Lip-Sticking

by Yvonne DiVita

What would you say if someone asked you to describe yourself? "Tell me what you look like," they say, on a phone call. "I could probably check Google or Facebook, but you tell me," they push on. "What color is your hair? Your eyes? Do you have a round face or a long, thin face? I'm really interested because... I wonder how you see yourself."

What would you say? How do you see YOURSELF? Tall? Thin? Short? Chubby? Tall and chubby, short and thin? Is your hair long and beautiful, or short... and messy? Do you consider yourself a looker? Or, just... plain old me. Would you be able to answer honestly? Do you know what you look like? Is that image in the mirror really you? 

I know I have trouble with this. I posted a picture on Facebook today and folks were commenting on how "stunning" I looked. Stunning? I thought. Wow... that wasn't what I saw at all. I hesitated even sharing the picture because I look... old. Yes, I think I look old. 

by Yvonne DiVita

I work from home. I've worked from home for more than 10 years. Granted, I work for myself... although these days there is a bigger presence in our lives - BlogPaws was aquired by Pet360 and I now work for them. But, they understand that, as the Co-Founder and major contributor to BlogPaws, I need to have a good working environment... which is here at home. Where I can give my dogs lots of attention, all day long. 

There's a bit of controversy going around the business world about the whole working from home idea. Back when the Internet began, we geeks were ecstatic that we now had a tool that would allow us to work from home and still be connected to the office. And yet, the numbers haven't changed all that much... people don't work from home as much as we thought they would. Flexible hours is not the norm, as we expected it would be. 

by Yvonne DiVita

Women have definitely made strides in equality - but we still have a long way to go. For instance, some members of the Senate believe requiring employers to pay women equal to men, when they do the same job, is government bullying. It's okay to require companies to offer unemployment, and other benefits, and it's okay to enforce sexual harassment, but not okay to require equal pay. Interesting. 

Here's a graphic depiction of where we were then and where we are now. It doesn't say much about where we have to go... what do you think? Click on the image for a better view of it. Thanks go to Solopress for making the graphic.

When I hear the folks on the 'other side' talk (I'm a Democrat), I feel as if they're part of a select, elite, "me and mine" group that excludes people like me. Not the Democrat me. I'm talking about the woman, the person, the business owner.

This image, created by Tom, my significant (and he is significant) other, says it better than I can. In my world, we're all in this together. We work together. We take care of each other. We don't run around talking about, Me, Me, Me... like Romney and Ryan are doing today. In my world, it's the United States of America. Not... NY or Pennsylvania or Virginia or Colorado. It's us, together, in a country full of hope and expectation. I'm sorry if they don't see it - I do. And, no, I don't want to return to the good old days of the 1950s, which is where Romney wants to take us. They weren't so good ... but they sure are old.

So, to Jack, who is in Romney's latest commercial... here's what I think: 

by Yvonne DiVita

When I received a note from a really good friend some weeks ago, I was thrilled to be reconnected. We hadn't spoken in quite awhile. 

"I thought I should connect the two of you," the note said. And proceeded to share information on a possible new connection for me - to a woman with an interesting business.

"Thanks," I wrote back within 24 hours - I try to respond to referrals quickly. It seems polite, if nothing else. "I'll connect with <name withheld to protect... well, not the innocent!> as soon as I get out from under a few pressing projects."

And, so... in between the time I received the email and my getting out from under, the person in question wrote to ask when I might be available to chat. 

by Yvonne DiVita

From satire magazine, Free Wood Post, this ditty on the wife of a certain Republican candidate. While a 'spoof'... it's actually believable. And sad because while she may not have said it, I know women who would applaud this heartily.

Why Should Women Be Paid Equal to Men?

At a meeting with the “Moms For Mitt” group yesterday outside Philadelphia, PA, Ann Romney was asked her opinion on Lilly Ledbetter and equal pay for equal work regarding women’s employment. Without hesitation she responded with another question that seemed to shock even the most staunch conservatives in the room.

“Why should women be paid equal to men? Men have been in the working world a lot longer and deserve to be paid at a higher rate. Heck, I’m a working mom and I’m not paid a dime. I depend on my husband to provide for me and my family, as should most women… and if a woman does work, she should be happy just to be out there in the working world and quit complaining that she’s not making as much as her male counterparts. I mean really, all this wanting to be equal nonsense is going to be detrimental to the future of women everywhere. Who’s going to want to hire a woman, or for that matter, even marry a woman who thinks she is the same, if not better than a man at any job. It’s almost laughable. C’mon now ladies, are you with me on this?” 

Well done, Sarah Wood.<author of the story> 

I laughed out loud. Hope you do, too.

by Yvonne DiVita

Helen of Troy is thought to be one of the most beautiful women in the universe. I will admit I know little of the Greek myth other than that - and I have no idea what the concept of 'beauty' was back then. But, the myth of Helen of Troy perseveres and the world continues to think of her beauty as awe-inspiring.

So, too, we hear people marvel at the Mona Lisa and her enigmatic smile - often calling her, "beautiful." One expects in her day, she did exude the beauty given to women of class. 

In today's world, neither woman would likely be labelled beautiful. These are women who appear, to me, at least, to be bare of face (no false eyelashes, or lipstick, or mascara, or under-eye concealer)... these are women who were confident, worshipped, and appreciated, for their femininity - more than the length of their eyelashes, or the color of their lips.

Mind you, I know women from time immemorial have used aids to enchance their cheeks, and lips, and hair - the better to appeal to the men in their lives. However, for the most part, women born before the acceptance of full-face makeup relied on other means to be enhancing, and were often criticized if they stooped to artificial means to be more beautiful. Of course, no woman of the day would have been seen with... spectacles (glasses, to you and me: remember: Dorothy Parker said it best: men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses.)

Enter - the current discussion over Hillary Clinton appearing bare-faced, with glasses, on camera.