New Blog Digs...

Okay kids, it's official--I got me a fancy-type blog over at wordpress for all that there per-fesh-un-ull stuff. Check 'er out: http://www.jordanrosenfeld.wordpress.com/.

Meanwhile, if you want rants and ramblings about new motherhood, irritating neighbors and the antics of my local street people, stick around here. Posts may be few, but they will be.

Also, remember that it's not too late to sign up for the FREE Write Free e-newsletter, jam packed full of juicy tidbits for Nov/Dec, 2008. It goes out Monday, so if you'd like to sign up for this issue, which features Litpark's Susan Henderson and musings on what it means to be creatively courageous, do it now by going HERE.

May This Blog No Longer Suck

I've been going about blogging thing all wrong--I've known this for a long time but have done nothing to rectify it. Part of the problem is that I first started a blog as an exercise in online journaling. I halfheartedly tried to create a blog themed to my book Make a Scene and was going to post tips and suggestions and exercises geared toward the book. Then I thought about doing the same for my book with Rebecca Lawton--Write Free. I still want to do this, but you know what they say about best laid plans. In my case, I didn't want to spend money and couldn't figure out how to scan and upload and do all the cool tech stuff that a typepad or word press blog required. (If anyone wants to trade me editing/writing services for html assistance, I'm still game!)

Another failing: I should cultivate a world-weary, semi-snarky voice that rides the edge between self-deprecation and iconoclast. I should post pithy thoughts in a McSweenys-esque tone about books I've read, popular culture and politics. Instead, my default setting is somewhere between prissy and whiny.

So while I'm unlikely to be able to do much about my tone, folks, why wait until January to make resolutions? I think the time is nigh to do things differently. I think that I'm ready for a SERIOUS blog. One where I post on a regular basis and have something to offer. So...I know I've said it before, but I'm sayin' it again: things are gonna change round these here parts.

HOPE

Every time I see Obama on the news, looking presidential, I get chills. I know his administration has more than its share of problems to address and he'll make flubs and errors as he's only human. But seeing him there framed against the White House makes me realize that I truly had almost given up hope for this country. And now I have it again. Even as bad as things are. That's saying something.

JPR

Oh Yes We Did!

President Obama.

It's like waking from an eight year coma to realize that you're not dead after all.


J

Will Proposition 8 go to bed with you at night?

I've been quiet about politics lately when, ironically, I am more jazzed and excited than ever before about this coming election. Having a new baby has redirected much of my energy, but I still have enough to be outraged, no more like baffled, really, over all the support for Proposition 8, which has the audacity to suggest it will restore traditional marriage. It's boggling enough that it's so close to passing here in the state I like to pretend is so liberal (CA). It's downright sickening to see parents gathering their innocent young children on street corners with signs supporting what has got to be one of the most unconstitutional propositions I've seen in a long time.

This idea that voting yes will "restore" traditional marriage is hilarious. It assumes a) that there ever was anything such as traditional marriage rather than the millions of variations that exist, but which people don't like to talk about (open marriages, marriages in which one person is gay but can't come out and so takes a "safe" path, marriages of convenience, for green cards, of obligation, "for the children's sake", marriages borne of being too young, too stupid and too afraid to be alone, etc. ad infinitum). And b) you tell me how something passed through the state legislature will walk into people's homes and "restore" marriage.

Will this proposition come with a manual for how to communicate better with your spouse? Will it teach you to be more compassionate, loving, dedicated, loyal or supportive? Will it watch the kids so you can have a break? Will it help you have a better sex life, or stop your abusive partner from beating you? I don't think so.

I know the problem with being passionate about an issue is that the people on the other side are also passionate but I just honestly can't wrap my brain around how anyone believes that two people of the same sex who want to get married threatens ANYthing whatsoever (except their own simple-mindedness).

What are they so afraid of??

I'm voting NO on 8 and I'm unabashed about it.