I am Emily X.

You may have noticed this blog as a featured link. Workers from Planned Parenthood describe what their days are like, the difficulties they face, and how proud they are to provide quality healthcare to women in need. Well, I am only a volunteer, but I thought I would take this opportunity to describe my time at Planned Parenthood.

Usually, I volunteer at a quiet clinic never visited by protesters. I file charts, call patients, make goodie bags, make posters for the waiting room, and basically do whatever I can to make the staff's day a bit easier. Recently, however, I have been filling in at a bigger clinic that receives more protesters. During the battle to get our clinic opened in Aurora, a group announced they would be holding a 40 day prayer vigil at PP's across the country, so we stepped up our escort duties at this clinic.

I was expecting angry, hostile people spewing forth hatred, lies about Planned Parenthood and what we stand for, and ridiculous arguments about women's health. But I think the reality of my experience thus far makes me more upset. The protesters just stand there, praying. Now, I believe in the power of positive thoughts, meditation, and prayer. But I also believe in taking action to further what you stand behind. I am not suggesting that I miss the days of frequent clinic bombings, harassment and injury to staff members, etc. What I mean by "taking action" is simply this: if you want to really help women facing tough choices, why not get involved with the women? Go work at a day care for poor teens who need the service to finish school and be strong working mothers. Volunteer at an after-school program for at-risk youths to build their self-esteem and help them realize all of their potential to dissuade them from unsafe sexual activity. Hell, take in one of the hundreds of thousands of foster children in this country who need a safe and stable place to call home. But to simply stand in front of a building, doing nothing, is to me inexcusable. Who are you helping? I have never seen a person entering the clinic (for whatever reason - to purchase condoms, birth control, get tested for STIs, or for abortion services) bat an eyelash at you - not to mention turn around because of you.

Again, who are you helping??? We noticed today that more of you showed up because your priest was there. So is that it? You want to impress your priest and showcase your piety to your fellow churchgoers? I think any of my above suggestions for action would do a better job of that. I am not some heathen volunteer - I went to Sunday school, I went to Catholic school. I know the mission. You are instructed not to judge - lest you be judged by a higher power. So by condemning the people who come to the clinic for healthcare, for calling them evil, you are disregarding a crucial piece of your faith. You are instructed to love your neighbors as yourself - if a neighbor was going through a difficult decision, would you shame her? Condemn her? Is that how you would want to be treated, to be loved by your neighbor? And back to my first point, you are to serve those in your community who need help - to take real action for those who cannot help themselves. I do not see you taking any action. I see judging, condemnation, an attitude of dismissal and disdain towards your fellow man - the people who are not as pious as you. Well, I see through it. I do not respect your mission - not because I do not respect your religion, but because you are not working for a religion, but to advance your own self-righteousness. To do so in the face of people who need help the most, that to me is truly cruel.

And to the dozens of passers-by who have repeatedly expressed their support, their gratitude, and their well wishes to those of us who do act for what we believe in, those of us who stand up for our neighbors in need, who refuse to pass judgment on people just like ourselves, I thank you. Your kind words humble me and remind me why I will continue to support women and their health. Because it is important, because most people want choice and freedom and healthcare to be respected, because it is the right thing to do. And for my friends who support me in this endeavor, I thank you. It means the world to me, and so do you.

Read this. Then read it again.

Those of you who know me personally already know that my passion in this life is working for reproductive justice (especially for women - who, let's face it, bear the burden of most reproductive issues). And the link I am posting sums up why I care so damned much. So please read it and forward it on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-filipovic/killing-in-the-name-of_b_68521.html

Mondays Am Dumb.

Walking while listening to your iPod is kind of like having your own theme music.

And for all of you Eddie Izzard fans out there - think of his "Hitler never played Risk as a kid" joke while you picture Murphy ecstatically bounding up to a pair of Mastiffs; only to retreat as if to say, "ooh, they're a bit big, they're a bit big." Heehee.

Oh and . . .

don't talk to me about CU losing. See the next post and determine that I need a break.

Adults. How to be one.

Apparently, ahem, this topic needs going over. So here is my take:

Appropriate phrases to use to stop "seeing" someone before the "dating" begins:
* I like hanging out with you, but I think we are better off as friends.
* We have so many mutual friends, I think dating might be weird.
* You spend too much time with your dog and it weirds me out.
* We haven't quite gotten there yet, but it is patently obvious that I am not going to be all that great in bed, so rather than embarass myself, we should quit while you are ahead.
* You are way too hot for me - I would be insecure dating you.
* Um, sorry to tell you this, but the person you were seeing died/moved to Yemen (said by mutual friend, obvs)

Inappropriate methods of ending the "seeing" before the "dating":
* Simply not speaking to the person even though you have the same group of friends and will clearly be seeing each other in the future. Seriously folks - this is what you do in 6th grade (Oh man, Lucy totally burned Jimmy! She didn't sit by him on the bus today - SNAP!) not as an adult who has graduated from college and holds down a job.
* Being mean to the other person's dog (really, this is never an acceptable way of solving anything)

If you are unsure of the appropriateness of your method, select a new method from the first section. They are all reasonably friendly and do not involve meanness to cute puppies.

P.S. To my dear friends, absolutely none of whom are single (and yes, Daisy, having a boy who you regularly make out with and also hang out with means you are not single), enough with telling me how fun being single is. Because none of you are. If it was so amazing, you would do it, too. Also, no more setting me up with immature, emotionally unavailable men. Because really, haven't I dealt with enough of those???

Math.

Fat Tire Seasonal "2 below ale": $8.49
Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale: $7.29
Barefoot Bubbly: $6.69
Polka Dot Riesling: $7.99
Having a dog at home so that you aren't really drinking alone: $10 (he had a $10 bath today)

Grand total for a fabulous night of drinking, dancing, and online scrabble with a freshly scrubbed pup: $43.60 and worth every penny.

Results (casualties?) of last night.

Bottles of red wine consumed: 1
Kitchens/living rooms spotlessly cleaned: 1
Unreadable blog postings: 1
Smooshed iPods: 1
Bedrooms spotlessly cleaned: 0 (kitchens are more fun to drunk dance/clean in )
Dance parties held with Murphy: 1
Eddie Izzard films watched: 1
Pita chips eaten: 1 bag
Chocolate chips eaten: .25 bags (I haven't been to the grocery in a while)
Text messages sent: at least 11 but sometimes I delete them to hide them from myself so quite possibly 25.

In summary, one night having a drunk dance/cleaning party with the Murph: phenomenal