Against abortion? Don't have one......

Since it is National Blog For Choice day I thought that I would follow the suit of my fellow bloggers Kristen and Lili and blog as well. Hopefully, even if you have not blogged, you have taken today to read a new article on the topic or reflect on your thoughts and belief on the situation.

First and foremost, I am pro choice. With that being said, I could never see myself having one. I do not think less of a couple, or person, who were to decide that an abortion is what is best for both them, and their unborn child. I actually think the opposite. I find that would be much harder of a choice to make then the one that I made for myself. No one WANTS to have an abortion. They simply do not wish to have a child or pregnancy. The argument behind abortion and the movements isn't if it is right or not. It isn't if it is justified or not. What isn't justified, however, is bring a child into today's already horrible society unloved and wanted. When we force a person to have a child of whom they do not want we see the effects of that. We see abuse, neglect and a lifetime of suffering. Making abortion illegal is not the way to stop it. We see from the 60's and other times that it only lead to horrifically performed abortions resulting in inability to become pregnant again, not actually aborting the fetus, but leaving them permanently scared, or worse.

Edward Abbey once stated, " Abolition of a woman's right to abortion, when and if she wants it, amounts to compulsory maternity: a form of rape by the State."

Who gets to decide what is right for me, my body or other women and their body? Rather then demanding more children get brought into our suffering society couldn't we spend a fraction of that time into ensure a quality life for those who are already here? Improving the life of people born into poverty, abuse and neglect? Rather then abolishing programs designed to help those individuals.

Me telling my readers or friends that they should or shouldn't be pro-choice makes me no better then our current government. However, what will say is this. Think about society as a whole rather then what you deem is right or wrong.

Lastly, I leave you with the words of Justice Harry A. Blackmun During Roe V Wade of 1973: "The states are not free, under the guise of protecting maternal health or potential life, to intimidate women into continuing pregnancies."

You have been cut out...

There are many people who come in and out of our lives. Everyone plays a role of some sort on our lives when they are in and leave something behind when they are out. The role, or what is left behind, might have extreme influence on us or be nothing more then something we think about from time to time. Sometimes there comes a time when you need to cut people out of your life. This isn't a vindicive cut out just a time that you no longer have a need to be in their life or them in yours. This "cut out" involves steps. You start by taking them off of your aim. Not blocking them, just taking the name off so you can't see them. You want to keep the option there for awhile so that if THEY should want to contact YOU they can. When they don't contact you in whatever time line you have set then the phone is next. There is no need to have a number in your phone of some one you do not talk to. When was the last time you talked to them? The drunk message you left on their phone two months prior does not count so today is the day.....hit the delete button. You still have their facebook friendship so you are able to see things are going well for them. You check out the pictures from time to time when there has been an update but that is about it. You know it is time to make this final step of making them be just a memory. You just need a couple more days. This is final. The last form of communication you would have a chance at is this and it is a big step to eliminate that step. Then you realize that they took that step first. They no longer have their facebook account. Even though you knew it was time you wanted to be the one to hit the button "remove friend" What if it was too soon? What if I think of something tomorrow I want to tell them? A story I remember? The kicker is, that I will not come up with that said story or memory. I just wanted to be the one to make that final step. Now it is as though they cut me out....I don't like to be cut out.....even if I was going to cut them out any way.

Golden Globes

As I sit here watching the Golden Globes I find myself wondering if there should be more of a criteria for nomination. What makes some movies "Globe" worthy and others not? I used to feel that there was such a high standard of merit and worth that needed to be met before a movie, show or actor to be nominated. Tonight, that high standard was thrown out of the window when Ugly Betty won 2 awards (thus far) as well as Devil Wears Prada also won some. Please don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching both of those things; however, I would never have put it in the same category as Blood Diamonds or Little Miss Sunshine. Is there a check list that something has to meet a certain number of in order to be nominated? I always felt that things nominated for this award would be different then the things that are nominated for The People's Choice awards. GG's are awards that go to movies not shown in Northern Michigan and to movies and shows that most of America doesn't watch because they actually talk about meaningful things and have real messages. How did these two things slip in this year? Is it because there weren't a lot of good movies this year? I actually thought the opposite was true; although, I am not often told that I have good movie tastes! Shouldn't there be higher standards?

Goals....not resolutions

I haven't made a New Year's resolution since I was in middle school and had to write an essay about what my resolution was and why. Even then, I am not sure I actually made it "my" resolution or just created one that everyone claims to be their resolution just to finish the essay/journal assignment. This year is no different. I am, however, going to try to make goals for myself. Things that I actually hope to accomplish....we will see how much I do.

1) Read 60 books. Yes, 60, I know it seems like an odd number, but there is method to my madness. I have a list of most of the books I hope to read (leaving numbers free for some books that are coming out this year at some point) and they include some of Stienbeck, Jane Austin, Tim Robbins, and more. If you have one that you think I should read, feel free to let me know.

2) Take a spinning class. Erika also has this on her goals so I am hoping together we can help each other make this happy. This entails going to more then one class even though my body will want to die after one.

3) Take a dance class. This is something I always said I would do when I moved here and I am yet to even look into it. Oops!

4) Shop less/budget money better. I pay my bills but I am a HORRIBLE saver...this is something that I should have gotten better at by now. Guess the saying is true, there is no time like the present!

5) Become more adventerous in foods. I have been getting better but there is always room for improvement.

6) Keep in touch with friends better. I do really well for a week or two and then go a mo (or two) with out having any form of contact.

7) This one I am saving for a later day....I don't need to just make goals because of the new year :)

Year End Review

HAPPY 2007 EVERYONE :) Looking back, I realize that 2006 was actually a very interesting year. As every year there are ups and downs. Things I wish I could do over and things I wish I would have never done. Here are some of those moments. Feel free to add your own (even if they don't involve me but I would love it if they were about me. After all, it is all about me :)

Jan:
MG turns 21 :) (It is about time!!!!!)
Trip to a debate tourney helps me realize how important old friends are
Moved in with a boy :)

Feb:
Kristen's Bacholorette Weekend. How could I forget Willie???
Theresa's Bacholorette Weekend

March:
See my first Jazz concert
Watch Miss Saigon with Kath Kath

April:
NFA 2006 (how could I forget?)
Travel to Boston to see one of my SILS!
Pulled off the greatest prank EVER :) (Sorry Kristen!)

May:
Finish college (about time!)
Be in my first wedding

June:
Get a brother
Being part of SILS becomes official
WEDDING WEEK :)
Name gets painted on a bar for assisting in beer list (Lili did most of the drinking!)

July:
Celebrate the 4th in Bay Harbor
Sign my lease to the cutest apartment ever
Sell Jane :(
First time having a beer bottle thrown at my head

Aug:
MOVE TO CHICAGO!!!!!!
Lallapolooza

Sept:
Found a job to pay my rent
MG and Kelly visit for his Bday (cooper misses you!)

Oct:
See Jenny Lewis with Deb
First trip to Target alone and not getting lost
Get back to Mich for an overdue visit

Nov:
First time with no roommate for a weekend
First Turkey Day with out Kristen

Dec:
First "grown up" party
Took a tumble....out of my bed (oops!)
Tried to burn down my apartment
New baby Cousin, Hunter