Girl Power!!!

But first, a digression. This grant wiped me out.

Can I TELL you how much I (dis)like the grant-writing process? I mean I get it... there is only so much money for research projects (which is only about half what there was a decade ago before science was systematically dismantled in the US) but there is enough that it is worth being in the race. For starters, if you get GRANT funding, there is a lot more leeway on salaries of the team (which is nice—better than the 'below cost of living 2% the U gave this year becomes possible). And it gives some independence from the department which is very possibly less visionary than my boss [she's sort of a rock star, but they don't 'get her' because she does stuff that is qualitatively DIFFERENT from what everyone else does... in their defense, the RESEARCH people get her—but the other docs really don't, but never mind]

Anyway... a little independence would be nice... A really prestigious project would be nice... inarguable job security would be nice...

But GADS, I hate the process. The actual writing of it is fairly difficult, but if that was all it was, I think we'd cope... it is the pulling together of thousands of specifically formatted, specific documents for every micro detail that kills me. I spent yesterday on the FREAKING REFERENCES... Do you know why? Because there is this complex set of rules that certain kinds need to have links or reference numbers if they were written after this time, available in that format, have funding of this sort *rolls eyes* It is a NIGHTMARE to figure out what to do.

So I am brain dead.

Instead, I thought I would share two women power links with you that I got this week:


Would You Rather Be a Mermaid or a Whale?

[This must have been publicly shared on Facebook, as it came to me both through personal friends and writer friends who have no connection to each other. I was very impressed with the response when I reposted, both male and female.]

French model Tara Lynn

Delphine Fieberg posted this response:

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

[it's great, isn't it!?]

And then More Locally (to me)

We had a state first (is it a national first?) Where a young woman named Brianna who plays for her highschool football team BOTH kicked the winning field goal AND was Homecoming Queen..

I love this. I love that being a jock doesn't put any social stigma on her. I love that a pretty girl loves football enough to go out when there was probably a lot of pressure not to. Pinkney Michigan isn't huge... but it's not tiny, either--it is about 20 minutes north of us. I love that it is a community that lets a young woman be everything she wants to be.

And guess what.... To REWARD me for this grant effort, my boss has given me tomorrow off, so if I am late, I will be here, but that is why--I may wait to blog until I get up Friday. (or maybe not... I intend to be whimsical that way)