Mission: Birthday Status: Accomplished

BIRTHDAY!
Originally uploaded by tawnillia.

So, Phil and I thought we could throw my mum (turning 50 and recently abandoned by her good-for-nothing-asshole of a husband) a party. We got up early on Sunday and as the rest of my family got down with their righteous selves at the Jesus Party (aka church) Phil and I went shopping for crepe paper, cheese fondue, electronic Catchphrase, and flowers. Everything was going smoothly in that Tawny-is-stressed-but-thriving-on-the-stress kind of way until I had the brightest of all bright ideas. I called my younger siblings and asked them to run over to my grandma's house (where the party was being held) in order to add a little "kick" to the tone of our "SURPRISE!" as she walked through the door. They diligently obeyed their older sister and hid in various parts of the house with baited breath. My mother, thinking ahead as I do not, went to her own home first, instead of my grandma's house, to pick up her kids and drop some things off. BIG MISTAKE. We envisioned her coming to my G-ma's place first and it was only when she called my grandma in a panic and asked her through tears if her children were there that we realized the stupidity of my request. "Come to the party before mom gets here so she can imagine that her soon-to-be-ex-husband has come and kidnapped all her kids. Yeah, that sounds good." Obviously, as the picture depicts, my mum recovered, that was until she burned her hand on a fire begun my tea lights on the table which were, that's right, MY IDEA.

Listening to

Sondre Lerche

when it happens

DSC_8011
Originally uploaded by graphics84.

When Phil and I becme famous for our well-honed frisbee-throwing skills, this will be the picture used for the poster announcing our arrival into cities across the nation. Keep an eye out.

dress i made

Stuff I make
Originally uploaded by tawnillia.

ok, ok, I technically altered this dress. Added the blue pretties and stuff. www.handborn.com for more beauties!

Prozac Nation

So far, it's been a strange ride--being a self-proclaimed radical feminist and working from home (I co-own a small clothing company with my chica Julie). My standard joke is now "yeah, I sew, cook for my husband, knit, do laundry, do housework, and yeah, I'm a feminist, sure I am." I've always thought feminism to be about an increased number of choices for women and a hard look at masculinity alongside femininity. In the past, it's been hard for me to realize that "feminist" friends I had were planning on halting their careers as soon as little ones arrived. I guess it just took me aback 'cause I can think of nothing more horrific and nerve-racking than being at home all day with someone under five. Yikes. But, hey, I'm not all women, and kudos to them if they can dig it, it's a job way too hard for me. But, I think I've found what I would hate even more than that-being home alone. I feel like a Mormon housewife, sans the 13 children and Doctrine of Covenants, living in Utah, prozac capital of the nation. I no longer wonder why those ladies are tossin em back. This is driving me up the wall.

before and after THE CUT

before and after THE CUT
Originally uploaded by tawnillia.

Flashdance here I come.

A step in the right direction

Dean. I hadn't ever been so excited about democracy than when he was in the running. I watched Time and Newsweek do their best to crucify him and then watched as he faded out of the spotlight. The Dean meetups I attended left me giddy and his belief in democracy's power and the strength of grassroots movements made me downright silly with pride.

Reading

Sweatshop Warriors

"Women hold up half the sky"

How I Know He Loves Me

I was laying semi-on-top-of Phil as we were GOING TO BED EARLY (something Phil's been acquainted with for some time and I am just getting to know) and I mentioned that I was uncomfortable the way I was laying. The problem with this particular laying position is that it means my head is somewhere above his armpit (sometimes more like in it) and my left arm is crumpled up between he and I as my right arm is sprawled across his chest. While its endearing and sweet, I can do it for like 10 minutes and then we switch into some other equally uncomfy and endearing position in which to do our before-sleep talking. This time, when I mentioned my uncomfortability, he suggested that I lay on top of him (which I think was partially due to the SEX IS COOL part of Phil's brain and he thought this might be the gateway to some shenanigans). I promptly responded with "Won't I crush you?" to which he replied "No, you're an angel baby feather." What more could a girl want to hear???

Put me back in my place

I thought I knew bunches about women's studies and walked into class like I knew I knew bunches. Now I know that everything I've ever read or discussed on the subject has merely skimmed the surface. Classes I'm currently enrolled in: Violence Against Women Of Color & Feminist Theories. Ladies to look for if you want your brain to expand and orgasm at an astounding rate:
Kimberle Crenshaw
Lata Mani
Judith Butler
Joan Scott
Wendy brown
Michel Foucault (not a lady, but that's ok, I'm an equal-opportunity list-maker as a result of my commie-liberal education here in SC.)