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A letter for Congress
“Dear Senator/Representative [Name],
I was a resident of Illinois for 26 years before I moved to London, where I currently reside. Living outside the US has put into perspective how out of control gun violence there has become. In the UK, it is illegal for private citizens to own a handgun. Most of the police don’t even carry guns; yet in two years here, I have never once felt unsafe. In 2013, the US had 106.4 gun deaths per million people. In 2011, the last year for which we have numbers, the UK endured 146 guns deaths total (2.3 gun deaths per million people). Our system has failed us.
I know it’s unrealistic that such drastic measures could be taken in the US, at least in the immediate future, but at the very least, common sense laws must be passed. As your constituent, I want to see the implementation of the following: universal background checks, the end of all open carry laws, a heavy bullet tax, closing the loopholes in gun trafficking laws, and the outlaw of all assault weapons. I am also in favor of a mandatory gun buyback program, similar to what Australia enacted, though I recognize this is a much larger hill to climb. Illinois has made progress with gun safety, but it’s not enough. We need federal action.
I’m tired of worrying when the latest list of victims is going to include a name I recognize. I’m tired of trying to explain to my non-American friends why we’re the only advanced country in the world that can’t get gun violence under control. I’m tired of feeling that our elected officials care more about the NRA’s interests than mine.
I don’t want to feel safer abroad than at home, but I do. When I move back to the US, I don’t want to fear movie theaters, college campuses and restaurants. I don’t want to be confined to my apartment to stay out of harm’s way.
For a country that prides itself on freedom, I don’t feel very free.
I want a safer community with much less gun violence. Our right to go to school and work without being shot is more important than our right to bear arms. We have not elected you for your thoughts and prayers. It is time to take action. We cannot do this without you.”
I sent this to my Illinois senators and representative this morning. Just as thoughts and prayers are not enough, neither is being sickened or outraged on social media. We can’t keep watching this happen. Please feel free to use the applicable parts of my letter to write your own, as long as it means you’ll take action. As @astuchwouldhaveit shared, you can find your congresspeople at contactingthecongress.org/.
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HI Friends,
Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day 2015!
So, I’ve had my eye on this Mansur Gavriel tote for a little while. I’d like to buy it but the truth is, I don’t need it and when I spend my money on material things (which I do…too much of the time) it only fills a void temporarily. The excitement associated with a new accessory dissipates pretty quickly and I often wish I had put my $$$ towards something more substantial, useful, or helpful. So, I’m not going to buy the bag (but you agree that it’s pretty, right?).
Instead…
For every LIKE that this post gets, I’ll donate $1 towards Pancreatic Cancer Research and Support (donating to Pancreatic Cancer Network and Project Purple). There is a cap on my giving but I promise it’s not less than the aforementioned bag. REBLOG if you want (but I don’t blame you if you’d prefer to keep my mug off your Tumblr dashboard).
So…
I’m wearing a (sparkly) purple ribbon today in hopes that people will ask me what it’s for. I’ll tell them (and you) that it’s to raise awareness for Pancreatic Cancer because it’s a form of the disease that has far too little research, dollars, and support being thrown at it. Here are some facts…
PC is terminal. We hope for miracles but when diagnosed late, there is no beating this disease.
PC patients are rarely diagnosed prior to finding it at Stage IV and it’s often referred to as the “silent killer” of cancers.
PC has the lowest survival rate out of all major cancers.
73% of those diagnosed will die within one year.
Only 5% of PC patients have a five-year survival rate.
Listen…
I’m not trying to say that the cancer that took my mom’s life is the special unicorn of cancers that should get more attention than lung, brain, blood, or any other form of the disease. ALL cancers need research, funding, focus and attention because ALL cancers need a CURE. I’m simply hoping that my little post will bring a smidge of awareness to PC and if I reach just one new person, then I’ve done my job. Thanks guys…and call your mom today.
(I’m about to press the ‘POST’ button and I feel good about it. THAT is JOY!)
XO, Em
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Just finished working for the night. I needed this.
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Feminism
Today I became a feminist. Between the car dealer trying to over charge me by $300 cause I'm a woman and wouldn't notice and my boss telling me in so many words he doesn't trust that I have some work setup correctly I'm over it. (Said boss has 2 girls - he should know better)
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Loving someone should be hard and active, not easy and passive. When you sign up to actually love people – no fakers allowed – then you sign up for a life of runny noses, awkward car rides, hugs that last too long, pauses that demand no noise, and admitting you were wrong. If you want to actually love people then you have to be willing to be wrong.
Love is forgiveness. And it’s atonement. And it’s basically like putting your soul in a washing machine – it’s not some gentle cycle, it’s a fierce whipping that rings you out good.
It makes the stains fade.
Best of all, it fills the holes.
Hannah Brencher (via whatyoushare)
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Hockey players as Disney characters (click the pics for description)
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Vacation Day 1
Disneyland
I went on a tour of the park and got to see some exclusive stuff. Also interesting to learn more about Walt Disney.
The park was not too crowded since I went on a Thursday. And I was able to ride most rides. My only complaint they had technical difficulties and there were no fireworks.
Next up road trippin up HWY 1!
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Spiders
I won't kill them if they are not encroaching on my space. But this ginormous bitch was making her web on my lounge chair. With only 2 weeks left to properly get a tan this one had to go. Lysol does kill spiders and gives the outdoors a nice linen fresh scent! No need for Raid! Me - 1 Ginormous Bitch Spider - 0 I have thought the rest of the spider family is probably looking for me now!
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Stop chasing butterflies and start chasing your ambitions. Chase your promotion. Chase your bucket list. Chase your airplane. Chase your dreams. Chase the sunrise. Chase your friends in flag football. Chase the spring. Chase the winter. Chase laughter. Chase the vodka with tonic. Chase memories.
Stop chasing love, and let love find you.
The right one will collide right into you and smack you hard when you least expect it. So stop wasting time. So stop wasting your life. Chase destiny, because destiny is the only forever that is meant to be.
Sonya Matejko (via killer-graces)
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Can someone please invent the quick cool straightener. Currently mine is in the freezer. I need to pack it for vacation.
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Conference Calls
When you set up a call you are the host. So when you have people waiting on the line for 15 min. Don't ask them for the host code. Some people don't deserve the jobs they have.
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This is hilarious and I can totally relate. I dread having my period at the office for this reason.
Forever haunted by the awkwardness of my youth
When I was in 7th grade I was still working out the kinks of menstruation management and put a pad (oh god, pads) in between my vest and skirt (Catholic school uniforms, amirite?) for what I thought would be safe keeping until its usage was required. I didn’t even realize I’d lost it until the end of the day when a bunch of students were making a HUGE commotion in the back of the room, as adolescents are wont to do, all crowded around the little pink square. My stomach sank all the way through the balls of my feet and sure enough, when I felt under my vest, it was gone. That pad was definitely mine. I was so completely mortified I wouldn’t even confess to my best best friend that it had been mine until a year later when I could be sure no one would disown me or pretend our relationship had never existed. This event - even though NO ONE ever knew it was mine - forever traumatized me.
Case in point: 15 (jesus, 15?) years later, I still nervously hover one hand over the pocket containing sanitary material, with my thumb looped in said pocket like an awkward cowboy, in case the tampon wants to.. jump out? or something?
In summation, people often ask what’s the worst that could happen when you fail. THIS. You could be haunted by a teeny tiny mistake you didn’t know you made as a teenager until you’re safely enclosed in your coffin/scattered around the Earth and can FINALLY REST IN PEACE.
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Week 4
10.5 miles not to shabby. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
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