Happy V-Day!

February 14th is more than just Valentine's Day. It is also V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls inspired by Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues. (If you've never read or seen the Monologues, I suggest you do so. It is truly amazing!) Each year around February 14, colleges and women's organizations put on performances of the Vagina Monologues. You can find more about V-Day and local performances HERE. Eve Enlser is planning huge performance in New Orleans in April to celebrate the 10th anniversary of V-day (I wish I could go!).

A big part of the whole V-Day movement is becoming comfortable with the word vagina. Unbelievably, some people see that as a dirty word. A couple years ago, just before a performance of the Monologues at the college where I teach, a woman objected to the signs around campus promoting the event. She thought the word vagina was offensive. University officials changed the signs to read "V. Monologues" to appease the woman, a move that demeans the whole point of the performance in the first place.

I had the priviledge of performing in the Vagina Monologues at the university for the last two years. (Unfortuately, I don't think they put on a show this year since I haven't heard or seen anything about it.) I've read "I Was There in the Room," a monologue written about watching a woman give birth, and "The Vagina Workshop," about a woman who learns to appreciate the wonder of her vagina.

My favorite monlogue, however, is the one called "Reclaiming Cunt," that empowers women to take back that word and one that--if performed correctly--has the audience chanting "cunt, Cunt, CUNT!" While most people hate the word cunt, I am rather fond of it. It originates from the Goddess Kunti. So, it originally meant goddess!

So, in celebration of V-day and vaginas everywhere, here is recipe from Half of Me for Vagina Muffins...

(too funny!)

...and a recipe for a "Carolina Vagina" drink:

1/2 oz coconut rum

1/4 oz coffee liqueur

1/4 oz Irish cream

splash grenadine syrup

1 maraschino cheery

Shake liquids in a shaker. Drop cherry into shot glass. Strain mixture into the glass.

Remember to please always be vagina friendly!