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Celebrating Purple in October: Half the Sky Documentary on PBS Tonight
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Pulitzer Prize-winning Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is a best-selling, critically-acclaimed book that has become a PBS...
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My Mother Passed Away Yesterday
Harold and Verna Drake’s wedding, 11/25/44 My godmother called a few moments ago to inform me that my mother passed away yesterday afternoon. Given our history, I was surprised that I immediately...
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Happy Holidays!
Wishing us all peace on earth and very happy holidays! Since my mother’s passing in October, I have been a white hot mess and in one heck of a funk. It seemed best to try to remain as silent as...
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Anti-Bullying Lessons from the Fiscal Cliff
We the People took our country back on election night, and the Democrats discovered they have a pair [of balls] after all. Over the New Year’s holiday, they out-Republicaned the Republicans to bring...
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“Still I Rise” Poem by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou after reading “Still I Rise” You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset...
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#1BillionRising
It’s like a huge feminist tsunami. - Eve Ensler One Billion Rising will start today in Samoa and spread around the world to all 200 countries! One Billion Rising is the largest global day of action to...
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Mark Twain: Explore. Dream. Discover.
Thanks, Julie Owens, for sharing this inspirational quote on FB V-Day was Navigating Uncharted Waters’ 4th anniversary. This inspirational Mark Twain quote which was posted on my Facebook timeline by...
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Do You Feel Sometimes Like Your Head Just Wants to Explode?
The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee by John Hambrock, 2/17/13 This cartoon aptly summarizes my week. The issues are different, but the shizza makes my head just want to explode. Hope y’all had a better...
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Broken China and Big Dreams: Sophie Littlefield’s Inspiration
Sophie Littlefield It’s like I’ve got my dream date to the prom and I just want to go moon and sigh a little. But I promise you this. After I take a little time off to sweep up the broken china that is...
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Book Review: All That Is Bitter & Sweet by Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd “Stay home!” is the message I wanted to deliver to Ashley Judd when I finished reading her memoir, All That Is Bitter & Sweet, yesterday morning. I wanted her to stay home because I...
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Justice: One Billion Rising, 2014
Eve Ensler and Monique Wilson ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to come together in community and solidarity outside places where...
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Movie Review: Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor
When seduction becomes obsession, the last person you can trust is yourself. -Tyler Perry This will shock folks who know me well: I’m falling out of love with Tyler Perry. It started when he became...
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Making Like Madea: “Oh, Hell to the NO!”
Mental Health Awareness Week is the first week in October For the past two weeks, I have been in PTSD/suicidal hell. I lost count of the number of times I have talked myself out of swallowing a bottle...
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Free @ Last. I Am Free @ Last. Freedom Is a State of Mind.
It’s like he stole my soul. - Anna Quindlen, Black and Blue Yesterday was the 21st anniversary of the awful night of the guns. I was trapped and terrified. Why doesn’t she leave? It’s better to...
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Book Review: The Baroness by Hannah Rothschild
Pannonica Moth Butterflies are moths with better public relations. - Gaden Robinson, The Baroness The butterfly is the iconic image for survivors of domestic violence. I was drawn as a moth to a flame...
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YWCA’s Week Without Violence™ Campaign: 10/14 – 10/20/13
Please join me in celebrating the YWCA’s Blog Carnival this week. If you don’t have a blog, please spread the word via social media. Let’s celebrate everyone ~ including us ~ who has survived...
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Elizabeth Gilbert at the YWCA’s Inspire Luncheon
Elizabeth Gilbert and Jean Enersen at the VIP Reception You do not need to be wealthy to be a benefactor. - Elizabeth Gilbert Elizabeth Gilbert was in Everett, WA for the YWCA’s Inspire luncheon on May...
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Book Review: The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy has written the quintessential classic book about domestic violence, child abuse, and dysfunctional family dynamics: The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son. It is your...
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Farewell, Dear Visitors
This is my 548th post, and it will likely be my last. I will never find a survivor story as powerful as Pat Conroy’s The Death of Santini. He captured the survivor experience powerfully, poetically,...
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Holy Crap! I’m Officially an Old Broad.
Thank you, Fran Bumgarner When did this happen? I’ve never admitted to middle-age. Now, I’m officially a crabby old goat, a cranky old broad, a cantankerous old bitch. The operative word is “old.”...
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