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Menagerie Macabre Invites Enjoyment of Horror
Menagerie Macabre beautifully, comprehensively lives up to the title. From the first notes of the opening solo being sung by a disembodies voice the audience is sweetly put off-kilter. There is a serious conflict between the sweet, soaring soprano and the old hag on the stage – yet they are the same. I watched this performance…
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“Getting By” Means Survival Only
A child growing up in chaos becomes a survivor. The reason for the chaos doesn’t really matter. There are many possibilities: an addicted or alcoholic parent, sexual abuse, unexpected or early death of a parent or sibling, poverty, physical abuse, bullying, distant and emotionally unavailable parenting, adoption, or physical illness. This child learns the world…
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Changing Our Behavior
Changing our behavior is hard. So hard, in fact, this post will barely scratch the surface. I doubt there is anyone alive who doesn’t want to change something about their life — a relationship, a job, a nagging thought, an eating habit, a sleeping habit, etc. Most of you reading this post can probably make…
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What is rape? What is sex?
What is rape? Well, what is sex? If rape is sex without consent, then we have to define sex before we can define rape. A legal case in Ohio is currently revealing confusion about what counts as rape. Many of us (especially those under 40!) believe sex is only about vaginal intercourse/sexual intercourse. Remember President…
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Richard Armitage Fans and Human Dignity
Richard Armitage captures my attention and sparks my interest like no other celebrity has since my first celeb crush, Jeff Goldblum. I was a teenager then and the internet barely existed, let alone the user-generated content that Web 2.0 is known for! Richard Armitage My first awareness of Richard Armitage the actor occurred after Netflix recommend…
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Childhood Pain, Lingering Effects: ACE Study – Part 1
Childhood pain, or adverse childhood experiences, has a serious effect on the rest of our lives. You might assume the effect is only on our feelings or thoughts. New research, funded by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), indicates the impact is physical as well. There are many “public health” concerns that many experts try…
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The Break Up: Comfort in Pop Music
A break up hurts. When we hurt, we want to feel better. Music helps many of us feel better. Whenever I hear a new song on the radio (yes, I still listen to my local radio stations in the car), I always wonder what any new song has to say about how to feel better. Co-written with Jorgen…
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Legitimate Rape: Language, Legal, Issues and Emotional Pain
Late in August, GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin asserted that in cases of “legitimate rape” the body has “ways of shutting things down” to prevent pregnancy, triggering a flood of outrage. Yet Akin’s comment is only a pithy example of a widely held, often unquestioned confusion. The confusion is what counts as rape? Even for…
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Love’s Unexpected Upsides
I do love Frugal Dad’s blog, and I do love infographics. Both of these pale in comparison to how much I love my husband. According to the facts below, a strong marriage relationship boosts our mental and emotional well-being, as well as our financial well-being. I think the key here is “a strong marriage.” Many…
