Catwalk

As if it were the most normal and natural thing in the world, O-ren went for a 20-30 minute walk tonight with Aaron and I. On a leash. We bought the harness and leash tonight at Petco, so this was the first time O-ren's ever had a harness put on her. But she was the calmest most nonchalant mrow about the entire affair. She would have been the perfect cat to dress up like a baby and push around in a stroller. And out the door we went, examining the big bush, examining bumpers and exhaust pipes. And all the while completely casual about the random vehicles driving nearby and the dogs barking in all directions. Granted, that last part is to be expected. O-ren is a martial arts master, after all.

Poor thing, she's now tuckered out on the floor next to me. Ever so often she mews piteously until I come pet her. She's had a rough day and all. A half hour walk all the way around our apartment building. That would tire any self-respecting cat. Something tells me that she'll curl up between Aaron and I when we crawl into bed. Which, after subbing today at Lausanne (where I made my awesome shirt - see flickr pics) during their sports and art fest, I am exhausted! G'night!

New Vroom

Now that my family has seen my new car - it's time to post hir up here to be loved and admired by all the world. And yes, that's a weird pronoun I used - it's a cross betweem "him" and "her" - basically, gender neutral. I haven't deteremined the car's gender yet. Aaron says it's a boy since the horn is lower than his car's... but I've never seen quite so stylish a male.

Lioness

Lioness
Originally uploaded by empress e.

Is it so strange that I love this picture of O-ren? Makes me think that she's about to whoop some arse.

I'm so tempted to throw up a million more pictures of her, and you know I could too, but I'm guessing Aaron and I are the only ones who could be perfectly content with staring at her all day. I don't know what's wrong with the rest of you people; you should be so lucky! :P

I will be a wonderful mother.

A mother who radiates self-love and self-acceptance actually vaccinates her daughter against low self-esteem. - Naomi Watts

This quote is from today's Oprah episode about how low self-esteem, obsession with outer beauty and fear of being fat is affecting more and more girls at younger and younger ages.

I'm really excited by Ophrah's last few episodes. I'm still not happy with all of her make-up and find the right pair of jeans make-over shows... (see previous posts) ... but I'm positively beaming from this episode and the one featuring Pink (and Female Chauvenist Pigs - see previous post, then buy the book.)

I know I still struggle daily with self-esteem issues, but I am confident that I can raise my future daughter to live with confidence... and to raise my future son to see women as confident and valuable.

Female Chauvenist Pigs - A Must-Read

Wow, talk about taking a long break from posting anything on here. Sorry about that. Would just like to point out to everyone that I've added a nifty java-enabled link to my flickr.com pictures. Just check out the right hand column. (If you don't see anything, please let me know!)

Anyway, I just want to recommend a book that I finished reading...enhaled is more like it. Female Chauvenist Pigs: Women and the Rise in Raunch Culture by Ariel Levy. The book certainly isn't for the faint of heart or those who can't bear to hear sexually graphic language. It's straightfoward and in-your-face-honesty, and it isn't squeamish to use precise language.

Before I get all off on a tangent, let me explain what this book is all about by sharing two of the reviews on its back cover.

With FCP, Ariel Levy becomes feminism's newest and most provocative voice, brilliantly laying bare the contradictions and evasions and self-deceptions that pass for empowerment. - Malcomn Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point

Ariel Levy has given us an important, lively, shocking investigative report about how and why - in an age of HIV?AIDS and religious fundamentalism - U.S. commercialism has mainstreamed pornography, popularized raunch images (and practices), and revived female 'bimbo' roles. This is a call to arms for women and girls who are being sold pseudo empowerment, phony liberation, and fake rebellion - instead of the realy thinkg: freedom. A must-read for young women - and everyone else. - Robin Morgan

--- emphases mine ---

READ THIS BOOK! Click on the link/post's title to head to amazon.com to buy it!