International Women's Day Centennial

YAY Us!

Happy Birthday IWD! 100! You don't look a day over 25.

I was going to Blog some disheartening news about women in the US, but I'll wait for another time - today we celebrate.

In honor of International Women's Day we have a very special Lola's Lady Shuffle...let's see what we get!

1. La Vie en Rose -Edith Piaf (France) - Great start Lola! A perennial classic. It doesn't get better.


2. Emabhaceni - Miriam Makeba (South Africa) Mama Africa...wasn't she awesome?


3. The Lucky One - Alison Krauss (USA) & Union Station - I love her voice, so powerful yet soft.


4. Heaven's What I Feel - Gloria Estefan (Cuba) My home girl - Cubanita made good. I'm so proud of her - succesful career, seemingly happy family, no scandals, no rehab, and remarkable recovery from a horrible accident. She's da' bomb.


5. Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks (USA) -Love them, love this song!


6. Chasing Pavements - Adele (England) - I love this young singer, her voice is so emotive...


7. Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna (Barbados) - How far she's come in a relatively short time, and so pretty. This is a fun song!


8. Fergalicious - Fergie (USA) - Did you think the pretty girl in Black Eyed Peas would blow up like this? And how much fun is this song?


9. Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman (USA) - From her early years - this song is fabulous as is Tracy - you "hear" the soul in her voice.


10. Whenever, Whatever - Shakira (Colombia) - Wooo...shake it! Great song, outrageously beautiful woman and a brain behinmd the pretty face.

If you're a woman celebrate your day...if you're a man, celebrate the women in your life.

She's In!

Senate Approves Sotomayor

Voting largely along party lines, the Senate on Thursday confirmed
Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th justice of the Supreme Court. She will be the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the court.

YES!!!

¡Si se puede!

The Lola Shuffle - "The I Got My Mammogram Done Today" Edition

Yep - not only did the girls got *squozen*, they also got poked and prodded - because I had my first-ever breast ultrasound. Neither were fun. The Bone Density scan, however, was quite pleasant, I think I dozed for a bit while it was going on.

In any case the preliminary boobalicious diagnosis is that everything is fine. We'll know more details, along with the bone density results in a few days - if you can, send out a good thought for me. Thanks!

By the way age-applicable Blogger ladies - are *you* up to date with your mammograms?

OK, Lola - shuffle me an "I did a good thing today" shuffle.

1. That Don't Impress Me Much - Shania Twain
2. Night - Bruce Springsteen
3. When We Dance - Sting
4. Last Dance - Donna Summer (Hmmm...a mini-theme?)
5. I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow - The Soggy Bottom Boys
6. On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe - Bing Crosby
7. A Girl Like You - The Smithereens
8. I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! At the Disco
9. Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac
10. Wishing on a Star - Rose Royce

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day, and this year's theme is "Shaping Power". To me that means, "OK, we've fought long and hard for power as women - now what do we do with it?".

I consider myself a feminist, but not in the militant way so many preconceive feminists to be. Don't get me wrong, I respect those women who are militant feminists - we need them. And I am grateful for the strides made by the Gloria Steinems and Bella Abzugs of the world - who bravely went where no woman had gone before. But that's not me.

The way I choose to "shape my power" is to be vigilant, and when possible denounce to some degree, negative or demeaning portrayals of women in the media. It shocks me how in this day and age these demeaning portrayals of women exist and are so widely accepted. The way women are portrayed in hip hop videos, pro wrestling, some sitcoms, soap operas, etc. is, IMO, unacceptable. I'll occasionally dash off a letter or an e-mail message, or talk to people about why this stuff bothers me. I know it isn't much and that I can do more. I try to talk to the young women I know and encourage them to be "all they can be" (sorry about the cliche) and be proud of themselves and value themselves.

On a positive note, in the US - regardless of your politics - we are in the midst of a campaign where a woman has the possibility of becoming President! Talk about the opportunity to use the power gained.

Yet when we look to the wrest of the world, there is so much work to be done. The story of Honorata Kizende (left) is both horrifying and inspiring. After surviving the horrific brutality in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she has gone on to serve as a spokeswoman for Women for Women International, doing such important work for women worldwide. My God, I don't know I would be strong enough to survive what so many of these women have, let alone go on to do the kind of work they do.

On this day, if you're a woman, think about how you can "shape your power".