diabola in musica

because perfection isn't easy

I admit: I am being immature. This morning, I had a very long discussion with family after someone discovered a picture of me in this corset on Facebook. The conversation was civil, but we simply couldn’t see eye-to-eye. (I don’t think we even agreed to disagree.) We are too stubborn, and have too differing views on sartorial choices and expressions of sexuality for women. Though the discussion ended politely, my feathers were still ruffled. So today, when I post this picture of myself in a corset, I am raising an eyebrow at my family. Who are they to say what I can and cannot show to the world? It is a bit immature. Among the points family made were that women’ shouldn’t be valued solely on looks and sexuality. I don’t disagree. The implication, however, is that there is something wrong with expressing sexuality, that any allusion would diminish whatever value in my intellect and creativity. Instead, I should express my mind, not my body. I disagree. I say that I should do both. There is nothing inherently wrong or inappropriate with celebrating beauty or sexuality. There is also nothing wrong with celebrating something awesome, like a mint green corset that looks great with an orange collar. What is wrong is overvaluing appearance and sexuality to the exclusion of other qualities. Sometimes I want to be recognized for my appearance. Other times I want to be recognized for my mind. I know I am so much more than one or the other. I am both. We can all be both. Every time I post a picture of myself in a corset, I an raising my eyebrow at the world. Zoom

I admit: I am being immature.

This morning, I had a very long discussion with family after someone discovered a picture of me in this corset on Facebook. The conversation was civil, but we simply couldn’t see eye-to-eye. (I don’t think we even agreed to disagree.) We are too stubborn, and have too differing views on sartorial choices and expressions of sexuality for women. Though the discussion ended politely, my feathers were still ruffled. So today, when I post this picture of myself in a corset, I am raising an eyebrow at my family. Who are they to say what I can and cannot show to the world?

It is a bit immature.

Among the points family made were that women’ shouldn’t be valued solely on looks and sexuality. I don’t disagree. The implication, however, is that there is something wrong with expressing sexuality, that any allusion would diminish whatever value in my intellect and creativity. Instead, I should express my mind, not my body. I disagree. I say that I should do both.

There is nothing inherently wrong or inappropriate with celebrating beauty or sexuality. There is also nothing wrong with celebrating something awesome, like a mint green corset that looks great with an orange collar. What is wrong is overvaluing appearance and sexuality to the exclusion of other qualities. Sometimes I want to be recognized for my appearance. Other times I want to be recognized for my mind. I know I am so much more than one or the other. I am both. We can all be both.

Every time I post a picture of myself in a corset, I an raising my eyebrow at the world.

Election Night, Iowa Edition

ME: The Iowa caucus process is complicated. There are separate systems for each party. For the Republicans, most voters write their candidate's name. Some do a hand count, but others get a printed ballot. Also, the caucus doesn't directly select the delegates that go to Republican National Convention. There are, I think, three additional levels of delegate selection before the RNC. Iowa is the first in the nation to have elections, but they are one of the last to choose delegates.

DAD: With a system that complicated, no wonder. They need the time.

Memory Implant Gives Rats Sharper Recollection »
In true Ying fashion, we did Mother’s Day wrong. Last week, my brother and I were shopping for groceries when I commented that the holiday was that Sunday. We then hurried to find ingredients for a proper celebratory meal—white sauce pizza with garlic, basil, and tomato with cheesecake for dessert. Mother was very appreciative of the gesture, but then we learned that Mother’s Day landed on the second Sunday of May, not the first. Oops. Yesterday, I made up for my mistake by creating a fruit salad topped with brown sugar and a yogurt dressing flavored with lemon and honey. Mother also enjoyed this dessert very much, and I was glad to have done a little something for her, especially after the many years of care and support for a daughter who couldn’t remember what day it was. But she gets two Mother’s Days from my absent-mindedness. I think that’s fair enough trade. Zoom

In true Ying fashion, we did Mother’s Day wrong. Last week, my brother and I were shopping for groceries when I commented that the holiday was that Sunday. We then hurried to find ingredients for a proper celebratory meal—white sauce pizza with garlic, basil, and tomato with cheesecake for dessert. Mother was very appreciative of the gesture, but then we learned that Mother’s Day landed on the second Sunday of May, not the first. Oops.

Yesterday, I made up for my mistake by creating a fruit salad topped with brown sugar and a yogurt dressing flavored with lemon and honey. Mother also enjoyed this dessert very much, and I was glad to have done a little something for her, especially after the many years of care and support for a daughter who couldn’t remember what day it was.

But she gets two Mother’s Days from my absent-mindedness. I think that’s fair enough trade.