this and that
Four large boxes arrived for me at school today, full of love and good will from my friends and a few random strangers as well. Hopefully the contents of the said boxes will allow for a truly epic and much expanded student art show on April 27th, to which you are all invited.
Since I am sort of focused on the art show, I am cancelling Pi Day this year, because I think overextending myself at the moment would be unwise.
Because I've got myself a terrific belly full of zygote and it's gotten way harder to run up three flights of stairs without running out of breath.
I am enjoying the state of being with zygote. I don't know if it is different from how I thought it would be, but when people ask if it is so very weird to have a living kicking thing inside, my feeling is that actually it feels totally normal. not alien. not weird. just right.
I am super excited about giving birth. Assuming all the stars align and I can avoid the sterile grasp of the medical establishment, the plan is to go to the Cambridge Birthing Center and do the deed there. A lot of people, especially my students, ask if I am scared to give birth. Obviously I don't know yet what I am talking about, but the answer so far is a strong no. I am looking forward to it tremendously, because the women who I love and trust and who actually know what they are talking about have all told me that it is the most beautiful and empowering experience ever, and I am so happy that I was made to be a girl who has this amazing super power to go on a miraculous journey and come home with a new little person.
I actually can not believe I am going there, because normally the thought of this would make me vomit, but I am actually contemplating making some feminist tinted art on this topic. Hopefully I won't have time, and these thoughts will blow over, but who knows.
Speaking of students, one thing I learned from being pregnant and open about various pregnancy related issues with my students, is that most kids I work with, and who are having babies themselves left and right, actually have no idea that a baby is something one can DECIDE to have and arrange for it to happen. They actually think that a pregnancy is something that happens to a person with no warning and is something they have to deal with (or benefit from in terms of social benefits). In light of this I've been fairly militant about disclosing the nature and history of my decision making process and action plan, and I already have had a few girls have conversations with me about the fact that they too are going to wait to have a baby until they are ready and believe it is the right thing to do. I am really appalled that certain social groups are allowed to exist in the state of ignorance, and that no one bothers to check what young people actually believe and think and figure out how to empower them.
Speaking of evil satanic assholes, I don't think it would be at all funny for Santorum to win the republican nomination. If the society as a whole has to live with the punishment of having him exist among us, I think any kind of promotion just adds insult to injury.
What else...I made some art and it was in an art show. I am sure you all already saw it on Facebook, and if you haven't, go check it out. Or you can just visit the gallery until April 9th (the day after Buddah's birthday) and see for yourselves. I really think you should go. My piece is pretty cool. When a top official of Boston Public Schools arrived to the gallery (because this was a show of art by the art teacher of BPS), and I warned all members of my family who were still there not to speak, and especially not make jokes and definitely not talk to her, she really liked my piece too and that was very nice. Last time I spoke to her we experienced an uncomfortable moment when Hitler came up in conversation, but this time all went smoothly.
Speaking of Buddah, I really miss Nad'ka who is traveling in lands far and away where he can be found in many shapes and forms. During christmas break she was over almost every day working on her crazy seed mobiles at my art table, using my supplies, and it was so wonderful.
I miss certain other friends too. I've been rather sentimental lately. I know it's hormones, but if NPR makes me cry one more time, I am just going to quit. Though today was a rather emotional combination of a record high temperature and visitations from super exciting solar flares.
But I do have some wonderful friends right here, walking distance from home, and it is so wonderful to have them here, and their newly acquired offspring who I can go over and hug and hold and be happy that people I love are making more people.
I think that's all. I am going to go to bed now. Because even though tomorrow is friday, it still requires that unnatural act of getting up and going god knows where in the morning instead of snuggling up to somebody warm and cozy and getting a few extra hours of sleep. but that is life.
Since I am sort of focused on the art show, I am cancelling Pi Day this year, because I think overextending myself at the moment would be unwise.
Because I've got myself a terrific belly full of zygote and it's gotten way harder to run up three flights of stairs without running out of breath.
I am enjoying the state of being with zygote. I don't know if it is different from how I thought it would be, but when people ask if it is so very weird to have a living kicking thing inside, my feeling is that actually it feels totally normal. not alien. not weird. just right.
I am super excited about giving birth. Assuming all the stars align and I can avoid the sterile grasp of the medical establishment, the plan is to go to the Cambridge Birthing Center and do the deed there. A lot of people, especially my students, ask if I am scared to give birth. Obviously I don't know yet what I am talking about, but the answer so far is a strong no. I am looking forward to it tremendously, because the women who I love and trust and who actually know what they are talking about have all told me that it is the most beautiful and empowering experience ever, and I am so happy that I was made to be a girl who has this amazing super power to go on a miraculous journey and come home with a new little person.
I actually can not believe I am going there, because normally the thought of this would make me vomit, but I am actually contemplating making some feminist tinted art on this topic. Hopefully I won't have time, and these thoughts will blow over, but who knows.
Speaking of students, one thing I learned from being pregnant and open about various pregnancy related issues with my students, is that most kids I work with, and who are having babies themselves left and right, actually have no idea that a baby is something one can DECIDE to have and arrange for it to happen. They actually think that a pregnancy is something that happens to a person with no warning and is something they have to deal with (or benefit from in terms of social benefits). In light of this I've been fairly militant about disclosing the nature and history of my decision making process and action plan, and I already have had a few girls have conversations with me about the fact that they too are going to wait to have a baby until they are ready and believe it is the right thing to do. I am really appalled that certain social groups are allowed to exist in the state of ignorance, and that no one bothers to check what young people actually believe and think and figure out how to empower them.
Speaking of evil satanic assholes, I don't think it would be at all funny for Santorum to win the republican nomination. If the society as a whole has to live with the punishment of having him exist among us, I think any kind of promotion just adds insult to injury.
What else...I made some art and it was in an art show. I am sure you all already saw it on Facebook, and if you haven't, go check it out. Or you can just visit the gallery until April 9th (the day after Buddah's birthday) and see for yourselves. I really think you should go. My piece is pretty cool. When a top official of Boston Public Schools arrived to the gallery (because this was a show of art by the art teacher of BPS), and I warned all members of my family who were still there not to speak, and especially not make jokes and definitely not talk to her, she really liked my piece too and that was very nice. Last time I spoke to her we experienced an uncomfortable moment when Hitler came up in conversation, but this time all went smoothly.
Speaking of Buddah, I really miss Nad'ka who is traveling in lands far and away where he can be found in many shapes and forms. During christmas break she was over almost every day working on her crazy seed mobiles at my art table, using my supplies, and it was so wonderful.
I miss certain other friends too. I've been rather sentimental lately. I know it's hormones, but if NPR makes me cry one more time, I am just going to quit. Though today was a rather emotional combination of a record high temperature and visitations from super exciting solar flares.
But I do have some wonderful friends right here, walking distance from home, and it is so wonderful to have them here, and their newly acquired offspring who I can go over and hug and hold and be happy that people I love are making more people.
I think that's all. I am going to go to bed now. Because even though tomorrow is friday, it still requires that unnatural act of getting up and going god knows where in the morning instead of snuggling up to somebody warm and cozy and getting a few extra hours of sleep. but that is life.