Who's allowed to donate?

On September 13, 2012 we met at SoBro Cafe to discuss The Genius Factory by David Plotz.  I believe everyone was in attendance, except Cris who was honeymooning ;)

We discussed questions such as:

• Do we tell a child his dad isn't really his father?  When? How?
• What is the donor's role in the family?
• Are there positivies, or only negatives, to eugenics?
• Could there be a societal benefit to selective breeding?
• Is it possible to create genius through breeding?
• If you are picking your child's father, is there anything wrong with wanting the best DNA?

We also talked about Steph having "the talk" with her boys.....

I also brought wedding and honeymoon pictures to show.



Next up, The Happiness Project

rob pattinson and other lake-bottom smells: bunkbed adventure

This was our third trip to Lee Cottage.

Friday Roll Call:
Lindsay, Jeni, Val, Loran, Katie, Cris, and Erin went up Friday. We got vodka.



And we made These Bitches. Lots and lots of These Bitches. With vodka.


There was boating.


And beer.


And s'mores!

Saturday Roll Call:
The Mamas joined us. Stephanie, Alissa and Speedway Hot.

Val questioned whether she was a good mom because she came up on Friday instead of Saturday. It was unilaterally decided that those of us who are not moms want to be just like Val if/when we are. So, yes. Good mom.

First, there was Zumba with Loran and Katie in the front row. It shall be stated for the record that MCF has got the moves like Jagger. It shall also be stated for the record that this was the most fun zumba class in the history of forever.

Then the Mamas arrived and we had lunch and then sun time...
 

and boat time... we tubed!


with blue skies


and photo-bombing (good one, ECM)


chillin'


extremely awkward posing


beer (and wine slush!)


and general fun times.


It was a really beautiful day.


We demonstrated good teamwork and expertly anchored the boat so that we could watch the Ski-Bees show. The smell of the late-summer lake bottom bits that clung to the anchor, the boat, and several of us is imprinted on our brains forever.

Then we had strictly regulated pizza portions for dinner (and yes, there was a vegetarian option). After which both the "no-photography or recording devices of any kind" rule and the "you must get drunk unless you're pregnant" rule went into effect so that we could discuss Fifty Shades of Grey.

And we did. Notable bits:
* Rule #1: you have to want it
* Rule #2: when you think you have enough, use more

Success as usual and expected.

July 2012: BBC - Yeah You Know Me!

BBC

Book babes who rock the read
Lil’ Boss drop a rhyme on 'em

BBC, how can I explain it
I'll take you frame by frame it

July we slammed some poetry hits
B is for Badass, B is for Books That Rock Temple

The last C...well...that's not that simple
It’s sort of like another way to call a club awesome

We have no letters that are missin’ here
You get on occasion at the library

As a game 'n it seems I gotta start to explainin'
Read it

KF, LL, ECM, SS, JJ, CL in the house
Readin’ and eatin’ and rappin’ at Chez J Boss and Lil Boss

Read some Atwood, read some Oliver don’t forget Rilke
Heavy are the words of Rich, disturbing those of Simic

It’s not a poem? P to the O to the E to the M
Hell yeah it’s all poetry (Boy, that’s what is scary)

It’s BBC, time for poetry awesomeness get it

Make no mistake there’s room for all lyric

So we rolled out the Mos Def and Wu Tang Clan phat
Who thinks it’s wrong to use Garage band to rap that

Well if you do, that's BBC and you're not down with it
But if you don't, here's your membership

Chorus:
You down with BBC (Yeah you know me)

You down with BBC (Yeah you know me)

You down with BBC (Yeah you know me)

Who's down with BBC (Every last homie)

You down with BBC (Yeah you know me)

You down with BBC (Yeah you know me)

You down with BBC (Yeah you know me)

Who's down with BBC (All the homies)

Break it down!

 

 

And the evidence follows that we may have read some Rilke, Rich and Atwood among others and even had some discussion reminiscent of a 200-level poetry class in college  - but the ladies of BBC can indeed break it down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 2012: Guyland by Michael Kimmel

A group of us met at 1001 Food & Drink and had the entire basement to ourselves to gossip about boys (well minus our male waiter who I think was pretty nervous about us).

Overall, the book brought about many topics of discussion including:

1. If there is "A Guy Code," is there "A Girl Code?" or Gal-land if you will?
2. Our thoughts on his view were 50/50. Some seemed pretty typical of men and some were a little extreme. Also seemed he was speaking about a very select type of male (white, fratty, middle-to-upper class).
3. The unfairness that women have to "wait it out" for men to mature when scientifically speaking their biological clock is ticking without having an option to put it on hold.

And because I was bad and waited....um.....over 4 months to write this, that is all I remember. Ironically, I DID take notes from the meeting and still have them, however below in black is exactly what I wrote (and the red text next to it are my thoughts about what I think it is referencing):

Bomb ass p (do not totally remember but think it was Erin's choice wording for why girls always win)
Secret diamond (Our first glimpse at the story behind Stephanie's ring! Also, how it would make a killer romance novel....it's a diamond....and it's secret!! If you weren't there and don't know the story we may need a repeat performance - you need to know this)
Katie playing ball (I think it was how Katie can shoot some killa hoops - maybe even used to play? Kind of forget, but she's a ballah (shot calla) and that's all that matters)
Weddings (This was the first meeting after Jill & Stephanie's nuptials (not together - they have their own men - although I bet Jill wishes she was a part of the secret diamond love story....a triangle love tryst would be an interesting addition - just sayin! I also remember a heated discussion about bridezillas/overly extravagant weddings)
Bunkbed Olympics (Dude, I don't remember this conversation at all, but WHY didn't it happen?)
Jewelry Cleaner (Lindsay brought jar(s?) of an unidentifiable green substance in a mason jar. What could it be? Family moonshine recipe? Proof how she ate too much asparagus the previous day? Mouthwash to immediately cleanse her pallet a la creepy lady at Aristocrat last month? No, dang it. No, thank God. And just...ew. It was jewelry cleaner so Cris can keep her ring sparkly for the wedding - and I believe some wanted the recipe - and it's probably already pinned to our board because Lindsay is the shiz)

I would write the "business" that was discussed but I mean it's 4 months later so I think you know what happens.....

**Please excuse all brevity and typos, I wrote this at lighting speed so Lindsay wouldn't douse me in the eyes with her homemade jewelry cleaner.

And below is some funny is case the above is crap:

and pee baby makes three - we're off to Lee Cottage!

Here we go again. You need to know the following vis a vis Lee Cottage and her peculiarities.

Numero Uno: We have a septic system, ergo:

• nothing related to your period can go down the flusher. sorry.
• avoid food scraps down the disposal in the kitchen. especially egg shells, which are not septic safe.

 Numero Dos: We have no recycling service, ergo:

• bring a refillable water bottle. 
• we have to carry recycling home  

Numero Tres: We are in the middle of nowhere, ergo:

• mosquitoes are hungry for human flesh. bring bug spray.
• once the sun sets, we don't use the front (lakeside) door. It's annoying to use the back (garage-side) door, but it's essential. Jeni dosn't want to spend all night swatting mosquitoes.

Numero Quatro: There's a drought, ergo:

• as of right now, there's a burn ban, which makes s'mores a sad, sad, dream.
• really the mosquitos aren't too bad.

Numero Cinco: We're going in August, ergo:

• water sports!
• sunscreen!

MEAL PLANNING:

• Fri dinner: Team lead LL, team member LF
• Sat breakfast: Team lead JB (this meal will be informal - cereal, yogurt...save the big breakfast for Sunday am...)
• Sat lunch: Exec decision to hit Subway
• Sat dinner: Team lead MCF, (grilled pizzas with salad), team members CB, AS
• Sun breakfast: MM and SS - you two coordinate on who's leading/bringing what
• Snacks - Team lead ECM, team member VC - also Val it was unilaterally determined you need to bring the brownies again.

BEV PLANNING:

• Erin's bringing mimosa fixings
• LL, LF and MCF will concoct "those bitches" 
• MCF will also bring some delicious craft beer (likely Oberon and Sunlight Cream Ale)
• MCF will bring some sort of wine slush
• LL will bring stuff for spritzers
• 
  

 BRING:

• bath towel
• beach towel
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• alcohol
• $10 to chip in for boat gas
• noodles or rafts, if you have/love one

Ender’s Game

May = Sci-fi spectacular!

Alissa, Val, Jeni, Melissa, Cris, Katie, Jill and Erin gathered on May 17, 2012 to discuss giants, buggers, child soldiers, genetics, AND how freakin’ amazing  the cheese curds are at Twenty Tap.

It was decided that though one or two of us couldn't get past the sci-fi weirdness of it, that this book was a winner. Our casual (yet, much focused?) discussion mostly centered on the major themes of the book. Namely: government manipulation, military mentality, the evil side of genius, and of course, interactions with alien species.

The overall consensus was that we all really cared about Ender Wiggin—and also, we’re absolutely terrified of his masochistic sociopath of a brother. Some of us may even read the sequel, but we all can't wait for the movie next summer—especially the battle room scenes! Till then, you can follow the official production blog for updates: 

http://endersgameblog.tumblr.com/

P.S. Lindsay traveled to Kansas City to visit our long lost (but not forgotten) member Loran. And the Sandman sisters made a virtual visit (via phone pic) during the meeting.

so, all and all, May’s meeting was a great success!

In other news:

Jill’s nuptials are just a few winks away. If the wedding turns out anything like her associated Pinterest board, it’s going to be just gorgeous!

Cris is headed to France for a vacation/wedding, and we can’t wait to see all of the pictures of her touring the countryside while wearing the chicest of berets.

Melissa and Parker are both enjoying Melissa's new work-from-home arrangement immensely!

…and Katie is totally smitten (and I must say the rest of us are as well..."love is the best!")

Coming up:

June: Guyland hosted by Melissa @ 10-01

July: Poetry (and maybe some rap lyrics, I hear?) hosted by Katie. Location TBD in June.

August: Fifty Shades of Grey / Bunk Bed Adventure @ Lee Cottage hosted by Val…and apparently there will be “bitches” there? IDK...

September: Genius Factory, hosted by Jill

over the rainbow - Will Grayson Will Grayson

the epic performance of Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer took place on April 12, 2012, at Flatwater Grill (which was not hot as hell.).

those attending: lindsay, val, erin, melissa, jill, cris, katie, and alissa. 

no engagements, pregnancies or births to report.   

i might be slightly biased, but I'm pretty sure this was our best meeting ever. perhaps it was the thrill of a maybe author appearance. perhaps it was that we all read the book. perhaps we did a good job of clearing up the WG and wg (there are TWO of them) issue early on. Or, maybe -- probably -- it was tiny cooper. 

things we discussed: 

• Jill's favorite scene was the one with WG and his dad. 
• maura. EFFING MAURA. poor wg.
• *emphatic nodding* from Alissa
• if you were getting in a train to go to chicago to meet someone you met on the internet, what would you wear? 
• casting Tiny Cooper. 
• the fact that, per wikipedia, Chris Colfer wrote, directed, and starred in a musical titled Shirley Todd (a spoof on Sweeney Todd) when he was a senior in high school. Tiny Cooper come to life! 
• other miscellaneous things that garnered responses such as "YES!" and "SERIOUSLY!" and "EFFING MAURA!" and "TINY COOPER!"

And then we took surveys that will inform some HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS of the books we've read to date. Report coming soon. And it includes an upset. 

epic quotes from the book, as culled from around the web. 

in short, we liked it.

what's next? this:

May: Ender's Game, hosted by ECM
June: Guyland, hosted by SH
July: A selection of poems painstakingly curated by MCF
August: The bodice ripper, for which Val will lead the discussion. And there will be bitches.
September:  Genius Factory, hosted by Jill, who's gettin' hitched in JUST A FEW WEEKS!