Standing for Something

{Making new friends while waiting in line! Photo courtesy of Katrina B. Anderson.}








Ahoy there!

I finally turned in my newly revised manuscript to Editor Jody on Monday, and now I'm updating ye olde blog, which has sat here patiently while I tackle my revisions and eat copious amounts of dark chocolate almonds. My patient little blog!

Anyway!

This past weekend was a bit of a whirlwind but it was an inspiring and wonderful whirlwind. I flew out to Salt Lake City on Friday evening and then flew back to DC on Sunday morning, but it was all worth it because I got to spend time with my good friend Jami and to participate in the Ordain Women action, a movement that encourages the ordination of Mormon women. I don't really talk about religion or feminism on my blog—I know they can be contentious issues and there are plenty of websites that tackle these subjects much better than I ever could—but this action meant a lot to me, especially because I usually keep my feminist and religious thoughts to myself. So it was a big step for me to put my beliefs into action!

The event itself was covered by a lot of media outlets, like the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and USA Today. My friend Jami, who I met as a wee college freshman many moons ago, also gave an awesome interview for a local news channel, which you can find here. I wish I could be so articulate and well-spoken off the cuff! As for me, I pretty much ran away from any media persons looking to interview people. I am HORRIBLE at public speaking and even HORRIBLER at interviews. So I just hide from that stuff.

All in all, it was an edifying weekend in spite of any negative comments we received. Also, I got to eat really awesome Vietnamese food. A win/win, I say!

{Singing hymns together. Photo courtesy of Katrina B. Anderson.}
{There was a lot of press at the action! Photo courtesy of Katrina B. Anderson.}

{Chatting with my good friend Jami (r) and Mormon scholar Margaret Toscano (c). Photo courtesy of Katrina B. Anderson.}
{Walking to the Mormon Tabernacle building. Photo courtesy of Katrina B. Anderson.}