Thursday, May 8, 2008

The Taboo Topic, or Finally Coming Out of the Bathroom

There is one topic people won’t talk about. Especially women. Just won’t talk about it. I’m not referring to AIDS, sexual activity, tampons, incontinence, or erectile dysfunction. Not referring to jock itch, female baldness, unibrows, or tatoos. Oh no. All of these topics are on television commercials, talk shows, and around dinner tables. The topic I’m talking about is …

FEMALE FACIAL HAIR.

No one will talk about it. Not even Oprah will talk about it.

Why? It’s embarrassing, that’s why. When was the last time you saw a runway model with a beard? When was the last time you saw a female star with a mustache? NEVER. It’s considered unfeminine to sport little hairs on the face. God forbid if you have a mole with hair sticking out of it. It’s something your mother never told you about. Because we don’t talk about it.

Well ladies, let’s face it (no pun intended), if you are over 45 and heading into menopause, going through menopause, or finally done with going through menopause, you’ve got facial hair. You lucky ones are the ones with very fine, pale hair. The rest of us are stuck traveling down the path of facial hair removal.

About five years ago there was breaking news of a new drug for women to eliminate facial hair. A friend said “if it’s true, I’M THERE!!!!” Not sure what happened to it exactly. Heard one rumor that it was effective, but the side effect was female baldness. Figures. No wonder it didn’t pass the FDA.

Between eyebrows, the gross hairs on the neck, that are so embedded into the skin it takes a strong pair of tweezers to remove, the mustache that gets courser each year, and then the beard, we women spend a lot of time in the bathroom. We spend this time plucking, snipping, waxing and shaving. Yes, I said shaving.

Now, if this was a male problem, you can bet there would be a solution to this problem. There might even be a decent electric razor to remove FEMALE FACIAL HAIR. Okay, there’s got to be some women out there who have some influence, and who have FEMALE FACIAL HAIR. Ladies, you need to speak up. Oprah, you need to make this a personal campaign.

I for one am stepping out of the bathroom ladies. I HAVE FEMALE FACIAL HAIR AND AM PROUD OF IT. It proves to the world I no longer have estrogen raging through my body. It proves I have reached the age of no more periods, no more fear of pregnancy, no more hot flashes, and no more night sweats. It proves I am ready to possess my own electric razor, not to shave the legs (another story altogether), but to shave my mustache and beard each morning. I have become liberated from hot wax and tweezers around my nose and lips. I am ready to stand in front of the mirror with my husband and shave in unison.

I know you are out there ladies. I have just one friend who broke the ice on the topic several years back, which gave me the courage to buy my own razor. Just one. I have another friend who whispered to me the other night that she has been shaving for a while now. That’s okay, a whisper is better than silence.

Don’t be afraid to admit you have FEMALE FACIAL HAIR. Take courage and go to the store and buy your own razor and use it with pride!

TTFN

Sue

Monday, May 5, 2008

The Joys of a Spring Morning

Sunday was a true blessing. The day started out beautiful with the sun coming out at 6:30 a.m., just in time for Abby to contemplate her day.
Giving Edgar time to feel good again and watch the Clematis grow from slat to slat.

Warm enough for Louie and Johnny to nap in the morning sun.
Warm and sunny enough for Edgar to say "it feels good to feel good."
I spent the whole morning on the deck with the animals and knit. This is my spring wool sock, the sock I'm knitting to wear this Spring with the idea in mind it will be too warm to wear this Spring. The leg was done at 9:00 a.m.
The heel flap by 10:00 a.m.
The heel turn was completed by 11:00 a.m.

And the gusset was well on it's way by noon.
I planted my Blue Lake beans, and replanted peas. I snoozed, and knit.

Cynthia and Susan came over for dinner and to share a prized piece of Alaskan Halibut Jeff gave us.

All in all, a jewel of a day.

TTFN

Sue


Saturday, May 3, 2008

"I won't be in today ..."

I had to stay home from work yesterday because Edgar has been sick. It's been a long, long time since I've had to call in to work and tell them I needed to stay home with a sick "child." Our dear Edgar apparently ate something and has had a rough time with it. I came home on Tuesday to a "mess" so David did doggie duty on Wednesday. He checked in on Edgar and all of the others and Edgar was just fine. On Thursday I came home to a mess again, but this time Edgar was coughing up blood, along with everything else. Off to the vet for xrays, blood tests, and hydration. The poor dog had lost 6 pounds and had a fever. I stayed home yesterday to keep an eye on him.

Fortunately, it was about 62 degrees outside and the sun was doing it's best to come out. I put on my spring fleece, wool socks and fuzzy slippers and spent most of the day outside on the deck with Edgar and his buddies. This made Edgar happy, and I am happy to say he is feeling much better.


While enjoying the "warmer" weather I knit. I have finished my first spring wool sock, and have started the second one.
The yarn is the heavenly machine washable merino wool from Fancy Image Yarn in Shelton, Washington. I purchased this yarn at Madrona this year. I am knitting on size 1 needles, using the Magic Loop technique. I love doing my circular knitting using the Magic Loop. I have knit socks on double points and it's okay, but have decided I'm a Magic Loop kind of gal. I know there are tutorials on the web showing how to do this technique, but if you are interested in trying the Magic Loop, buy this little book. It invaluable, and written very well.
The leg of the sock is done in a garter rib, which I think is a lovely way to show off this yarn. It adds some interest to a full rib leg as well. The foot was done in plain knit.
I've started the second sock and am about half way done with the leg.

When I started my spring wool socks project I told God I wasn't trying to do His job with the weather, but who knows ... it has gotten warmer since I started on these socks.

Today we are off to breakfast, do some errands, and then I need to replant my pea patch. Only half of the seeds I planted in March have germinated. I was late in planting the peas as it was, but two days after I planted them, we had winter move in again.

I'm knitting as fast as I can.

TTFN

Sue