More interviews

[judecorp]

1. I know that you want children. How many would you like to have, and what genders?
I'd like to have more than one, and not more than we can financially support. I think I'd like to have three or four but I know that it may never be possible. I'd be happy with one healthy child, but would really like at least two. I don't really care what the sex of my children are, though it might be neat to have different sexes to see how things are different. (What can I say, I like to study things.) As for the genders of my children... I'll let them pick those.

2. If Jen was unable to have children, would you carry them?
If I could, I would have one child. I don't know if that would ever be a possibility for me. I'm looking into it now, which is why I've been trying to eat better, exercise more, and get all of this hormone stuff under control. But I haven't had a period in what? three years? So who knows. I would not carry more than one child.

3. What do you like the most, and the least about Boston?
MOST: I like the closeness (geographically) to my relatives. It's been really nice to have visits and holiday celebrations without having to make a big, long vacation out of it... and to attend a wake/funeral without having to run around like crazy. This is closely seconded by proximity to the ocean (in my case, one mile).

LEAST: The expense. If things weren't so ridiculously expensive, we could enjoy things more.

4. You are given the chance to live anywhere in the world, with money as no object, and take all your family with you. where would you go?
I have no idea. There are so many places I haven't even explored yet! But probably someplace tropical-beachy. But with a thriving art scene. And lots of live music. And some babies.

5. If you could only watch one movie again, for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Stand By Me. It's good for any emotion.


1. You and Jen took a chance and moved to Boston. I know from reading your journal that you have had many second thoughts about it being the right thing for you both to be there long-term. However, what do you believe is the best thing about having moved there? If you had to do it all over again, would you still move?
I answered something similar for slytherindyke. The best thing about being here is the proximity to my family. I've been able to see them so much, share so many holidays. I can go down for a visit and come back in the same day, without having to make a big long vacation out of it. If something happens or there is some sort of family emergency, I can be right there. However, if I had to do it again, I would have stayed put. It just seemed like so many doors were going to open for us that are still soldered shut. This isn't to say that they might not open if given more time... it just means I'm an impatient prick who wants things NOW. :)

2. You certainly have baby fever, and it's running hot! If you both were unable to conceive or carry a child, what sort of adoption would you go for? Traditional? Foreign? Would it even matter?
I would go the foster-to-adopt route through the local city/county/state child welfare system. Not only is it a) less red tape and b) considerably less expensive, it also helps children in my own community. I have strong philosophical problems with wealthy (usually White) people buying babies from other countries and stealing them from their native cultures. (Disclaimer: This isn't always the case in international adoptions, but I especially see it with Asian children.) Of course, this all depends on whether the adoption agencies will even /allow/ me to adopt a child, as a woman in a long-term relationship with another woman.

3. You are a community sort of person. What is your fondest memory of being an activist?
When I was an intern at Stonewall Columbus, I helped organize a sort of social event and dialogue around trans issues. Stonewall had never really reached out to the trans community before. I was psyched to be at the start of something.

4. Living life can be very difficult. Living life as a lesbian, you face more challenges. What has been the most challenging thing of living your life in the open as you have?
I don't feel that my life is particularly challenged /right now/ by being a woman who is openly in a relationship with another woman. Sure, I know what the political climate is like, and sure, I know that I have less rights and protections in my relationship, but I don't come into contact with those injustices up close and personal on a regular basis. I guess the hardest thing is imagining what /could/ happen given the rights and protections that our family doesn't have. So I try to garner those protections the best I can, and not think about it much. On a personal, day-to-day level, I haven't really run into any difficulties being out. I've been pretty damned lucky, especially once my mom got over her worry that I was doomed to be miserable and friendless.

Also, it's a LOT harder to accidentally get pregnant. Damn!

5. I have a box of Count Chocula. Will you come and jump on my bed with me if I share it?
Oh my goodness YES IN A HEARTBEAT. That was so much fun. Did you know that they now make a Chocolate Lucky Charms?

More! More!

Comments

[fifteenthirty.livejournal.com]

But I haven't had a period in what? three years? So who knows. I would not carry more than one child.

How long have you been on the Met? Once I got on that (and my body got used to /past the awful side effects) I was rediculously regular with the period. Since I'm not planning on getting pregnant any time in the near future, it actually made me long for the days when I'd go months without them. LOL

[soulcatcher73.livejournal.com]

I /did/ know they made Chocolate Lucky Charms! I ate the whole box!

They are so much more magically delicious!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Since about the 10th of February. I'm /still/ trying to get into the doctor for my follow-up (to talk about dosages and such), and since my appointment for tomorrow has now also been cancelled, I have no idea when that will be.

I've been taking 1000mg/day (500mg in the morning and at night) daily since about February 17th.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I saw them for the first time today at a home visit. The kids were all chowing down on them and I wanted some too, but they didn't offer me any! DAMN!!

[poopsmoothie.livejournal.com]

I have strong philosophical problems with wealthy (usually White) people buying babies from other countries and stealing them from their native cultures.

Meeee tooo, as you might've guessed. :) But it's weird-- in my case, I'm half-grateful. The oppression I would have faced as a half-Berber woman conceived out of Morrocco would have probably killed me by now; or if not, made me wish I were dead. But as a whole, i agree with you.

And I'm glad to see you call it buying, because that's exactly what it is. oh, it's a good thing to do and all that, but in the end you're still laying down a lot of money and getting a kid. I cost $30,000, and they said that if they had known i was going to come out so light-skinned, they would have charged more. White babies are in higher demand. :P

Five Questions

[thelastbard.livejournal.com]

1. Children of the Night: Should they dance with the devil in the pale moon light, or merely master the Russian language and troll San Francisco parks at night?

2. If you were a video game, which would you be?

3. Boston in the springtime: so much better than winter, or about the same?

4. Windows or Mac?

5. What is your favorite regional accent to impersonate?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_epiphany_girl_/]

Oh! Interview me!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

1. Do you think you will find a therapist in SF or will you keep going to SC for therapy?

2. I've heard people say that Twelve Step groups substitute one addiction for another. What are your thoughts on this?

3. What is your favorite thing to do with G.?

4. You are working for a very prestigious newspaper and your editor tells you that the Big Boss is requiring that you place a false quote in your story or you will be fired. What do you do?

5. What is your favorite treat now that you've given up sugar?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I believe that international adoption is often done with the absolute best intentions. And I believe that most people who adopt internationally are good, kind people who want a family. I just hate the whole idea of spending so much money for a baby... and more for a lighter-skinned baby or a baby with "in demand" features.

I applaud that there are people who want to help children. And I do believe that in a lot of cases, the children are receiving much better care in their new families than they were receiving in orphanages and the like. I just wish that if so many people wanted to help, they would help those countries adequately take care of their own children.

Re: Five Questions

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Consider it done. :)

[poopsmoothie.livejournal.com]

Absolutely.