Post-a-vista No. 7: Our girl, RECOVERING STRAIGHT GIRL!!!

RSG, this is everyone. Everyone, this is the RSG! There! It’s done. Now we all know each other. (I highly recommend reading through her archives — so much “there” there. I love spying on people via their archives, don’t you?)

So, Post-a-vistas!!!

If the system makes you want to “tweak,” then maybe you need tweaking!!!

Time will tell!!!

In the meantime, RSG lives with her amazingly hott girlfriend (I’ve seen pictures so I know) and RSG’s three beautiful daughters in a suburb not so very far away from moi. She goes to a lot of soccer and softball games! She has people drop by specifically because they want to fix meals for her!!! She is politically savvy and also an English major! So let’s hear what SHE has to say!!!

1. Describe your family:

My family consists of my amazing partner in life, HG and my three daughter’s who are 9, almost 11, and 13.

2. Name one thing America is doing right for parents (I, personally, would find this question “challenging.” wm):

I think the Family Medical Leave Act of the early 90’s was a good start. I believe that Oregon has just expanded this to include some paid time off but I’m not certain of the particulars. I don’t know, that $400.00 Bush sent me in 2001 was nice . . . (please note heavy sarcasm here.) I was pleased with the recent law that requires employers to provide a spot for mothers to nurse or pump their milk for their babies (that is NOT a bathroom.)

3. Name one thing America is not doing right for parents:

Let me get my list.

First: Women need to have true and honest access to information about their birth options and should be able to exercise their birth options with support from their healthcare provider; women should be active participants in their birth experiences, this is the first act of parenting. Parents need paid time off for having babies, mother’s need to be supported to breastfeed at LEAST through the first year of their babies life and hopefully beyond. All children (and people) have a right to quality healthcare. Women need to have viable options in regards to working part-time/flex-time/work from home so that they can be there for their children. Parents should be able to send their children to college without mortgaging their homes or going into debt.

4. What’s one parenting issue that really “riles you up,” makes you ready to work for change:

The birth issue is probably my biggest issue. Women are so mis-treated during their birth experiences — most of the time they don’t even realize that they are being mis-treated. It’s abusive and wrong and women need to be given back their power to birth their children the way that they want to, not the way the medical establishment thinks that they should. It’s patronizing and archaic and depleting to a woman’s self-esteem. It’s her first lesson in advocating for her child, and our society strips this from her. (Hear, hear! wm)

5. Who’s gonna get your vote for President ’08 & why? (feel free to ignore this question):

I honestly have not decided. I’ve been torn from the beginning. The “girl power” thing is what keeps me from committing to Obama — but it hasn’t been enough for me to commit to Ms. Clinton.

6. Name one thing Post-a-Vistas could do to be a better place?:

Show more boob shots, definitely. (She promises to send a boob shot later. wm)

7. What’s your fave thing about parenting?:

I don’t really like anything about it; I don’t really like kids that much. Just kidding. I love snuggling with my girls and when they tell me how much they love me. I love teaching them things and seeing them experience different parts of life for the first time. Even my oldest at 13, learns things every single day, just like she did when she was three, only the lessons are way different.

8. Anything else you think we should know about you?:

I’m a pretty passionate person who gets heavily involved in whatever project is in front of me at the time. Right now I would say that my issue is equal rights and protections for all people because for the first time in my life I am being treated like a second class citizen based solely on who I love. This isn’t right and I’m not going to take it sitting down.

Thanks for playing, RSG!!! Keep coming back, it works!

Post-A-Vista No. 6: Woooooooo-hooooooo It’s VIXEN!

Vixen, this is everyone. Everyone, this is the VIXEN! There! It’s done.
Now we all know each other.

In the meantime, Vixen is extremely young and delectably pretty but is already a Wacky Grandma! How did she work that? She lives in Southern California!!! She has a big honey of a husband and loves to write. Also, they haven’t had a crisis yet today! (We hope.) So let’s hear what SHE has to say!!!!!

1. Describe your family: I have a strong and loving family. A regular family with quirks and flaws. My husband and I met in middle school and have been married for almost 26 years. I have five kids (three biological & two who found us), two adorable grandchildren (and another on the way).

2. Name one thing America is doing right for parents (I, personally, would find this question “challenging.” wm): This is a very challenging question. It depends on whether we are talking America/government or America/culturally. I guess I would say creating an environment where we, as parents, can question and decide for ourselves what is best for our children.

3. Name one thing America is not doing right for parents: I think there is an entire cross-section of parents living between poverty and middle class who are unable to access opportunities others may take for granted.

4. What’s one parenting issue that really “riles you up,” makes you ready to work for change: The state of our public education. The system is out of control and not functioning. Our kids suffer and America suffers because parents must spend valuable time fighting the system; time that would be better spent with the children and families.

5. Who’s gonna get your vote for President ’08 & why? (feel free to
ignore this question): My daughter, Bear. She is attractive, witty, intelligent, down to earth, and very personable. She could probably save the world. She is a write-in, obviously.

6. Name one thing Post-a-Vistas could do to be a better place?: I think it’s pretty good just how it is.

7. What’s your fave thing about parenting? (And grandparenting?): Unconditional
love. Getting it and giving it.

8. Anything else you think we should know about you?: “Some people call me the space cowboy; Some call me the gangster of love; Some people call me Maurice…” OK, they don’t but they should!

Thanks for playing, Vixen!!! You are an excellent sport. Keep coming back, it works!

Post-a-vista No. 4:

Lelo, this is everyone. Everyone, this is Lelo in NoPo. There! It’s done. Now we all know each other. Smooch. No. How about BIG SMOOCH!!!! Group smooch, get over here, y’all.

So, Post-a-vistas!!!!!

“If the system makes you want to “tweak,” then maybe you need tweaking!!! Time will tell!!!” (Our mantra.)

In the meantime, here’s an interview for you. Lelo is amazing, pretty, fearless and cool. I can only imagine how jealous you are that she did a meet-up with me and Melissa Lion and not you. Lelo makes aprons! From scratch! (You can buy one right here.) Our Lelo is “undergoing a reinvention.” She adores her adorable wife, AdRi!!! They get recognized in public and honestly, that is a kind of fame which your friend Wacky Mommy has just not achieved yet.

(Here are some really cute pix of Lelo and AdRi.) And… she is not just “a” sassy gardener, she is The Sassy Gardener over at Just Out. Now let’s hear what Lelo has to say!!!!!

1. Describe your family: AdRi is my partner of 10+ years. I’ve never introduced her as my lover (but if I did I’d pronounce it luv-ahhhhhhhhhhhh), but I have convinced people we’re not sisters and yes, we really only want one bed when checking into a hotel. We have a maltipoo named Wink Satine, a fluffy tail-free cat named Frida, and 15 year old Picasso, the Queen of the household. She rules us all with her feline ways.

2. Name one thing America is doing right:
AdRi: “The United States has always fostered creativity and invention. Inventing new things, new cures, new fuels: in the US we can do that.”

3. Name one thing America is not doing right: Confusing religious beliefs with political policy and decisions. The lack of separation of church and state is a major concern to me.

4. What’s one thing that really “riles you up,” makes you ready to work for change?: Confusing religious beliefs with political policy and decisions. The lack of separation of church and state is a major concern to me, and the need for some Christians to evangelize. It just seems to be in direct conflict with the true intent of what Jesus taught. Applying church philosophy to government policy, whether if it’s to build a fence between the US and Mexico, keeping gays from being able to marry, or funneling tax-payer dollars to religion-backed abstinence-only sex education teaching really bothers me.

5. Who’s gonna get your vote for President ’08 & why? (Feel free to ignore this one.): I wish I could say I have a resounding answer for this question. A few weeks back I felt I had clarity when reflecting on what started me on my road and beliefs of social change, fighting injustice, and it was feminism. As a proud feminist I realized I needed to support Hillary. This world would be a better place with a woman running the US. I just wish she’d say something to me that made me feel strongly inside for her, and if I didn’t think the right would just riddle her with holes from their many many bullets.

6. Name one thing Post-a-Vistas could do to be a better place?: Get pissed off more often and do something about it: write a letter, call your government representative, serve on committees. Put your time in to make your world a better place, don’t just bitch about things.

7. What’s your fave thing about living in Portland?: Our summers and lush green surroundings: it’s just gorgeous in the city, with accessibility to farms, produce, and agriculture.

8. Anything else you think we should know about you?: I’m a firm believer in saying it out loud and making it happen: if you want to see change, be it. Make it, live it, embody it. Go you! Go Wacky Mommy!

Go you, babes. I just follow you and AdRi around, waiting to see what you’ll do next. Keep coming back, it works!!!

Zip, this is everyone. Everyone, this ZIP! There! It’s done. Now we all know each other. (more…)

Post-a-vista No. 2: Planet Nomad

Planet Nomad, this is everyone. Everyone, this is PLANET NOMAD! (I always want to sing that Duran Duran song — “this is planet earth/ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!!!/this is planet earth…”) There! It’s done. Now we all know each other. (more…)

Post-a-vista No. 1:
Ash in Wonderland

Ash, this is everyone. Everyone, this ASH! (and her ta-ta’s.) There! It’s done. Now we all know each other. (more…)