Special Message

I don't ever remember a time when AIDS wasn't around.  I was born in the middle of the crisis and watched it happen on the news.

I learned about Ryan White, a little boy around my age, fighting the disease and ridicule. I read articles about Rock Hudson and Freddie Mercury fighting the disease in secret to avoid the stigma. 

I watched this "Designing Women" episode and took notes.  I started asking questions, wondering why more people weren't as pissed off as I was about this.

I read "And the band played...." and got angry.  I started doing research.  My high school senior thesis focused on Sex Education and needle exchange programs. 

I stood up in front of a crowd of hundreds and proposed giving out condoms to students ready to have sex.  I took questions from the audience and yelled when they fought with me (I may have also told them I didn't have sex, but that's another post).

I still think teens should have access for condoms.  I told my brother and sisters I'd by the damn things if they'd just tell me they needed them. Kids are having sex, whether you like it or not, and they need to know how to stop this deadly disease.

I cried, hearing the stories of people fighting the disease, stories of bigots who think they deserve it... the idiocy of people who pull the world over their eyes and pretend this doesn't impact them.

And I got active.  I joined the board of H.O.P.E. Testing and started busting my ass to raise money to test people, so people know when they're infected and get treatement... so people have access to the tools that can stop AIDS.

Bono says one day we could have the first AIDS/HIV free generation. I would love for my nieces and nephews to not have to read or see the stories I did growing up... to not get in the same fights I got in with people who think this disease is a punishment for some kind of sin... to not cry over the stories I still cry about.

But until then I'll keep fighting, asking for money, fighting with people I think are wrong... and handing out condoms... all to stop people from getting dealt a death sentence that could have been prevented. 

Now, I want you to help me.  Find something to do in your community to help fight back.  

And for God's sake wear a condom.

Fun Quotes from My House

It probably does not surprise you to know that some seriously bizarre shit that gets uttered in my cozy abode.  Seriously my house is delightful.  It's the perfect mix of Mems and Kate and is THE house to be an awesome chica in at all times. 

My parties are legendary.  (Cue the Barney Stinson) But we all know Mems is much more legendary... and so is her mouth.

Here's a few of my fave utterances... including a few from my mother for good measure.

"Your hair looks really good... well you need to get your roots done." -literally said as I left the house for a party.

"I knew you'd put on those ugly shoes." -leaving for the same party

"So I think E stands for Enormous" -my kid sister in regards to my trip to The Bust Stop

"Well, you look more professional than your mom in her pajamas" -as I left for work Monday morning.

"Your butt looks good in those jeans." -as I got home from work tonight

"Make me an ice cream cone." -every night after dinner.

"You should wear your glasses more.  They make you look smart." -randomly while I wore my glasses around the house.

"Do you have a date?" -My Mother as I left the house for work.  I was in jeans and a sweater, not a slutty date appopriate dress.

"You should wear a turtleneck." -Mems as I got ready for work Weds. morning.  I don't own a turtleneck

"Do you want a fur coat for Christmas? I don't mean this the way it sounds, but you'll need to lose weight to wear one." -Mems talking about gift options.

"Give me your old bras.  Your boobs are too big." -My mother after my trip to the Bust Stop.

"I need you to give me some shoes too." -My mother who thinks my closet is a store to shop in

"I threw some food to the chicken then I was feeding the dog and the chicken is fat so it came after the food and I had to chase it around the yard." -my sister, who lives in town, describing her morning of feeding the dog and the chicken.  Incidentally the chicken is named after one of my aunts and my sister fed it chicken for dinner the other day.

"Stop being lesbians!" -me to the dogs who know like to straddle each other indelicately.

These are just a sample of our conversations... and in reality I've gleamed the most humorous ones from the bunch.  Mems does also say nice things to me quite regularly.

Although I read this blog to her and she said it will be a cold day in hell before she says anything else nice to me.   So there's that.

Unsolved Mysteries

So if you know me you know I have a picture in my house that's haunted. 

Specifically this one:

Isn't she pretty?  It's from when she was 18.  I think she looks like Molly Ringwald, she got mad when I said that cause she doesn't think Molly is pretty.  Whatevs.

So the picture sits on my dresser and faces the front.  But when I wake up in the morning it will be turned to the left. Every. Day.  Without fail.

I long ago decided it was my Pops.  You see the room that's now my bedroom was his bedroom and also the room he died in 10 years ago.  So, I think he comes and visits Mems' picture and watches over me.

That's the only reason I'm not freaking the fuck out about my room being haunted. 

So tonight my BFF Adam needed a haunted house to investigate for a Halloween story, I said yes... here's the results:
Tulsa Ghosthunters
Happy Halloween!

Bella's Birthday Blog

Sorry peeps... you get another very special blog post today.

I was 19 when I found out I couldn't have kids, and I was 24 when I got the puppy that made me a mom and became the love of my life. My Bella Boo.

Now today my girl is 4 years old. In dog years she's as old as me, and in honesty she takes care of me just as much as I take care of her. She's my first pet and changed my life when my aunt gave her to me many moons ago.

If it wasn't for her I'd have no soft side... let's be honest I'm as dark and twisty as they come, but she gives me soft corners and a smile. Bitch about my dogs and you'll get my never ending wrath.

She's my spoiled princess, constant companion and first born.

Happy Birthday Baby!

A Different Kind Of Post

Dear readers, this will not be a post about my fitness or lack thereof, but a post about something near and dear to my heart.

You see today is the birthday of the woman who made me the sarcastic, spoiled know-it all I am today: my Mems.

I often get asked "Who is Mems?" The short answer is she's my grandmother who became my mother.

She's Ouiser, Miss Clairee and Julia Sugarbaker rolled in to one. She's outspoken, strong willed, always right, always there and the person I want to be when I grow up.

She's my best friend, soundingboard, comic relief and savior. If it wasn't for Mems I wouldn't be me.

I thank God everyday my life ended up in her capable hands... those hands have shaped me to be a loud mouth, educated, happy go lucky woman. She inspires me to speak my mind, constantly question the status quo and do everything I can to make the world better for someone less fortunate.

She's got a big mouth and a bigger heart... and I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have a Mems in their lives.



Happy Birthday Mems!