Welcome back...to me

[Betsy]

I've been a bit absent the past couple of weeks but seem to be back now :D It was a bit of out of town stuff, and more just not being able to get motivated---I am so friggin over winter already!!!!!! I'm at the point where I am on my hands and knees in my meadow looking for the crocuses to start poking their green through the rime.

We have our Florida plans set for this month and I'll be getting our schedule up this week (I mean it this time) along with some other events we have coming up. Please do check them out, and if anything is in your area, try to come and see us speak; it would be great to meet you in person. People keep saying I'm a great speaker (I still have a tough time believing them though). Janet is also a great speaker and none of our workshops are the same as we only go by a rough outline and tailor each one to the audience on hand.

Also, Bodies member Ashley is speaking to a class at Kansas State University in Manhatten KS on 3/11. If you are near there, please contact her and get the details so you can attend.

Handouts--- if you are in need of more handouts (or want some to give to your friends or whoever you want) let me know. We just got a ton more from the printer last week. We don't charge for these, but of course, donations are always welcome and very needed.

I think that's it for updates as of now. LOL>>>I know I'll think of more when I hit submit.

Edit: I knew I would think of more:>

A WINTRY SONNET

By

Christina Rossetti

A Robin said: The Spring will never come,

And I shall never care to build again.

A Rosebush said: These frosts are wearisome,

My sap will never stir for sun or rain.

The half Moon said: These nights are fogged and slow,

I neither care to wax nor care to wane.

The Ocean said: I thirst from long ago,

Because earth’s rivers cannot fill the main.—

When Springtime came, red Robin built a nest,

And trilled a lover’s song in sheer delight.

Grey hoarfrost vanished, and the Rose with might

Clothed her in leaves and buds of crimson core.

The dim Moon brightened, Ocean sunned his crest,

Dimpled his blue, yet thirsted evermore.



Betsy

[Betsy]

I've updated our events page at http://www.bodieslikeours.org/upcomingevents/upcomingevents.htm If you are in Florida, please try to make one of our events.

We are also doing a presentation at AECOM (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) sponsored by the GLBT student and faculty assn in early April. If you are in the NYC metro area, this is going to be great workshop. This actually came about because the students felt their education in regards to intersex was lacking and they decided to take control and include it on their own terms.

I've also loaded the skeleton of a doc find program that will help everyone find competent medical care in their area if necessary. It's not ready to 'go live' yet, but I think you'll like it once it does. If you have a doctor you like...whether med or psych or just someone you would recommend, do let us know via email so we can include him or her.

This feature is a really key part of Bodies and something that we hear a need for everyday. Too many of us cannot find quality, compassionate medical care when we need it; all too often we encounter doctors more interested in our intersexuality than what actually is making us ill; this is just a small step in changing this small part of our very broken world.

When we founded Bodies last year, it was one of our goals to meet the needs of IS adults and parents of IS children in seeking competent, quality, medical care. I believe that this will help. But we need your help...if you have recommendations to send in, let us know. We will write to the provider and ask if we may include them in our database; it has been my experience that those who treat us with dignity are happy to have the referrals.

I expect this page to go live in the next few weeks and you'll be the first to learn about it. I've set a target date of early April for it to be in production.

I'll try and get the chat area under control before the week ends. I'm still learning some stuff about it.

Betsy