As you can see, I'm in the process of updating Laura Without Labels. I've already decided to go ahead with the new domain name. I honestly feel more committed to my blog now. I'm really excited to make some additional changes with regard to how frequently I post as well as some aesthetic changes.
I'm now commissioning for artists. There is one particularly lovely digital artist that I'd love help me create various banners and logos for my blog. Not sure if she has the time since she's been oozing the creative juices and rather busy lately.
I'd also like to thank my sister-friend Davka for inspiring me. I've wanted to be a better writer and I feel I can hone my skills through this blog. Davka's blog makes me aspire to work harder and be a better and better writer.
I thank you for writing and encourage you to share my blog with others that might appreciate being a part of my personal journey towards understanding myself and others.
April 29, 2008
April 24, 2008
Civic duty - completed.
I'm not sure if they took pity on me since I was a juror before just a mere two and half years ago, or if they thought I'd be biased somehow, but I was not chosen for jury duty. I did my civic duty nevertheless, just by being available all day. I didn't get to wear the label this time, but I'm sure my county will call upon me again someday.
April 23, 2008
chapstick, jury duty and public transport
I've been addicted to chapstick since I was in junior high. I'm very forgetful and I constantly lose them, but that was the cost of my addiction. This past winter, I developed some kind of allergic reaction to all my chapsticks which were Burt's Bees (at least $2.50 ea) and I had to throw them all away. I found a small tub of coco butter lip balm from Lush that didn't seem to bother my lips and I've been using that. I did lose the old one and just yesterday I opened the new one I'd bought when I was in Chicago. And of course, somewhere between my livingroom and bedroom (less than 5 feet) I've managed to lose that one. I woke up around 5am today tearing the apartment up looking for it. Yes, I'm a spaz. I could have a worse vice.
I've been summoned for jury duty since January. I've been able to defer my service twice because of travel. For some reason it occurred to me I should check my summons because I had the feeling I should, that perhaps I got the dates wrong. Boy was I right about being wrong! Turns out TODAY is the day I have to appear and when I called the juror phone line my group number was selected. So I have to be downtown at 8:30. Joy of joys.
I had jury duty a few years ago. It was interesting, until it was traumatic. Cold case. Women committed arson. As a result her two small children die. She wasn't try to kill them. But because the way the law was written, we had to find her guilty of 2nd degree murder. Two life sentences was how the judge decided to handle sentencing. We weren't there for that part. The woman started to sob and wail after we read the verdict. We were ushered out of the court room quickly thereafter and were dismissed once we got in the hallway. It was the strangest experience and I am really not looking forward to this today. At least, not another case that includes the killing of children. Or killing in general. How about a nice drug deal? Or grand theft auto? Insurance fraud?
At least I get to take the trolley into town. I feel like a real grownup taking the T. It's probably one of the cooler things about living south of Pittsburgh, that I'm able to use public transport so easily. Although, I do have this strange fear of taking buses. I just never had to take them since I could take the T. And buses can be late. Trolleys usually never are.
Anyway, I digress. I guess I'll being wearing my juror label today. And I mean a literal label that says JUROR. I'll be sure to take a picture.
I've been summoned for jury duty since January. I've been able to defer my service twice because of travel. For some reason it occurred to me I should check my summons because I had the feeling I should, that perhaps I got the dates wrong. Boy was I right about being wrong! Turns out TODAY is the day I have to appear and when I called the juror phone line my group number was selected. So I have to be downtown at 8:30. Joy of joys.
I had jury duty a few years ago. It was interesting, until it was traumatic. Cold case. Women committed arson. As a result her two small children die. She wasn't try to kill them. But because the way the law was written, we had to find her guilty of 2nd degree murder. Two life sentences was how the judge decided to handle sentencing. We weren't there for that part. The woman started to sob and wail after we read the verdict. We were ushered out of the court room quickly thereafter and were dismissed once we got in the hallway. It was the strangest experience and I am really not looking forward to this today. At least, not another case that includes the killing of children. Or killing in general. How about a nice drug deal? Or grand theft auto? Insurance fraud?
At least I get to take the trolley into town. I feel like a real grownup taking the T. It's probably one of the cooler things about living south of Pittsburgh, that I'm able to use public transport so easily. Although, I do have this strange fear of taking buses. I just never had to take them since I could take the T. And buses can be late. Trolleys usually never are.
Anyway, I digress. I guess I'll being wearing my juror label today. And I mean a literal label that says JUROR. I'll be sure to take a picture.
April 18, 2008
Equal Pay Day
I'm new to blogging but I've noticed a number of things that are a big part of blogging. One is actually reading other people's blogs. It's amazing how many there are out there. I found a great blog that posts pioneer women recipes. I also have some awesome friends that blog like daisybones and Davka. That's brings me to another great point about blogging. Linking! I know what the word blogsphere means now. Everything is so interconnected. Information is literally at our fingertips. It's a very exciting time to be a writer.
Feministing is another blog I read daily. I would love at some point to do a post about feminism and really examine that label and what it means to me. But alas, I actually have to get back to work at some point this morning. However, they did link me to this great blogging + activism with the National Women's Law Center; Blog for Fair Pay Day!
I live in Pittsburgh and apparently southwestern Pennsylvania has a real problem with pay equity. Some of the counties that are further south (ie: Green and Fayette) see pay gaps much below the state average. A couple years ago I found out about a great organization called the Women and Girls Foundation. They are a non-profit feminist organization and one of their main objectives is to close the wage gap in SWPA. I've donated to them in the past and I think everyone should, especially native Pittsburghers. They have a myspace page. You can even buy cool merch at their cafepress site too! (wow, I'm really linking it up here...)
I figured the best way for me to blog about equal pay was to make it local and bring attention to this amazingly awesome organization that is working hard for equality.
Feministing is another blog I read daily. I would love at some point to do a post about feminism and really examine that label and what it means to me. But alas, I actually have to get back to work at some point this morning. However, they did link me to this great blogging + activism with the National Women's Law Center; Blog for Fair Pay Day!
I live in Pittsburgh and apparently southwestern Pennsylvania has a real problem with pay equity. Some of the counties that are further south (ie: Green and Fayette) see pay gaps much below the state average. A couple years ago I found out about a great organization called the Women and Girls Foundation. They are a non-profit feminist organization and one of their main objectives is to close the wage gap in SWPA. I've donated to them in the past and I think everyone should, especially native Pittsburghers. They have a myspace page. You can even buy cool merch at their cafepress site too! (wow, I'm really linking it up here...)
I figured the best way for me to blog about equal pay was to make it local and bring attention to this amazingly awesome organization that is working hard for equality.
April 3, 2008
Daughter
I've always been close with my mom.
My mother is very maternal. When my brothers and I were growing up, she was a homemaker, who also ran a daycare out of the house. She was incredibly nurturing, almost to a fault. She made breakfast for us before school, all through high school, she was my Girl Scout troop leader, she drove us to after school activities, cried when we learned to drive for ourselves. She baked and cooked dinner each night. She sewed my prom dress. We talked about everything. I told her about all my boyfriends. She knew all my friends. She gave me advice and helped me make big decisions.
But like many mother-daughter relationships, we had our waves of turmoil. Ours included the stereotypical teenage rebellion, except mine was a few years late in my early 20's and I don't think my mom was even aware it was happening. I lived at home during college, so I had some freedom, but I'm sure she and father weren't totally aware of my social engagements. As I started to form my own ideas and individual identity, I had to pull away from my family in general, but especially my mom. It was very difficult; I realized just how much I relied on her to help me make even small life decisions. Part of becoming an adult for me was pulling away from her completely, making my own path, deciding where my values and perspectives differed from hers and which I would adopt as my own.
Recently though, I've been lucky enough to reconnect with my mother as an adult woman.
This past autumn, I came out to my mother, and by extension most of my family, as bisexual. She actually asked me point blank about it - over the phone - while I was at work (can't you just see me squirming in my ergonomically-correct desk chair??). I always told myself, if anyone ever asked me point blank, I would tell them the truth. So I told her. I later was congratulated by a number of people for telling her the truth. For me, I never even considered hiding it. I had my chance now, to let her back into my personal life. I was mature and confident in my life choices and my understanding of my "self" and I just told her, right there, while I tried to continuing typing away at my spreadsheet. Being able to open my life back up to my mother as her adult-daughter, was a really big step for me. Since then, we've had a number of conversations in regards to my lifestyle, values and worldview. She's expressed her unconditional love for me and while she might not agree with them, she accepts my choices and she will always be a safe place to hide.
In February, my mother was leaving work for her lunch break and she tripped and fell, shattering her elbow on her dominant arm. She had to have rather serious, invasive surgery to rebuild the bone, doing a graft from her hip. I knew the severity of the surgery. I planned to go to the hospital the morning of with my grandmother and my father. During the wait, they were both saying how they had trouble sleeping, they we're so worried about her. I slept fine - and I began to feel guilty for not being more worried. I realized that, up until that point, I'd never considered that my mom wouldn't be just fine. She was my mom. A superhero. Also, never having had surgery, I had no idea what to expect once I saw her in recovery. My mom was in so much pain. She was beyond groggy, my dad was giving her ice chips, my grandma was fretting with a flower arrangement, and I was trying to stay out of the way, not really sure what to do. I noticed her lips were dry, which is a side effect of anesthesia. I happened to have a container of Eucerin cream in my handbag, which I proceeded to rub on her on her mouth for her. I remember holding my breath, thinking Someday she might need me like this all the time. Someday I might need to be the mom.
Back home it was difficult for everyone. There she was, my mom, so vulnerable and in need of assistance to do the most basic things. She couldn't even dress herself. She has experienced some complications as well, needing to go back into surgery again to remove some infected tissue, which put back her recovery a bit. She's just begun physical therapy now. She's making progress.
I was having lunch with her a few weeks ago and she got emotional. She said she's so afraid of things now. She's afraid of walking around outside, afraid she might fall again. She said when my father is home, she feels safe, he's her rock, her haven. She told me she feels that way when I'm around too. I then realized a new, special part of being someone's child is also being able to be the parent now and again. I'm proud to call myself her daughter. I am lucky that she lets me be her safe place to hide too.
My mother is very maternal. When my brothers and I were growing up, she was a homemaker, who also ran a daycare out of the house. She was incredibly nurturing, almost to a fault. She made breakfast for us before school, all through high school, she was my Girl Scout troop leader, she drove us to after school activities, cried when we learned to drive for ourselves. She baked and cooked dinner each night. She sewed my prom dress. We talked about everything. I told her about all my boyfriends. She knew all my friends. She gave me advice and helped me make big decisions.
But like many mother-daughter relationships, we had our waves of turmoil. Ours included the stereotypical teenage rebellion, except mine was a few years late in my early 20's and I don't think my mom was even aware it was happening. I lived at home during college, so I had some freedom, but I'm sure she and father weren't totally aware of my social engagements. As I started to form my own ideas and individual identity, I had to pull away from my family in general, but especially my mom. It was very difficult; I realized just how much I relied on her to help me make even small life decisions. Part of becoming an adult for me was pulling away from her completely, making my own path, deciding where my values and perspectives differed from hers and which I would adopt as my own.
Recently though, I've been lucky enough to reconnect with my mother as an adult woman.
This past autumn, I came out to my mother, and by extension most of my family, as bisexual. She actually asked me point blank about it - over the phone - while I was at work (can't you just see me squirming in my ergonomically-correct desk chair??). I always told myself, if anyone ever asked me point blank, I would tell them the truth. So I told her. I later was congratulated by a number of people for telling her the truth. For me, I never even considered hiding it. I had my chance now, to let her back into my personal life. I was mature and confident in my life choices and my understanding of my "self" and I just told her, right there, while I tried to continuing typing away at my spreadsheet. Being able to open my life back up to my mother as her adult-daughter, was a really big step for me. Since then, we've had a number of conversations in regards to my lifestyle, values and worldview. She's expressed her unconditional love for me and while she might not agree with them, she accepts my choices and she will always be a safe place to hide.
In February, my mother was leaving work for her lunch break and she tripped and fell, shattering her elbow on her dominant arm. She had to have rather serious, invasive surgery to rebuild the bone, doing a graft from her hip. I knew the severity of the surgery. I planned to go to the hospital the morning of with my grandmother and my father. During the wait, they were both saying how they had trouble sleeping, they we're so worried about her. I slept fine - and I began to feel guilty for not being more worried. I realized that, up until that point, I'd never considered that my mom wouldn't be just fine. She was my mom. A superhero. Also, never having had surgery, I had no idea what to expect once I saw her in recovery. My mom was in so much pain. She was beyond groggy, my dad was giving her ice chips, my grandma was fretting with a flower arrangement, and I was trying to stay out of the way, not really sure what to do. I noticed her lips were dry, which is a side effect of anesthesia. I happened to have a container of Eucerin cream in my handbag, which I proceeded to rub on her on her mouth for her. I remember holding my breath, thinking Someday she might need me like this all the time. Someday I might need to be the mom.
Back home it was difficult for everyone. There she was, my mom, so vulnerable and in need of assistance to do the most basic things. She couldn't even dress herself. She has experienced some complications as well, needing to go back into surgery again to remove some infected tissue, which put back her recovery a bit. She's just begun physical therapy now. She's making progress.
I was having lunch with her a few weeks ago and she got emotional. She said she's so afraid of things now. She's afraid of walking around outside, afraid she might fall again. She said when my father is home, she feels safe, he's her rock, her haven. She told me she feels that way when I'm around too. I then realized a new, special part of being someone's child is also being able to be the parent now and again. I'm proud to call myself her daughter. I am lucky that she lets me be her safe place to hide too.
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