50 things to do before you’re 11 and ¾

So The National Trust is a UK charity that specialises in restoring and preserving historical buildings and gardens.  It might do more than that, but that's what I know about them.  Anyway, it seems to be common knowledge that kids don;t spend as much time outdoors as they used to, so the National Trust came up with a list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 and ¾.

I like lists.  I thought I'd go through and see what I'd done!  With commentary, of course.  Turns out that I've done 38 out of 50.  Not bad eh?  I found the list on the parents part of their website here: https://www.50things.org.uk/parents-area.aspx

The few that were missing I found from a google search.

What I'd like to know, is how many of this stuff you guys have done, and if there's a difference between folk who grew up in the UK, and folk who grew up elsewhere.  I guess climate of your country will make a difference to some of them.  Anyway, have a read and let me know.

1.Climb a tree

Yes – although as I’m a coward I am easily scared by the threat of falling.  My boyfriend is much better at this than me.  And still likes climbing trees. And scaffolding.  And anything he shouldn't!

2. Roll down a really big hill

Yes – mind the cowpats though.  And the rocks.

 

3. Camp out in the wild

Yes – I’m not a fan. I went with the girl guides and also on one family camping tree to the bay of biscay in France. That wasn’t exactly in the wild, though we did find a big fat hedgehog under the tent, and a huge jellyfish washed up on the beach.  In fact that jellyfish is what scared me from going in the sea for the next 10 years or so.

4. Build a den

Yes – although a lot of these were done in the house with chairs, the sofa and a duvet cover.  I used to love that  I've also done this as an adult. It's still fun.

 

5. Skim a stone
Yes - but I never got the hang of it.  I probably gave up after a few goes.

6. Run around in the rain
Yep!  This is also fun as a teenager.

7. Fly a kite

My Dad loved doing this with us.  We always had problems untangling the kite strings.

 

8. Catch a fish with a net

Done that in Ireland.  It was on a fish farm so it wasn’t exactly difficult.  I remember having to bash the fish in the head to kill it then taking it home and cooking it.  One of them excreted a lot of poo when my mum was cleaning it.  Gross..

I think the national trust wants you to catch the fish then put it back in the water.

9. Eat an apple straight from a tree

Very much so. And pears.  My dad grew the best pears.  At their best when they are slightly under-ripe.

10. Play conkers

Yes.  But I never really saw the point.

 

11. Throw some snow

Yes. But the coldness of the snow meant I have never enjoyed snowball fights.  Making snow angels, now that’s far more fun.

 

12. Hunt for treasure on the beach

I still do this now!

 

13. Make a mud pie

I remember doing this as a very young child.

14. Dam a stream

Yes - this is so much fun!  It was never anything spectacular.  Just little dams.  But still fun.

 

15. Go sledging

I’ve done this twice in my life. Once as a young teenager, where another sledge knocked into me and left me winded.  It was my first experience of being winded and I found it very interesting, in a detached sort of way. I remember thinking so this is hat winded means! This is how it feels not to be able to breathe!

The second time I went was at university, and it was awesome.

 

16. Bury someone in the sand

Not done this, not seriously.  I’ve buried feet in the sand plenty of times.  That’s really pleasurable.

17. Set up a snail race

I think I may have watched snail race, but I’ve never set one up. I dislike snails.  They are marginally above slugs on my scale of things to be afeard of.

 

18. Balance on a fallen tree

I ADORE playing on trees.  Even as an adult.  Especially as an adult.

19. Swing on a rope swing

Not sure if did this as a kid.  I may have been too fearful.  I’ve done it as an adult though.  Much fun was had.

 

20. Make a mud slide

Nooooo.... not sure what this means actually.

21. Eat blackberries growing in the wild

Yepski!  It’s a good idea to make sure they are ripe, otherwise they are sour tasting and will give you bad guts.

22. Take a look inside a tree

Hmm.  Not sure about this one.  I think I always wanted to, but there was a dearth of hollow trees wherever I looked.

23. Visit an island

This is where My memories get confused.  I could say yes, but I may just have placed scenes from the hounds of the morrigan or various Enid Blyton books into my memory.

24. Feel like you're flying in the wind
Oh yes.  I'd be surprised if anyone who goes outside ever has never experienced this.


25. Make a grass trumpet
Erm, again, I'm not sure what this means.  I've tried to whistle on grass.  Never got the hang of that.

26. Hunt for fossils and bones

Yes.  Not found any though.

27. Watch the sun wake up

I highly doubt this. I have never been a morning person.  From about 15 upwards I could stay up all night and watch the sun rise, but I always found it very boring.  Sunset is much more interesting.

28. Climb a huge hill

I expect so.  No specific memories come to mind, but we did have some good walks on the Yorkshire moors when I was young.  I climbed up Arthur’s seat in Edinburgh as an adult, when on a hen party a few years ago.

29. Get behind a waterfall

Like number 23, I have no idea if I’ve done this or if I’m just filching scenes from books and films.

 

30. Feed a bird from your hand 
Sadly no.  As an adult yes! I've fed the swans near our house. In my new house I hope to tame a robin!

31. Hunt for bugs
Of course.

32. Find some frogspawn

Yes.  In my primary school’s pond there was frogspawn. We all got taken out o look at it.  I remember touching it and being grossed out by the slimy nature of it.

33. Catch a butterfly in a net

Nope.

 

34. Track wild animals
If this means successfully, then no.  If it means  tried to, without any actual knowledge, then of course!

35. Discover what's in a pond

Probably.  I expect when poking at frogspawn we also looked at the other pondlife.

36. Call an owl

Unfortunately no.  But  if my house move goes well I’ll be living next to some woods, so maybe then eh?

37. Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool

I remember looking at rock pools, but always being disappointed there weren’t exciting things in there.  I felt like Enid Blyton books had lied to me. 

38. Bring up a butterfly

No. But I want to now.

39. Catch a crab

Erm... I’m really not sure...

40. Go on a nature walk at night

I cannot recall if I’ve ever done this.

41. Plant it, grow it, eat it

My dad did.  He tried to get me interested in gardening.  It didn't work.  Does that count?  Oh hang on, I may have grown some cress once.

42. Go wild swimming

I think so.  Probably before I saw the massive jellyfish on the beach in France.

 

43. Go rafting

I remember building a raft on a school trip.  I don’t think we ever got on it though.

 

44. Light a fire without matches

I remember trying to do this.  Possibly using the rubbing sticks together vigorously method.  Possibly at Girl Guides.  I don’t think it worked.

 

45. Find your way with a map and a compass

Yep!  At Girl Guides, or a school trip.  Or both, perhaps.

 

46. Try bouldering

I don’t think I know what this is.

 

47. Cook on a campfire

Yes,  At guide camping trips. And at Reading festival as an adult. I hated it.  Still do.

 

48. Try abseiling

Yes, on a school trip to Wales.  I was missing a contact lens, I was scared of heights, but after I’d gone over the edge I loved it. I would like to do it again.

 

49. Find a geocache

As an adult I did this.  I think was aged about 23.

50. Canoe down a river

Yes,  I was probably terrified (I was terrified of a lot of things).  I did it on the school trip to Wales.

So, what do you reckon?  how many of these have you done?

Just two little tattoos (a crosspost)

A friend of mine recently wrote an excellent post on tattoos, bodily autonomy and parental control, in response to an article on the Guardian which was full of overblown hysterics regarding one mother's reactions to her son's tattoo.  I'm crossposting it here, because it's such a good, considered, well thought out response.

-----------------------

As I am in my mid-twenties, and find myself part of a very similar situation, I wanted to respond directly to Tess Morgan’s recent article in the Guardian. And just as I know her hysterical reaction is not indicative of all mothers, I do not assume to speak for anyone other than myself. I also hesitate to make this too-specifically about my own situation as, unlike Tess - only crudely hidden with a pseudonym, I don’t want to step on the toes of anyone else’s privacy. I hope I can paint reactions with broad enough brushstrokes.

Tess’ article reads like a (somewhat overblown) itinerary of my own parents’ reactions to my two tattoos. And although I was reasonably unaware of how revulsed they were by the idea of tattoos before getting inked, it sounds like her son and I had similar experiences.

One key difference is that I am female - usually I would make no issue of this, but Tess explains why her associations of men with tattoos are so strong, and so abhorrent. And this is something that fascinates me. This level of prejudice, from someone claiming to be liberal, is typical of the Guardian reading hypocrisy. It seems her deepest fear is that her son will instantly become (or at least be seen as) a thug with a dog on a chain. This boy is clearly more intelligent and open-minded than his mother. What a terrible advert for middle-class sneering. ‘On a chain!!’

In my case, I am a woman. Largely speaking we are a society absent of older women with tattoos. If they have them, we do not see them. There are likely to be few women currently in their seventies with tattoos. I want to see these taboos broken. I want to be part of changing what women are allowed to explore and expose. Tess realises her reaction may just be what older women feel. I want these prudish expectations of women to evaporate. I no more want to be objectified by a middle-aged woman than I do by any man. The only thing I can do is fight by refusing to cover, for others, the markings I have chosen.


image taken by Tom Cops

When imagining my body at seventy, my parents think I will regret my (carefully considered) choices. But there is something beautiful and freeing in trusting yourself, trusting that, whether or not fashions change and you no longer like the aesthetic you chose, that picture is now a part of your fabric. It has become as familiar and pleasing as any part of your body. You have lived with it for nearly as long. My tattoos were developed with people I love, during some of the best experiences of my life, and even if my relationship to those people were to change, what better reminder of the possibilities of human interaction?

Tess assumes tattoos are fashionable, but that is not right, they are a culture in themselves. And whereas they historically told the world ‘I am part of this specific thing’, with symbols to delineate denominations, they now say whatever an individual chooses.

Tess’ images of death and repeated reference to the fact her son ‘couldn’t have done anything to hurt me more’ are utterly ridiculous and I’m sure only push her level-headed sounding son further away. He has done nothing to her. When he makes any other decision I’m sure he doesn’t have to consider his parents’ judgement, because until that point he has obviously received excesses of unconditional love, reinforcing his every thought.

It seems prejudice is nearly all of what this reaction comes down to. But if a tattoo is going to change how someone thinks of me, well then it is a good way of filtering out the idiots before I get emotionally involved with them. If someone had a problem with what I chose to wear, I would not change for them, as it is a big part of who I am. My parents would not want me to. I had hoped they would see this in that light.


image via

As in the case of Tess’ son, my tattoos are easily covered for working situations, so they will never stop me from achieving the high-powered jobs parents think their children want. And surely a tattoo is an indication of the self-belief and arrogance you need to reach the top of any career chain.
My parents always want me to feel sure of myself, comfortable in my own skin. And despite their limitless faith in me and praise, I am as full of doubt and self-deprecation as everyone else. Getting my two tattoos signalled the first time I had felt certain of anything, the first time I confidently made a decision that benefited and affected only me. I naturally satellite my movements around others, my views are occasionally malleable and open to debate. I spend a lot of time agonising over this. It’s something I’m intensely aware of and something I want to change. I felt immensely happy when, contrary to this trait, I evolved the certainty to add something to myself. Something I would glimpse in the mirror, something for and about myself, and the few people involved in their conception.

It soon transpired the tattoos were not only affecting me, they were affecting my parents even more. The idea that a parent has the kind of connection Tess describes to the body of their child is disturbing. It makes me never want to have children. To assume any kind of authority over someone else’s body, whether or not they started life in your womb or testicles, is not right. Even if that authority originates in love and devotion.

It is my body. It is my body. And just in case it hasn’t sunk in, it is my body. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith said a brilliant thing about their daughter Willow:
“We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re in control of her body? If I teach her that I’m in charge of whether or not she can touch her hair, she’s going to replace me with some other man when she goes out in the world. She can’t cut my hair but that’s her hair. She has got to have command of her body. So when she goes out into the world, she’s going out with a command that it is hers.”

(This should be a picture of Willow Pinkett Smith but the image won't copy over.  Please go to Grace's original post to view it)
image via

When Tess hazards that her son gave her no thought when getting the tattoo, she is right. She says he ‘took a meat cleaver to my apron strings’, but what would be a better sign of a loving, empathetic, motherly connection than to accept her son for whatever decisions he makes, whatever he chooses to wear, be or paint himself with? Even if this turns out to be a mistake, for god’s sake support him in that too. You clearly want to be involved.

If anything, Tess has untied the strings with her own hyperbolic rage and petty childish response to snobbish prejudice.

I have still never regretted my tattoos for a single second. But the only thing that has made me feel any unease has been my parents. I am hoping that Tess will do as her son says, re-examine her prejudices and, to put it bluntly, chill the fuck out. My parents have.


--------------------

Wonderfully put Grace.  Questions about parent/child bodily autonomy have been at the forefront of my mind recently, as my sister had her first child 5 months ago.  My mother has got very protective and controlling about myself, my sister and her new granddaughter since then, and I think it's all tied up with feelings of ownership that she's got over us.  Obviously, this makes me very uncomfortable.  So, this post is very timely for me.


I do not have any tattoos, but I do have piercings, I've written about them here.

Please, teach basic science

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV in an interview posted Sunday. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

From here.

A Republican Senate Nominee said that. You'd think he's be fairly bright.  He should know better.  Man, if you're gonna oppose abortion please use facts to back up your views, not made up science.

Super Silly Sunday

This was doing the rounds on twitter recently.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Ha!

Super Sexy Saturday

I was gonan do just one post, but heck, when I searched images of Black Canary, loads came up, so let's make today's post a Canary spectacular.  Of course, quite a few images of just Dinah are porn or just bad, or they are her doing heroic stuff.  I don't really want the heroic stuff, b/c when she's being heroic my main thought is she's heroic, not sexy.  So I've included a few images of her with Ollie as well.  Enjoy!

 (The above is by Paolo Rivera)

Super Sexy Saturday

It's the original cover to Superman/Batman 40.  I don't think I've used it before.  It caused an outcry when first released on t'internet and the final cover was this image instead.  I think the final one is boring.

I love this image.  Bekka is the goddess of lust, this suits that.  I don't think it's sexist at all.  I don't think it demeans her or demeans Bruce.  I just think it's a fabulous, hot image.

Jericho

I'm reading pre crisis Teen Titans and the treatment of jericho is getting me really cross.

He doesn't get internal narrative boxes. He gets description boxes telling us what he's thinking, but they are not thoughts.  everybody else gets internal narrative, but not Joe.  he is silenced in all ways possible.
This is a problem because he is mute.  He isn't deaf, his hearing is absolutely fine, but he can't speak so he uses American sign language to communicate (when the rest of his team can be bothered to learn it that is).  So because he can't verbally speak and the rest of the team can't understand him, we never get to hear what it's in his head either.  which is bullshit. he's not an empty vessel just because no other bugger can understand him.

F'rinstance, if he got an internal narrative box here I bet he's be saying something like 'ye gods that woman's soul self is horrendous what the fuck just happened I'm in a lot of pain.  you bloody arseholes why can't you understand me dammit you bunch of selfish buggers'.

and the phrase' searching for concepts no sign language was designed to convey' irks me no end. a) it wasn't designed, b) sign languages can convey concepts of soul searching horror very well thank you, c) a better way to describe his feeling would be to say something like 'searching for concepts no human being ever thought to convey'.


Lazy fucking writing.

Batman Friday!

So I wore a Bat belt buckle to work a few months back, and it was a Friday, so I decided every Friday is Batman Friday.

Since then I've been encouraging people to tell me their favourite Batman, Bat family, or Bat mammal related anecdotes and stories.

It makes Friday much more fun!  A few weeks ago I tweeted a link to an RSPB blog post comparing Batman and Spider-man (including nifty action figures).

Got any?


Here's some twitter folks came up with:

@AlexanderLyons - http://bit.ly/M9CXv5 Steph slaps The Douche Knight in the faaaace...

@Kapellusch - My Dad loves Batman. He used to tell me Batman stories instead of Fairy Tales.

‏@KorvarTheFox - I think my favourite Batman story is him versus the Hyperclan in Justice League. Even if that led to bad BatGod stories. #batmanfriday

Not sure who gave me this one, but it's a real life Batman - http://fb.me/24pDfzDny

@cwena - I saw Batman Live, and I saw Batman's boot guard fall off. It was inspiring how he carried on fighting crime

My personal contribution is that when I'm at body combat gym classes, I secretly pretend I'm a bat ninja.  Or I used to at least.  Now I normally concentrate on not falling over.


Then there's stories too:
Superhero economics: Bat vs Spider.
Batman princess
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/who-is-the-route-29-batman-this-guy/2012/03/28/gIQA8nPjgS_blog.html


So come one, tell me your Batman Friday stories.  If you tweet it use the #batmanfriday hashtag so I can find it :)

Have a great day everybody :)

Super Silly Sunday

GIANT COLUMN OF SKULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SKULLS!!!!

(new teen titans, vol 1, issue 29)


SKULLS!!!

Super Sexy Saturday

Hell yes.

Found from this website: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2012/07/20/feature-fanart-friday-dc-comics-edition
Credited to this other site: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=28521226

I'm wary about putting women in these super sexy posts because I think they'll contribute to general objectification. hmm.  maybe I should just look harder for better images?

Batman vs Avengers

Here's an interesting article on the difference between Batman: the Dark Knight and Avengers Assemble.  It's all about how optimism and cynicsm are treated in those movies.  It's good. It's thought provoking and it's written with a love for the characters.  Go read.

ASN August update

(Am in a rush so can't check the formatting of this - hope it goes up ok)   Extra! Extra! Read all about it! ASN helps to change the abortion debate   Welcome to your ASN eBulletin. July was an exciting month for Abortion Support Network! The All Ireland Pro-Choice Rally helped raise awareness of the issue. ASN’s standing order campaign reaches its target – now onto the next one! If you have the time and desire to make a direct impact on a woman’s life, ASN is seeking a volunteer 'phone coordinator.   Pro-Choice activism in Ireland ASN in the news Standing Order Campaign Women we’ve helped 'Phoner needed International abortion activism  Ireland’s pro-choice community takes a stand If you are reading this, it will come as no surprise that Ireland’s abortion laws are amongst the strictest in the world. Recently, both Ireland and Northern Ireland have been plastered with anti-abortion billboards, and the pro-choice community decided to fight back with a rally to counter the anti-abortion “vigil” held annually in Belfast. You can see a video of the event here. BIG HUGE THANKS to the organisers of the All Ireland Rally for Choice who raised £187 / €250 for ASN! Thanks also to Pro-Choice Belfast and Choice Ireland for their donations. Two weeks after the pro-choice counter rally in Belfast, ASN volunteers Nick B and Anne Q attended a pro-choice planning meeting in Dublin on 28 July. Organised by key pro-choice campaigners and activists, the meeting was timed to follow the rally and to precede the ‘expert’ report in response to the ABC case ruling, expected in October 2012. For more information about activism in Ireland, go here. Looking for a way to quickly inform your friends about the situation for women in Ireland who need an abortion? Check out this video from the Irish Family Planning Association (ifpa). ASN in the news The events in Ireland have brought media coverage of ASN, including: The University Times, 4 July 2012 “Is there always a better answer?” The Guardian, 6 July 2012 “More Irish women seeking help for abortions, says charity” (“says charity” – that’s us!!) Il Journal, 7 July 2012 “Andare all'estero per abortire/Going Abroad for Abortions”   The Irish Times, 17 July 2012 “Abortion and the Cash Crux”  The Irish Examiner, 24 July 2012 “Restrictions hit poor women first”  We also came across this piece that ran in the Irish Examiner in June: The Irish Examiner, 15 June 2012 “Women cannot afford abortion in Britain” Can we point out how completely awesome it is that so much media coverage is highlighting the economic injustice of criminalising abortion! Big thanks also to Emma Campbell  for allowing the Irish Times to use her photos of ASN volunteers Mara and Ann. Emma is the writer and photographer who created "When they put their hand out like scales", a beautiful and powerful book about the journey of women from Ireland to England for abortions that includes photos of and quotes from a few of ASN’s volunteers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Just over a year ago, ASN launched our Standing Order campaign with the hope of reaching £1,000 per month in regular income. As of today, we are at £1001 per month! (minus PayPal fees for those donating that way, but let’s not split hairs). Thank you, thank you, thank you! Feel like you’re missing out on the joy each month of knowing your donation will go directly to helping women travel and pay privately to access a safe legal abortion? Info' on how to donate (and fill out a gift aid form) can be found here. Please be sure to let us know if you make a donation so we know who you are and can thank you! Women we’ve heard from   In July, ASN heard from 27 women seeking assistance, including: A young woman who was so afraid of anyone overhearing her conversation with us that she requested all contact be via email. A mother of two who become pregnant after getting a contraceptive implant. A young woman living at home, whose family financial difficulties are such that they had recently sold the family car to cover food and other costs. Emails from women: “I am worried about the possibility that I am pregnant but will not be certain for another week and a half as I am not home at the moment but I just want to have all the information now so I can deal with this as safely and quickly as possible. I have found your site so wonderful and you have no idea what it means as an Irish person to know that you are committed to helping us.” “I am in receipt of social welfare and I am in bad debt with my credit union and I cannot ask them for any loans. When I told the man I was in a relationship he said he was not responsible and left me alone. I feel very depressed and I am certain I cannot have this baby as [I have young children] and I am financially in a very bad place and another child is not what my family or I need. I have very little support or family to help me and I could not approach them for help. I wonder if you could get in touch with me.” We thank these women and men for allowing us to share their stories. The women we don’t fund Every month, ASN receives calls and emails from women in a variety of circumstances.  Many of these women, after our initial contact with them, never get back in touch with us. In these cases, we have no way of knowing if these women decided to continue their pregnancies, if they were able to access an abortion without our assistance, or, our fear, that circumstances – an abusive partner, a lack of childcare, the inability to obtain a visa in time – kept them from travelling. These are the women who haunt us. Wanted: ASN 'Phone Coordinator   These case studies, which we shorten and strip of identifying details, can’t capture how lost, angry, overwhelmed or scared some of the women who contact us sometimes are. ASN is contacted by women who have never booked tickets online, women without credit cards, women who think they can raise a certain amount of money but call us last minute to let us know they have far less, women without passports, women who have health problems that make abortion in a clinic setting impossible, women who think they are at one gestation and arrive to find they are in a higher price bracket. The 'phone is the link between women in difficult circumstances and the funding and information that can help them. Do you live in London and have a cool head, a calm 'phone manner and the ability to return 'phone calls and emails within 24-48 hours? You might make an excellent ASN phone coordinator. 'Phoners take the 'phone for one scheduled week every five to six weeks and are trained and supported throughout their shifts. Email ASN if interested. Can’t be a 'phoner but have a couch and live near a clinic? We are looking for hosts who live within an easy commute of London’s Richmond, Ealing, Streatham or Brixton clinics as well as hosts based close to the clinics in Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool. Have a spare room, pull out sofa, or air mattress and the desire to host a woman in need? Get in touch! International Day to Decriminalise Abortion   28 September is the International Day to Decriminalise Abortion. In our next eBulletin we hope to have more information about activities happening in London around the day (hopefully involving ASN volunteers!) but in the meantime, you can learn more about the campaign  or sign up for updates. What will you be doing? Spotlight on the National Network of Abortion Funds   Speaking of work being done internationally to fight for abortion justice, we’d like to take our hats off to the National Network of Abortion Funds. While 93 NNAF funds are US-based, ASN is one of just four international funds under the NNAF umbrella. Check out this super cool poster showing why “Abortion Funds Rule!” and check out the larger work that you, as an ASN supporter, are a part of. *** Thank you again for all your support. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to provide accommodation, financial assistance, and confidential, non-judgemental information to the women in difficult circumstances who have contacted us. Website:www.abortionsupport.org.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbortionSupport Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AbortionSupportNetwork

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Taken from this CBR thread.  There's tons of good Wonder Woman pics there.  Check them out.

Kelly Sue De Connick gets accosted and persuaded to write the mash up of all mash ups

(Intro - Kelly Sue DeConnick is at Heroes Con and a small girl child named Winter comes up to her table).

"Next, Winter declared that she and I should make a book together. That I would write and she would draw and it would be about NINJAS. And also zombies. And cheerleaders.
[.....]
I asked Winter to make me a list of 10 things she wants to draw.  I got this reply:

The main story idea from Winter is that of a Ninja Princess and her
Cheerleader Friends joining forces with vampire ninjas to fight zombie
ninjas from invading her kingdom.

The princess also has a superhero friend named Rock, a female rock
star with pink and blonde hair who uses guitars, drum kits, flutes,
clarinets and an amp in battle.

Her other favorite things to draw include:
Kittens especially ninja kittens
Puppies
Wolves
Robots
Fairies
Good & Evil witches

 I will endeavor to work in Winter’s 10 favorite things to draw, and thus, 1 panel at a time, we will put together our Ninja Princess Zombie Rockstar mini-comic, which we will then run off punkzine style and sell at Heroes, with all proceeds going to Winter’s college fund."

Is this brilliant or a disaster waiting to happen?

But wait! It's a participatory project! (egads)

Over the next 10 months Kelly Sue will tweet a panel description with the hashtag #winterstale.  The you get to draw it and tweet the picture.  The entires will be reposted on WintersTales.tumblr.com.
As Kelly Sue says, "If all goes well, you can make your own Ninja Princess Zombie Rockstar minicomics which you may sell for your own college funds or swap with us and others for free"

Egads.

Still. Could be fun.

if you like Ninja Princess Zombie Rockstar (possibly with added kittens).

(Kelly Sue's twitter account https://twitter.com/kellysue/)

Chris Brown music review

I approve.

It's not that I think people should never be allowed to move on from their crimes, it's not that I think people's artistics products can only be consumed if you like them as people as well, it's that he did a truly awful thing when he beat Rhianna, and most of the music industry seems to be ignoring it.  When women are routinely abused by their partners, and blamed for it, I think the music industry should be doing something.  So whenever I see a review like this, I am pleased that someone is saying domestic violence is wrong.  Don't give money to someone who beat up his girlfriend - he's a disgusting human being.

Cosplay help needed

I want to make some Wonder Woman style wrist cuffs for Thought Bubble this year.  Does anyone have any idea how I can make them?  or have you seen anywhere I cna can buy plain silver bracers? I've been looking on ebay and I can purchase ready made ones, with the red star on them, for £40, but tbh that's a bit much and I don't want them with the red star. I want plain silver cuffs.

I'm also wondering how I could make the tiara, but that's not so much of a problem, b/c I can easily buy that.

Help?

EDIT - or if I bought a black catsuit (for a Donna Troy outfit) how could I get sparkles onto it?  woudl just throwing a ton of glitter on work at all?

Super Sexy Saturday

Lughnasa!

Today is Lughnasa, or Lammas as some call it.  It's the time of the first harvest and is named for the Irish sun and light God Lugh.  Lugh is also the God or artisans, smiths and craftsmen, and so shares attributes with Brigid, celebrated at Imbolc in February, and Athena, Greek God of weaving, wisdom and strategy.  I finished my decorations last night, and I'm pleased with them (especially as I managed to incorporate some sewing).

Symbols for Lughnasa are poppies, apricots, apples, nuts and grain.  In my display I also have bees and fish and birds, and candles, for the light.  I have just finished a minor feast of toast and marmalade, followed by cheese and biscuits.  I shall have my proper celebration on Friday I think, as I am out tomorrow night, same as tonight.  I was able to have apricots and nectarines in my morning porridge though.

There's a poem by Robert Burns, well, collected by Robert Burns as it's an old folk song, about John Barleycorn, who personifies the season.  Here it is:

There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.

They took a plough and plough'd him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.

But the cheerful Spring came kindly on'
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris'd them all.

The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong:
His head weel arm'd wi pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.

The sober Autumn enter'd mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bendin joints and drooping head
Show'd he began to fail.

His colour sicken'd more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.

They've taen a weapon, long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
They ty'd him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgerie.

They laid him down upon his back,
And cudgell'd him full sore.
They hung him up before the storm,
And turn'd him o'er and o'er.

They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim,
They heav'd in John Barleycorn-
There, let him sink or swim!

They laid him upon the floor,
To work him farther woe;
And still, as signs of life appear'd,
They toss'd him to and fro.

They wasted o'er a scorching flame
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller us'd him worst of all,
For he crush'd him between two atones.

And they hae taen his very hero blood
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.

John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise;
For if you do but taste his blood,
'Twill make your courage rise.

'Twill make a man forget his woe;
'Twill heighten all his joy:
'Twill make the widow's heart to sing,
Tho the tear were in her eye.

Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne'er fail in old Scotland!


I hope you all enjoy the day .  Go get some fresh fruit, some seasonal vegetables and make a delicious feast.
May your cupboards and bellies be ever full!

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Breathtaking.
Found on this blog: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2012/07/20/feature-fanart-friday-dc-comics-edition
Credited to this site: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=27306975

Now to hunt down a composite image of all the Amazon Gods seen thus far in the new 52.  I'm loving their design.

The shooting in Aurora

Now I wasn't going to say anything about this, because what can I say that hasn't already been said?  It's obvious (to the vast majority of people) it's a tragedy.  It's obvious that lax gun laws are part of the problem, it's obvious that banning cosplay and comics and pop culture is not a solution.  But then I read something on Willow's tumblr (which I whole heartedly recommend following, because Willow is brilliant), re-tumbled from Gail Simone's tumblr, who wrote the original piece.  I shall cross post some of the words here:
*****************
We have been stories of impossible heroism that occurred that night in that theater. Jarrell Brooks, just nineteen years old, had an exit out of the theater, and went back in to help a young mother and her two daughters get out, getting wounded in the process.

Three men gave their lives using their own bodies to shield their girlfriends; Jon Blunk, Matt McQuinn, and the member of my friends’ party, Alex Teves. All three threw their girlfriends to the ground and put their bodies in the path of the bullets. Not one of these men was yet out of his twenties.

Stephanie Davies, when her friend was shot in the neck, dropped to the floor and held pressure on the wound while the gunman was still firing, instead of making for the exit, quite likely saving her friends’ life.
Mike White, Sr., after his son, and his son’s girlfriend were shot, removed his shirt to apply pressure to her wound to save her life, and then as the gunman approached, put his body on top of hers to take the bullets if necessary.

There’s more, but this is what I keep thinking about.

I write stories about morals all day…stories about fictional heroes and fictional villains. And I want to believe they have influenced my life, that they have taught me to stand up when called upon, to try to do the right thing even when it is a sacrifice.

Few are called upon like the heroes of Aurora that night. They remind me what heroism really means. They give me hope. In the middle of the despair and shock, these people saw what needed doing and did it, regardless of the cost to themselves.

A lot has been made of the idea that the gunman was influenced by a fictional villain.

But I think it’s very telling to note that all those heroes, all those amazing, remarkable, beautiful people, came not just to see the latest Batman movie…they went to the first possible showing, a midnight show. They wanted to see Batman. I have seen the power that character has, I have felt it myself. He doesn’t kill, he doesn’t use guns.

He’s a good guy. A hero. A protector.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that THOSE remarkable people were there to see a movie about a hero.

***********


You can't blame comics for causing people's villains fantasies which leads them to shoot a cinema full of people, without also blaming comics for causing people's hero fantasies which leads them to save a cinema full of people.

So it's not comics which are the problem.  It's people. It's wider society. It's wider culture.  It's being disempowered and angry and having a whole host of other problems that cannot simply be boiled down to one small part of popular culture.

And having easy access to guns of course.





To see the full post on Willow's tumblr click here.

Blue and Gold together for life

I did a google image search for green arrow dcau figure and this picture came up, on this website: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2012/07/20/feature-fanart-friday-dc-comics-edition.  It's by this person:
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=11749449

This was nearly a super sexy saturday post, but I then decided it's too cute to be sexy.  More affectionate than sexy.

(and yes, I may have more time on my hands now so you may see a whole lot more blogging from me.  or you may not. we'll see.)

Super Sexy Saturday

Birth of the Olympian.  Beeefcaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkee!

I did watch some of the Olympics ceremony last night.  I am confused by it.  I honestly don't know if I enjoyed it or not.  It was bizzare.  Will possibly have some more thoughts later, after I've watche dit properly.

Meanwhile, have a Super Sexy Saturday y'all!

Super Sexy Saturday

C'mon it's Hal.  We all know he's a little bit sexy..

(nicked from the boyfriend's tumblr)

I aten't dead

Just a bit busy.  I've had 2 of my clips for my BSL Level 3 accepted (woop woop!)  and have filmed 2 more that I hope will be accepted, so I;m abotu halfway there. Hurrah!  I also passed my driving test on attempt number 5 :D  Can't afford to buy a car though..
Things on my house front are looking up..we're getting lots of viewings so hopefullt some bugger will want to buy the damn thing soon...

I also read all 4 twilight books in 1 week.  I liked them.  I can see why people don't.  I think they don't because Twilight is very much a teenage girls romance fantasy, with supernatural elements.  I thought it was a lot of fun.  It surprises me that people think Bella is cowardly or insipid though.  She's not. She's central to every fight and does a lot of things that terrify her.

And today I was pointed towards this, which is explanation enough for why I'm vegetarian:

It's really disgusting.  I can't believe I used to eat clams.  That is also reason enough why I don't go in the sea.  Eurghh.  Thanks for pointing that out to me Phillipa...

I got interviewed!

Megan of the Women Write About Comics blog interviewed me, as part of her series on women's comic bloggers.

You can read it here.  I talk about Supergirl, and signing, and LGBT characters, and comics for new readers and other stuff.

Thank you Megan for interviewing me, it was a pleasure!

Super Sexy Saturday

By Jean Kang.  Originally seen on this DC Women Kicking Ass post.

Summer Solstice/Litha

(edited and re-posted to add in picture)
Today, the 21st of June, is the longest day of the year.   Where I live, the sun rises at about 4.31am and will set at about 21.22pm.  The Greenwich mean time website states that the solstice starts on the 20th June at 11.09pm, which has led to many people saying saying the Solstice is on Wednesday, but given the adjustment for British Summer time, the Solstice really starts at 12.09am on the Thursday (although I will admit I'm not quite sure what that means).  Not that it really matters when people celebrate.  I'm just pernickity.

Another name for the Solstice is Litha.  Isn't that a gorgeous word?  It's rich, full.  It rolls off the tongue.  It's thick with possibilities.  It's a good word.  I like it.

So, the longest day of the year?  Well Wednesday and Tuesday gave us beautiful, sunny weather.  the forecast for Thursday is to rain, from 9am to 11pm.  Oh well.  The Solstice is the crown of summer.  The daylight is strongest (metaphorically anyway) and we get the most light (when it's not cloudy).  As seems to be the way this year, I haven't had much time to prepare.  I made a moussaka Tuesday evening which went a bit wrong, but ended up tasted fine, and I have far too much veg in the fridge.  I went a bit overboard with the shopping on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, we will probably have leftover moussaka, with extra veg, a glass of wine or two, and I hope to be able to make honey biscuits.  Honey is always a good celebratory food.

I hope to be able to upload a picture of my decorations on Wednesday evening.  They've turned out rather nice this year. Here's a picture of the decorations.  Arty shot courtesy of my boyfriend:

For those of you in the Southern hemisphere, happy Yule, and rejoice that the days are getting longer.
For those of you in the Northern hemisphere, happy Litha and don't fret about the days getting shorter.  We've got heat and the fruits of summer to look forward to!

Merry Litha everyone. Have a great day.  :) 

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Go to the DC Women Kicking Ass post for more pictures of this utterly awesome cosplay.

Wonder Woman Wednesday

I think this was from the final Wonder Woman issue before they rebooted her, before they did the whole company wide reboot.  The issue before Straczynski's run.   Found on DC Women Kicking Ass.

Catwoman 0

I really want to know how that cover got created.  It's obvious that effort has gone into it, because the colours and inks and her face shape are lovely.  And we know Guillem March can draw decent looking sexy women.

I mean, I wonder if he drew something more anatomically accurate first, then was told to make it more sexy.  It's just bizzare.

Super Sexy Saturday

Not neccessarily for the short skirt and bared midriff, but for the utter self assurance and confidence, and the knowledge that she can take anyone on.

(Darn, accidentally hit post on Monday... have now rescheduled for Saturday...)

Wonder Woman Wednesday

By Christopher Moeller, found on the DC Women Kicking Ass tumblr.

Super Silly Sunday - the green edition

I found these on Ragnell's tumblr:

 

I love them.  I bet Ice asked Guy to do this.  That's the only possible reason he'd do the YMCA dance.

Super Sexy Saturday

(found on Ragnell's tumblr)

So I'm thinking of starting a new Saturday theme.  Prompted by this.  Posting images is easier and less time consuming than actual blog posts.

We'll see if it takes off.

Teaching women how to act and how this corresponds to rape

I just found this on One Dark Angel's tumblr, and it's brilliant. I've read something liked this before but it bears repeating, particularly because it articulates it so well (trigger warning):

If we teach women that there are only certain ways they may acceptably behave, we should not be surprised when they behave in those ways.

And we should not be surprised when they behave these ways during attempted or completed rapes.
Women who are taught not to speak up too loudly or too forcefully or too adamantly or too demandingly are not going to shout “NO” at the top of their goddamn lungs just because some guy is getting uncomfortably close.

Women who are taught not to keep arguing are not going to keep saying “NO.”

Women who are taught that their needs and desires are not to be trusted, are fickle and wrong and are not to be interpreted by the woman herself, are not going to know how to argue with “but you liked kissing, I just thought…”

Women who are taught that physical confrontations make them look crazy will not start hitting, kicking, and screaming until it’s too late, if they do at all.

Women who are taught that a display of their emotional state will have them labeled hysterical and crazy (which is how their perception of events will be discounted) will not be willing to run from a room disheveled and screaming and crying.

Women who are taught that certain established boundaries are frowned upon as too rigid and unnecessary are going to find themselves in situations that move further faster before they realize that their first impression was right, and they are in a dangerous room with a dangerous person.

Women who are taught that refusing to flirt back results in an immediately hostile environment will continue to unwillingly and unhappily flirt with somebody who is invading their space and giving them creep alerts.

People wonder why women don’t “fight back,” but they don’t wonder about it when women back down in arguments, are interrupted, purposefully lower and modulate their voices to express less emotion, make obvious signals that they are uninterested in conversation or being in closer physical proximity and are ignored. They don’t wonder about all those daily social interactions in which women are quieter, ignored, or invisible, because those social interactions seem normal. They seem normal to women, and they seem normal to men, because we were all raised in the same cultural pond, drinking the same Kool-Aid.

And then, all of a sudden, when women are raped, all these natural and invisible social interactions become evidence that the woman wasn’t truly raped. Because she didn’t fight back, or yell loudly, or run, or kick, or punch. She let him into her room when it was obvious what he wanted. She flirted with him, she kissed him. She stopped saying no, after a while.

Super Silly Sunday

From The Titans 36 I think.

I want that power!  Ridiculousness.

Super Silly Sunday

Oh Deathstroke.  You are silly.

(fromthe Titans 1996 series, issue 22).

Gotta love that Green banter

From The Titans, issue 6.

Hormone power

If your power is to produce hormones to make men (and only men, not women, it stated that in the text) crush on you and do your will, then why would you dress like that?  You could wear a bin liner and your power would still work.

Bad logic comic costumers.

Wonder Woman Wednesday

By Andrew Kappellusch.

good huh?

Titans get in a tizz over Star Trek

(from the 1996 Titans series, issue 13).

Barbarian fun

Yes it's silly.  Yes it's reinforcing sexist cliches.  No I don't care.  I think the concept of Skataris is absolutely fucking glorious.

Dinosaurs! Swords! Barbery! Damsels in distress! Savage Lost Worlds! Dinosaurs!  I want to be a savage sword wielding dinsoaur fighting barbarian rescuing the damsels.

As I said, glorious.

Too annoyed not to post again

In a chat afterwards, Joe (Quesada) told me that he'd love to make a tentpole movie with a female lead, but that he really doesn't think there is an actress right now who could carry it, or a character that would work either. I'm thinking I might agree with him on this one actually.


Oh do fuck off.

Super Silly Sunday

I'm still alive...!!

I recedntly read a few Teen Titans series and was struck by the ridiculousness of some of them.  The series is by Judd Winick and Ian Churchill.  Now, i usually like Judd Winick, or at least, I liked his Green Arrow run, a lot, and I like Batwing, but these stories were mediocre.  As for Churchill, he's a porr man's Michael Turner, without any of the life or movement.  The following scans are the final pages issues 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively.  5, 6 and 7 are the final panels on each page, which took up the bottom half of each page.

Coming out in Comics - Renee Montoya and Maggie

This is from Gotham Central, #34:

This issue has a guest appearance by the Teen Titans, I can't remember the rationale now, but it was obviously written as a tie-in to bump up the reader numbers.  Anyway, at this page Starfire walks in to the police station and asks if she can help with the investigation.

As far as I'm concerned this issue outs Maggie Sawyer.  If you look at the column of panels, you see the expressions on the male cops faces when they see Starfire.  The bottom panel shows Renee Montoya (previously outed) and Maggie Sawyer.  Maggie's face mirrors Renee's.  The top panel in the column establishes that the men are lustful for Starfire, the middle one points out Renee's and Maggie's reactions, and as Maggie's expression perfectly mirrors Renee's, I'd say that this page outs Maggie, in a non verbal manner.

Never in this series was it confirmed, verbally, that Maggie is gay.  There was a hint in the early issues when Renee has just been outed, and then this.  But this is plenty good enough for me.

As with the last post I did in this series, this scan was kindly provided to me by DAJB of Broken Voice Comics.  As I read this on Comixology I can't take a scan.  For argument's sake, and for a different POV, I will give you DAJB's take on this.  He felt that by this point the series:

"lost its authenticity and strayed into the murky waters of mainstream titillation.  Whereas Batman's brief appearances in GC made sense in the context of the story, Starfire's little cameo just seemed completely gratuitous; inserted purely to allow Rucka to make a cheap joke.  I'm not convinced this "outs" Maggie Sawyer, but we all take something different from these things, I guess.

That's the glory of literature!"

When I read the series, I didn't feel that this titillation, or done for a cheap joke.  Mind you, I felt the series became a little looser and little bit more fun, mayhap for a darker definition of fun that most people use.  At any rate, this series is canon (or was, pre new 52), so to my mind it still outs Maggie within the parameters of the story.  Whether the writer or artist intended it as a joke or not, it still stands as is, real within the story.

So I'll celebrate it.

ASN bulletin for May

(sorry I don't have time to format this correctly).
-------------
ASN May eBulletin



Welcome to your ASN eBulletin. ASN goes to a demo – and winds up in the Huffington Post. Want to do some pro choice networking in London or Bristol this month? In April ASN heard from 26 women, and we thank the supporters who make it possible. Have a spare room/sofa/airbed in W London, S London, Liverpool or Bristol? Read on!



ASN in the News

• Pro Choice events in London and Bristol

• Women we’ve helped

• Taking a moment to thank our supporters

• Seeking hosts in W London, S London, Bristol and Liverpool



ASN in the News

It was great to see so many of you at the Pro Choice Demo at Bedford Square. One of ASN’s fliers made it into the hands of The Huffington Post’s Dina Rickman, resulting in this story quoting two ASN volunteers as well as representatives from bpas and the nifpa.



Pro Choice events in London and Bristol

Did the demo put you in the mood to spend more time in the company of your pro choice brethren and sisteren? Then there are a few upcoming events to think of attending:



Tue 15 May: ASN’s Mara Clarke will be speaking on a panel in Bristol as part of the Festival of Ideas: The Future of Feminism at 7.30 pm



Wed 16 May: Abortion Rights is hosting a Pro Choice Public Meeting from 7 pm in Committee Room 10, Parliament. Speakers include Dianne Abbott MP, Zoe Williams, Kat Banyard and Richy Thompson. RSVP to choice@abortionrights.org.uk



Thurs 24 May: There will be a Reproductive Health Happy Hour in Central London from 6 to 8 pm. Check the Facebook Page for more details!





Women we’ve helped

In May, ASN heard from 26 women in need of help. Following are some of their stories:



A young mother (with a young baby) pregnant as the result of rape. Her GP was anti choice and, when she asked about abortion, told her never to come back again, and the illegitimate pregnancy advice centre she found told her she should have the baby and have it adopted.



A young woman who travelled to the UK for a termination but was sent home due to an unforeseen medical complication. She was able to make an appointment at a different clinic on another day, but the price of flying to the UK a second time left her short of funds.



An 18 year old student who, after borrowing money from her sister and all of her friends, was only able to raise half of the cost of the termination who texted in response to our grant: "Heyy , thanks so much ! your really helping me!! thanks so much you dont no what youv done !!! xxxx"



A married couple with children who called ASN after discovering that their current pregnancy had foetal anomalies. They have one part time job between them and are barely getting by and wound up using their grocery money to purchase the necessary plane ticket to travel to England to access a legal abortion.



The mother of a pregnant 15 year old girl struggling to raise the money for her daughter’s travel and abortion.



We thank these men and women for allowing us to share their stories.





Taking a moment to thank our supporters (and asking our supporters to let us know who they are!)

Are you one of ASN’s amazing donors? Take another look at the case studies above. You helped us help those women. Each week ASN hears from women like those above, women who are often in desperate circumstances. We are only able to help them as a result of the generosity of our donors – so thank you, thank you, thank you! Speaking of thank yous, if you have donated to us but have not received an email acknowledging your donation, please get in touch! This is especially necessary for those of you who have donated through standing order as the information we get from the bank is not generally enough to identify who donors are. Not an ASN donor but wish to become one? All funds donated by individuals go directly towards covering the cost of a woman’s abortion or travel to England.



Seeking W London, S London, Bristol and Liverpool hosts

ASN has experienced an increase in requests for housing, particularly near the clinics that provide abortion to 24 weeks - Richmond, Ealing, Streatham, Brixton and Bristol, as well as Liverpool. Do you have a spare room, pull out sofa, or air mattress and the desire to have a direct impact on a woman in need? Please get in touch, and feel free to pass the word along to any pro choice friends who live near these clinics.



***



Thank you again for all your support. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to provide accommodation, financial assistance, and confidential, non-judgemental information to the women in difficult circumstances who have contacted us.





With best regards



Abortion Support Network

info@abortionsupport.org.uk

www.abortionsupport.org.uk

Charity Number 1142120



Abortion Support Network (ASN) is an all-volunteer charity that provides accommodation, financial assistance and confidential, non-judgemental information to women forced to travel from Ireland and pay privately for abortions in England. The cost ranges between £400 and £2000 depending on circumstance and stage of pregnancy. While other organisations campaign for law reform, ASN is the only group on record providing women travelling for abortions with the thing they need the most: money.



ASN is now a charity! Registered Charity Number 1142120















+44 (0) 7897 611 593



info@abortionsupport.org.uk



www.abortionsupport.org.uk





Registered Charity Number 1142120

Wonder Woman Wednesday

It's a preview from Wonder Woman 8.  Which may be out in the shops by the time this is posted actually..
That is one badass costume.  Man, the Wonder Woman new52 series is really really great.

Happy Beltane!

After the most hectic week in the world last week I took Monday morning off, pootled about the house and prepared (a little) for Beltane.  It was a really really nice morning and I felt very relaxed and in the spirit of things.

It was, suprisingly, a really nice warm sunny day so I got to spend half an hour in the garden reading fairy tales.  Then I cycled into work and got hit in the face by various flying insects, which is probably the biggest sign that we are nearing the end of Spring/coming up to Summer.

Here's hoping the weather is good on Tuesday (Beltane/Mayday) itself. :)  Hell, if it's not I'll wrap up warm, light the candles when I get home and hope the boyfriend's cold is better so I can burn some summery incense.  We'll have a proper celebratory meal (asparagus!) when he can taste things again.

I hope you all have a good Mayday :)

Note the lack of phallic pole... the boyfriend informed me I wasn't allowed to include a wooden dildo, ribboned or not.  Bah, he's no fun ;)