Two Articles That I Like and One That Has Me Thinking

Feminism, ZIonism and Bears!* Oh My!

A Milestone

Last night, I had some friends over. We ordered pizza, ate TWO KINDS OF CAKE, and played a bunch of games. This was not the milestone referred to in the title of this post, though two kinds of cake makes any gathering grand. We played Sentinels of the Multiverse and beat Citizen Dawn on advanced mode without letting her flip!

This Canadian will fuck you up.

Even the amazing feat was not the milestone! I was a member of a team that achieved this once before - mainly because I think the only way to beat her on advanced is to keep her from flipping because... ouch!* No, the milestone in my life was that for the first time EVER, I won a game of Apples to Apples! It came down to a tie breaker between two of us, so everyone else judged on the verb "Spunky" we each submitted one card chosen from our hands and then top decked the second card we submitted as a randomizer. I won with Carnival Workers - totally Spunky. :P

I am very proud of myself. 

*I've often thought though that if you could get her to flip by turn three (which is the earliest she could) and making the priority being mitigating damage to heros and building up reserves until she flips back, but there are more unknowns and potential environment traps when you let her flip.

I am pregnant/alive/successful today, because of birth control

I am pregnant today because when I was 16 years old, my dad brought me to the OBGYN and my doctor (who I hope to have deliver my baby this summer!) put me on hormonal birth control.

Hunger Games : SPOLIERS

Last night, Boybee and I realized that not only did we not have any looming projects or responsibilities that had to be taken care of ASAP but we also had no meetings or other engagements for the evening. This is a relatively rare occurrence at Chez Bee so we decided to take advantage of our lack of responsibilities and go out to a movie, knowing that in a few months being able to just go out to a movie on a Tuesday night will be an unthinkable luxury.

Neither of us has read the Hunger Games books but we've both been hearing the buzz for the past couple of months about the movie. We like action movies and specifically desire to spend our money at the box office when we think movies may pass the Bechdel Test, plus it was getting rave reviews from friends so after a walk around the neighborhood (OMG the weather is gorgeous here in Beelandia right now!), we were off to the 7:45 showing at our local multi-plex.

SPOILERS AFTER THE CUT.

Gulf Wars!

Last week, Boybee and I attended Gulf Wars XXI a week long SCA event in Southern Mississippi. We had a blast despite the unseasonable warmth and my inability to stay up late. We drove down the NOLA with friends and hung out in the French Quarter before arriving on site. The week included classes, singing, mustering with the Calontir army,  good friends and good cheer. The highlights for me for the Heather Dale concert we got to attend in the Green Dragon and an impromptu Wolgemut concert in our camp.

For those who don't follow SCA/Ren Faire music, Wolgemut is a band that plays medieval German instruments - their music is like the lovechild of German folk music and punk rock. I love it. They showed up in our camp after playing the Known World party (which was, as big parties tend to be, pretty lame) on the promise of beer given by cute women. They began to play and folks started to dance. I learned that I can no longer do any of the isolations necessary for belly dancing (as my ribs and hips are connected by very taunt stretched muscles) but I could still jig! So I hiked up my skirts and proceeded to soft shoe! :) There was reeling and twirling, so much laughter and so much fun.

And now for my very first belly picture! Me at 21ish weeks dancing.

Lazy Weekend

There is something absolutely magical about a weekend with no plans.

Yesterday, I walked (about a mile) to the local bakery since we were out of bread - I got breakfast and sat in the sun reading a book. Glorious. I also got my car to the shop (there was a recall on the whosawhatsit), went grocery shopping, got my blood drawn to be sure that I'm going to have a baby and not a football or something, made and ate hamburgers with Boybee, did some work on a medallion I am making for the SCA, and watched The Lion in Winter* while eating fresh monkey-bread.

Today, we need to pick up the car, make beer, and... enjoy the lack of major responsibilities!

*With Katherine Hepburn - such a good film. Boybee had never seen it before. If you've not seen it, go and do so, it will be worth your time. Katherine Hepburn is Eleanor of Aquitaine, Peter O'Toole plays her husband, Henry II, a young (hot) Anthony Hopkins plays Richard. Timothy Dalton, of James Bond and Dr. Who fame, is even in this movie as the beautiful jerkface King of France. It's rare that a movie holds the same emotional punch of a play, but this one does. Even the funky 60's film style and interesting take on 12th century clothing works.

Planned Parenthood, Santorum, and the State of American Politics

I don't even know if I have the energy to rant about this BS anymore. I mean. Really? REALLY?

Politics and incredulousness/sadness after the jump.