I love this Picture of HRC. Time to find this at the thrift store!

"I wanted to start a website for teenaged girls that was not kind of this one-dimensional strong character empowerment thing, because one thing that can be very alienating about a misconception of feminism in that girls then think that to be feminists they have to live up to being perfectly consistent in their beliefs, never being insecure, never having doubts, having all the answers. . . and this is not true and actually recognizing all the contradictions I was feeling became easier once I realized that feminism was not a rulebook but a discussion, a conversation, a process." -Tavi Gevinson


I love this. I spend most of my time following feminist trends, 'women's issues', pop culture, and anything else relevant to gender and U.S women's culture, and it seems that feminism and women's issues are moving in a definite direction towards understanding and representation of women as complex imperfect PEOPLE. Whether its the body activists, television shows, internet discussion, the backlash against over photoshopped, unrealistic depictions of women, the continual discussion I hear women having about the complexities of their identities mired in feelings of insecurity and security,or the personal battles over the push and pull of multiple discourses, it seems to be the issue of my generation. Feminism today is a discussion, its subjective, and very personal, and yet it is also public because this issue of validity in identity resonates in all of us. We just want to be understood, accepted, and acknowledged, and not belittled or ostracized at every turn.  The personal is public, because what is at the core of all our experience is unity, and what unites us is the need to be seen as complex individuals. I really think this is the new site for feminism, and is being played out not only on the internet, through websites like Tavi's, but also discussed in women's day to day conversation.

love this.

"Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it. This abnormal obsession with women’s faces and bodies has become so normal that we (I include myself at times—I absolutely fall for it still) have internalized patriarchy almost seamlessly. We are unable at times to identify ourselves as our own denigrating abusers, or as abusing other girls and women."- Ashley Judd

Best weekend.

Seriously, what a great weekend! Friday night I sang back up with Dark Horse, which consists of all the people I like best in Gainesville. I sang back up in one of my favorite dresses, and shredded on the tambourine.

Yesterday, Scott, Chris, and I went camping at the Farms to Family Fest and watched Morningbell (one of my fav bands ever ..who are also my friends!) play! Not only was their set longer, but we got to lay down and watch. Always down for hangouts that involves me laying down.

Then, after the set we ate grilled cheese sandwiches, drank beers, and star gazed. We ran up to the top of this huge hill (the only one in florida, probably) and looked at stars. We also watched a big drum circle below us.  I think the most beautiful thing in the world are trees at night framing the moon and the stars. I don't love any sight more.

Scott and I then dared ourselves to go to the drum circle, because it is not something either of us would ever do. We went and of course analyzed the situation as if we were in some foreign culture. Sitting next to a giant ass fire was pretty wonderful, but having someone to enjoy it with was ever better.

So we woke up today, and now I am about to get ready for an easter party with Scott's family!

I can't believe how much my life has changed since I moved here. Everything I ever wanted, playing shows, camping, my own house, grad school, no driving!, is really here. I am basically living my life I have always wanted. That phrase " the grass is always greener on the other side" or whatever people say about never being content even when you think you will, is false. I have never been so happy and grateful to be where I am at.

Ok mushy easter.

love annie

<3333

Hey guys!
 I got a new bike today!

My other bike broke. It was my grandma's mountain bike, and it was stuck in giant ass mountain gear. Also, there are no mountains in Florida. So now I have this sweet lady bike. It is from the 50's and it was sooo cheap. Won't it be cute in the summer when my basket is full of wine and cheese and flowers and cheese?

Also, I have gone to yoga for the past three weeks! What a surprise, here I thought I would be lazy 4evs. I also have been busy doing crafts, not finishing songs I start, and eating pounds of cantaloupe.

One more month of school and then I can do all this, all day everyday day.

<3 annie