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mlove1125
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Name: Margaret
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Birthday: 11/25/1980
Gender: Female
Interests: Things that make me happy: my amazing friends (you know who you are), my brother, music in various shapes and forms (especially live), photography, learning the guitar, writing songs, singing, dancing, reading and seeing good movies
Expertise: I am a pretty good photographer if I do say so myself, but my official expertise is being The Grammar Queen and The Pop Culture/Movie Trivia Goddess (right, Shley?:-P) Also, I am officially a "master" in humanities --in June '05 I got the degree that proves it.
Occupation: Administrative
Industry: Real Estate
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  Mgluv1125
MSN: mglove_03@hotmail.com
Yahoo:  mlove1125
Member Since:
1/26/2004
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| 10 Things Men Can Do To End Men’s Violence Against Women 1. Acknowledge and understand how sexism, male dominance
and male privilege lay the foundation for all forms of violence against
women.
2. Examine and challenge our individual sexism and the role that we play in supporting men who are abusive.
3. Recognize and stop colluding with other men by getting out of our
socially defined roles, and take a stance to end violence against women.
4. Remember that our silence is affirming. When we choose not to speak out against men’s violence, we are supporting it.
5. Educate and re-educate our sons and other young men about our responsibility in ending men’s violence against women.
6.”Break out of the man box”- Challenge traditional images of
manhood that stop us from actively taking a stand to end violence
against women.
7. Accept and own our responsibility that violence against women
will not end until men become part of the solution to end it. We must
take an active role in creating a cultural and social shift that no
longer tolerates violence against women.
8. Stop supporting the notion that men’s violence against women can
end by providing treatment for individual men. Mental illness, lack of
anger management skills, chemical dependency, stress, etc… are only
excuses for men’s behavior. Violence against women is rooted in the
historic oppression of women and the outgrowth of the socialization of
men.
9. Take responsibility for creating appropriate and effective ways to develop systems to educate and hold men accountable.
10. Create systems of accountability to women in your community.
Violence against women will end only when we take direction from those
who understand it most, women.
Thank you, Peaches, for sharing this.
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| Well, partly in response to Peaches, and partly because it is simply long overdue, I am posting. Not because anything particularly interesting is happening, just thought those who actually read this bugger might like an update.
Things have been going really well for me lately. Work has been pretty good, as I am steadily getting busier. I'm still working on getting them to give me more responsibility, but I've only been here about 6 months and I guess it will just take some time. I recently had my first performance review, and it went fairly well. They said mainly very nice things, like they think I'm very smart and appreciate that I come to work to do a good job, not just to pull down a paycheck. Speaking of which, they gave me a little raise - it's not a lot more money, but really every little bit helps, right? I've also been hanging out with coworkers more outside the office, which is nice. Especially since they're nice people.
Personally, things are fine. Biggest news is that my good friend Ellen moved to New Orleans last week. She found a job teaching French at Metairie Park Country Day School. Peaches, you may be getting an email from her; I hope it's ok that I gave out your address, I just thought you might know some things that she might find helpful, especially about the city in general. I miss her - she was one of the last of my close friends from grad school that was still in the area. I have other acquaintances that are still here, but the people I was really close to are for the most part gone. I'm so glad Amy Gray and her sister are here. I love hanging out with them, and very suddenly they have become pretty much my only close friends in the city. I'd like to meet new people and make other friends here in town, but it's hard to know how to go about doing that - Chicago being so massive as it is, and me no longer having a University affiliation to exploit makes it difficult to know where to find like-minded individuals with whom I could hang out. Mike and Amy are coming up from Iowa City this weekend, though - mostly so Mike can run in the Chicago marathon, but also to visit with Chicago people. And they're staying with me. 
I've been to a lot of great live music shows lately, which always makes me happy. I love that about Chicago - any given month, or even week, there is usually a show I would like to catch. Even though I might only actually go to a few of them, it's great to know that it's available to you. Choir has started back up again, too, which is cool. The main exciting thing on the horizon, though, is that I'm going to be in Memphis for a brief visit next weekend. Very spur of the moment, happened to find a cheap ticket, bought it kind of on a whim. Those trips are always fun.
So that's pretty much it. I work out a couple times a week, I read a lot. Like I said, not too exciting, but it's nice to be in a good, comfortable place for a while. I am cozily nestled into the proverbial overstuffed couch of my twenties.
Oh, and my brother got a camera job on another movie - and this time he's actually getting paid. Sweet! 
I just realized how covered in smileys (smilies?) this post is. Oh well.
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| I spent pretty much this whole weekend just doing things that I wanted to do, things that I enjoy doing. Though I had a pang or two of guilt for not answering my phone the few times that it rang, it felt really nice to have some 'me' time. After work on Friday I just hung out in my apartment and vegged out in front of Queer Eye for the Straight reruns a friend had taped for me. On Saturday I took my camera out to take pictures for Peaches' "Shoot the City" contest. Amy Gray came with me, and we started out by having brunch at Nookies' Tree (Three Berry Brioche French Toast - deLISH) and then wandered around my old neighborhood and Belmont Harbor, snapping photos and chatting. We stopped into this cute little boutique called Tragically Hip because they were having a sale, and I splurged on the cute new kimono style brown & cream top I am currently wearing. Amy Gray got a gorgeous necklace and a cool scarf. After that we began to make our way back to our current neighborhood. By the time we got off the train it had started raining, so we decided to duck into the cute little coffee shop by the station, where I snapped a few more pictures waiting for my soy latte to cool. After a bit the rain stopped long enough for us to make it back to our building, and while Amy ran to the store I showered and changed, and then we met back at Amy's apartment to listen to the one and only Kyle Hatley play his guitar and sing for about three hours . . . glooooorious. Collapsed gratefully into bed around 2am (despite having gotten up after 11am that morning). Slept late again Sunday, and contemplated taking the camera out again, contemplated unpacking the last of the moving boxes, but instead sat in my comfy purple papasan chair and READ a BOOK (see Currently Reading). Yes, that's right, I made a cup of tea, warmed a blueberry streusel muffin, sat down and read a book from cover to cover (well, except for the last 40 pages, which I saved for right before bed) in one sitting. It felt completely amazing to just sit still and read, ignoring my cell phone, basking in the sunshine streaming in the window but thoroughly enjoying the air-conditioned comfort of my apartment. And even more exciting to me is that I was reading the book for an actual book club that meets tomorrow (3rd Monday of the month) in the coffee shop around the corner from me. I have never belonged to an actual book club, just discussion groups for classes at school, and I am very excited about this. They read a book a month, and so far the selections look pretty good. I am so looking forward to getting back to my voracious pre-grad school reading appetite. And speaking of appetites, be warned - this is a wonderful book, but reading it will make you hungry. Especially for French pastries. Amy Gray and I hung out some more after my literary thirst was satisfied, shared a salad with fresh raspberries and pecans and split a bagel with cream cheese and real lox, watched Will & Grace together on my TV and went to our respective beds. Delightfully tasty way to spend a weekend, if you ask me.
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| 71 Questions to Start the Summer
1. Are you in a relationship?
no
2. Do you hate more than 3 people?
I don't think I hate anyone. Despise, sure . . .
3. How many houses have you lived in?
one house, three apartments and four dorms.
4. What is your favorite candy bar?
Hmmm. Depends on the day - Snickers, Mounds & Reese's Cups are all good ones
5. What are your favorite shoes?
That's tough - most comfy (but not very pretty) are my red flip-flops, prettiest are my Gianni Bini tan suede heels (NOT comfy)
6. Have you ever tripped someone?
Never on purpose.
7. What was your least favorite subject this year?
I haven't been in school for any part of this year (2006). That hasn't happened since before I started kindergarten.
8. What was your favorite subject this year?
See above, i.e. I'm OLD.
9. Do you own a Britney Spears CD?
Hell no.
10. Have you ever thrown up in public?
Two words. New Orleans.
11. Name something that's always on your mind:
Music.
12. What is your favorite music genre?
Too many to name just one, but I'm always partial to a good singer-songwriter.
14. What time were you born?
in the wee hours, like 2 or 3 a.m. I think
15. Do you like beer?
that's a big yep.
16. Have you ever made a prank call?
no, I don't actually find them that amusing.
17. What is the most embarrassing CD you own?
Unfortunately a tie between Mandy Moore and Hanson.
18. Are you sarcastic?
You think?
19. What are your favorite colors?
purple, but also brown and green
20. How many watches do you own?
At least three, none of which are currently running. I still wear them sometimes though, for purely decorative purposes.
21. Summer or winter?
neither
22. Spring or fall?
fall
23. What is your favorite color to wear?
Purple again, and red as well
24. Pepsi or Sprite?
COKE
25. What color is your cell phone?
Silver
26. Where is your second home?
Memphis
27. Have you ever slapped someone?
Now that I think about it, no I never have
28. Have you ever had a cavity?
Two
29. How many lamps are in your bedroom?
Don't have a bedroom, live in a studio apartment (with two lamps); who really cares about lamps, anyway? Who came up with this question?
30. How many video games do you own?
Zero.
31. What was your first pet?
Devon, the white German shepherd we had when I was a baby. She died of heartworm when I was still really young but I remember her.
32. Have you ever had braces?
Yes.
33. Do looks matter?
To a degree, sure.
34. Do you use Chapstick?
More a lipgloss gal myself.
35. Name 3 teachers from your high school.
Well, Crystal stole one of mine, so I'll say Mr. Herrold, Mr. Harkless, and Mrs. Nifong aka the FONG, the 3 teachers I despised most.
38. How many children do you want?
Zero.
39. Do you own something from Hot Topic?
yeah, a Tori Amos button and a T-shirt for the band "The Vines"
40. What is your favorite breakfast?
Favorite? French toast. That I actually eat on a regular basis? Coffee.
41. Do you own a gun?
No way.
42. Have you ever thought you were in love?
No.
43. When was the last time you cried?
Three letters for you - PMS (last week).
44. What did you do 3 nights ago?
Went to see an apartment and had dinner at Ellen's
45. When was the last time you went to Olive Garden?
Last summer, I think, with Amy Gray and her family.
46. Have you ever called your teacher mom?
Uh, no.
47. Have you ever been in a castle?
Several. Did a summer program in the UK in college, they have lots.
48. What are your nicknames?
too many to recount, but the most colorful are Lipstick and Tootsie Roll.
49. Do you know anyone named Bertha?
No.
50. Have you ever been to Kentucky?
Yes, but only in passing on the way from NC to Chicago.
51. Do you own something from Banana Republic?
One black top.
52. Are you thinking about somebody right now?
Crystal, cuz she filled this out before me.
53. Have you ever called someone Boo?
Negatory.
54. Do you smoke?
Hell no.
55. Do you own a diamond ring?
Not a real one, no.
56. Are you happy with your life right now?
Pretty much, just a little stressed out about moving this summer.
57. Do you dye your hair?
Never.
58. Does anyone like you?
People like me, but no one "likes" me.
59. What year were you born?
1980
60. What were you doing May of 1994?
Missing exams because I was in the hospital. Fun times, huh?
61. Do you own a Backstreet Boys CD?
Oh hell no.
62. McDonald's or Wendy's?
Wendy's.
63. Do you like yourself?
Not always, but definitely more than I used to.
64. Are you closer to your mother or father?
Mom.
65. Favorite feature of the opposite sex?
Hands, arms and shoulders. Eyes are nice too. Aside from the physical, I'm most attracted to guys who are really intelligent.
66. Are you afraid of the dark?
Only in the context of poorly lit city streets.
67. Have you ever eaten paste?
I second Crystal's "Eww. gross."
68. Do you have a webcam?
No.
69. Have you ever stripped?
Not really . . .
71. last but not least, what are you doing today?
Making a Myspace bulletin, what does it look like? Also, at least theoretically, working for a children's book publisher.
"Currently watching" today actually means "I just rented this from Blockbuster and it was really good you should check it out." | | |
| Ding, ding, ding, give the man a prize! Desi, you are correct sir, it is the McCoy triangle, combined with a claddagh, the Irish symbol for love (as in my name) and devotion. The heart represents love, the hands represent friendship and the crown represents loyalty. I had been planning this for quite some time now, and finally decided the time was just right to do it - I had the design (my friend Amy helped me fine-tune the idea), I had the time, I had the money (finally), and summer is coming up so I can show it off more easily. The reason I got the claddagh was because of my Irish heritage, my name, and the importance that the values symbolized in it hold for me. The reason I got the McCoy triangle was for the theater, especially the experiences that I had there and people I got to know better through it, but also to symbolize my experiences at Rhodes as a whole and how they are with me forever, as I hope many of the friends I made during that time will be.
I put it in that particular spot on my back because A) I didn't want it to sit so low that it would show above my pants/below my shirt every time I leaned forward, B) the midpoint of the tattoo is pretty much exactly where my hair stopped before I cut it all off - I will never have my hair that long again and I wanted to always have a memory of it with me, and C) I put it right over top of my spine because I feel that in the last two years or so, I have finally grown one - developed the ability to ask for what I want, pursue my goals, and generally live my life on my own terms rather than letting anyone else's opinions or expectations dictate the choices I make. Such as this one - I wanted this tattoo, I got this tattoo, I like this tattoo. Anyone who is not me gets to just deal with that. As for Sharon's questions about the actual process, it surprised me how bad it wasn't. I was anticipating absolutely spine-tingling pain, to the degree that I almost passed out while he was putting the stencil on. Once I actually got in the chair though, I was fine. Amy was with me to hold my hand, and because it was just outline and not all that big, it was very quick - only took 5-10 minutes. So, there you have it.
P.S. I almost forgot, the band-aid on the face - I was in the warehouse at work, gathering some books to send to a licensor, and attempted to reach a title on a shelf above my head. The book slipped from my fingers and hit me in the face, giving me a tiny cut. As many of you may know, even the most miniscule cut, when it's on your face, bleeds profusely. Ergo, I felt a band-aid was in order. You see in the photo the smallest band-aid I could find at the office - selection left something to be desired. It is 100% healed now, it just looked awkward for a day. My tattoo is healing nicely too - although it's at that stage where it itches like MAD. Yay for Curel Intense Healing fragrance-free hand cream. | | |
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