Sunday Snippets: Work Trip

I flew out on Thursday and won't fly back until early dark thirty tomorrow. But! This overtime check is going to knock out my first student loan. Which is what I will keep telling myself through 17 hour days.

Way to go Churchill Ya racist douche

Formation Shutdown of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago

Poet Elizabeth Acevedo nails the hypocrisy of anti-choice advocates

Sandra Bland’s Mother Speaks At Congressional Caucus On Black Women & Girls

Republicans burn their voter ID cards to protest Trump

If you need a kitty in San Fran

What It's Like to Live With Only Bottled Water

The only thing city water is good for, Gail says, making an observation I heard from several people I spoke to, “is flushing the toilet.”

This poor guy Trying to do the right thing.

Utter jackass Christian, my foot.

Much better version

Sunday Snippets: Work Break

Starting 12/18 at noonish, I have a work break until the Monday after Christmas. I am so blessed to work for the amazing company that I do. Especially with the new perks they mentioned this month!

(image credit: http://jessehimself.tumblr.com/post/134737720943)

Warms even the Grinchiest of hearts

Wow, yup, so oppresive

Welcoming refugees in Canada

And fuck you too

Ugh, fucking people

Examples of micro-aggressions: racism edition

Thank god someone's saying it If Trump wins, I'm moving to Sweden. Husband has some distant relatives there and they have banging family leave policies.

Baby and cat; some of my favorite things

Exactly, Bernie

holy shit

10 Things You're Saying When You Ignore Someone's Gender Pronouns

Japanese Women Demand Right to Keep Their Surnames After Marriage

Rock on, little man! Had that been my little girl, that kid would have been hog tied to a Santa pole.

Sunday Snippets: Enough

Just fucking enough.

It sounds so cute!

Truth

Big kitties! They look like they'd be so much fun to snuggle with until they thought I might be tasty.

Love this quote about poetry

Yup

Preach

My cats, after I just dressed them for a holiday shoot

NY #TransLivesMatter March For Kathy Sal Tonight (12/3/2015)

"Silence in the face of this rash of mass shootings has become complicity."

I snorted into my coffee

Bullshit Gentle loner my ass

#facepalm*

Yeah, cause wheelchairs are the latest fashion accessory

We Have A Gun Problem & A Domestic Terrorism Problem

Rock on

Disgusting waste of space

They terrorized my daughters and killed my baby. That’s why we’re Syrian refugees.

Goddamn execution squad (TW for video) #MarioWoods

Sunday Snippets: 32 days

32 days until 2016. Damn.

(Photo Credit: http://i-am-a-child-of-time.tumblr.com/post/133707240767/aflcio-our-own-ethiopian-refugee-turned-labor)

Slightly restoring faith in humanity

Armed protesters gather outside Islamic Center of Irving

NOTIFICATION-LESS

I didn't realize that Amy P. was my spirit animal Women's pockets are so bad that when I bought a pair of lounge pants with usable pockets, my husband joked I must have gotten them in the men's section.

TRUTH. Anxiety is a candy coated ball of suck. Life going well? Brain: You know, I can fix that.

Syrian Refugees: The Rumors vs. The Facts

Alice Roosevelt is also one of my spirit animals

Fluffy kitties!

Well damn

A New Documentary Tells the Story of Latinas Who Were Sterilized Without Knowing It

I love Jon Oliver.

Sunday Snippets: Dear Spring, Is that You?

I was able to shed my winter coat on Saturday. And it's supposed to be in the 50's all this week!

Bonus: National Women's Day is today!

And there it is

Flying kitty!

TW: Rape in the American Prison System A very hard read but a necessary one

Fucking this

YES

Dear God, fuck the phrase "choreplay"

Besides, those men who will only pick up a broom because the faint promise of fellatio is in the offing are not the type of men who are likely that interested in ongoing equality at home. There are but a few men who don’t know that the cultural expectation today is that they’ll do a fair share of the housework; saying that it’ll take a little T&A to convince them to vacuum just reinforces that women are supposed to provide sex and do all the housework in the first place. That’s not leaning in as much as it’s going in reverse.

Dafuq?

You have a problem with children being children?

Selma Anniversary

Even as the nation continues to deal with the harsh realities of racism today, the quality of life for black Americans has improved in many ways since Selma's "Bloody Sunday" 50 years ago. But we still have a long way to go. As the ceremonies begin this weekend to celebrate the landmark civil rights march, it is important to reflect on the progress -- or a lack of it -- that's occurred when it comes to true racial justice and equality for all African-Americans.

So sad, but a happy ending Also file under, Fuck People

Sunday Snippets: It's been a week

Um. So this week. I got food poisoning, bruised myself shoveling snow, my car's hatch dropped on my head and I also gave myself a minor concusssion and dented a table, when I bent down to put my snow boots on.

Which goddess did I royally piss off?

An interesting concept

Horrible

A Moroccan man in France was brutally killed after being stabbed 17 times in front of his wife at his own home by a neighbour in what is described as a “horrible Islamophobic attack”.

Oh, kitties.

Powerful haiku

Sandy beach picture So calming

Welp, there it is

Peaceful woods picture

5 Black Trans Women Who Paved the Way

Well, this baby is hysterical

Horrifying (TW)

The media attention surrounding the Isla Vista shootings was a twofold gift for the group, driving new recruits to the movement and allowing A Voice for Men to present itself as the moderate middle. Some men tried to distance themselves from Rodger with a hashtag, #notallmen. Many more women—a million within days—responded with #yesallwomen, as in, yes, all women have experienced variations of the misogyny that led Rodger to his crimes. The manosphere did not like this. "Men are your benefactors, your protectors, and your providers," a writer at A Voice for Men explained. "So the next time you trend a hashtag about us, maybe you say 'thank you' instead."

On Patricia Arquette's speech

“The truth is: Even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface, there are huge issues that are applied that really do affect women,” Arquette reflected. “And it’s time for all the women in America and all the men that love women, and all the gay people, and all the people of color that we’ve all fought for to fight for us now.”

*rubs eyes* BUh-what?! No, no, no, no. Has she never heard of intersectionality?!

I love Jay Smooth

Cats and hedgehogs

Whoa snow ocean

Happy Birthday Trayvon

OMG, I love cute tiny animals

Sunday Snippets: Need something to read?

My latest book review, about marriage, here.

How wonderful  Beautiful. Treating people with dignity and respect isn't hard.

Awww! Otters are adorable.

Sweet kitty

OMG. Important pictures that are made of such truth.

I would love a vacation there

Love this man

I love penguins

This is repugnant

Heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time

that was the moment i realized women were the most important beings on this planet and we have to protect each other bc nobody else is going to

#ViolenceWillNotBeTolerated Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Sunday Snippets: Time Change

Bless you, extra hour of sleep. Fall change time, you are superior in every way.

 Protesters occupy St. Louis University & More from Ferguson & The lies being told

Mike Brown was murdered 64 days ago

This woman is a hero

She saved hundreds of women by performing abortions on them before their pregnancy was discovered, without having access to basic medical supplies. She became known as the “Angel of Auschwitz"

Waterfall

Racist fuckery

Utterly inspiring

Home Organization Advice from Marie Kondo

Very interesting organizational article (am I the only who enjoys reading these?)

Well, if this kitty isn't stinking cute...

In other news, what the fuck  This shit makes me hate Halloween. Without fail, every year, people come out with the most disgusting shit.

Fucking yes  Change the damn name!

She is a national treasure.

hahahaha

I hate spiders and this is adorable

Modern Relationship Love Notes

This is wonderful

Weird, I seem to have a lot of dust in my eyes

Alley Cat Tuesdays: Littlefoot

When we moved to our house, we realized there were a lot of strays in the neighborhood. Bleeding heart that I am, I made a little kitty house out on our deck and lined up bowls for food. There was one little kitten that stole our hearts though.

He hung out with his momma, another Tuxedo and ran whenever we got close. Over time, he got more comfortable with us and we were able to coax him inside to play. He was so at home that he would walk in, eat from our other cat's bowl and then hop up on our couch for a nap.

We took him to get his shots and found he was about a year and a half old as of August 2014. He now loves playing with his sister (although it's debatable whether she loves being tackled as he pounces on her head) and is a complete lap kitty, who purrs louder than any cat I've ever met.

Littlefoot is on the right, with his sister, Midnight on the left. I have no idea what mischief he was getting into either.

He is a wonderful addition to our family and I have already woken up from a nap on the couch, covered in kitties, so I think he enjoys his home very much.

Sunday Snippets: Summertime

Almost the end of summer already. I'm glad for the warmth, and kinda wary about winter again.

How kick ass is this?

That’s precisely the situation facing San Francisco’s estimated 6,436 homeless residents, who currently have just seven places in the city where they can shower.

Motivated by the belief that everyone has the right to be clean, Doniece Sandoval founded LavaMae, a non-profit with an innovative idea: take old, unused city buses and retrofit them with fully functioning showers for homeless people to use. Last weekend, LavaMae, a play on the Spanish word for “wash me,” launched its first mobile bus.

The truth right here

My cat would be doing the same thing

Nope, no racism here  Disgusting. Marissa Alexander is still being denied justice.

Watch this and try not to smile

How beautiful is this view? Or this one?

Stupid AP for your victim blaming. Ugh

Absolutely disgusting My heart goes out to the families.

Their names and lives matter.

Simplicity I really need to try some of these tips. I hate feeling the need to catch up with so much.

May he rest in peace Our Genie.

Sunday Snippets: Mid Year?

I'm trying to shake off a summer slump; vacation, too much Netflix, etc. I have a lot more I want to get done before the end of year!

Being a photographer = pretty much this

Beautiful I love open road shots.

A lovely sentiment

hahahahaha True statement right there.

Me = watching most modern films

Not surprised, but still disgusted

I mean, who wouldn't want a three foot cat?

Aww, happy owls!

TW-Some of these reactions make me wanna barf

Several weeks ago, 28-year-old Minneapolis resident Lindsey was standing on an escalator when a stranger began touching her hair and calling her “blondie.” When she told the man he “could just say ‘hi’ next time,” she said, he began screaming at her and calling her ugly. The situation reminded Lindsey — a longtime confronter of catcallers, most notably in last year’s Craigslist ad gone viral — that while she could control her reaction to street harassers, she couldn’t always anticipate their reaction to being confronted.

It was then she had the idea for Cards Against Street Harassment: pocket-size cards women could download, print, and hand out to their catcallers, explaining why the attention was unwanted without even speaking.

Completely awful

The whole tragedy is so devastating and to think of how many brilliant things could have come from those researchers....it breaks my heart.

A bit of good news

Shanesha Taylor, a mother living in Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested in March after leaving her children, ages six months and two years old, in the car while she went to a job interview. But on Friday, Maricopa County announced a plea agreement that would drop the charges against her if she completes classes and establishes trusts for her children.

SO MUCH TRUTH

Ruh-roh, women might give their kids their last name?

But within a married couple wherein the woman keeps her name, embracing all these potential snares and giving a child the woman's surname can be an intentional way of shaking up convention. That is the case for Molly Caro May, who, in an essay at The Hairpin, muses on what happened when she and her husband, Chris, went for it simply because they wanted to. And given that their friends and families had always been open-minded, she writes, they were not prepared for the shockwave.

What kind of evil prank?

 This little house looks adorable

Ahh, so cute!

Sunday Snippets: Vacation!

I have a beach vacation coming up; the first vacation since my husband and I's very simple honeymoon more than four years ago. And I need it. Car broke down and we realized I'm going to need a new transmission by the end of the year. Ugh.

Welp, there you go & More on the Hobby Lobby mess & Counterprotests

If a store brags of their discount merchandise brought to you with this primary goal in mind:

Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles,

…it makes you wonder which Biblical principles they are referencing. You would think they would produce their goods in a state or country with the strictest adherence to “Biblical Principles.” This is far from the case. Most of their merchandise is imported from China: where female infanticide and forcedabortion is the highest in the world. China truly is the most egregious abuser of this form of population control.

Bless you, RBG

Have died from cuteness & Typing from...the grave

Great website for those across the pond Ten thousand percent agree, I can't begin to imagine how terrifying it would be to have an abusive caregiver as a disabled woman.

Well, damn. Someone had their Wheaties that morning.

Supremely cool

Beautiful way to think about thunderstorms

Fuck this, fuck that, NOPE

Boom. Done.

Because puppies

Wanderlust I love pictures of roads like this.

This needs to be known. He was a creepy ass motherfucker when I saw him on campus and his response is disgusting. #HumanityAgainstSexualAssault

In case you need to vomit today.... #jadacounterpose

Boost and donate if you can

The Eagle Bull- Oxendine family is being sued by their child’s school for defamation, because they asked the school to permanently change their offensive and culturally insensitive Thanksgiving curriculum and to honor a two-year scholarship taken from their daughter after they voiced their concern over Native appropriation there.

Some happy pictures of books I need some happy after this week.

Sunday Snippets: Summer Swampiness

Every summer I tell myself I'm going to move. I could bathe in the humidity this week. But avoiding the outdoors for the most part meant I got all the things done. So that's the good flipside.

Love old places

Ah, yup

(TW) Heartbreaking

Her aunt, Beatrice Loggins, spoke lovingly of Shancez, citing her uniqueness as a person. "Nobody deserves that. Straight, gay, purple, pink, white, black. Nobody...There will never be another T, you couldn't clone her, couldn't mold her."

*insert gif of Shut up and Take my Money*  Alternatively, why aren't we funding this? Oh, right, oil companies.

Yup, because cats I do this when I see dogs or cats out on the street.

Two Sides of Baltimore-GO read now.

My black friends call it Baldamore, Harm City or Bodymore Murderland. My white friends call it Balti-mo, Charm City or Smalltimore while falling in love with the quaint pubs, trendy cafés and distinctive little shops. I just call it home. 

Well, that's completely adorable

Fucking preach Especially important after this week

LOL

Because kitties & No matter their size, they all love to cuddle Gah. Want to pet.

People wonder why I'm terrified of deep water It's because if I saw this, I would bend over and kiss my own ass goodbye.

Very important. Words do matter.

AWESOME photo & Buh. What?!?

The hell? Not that I'm surprised or anything

Awesome idea. Props to these guys

Hells yes

When was the last time you put yourself out there? I have found the more you do it, the easier it is. Promise. Try it. It's secretly addicting!




Anthony Weiner being correct and relevant? Huh?

All aboard that Nope train to Fuck It Ville


Yup. Ruth Bader Ginsberg for the win

Sunday Snippets: Almost July?

I've gotten so much done in the last few weeks but can't believe it's almost July.

This. All this. Fuck that racist twat waffle.

See gifs for explanation

or

lol, I love dogs.

"I take it back!"

*slow clap*

Essential reading for white anti-racist work

Extreme TW for an awful case of domestic violence Beyond heartbreaking and awful.

Indeed. A case of WTF? How dare you?

I may be a bit biased, but black kitties are awesome.

All the truth

*pets* & *moar pets* & *gah!*

Double ugh

Late last year, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Representative Rose DeLauro of Connecticut, both Democrats, introduced the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, which proposed offering new parents and caretakers the ability to take 12 paid weeks off each year. Workers would contribute 0.2 percent of their wages to the Social Security Administration, which would handle paying bills. Employees could only get up to 66 percent of their monthly income, but that's a great deal more than the 0 percent workers in 47 states currently receive if they stay home with a loved one. 

Feels. All of them

Because puppies

Because goats

Because guinea pigs

Sunday Snippets: Yay summer!

I am rejoicing the warmer weather. Even when I drive a black car with leather seats. It's okay, I didn't need skin or anything.

Because cats & This is what is like to have a cat, period. & Even big cats are kitties at heart

Wonderful news

AHEAD OF HER TIME’: YURI KOCHIYAMA (1921-2014)

Disgusting

Very Cool!

Now, though, she's planning to embark this month on a flight around the world, a trip that closely replicates the 1937 journey of the original — and more famous — Amelia Earhart. If she's successful, this Amelia, at 31, will be the youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engine aircraft.

Completely awful

Alba Quiñones Flores started her period the first week that she was in the custody of US Customs and Border Protection. Every morning, a guard delivered sanitary napkins to her cell of 20 women—but only four or five pads for all of them. Quiñones couldn't scramble to the door fast enough to claim one. She'd injured her ankle crossing the Mexican border before CBP picked her up near Falfurrias, Texas, and she still hadn't received first aid. A CBP agent had thrown out the pills and insulin she needed to treat her myriad health problems, including hypertension, diabetes, migraines, anxiety, and convulsions. So Quiñones wound up using the same, single sanitary pad for her entire period.
Bad-ass

If you are reading this, thank this woman. Her name is Grace Hopper, and she is one of the most under appreciated computer scientists ever. You think Gates and Jobs were cool? THIS WOMAN WORKED ON COMPUTERS WHEN THEY TOOK UP ROOMS. She invented the first compiler, which is a program that translates a computer language like Java or C++ into machine code, called assembly, that can be read by a processor. Every single program you use, every OS and server, was made possible by her first compiler.
Ah, childhood.

The third one makes me want to scream and punch something Because WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU.

Heartwarming "Mommy Wars" my ass

Say what you will, but this is a family that seems to really love each other

Welp, that's one of the most adorable things I've ever seen

To Read: Yes, all I had no idea about the first one.

And people wondered why I'm terrified of the ocean/deep water Because it will eat your soul.

Fuck. Yes. Awesome and lifesaving idea.

Because if you deviate from the norm.... *off to find the book*

Ugh. Truth

Smaller Closets I also did some thinking on this subject this week.

Sunday Snippets: Happy Memorial Day!

I have military members on both sides: late uncle Brian, late maternal grandfather, late paternal grandfather and then Air Force and Navy on my husband's side. I may not agree with why we go to war, but I support the men and women who put their lives on the line.

Local abandoned hospital & Abandoned New York Island

I'm going to need all of these. My love of fluffy knows no bounds.

Oh, kitties. & Now dead of cuteness & Typing this from the afterlife

(High TW) Disgustingly awful. This poor family

On January 11, 2013, Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead rolled up in a wrestling mat at his high school in Valdosta, Ga. An athlete, Johnson was found dead in an upright athletic mat behind the bleachers in the school’s gym on January 11, 2013.

The first autopsy performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on the teen revealed he died from “positional asphyxia” and his death was ruled an accident. A second autopsy was performed by a private pathologist, Dr. Bill Anderson, at the request of his parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, who believe their beloved son was murdered revealed something more horrible. His organs – brains, heart and lungs – were missing and replaced with balls of crumpled newspaper.

Signal boost for Serbia and the awful flooding

I had my dino phase in third grade. This geeks me out to no end.

*high five* This is awesome.

Awful

Over the past 30 years, more than 1,200 indigenous women have disappeared in Canada. The aboriginal community estimates that some 43 of them have been plucked off what is known as the Highway of Tears, a 500-mile stretch of road that runs through the wilds of British Columbia. It may not sound like a whole lot, but consider 43 families not knowing what happened to their daughters or why. The majority have not even had their losses acknowledged by the police, who only count 18 missing.

Awwww I love baby reveal videos.

Breathtaking photos

Given the state of the prison complex, this doesn't surprise me.

While the jail initially said there had been no health concerns, multiple inmates say they suffered problems ranging from minor rashes to respiratory infections and fainting spells. Prisoners also described a policy implemented after the spill, which could land someone in solitary confinement for asking to see a nurse too many times.

Glad to add these to my list of places never to go

Yup.

Sunday Snippets: Travelling Edition

I'm heading to Texas for a work trip. I get a king size bed all to myself. I see sprawling in my future.

Heartbreaking

Gah, cute seals!

Just a horse and a kitty being friends

Dear god, yes I HATE being called Jill/Jilly (a select few friends are permitted) but heaven above if someone who isn't close to me tries to call me that.

WHY in the hell did it take over a week for the mainstream news to talk about this?!! & More & More here

It's been 14 days since the girls went missing and no progress has been made on tracking their whereabouts, either by the military or by groups of machete-wielding parents searching through the countryside. The search for the kidnapped girls also has been muddled by misinformation. In the immediate wake of the kidnapping, says BuzzFeed reporter Jina Moore, the Nigerian military claimed to have found and freed the girls and captured one of the terrorists involved—a claim that was proven wrong and ultimately retracted. And, according to a report by Voice of America, the Boko Haram terrorists are threatening to kill the girls if the search operations aren't called off.

A really interesting video with Janet Mock

Mind-boggling I know where this is. The rain has been insane this week. Parts of Laurel, MD were underwater, too.

Good to know tip for kitties

Exactly. Done and done.

When a majority of people in a marginalized community tells you a word is offensive to them, you don't fracking use it if you wish to be considered respectful allies to that community.

#WeNeedDiverseBooks & More

Finish This....

I don't remember how I came across this blog, but I like the idea of a little get to know you.

My favorite makeup item is… a concealer stick. Greetings, young adult breakouts! They lessen a bit when I stay away from gluten, but even with deramatology help, I still get acne. Oh, joy.

The best book I ever read was…all of them? A Feast of Love, Krik? Krak!, Atlas of the Human Heart

My favorite TV show is… Ghost Whisperer. Laugh if you will. Charmed and The Walking Dead also make the list. Can you tell I love realistic shows?

The most spontaneous thing I've ever done is…probably attempt to skip class in high school. I thought we had a sub for my Russian class and I ended up at the school library. To read. I was the worst rebellious teenager ever.

I prefer DOGS/CATS because … 

Need I say more? I did grow up with a lovely dog, Bear, but cats steal my heart time and time again.

I met my husband...in middle school. Yes. I promise I'm not making that up. We had art class together and he annoyed the bejesus out of me. I didn't actually enjoy his company until junior year of high school. And now, ten and a half years after our first date....

I might be a smidge unbiased, but I think he's even cuter now.

Sunday Snippets: Anniversary Edition

Wednesday, I've been married to my guy for four years. I'm still unable to process how we are almost half way through 2014, so there's that too.

What the hell? Just awful.

A good practice to try

Also useful—never go to bed messy: My partner and I have taken to reserving a solid half-hour at the end of every evening for getting our apartment in order—this means washing all dishes, straightening and spot cleaning the living room, quick-wiping the bathroom, and corralling any stray items that have wandered out of place in the bedroom.

Yup!  If I had a nickel for every time I had to say, "But not all men are like that...." I would be a rich motherfucker.

Found my new desk

Wonderful to see this happening

Later, William's concern led him to ask his mother to drive him to the local grocery store so he could talk to the manager about starting a food drive. When his mother, Blythe Clifford, asked him what was bothering him so much, he told her:

"I can’t stand the thought of my classmates being hungry."

Sad but not surprised

Feels But so true

What. The. FUCK I have lost the ability to even with this crap.

I love cats.

Yeah, that wasn't fully thought through. Like at all.

Sunday Snippets: SPRING!

Thank goodness!

Cherry Blossoms last Sunday and the weather since has just been glorious. I didn't realize how much I missed driving with the windows down.

Collection of the #rapecultureiswhen (TW)

Education System: Yup

"Different animals"

This bullshit

"Quite frankly, I would've said, 'C-section before the season starts,' " former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said Tuesday on his daily morning radio show, Boomer and Carton, according to Today.com. "[I'd say] 'I need to be at opening day. 

Wow, what an asshole.

Beautiful. High five, Honey Maid.

Yup, because climate change is imaginary.

Ugh, Paul Ryan

Agreed, I would watch the fuck out of this movie.