International Woman's Day 2013 Paint Party Friday

Today is International Woman's Day!

 

The Theme this year is

A Promise is a Promise

Time for action to end violence against Women!

Sorry about the font it is typed in low case but is coming up capitals and all different sizes

 ......darn blogger!!  

  I wrote this poem for International Woman's Day 2006 and I try to post it yearly but it doesn't always happen! This time I'm filtering in my Paint Party Friday art work to make it visually more interesting!

 Treat yourself well today!

Mother, daughter, Sister, Lover

I am a woman, and I cry when no one can hear
I have huge dreams, I never share
I have fantasies, I dare not reveal
I have unrequited love, that is never recognized

 I am the white noise in the home 

Persistently preparing, repairing and doing at all times 

I love deeply, with vision, constant hope, pride and joy 

I have a relentless faith, in life, in god, in family, in future

 

I carry the burdens and secrets of others 

Hold guilt to my heart, where empathy, 

 Forgiveness and optimism obstinately reside 

Often suppressing passion, and creativity

 

I do my duties without fail, or resentment

  I stand alone in my failures and regrets 

I give, even when there is but a pittance  

I get less, expect less, and take less, 

feeling like I am less

 

 I am taken for granted, heard with rare acceptance 

I am courageous, beyond my expectations 

I am the unpaid teacher, waitress, homemaker, and psychologist 

I am the solver of problems, and scarcely put first

 

I have thoughts, I feel ashamed to share 

I have wants, I will never reveal 

I have needs that no one will heed 

I have a lonely soul, which I can not seem to feed 

I am a woman, and I cry alone, about what isn’t 

What will never be, what is lost, forgotten, not forgiven 

Not recognized, or realized, or capitalized, I cry about 

Poverty, and love forlorn, for loved ones, and love forgotten

 

I am a woman, resilient in majestic proportions

 I am a woman, of maternal magnificence 

I am a woman, with imperial abilities 

I am a unique woman, the queen of my family 

And heart of my home!

Written for March 8th 2009

Today is International Woman’s Day albeit we have come a long way in North America woman in less developed parts of the world are still suppressed. We're the lucky ones, with many opportunities at our feet, yet our own inhibitions can hold us back from being our true selves. Whether it’s voices of our family, from the media or judgment from our peers, we often suppress development of hidden talents, or unique skills because of insecurity or obligation to others. Sadly becoming our own worst enemy!

There are covert ways society has suppressed woman. Woman's Liberation in actuality cost women dearly. Instead of just taking on the home front, raising children and maintaining the home,with time left for a few self endeavors, women were freed to juggle a job, children, extended family while still keeping the house maintained. Making it difficult to pursue dreams with those mandatory obligations pounding at our front door. Families are now dependent on that second wage, and life in many ways has run amok.

I just heard on the news men embody the largest unemployed in North America, forcing some women to hold down the financial fort completely. It’s sad really. While some men can easily slide in the homemaker role, many men are feeling displaced in these tough economic times, while many women are feeling overwhelmed.  

Now I ask, what are we really teaching our children? Do you see overwhelmed women in your circles? What about the men are they adapting to their new role? Is life better for Women? How many women share in wage parity with men?

A Nice Woman Paint Party Friday

I worked with a woman  

 Every morning

 I'd pass her by and say 

"hello, how are you?" 

 Every morning she'd bend my ear

with a petty, whiny  

negative story

that was her life.

 Not once did she answer

"good  thank you,

and  you?"

 Soon I figured out

  If I  walked briskly by

Spouting a perky "Hi!" as I passed

I could avoid the drama

that she lived

 We both left the job

  A few Years later

Her adult son, 

 a father of twins

 went missing
 never to be found

 Thirteen years passed

Then  on New Years Eve

One of the twins

her twenty year  old grandson

  went missing

  Close to a month passed
 a search party

found him

in a bush 
 deceased.
 No foul play
 suspected.

 When we find life  so
overwhelming and difficult
 we can look to our neighbours 
 knowing  someone out there
is dealing with  something 
even worse!

All we can do is have faith and motor on!!

Go here if you'd rather read "All you need is Cookies"!

This is my contribution to Paint Party Friday and 29 faces in Feb.

Finally after several years of wanting a better phone,
 I will be graduating to android status  in a week or two. 
It's not the latest version but it's a good one!!
I'm excited about joining instagram!!

How about you, what's the happiest thing that 
happened to you this week?

All you need is Cookies!!!

And in the end, only cookies matter!! At least that's what me and Cookie monster say!!! 

Today is Anti bullying day!! Be sure to put your pink on in support!! I don't always think adults are the best example for children!! I may sound old now, but boy, kids pick up our demeanor, attitude and even our sarcastic humor! When we make mean jokes using contemptible humor we are their example!! 

Even television and youtube videos endorse nasty mean behavior. We have raised a generation of desensitized kids!! I still wince when I see a kid fall off a skate board, yet I watch a group of young men bent over in laughter. I could never watch the movie Jack Ass after I heard about the paper cutting incident!! I could hear my brother in the next room teeth clenched making painful hissing sounds as he watch the stupid things guys did to entertain their audience of mostly young boys and men! 

If only life was kinder in every area. My son-in-law, the gentle spirit that he is, thinks Cookies could fix everything!! I tend to agree!! Imagine if we stood on  a corner and gave out homemade yummy cookies for free.  People would start out their day so happy!! Unless of course they were allergic to nuts and the cookies were peanut butter!! Just maybe it would be infectious and those people would pass on the love!! I can fantasize can't I ?

If only people were kinder to each other in every way!! If only we spoke tender words of love to each other under all kinds of duress! If only we shared more kindness to the mentally ill, the poor, the addicted, the  homeless. If only we were less judgmental, more thoughtful, hugged more, held hands, danced in the streets. If only we were less self involved, less derogatory, less defaming, less mean in thoughts and actions. I can  fantasize can't I?  I know it all starts with me!! 

I think I will fix myself first and go from there.....meanwhile I painted an anti bullying cupcake gang! What if today we made  cookies, or cupcakes and gave them away to randoms in honor of Anti Bullying day? I wonder what would transpire? 

In  the end, only cookies and kindness matter and all you really need is love and cookies!! Or cupcakes!!!   

Paint Party Friday " Someday"

Visit both Paint Party Friday and 29 faces to enjoy a collective of wonderful artists!!

"Manette" a card made from a cheerio box

I did the artwork on a separate mix media page then 

modge podged it to the cheerio box card. 

I used sparkly modge podge because it was 

all I had!!

 Cupcake found "Manette"  on the above card kind of freaky, 

she  didn't like it at all. So I gave my friend two cards.

 Despite how Cupcake felt, my friend loved

the Manette card best!!

"Tea lady" relax, kick up your heels and enjoy your tea!

 I visited a blog where the  artist named her painting of a girl," Someday."  Then the other day I was speaking with my brother, which I've done a lot lately since his life is in crisis. He spoke of getting a tattoo....

 Not that I don't think he should do it, the man has sculpted his body to perfection almost his entire life. Eating properly and working out almost daily since the age of twelve.  It's no wonder he has a freaky god like physique for his fifty one years!! 

 He's quite vulnerable so I think he should wait until 

he gets over the hump then do it!

For years now he has  always said to his son " Someday" I'm going to get a tattoo here and here...as he points to his arm and back. Apparently he's been saying it for years, so the last time he said it, his sixteen year old said, " DAD, "SOMEDAY" is NOW!!" 

 Is your "SOMEDAY" now?  Other than cleaning your closets and dieting which seems to always be on the agenda what is it that you have been putting off to do "SOMEDAY?"  

 For me it's putting some of my wise sayings to artwork! I often hear people repeating my sage metaphors, my son in law has even put one in a song. They usually appear in the moment and I forget to write them down..... However I must try to recollect them to add to artwork. That's a goal I hope to achieve this year!!

What is your Someday? Even if it seems unattainable  what do you want to do Someday??? I think writing it down gives the idea energy to grow!!

Be Your Own Valentine!!! Paint Party Friday

 I love Valentines day!! What could be better than celebrating love! Even though I've not had a partner in sixteen years I just love the idea of a day filled with heart shapes, good chocolate, the color red and love! When first on my own I would celebrate by buying myself carnations a week before prices soared for the fourteenth. I have no expectations for that day....I just love the idea of it....the romance movies, decorated store fronts and yummy foods!

I have never let being single get me down. One year I even celebrated with a quirky alone group! We all went downtown for dinner! Each personable quirky single person more than happy to live the solo lifestyle!

 Often there is a stigma with not being paired up, but I find living a creative life takes so much time. It wouldn't be fair to pull another into that mix when all things creative take precedence! If the truth be told I rarely see a couple I'd want to be anyway!

I've been the envy of some married friends, yet being single is always a trade off. As enjoyable as not answering to another is, there can be fiscal challenges.   Being resourceful and handy is imperative for a woman alone! When something goes wrong, you're on your own! 

 Some women are treated as a threat, ousted out of couples events. Not much of a man hunter I was never a threat.  Fortunately I was still included with my married couples. However later in life there is never a shortage of single women to hang with. Having dabbled in  the marriage scene with adverse affect they have no desire to pair up again!

So if you're newly single, dreading  that day of love, do something kind for yourself....

Splurge on your favorite take out meal with some junk food in the mix!
Buy yourself your favorite flowers, a new lipstick, or a new cd.
Visit your favorite place in nature.
Buy a new book, a magazine, a new cozy pair of slippers.
Call another single friend to join you for a movie
Explore somewhere new in your city
Splurge on some fancy new art supplies...
Buy your favorite spirits, make a nice place setting and watch a movie.
What ever you do, don't fret without a partner.
Choose to make yourself happy first!...it's only a day...
it can be anything you choose it to be!
No matter what, love yourself the best way you know how,
because you're worth it!
Be proud of your choices, be proud of yourself!      

What special thing will you do for Valentines day? 

Happy paint party Friday and 29 faces .....I am on #11 only three behind.....