rubykatewriting: (Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word)
It is a fact of every girl’s life: we are taught from birth that what lies between our legs is something that others will try to take by force if we aren’t careful. A friend once posted to her journal: "The idea of all the things I haven't done, the experiences I passed on, because nobody wanted to go with me and it just wasn't the smart/good/safe thing to do by myself,” and this perfectly sums up the inherent problem with our society and its treatment of rape. Everywhere a woman goes, the onus is put squarely on her, all the ways in which she should protect herself: don’t dress a certain way, don’t go out after a certain time of night, don’t go out alone, don’t leave your drink unattended, etc., etc. Never is the responsibility put on the shoulders of the perpetrators themselves. While women join clubs to learn self-defense, men are excused with “boys will be boys” attitudes. It is bad enough to deal with the shame – living in the world we do, it is hard not to internalize the constant barrage of victim blaming and victim blame ourselves – but then we are forced to defend ourselves to those who are supposed to aid us in our search for justice as well as the community at large. Why is it the victims’ responsibility to protect themselves from being attacked? Yes, there is common sense, behaviors everyone should employ in their daily lives; however, even as we call out other countries’ treatment of its women, we are living in a country where a state supreme court decided that once sex has begun, I lose the right to say no and goes so far as to include such laughably offensive language as “re-flower” in the legal opinion.

It is clear rape culture is alive and well. We need look no further than our own campus with the female student who awoke to find herself the unwanted focus of a stranger’s attention in her own home. Or even more horrifying, the recent revelations out of Cleveland, Texas, and the coverage it has received. Even in so-called reputable newspapers like the New York Times, an eleven-year-old girl’s behavior is called into question, that she sexualized herself and thus has no choice but to accept the repeated gang rapes; or, even worse, a resident’s comment that "[t]hese boys have to live with this the rest of their lives.” Yes, these “boys” will have to face their complicity in not just the repeated gang rape of a child but also its glorification in both photograph and film. How about we consider the implications facing the victim? How about the fact this child has not only been brutalized repeatedly but is now living in hiding, away from her family, for her safety? That her family is still getting harassed on a daily basis and is seriously considering a permanent move, again, only as a means of the safety of their family?

It is time that we held those who commit this unspeakable crime accountable. It is time we taught our boys and men that they are the ones who are the best prevention when it comes to rape. It is time our girls and women didn’t walk around with the threat of rape forever hanging over them. I know I’d sleep better.


This was my submission to my university's opinion page. I love that I'm now a Liberal Studies Major, because I can delve into all the ways that women are screwed throughout history so I can then use it to fight against all the bullshit we face every day.

Also, [livejournal.com profile] inlovewithnight, I hope you don't mind my reusing your quote again.
rubykatewriting: (Community: Shirley)
Is it wrong that I am still fucking flailing that Shirley replied to my tweet?

Please. Like I even care. YVETTE NICOLE BROWN AKA SHIRLEY ON COMMUNITY RESPONDED TO MY TWEET. FUCK ALL THAT'S COOL. I AM ALL A-FLAIL.

Eh...

Jan. 19th, 2010 09:10 am
rubykatewriting: (JONAS: Macy's Weapon of Choice)
Today is my first official day as a full-time, unemployed college student. Yay? I guess I'm leaning more towards yay than nay, because AT LAST, I feel some forward momentum, that there is, in fact, an end in sight, and I will get my degree sooner rather than later.

Alas, I am also without any real income (unemployment doesn't count. ALSO: SUCK IT, MDA.) for the first time since I was eighteen years old, and THAT freaks me out liek whoa.

So, yeah, that's where I'm at for the foreseeable future.

...yay?
rubykatewriting: (River: Ready)
I applied for this position at Einstein Bros. Bagels on Friday, and I already have a callback for a telephone interview. I'm kind of freaking out right now. I love the idea of working for this company; I could maybe work this into a transfer when I move to Austin next year (to say that I am not looking forward to the agonizing process of looking for a job once I get there, well, let me put this way: I haven’t been without a job since I was seventeen years old); and the position sounds like it would be busy and different and headachey but I'm excited at the prospect. It's just – I haven't had the best of luck lately. Hell, I've been trying to get out of my current situation since about a year in, and I recently celebrated four wonderful years in this department. So.

*FINGERS CROSSED*

I have also maybe spent the better part of an hour and a half listening to Neil's ode to Pepperidge Farm cookies on repeat.
rubykatewriting: (Noah & Allie: You're a Bird I'm a Bird)
So. It's quite possible my new English professor is going to make me insane by semester end. He has this really meandering, stream-of-consciousness lecture style. He's brilliant and a fellow word nerd, but oh my GOD, it's WEDNESDAY NIGHT. I've been at work ALL FUCKING DAY. You really want to make me cut you with this "I always go to 9:50" bullshit. (Speaking of, [livejournal.com profile] briary_flower, the poetry portion, which will happen mid-semester [we're covering drama now], runs the gamut. I spent a good half-hour ignoring him and bouncing from one poem to the next. We're talking ee cummings, Pablo Neruda, Edgar Allen Poe, W.H. Auden, Yeats, Keats, etc., etc., etc. I was completely geeking out.)

Holy fucking hell, I'm exhausted.

Also, HI EVERYBODY! I didn't mean to take such a long break from LJ, but I had my surgery last month and took three weeks off from just about everything. They took four and half pounds off of each breast (as Gabs put it, "You were packin a frickin baby around all this time!"), and while I'm not into real bras yet (it's sports bras all the way), I am officially a C-cup. Plus they were able to save both nipples so I can potentially breast feed my future babies. My god is it rad.

Anyway, I think that's enough of an update for now. I need to get some actual work done. Oh and write my paragraph on what I think is "good English." Did I mention my professor is a wee titch NUTS? Yeah.

Oh! Almost forgot. [livejournal.com profile] buffyx, [livejournal.com profile] blahblahologist, and [livejournal.com profile] halfway2home, thank you all for my Christmas cards! They were such lovely little surprises. (V, I LOVED the Office stuff, too. I was giggling like such a damn fool when I opened the package; Mom was giving me her "I don't get fangirls" look.)

ETA: Jensen Ackles, we need to talk. Really? This is what you spend your precious time off doing? REALLY? I want my seven bucks back, fucker.

List time

Sep. 26th, 2008 04:43 pm
rubykatewriting: (Greek: Casey & Cappie OTP)
1. I am alive. We survived the storm relatively unscathed. Besides a few shingles pulled off the roof and our fence well and truly fucked, Ike took pity on us. Centerpoint Energy, on the other hand, did not; we didn't get our power back for a week. Now THAT was a bitch and a half.

2. My consult with the boob doc went well. It's only a matter of waiting to find out if the insurance approved me, or if I'll have to go a round with them to prove that I do need to get my Ks down to a C. *fingers crossed*

3. I am officially in love with Step-Up 2: The Streets. Don't even ask, people. It's positively AWESOME. Of course, I have a great love for Fast Forward, so. Grain of salt.

4. Privileged is, hands down, my favorite new show this season. I love it like burning. And I finally - FINALLY! - figured out where I know Brian Hallisay (a.k.a., hot neighbor boy Will) from: he played Jimmy in the Cold Case ep "Forever Blue." That episode made me cry like a wee baby. Plus, hello, HOTNESS.

5. The Grandmother is finally back home, which means I get to go to the movies this weekend for the first time in four months. I swear, I could cry. Nevermind having back my weekends. I have missed my weekly movie fix. Eagle Eye, here I come.
rubykatewriting: (River: Ready)
I am officially a college student now. I went yesterday to register and I am on my way to that English degree. Yes, since I haven't posted in a million years (work, why must you get in the way of my LJ life?), this seems like it's coming out of nowhere, but this has been coming together for a few months now. I don't know. I'm weird, people! I didn't want to talk about it until it was real or something.

So now Rae (who is a fellow LJer now) and I are both college freshman.

Annnyway, along college lines, m'friend [livejournal.com profile] affectingly put together an awesome post listing the Top Ten Reasons You Should Be Watching Greek. Seriously. It's AWESOME. It captures everything I love about the show and articulates it beyond my usual, "SQUEE!LOVE!OMG!*SQUISH*"

And that's about it as far as real-world and fan-world Beth news goes. Aside from the whole capslock freakout every five or so seconds that I'm currently keeping exclusively in my head: I have been out of school for ELEVENFREAKINGYEARSOHMYGODWHATTHEFUCK! Which, all in all, DUDES, I'm winning!

Hey, y'all!

Jun. 9th, 2008 11:40 am
rubykatewriting: (Oh Shia)
Idaho was chilly, rainy, and windy, but absolutely lovely. )

In other news of the awesome, Lewis Black is coming to Houston in July. This makes me veddy, veddy happy.

And finally a book rec: Max Brooks’ World War Z. I read it while I was in Idaho Falls and immediately had to pass it on to Zeebert before I left who was to then give it to Rae for her flight to Europe. All I have to say is: NORTH KOREA. That shit freaked me the fuck out.

*SNARL*

Feb. 13th, 2008 07:46 am
rubykatewriting: (The Office: Crotch Shot)
Apparently, researchers are looking into a "sweet tooth" gene. In the immortal words of one Mr. Chandler Bing, I KNEW IT! *raises angry fist at sky* When I get up there, great-grandpa Schmitz (and great-grandpa Mayer, too, apparently - SUGAR IN YOUR VEGETABLES? REALLY?), you and me? We are gonna have some words.

Also, Universe, I'd like to have a chat with you as well. So yeah, I had a MAJOR HUGE RIDICULOUS EMBARRASSING thing for Adrian a million and a half years ago but must you continue to have him pop up most unexpectedly like that? MUST YOU DANGLE HIM LIKE THE PROVERBIAL CARROT? SERIOUSLY? This is not helping in my ongoing quest to continue not liking his not-stupid ass self, okay? OKAY?

NOT ON, UNIVERSE.
rubykatewriting: (Heaven)
I went to my PCP a few weeks back because of my migraines. She prescribed Topamax. Its primary use is as an anticonvulsant, but it has shown great, long-term benefit in the treatment of migraines. For instance, if you take it for a year, you can actually see up to two to three years benefit. One potential side effect is peripheral neuropathy (tingling in the hands and feet), but that is mainly in the beginning of the treatment and transient.

Another side effect (or MAJOR BONUS and a big reason why I recently switched over to Yaz for my birth control): it suppresses the appetite. I don't really have an issue with this except when I'm PMSing and during my period, so basically two weeks out of the month I'm a bottomless pit, all FEED ME and Brenda-like.

However, I discovered something this week, another side effect of the drug. As most Americans of my generation, I have a thing for soda. My soda of choice? Big Red. (That link's for you, [livejournal.com profile] briary_flower.) Anyway, I'd been noticing that the last few Big Reds I'd bought were flat, and then the Coke I bought with my beef fajita soft taco combo at Taco Cabana on Friday. Finally, on Monday, Katt managed to grab a couple of free, ice cold Cokes leftover from a meeting in the back workroom, and when I took a big gulp, I cringed as I swallowed down a mouthful of flat, highly sweet soda. I went to Gabs and asked her if her Coke was flat, too, and she said it was almost too carbonated to drink. "It's actually burning my throat."

So, in summation, I do not have the tinglies or migraines anymore, my appetite is practically non-existent, and soda is flat. I'd say that's a win-win-win.

In other, completely fanfuckingtastic news, Giuliani Completes His Collapse. If that isn't something to celebrate - hell, I was doing a jig in the car as they were discussing the results of the Florida primary this morning - I do not know what is. YAYS, PEOPLE. YAYS, YAYS, YAYS.
rubykatewriting: (MAV Art: Love)
Speak is on Lifetime right now. I love it a lot. It is such a perfect adaptation of the book. Steven Zahn as Mr. Freeman was a stroke of genius. That moment towards the end when Melinda shows him her secret room? GUTS me ever damn time I watch. My favorite, though, is the end of the movie, Melinda in the car with her mother, finally telling her everything.

Sweet Jesus, I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

In other news, that of the WTF variety, a bug committed suicide against the side of my head. I thought it rather rude and presumptuous of the bastard.
rubykatewriting: (Swarley: Swarls Barkley: Swarlos)
I've been looking at jobs at CareerBuilder.com for the last couple of months. I have a few job searches and the site will send me emails weekly with new job listings that fall within those searches. One of them is, of course, entertainment-related.

There's this one group that continually advertises for positions like celebrity assistants (the appeal might be great, but my dignity is apparently greater) and the like. Mostly it's these no-name companies advertising positions in sales and marketing that are sort of connected to the entertainment industry. But only if you squint. Really hard. Nothing that would appeal to me, nor am I qualified for any of it either since I've spent the last ten years in health care and research.

Anyway, CBS (the first job posting I've seen from them) has this position available that combines producer and editor. Their oh-so-smart name for this combo? Preditor. Yeah, it isn't quite as mortifying as Tobias's analrapist, but, CBS dudes, THINK. Read it out loud a few times before, you know, deciding and all that.

How I Met Your Mother )
rubykatewriting: (Little Stars)
Friday was my last day carpooling with Delaluce. We got into this huge argument a couple of weeks ago after she left me waiting for nearly an hour with no phone call. This wasn't the first time she'd done that to me, so when she suggested we not carpool anymore (not the first time she's threatened that, either), I was like, "Fine." Well, more like, "FINE," with some neck-poppin'.

Then I was sick for that week, and the day I return (after it had been decided we would stop carpooling as of April 1st, and she'd had a week to look for other transportation), she's like, "We could make this work." And I knew it was going to happen that way the moment I agreed to continue carpooling through April. I called her as I was heading home from the doctor's office, and I was exhausted and I just wanted to be home already. (Note: it's great to have your doctor's office near work when you're actually at work, but not when you feel like death warmed over and are coming all the way from home and thirty minutes one-way is like asking you to run a marathon with no training and nary a drop of water.) I agreed when she offered so magnanimously to carpool another month. She'd even drive the first week because I had been so sick! Geewillikers! I had a great carpool buddy!

But really, it was just a ploy. She didn't want to have to sign up with a vanpool or take the metro to and from work every day because it would mean sticking to a schedule. No more taking my time for granted because she needed to get something done that couldn't wait until tomorrow. None of this, "I totally paged you even though I know you NEVER have your pager and you ALWAYS keep your cell near at hand for just such a case as this!" She pulled that with a vanpool or the bus, she'd get her ass left behind.

She just didn't get that in order for us to remain friends (she has such a good heart most of the time), we would have to stop riding together. When we're just out and about – going to Riaro's and then to Chuy's after, or taking her kiddos to the movies together when the hubbie is out of town on business – we have a blast and a half.

So last Monday there was some much-needed divine intervention. Now that we're being re-organized into this new coordinator pool, I was able to pick my schedule. I like getting up early (I get up for the gym at 3:45am) so I requested the 7am - 3:30pm shift, which will go into effect in the next couple days when the paperwork is completed to change my lunch from an hour to a half-hour. For now, I'm working 7am - 4pm.

I knew it was the right decision when I found myself giggling with joy as I sped my way up 45N. On a MONDAY. It's all on me from here on out, and I absolutely love it.

Oh, yeah. Friday our online charting system went down, leaving me nothing to do since that's how I do my job and all, so I cleaned my desk for the first time in forever. (The last time? When I moved into this office last August. Yes, GROSS.) Anyway, for posterity's sake, I took photos because my desk will never be this clean again. Well. Until I quit. Or on the off-chance they move me again, which is totally possible.
rubykatewriting: (Dory: Just Keep Swimming)
Went with Gabs and Mick to Coozan's, a Cajun place over off Kirby, for lunch. Holy HELL. They play zydeco exclusively, which I'm not much a fan of but I hear it's a hoot to go zydeco-ing (dancing), but then they played a zydeco version of "Walking on Sunshine."

And I only have one word for it: FAIL. So much fucking fail it HURT MY BRAIN.
rubykatewriting: (Peter: Working It Out)
I'm back. Got in Tuesday night. Las Vegas, February 2007: a rundown. )

Watched tons of TV since Tuesday night. (I took Wednesday off as a day of recovery.) Heroes managed to make my jaw drop as I was so NOT expecting that ending. Yay. It still manages to surprise me! How I Met Your Mother was also pretty awesome for that ending. Cut for spoilers. )

As for Thursday night TV, The Office – WHOA. Holy shit. Poor Jim. Seriously. He can't win for losing. But PAM! Pamela Beesley, you’re getting there and it is an amazing thing to see.

And then it was the end of The O.C., which I have been saving on the DVR for the last several weeks. I couldn't bring myself to watch all the episodes leading up to tonight, but I couldn't not watch the series finale live. It didn't quite hit the levels of Felicity or Dawson's Creek (oh holy God, DC just about killed me. Mom even cried and she hated DC.), but it made me a little weepy. Cut for spoilers )
rubykatewriting: (Jim: Dwight Got a Hooker!)
Arcade Fire to appear on SNL February 24th

ARGH. This is the same episode Rainn Wilson will be hosting. Guh. I have been so good. I skipped JT's hosting return, and especially Jake's (I doubted that my love could withstand him being TEH SUCK. Hey, sketch comedy is not for everyone.)

But, dude. I would love to see Arcade Fire perform live and I'm curious to see Rainn as someone other than the Shrute. He seems such an oddball from the few interviews I've seen of him and on the commentaries. I want him to go totally balls out.

NOT FAIR, SNL.

In other Vegas-y news, the boss approved my half-day tomorrow AND I found two cute blouses for $12.99 each at Old Navy when I went out to lunch with Del. Whee! Then when Del talked to the bro while we were out, his girlfriend had called earlier (she flew in today) to tell him she'd already run into Sean Paul and another artist within two hours of her arrival. Yes, we're shamelessly going to follow any and all, big or small, celebrities we bump into. Why do you ask?
rubykatewriting: (Crotch Shot)
I may be going out on a limb here when I say I think our excitement about this coming weekend in Vegas may be hitting a fever pitch. Today The Peon sent out a group email with a detailed forecast of the weather he'd copied and pasted from weather.com. Um, yeah. Thanks?

Of course, my excitement is tempered by the fact that I'm sickly. My sinuses have decided that this unusual Houston winter is, in fact, too much, and I'm currently popping Chlor-Trimeton like it's candy and flashing as my temperature fluctuates like a fucking bouncing ball in those ridiculous sing-a-longs. FYI, the accompanying sweats are the bestest thing EVAR! I dressed warmly since it's not supposed to hit above 65 today (I'm a southern wimp, okay? THIS is why I will not be moving to Chicago. Have you SEEN the weather up there?! JesusMaryandJoseph), but now that I'm all breaking fever and shit, I'm getting that damp feeling in the pits. *rolls eyes in disgust* God, I hate it when my body decides to conspire against me.

Grr.

But I did manage to finally wander my way over to Borders to pick up a copy of American Gods this past weekend. I showed it to Mom. The only thing she gets fangirly over is books, so she was immediately, "AS SOON AS YOU FINISH, GIVE IT TO ME!" I didn't have the heart to mention she won't have any time to read it in the next few months between school, clinicals and work. She was simply too excited.
rubykatewriting: (Default)
I'm seriously considering moving to Chicago. It sort of happened on a lark. I was messing around on CareerBuilder.com and set it for the US. Several jobs popped up for New York (way too fucking expensive), L.A. (which would be fun but also way too fucking expensive and I'm looking for actual seasons. BUT after posts like [livejournal.com profile] halfway2home's that involve Cate Blanchett, Leo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt being in the same room together being all good looking and charming and funny - well, a girl waffles), and Chicago.

I've started doing the research and Chicago isn't looking so scary, especially real estate-wise. The prices aren't THAT terrifying. (Sadly, Houston is booming so the prices aren't such a stretch.) I'm just concerned that I love winter weather such as Chicago's in theory rather than in actual practice. Am I still going to love the cold weather (and snow) when it's going on a week and the thermometer hasn't hit above thirty? Am I still going to love mass transit when I have to trudge through rain/snow/sleet/heat for four blocks?

So, um, are there any Chicagoans (or nearabouts) on the flist? Help a girl out. That said, I am not averse to someone selling me on the thrills of L.A. I've always loved the idea of living out there. Well, L.A. or New York. Those were dream places when I was growing up smack in the middle.

I have SPN fic! I still have to discuss some things with Evie, but it's basically finished. At a whopping 23 pages, it is my longest oneshot to date. I started it back in October, when my love for the show was only fizzling and not completely dead as it is now. I always seem to come in right as the creative drive of the show is taking a nosedive, or just veering off into left field. (Except for The Office. My love only grows for you, baby. Seriously. I would not be dying a small little death EVERY TIME I think about the Paley Festival if I didn't love you so. My John K. love is really only incidental at this point.) That’s when inspiration strikes, when it’s a pretty sure bet the fandom is waning and interest is little to zero. What can I say? I WIN at fandom.

Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who commented on my previous two posts. It was way above and beyond and y'all are awesome for it. Truly appreciate it.

Fic Rec!

Jan. 11th, 2007 08:42 am
rubykatewriting: (Matthew Rhys: One Sexy Bastard)
Maps of Places That You've Never Been by [livejournal.com profile] inlovewithnight
(Brothers & Sisters. Kevin-centric, of course. Mild kind of spoilers for the "Family Day" episode, I suppose.)

Kevin isn't sure if you can ever really grow up as long as you can always go home.

"I think faith must be a nice thing. A reassuring thing." He glances up at the candle, melting slowly to the bottom of its glass cup, tiny flame bobbing and weaving above the wax. "But if Dad is still around somewhere, if you could tell him that we miss him...that I miss him. And that I wish...I..." He looks away again. "I wish he hadn't done all the things he did, but I still love him." He shakes his head, his throat closing tight and catching his voice. "And I wish he was here."

This is so perfectly, wonderfully Kevin and everything I love about the Walkers. It ably captures the grief of finding out your father isn't the man you've loved and admired your entire life. About reconciling the truth and still loving him.

*

In other news, I got a speeding ticket last night. I was driving through Ngoc's old neighborhood, which I KNOW is a speedtrap, but I was feeling like shit (I also broke the fast due to the whole feeling like shit) and had blessed food in the car and wanted to get home ASAP. Fortunately, I don't have to go to court. The cop gave me this envelope thingie so I can send in my payment and request defensive driving. Whoo!

And since Mom got a ticket back in November for speeding in Bellville, we can go to defensive driving together. Whoo squared!
rubykatewriting: (Dain Bramaged)
Heh. Del, Del's bro Nah, and I are doing The Lemonade Diet, a.k.a., the Master Cleanse. We decided we needed something to jumpstart our asses back on the right track as well as clearing out all the old shit (HA! I'm funny!).

So Del and I went to Whole Foods Saturday night to pick up the book, the maple syrup (Grade B - must be Grade B), and possibly the ground cayenne pepper. Of course, it's the new year and the holistic section is ALL ABOUT CLEANSING. I swear, fifty-thousandity ways to clear out the ol' bowels and start fresh.

Anyway, so we're standing there, reading the book, when I notice that you're supposed to do this sea salt/water combo and "several elimations will occur." Ominous, no? Del calls me this morning.

Del: "So did you do the salt water?"
Me: "Um, no." GIGGLE. SNERK. "So how many eliminations?" GIGGLE. SNERK.
Del: "FOUR."
Me: "WHEN DID YOU DRINK IT?"
Del: "AT SEVEN THIS MORNING."
Me: Glances at clock. It is only 8:35am. "HOLY SHIT."
Del: "YEAH."

Who knew this diet would be such an adventure? Or that a solid 24 hours of my life would revolve around getting Senna tea (or alternately, Smooth Moves)? We went to three stores trying to find LAXATIVE TEA. Luckily Mr. Lee, Del's daddy, found some Smooth Moves at their Randalls. Laxative tea as the one ring.

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