Chicana on the Edge

Mentioning the unmentionable since 2004

Ask For What You Want, Part Two: People Pleasing

Are you good at asking for what you want? Some insight into those who struggle with it.

How Chicago Failed Its Most Vulnerable: The Heat Wave of July 1995

31 years ago, a three-day disaster revealed an ongoing one.

Facebook Is Over

I have run my personal Facebook experiment and it is over. In January 2009, I opened an account because I wanted to see what a friend's girlfriend looked like. I stayed for way too long. It was like a crowded party with all these people I hadn't seen in a long time...

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Sex and the City, Part One

In the summer of 1999, I was a 33-year-old, never-married, dating-fixated, straight woman whose TV got the HBO channel. I didn't have a boyfriend, I was ready for love and, yes, I was hooked on Sex and the City. One of the series strengths was its willingness to...

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Healthy Whine

Since the last time I posted, my doctor told me to cut out even the few fruits I was allowed to eat. I spent three weeks eating nothing but vegetables, meat, eggs, nuts and beans. At least I could still have oils and spices and herbs. She's now allowed me to have one...

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Easter

Easter

My Easter memories are of wanting this holiday to be as big and bright as Christmas, but it never was. Maybe part of the reason Easter has never been as big as Christmas is that Easter coincides with the spring solstice and Christmas coincides with the winter solstice...

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“I Recently Cut Out Fructose”

Previous post on food & fat: Fat again, naturally Disclaimer: since I've become properly obese, I re-read these old posts and see my body dysmorphia and obsession with food and weight. It's sad to me now. Do I have that Seinfeld quote right? I'm remembering Kramer...

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Bob’s Wild Life

My husband loves animals and has always had them in his life. We would have a dog, except that he's not home enough to take care of one and we would have a cat except that I'm allergic to them. So instead he feeds the city wildlife. We moved into our current apartment...

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One Minute

1. I gave blood yesterday. It took me one hour to save three lives. Have you ever saved a life? If not, get in there. If so, get in there and save some more. 2. Today we finished taking down our Christmas tree. Yes, Bob and I are big Christmas people and have to wean...

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Ah, yes – Valentine’s Day

And then there's Valentine's Day. I'm a sucker for a celebration and if it includes sweets, so much the better. In the true American spirit, I mainly view it as another reason to eat stuff that's bad for you. But as a woman who was single into her 40's, I also...

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Simple Things I Enjoyed Today

1. Sleeping in. 2. Yoga stretches. 3. Warm bowl of oatmeal with fruit, nuts and spices. 4. Water. 5. Walking without pain. 6. Crunching through ice and salt. 7. A nap. 8. Olive oil. 9. A hug. 10. Lights on our tree.

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