I finished the Princess Half Marathon at Disney World yesterday. Disney sure knows how to put on a race! There was something interesting to look at the whole way. There were lots of people in great costumes, including the man in the head-to-toe frog costume with the sign pinned to the back that said, "Prince in need of a Princess! Please call..." My favorite was Princess Leia in the ankle-length white robe, gold utility belt, and buns over the ears. She had to be burning hot but was having a great time.
I had heard there were 17,000 entrants total. There were 13,091 women and 683 men who finished. I finished 11,005th among the women. It was my worst time yet at 3:22:24, but it was a lot of fun. There were a lot of factors for the slow time including the hot weather and crowded conditions, but the one I can control and need to work on is that I started too fast and burnt out. I was happy, though, that I never skipped a run interval. I wasn't really doing this race for time, anyway. It's my next race where I hope to PR.
I would definitely consider coming back to Disney for another race. It's not a race you run for a personal record, but it is a lot of fun.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Why, Exactly, Shouldn't We Help Mothers Breastfeed?
So Michelle Obama has made breastfeeding the current focus of her career as First Lady. Prominant Republican women like Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman have criticized her for this. While it seems the real motivation behind the criticism is that it was a democrat who suggested it, others have joined in because some women can't breastfeed. Yes, that's true. What's your point?
Imagine if someone had reacted to former First Lady Laura Bush's literacy campaign by saying, "Some people can't read novels due to learning disabilities, others can't read novels due to circumstances that offer them no leisure time, and others choose not to read novels because they just don't want to. Therefore, we should not support public libraries." Ridiculous, right?
Some women have medical issues that prevent them from breastfeeding. No one should feel guilty about being unable to do what they're legitimately unable to do. Some women can't breastfeed due to circumstances. Sometimes life sucks and we have to make hard decisions. No one should feel guilty for doing the best they can with what life throws at them. Some women could breastfeed but don't because they just plain don't want to. And you know what? That's fine, too!
No one is suggesting that women be forced to breastfeed. No one is threatening fines or jail time or taking away children for the "neglect" of formula. All Mrs. Obama wants to do is offer better education and support to those women who really do want to breastfeed but need help to do so. Why, exactly, shouldn't we help mothers who want and need help? Will it really be such a blow to our economy if employers must give working mothers a 15 minute break twice a day and a clean, private space to pump? Will it really make a difference to the running of our government if we make breast pumps and other supplies tax deductible? Is it really creating a "nanny state" to print up some educational materials to have available for new mothers?
I would never criticize another mother for making the best possible decision for herself and her family based on her specific circumstances and the information she has available to her. I do think, though, that at least some women would choose differently if they had access to better information and/or if their circumstances were improved. I will do my best to advocate for those women. If that makes non-breastfeeders feel bad, well, that's their problem. It's too bad the support wasn't available in time to help them.
Imagine if someone had reacted to former First Lady Laura Bush's literacy campaign by saying, "Some people can't read novels due to learning disabilities, others can't read novels due to circumstances that offer them no leisure time, and others choose not to read novels because they just don't want to. Therefore, we should not support public libraries." Ridiculous, right?
Some women have medical issues that prevent them from breastfeeding. No one should feel guilty about being unable to do what they're legitimately unable to do. Some women can't breastfeed due to circumstances. Sometimes life sucks and we have to make hard decisions. No one should feel guilty for doing the best they can with what life throws at them. Some women could breastfeed but don't because they just plain don't want to. And you know what? That's fine, too!
No one is suggesting that women be forced to breastfeed. No one is threatening fines or jail time or taking away children for the "neglect" of formula. All Mrs. Obama wants to do is offer better education and support to those women who really do want to breastfeed but need help to do so. Why, exactly, shouldn't we help mothers who want and need help? Will it really be such a blow to our economy if employers must give working mothers a 15 minute break twice a day and a clean, private space to pump? Will it really make a difference to the running of our government if we make breast pumps and other supplies tax deductible? Is it really creating a "nanny state" to print up some educational materials to have available for new mothers?
I would never criticize another mother for making the best possible decision for herself and her family based on her specific circumstances and the information she has available to her. I do think, though, that at least some women would choose differently if they had access to better information and/or if their circumstances were improved. I will do my best to advocate for those women. If that makes non-breastfeeders feel bad, well, that's their problem. It's too bad the support wasn't available in time to help them.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thank goodness it's over
After reading a synopsis of Twilight: Breaking Dawn, I posted an angry rant on Facebook. A friend rightly pointed out that I couldn't really judge it if I hadn't actually read it. So I did. All four books. Just for the right to judge it.
Here's my official pronouncement of judgement: It was HORRIBLE!
I don't know what was worse:
--the atrocious grammar
--the nonexistent, boring plot
--the inconsistent, hateful characters
--the codependent, dysfunctional, abusive relationship between Bella and Edward
--the raging sexism and racism
--the trivializing of real tragedies for plot devices
--the constantly changing rules of the universe
--the pedophilia masquerading as fate
--the lack of sexual purity while claiming to champion waiting for marriage
Actually, what was definitely the worst was knowing that I would have absolutely loved this garbage as a teen.
Here's my official pronouncement of judgement: It was HORRIBLE!
I don't know what was worse:
--the atrocious grammar
--the nonexistent, boring plot
--the inconsistent, hateful characters
--the codependent, dysfunctional, abusive relationship between Bella and Edward
--the raging sexism and racism
--the trivializing of real tragedies for plot devices
--the constantly changing rules of the universe
--the pedophilia masquerading as fate
--the lack of sexual purity while claiming to champion waiting for marriage
Actually, what was definitely the worst was knowing that I would have absolutely loved this garbage as a teen.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Monkey is mad at me...
...and I don't know why. He woke up early from his nap (yes, he's sleeping again) and started screaming as soon as he saw me. As long as he was distracted and I was out of sight, he was happy and playing. When he caught a glimpse of me, though, he'd come running, screaming and yelling, and hit, bite, and kick me. I have no idea. It lasted until I put him in bed almost an hour early. I'm exhausted. Hope he's in a better mood tomorrow.
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