Don’t Be a Makeup Chicken

I associate the term non-fat with generally less-nutritious, bland and unsatisfying food. It’s different, but not in a good way.

I am non-fat on this blog. My non-fat status has caused me to pause for a moment and consider my place on Makeup Chicken and also what it means to feel marginalized. Essentially, fat women feel this way most places they visit–from airplanes to clothing stores to the doctor’s offices they visit. And here I am a member of a blog that has the potential to turn that world on its axis. It has the potential to be axiomatic by marginalizing thin, here. Though, like Soul Man*, I know what it’s like to escape the confines–I simply shut down my blog.

But I am a strong ally. Marianne Kirby, one of the most intelligent and inspiring people I know, has been my friend since I was 23 years old. 10 years of ups and downs and love all around. And I’ve seen some of that struggle, even if I have witnessed it from a position of privilege.

What I would like to say is that I recognize the axiomtic nature of this blog and that I am proud to walk the walk of being an ally, of being someone who defends fatpol and likes to consider herself a part of it–even if being non-fat means I don’t get to participate in the same ways fatpol women and men do.

So, listen. I’m non-fat, but I’m here to back y’all up in any way I can. And we should totally have a contest to see who can make the best logo for allies. Can we get a widget? Can we get some recognition over here? Let’s make being an ally something the non-fat can declare everywhere–publicly, on their blogs, to others who aren’t aquainted, to trolls, to haters of all kinds and to non-advocates.

I am an ally. Are you? Got something you wanna do about it?

*Yes, the cheesy ’80s film.

Decorative Diva tagged me for a meme and while I don’t usually do memes, I thought I’d give this one a shot.

Rules: Each player answer the questions themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve answered the questions on your blog.

10 Years Ago (1998):

1. I was 21.

2. I was going to the University of Central Florida.

3. I was getting to know JT, and making chicken noises!

4. I was working at Lane Bryant.

5. I was missing the friends that had moved to Orlando with me in the first place.

5 Things on Today’s “To Do” List:

1. Finish lacquering the oak dowels.
2. Pack a bento lunch for tomorrow at work.

3. Take pictures of my freshly dyed hair for this here blog.

4. Write some more on my novel in progress.

5. Ride around with the husband while he pulls calls for work.

5 Things that I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Hire a regular cleaning service (that’s really the only way I could justify the weekly expense).

2. Buy a 24″ iMac with a TB harddrive.

3. Invest! Now is a great time for it.

4. Tell the husband to quit work so he could go to school full time.

5. Go to grad school.

5 Places I have lived:

1. Woodstock, GA (suburb of Atlanta)

2. Lake City, FL

3. Decatur, GA (part of downtownish Atlanta)

4. Orlando, FL

5. Pattaya, Thailand

5 Jobs I have had:

1. T-shirt stand clerk at the Virgin Megastore

2. H&R Block receptionist

3. High school teacher (alt ed, mixed grades and subjects)

4. Textbook editor

5. Professional writer (this is my favorite so far *grin*)

I’m not going to tag anyone but this was fun! It’s actually kind of difficult to remember what was going on 10 years ago!