Naked

A great title to get some interest - and I am writing about naked on two levels:  physical and emotional.

I was at a gallery fundraiser last week and was successful in my bid for a moody and dramatic black and white nude photograph - no full frontal involved.  Very subdue and "non-sexual."  My new aquisition developed a conversation and unknown to me, my friend was the model.  That led to two other women (myself included) to admitting that we posed nude for the creative cause.

So, as a muse it is OK to strip down - what about other situations?  

Do we bare our emotions, weaknesses and souls as easily as our underwear to our ankles? 

Is it dangerous for women to admit to weakness?  Do we put on our armour?  Or can we be respected without the metal and shields?  I hope so.  I am proud to be weak, to demand and need motivation from love and kindness, and won't change. 

Love vagi

Strangers

Heard something wonderful today on cbc radio -


The stranger we meet today, will be our friend tomorrow.

Peace
xo Vagi 

Are We All "MAD" Friends?

Betty & Midge (aka:  Lisa & Madge)

The obvious popularity of the "Mad Men" show makes me wonder if while we love the fashion of the era, do our friendships remain as restrictive as the supporting undergarments of that time.  We watch them with their pincurls and teased back & heavily laquered coiffs as they unravel the complexities of the female relationship- women weren't "sisters" but "adversaries."  It was all about "landing" the guy.

Joan Barfoot in her exquisitely warm and wonderful short story, "starch, salt, chocolate and wine," observes the state of women of that era:

Redbook magazine, to which my mother subscribed, was a monthly, most reliable, cover to cover source of advice on getting a man and then keeping him for the clutches of other, predatory women.

So,  are we together as one?  

Do we view other strong and wonderful women as competition?  

Or do we embrace them and forge alliances?  

Do we judge each other by our size, our shape?

I vote to continue to love Joan, Peggy, Jane and Francine with their fabulous accessories and cigarette holders from afar - and their characters make a great theme for a fundraiser!

This blog is in memory of my mother, Priscilla, who would of been 77 on November 23rd and in celebration of my beautiful friend (inside and out) Angela, who has a perfect ass and celebrates her birthday tomorrow also - Happy Birthday!  xo Vagi

Has Cancer Fundraising Become Gender Biased?

Terry Fox - Marathon of Hope

This month I have observed many colleagues and friends taking part in "Movember" (www.movember.ca) and in Canada alone over 94,000 men have registered to let the facial hair grow and collect some dough for prostate cancer.  The current tally is at 5.7 million - not bad for throwing out the shaving cream and razors for a month.  

We have attached branding to this disease that touches so many - CIBC Run for Cure yielded $33 Million dollars this year for Breast Cancer Research.  Retailers are jumping on the wagon producing pink apparel and accessories, even KitchenAid Mixers are shiny and  pink.

 It forces me to contemplate if we have as a society created a gender bias in cancer related causes.

Cancer is cancer, right?  

Should we be elevating one above another?  

The Terry Fox Foundation does not have pink ribbons or bearded men - it maintains the vision and determination of the young man it represents.  The Foundation (according to their year end report) listed just over $19 million in fundraising revenues for year end April 2010.  Not as much as our Breast Cancer supporters, but a great boost to research for all!

Let me know your thoughts....Vagi xo 

(Challenge is going well - first visit to the wine store in three weeks and had to buy for a friend's birthday, not for myself) So, give something up, save a little and make a change for someone else.

 

Puppy Came!

Meet my new girl, Bailey

Well, new puppy came today, so the blog will be short.  My 50 Day Challenge is still underway and I have had a few sips here and there, but have not entered a store or bar to purchase any alcoholic beverages since I began.  

Complete denial (or in some cases, excess) is never productive.  I feel great, my wallet is heavier and I hope this inspires some to "curb" a habit to make a difference to others.

Signing off - watch for more this week.  Topic for future discussion - have we created a gender bias in cancer related fundraising?  Let's discuss that one in the near future.

Love & Peace all, Vagi