Ramblings of a Midwest Woman

Have you seen the news coverage? Flip on the television, look on any social media site, and right now, you will see the story of Dr. Christine Ford and Brett Kavanaugh displayed across headlines. Honestly, I can barely bring myself to read any article because it makes me sick to my stomach. I don't know if I can face the horrid details. Why? I am a survivor.  A little over 7 years ago, something happened to me, and to this day, I can barely speak about or write about it. Today, I am going to try. The word rape brings tears to my eyes, and for the longest time, I never used that word. Instead... I blamed myself.  Whether or not you believe Dr. Ford personally, we have a terrible history of not believing women in this country. We paint them as fame-hungry, hysterical creatures who have ulterior motives rather than vulnerable, scared people, who are just trying to do the right thing.  I never reported what happened to me. There is no point now. The ev...

Keto. Paleo. Whole 30. Low Carb. Shakeology. Each time I walk into our small, windowless lounge for lunch, all I hear is the talk of diets. I understand that we are eating food, and so at times, we will talk about the pieces of nourishment that we decide to ingest and perhaps also, the reasons why we picked those particular foods. But every day? Really? It's not just at my current job I've noticed this ritual. I've worked at retail stores, factories, restaurants, and now at a school as a teacher, and it is always the same. The men eat by themselves away from the women who converse about their eating habits. "I love Keto. I just always felt like I was in a fog, and now, what a difference!" "I've lost 30 pounds since July, and I haven't done anything different." "I'm eating these shakes every day because I need to lose a few pounds. After having our last kid, I just can't seem to get rid of these last ten pounds or ...

First off, welcome to my blog. In the past, I've blogged for many reasons, sharing recipes, and expressing myself, but now I am anonymously blogging for myself. There are many reasons I've decided to be anonymous. 1. My social media is filled with coworkers, my boss, family, acquaintances, and friends, making me feel like I cannot express myself whatsoever except in that way that offends or challenges nothing. I don't try to offend people, but it tends to happen if I voice an opinion whatsoever. 2. My job is in the public service sector. I am a high school teacher which means everything I do is subject to scrutiny. I must behave myself in public, including in the online world. 3. I live to write, and if I don't express myself, I will die or explode. 4. I am an opinionated woman, and in most sectors, I feel women can voice their stories but not without retribution. The world is always trying to quiet us, and I face that in my surroundings. So there you have it....