A bad case of segre-gay-tion.

So this is happening..

Gay-centric high school to be considered

 

 

 

Sigh.

When I read the article above, I see: segregation > anti-bullying.
Is it just me, or should the school system be putting a greater effort into anti-bullying and acceptance movements, planting that seed when kids are young and willing to listen, rather than segregating them? Doesn't that just cause more harm and more of a target? Wouldn't you rather children and/or teens grow to simply learn about and respect different lifestyles rather than focus on what's "different" or, as some may believe due to how they were brought up, "wrong"? I don't get it. Why can't we just teach kids to see human beings rather than draw thicker lines between every one? Talk about an attempt at social decline.
Can you imagine if there was a straight-only school? A white-only school? To me, this is just as discriminatory and encourages that frame of mind - that "different" belongs elsewhere.
I think segregation is a huge waste of time and money, and that schools should be focusing on the big picture - one of the main reasons for contemplating segregation in the first place: bullying. Especially because bullying isn't race, gender, sexuality or creed specific. Why do some seem to forget about that?

In addition, it puts kids in a difficult situation. What if a kid does presume he/she is homosexual, but isn't quite sure or, worse, not ready to come out by the time picking a high school comes around? Why put that pressure on someone so young? I mean really, it's ludicrous.

All of that, just so that everyone can amalgamate in College or University, the work place, etc. none the wiser. If anything, worse off.

Over the past few years it seems like a few ideas of segregation have been tossed around within the schooling system. Early last year, the idea of having a private school for students from low-income families was tossed around.

Why are we going back in time? I half want to scoff at these things, but then I realize that some people actually think that, even in present time, this is a valuable solution.

 Facepalm... all together now!

Okay. So maybe it's not fair of me to dismiss the opinions of those who legitimately feel that this sort of solution is a valuable one. I just...I don't see it. I've thought about it thoroughly from all sides and I just don't see how segregating people based on race, gender, sexuality or creed will make this world a better place. Yes, I'm also against schools segregated by religious beliefs. I did go to a Catholic high school, but I didn't know what I now know; I didn't see the world the way I do today.

Never forget: the soundtrack.

I've always associated music with memories and emotions. Certain songs just pick me up and bring me back to a time and/or place in a really powerful and vivid way. Example: Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World. This song takes me right back to being five years old in the summertime; sparkling and carefree. I guess that explains my obsession with 80s music. Nostalgia.
I'm not sure if, since becoming aware of this, I subconsciously set a marker in my brain so that years down the road a song will inevitably remind me of said time, or maybe I'm just that much of an observant and nostalgic person. I guess what I'm wondering is if it's voluntary? Natural? Hurrr...

Talk about over-thinking something that need not be over-thought!

I felt it important to draft up an actual "soundtrack" for this past summer and keep it on file; keep it somewhere safe. Attached to these songs are fond memories of everything this summer had to offer - adventures, travels, love, forging old bonds with old friends; forming new bonds with new friends. This summer was a "big deal" and holding onto it, as well as every memory and emotion attached, is important to me. Does this sound sappy? It's really not supposed to be. Well, not entirely.
I wanted a way to, in a sense, keep this past summer alive.

So, here it is.
Some songs new, some old, but all relevant.

Why I love being a Julep Maven.

I'm a true skeptic when it comes to "awesome deals" online. I read these deals in my head with that overzealous and cheese-ball "Guy Smiley" game show host voice. I'm always questioning a person or company's motives and doubting things I hear from customers. Yes, even the most satisfied customers. Call it smart shopping, call it paranoia, whatever it may be...

I recently embarked onto the Julep Maven train. A bunch of girlfriends and fellow bloggers of mine had been singing Julep's praises for about a year before I decided to give it a whirl.

Boy, am ever glad I did.

A friend of mine said it best today: Every time I get my monthly Julep package in the mail, even though I know it's coming, It's like my freaking birthday! I half-expect sirens to go off and glitter to shoot up in my face when opening the box...just to match my excitement.

Instead, I dance like the white fool I am.

Yeah, yeah!

Besides the fact that you have to treat yourself once in a while (and I'm definitely a person who forgets to do so), becoming a Julep Maven has tons of perks.

Why the polish is awesome:

• First and foremost, Julep products are toxin-free and do not test on animals. Their products do not contain carcinogens such as DBP, toluene, formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin.
• The polishes are long-lasting and chip-resistant.
• Polishes come with a flat brush with micro-frayed brush hairs resulting in an impeccable application. (With some colours, I find that the initial application appears to be slightly streaky - however, after two coats and a clear top coat, kiss any possible streaks goodbye. Flawless nails, ladies. No jokes).
• So. Many. Colours. Julep's colour wheel would put Joseph and his amazing technicolour shit coat to shame!

From classic colours to shades you would have never imagined; from neutrals to sparkles!

Why being a Julep Maven is awesome:

• First of all, your intro box upon signing up costs you $0.01. Yep - one cent. A shiny (or rusty) penny. I'm not kidding.
• After your intro box, for $19.99 a month (who sounds like Guy Smiley now?) you receive, at the very least, $40 worth of Julep products, if not more.
• You receive 20% off of all purchases in the Julep Maven Boutique
• Hello, FREE SHIPPING, just because you're a Maven! BOOM.
• Bonus treats and extra discounts all year long.
• Easy exchanges and returns.
• Excellent customer service (I once had a bottle of polish break upon taking it out of the box. I contacted Julep and they sent me a new bottle straight away, without hassle!)
• Here's an important one for me - no commitment. If I have to commit to rolling purchases for an extended period of time, I get freaked out. With Julep, you can cancel at any time and skip any month you'd like. Just let them know - it's that easy.
• Upon becoming a Maven, you get a referral link. For ever two referral you receive a free month! Two referrals aren't very hard to get, let me tell you.

Powered by girlfriends
They say it all best themselves. Here is Julep's story.


So that's that - the reason for my constant Julep pimping on Facebook. It's not only for referrals, but for my genuine excitement about this company and their promising products.

But seriously, if you're interested in trying it, click my referral link below ;)  

http://julep.com/?r=22972354

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Not the Playmates you should find at school.

I don't think there is a witty or creative way to ease into this one, so I'm just going to dive right in.

What the hell, Sears!?
Upon flipping through the Christmas Wishbook when it arrived on my doorstep last week (because I'm like, 12) I found this page:

 

All right, so it doesn't seem like a big deal at first. Having the Playboy Bunny logo plastered on merch is no shocker (hehe) but a few pages later, I had to flip back because...something seemed off. That's when I realized that this page was in the childrens 'wish' section amongst the Barbies and the Transformers. Also note the presumably "under 18" 'ness of the young girl toting the handbag around. Elementary school? I'm surprised she doesn't have big red duck lips with a sucker hanging out of them paired up with a seductive glare. I mean really, might as well! What kind of image or message is this?

I am by no means a prude (anyone who knows me knows that well enough!) but I love kids. I care about the well-being of kids, and pardon my French but...this is just fucking mortifying to me.

Not to date myself, but I remember writing an article for my College paper ten years ago (okay, I just dated myself) about young girls seemingly loosing their innocence way too young (and that was back then). More young girls, not even out of elementary school yet, seemed to be dressing far too promiscuous for their ages. I mean, "promiscuity" and "elementary school" just shouldn't even be in the same friggin' sentence. But there they were in public, at the mall or the park, clad in jogging pants with the word "Juicy" written across their bums. "Juicy". Referring to your Capri Sun? Didn't think so.

A part of me was really hoping that this would change and that not only parents, but marketing reps and companies would find their common sense...but that was a pipe dream. Herp derp.

Where did who go wrong and when? I mean Christ, when I was 12 years old, "sexy" was only in the movies. When I was 12 years old, I was eating Cheez Whiz sandwiches and watching Family Matters.

And I'm sorry, but you can only blame pop stars to a certain extent. Is it really an excuse? I grew up in the Madonna era - you didn't see me walking around holding ice cream cones to my non-boobs! (Well, knowing me I probably did, but in a facetious way).

I digress.

Yes, sex sells, but can somebody please tell companies (like Sears) that there is still an "age appropriate" thing to consider when it comes to that?

Some actually argue: It's just a bunny. It's just a logo.

Yes, so is the Swastika.

A logo represents something, and when someone wears that logo, it is in support for that thing - whether it be sports, politics, brands, etc. I mean, as a Habs fan, I would never wear a Bruins logo and claim, "Who cares? It's just a logo!" Haha. YEAH, NO.

There is a representation thing there. The Playboy Bunny is a universally known logo for Playboy. The vector-like profile, the bow-tie - everyone knows it for exactly what it is. It does not symbolize a love for bunnies. It symbolizes sex and objectifying women. As a parent, I would hope that you wouldn't want your child representing this. You have to wonder why companies like Sears would think differently?

If the world is seriously spinning into this ignorant of a direction, I'm going to seem like an old-school Nazi Mom one day, with my kids clad in Superhero t-shirts. Poor things.

Awkward moments define my life.

It's not so much that I'm an awkward person who bumbles about with all thumbs and two left feet, but I've definitely found myself in enough awkward situations to blog about it. My life definitely doesn't lack any face-palm action. I've always just hoped that enough people would find it charming rather than cumbersome.

Being asked, "What's up?" and responding, "Good, you?"
Or the other way around.
"How's it going?" ... "Not much, you?"

My favourite, or least favourite as I'm not even sure how to categorize this one, is when you're telling a somewhat offensive joke to someone and halfway through you realize that this person is actually definitely going to be offended. So, you stop halfway through. "Uh, I forget the punchline actually. Forget it. I'll just screw it up."

(Awkward / nice save)

Sure, inside, I feel like my bones want to crawl out of my skin, run away and hide - but on the exterior I manage to remain pretty composed. I chalk it up to being pro. I don't know if it's something that deserves bragging rights, but I guess I have enough experience at being awkward that I'm now pro at masking it.
Go Dana!

But yesterday. Oh, yesterday.

There isn't a big enough " :| " in the world..
I was standing in line at the bank and decided to rummage through my purse for my cell phone and check my e-mails as I waited, you know? Nothing out of the norm. But, because I have clumsy fingers, as I grabbed my phone I managed to press on the YouTube icon as well as "Play" and, at high volume, this happened:

Just to explain, it's a clip from a demented TV show, Wonder Showzen, that my fella and I had been watching and giggling at the day before.

Talk about having egg on your face.

I'm pretty sure that took the proverbial cake as far as awkward moments go :|

Edit:
Low and behold, I have something to add here. Something awkward happened today on my lunch break (thumbs up!)
As I was exiting the grocery store I threw my garbage in what I suspected was a garbage bin only to discover, as I got closer to it, that it was actually a donations bin. I noticed when my hand was literally in mid air to pitch my garbage, so instead of doing some awkward mid-air catch that would have inevitably turned into a bad dance move, I went with it in hopes that no one was watching. Unfortunately, I could feel the glares crawling up my back. I actually started whistling as I headed out towards the parking lot in an effort to seem casual, which just furthered the awkward because...ready? I can't whistle!

Oh well. Maybe my junk can be someone else's treasure? Hahanervouslaughhahaha.

Complainers gonna complain.

It sort of baffles me at times just how plague-like moods and attitudes can be; contagious and grisly. So many of us are easily influenced by what surrounds us. It seems like plain sailing for someone to just storm into your day with a chip on their shoulder, maybe even a diatribe to spew that is completely irrelevant to you, and ruin your ease and complacency - sometimes for the entire day.

Over the last year or so, I've made myself more aware of this and how it affects me and my life because, sadly, I've spent a lot of my life trying to make everyone happy AKA setting myself up for failure. I was always easily influenced by the tone and aura lingering in the air resulting in me feeling drained and, to be honest, brain dead at times. All carp and no cheer make Dana a stolid girl.

I read an interesting article about this today based on a book by serial entrepreneur and author Trevor Blake. It's called Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life.

Taken from the article:

In the book, he describes how neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long gripe session.
"The brain works more like a muscle than we thought," Blake says. "So if you're pinned in a corner for too long listening to someone being negative, you're more likely to behave that way as well."
Even worse, being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity--including viewing such material on TV--actually peels away neurons in the brain's hippocampus. "That's the part of your brain you need for problem solving," he says. "Basically, it turns your brain to mush."

"Ah," I thought to myself. "This explains so much."

I'm not calling myself dumb, but I will admit that there have been times where, after a long day at work of listening to someone (or several) gripe, I felt like all of teh stupidz. Like my brain was melting into a puddle of sludge, gasping in desperation for any last hope for something of substance. Somebody, anybody; something, anything...stimulate my brain. I'm begging you.

I'm glad this is a universal thing, not a Dana thing.

My solution? I strive to be a positive influence. Maybe in someone's day, maybe even someone's life. Even with strangers, I do my best to smile and be pleasant no matter what. I'm not perfect at this, but I've made it my daily mission. I hold doors for people. I say "Excuse me" if I want to get by, and I crack (usually terrible) jokes or giggle openly if something awkward happens in public. It can create a nice cycle of positive energy. I mean, someone has to start it and I sometimes feel as though we live in a world where people forget to or neglect to. The majority are too rushed and caught up in the go-go-go mentality.

I don't know. I'm definitely not trying to save the world, just my sanity and inner peace. If I can control the aura in my surroundings, I'm going to.

Because in the end, no matter what you do...