RESTROOMS

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place.
Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.
You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants!
The dispenser for the modern "seat covers"(invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy,but empty.
You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume " The Stance."
In this position your aging, toneless (God I should have gone to the gym!!!) thigh muscles begin to shake
You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance".

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more.
You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That will have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.
Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work.
The door hits your purse,which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet.
"Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny,crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course..
You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try.
You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get".

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes.
The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too
At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat.
You're e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d.
You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.
You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, .....so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.
You are no longer able to smile politely to them.
A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe.(Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need this".
As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?" .................

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse, and hand you Kleenex under the door!

Residents urged to help city become Google test site

from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl this morning sought the public's help in persuading Google to select Pittsburgh as a test city for a new, superfast Internet network.

Pittsburgh is competing with other cities nationwide for the honor, which Mr. Ravenstahl and civic leaders described as a potential boon to education, business, health care and everyday life.

Mr. Ravenstahl invited residents to log onto a Web site -- www.pittsburghgoesgoogle.com -- to nominate Pittsburgh as a test city.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10076/1043471-100.stm#ixzz0iSdogt2w

Support the Paycheck Fairness Act

Just wanted to share this, from the ACLU:

Even today, in 2009, women still make only 78 cents for every dollar made by their male counterparts. The gap for women of color is even wider. In April, Equal Pay Day was an important reminder of this persistent wage gap and the urgent need to take action to ensure that women can receive equal pay for equal work.

Last January, President Obama took a crucial first step in addressing workplace discrimination by signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Now, we need your support in pressing for another bold strike against wage discrimination. We need the tools to close for once and for all this ongoing pay gap for women by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, S. 182.

I just sent a note to my member of Congress urging them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act. You can do the same here: http://action.aclu.org/equalpayday

Blog for Equality 2010 - Stop the Discrimination, Join the Blog Swarm

I'd like to invite Society bloggers to participate in a blog swarm on Monday to encourage the State Senate Judiciary Committee to vote NO on the so-called "Marriage Protection" Amendment.

More here

International Women's Day

That was today (yeah, I'm a little late with this post).


And, here are some events for March -- Women's History Month -- via the Women and Girls Foundation.
.

Ken Lewis, Former Bank Of America CEO, Left With $83 Million In Pay

Ken Lewis, Former Bank Of America CEO, Left With $83 Million In Pay


another one!!!!!

Dress for Success Women's Financial Literacy Project Uses Designer Hats and Jewelry as Incentives

This came through my in box today and caught my eye. I love financial literacy programs; I used to teach a monthly class. And I believe in the power of incentives ... but this strikes me a bit off.

Dress for Success Worldwide chose Pittsburgh as one of their sites for a
BNYMellon grant to fund an 8 week seminar on Financial Literacy!

We’ve gotten TERRIFIC speakers – some of Pittsburgh’s finest finance professionals –and great topics such as “Emotions and Money”.

Women who complete all of the classes will receive a Coach hat valued at $148 and Lia Sophia Jewelry, compliments of Dress for Success Worldwide. All participants will receive Lia Sophia Jewelry as well.

WHERE: BNY Mellon conference room (light refreshments provided)
WHEN: April and May, Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 PM for 8 weeks

Please email or call if you know of anyone interested – this is open to ALL women!

Constance Mayer
Programs
& Operations
Dress for Success Pittsburgh
412-201-4204 x 225
332 Fifth Ave, floor 5
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
www.dressforsuccesspittsburgh.org

want more information? see a
fabulous video with Iman and others!
http://pittsburghgives.guidestar.org/NonprofitProfile.aspx?OrgId=540948

Frankly, I'm not a designer hat or jewelry kind of woman, but it just seems odd to reinforce financial literacy lessons with those items. On the one hand it is a real reward for people who are motivated by such things, but on the other it seems like rewarding a successful dieter with an all you can eat (albeit fancy) meal.

Most financial literacy classes that I've seen offer gift cards and other small prizes. We used to give out calculators and people loved them.

Is it just me? Would they offer a class for men fashion incentives or would they stick with the traditional $50 Giant Eagle/Wal-Mart card?

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The Rachel Maddow Show - Virginia, the Phelpsies are coming for you

The Rachel Maddow Show - Virginia, the Phelpsies are coming for you


these people truly ,really, are inbred fools.

March 2010 Pittsburgh Horoscope Happenings!

Astrological Happenings! We started our magical journey into psychedelic Pisces in the past few weeks. Some may have become enchanted with this interesting energy that seems to be making life and relationship so easy right now, seeing one rainbow after another. Others may have become more confused along their path, as if they have walked into a fog and can no longer determine what direction that they are headed. This is a time where we want to take slow, careful steps, while trusting our intuition. An inner struggle between logic and our heart. We can ask ourselves, 'What do I want?'. Then asking again, if we will take this at face value'. Can we accept the realistic image, without hoping that things might change to be better? We walk along this blurry path now, with our concentration solely on our desire... but an odd scattered feeling may feel as we are being tugged into another direction, leading us off into the unknown. At times, we may need to stop in our path to see what is truly calling our attention. We may be wanting the easy way out and settling, while avoiding the hard work and self-respect that reality delivers. Our imagination is heightened, which can benefit us in creative ways to expand ourselves and our surroundings. If we choose to ignore being experimental and adventurous, the energy can leave us feeling lost with an unusual heaviness of sluggishness. To add to the 'drunken' energy that some of us may be experiencing, Mercury (communications) exits intelligent Aquarius, and dives into delusional Pisces March 1. Our thought-processing and speech can become muddled as we are not completely clear as to... Read more >>

Tarotscope Happenings! Monthly tarot card reading with an individual message for sun signs. PISCES (February 19-March 20) The High Priestess: Hidden wisdom. Practicality. Embrace your Inner Goddess. Silence is an ally. Mysterious power of insight speaks to us. Action should not be taken at this point. Be still and listen. Information could revealed to us, but may be clouded. We are urged to be patient as details present themselves to us in due time. We see beyond the obvious. An older woman could have a hidden agenda. Be a guardian of your unconscious, give nothing away that you sensing. Use practicality and good judgment. We benefit more from introverted female energy. Trust your intuition. Subconscious influences becomes your guide. There is much happening beneath the... Not Pisces? To read your sign... Read More >>

Daily Horoscope Happenings! March, 1, 2010, We search for independence and our disregard emotional needs as Moon opposes defiant Uranus 12:36pm. Our emotional approach to life becomes fresh and direct as Moon enters well-adjusted Libra 7:31pm. Rather than beating around the bush, we put sensitivities on the back-burner, to make necessary, well-mannered inquiries. Honesty can be quite an aphrodisiac when confusions are dismantled. An outburst of excited emotions are displayed as Moon sextiles self-assertive Mars 8:45pm. Make tonight happen! Read more >>

Enjoy and have an awesome month!

Suzi

www.starcana.com

Women's History Month (Library of Congress)

Women's History Month (Library of Congress)