What Does Planned Parenthood Really Do
In light of recent issues regarding the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to cease funding for Planned Parenthood, I asked my Aunt (a Nurse Practitioner and former employee of Planned Parenthood somewhere around the 1980′s-90′s) what her primary duties were when she worked at Planned Parenthood:
HIV Counseling, pap smears, and gynecology exams. My big job was getting Planned Parenthood ready for government inspection. My other job was that no one else wanted was to sit with these poor women who were HIV positive, tell them the news, and make sure they didn’t kill themselves.
Keep in mind this was just as AIDS was becoming a medical issue, and people didn’t know what the disease was or how it was spread, only that it was most likely a death sentence. Just something to think about the next time someone describes Planned Parenthood as a place for abortions. Turns out, they do a lot more than that. They are a great resource to people, especially women, who can’t afford a doctor to get medical advice on general health issues, including breast cancer and cervical screenings.
Memoirs of an Austinite in Beaumont
Trying to keep myself writing, I’m relating some of my experiences as a newbie to Beaumont. This paragraph keeps making me laugh, so I thought I’d share:
Occupy Pig Stand
Today, I read an inspiring story. It was about the famous Paramount Theater located in the heart of Austin, Texas, just blocks from the Capitol.
Local Beaumont Family Needs YOUR Help
What could be worse than losing your job during the holiday season? Losing everything in a fire.
Fun With Craft Beer: HEB Pick 6
One benefit to the boyfriend being out of town means being able to try HEB’s pick 6 without having to buy two of everything (curse sharing!).
You see, at HEB (a local awesome grocery store if you’re not lucky enough to have one near you) you can pick 6 beers of which they sell one-offs, giving you the option to try 6 different beers without the full commitment of buying a 6-pack you may not end up enjoying. Now, you can do this anywhere where they sell lone beers, but at HEB they give you a cute, cardboard holder.
Not Done With Beaumont, Yet
One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced post-College is the inevitable feeling of “where”. As in, where am I and where am I going. Sometimes even, where do I want to go. Most often when I ask these questions, I’ve reached a momentary lull in my planning that allows for a few evenings off in a row.
When I first moved to Beaumont, I figured it would be an easy transition. I’ve moved quite a lot in my lifetime, so one more shouldn’t be a big deal. In some ways, I was right.
An Experiment in Consideration
Part of living in Beaumont is the isolation I feel from friends and family around the world. My sister’s wedding deeply demonstrated that there are some people in this world that are water to my parched soul. Even more so, the act of giving a speech about my sister made me realize there are many people who have touched my life in a profound way. This all sounds wonderful until I realized that most of my friends really don’t know how much they mean to me, and why.
Texas Talk: Austin Wedding Scavenger Hunt
When my sister and her now husband Jeff sent me a list of places around Austin and said, “Hey, make this funny” I hope this is what they meant. It got a good reception from family members obligated to think anything I do is gold, so I thought I’d share. If you’re going to Austin in the near future, check out some of these places and have a good time.
