(no subject)

[valancystirling]

WTF, Lari? I keep missing all your time-specific comments. How was the zoo? Grrr. I was JUST talking about taking Topie there the other day.

Got my Peace Fleece from wyckhurst, so now I'm debating about soakers vs. Sophie bag. Hmm. I might be a little sick of soakers, so there you go. Speaking of which, I worked on the decadent merino/silk/cashmere capris for Topie on the way to Ithaca this afternoon. Nearly done, minus embellishment, which will make them the most to-die-for diaper cover in the entire world.

Still ouch. Lots of ouch.

Surprisingly, the emotional aspects of this ouching is almost more significant than the physical aspect. I can only sleep carefully on my back, so I can't have her in bed with us anymore. I hate that, because I feel detached and like I'm not cuddling her enough. I can't carry her much, not even in the sling or ergo. I can't do those fun little things we do all day, like bounce her around, or dance her all over the apartment, or raise her over my head. I told Jake that there's only one thing in the whole world that I'm supposed to be doing. I'm charged with taking care of Topie, keeping her happy and entertained and fed, and my ability to do that is seriously compromised. I feel like a miserable failure at life because of it. I'm dealing with it, and I know that I'll get better in the next few months, and things will go back to normal. But until then...it's just really upsetting to me. I think she knows things are different, and she seems more serious lately. That bothers me too.

This did have to coincide with a tremendous feeding frenzy, lasting about a week. It seems to be slowing down now, but for a while she was nursing constantly. Kicking me in the ribs while lying there eating. Not fun.

Yesterday we went to a community yard sale in Apalachin, and I got a bunch of cute clothes for her, all good brands since it was a nice neighborhood. Now I'm obsessed with Tomie dePaola and Eric Carle books. I keep finding them everywhere, so it's like a stream of happy discoveries. I loved them when I was a kid, and now we're building a library for Topie. Suddenly it's fun to read to her, and she loves it. We love The Grouchy Ladybug.

I'm bemused by all this drama in the breastfeeding community. Apparently someone reported someone to lj for having a breastfeeding icon as their default icon. So this person with the icon is supposed to change it or else have her account suspended. Lots of angry letters are being written to lj, and more "obscene" breastfeeding icons are being spitefully made, with dares to lj to Suspend me! Well, I agree that LJ's policy on this subject is a bit insane and retarded, but to be perfectly honest I love and NEED this journal, and that matters to me far more than standing up for a cause. Is that sick? Sorry, I love livejournal anyway, even if they are bastards in this case.

Mikee--got your text message this morning. I'm okay, and I love that you thought to check in on me. Thanks :)

Comments

[fi.livejournal.com]

Someone reported someone for a breastfeeding icon? Oh for God's sake.

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. It's all the rage right now. Didn't you know that breastfeeding is lewd and disgusting?

[fi.livejournal.com]

Mother of God.

Actually, Jesus must have been breastfed; there was no formula around in those days! ;-D

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

And there are Jesus Was Breastfed icons to prove it! I'm waiting for the day when it becomes a nonissue. I'm also waiting for the day someone complains about ME breastfeeding in public. I've been quite a docile little mommy so far, but if I was provoked...

[fi.livejournal.com]

Crikey I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that one! ;-)

[brightsoul.livejournal.com]

you can still sign the letter.

you can even erase the portions that threated to leave livejournal or not renew your account or whatever.

i've not changed my icon but i still think this is something worth putting up a stink about and i'm not even a boob nazi or hardcore bf'ing advo. i mean, if people what to formula feed, i think its gross and all, but i can't change their minds, you know?

so i guess this is just my only way to stick up for the minority.

[albadore.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it! Sorry you're sufferin', succotash.

[darkenedminds.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I missed something obvious, but how did you hurt your ribs so terribly? I hope youre on the mend soon!

LJ are being bastards. I filled out the form letter with my bogus email addy and the reply was decent, but its not what theyre doing!! It says in essence that exposed nipples and areolas are not kosher. *headdesk* It totally wouldnt even be a nursing picture if those things aren't covered up! 98% of those ladies' icons are just a mound of boob with a baby covering the top. Seriously.

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

I asked Jake to pop my back, and he did it a little too hard. Oops.

This whole BF thing is so stupid. From what I've read all over, LJ is being totally inconsistent and irrational. I'm not sure who they're really trying to protect, but it seems that someone up there has some strong opinion about breastfeeding that's keeping this thing going. I was surprised they didn't just apologize and amend their policy.

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

I've read a few different explanations, but the one I keep seeing is that it's to "protect the children", as in kids shouldn't see that sort of thing. Of course that's insane. I do agree with the work thing, and I'm surprised that's not LJ's official reasoning. Of course, I've seen so many offensive-in-lots-of-ways icons that it's not even funny. I guess it would be hard for them to screen every default icon, but still. They need some consistency with their stance.

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

I agree with that. That seems like a very reasonable policy.

[brightsoul.livejournal.com]

unfortunately not every woman has an areola small enough to always fit into her child's mouth. personally, i think its crap that a small, visble portion of pink or brown would be considered grounds for "getting someone in trouble"

i agree that boundaries might be necessary but that's absurd. i also don't think that anyone would get fired for viewing a livejournal page with a breastfeeding icon. the only thing i could think it might fall under is misconduct or sexual harassment, both of which could possibly be countered with an explanation. i think an employee in that sitation would be protected by the policies and procedures to prevent false reporting. of course, in the real world i know that people can complain about the silliest things or find offense in just about anything, so i'm not saying that it is impossible to fathom someone getting fired over viewing something like that, i just don't think it would be easy.

[spoothbrush.livejournal.com]

I should have called you instead of posting... gotta finish programming my phone.

The zoo was fun as always -- it is about the right size, not so big that you feel like you have to go around the entire place and wind up exhausted, big enough that you feel like it's worth going in. (I was also there running around after two seven-year-old girls, which may influence the "wind up exhausted" sentiment on my part just a bit.) They're doing an awful lot of rehabilitation... the outdoor birds, owls and vultures and things, are pretty much shut off, but I think that they'll be fixing that in the next few months. But the exotic bird house, where you walk around a greenhouse and watch ibises and a dikdik and things just kind of wander freely, is fun. They don't shut you off from the birds in any way and I don't think I've seen that anywhere else, at least not that I can recall. I like that and the tamarins and the penguins.

We should go for the Ice Cream Safari in July maybe?

[valancystirling.livejournal.com]

I wish we had gone! We went to the zoo once before, a year or so ago, and it was fun. I can't wait to see Topie's reactions to the animals.