Oh, Taylor Swift

When Taylor Swift first sang to me through my radio, I loved her. That "Tim McGraw" song actually makes me recall a few LBD (little black dress) moments in my life. I only liked her more when I found out her age and the fact that she plays guitar and writes (or at least co-writes) her own songs. I went out and bought the CD and was very impressed with most of the other songs on it as well.

When I saw her first video on TV, I realized how beautiful the girl is. She got to play dress up and look really pretty in her video.

Some other songs on her CD make me wonder how a girl so young could have already experienced so much intense boy drama. I mean, I can relate to songs like "Picture to Burn" and "Should've Said No" but I'm surprised that she has before age 18.



Then I saw her perform "Should've Said No" on some music award show, which she chose to also use as her video for the song. It was absolutely ridiculous. If you haven't seen it, you should. You will lose a little bit of respect for her. At the end, she is on-stage in a LBD singing under artificial stage-hand created rainfall. She is singing while getting soaked.

I thought that the video for "Picture To Burn" was awesome though!

Also, when I have heard her sing live, her voice isn't so great. Anyone can sound good if edited enough in a studio. Hearing her live makes me really question her singing ability.

Even though I do really like most of her songs, my highly musical friend, Sarah Riley, pointed out to me how juvenile some of her lyrics are. An example is in "Teardrops on My Guitar." One lyric says "wishin' on a wishin' star." Well, first of all, that line is redundant. Why not say "shooting star" instead?

Her first hit on her next CD is called "Love Story." I must admit that I do like the song. It has a good beat and a good sound that kind of infects me and makes me tap my foot and sing out loud. However, the girl has clearly never read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Apparently she's been living under a rock for her entire life and she's never even heard of the general plot or seen one of the movie versions.

Nevertheless, I do intend to buy her next CD when it comes out and I expect it to be pretty good. I suppose her publicists have done a great job because they have my attention and I'm buying in spite of her obvious shortcomings.

Feel Your Boobies

I'm already known around town as "The Cell Phone Girl" (long story) and "Always the Bridesmaid," but I fear that after today I will have a new title--the "Feel Your Boobies Girl." Okay, calm down. It's not as bad as it seems.

My editor put me and a co-worker in charge of "Breast Cancer Awareness" stories to run each Saturday this month. I made mention of the "feel your boobies" campaign that is growing in popularity now. I love how the story turned out! (Even though I probably blushed a couple of times while writing it and I may have a new male readership fan base). Never the less, the message needs to be said. Read my story (below) or read it on our website and then ladies, feel your boobies!




Breast self-exams ‘vital’ for women in teens to 30s
By Amy Kelly
Published: Saturday, October 25, 2008

One of the newest breast cancer campaigns encourages women to “feel your boobies.” The campaign is not trying to encourage promiscuity; it is trying to promote breast self-exams for women because early detection is the best way to overcome breast cancer.

Although the campaign’s message is important for women of all ages, it is especially vital for women in their teens, 20s and 30s — the years before mammograms are generally performed.

Carolyn Bass, mammography technologist with Sampson Regional Medical Center, said that monthly self exams are really the best way for women under age 40 to detect breast health problems. Although mammograms can be done on younger women, there are no state or federal regulations for mammograms for women in their teens, 20s and early 30s, Bass noted. Self exams and clinical breast exams — exams performed by a health professional — are important when done regularly because any physical changes in the breast can be an early sign of a problem, Bass commented, and “your chances and prognosis is better the earlier a problem is detected.”

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), only five percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years old; however, there are more than 250,000 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40 or under living in the U.S,. and every year more than 11,100 more are diagnosed. Therefore, women in their teens, 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a regular health exam. In addition to annual physicals and clinical breast exams, ACS recommends self exams monthly. Women should review their breast self exam technique with a health professional during their physical exam.

The Young Survival Coalition focuses on breast cancer concerns for women under age 40. The coalition encourages women to “become familiar with their breasts: their shape, size and what they feel like. Learn what is normal for you.” Any changes such as swelling, irritation, nipple retraction, rash, unusual pain, redness or scaliness, or spontaneous discharge from the nipple should be immediately reported to a doctor. The theory goes, when you know what is normal, it will be much easier to notice abnormalities.

ACS research finds that some women feel most comfortable doing a breast self exam by following a systematic step-by-step approach, looking at and feeling one’s breasts. Other women have difficulty with the step-by-step approach and prefer to just check while showering or getting dressed. Here is where the “feel your boobies” campaign comes in.

According to the campaign’s website, www.feelyourboobies.com, “research shows that ‘feeling your boobies’ is just as effective at identifying changes or lumps as doing a formal self breast exam.” The campaign wants to empower women to take charge of their breast health and not to be ashamed. The website states, “Why Feel Your Boobies®? Because you do it everyday anyway, right? Oh come on…sure you do! You take a shower, you feel your boobies. You get dressed, you feel your boobies. Since you know your body better than anyone else does, why not just take a little extra time to really ‘feel your boobies.’ Give those ‘girls’ the attention they deserve. After all, getting in the habit of knowing what’s normal for you increases the chance of noticing changes in your breasts if they occur. If a change does occur it’s important to tell a doctor or clinician immediately so they can determine if more tests are necessary.”

As research continues, hopefully the cause of breast cancer will be discovered which will lead to new means of detection and treatment. Until then, women, do self exams and “feel your boobies” for it may save your life.

Rock the Vote!

I voted today! All in all, it took me about 10 minutes between waiting in line and marking my ballot. I encourage everyone who's registered to get out and vote early if you want to avoid the longer lines. Early voting goes on through November 1. If you can't get out to the polls before then, make sure you go on November 4! Every vote counts so do your civic duty & rock the vote in 2008! :)

ps--I seriously think that if you don't vote but you are old enough to, you have no right to complain about this country. Make your voice heard! :)

My own column!

I am officially a columnist at The Sampson Independent now! I write a piece each week for our Sunday lifestyles page. The column is called "Always the Bridesmaid" since I'm pretty much an expert on that subject! Look for it in the B section of the paper each Sunday or on our website (will be posted each Monday or Tuesday): www.clintonnc.com

Leave me comments there to let me know what you think!