A Sled, A Daddy, A Blueberry....No Cool Runnings Here

A sled....A kiss from Daddy before the ride

Whoops!

A full face plant and a quick recovery with giggling parents!

Grinning from ear to ear

Our version: Cialis and a baby bathtub

The mother of invention: yesterday during the snow I wanted to take Blueberry out to sit in the snow while I threw frisbees to the dog. I took out his bathtub and set him in it to enjoy the cold, snow, and dog. Do you know the Cialis commercial - the one with the lovers in clawfoot bathtubs in national park style backyards demonstrating they are "ready any time, any place" (the backyard view that NONE of us has - and who has a clawfoot outside?) So this is our version of "Cialis for Men." I like it much better :-) because he's in a bathtub with whale eyes and in our public park/backyard. Plus, look at this little man - he's our darling.

A Finn in the Frozen Tundra

Here are Schwartz (left) and Waffles at yesterday's Green Bay Packer game. They guys had a very comfy bus ride, an all you can eat tailgate, and nice seats for the game. Mr. Silly Pants joined the fun while I stayed home (are you kidding me? It's too cold for me to sit up there in the Frozen Tundra on a relaxing Sunday!).
Here's the story of the origin of our Finn. I was an exchange student myself in Finland "way back when" and Schwartz is the son of my host sister. So, he was family even before he arrived this summer. He arrived in August within 24 hours of our return with Blueberry from Ethiopia - so it was trial by fire for all of us together as our family grew from 5 to 7, adding 18 year old and a 5 month old sons to the family fabric in the same weekend.
While we did get our share of raised eyebrows regarding our decision to have Schwartz come and live with us, we knew it would be better than fine. Schwartz's family is wonderful; I have connected again with them in deeper ways than the annual holiday card and occassional e-mail greeting. And, Schwartz has kept our family eye on the teens in ways we didn't anticipate. It's important as a host family to fulfill informal obligations of "seeing America" - Schwartz's presence has kept us on our toes for sporting events, road trips, and attention to the everyday details of "Americana." This has been great for the whole family and has kept the balance between baby needs and teen life in focus.
It's been great - simply ihana (Finnish word for wonderful/lovely).

Ms. Manners in Finland?

Heard last night at our dinner table:
Me: What is the translation of "please" in Finnish. Is it "ole hyvaa?"
Schwartz: There is no word for "please" in Finnish.
Me: I sort of remember that - is there something close?
Schwartz: No, in Finland if you want something, you just take it.

The rest of the dinner table: Laugh Laugh Laugh

I'm sending Ms. Manners to Finland. Even if it is true that I have never heard Schwartz say "please," he always says "Thank you."

Our household is pretty fun.

I love women!

It's true, I'd be lost without the sisterhood. Women are the rock of my life. I've always been interested in gender studies, in using gender to examine social justice through the lives and lens of women, and in the informal economy of women (part of my grad work). I found this site after having coffee and talk time with one of my soul sisters...which makes this find sort of serendipitous. It's called THE GIRL EFFECT and there is a lot of good evidence here that changing girls lives WILL change the world. I'm like, "duh, we know that!"

Women and change are linked - here's a site that makes the case in a sort of postmodern way.
To top off the site there are 2 videos that feature young women from Ethiopia. It's worth a look - and the position paper is very good. If you are interested in the action agenda, read it here.

Funny aside: some of my 9th grade boy students call my cultural anthropology class "women's pride." I think it's a compliment of the highest sort.

Girl Power!

World AIDS Day

Today is the World AIDS day. I live in a com-munity where people I care about suffer from HIV/AIDS. I live in a community where and people I care for are the caregivers and family members and beloveds of someone who suffers from HIV/AIDS. So do you... trust me.

We need to work together to end the suffering of this disease, to end the stigma of this disease, and to stop the spread of this disease. It's not beyond us - and it's within our grasp. Here are some facts:

Even though HIV is a preventable and treatable disease, every 12 seconds someone contracts HIV and every 16 seconds someone dies from AIDS. 50% of all of HIV/AIDS illnesses are suffered by women, and 60% of all HIV/AIDS sufferers are from Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, only 5% of those who need HIV/AIDS medications have access to them.

AIDS.gov states that,

"HIV and AIDS are life threatening conditions. There is no cure yet for HIV/AIDS. The transmission of HIV occurs through three well documented means: 1) having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV; 2) sharing needles and syringes with someone infected with HIV; and 3) being exposed (fetus or infant) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding. HIV transmission can be prevented through avoiding behaviors that expose someone to the means of transmission and by taking preventive measures if identified risk behaviors occur.

HIV is not transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes."

If you're looking for more information on HIV/AIDs, World AIDS Day or ways to get involved, there are some great websites and organizations you can count to eradicate, educate, and enumerate the AIDS crisis. We need to make this happen - we need to end this pandemic. We need to care. We need to - now.

Avert, an international AIDS charity: http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
AIDS.gov: http://www.aids.gov/
In Ethiopia an HIV Orphanage where you can sponsor a child: http://ahopeforchildren.org/

If you aren't going to do anything that requires direct education and effort on your part, participate as a consumer in the Product Red campaign. If you need something for yourself in order to give something to make a difference, go to Starbucks and have one of their (red) drinks - get a (red) ipod - buy a (red) Dell or shop at the Gap for a (red) item. Product Red saves lives. 9 drinks = one day of medicine .... so do it however you can. Please. Now.