Slut Walk 2012 Speech

This speech has been really hard to write. Hard because part of me wishes I didn’t have to write it. That part of me that wishes the need for this march would have faded in this last year. I love this gathering and I hope women around the world continue to gather like this in celebration. I just wish that the need for this was over. I wish that we lived in a world free of sexual harassment. A world free of rape.

Now I’m not silly enough to really believe that this would have changed in the last year. I just wish that in this last year I didn’t have to help 4 of my friends deal with rape or sexual harassment trauma’. That people I know weren’t still being constantly hurt. Hurt because some people don’t understand that No Means NO.

When I was a child my mother often would tell me No when I asked for things at the supermarket, especially lollies. Like a sugar craving kid I would ask her again and again. begging her. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASSSSSSEEEEEEEE. Exasperatedly she would turn to me and exclaim “I Said NO Which part of the word don’t you understand the N or the O?”

So I guess I ask those out there pressuring women and men. Which part is it that you have trouble with? Is it the N or the O? See maybe if I understand this we can bring greater education to the world about this issue. We can clarify this misunderstanding of the simple two letter word.

But I see the problem is you think they don’t mean it when they say no. That stop is just a joke. Cause you are king of the world and everything is yours to say and do. It’s owed to you.

Perhaps you could try shutting up. Not saying everything you think as you think of it. That your compliments are not needed or necessary. In fact they are creepy. You don’t have to tell me I look pretty with my make-up or without it. You definitely do not need to tell me my dress makes you think dirty things. I CAN live my life without your running commentary.

Don’t you get it I dress this way for ME.

I don’t do anything to please you. It is all for me.

Learn to keep your opinion to yourself. I don’t want to hear it. Not when I’m on the train reading my book. Not when I’m dancing at the bus to to my ipod. Not when I’m walking briskly down the street in the way to cold for this dress weather. Not even now. I don’t care what you think. Not now not EVER!

If I don’t want the compliments I definitely don’t want the insults.

I also want you to stop laying the blame for your mistakes and your stupidity on me. It is not my fault you can’t keep your mouth shut. It is not my fault you cannot keep it in your pants. Last time I checked most people can be around me without throwing themselves at me. I mean I know I’m hot, but everyone else seems to be able to keep their composure.
So please I need to know.. What part of No don’t you understand? Is it the N or the O?

Oct 20

Things I Like Thursday!

Giving speeches, esp speeches on the steps of parliament. (Keep and eye out for the video)

Nail polish… I’ve been a bit addicted to it lately… painting my nails at least every 3 days!!!! I started a nail tumblr feel free to follow me over there

Larping… I was in an awesome Victorian LARP last weekend I have one next weekend and another in November!!! WOOT!

Sewing… I have heaps of things to get through! hopefully this weekend will be all sewing all the time!

My Hair… It’s so long it’s Bra Strap length at it’s longest!

and finally Wreck My Journal being on it’s way!!!!

(sorry this is incredibly short I wanted to get this out there and done before I forgot AGAIN! :-p )

May 3

Preserving the Tradition…

I know that many of you are slowly starting to unpack your warm weather clothes, are enjoying flowers starting to peep out from the dirt, and are thinking wistfully towards the upcoming summer. The blogs I read are all aflutter of spring and summer projects. There are plans for colourific contests competing with natures own colours and simple summer sewing projects being planned. Ah, yes spring.

I on the other hand am sitting in the couch snuggled into a quilt. I’m starting to unpack my warm woolen summers, and favorite knits. Out come the simple summer boots and the useless* umbrellas. I’m staring grumpily at the grey, cold, rain thinking about all the summer things I miss. It’s autumn.

When I lived in Michigan I loved autumn, the smell, colour changes, and the slow transition to crisp snow. In Wellington it just gets cold and wet. Trees have leaves one week and none the next. Instead of slowly introducing you to cold weather Wellington autumn slowly sneaks up on you and suddenly one day you were wearing tank tops and shorts the next your bundled up in 4 or more layers.

At first I hated it, but now I have adjusted to it. It just means more indoor hobbies. Autumn has become less about playing in leaves and more about knitting, spinning and cooking.

And nothing makes autumn more bearable than jarring/canning, especially when it’s your favorite. I remember every autumn I would look forward to two things, both from my grandmother. Her homemade delicious pumpkin pie and apple butter. Being gluten intolerant and living in New Zealand make the pumpkin pie nearly impossible for me to make. The apple butter is a different story completely!

Note: apple butter does not contain any actual butter or dairy. The name apple butter comes from it’s smooth butter like texture.

This past Saturday I got down to work with 2kg of delicious granny smith apples and everything I needed and got down to work. I was using this recipe with a few minor changes; I left out the lemon items and added a touch more clove. The thing about apple butter is it takes hours and HOURS of work, I spent at least 3 hours alone just stirring. It’s all worth it in the end.

Sorry I couldn't help taking a wee bite or two first.

There are very few redeeming features to Wellington autumn, but making jams, jellys and apple butter is right near the top

*the umbrellas are useless due to the constant high force wind that we have here in wellington!

Sep 8

Birthdays and Dragons

My birthday is coming up, actually it’s next Monday. I don’t know why but I still have an absolute childish glee around my birthday. When I was working I always made sure I had the day off. I would often spoil myself rotten and and get a manicure and take myself out to dinner and maybe even a deliciously wonderful film that I knew only I would want to go to.

Even now as a young newly-wed trying to live on one salary while waiting for immigration to decide if I can work and live in NZ for another two years I find myself looking forward to it. I know we won’t be going out to dinner and I won’t be doing a day of luxury, all manicures in this house are DIY. Part of what excites me is that this is my first birthday with my husband and I’m actually rather looking forward to being 30 (I’m only turning 29 this year). Every birthday I have now is a reminder that I’ve spent another year with my amazing husband.

I did make myself something a bit special for my birthday I tatted myself a dragon! Now I’m not a huge fan of dragons, and I know there are some amazing patterns for dragons out there, but this guy was too adorable. He reminded me a lot of Pete’s dragon a childhood favourite film. So I introduce to you Brookie’s dragon!

He’s Martha Ess’s paprika pattern done in navy DMC perle 8 with silver lined beads(whichare a bit too big but oh well) I then permanently stiffened him with gel acrylic(same stuff they put on nails) to use as a bookmark thus why he has a super long tail. I will definitely be making more of these in the future!

P.S. thanks for all the well wishes, I’m still absolutely pathetically sick sleeping most of the day.

Feb 1

The Post That Should Have Been Written Two Months Ago!!!

Wow I have been BUSY! let’s see what has happened since I last posted here, well I got married and went on a fabulous honeymoon(I have pictures somehwere!!!) I’ve been knitting a lot… and oh yeah I started a yarn dyeing business Grrrl Shaped Yarns overall life has been good to me.

It’s weird looking back now it seems like so much has been happening i don’t know where to begin or what I should talk about, maybe I’ve gotten a bit rusty as blogger, I feel rusty.

I can’t believe it’s 2010, 10 years since I was in high school come thus June, 8 years since I transitioned come this July, 2.5 years since I moved to New Zealand to live with my husband. I still remember the feeling of being unsure of where I was going, getting lost often, and in general being confused about my surroundings. Wellington is so big that there are still parts of it I have never seen and parts that confuse me, unlike the relatively small San Francisco I used to live in. Still doesn’t feel like home, and I still miss San Francisco at times, but things will change. A New year, a new decade, it seems like just last year we were all panicking about Y2K, or in shock over 9-11. It’s amazing looking back at how much I have changed in these past 10 years.

One thing that new years always bring along with them are resolutions, I haven’t made any resolutions so much as a few goals. and in the effort to help me stick to them I guess I shall share them with you.

1. become a bit more fit and healthy(if this helps me lose weight than so be it)

2. Expand my business to the best of my potential

3. Finish at least 12 items this year(after realizing last year I completed one super simple scarf and shawl and that’s it ALL year)

That’s it just a few simple goals, nothing to earth shattering. I like to think I’m doing good I’m eating healthier and participating in the Couch 2 5k challenge even though i am a bit stuck right now… I’m plotting and scheming business plans. I have finished one item already this year that’s my wedding shawl( yes it was 3.5 months late what you wanna make of it?)

In general I think life is good, and although I am busy it’s a good busy I’m enjoying it! I have so many plans for the next year I hope some of them pan out. and with those thoughts I would like at say, I’m thinking of starting an online crafting magazine, if you are at all interested in submitting a project or article or review please let me know via email Zine AT brooklynnemichelle DOT com