First Nations Sexual Health for Youth

Learnt about this organization from a Ainsley, formerly from Youthco, now at Opt.

http://www.bccdc.ca/SexualHealth/Programs/CheeMamukAboriginalProgram/default.htm

Lots of great resources, posters etc.

Modern Hunters

Heard this great program on CBC today "Do Animal Lovers Hunt?"

well worth a listen.

Hip Hop finally takes on Homophobia, or more specifically Macklemore does.

Maybe you've already heard this song Same Love, but if not, check it out. I first heard about Macklemore because of his hit "Thrift Store" which is hilarious and totally on point, but has gotten obnoxiously popular of late. Same Love on the other hand just makes me cry every time I watch the video. The extra cool thing is that the other day my dad was listening to this incredibly annoying pop radio station and when I asked him why he said there was this one song he had heard with this amazing soul melody and, more interestingly a message of love and acceptance, something not often heard in hip hop. Intruigued I loked up same love to see if the song that had so impacted me had done the same to him. I was also excited to think that maybe there existed 2 hip hop songs in the universe that promote such things. Nope. I was wrong, but I was pretty happy that my dad and I had this kind of universal consciousness thing going on. Guess I better burn him a copy of the CD (which I bought, minus the swears) so he doesn't have to keep listening to Kit Carson :P

Pleasurable Power Point Presentations

Death By Power point. have you ever experienced it? Someone puts up a slideshow of onotonous text, no images, the entire screen filled with words which they proceed to read off the screen. BARF!

Fortunately people are learning and new styles are evolving to try to avoid this terrible phenomenon.

One intruiguing take on this is something called PechaKucha which I just learnt about. It's a Japanese presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each (six minutes and 40 seconds in total). The format, which keeps presentations concise and fast-paced, powers multiple-speaker events called PechaKucha Nights. Apparently the PechaKucha night in Vancouver is one of the most popular in the world! 

Here is another example of PechaKucha, an actual PPt, that combines an interesting powerpoint with something I love, talking about signs and empathy!

Adult sexuality, sex and aging

I just did a presentation today about the need to create sexual health and expression policies within long term care facilities as part of our module about Sex and Aging, part of the Adult Sexuality component. There are a few links I would like to remember in all this so here they are.
Kritsin mentioned her friend Peggy Brick in class today, an award winning american sexual health educator. Her is a link to her blog about sex and aging.
http://www.sexualityandaging.com/2013/05/

Also here are links to the 2 books by Joan Price, Naked At Our Age and Better Than I Ever Expected

Betty Dodson is also important to mention, she is an artist and has done amazing work since the 70's organizing her famous "bodysex workshops" where she gathered with groups of women, naked in her new york apartment to discuss their genitals and orgasms. Now 83 she just recorded another of these films, and it can be viewed for $20 on her website, which also includes tons of great video blogs of her and her partner in crime talking all about sex.

On the topic of vulvas I feel it is important to mention another book that I know about which is related to the Betty Dodson theme. One is I'll Show You Mine, it's a photo study of different women's vulvas and includes pink pubic hair and (apparently) trans genitals, though you won't be able to tell. 10% of all book sales go to charitable women's organizations and if you write to them they will send you one for the price of the postage, providing you promise to use it in women's educational groups.

Learnt about this other book too, which is called the Manga Sutra this is a book which was written as a kind of instructional tool/graphic novel...I have heard it is great.

This weekend we also got a great tour of Womyns' Ware an adult sex shop on Commercial drive. They are very ethically driven and work hard to make sure that the integrity, safety and quality of all the products they carry are top notch. Thanks to the Industrial designer and display artist for their fabulous and informative tour.

I feel bad that all of this stuff seems so much more pertinent to women...If anyone has EDUCATIONAL books and resources more aimed at men, please let me know.
Just to balance the scales a little here's a Betty Dodson pic of a penis, or as Betty described it, a "Cock with a twist"

Public Cervix Announcement

A pretty thought provoking PSA by trans fore runner Buck Angel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_uNFmZHvO0

How much internet use is for porn?

Here's an article from Forbes that did the research...Turns out it's only about 4% of all websites and about 13% of all web searches are porn related. Not so much after all.

Modern day homesteading

As some friends and I are considering banding together to buy land and create a kind of Eden on Haida Gwaii, thoughts of alternative green energy technologies, home design and intentional communities are dancing through my head like sugar plums.

I was listening to Spark on cbc the other day and stumbled across an unusually interesting interview with another like minded soul from Whole systems design, a research farm where they are doing many of the things that I am dreaming of. Have a listen.

Passing through the looking glass and into the montreal art scene

I just returned from a delightful stay in the fair and french speaking city of Montreal where I was visiting my even more fair and thoroughly delightful friends Natalie, Colleen and Alex.

I am very excited to know that Natalie has been doing some writing on her art blog Passenger Art along with her friend Reilley who I also had the pleasure of meeting. The two of them are queens of the conceptual. I always learn a lot and enjoy any art I see far better when I get a second look through Nat's eyes.

While in monts we visited many galleries and studios. I got to see Colleen's latest show which included pieces dyed with headbang hair. Need I say more about how awesome Collen's art is? Check out her site for more proof.

While there Nat and I got to accompany Colleen and assist her in some prep painting for Jessica Eaton and fellow artist. We stayed up late and painted cubes in her gorgeous downtown studio of chartreuse brick and wide eyed windows.

Ode to the Arichoke - a poem for farmer's market season

Another poem...the Ode to the Artichoke. Came a cross this long time ago.

Ode To The Artichoke

The artichoke

With a tender heart

Dressed up like a warrior,

Standing at attention, it built

A small helmet

Under its scales

It remained

Unshakeable,

By its side

The crazy vegetables

Uncurled

Their tendrills and leaf-crowns,

Throbbing bulbs,

In the sub-soil

The carrot

With its red mustaches

Was sleeping,

The grapevine

Hung out to dry its branches

Through which the wine will rise,

The cabbage

Dedicated itself

To trying on skirts,

The oregano

To perfuming the world,

And the sweet

Artichoke

There in the garden,

Dressed like a warrior,

Burnished

Like a proud

Pomegrante.

And one day

Side by side

In big wicker baskets

Walking through the market

To realize their dream

The artichoke army

In formation.

Never was it so military

Like on parade.

The men

In their white shirts

Among the vegetables

Were

The Marshals

Of the artichokes

Lines in close order

Command voices,

And the bang

Of a falling box.

But

Then

Maria

Comes

With her basket

She chooses

An artichoke,

She's not afraid of it.

She examines it, she observes it

Up against the light like it was an egg,

She buys it,

She mixes it up

In her handbag

With a pair of shoes

With a cabbage head and a

Bottle

Of vinegar

Until

She enters the kitchen

And submerges it in a pot.

Thus ends

In peace

This career

Of the armed vegetable

Which is called an artichoke,

Then

Scale by scale,

We strip off

The delicacy

And eat

The peaceful mush

Of its green heart. 

Pablo Neruda

Still love it. And now it's providing design inspiration too! If you want to see what I've been thinking, check out my new pinterest page. I'm trying that out. http://pinterest.com/alicatbird/boards/

Mary Oliver, or, a poem for my mother

Last time I was in Vancouver we put my mum's ashes up at the Mountainview Cemetery. It was good to be there with my family and move a few inches in our slow acceptance of her passing. My lovely Aunt was there and she provided us with some beautiful words with which to remember my mum by when she read the following poem by Mary Oliver. 

The Summer Day
- 1990 

  Who made the world? 
  Who made the swan, and the black bear? 
  Who made the grasshopper? 
  This grasshopper, I mean-- 
  the one who has flung herself out of the grass, 
  the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, 
  who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-- 
  who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. 
  Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. 
  Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. 
  I don't know exactly what a prayer is. 
  I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down 
  into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, 
  how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, 
  which is what I have been doing all day. 
  Tell me, what else should I have done? 
  Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? 
  Tell me, what is it you plan to do 
  with your one wild and precious life? 

I just looked this poem up, and found some of her other works, equally moving and beautiful. If your spriti could use a little boost. Have a read. 

http://www.mrbauld.com/oliverpms.html

Tantra Video showing different position

This is a Tantric video, showing (without any nudity) the various positions that can be pleasurable for men and women and how to move between them smoothly. The couple teaching are a man/woman duo . Enjoy!

Sex Ed in Schools a report from Ontario

We are lucky inCanada that we have some pretty great standards when it comes to Sex Ed in our Schools. Unfortunately Teachers are not given ANY training in how to do sex ed, and since this is a touchy subject sex Ed often get's glossed over, or not taught at all. Fortunately though there are standards, and there is training (like the awesome training I am doing) which can help us deliver high quality, research based Body Science and Sex ed for all ages. Here is a link to a look in the what is happening in Ontario with regards to Sex ed, and what parents and students want.
https://www.ophea.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/advocacy/ADV_SexEdReportFINAL_31MY13.pdf

The Power of Hugs

Check out this great article about "Amma" a Guru in India who seems to have seized the heart and imagination of many Indians as well as people from all over the globe with her healing hugs. Another case for the importance of touch, and 4 hugs a day which also happens to be a pretty endearing children's song from Canadian Children's songstress Charlotte Diamond. Check out the jazzy 80's video, which was filmed in a retirement home. Pretty cute.

On another note, something I learned in my class was that the 2 groups of people who are the most touch deprived are
1) Seniors
2) Teenagers - is this second one surprising? Think about it, maybe this is part of why they sometimes launch themselves into unsafe situations, it feels good to be hugged and we need that positive connection. Hug a teen! But be sure to ask first :)

Oh and another thing to keep in mind, courtesy of the Portland Art Museum:

"The average length of a hug between two people is 3 seconds. Researchers have discovered something fantastic. When a hug lasts longer than 20 seconds, there is a therapeutic effect on the body and mind. The reason is that a sincere hug produces a hormone called "oxytocin", also known as the love hormone. This substance has many benefits in our physical and mental health. It helps us, among other things, the relax, feel safe and calm our fears and anxiety. This wonderful calming effect is offered free of charge every time we have a person in our arms. When we cradle a child, cherish a dog or cat, when we're dancing with our partner, or even just holding the shoulders of a friend."

Maybe this is why I love salsa dancing class so much? I'm an oxytocin addict!

An Education on Residential Schools

I just heard an incredible interview on CBC radio with Bev Sellars, a residential school survivor. It was incredibly moving. She spoke about her experience of residential school. The Called me Number 1"
Bev has written a book called".

This pic is one I saw a few years back. It shows how one group of First Nations People set up their tipi's closer to the residential school in order to be closer to their children when they were taken away. The fight continues but I am astounded at how much so many First Nations People of Canada have endured.

Testosterone

Here is a link to a fabulous podcast from This American Life about Testosterone. It is VERY eye opening. There are stories from a man who lost his testosterone, a woman who transitioned to be a man and endured the resulting mind bending effects of testosterone, and a testosterone contest, to find out who has the most and least testosterone of all the staff at This American Life (men and women).

Hope you enjoy. And if are one of those people who don't know how podcasts work, it's basically just a radio show that you download for .99 cents or stream for free off the internet. They might change your life. 

Props

I am pleased to say that I have just ordered a mamamour doll. these are dolls which can give birth, and the resulting baby has a detachable umbilical cord and placenta! They also have snaps for the mouth so can breastfeed! If you want to see these dolls in action, click here for pictures, and maybe order your own amazing custom doll, click here.

Also someone mentioned vulva puppets today. They are also awesome!This is a video of a girl demonstrating the wonderous vulva puppet, this is the kind that I saw Kerri Isham use. The one in the video is pretty big, but there is also a "mini" version. Check them out here and purchase here. 

I also found this other one, the vulvalicious pillow...which looks more anatomically correct to me but is also a whopping $360 US!!

Interested to hear your impressions. 

In my search for an equally interesting penis puppet I also found this hilarious site which has combined the quirkiness with retro crochet and managed to raise money for cancer too! amazing. Those damn puppetry of the penis guys seem to have foiled my attempts at finding any kind of anatomical penis prop. Maybe someone else has a lead on this? 

Elderflower and early Spring Harvest

I have been impatiently awaiting the harvest season, and can officially say that it has started!

Doug and I have been collecting elderflower blossoms to make some kind of beverage with. When you have a brother who works at a U-Brew, the options are almost limitless. Two years ago we made a sparkling wine, and this year we are thinking maybe a liqueur. Thanks to Randy for sharing his recipe with us. He used this one, but said he added a little more sugar and kept it at a cooler temp.

Other things that are out right now are spruce buds, also used for making beverages (My brother made a prize winning Spruce tip beer last year).

In the garden we are eating greens, especially Kale, arugula, and lots of Rhubard, which is so delicious stewed up or in coffee cakes or crisps (AKA crumbles).

The Juiciest Tomato

Turns out that Vaginas have a similar pH to Tomatoes....Tomatoes, a theme in my life. At any rate, check out this interesting article to find out more about how to understand and regulate your "tomato". In a nutshell, the author advises women to pee and/or flush with hot water after sex and avoid using soap directly on the vaginal area as it is self cleaning, and Meg Hickling describes it as "one of the cleanest parts of the body", if left to it's own devices. Sugar and carbs that feed undesirable bacteria can also be a problem. I would add that I have heard it can also be useful to work on the male partner's ecosystem by monitoring sugar/carb intake as they can be affecting and re-introducing unbalancing elements into the system of the woman. For both men and women, eating natural yogurt, garlic and cranberries to your diet can help too.

Party Hats!

Every year as part of my work with Success By 6 I get to do outreach at the local fairs and events. Last year I had a great time doing face painting, but found that despite my best efforts there were often long lineups, and not much time for me to talk to parents. 

This year, since it is also Success By 6's 10th birthday we are doing a birthday party theme. 

the ladies from the Hat shop putting on a mad hatters tea party Edie is on the far right. It was odd that when I started google image searching I found this pic of my former colleagues...I guess the world of hats is a small one :)

I spent a good portion of my young adulthood working at a hat store, Edies Hats, (Now the granville island hat shop) where my amazing friend and honorary Auntie Edie taught me all kinds of things, in particular, lots of things about hats. Both of my brothers also worked there, and I think that all of us have a deep love of hats as a result. 


Given this history it's not surprising that when I needed to come up with a craft, I decided on, PARTY HATS! At the Old Masset Health Fair I had a huge time making party hats with the kids. I mostly used old file folders from the school that were free for the taking, and in a range of interesting colours for the hats, and then got streamers, feathers, stickers, and markers to decorate with. Here are some links I used for inspiration. 

Oh Happy day had some great ideas, and even a pretty good template. I needed to tweak it a bit, but not bad. 

Here is a link to a website with 18 great party hat ideas.

I forgot how much fun it is to wear hats and make crafts. Honestly probably 2 of my favourite things. 

these ones are leather but inspired me to make paper crowns, which were a huge hit

peter pans hats:http://swoonstudio.blogspot.ca/2012/03/peter-pan-party-hats.html

Ms. E starts out on a new adventure...As a Sexual Health Educator!

As some of you may know, I have embarked on a new adventure in learning. I am currently training to become a certified sexual health educator through Opt's SHEC program.

Before beginning the program I needed to complete a pre requisite, the Comfort, Attitudes and Values Evaluation CAVE (formerly the Sexual Attitudes Reassessment -SAR) weekend, which I would highly recommend to anyone. This was a very liberating experience and there were many people after the weekend who said "this is the best thing I have ever done for myself".

I haven't posted on this blog for a while, but thought that since I am in school again, it would once again be a great place to share some of what I'm learning since I find myself talking about it a lot, and having access to a lot of great new info I didn't before. So stay tuned!

To start off here are a few links worth checking out:

Kerri Isham. Kerri is the one who got me into all this. She is a terrific educator from Nanaimo who we brought to Haida Gwaii last year to teach body science and abuse prevention, and who did such a great job that the school board brought her back within 6 months. Despite her success she realized that Our budgets would not allow us to do this every year, and so encouraged me to take the training she had done so that I will be able to offer similar workshops. She has a great website with tons of amazing resources.

Scarleteen: a great website geared to teens and 20 somethings. This site is run by a very dedicated woman who happens to be the author of one my textbooks for the course. She tends to be a little wordy, but is very passionate and goes into great detail.

I also want to plug the sex sense line, which you have no doubt seen ads for if you ever use public transit in the lower mainland. if you call 1-800-SEX SENSE you will be connected with nurses and trained professionals whom you can ask anything. They can tell you where the nearest clinic is, and answer all kinds of questions that might stump others. They are open from 9am-9pm monday to friday.

Laci Green. This 20 year old from Berkley is the embodiment of Sec positivity. She is the best friend you wish you had had in University. She is one of my new heroes. She is funny, dynamic, whip smart and very loveable.

 Meg Hickling is a Public Health Nurse who revolutionized sex ed in BC and whose impact has been felt all across Canada. She used to come and teach on Haida Gwaii until she retired. Her books are amazing, and give terrific language parents can use to speak to their kids (of all ages) about sex.

Alright, It's time for bed. There will be more soon, but check these out and let me know what you think.

paper gems

Check out this website to learn how to make beautiful paper gems. Check out this one for further inspiration...regarding paper gems anyways.

LOVE ted talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_tells_us_why_we_love_cheat.html?source=facebook&fb_source=message#.T_0chI45ip5.facebook

Cabins

Doug has been working on putting together a plan for a cabin. Now he's letting me in on it, since in all likelihood, I will be living there :)

Today we started building it out of cut up cereal boxes. I am getting excited.
Here is a link to one little cabin I like the looks of. Here is another great website with tons of great cabins to keep your mind churning http://freecabinporn.com/ and for mobile cabins, here is a link for a local woman on Hornby island who is building beautiful custom caravans http://www.hornbyislandcaravans.com/

Charley Harper

I went to the Van Dusen Gardens today and after a lovely walk around in the brilliant sunshine, spent a few minutes in the gift shop and saw some great stuff by Charley Haper. I liked the geometric shapes he uses in his animals, and also the colour and composition. Check out his stuff on his website.

How To Make Diamonds

and also.. how to make 3D diamonds!!

http://www.minieco.co.uk/3d-paper-diamonds/

The 2012 All Islands Art Show

I was this years coordinator for the All Islands Art Show, a yearly event put on by the Haida Gwaii Arts council. Got me on the front page of the observer, and kept me very busy for a couple of weeks, and somewhat busy for many more. There are still some events brewing in association with this, but the main push is done. The opening was great and I can hang a picture like a hot damn now. Thanks to all my friends who helped make it happen. Jessie M, Ben D (thanks for the drill!), Jaime Allen, Amy Clarkson, and my lovely fiancee, Douglas Black. Shout outs to all those who offered hugs and support when I needed them, and even a hot bowl of clam chowder. Community rules.

jack of alls

My friend just told me about Homeshop suggesting this is the kind of thing I could do. I love this! Check the site, click the links figure it out. Amazing.

Is 2012 the year to burn?

Last summer my cousin went to Burning Man. He had a great time and when he showed me his pictures, I could see why. Here is a video, some of which was shot in the "camp" where my cuz was staying, makes me feel warm and fuzzy, maybe it's partly due to the fact that they are in a desert and I am in sub zero rainforest. I don't know what I thought burning man was, but never before had I wanted to be part of it. My cousin showed me that, for all the drugs, nudity and techno music, there is equal parts art, diversity and in a way that seems harder and harder to find, culture. In short I have started thinking about it and in doing so, realized how much homework there is to be done in order to attend. I am doing some homework. This is a good place to start.

Terrariums for xmas?

Last xmas my cousin and I made some terrariums for xmas presents. Here's the next level.