I had a huge broom at one point, but when we put in the parking spot, the ground got too wet and it died. So I planted another (slightly smaller) in a different location, and we were actually home this year to see it bloom! (YAY!)

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Yeah, this weather is stupid. I have a cold and I’m distracted, yet I’m here for you, remembering IN ADVANCE the game of word association. Today’s word is: dedication

(although in theory, the word could be sarcasm)

An interesting conversation occurred recently on Twitter. I was joking about my bad attitude, and said, “My attitude stems from ‘you’re calling me a bitch like that’s a BAD thing.'”

I was surprised to learn there are still women for whom that word has a sting and a bite.

When I was in college, I read (in Cosmo of all places) an article on the word “bitch,” which pretty much said that men use it as a term to put uppity women in their place. You know, like when we’re being strong, and assertive, and standing up for ourselves.

That was the point when I decided that the word bitch would never bother me, because I wanted to be a strong woman.

Of course, I spent several years confused about the term “strong woman” and precisely what that meant, (Note to my college aged self: You’re doing it completely wrong.) but eventually I came to terms with what it meant to me to be a strong woman, and I’ve been working on it ever since.

A couple years after college I came upon Elizabeth Wurtzel’s book Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women (I’m amazed that the cover on the current version is toned done from the cover on the version I have, which I love. How did a book praising strong women get its cover toned down?), which reinforced that idea.

…I intend to do what I want to do and be whom I want to be and answer only to myself: that is, quite simply, the bitch philosophy…

Here’s the thing, it’s not shocking for a man to believe and act in such a manner, but–even today–we’re still fighting over what feminism is or should be or who should make the sammich. (Every time I see one of the arguments I want to shut all participants in a very small, very dark basement, for a very long time.)

We can have all the debates about gender equality and sexism and male privilege we want, but it seems to me that as long as women are called bitches for saying what they think and for standing up for what they believe, it’s pretty clear what the state of things really is.

Misogyny still exists. Some of us still deal with it Every Single Day. And as long as it does I’ll willingly and proudly take the title of bitch. I will not sit down and shut up and be nice, just because that’s what society expects me to do.

I will laugh loudly. I will be brash and outspoken. I will tell you my opinion and you are free to debate me but you have to use rational arguments and logic. I will stand up tall and make my presence known and not stand in a corner waiting to be acknowledged.

I will continue be a bitch, and I’ll continue to proud to be called one.

Here are some non-Botanic garden flower pictures.

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Denver Museum of Nature and Science

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Because I am inexplicably drawn to cemeteries, Michael and I walked to the Parker Cemetery.

It was somewhat odd–I’m used to cemeteries around here, and found myself somewhat shocked at how recent the stones of the founders were. Of course, I’m pretty sure at least some of the stones had been replaced.

Plot and stones of the founders of Parker, Co.

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Monday we went to the Denver Botanic Gardens. The visit would have been more enjoyable if there hadn’t been grade-schoolers running and screaming and generally being out-of-control maniacs on the paths.

But aside from that, it was a beautiful day, and there were lots of spring flowers.

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Our other hike was at Red Rocks, which I am told is a venue where music is sometimes played. I thought it was a lovely hike.

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We spent a week in Denver, hanging out the Janiece and Anne and Susan and Stacy (and attendant family members) and not only did we have a wonderful time, I was able to be convincing of the need for hikes.

Our first trip was to Dinosaur Ridge, which is a free park. It was a steep hike in parts, but beautiful, and I was sorry my ankle didn’t like the climbing, because I would have liked to have spent more time there.
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You know how when you go to the automatic car wash, you often get a “pre-soak” where they drip soapy water on your car and let it soak in for about 20 seconds?

That pre-soak lead me to wonder–would an automatic car wash get your car cleaner if you went when it was raining. If a pre soak does anything at all, then I would think that your car already being wet from the rain would help soak the grime off.

Any argument as to why this would not be so?

Sorry. Been away having fun, and left this place to collect dust. This week’s word is: yellow

Another busy week so, it’s things off the top of my head:

round
flip
plug
light
dark
yellow

Oops! Sorry!

Today’s word is: inconsistent

Friday was an absolutely beautiful day, but I had to restrain myself and not walk all over creation, as I am supposed to be resting my ankle.

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