also get some sewing done!"
Pregnant me - "Kiss my ass Non-Pregnant me. You had your day yesterday. Today is my day and we're going to sleep, watch some DVDs and sleep some more. I might allow some sewing if I get some rest first. Try any funny stuff and I'll make you so sick you'll be begging for your pillow."
Evidently Pregnant me is quite the bitch and definitely won that round. I finally had to bow to the pregnancy and admit that maybe, just maybe, I can't put in a 17 hour day and expect to feel 100% the next day. Time to huddle up with Non-pregnant me and devise a strategy. Maybe if we sneak in a little house cleaning and laundry each night during the week we can get a little bit more of the other stuff accomplished on the weekends!
This weekend proved that denial might not be an option for much longer. Here's how the weekend played out:
Non-pregnant me - "I'm going to get so much done this weekend! So many appointments and things to do plus some shopping and of course, house cleaning, laundry and cooking!"
Pregnant me - "Guess again sucker!"
Non-pregnant me got off to a great start at 5am on Saturday morning. Up and getting things accomplished and had my blood tests and glucose test done by 9am. Followed that with breakfast, shopping, more appointments, shopping, pictures, more running around and finally got home at 10pm.
Pregnant me was quiet all day letting Non-pregnant me lead the show. However, Pregnant me was apparently just biding her time. Sunday brought this:
Non-pregnant me - "One more day off still to get all the house cleaning, laundry and cooking done. I can probably also get some sewing done!"
Pregnant me - "Kiss my ass Non-Pregnant me. You had your day yesterday. Today is my day and we're going to sleep, watch some DVDs and sleep some more. I might allow some sewing if I get some rest first. Try any funny stuff and I'll make you so sick you'll be begging for your pillow."
Evidently Pregnant me is quite the bitch and definitely won that round. I finally had to bow to the pregnancy and admit that maybe, just maybe, I can't put in a 17 hour day and expect to feel 100% the next day. Time to huddle up with Non-pregnant me and devise a strategy. Maybe if we sneak in a little house cleaning and laundry each night during the week we can get a little bit more of the other stuff accomplished on the weekends!
September 16, 2010
A New Addiction
My name is Keri and I'm addicted to fabric. I've felt the addiction coming on for a while now but fully realized it yesterday when I walked into my local fabric store and felt disappointment because no new fabrics had come in. I honestly have no idea where this addiction came from!
I think it's an extension of my shopping addiction. I love colours, fabrics, and designs, and clothes shopping has always been a hobby. I think the sewing I've been doing recently has opened up my mind to the possibility of making my own clothes. Especially summer dresses, basic cotton dresses, and tops. These "comfy" clothes have always been my favourite yet I'm so often disappointed that I can't find the style or colours I want in the stores. Hopefully by next summer I'll be able to make some of my own!
Another aspect I love is the sewing itself. It keeps my hands busy yet my mind is usually free to wander. I love to daydream and just let my thoughts go and sewing gives me the perfect opportunity. Of course, as an added bonus I love the things I'm making. Last night I tried scratch mittens for the first time and really loved making them! So easy to make out of leftover fabric scraps. Not too long ago while shopping I was looking at buying some scratch mittens (once again disappointed with the boring fabrics and colours). I remember thinking "$4 for scratch mittens, that's not bad at all." I am now scoffing at that! I can make my own for about .25 cents/pair!
Here's the pair I made last night...
They were definitely a learning experience as it was the first time I've ever sewn elastic into anything, but hey...learn something new every day right!
I apparently also have issues with the idea that everything needs to match. Hence the matching receiving blankets and burp cloths...
There will soon be a matching receiving blanket for these burp cloths as well...
And yup, you guessed it, tonight I'll be doing scratch mittens to match all of these blankets and burp cloths!
Of course, with this being a Christmas baby I couldn't turn down making a blanket out of some cute Christmas material!
I'm going to have to start making some of this stuff to sell. Pretty soon I'll have wayyy to much for my little one to ever use! I have a few more projects I want to do over the next couple of weeks as well so I'm sure there will be even more pictures coming!
I think it's an extension of my shopping addiction. I love colours, fabrics, and designs, and clothes shopping has always been a hobby. I think the sewing I've been doing recently has opened up my mind to the possibility of making my own clothes. Especially summer dresses, basic cotton dresses, and tops. These "comfy" clothes have always been my favourite yet I'm so often disappointed that I can't find the style or colours I want in the stores. Hopefully by next summer I'll be able to make some of my own!
Another aspect I love is the sewing itself. It keeps my hands busy yet my mind is usually free to wander. I love to daydream and just let my thoughts go and sewing gives me the perfect opportunity. Of course, as an added bonus I love the things I'm making. Last night I tried scratch mittens for the first time and really loved making them! So easy to make out of leftover fabric scraps. Not too long ago while shopping I was looking at buying some scratch mittens (once again disappointed with the boring fabrics and colours). I remember thinking "$4 for scratch mittens, that's not bad at all." I am now scoffing at that! I can make my own for about .25 cents/pair!
Here's the pair I made last night...
They were definitely a learning experience as it was the first time I've ever sewn elastic into anything, but hey...learn something new every day right!
I apparently also have issues with the idea that everything needs to match. Hence the matching receiving blankets and burp cloths...
There will soon be a matching receiving blanket for these burp cloths as well...
And yup, you guessed it, tonight I'll be doing scratch mittens to match all of these blankets and burp cloths!
Of course, with this being a Christmas baby I couldn't turn down making a blanket out of some cute Christmas material!
I'm going to have to start making some of this stuff to sell. Pretty soon I'll have wayyy to much for my little one to ever use! I have a few more projects I want to do over the next couple of weeks as well so I'm sure there will be even more pictures coming!
September 13, 2010
Finally!
I finally finished my first ever baby blanket for my baby. Professional it definitely is not, but at least I tried! It took me an entire evening and was full of swearing (I hate satin binding!), but it's done, and it's not completely horrible! It will definitely be the "grubby" blanket or the "Sperm Donor takes baby to the farm" blanket, but oh well!
Made with patterned cotton flannel on one side and super plush Minky fabric on the other it will be soft and cuddly if nothing else! Most of these blankets that I've seen for sale are simply stitched together with no binding on the outer edge. Now I know why. What a pain in the ass! Unfortunately, it really does add that final touch that I love, so I'm stuck working with the stupid stuff! Hopefully I get better at working with it over the next few blankets. More pictures to come over the next few days as I work on some receiving blankets and burp cloths!
The angle that I took the pictures at really make the blanket look bigger than it actually is. I think the finished size was 30" x 36" a little bit bigger than your standard receiving blanket. Can't wait to go fabric shopping for some more fun patterns!
Made with patterned cotton flannel on one side and super plush Minky fabric on the other it will be soft and cuddly if nothing else! Most of these blankets that I've seen for sale are simply stitched together with no binding on the outer edge. Now I know why. What a pain in the ass! Unfortunately, it really does add that final touch that I love, so I'm stuck working with the stupid stuff! Hopefully I get better at working with it over the next few blankets. More pictures to come over the next few days as I work on some receiving blankets and burp cloths!
The angle that I took the pictures at really make the blanket look bigger than it actually is. I think the finished size was 30" x 36" a little bit bigger than your standard receiving blanket. Can't wait to go fabric shopping for some more fun patterns!
September 3, 2010
United we stand?
I've tried very hard to keep politics away from this blog...I really have, honest! But to not write about something that irks me is to deny who I am as a person. With that little disclaimer in place, what has me riled up today? Feminists.
Yup, I'm a feminist and I'm pissed off at other feminists! The problem lies in the definition, or more accurately, lack of definition of the word "feminist." I think we can all agree that at its most basic level, feminism is equality for all regardless of gender. Right?
So what's the problem then? If we can all agree on that, then surely the vast majority of people in today's day and age would assume that feminism is making great strides. The actual root of the problem seems to be in the definition of "equality." Specifically that equality = choice. If every person is equal to every other person, then no one person should be able to make choices for another person. Sounds about right until the ultimate choice discussion comes up...abortion.
I've read some blogs recently (because I'm curious and apparently love to piss myself off) by a new wave of feminists. Calling themselves the "mama grizzlies" (thank you Sarah Palin *rolls eyes*)they are Conservative and calling themselves feminists. Saying "once we take marriage and abortion rights out of the equation, we are all feminists." Seriously...you can't make this stuff up people! They're out there, and even worse...they vote!
The very rights they wrap themselves in they seek to deny to other women. I have a problem with someone calling themselves a feminist yet in the next breath telling me that because I'm a woman I can't decide what to do with my own body. That someone else (aka the government - vastly over-populated with white, middle aged males) should make that decision for me. If you are a feminist, a true feminist, the very foundation of that belief system must be trust. Trust women to know what is best for their life and to make their own decisions. All of them.
Yup, I'm a feminist and I'm pissed off at other feminists! The problem lies in the definition, or more accurately, lack of definition of the word "feminist." I think we can all agree that at its most basic level, feminism is equality for all regardless of gender. Right?
So what's the problem then? If we can all agree on that, then surely the vast majority of people in today's day and age would assume that feminism is making great strides. The actual root of the problem seems to be in the definition of "equality." Specifically that equality = choice. If every person is equal to every other person, then no one person should be able to make choices for another person. Sounds about right until the ultimate choice discussion comes up...abortion.
I've read some blogs recently (because I'm curious and apparently love to piss myself off) by a new wave of feminists. Calling themselves the "mama grizzlies" (thank you Sarah Palin *rolls eyes*)they are Conservative and calling themselves feminists. Saying "once we take marriage and abortion rights out of the equation, we are all feminists." Seriously...you can't make this stuff up people! They're out there, and even worse...they vote!
The very rights they wrap themselves in they seek to deny to other women. I have a problem with someone calling themselves a feminist yet in the next breath telling me that because I'm a woman I can't decide what to do with my own body. That someone else (aka the government - vastly over-populated with white, middle aged males) should make that decision for me. If you are a feminist, a true feminist, the very foundation of that belief system must be trust. Trust women to know what is best for their life and to make their own decisions. All of them.
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