52 Week Photo Project: Week 44

Michael, myself and our friend Wendy went to OutFest here in Grand Junction to support the local GLBT Community. The theme was Western so I pulled out a pair of Michael's old cowboy boots and a jean skirt and went to OutFest.

Women are Heros too

Quote from a piece by Henry Rollins in regards to the Steubenville rapes: "So, how do you fix that? I’m just shooting rubber bands at the night sky but here are a few ideas: Put women’s studies in high school the curriculum from war heroes to politicians, writers, speakers, activists, revolutionaries and let young people understand that women have been kicking ass in high threat conditions for ages and they are worthy of respect.

Total sex ed in school. Learn how it all works. Learn what the definition of statutory rape is and that it is rape, that date rape is rape, that rape is rape."

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day to bring awareness to HIV/AIDS. Although we don't hear about it as often these days as we did in the late 80's/early 90's....it is still a fight. We must continue to fight for those who have HIV/AIDS. So this is for friends who continue the fight of their lives and to those who are no longer with us.

Consumer Disobedience

Here is a great post about Consumer Disobedience. She has outlined 14 acts of consumer disobedience and it was a good read and struck a cord with me especially since I just watched The Story of Stuff again just recently.

Here are a many things on her list that I believe we can follow now here are just a few...

5. Be a borrower. Whether it’s a book, a ladder, or a dress to wear to a special event, explore borrowing options before you buy. Check out the library, tool shares, car shares, toy shares, and other programs in your area.

6. Swap. Trading your old stuff with others is a great way to save space (one in, one out!) and money. If you can’t make a swap among friends and family, go online: sites like Swap.com, Paperbackswap, SwapStyle, and Zwaggle help you trade books, CDs, DVDs, video games, clothing, accessories, toys, and more.

14. Want less. Advertisers, marketers, and corporations will do everything in their power to make you want more. But to be richer, happier, and freer, all you need to do is want less.

Stranded

I can't stop thinking about the Hope for Haiti Now Telethon...but the song performed by U2 (Bono and The Edge), Jay-Z and Rihanna has been stuck in my head ever since it played.

Invisible Illness

Blogging...."To increase awareness of invisible illness; that nearly 1 in 2 people in the US have a chronic illness and about 96% of it is invisible."

I have written about my migraines several times. It isn't always invisible - Michael can look at me and see when I am in pain. But most people looking at me wouldn't know. I usually don't go a week without a migraine. And at times they are cycles where they last from 3 to 10 days. Every thing and every day with a migraine is measured. I wake up and gauge the level of pain and how much I will be able to accomplish.

I also have been diagnosed with clinical depression. And that is even more invisible because people look down on it.

"It is in your head."

"Just suck it up."

"I get down/headaches and get past so you can too."

I hear those things all the time. I have even heard them from doctors. For a very long time when I heard these things and it upset me and usually made my illnesses worse. But the older I get the more I realized I deserve to have a good life. My hope and my pursuit is to live my life the best I can dispite my illnesses. And having someone in my life like Michael gives me hope that everything will be okay as he sees and is very understanding and supportive of me. He gives me hope that I will find something that works for me to give me a better quality of life.

The Uniform Project

The Uniform Project. It is a girl who is wearing one dress (7 copies of it for each day of the week) and then dressing it up with other clothes and accessories. And she is doing it to raise money for Akanksha's School Project. It is an interesting concept....I like her creativity in her outfits.

Some of my favorites...


May 7th's uniform


May 12th's uniform


June 9th's uniform

Blog Hopping

These are all things I found via blog hopping...but aren't blogs...

Acts of Kindness

Paper Source Accordian Book with pockets

And Colorscope via Papersource to see what colors reveail about you.

Homeless in America

So the other day Michael and I watched - well he watched and I listened - to President Obama's town hall meeting in Florida. During it a woman who sounded like she was on the verge of tears and talked of living in her car with her son. And asked if the stimulus package would help them. Later I found her son was laid off from a computer programing job so couldn't keep their house payments up. I was instantly in tears of course watching her... and feeling for her.

Here is a link to the Huffington Post with the clip of Henrietta Hughes asking President Obama her question.

When trying to find the link to that clip, I made a mistake by clicking on a conservative right blog. It went on and on how it was staged. I have read the news articles with photos of people standing in line for tickets. And doesn't seem it was staged. The next thing they complained about is how a homeless woman could have stockings on, a decent looking dress and nice hair but be living in a car. That they had never seen homeless people that didn't have matted hair, dirty clothes and stunk. I was appalled that people would talk about people less fortunate like that.

As someone who has worked in homeless shelters and known people who were homeless at one point or another in their life. I can say that if they got a ticket to see President Obama - they would have been in a bathroom at a public park getting ready if need be. And I am sure that is what Henrietta Hughes did and that is sad that someone has to do live like that.

I found another post on Huffington Post about helping people like Henrietta Hughes. And trying to find solutions.

I suggest taking a look at Change.org that is a social networking site to learn about causes, connect with people good people working for change and take action.

Make Service Members Holiday

Here are a few links to send cards, phone cards or packages to service members, veterans and their families....

Cards need to be post marked before December 10th: Holiday Mail for Heros

American Armed Forces Exchange Services: Gift Certificates/Phone cards

America Supports You: Carepackages and a list of other things to give to such as phone cards, scholarships

Blog Action Day: Poverty - Part 3

And to end the Blog Action Day....


(click on picture to go to source of it)

It is my hope that we can end poverty in our lifetime.

Blog Action Day: Poverty - Part 2

Just sharing some good links in surfing through the Blog Action Day posts from other participants.

Blickchick: SharedBliss: Poverty of Body, Mind, & Spirit - Really good entry and especially like the quote from Ghandi again..."Poverty is the worst form of violence."

Thoughts from a Sometimes Desperate Housewife: Help Me Donate to Heifer International for Blog Action Day!

Change.org - learn about causes, connect to good people and non-profits, take action

GoodSearch - Is like Ripple that I wrote about in my last entry but this search you get to chose the charity. And I don't think you do that on ripple. I think ripple is powered by google and goodsearch is powered by yahoo.

Digital Photography School has images of poverty on their blog today for blog action day.

I might share some more links later.

Blog Action Day: Poverty

With our economy in such a state, I think many of us are thinking about the what ifs. I know because we are self-employed, this is on our mind greatly. Prices going up and less people buying. It is a tough situation that makes us and many Americans feel powerless and nervous of what the future holds.

Right now we are able to pay our bills and do some nice things once in awhile but there are many things we don't have that I know we both just wish was a little easier...such as health insurance. We are not poor but I think of those that are...that I know are far worse off then us. I feel horribly sad that our country stands by watching so many suffer here and around the world.

In the USA there are 37.3 million people living below the official federal poverty level. Working 2 or more jobs and not able to pay bills, living without proper food, housing or healthcare. We are suppose to be the richest country in the world yet we have 37.3 million people living below poverty level. There is something fundamentally wrong with that to me.

As I said Michael and I aren't poor but we do have a budget and we are self-employed so it means that our work isn't consistent. But even though we at times struggle when we have it - we do give to others who are worse off. Helping out others in need. Now online there is so many ways to get involved also and donate, write, think and be active in creating a better world. Of course the Ghandi quote is coming to mind I am sure to many today - "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Here are some easy ways to get involved....

Check out 88 ways to do something about poverty RIGHT NOW

And also check out the list of resources on Blog Action Day. So many wonderful organizations that could use some help.


Ripple is a search engine that donates money to charities for each click and search.

October 15th Blog Action Day

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Charity and Blizzards

100% profits of Blizzards at DQ going to Children's Miracle Network on Thursday August 7th.

http://www.miracletreatday.com/index.cfm

World Aids Day

December 1st was World's Aids Day and this was the first year in many that I forgot. I didn't mention it or even think about. And I feel ashamed. Years ago it was something that I think was more up in the face with education and awareness. And it bothers me that has disappeared because I know HIV/AIDS hasn't disappeared. Stats -- 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2007. It is hard to think about so many people suffering. But is something I don't want to ignore or pretend isn't an issue...it is still here. And I hope that one day there will be a cure.

Soldiers Away From Home

Another friend posted this (at the moment not remembering who sorry about that) but I wanted to pass it on.

Let's not forget the people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places during the holidays. Every day they put themselves in harms way. And I can't imagine all they go through - just the mental and physical strains, the emotional and spiritual strains, being away from their family and friends, just being so far away....so sending a little Holiday cheer their direction is not only as Thank You but I am sure it will brighten the day by giving them a gift.

http://anysoldier.com

You can even order packages online to send to them so you don't have to put a package together yourself at Treat Any Solider

Campbell's Giving Food to Food Banks

Campbell's soup is going to donate cans of soup to food banks based on the number of votes received for each NFL team. You can vote once a day so please, pass this one please.

Just go to http://www.chunky.com/clickforcansvote.aspx every day!

Please help Fight AIDS....with just a click

Bristol Myers Squibb will donate one dollar (up to a max of $100,000) for every person who goes to their Web site and lights a candle to fight AIDS. At this point, the counter is just over 70,300 ... so we need many more candles lit before World AIDS Day (on Dec. 1).

Please go to Light to Unite to light a candle ... and help spread the light.

Pass this along to others as well! Thank you!

Locks of Love

Well I went to get my hair cut and I am terrible with measurements. I am always under so if I say I want 1 inch cut off I really wanted 3. I talked about probably getting 5 inches of hair off. I showed my hairstylist the length I wanted it to be and she said are you sure? Which I expected and I said yes. She said okay. So she brushes through all my hair and then get a ruler out and she tells me that is almost 8 1/2 inches. We discussed locks of love right away and said they needed 10 inches. And so I said, "do it...make it 10." So now I have hair barely past my shoulders... where this morning it had been almost hip level.

Michael has cancer survivors in his family and they were my first thought. So my hair went to a good cause.