Trials and Tribulations of Being Female: Shaving Legs

Hairy legs. For women, not the fashionable accessory to have. In fact, if these particular appendages are hairy, said women will likely be subjected to snickers, comments, and overall disgust. Unless, of course, you live in France. (Can't have a blog about leg hair without a dig on France - it's against the rules).

Yet, it is a total pain to shave. First there's the process: wet the legs, lather up the legs (must have the right soap to ensure no burning or bumps), run the razor over the long expanse, rinse off the razor, do the next strip, rinse off, repeat however many times, rinse off the legs, checking for missed spots or blood, if there's a missed spot, re-lather, re-shave and if there's blood, getting it to stop is always fun, dry legs, lotion legs, and then you're done. For all of two days. Longer than two or three days and then the itching starts. Then the prickly little black stubs show through and G-d forbid a man run his hands over your legs in this state or he's likely to run screaming from the room (unless he's married and knows better than to piss his wife off like that -- he might still be encouraged to sleep on the couch though).

I realize many men shave daily and I'm sure it can be a chore. But they are not required by societal boundaries to shave. If a man has hair on his face, he is not subjected to scorn, ridicule, and general disgust. Therefore, women have it worse.

What brings this up you ask? I will admit it. It has been longer than three days and I'm wearing short workout pants in public. That's right, the little black stubblies are showing through and I can only pray that they aren't a beacon to look at me. In perusing my legs as I sit at my computer at work, I began to think about how often we must shave, how quickly we go through razors, all of that fun stuff. Then I can only be happy that there are no men running their hands over my legs (granted I would probably say this anyways as who knows when my dad or Grandma decide they want to start reading this thing, but it's sadly enough true -- I mean, it's fabulously enough true...).

Now I love being a woman, but these little trials and tribulations always make life fun. So the next time your friend, wife, sister, mom, whoever is a little cranky, don't blame it on pms...

Blame it on hairy monkey legs.

In Memory: Zachary Michael Cruz

I didn't know Zachary. I knew of him, but I didn't know him.

I know his father. I met him in my Education class while I was at Cal. This young man was passionate about the things he was doing, always kind and supportive, wanting to do something to make his place in the world. I tend to be a bit cynical and think, when somebody sits here and says they want to change the world, that they might be a little delusional. I thought this was a young man that could make a difference. I was impressed by him, something I'm often not at first meeting.

He's 27 years old. And today... he's burying his five year old son. My heart just breaks for him. His son was killed crossing a street in Berkeley by a truck (yes, he was with adults at the time). As of this point, a tragic accident - the truck driver did not flee the scene, he was not speeding, he was not under the influence.

All I can think is that this little boy had this wonderful father (as I'm sure Frank was and is) and I'm sure he was just as bright and lively.

There are not words to express how sad I am for Frank and that I know whereever this child has gone onto, he was loved. And will always be remembered.

www.zacharymichaelcruz.com

Eve of Justice

Recommendation - watch this first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csuNCukWCe8

On Thursday, there will hopefully be another unprecedented day in history. A day when the California Supreme Court votes to uphold the Constitution as I believe in it - one that protects minorities, one that does not take away fundamental freedoms, but gives them, one that gives the opportunities that some enjoy to all.

I speak of the day that the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding Proposition 8, which was passed this last election day. This country voted for change when they voted for Barack Obama, but took a giant step backward by passing this horrendous constitutional amendment. It was passed by a slight majority, but with its passing, came a great many consequences.

There is now a group of people who are maligned, who were given the opportunity to have something beautiful and have it ripped from them, who are treated by a Constitution as separate, other, different, and not of the state. It is a despicable travesty of what the Constitution stands for and what it SHOULD mean. The Constitution (herein referring to the California version) is supposed to stand for all people, it is supposed to fight for all people, and yet it fails miserably.

I am appalled that people are working against making all people equal, well, as equal as they can be as we all know this country remains mired in hatred and prejudice - but the law must stand for all peoples, it must make the first the first step to unite, to give freedom, to give hope. Instead of fighting against each other, these groups should be finding away to gain common ground. I've said it before and I will say it again: make a new plan for the state. In the eyes of the state, everybody has a civil union (i.e. all the current benefits of marriage are now awarded to civil unions) and put marriage back where it came from - in the church. It is a construction of the church and can remain there - then it is up to the pastors/priests/dude or dudette in charge whether they want to marry a couple (since churches get exempt from everything anyways...).

I digress. Go to this web site:

http://eveofjustice.com/

and learn how you can help. How you can make a difference. If anything, take the time to learn. See what the briefs have to say, open your minds and your hearts and realize that we all deserve the chance at something special. Take a moment to realize that you do not have to perpetuate hatred and prejudice, that you can make a difference by standing for the minorities, the maligned, and the hopeful.

Give this state (and country) a chance to truly "let freedom ring".