Posted on June 20 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Al you need to do to prove that women shouldn't necessarily "rule the world" is consider the rising tide of extra-vicious female bullies in the school system. Should there be more of us in play? Certainly. But in no way is one gender - *either* gender - in a superior position to hold authority. We've already made that mistake once in this society and I agree with you that it's not an experiment that needs to be repeated.

If you liked the sections about the gender differences in brain structure and function, though, I'd recommend Louann Brizendine's The Female Brain*. She covers a wide variety of differences across the age spectrum.

It was fascinating as it helped me to understand what was happening with females all around me, from my daughter to my mother and even things I remembered from my own adolescence that I'd never been able to explain. I think it's a book every woman should read, and will probably want to re-read as they enter each new age group.

*http://www.amazon.com/Female-Brain-Louann-Brizendine/dp/0767920104/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213980007&sr=8-1

Sorry, I guess HTML doesn't work here. :-(

On The female brain and world domination

Posted on June 20 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hooray! I was just googling to see if the Union Street farmer's market was up yet, and not only is it open by now, I got a great lead on another market too!

I've always known I *ought to* shop farmer's markets to support local farmers and get better food - I was raised in a farming family, so to me the difference between grocery store and fresh produce looms large. But I always thought it cost more, too.

Well, last year my business didn't go so well, and I found myself on Food Stamps and WIC. WIC has a wonderful program in which they give families "checks" to use at farmer's markets like cash. My family was given $24. I'm embarassed to say I procrastinated for a long time; I figured that small amount wouldn't even cover one trip to the market.

Boy, was I wrong! I took my daughter - then 4 - and we bought more than we were even sure we could use, and still had $6 left over when we gave up trying to squeeze it into one trip. We ate like kings that week, lots of home made applesauce and spaghetti sauce made with fresh basil.

So I've been waiting the whole winter for the chance to take her again. I think strawberry season has started now, so time to get goin'! I'll have to take her to St. Luke's too - she'll love the idea that the food was grown by kids, and I'll love supporting a cause.

On Farmer's market