Viva la Feminista

 I have been an emotional wreck since Saturday afternoon. After we got done with our daughter's soccer match (for the record they lost) I focused on game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS). My Cubbies were heading into the do or die game in a few hours. And yes, while I know there was a game 7, I knew that momentum is on the victors side. If the Cubs somehow lost, I can imagine the Dodgers steamrolling us in game 7 and thus crushing all of Cubs Nation once again. Nerves overcame me. Anxiety was all I could feel. Nausea replaced any appetite. My husband landed last minute tickets and I immediately regretted it. Despite the historical nature and "once in a lifetime" nature of the game, I started to say, "I don't want to go. I can't go." I had the same feeling, times 10, that I get just before the Superman roller coaster starts. I told our daughter, "If they lose, you'll have to carry me home." I knew I would not be able ...

The Cubbies lost game two and instead of moping, I bring you my recap of the game in Steven Universe GIFs: We started the game off with three up, three down. We felt good then, right? via GIPHY And then the Dodgers hit a homerun. I wasn't going to let it get to me too much: via GIPHY Joy at the Cubbies solid defense getting us out of a jam: via GIPHY When Zobrist caught that ball! via GIPHY More joy after Javy made a genius call to let a hit ball drop so we can get out of an inning: via GIPHY Trying to will my Cubbies to find their mojo, juju, whatever magic they used to win over 100 games this season: via GIPHY Mad at the ump and frustrated at our lack of hits: via GIPHY And then we lost... via GIPHY Now off to LA and game three. Good luck, Cubbies! Go get 'em!! via GIPHY

100 years today Margaret Sanger opened her first birth control clinic in New York. It was soon shut down because 100 years ago birth control was outright illegal. While Sanger is fraught with complications due to her strategy to partner with wealthy eugenicists to bankroll the development of the bitch control pill and other aspects of the birth control movement, her work lead to the founding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is where myself as well as many friends first sought out reproductive healthcare. It is where the protagonist in Judy Blume’s Forever heads to when she decides she is ready to have sex with her high school sweetheart. They have always been a target of conservative forces who wish to reduce women’s access to healthcare. From being painted as abortion mills to targeting communities of color, Planned Parenthood has had to fight for its existence from day one. As an 18-year-old I was lucky to have plenty of Planned Parenthood clinics to choose from when...

I received information on what looks like a fun show in Chicago. I hope to make it there before it closes. If you get there first, let me know what you think. THE TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents The world premiere of Fantasy Island For Dummies (too near, too near) Written by Ruth Margraff Directed by Kate Hendrickson Cast: Holly Thomas-Cerney, Casey Chapman, Skye Fort, John Kahara, Lyndsay Rose Kane, Emily Lotspeich, Chris Popio, Bob Wilson Opens: Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 8PM Saturday Closes: November 5, 2016 at 8PM Runs: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8PM Admission: $20 on Thursdays and Fridays; $25 on Saturdays, Special two-for-one admission on Fridays Where: TRAP DOOR THEATRE 1655 West Cortland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 For Information/Reservations: 773-384-0494 To purchase tix online www.trapdoortheatre.com What: Fantasy Island for Dummies (low cut daydream too near, too near) is a new music-theatre work inspired by an episode of the iconic television se...

  Issa Rae gained wide recognition through an honest look at life in her YouTube series, “The Misadventures of AWKWARD Black Girl.” This weekend Rae’s HBO series Insecure debuts and you really shouldn't miss it. Insecure introduces us to Issa Dee as a late-20s single woman in a dead-end relationship and possibly dead-end job. But it is the awkwardness of Issa’s human interactions that are the star of the show. From her half-assed way of breaking up with her utterly unromantic boyfriend to her spectacular fail at a new guy, Issa is living up to the show’s name. Issa's bestie, Molly, who appears to have it all together, doesn't. It's their friendship that will carry this show through the exploration of being modern-day Black women. The scene that best exhibits the brilliance of Insecure 's writing team and the promise of the show is when Issa and her coworkers are brainstorming at the nonprofit. Despite being a nonprofit that works with youth of color Issa ...