September 02, 2012
Hope
I hope one day to say something so astounding, so wise, so amazing, that it would be worthy of sharing or even held close to an individual's heart, that it might make a difference.
Small happiness's
There are a few things I find myself always grateful for...and I'm going to share. Because, well, as I have mentioned before...my blog.
Hot water.
I am a water baby...no not Pieces or Aquarius. I love water. If I could grow gills, I would. I think being able to nap, completely submerged, in a tub of steamy water, would be heaven. Or to be able to dive, without the cumbersomeness of air tanks...to lay on the bottom and look UP and watch the sun stream through the water. But I wander from my topic...there are days when I will settle into water nearly hot enough to be scalding and for a little bit, all is right with my world. The muscles relax, the nerve endings are more concerned with the water temperature and my mind wanders freely...it washes away all that is wrong.
Air conditioning.
Besides being wrapped in hot water, I don't like being hot. Every time I walk into a room that is artificially cooled for my comfort, I am grateful.
Alarm clock.
Ahhh, you are all wrong. Even though we should be thankful for the invention that gets everybody to where they need to be on time...that is not what makes me grateful. What makes me blissfully happy, is every single night that I go to bed...and don't have to turn it ON. I swear, every night, I celebrate a little when I don't have to slide that switch to ON. And on a slightly off track happiness...I love the nights when I can go to bed because I am sleepy, and not because the clock indicates it's bedtime. Which happens to coincide with not having to set my alarm. Tonight would be one of those nights...and I am grateful and a bit sleepy.
September 01, 2012
That time of year
I think a lot about my parents this time of year. dad's birthday was in August, he died in September and mom died in October. I try not to mark the anniversaries but have found it nearly impossible to ignore them. I loved my dad, but had a difficult relationship with my mother. She was abusive, physically, verbally and emotionally. She told me once that she was jealous of me...who is jealous of their child? She was manipulative and when she couldn't manipulate me, she tried to control others that she thought could influence me...like me husband and sons. I was telling someone recently about "Hurricane Norma". She would go into my room and toss it...mattress pulled from the bed into the floor with all the bedding stripped because it wasn't made right. She would remove my clothes from the hangers and dump them all into the floor, because they were not organized properly. She would pull all the drawers out and turn them upside down, emptying them into the floor, then replace the drawer, because they were messy. So I would come home from school to this disaster and be told, "Now, clean it right." I never knew when the storm would blow through, or what set it off. It has been suggested to me that maybe she was searching my room and this is how she hid it. I guess it's a possibility. This started about the time I was in, maybe 5th grade...which was about the time she quit hitting me. I have also been asked if my dad knew about the abuse. I don't know. I never told him, or anybody else. I never asked him either. I don't know, it never occurred to me. It never ever occurred to me, that if he knew, why didn't he stop it? These are things other people have asked me after my parents died. It would have been very painful to admit to myself that my dad knew, and did nothing...it's also hard to imagine that he could have lived in the same house and not known what was happening. But then, I remember my mother showing the bruises to her sister once. I was probably around 8. I have no idea why she showed them to her, I only remember her pulling my shirt up...yes, I had bruises to my back...and buttocks and legs. Mom's aim wasn't so good. Yet, years later, while my mother was hospitalized, that same aunt asked why I did not have a good relationship with my mother and I mentioned the abuse, she flat out told me she did not believe me. One of the last things I remember my mom saying to me, as I bent to kiss her good-bye, was, "Get your ugly pig face away from me." Nice last memory, huh? I tried so hard to maintain a civil, if not loving relationship with her. I'm not sure why. I guess I did it for dad...now, I wonder if it was worth it. The best relationship I had with them was when they lived far enough away that I saw them once or twice a year...and even then, mom managed to show up at my house unannounced, with plans to stay a month, coinciding, and cancelling, my own vacation plans to take my kids camping. I've had people tell me that they would just have gone on with their plans...they didn't know my mother. No matter how old you get, you never outgrow the scars of your childhood, especially when they've been inflicted by the very people that should have been protecting you.
August 28, 2012
Words...my favorite subject
Have you ever had the bejesus scared out of you? Probably...it's a common phrase. But have you ever wondered what a bejesus was?
Dictionary.com says: An exclamation traditionally attributed to the Irish, used to express surprise or for emphasis.
Um, yeah that was helpful. It does not tell me what a bejesus is and if I have one that can be scared out of me, I want to know what it is.
Further research shows that the origin of bejesus is an alteration of by Jesus. So I can have Jesus scared out of me? Or am I scared by Jesus?
This is one of the few times I have looked into something and not been any wiser for the effort.
Second word of the day: whippersnapper.
This is one, I think, most people understand.
Dictionary.com says: A young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident.
No surprise. But why does it mean that? Apparently, that's a good question...and there does not seem to be a good answer. I found a number of different answers, but mostly it seems to come down to the fact that the term is archaic.
You'll have to look that one up on your own. I am feeling a little disillusioned at the moment.
Dictionary.com says: An exclamation traditionally attributed to the Irish, used to express surprise or for emphasis.
Um, yeah that was helpful. It does not tell me what a bejesus is and if I have one that can be scared out of me, I want to know what it is.
Further research shows that the origin of bejesus is an alteration of by Jesus. So I can have Jesus scared out of me? Or am I scared by Jesus?
This is one of the few times I have looked into something and not been any wiser for the effort.
Second word of the day: whippersnapper.
This is one, I think, most people understand.
Dictionary.com says: A young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident.
No surprise. But why does it mean that? Apparently, that's a good question...and there does not seem to be a good answer. I found a number of different answers, but mostly it seems to come down to the fact that the term is archaic.
You'll have to look that one up on your own. I am feeling a little disillusioned at the moment.
August 23, 2012
Lest I should forget
Prednisone is NOT the answer...no matter the question.
Prescribed for a back injury, that felt better almost immediately. Good.
Withdrawal from the medication, even after weaning as prescribed. Bad.
Never again.
Prescribed for a back injury, that felt better almost immediately. Good.
Withdrawal from the medication, even after weaning as prescribed. Bad.
Never again.
August 08, 2012
Telemarketers
In case you've ever wondered about reporting telemarketers...
I finally got fed up with a telemarketer that kept calling my cell phone and disconnecting without saying anything. I got online, did a little research and filed a complaint. It was simple to do, especially with caller ID providing the phone number and my cell recording the time/date stamp of each call. This is the response I received via email:
I finally got fed up with a telemarketer that kept calling my cell phone and disconnecting without saying anything. I got online, did a little research and filed a complaint. It was simple to do, especially with caller ID providing the phone number and my cell recording the time/date stamp of each call. This is the response I received via email:
Dear Consumer:
Re: Case # xxxxxxxxxx
Thank you for contacting the FCC regarding possible violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) and the Commission’s telemarketing and junk fax rules. Information provided in consumer complaints like yours helps the Commission to combat abusive or unlawful practices in these areas, including taking enforcement actions against individuals or companies. In this regard, the Communications Act authorizes the Commission to issue citations and, in some cases, impose substantial fines upon entities that violate telemarketing and junk fax rules.
Although the Commission does not resolve individual complaints, each complaint is individually analyzed and assists us in enforcement actions to protect consumers like yourself. You should be aware that the TCPA also provides for enforcement of the telemarketing and junk fax rules by state attorneys general and by individual consumers. With respect to the latter, the TCPA permits individuals who have received certain unlawful telemarketing, such as junk faxes or telemarketing calls, to sue the violator in state courts where they may be awarded up to $1500 for each violation.
We invite you to visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau’s Internet web site at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb for more information. You may also call the FCC’s Consumer Center toll free at 1-888-CALL-FCC [1-888-225-5322], TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC [1-888-835-5322].
Sincerely,
Sharon C. Bowers, Division Chief
Consumer Inquiries & Complaints Division
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries & Complaints Division
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
So now you know.
A character story
I ran across this today while looking for something else. I have written previously about LARPing. When you start in a game, you design a character. This is the original write up for one of those characters...the bones of who she is, where she is from and her motivations. I played this character opposite a good friend that was playing the brother I was traveling with. The characters were a collaboration, but the write ups were written individually. That is why Aros' brother's name is not mentioned...I don't think he had one yet.
My name is Allura Kaj, I was raised in a small enclave not far from Shonar. My father, was a merchant, a wealthy merchant it seems, once he married my mother. I was their second and last child, since my mother died bringing me into this world. I know very little of my mother. Her name was Amrona Kaj. I never met her family, and very seldom was she spoke of in our home. What I knew of her, was discovered in dusty corners and whispers overheard between household staff. My brother, Garnett, was 10 when I was born and he always blamed me for her death. I guess it\'s reasonable to say we were never close. He avoided me whenever possible, often following our father to work. My father, Elim Ander, traded goods among the clans, providing people with those things they could not secure themselves, he dealt with many of the local craftsmen. We lived comfortably and entertained lavishly. He was always shown respect by the visitors to our home. My father employed a teacher as soon as it was thought I was old enough to learn. He often told me it was important that I be educated, so that I could become a proper gentleman’s wife. I had other ideas about what life held for me. I often snuck away from home. I could be found exploring the local woods or in the bazaar, listening to the stories from those that frequented the stalls. I would climb to a vantage point above the market and just watch the people. I knew what everyone was doing, knew their secrets, knew the thieves and eventually could spot the victims before they’d even been hit. I learned everything I could. I became a student of human nature.
Then one evening, at one of my father’s parties, I overheard him speaking to a long time business associate of his. The elderly man was in need of a wife, he and my father were discussing my availability to fill that position. This would be a beneficial business arrangement for them both. It seemed I was to be bartered for, much like anything else my father owned. I left home that night, my pockets heavy with the better pieces of my mother’s jewelry and her family’s name. I considered it my inheritance, since I knew I’d never see it any other way. I once heard my father was in a nearby town asking after me. You learn to hear these things even from a distance. I wondered if he worried for his only daughter. I suspect, more likely, he was upset that I had interfered with his business arrangements, or perhaps he was looking for the jewels I had hidden away.
It did not take me long to realize that I was crafty enough to survive on my own. My studies, those from my teacher and those in the markets, served me well. It is easy to make coin telling futures, who can contest what you say? I used people’s fears against them. I have worked in many capacities, not all of them legal. I have protected travelers, and I have robbed them. I will state however, that I have never killed another, at least one that didn’t deserve it. Once I give my word I am true to my allegiances, which can be bought. I do not like going hungry or sleeping on the ground. I spent a few years moving from town to town through the woodlands, avoiding attention as much as possible. Then I met Aros, literally running into him in an alleyway. He never asked why I was running in an alley at night, cloaked in black. I never asked about the pouch he swiftly hid in his jacket. It just seemed to be an unspoken agreement from the beginning....don't ask.
I do not know why I trusted him. There was something about the way he looked at me. We accepted each other on face value, found each other's company agreeable and offered something the other lacked. We settled into his cottage at the edge of the clan's land. We spent our days apart, never asking how the other spent their time. I knew he shared a business with a brother I never met. He occasionally talked about some of the people that he had dealings with, but never by name or what their associations were. Some of them were very powerful, and it seemed Aros was in a position to know their secrets. We shared our nights, except when he traveled for business, then we celebrated his homecoming. We were happy until a year later. Aros was traveling, but this time he did not return home as expected. Word soon came to my door that he had been slain at the hands of another.
Reluctantly, I sought out his brother, to discuss info I thought might lead to those responsible. Something that Aros had said had made me uncomfortable because he had seemed nervous about it. Aros had told me that he held a secret on a dangerous man, but he would not tell me any details. I needed more than I had, and thought his brother might know more. They shared a business and spent their days and many of the travels together. I thought perhaps he had confided in him. I did not know if he would see me. He had never cast shadow upon my home, and I assumed he had not approved of me. I almost left without knocking. When he opened the door I thought I was seeing a ghost. I stood there staring. The way he looked at me, I thought perhaps I was to be blamed, once more, for a death I could not prevent. But he invited me to the fire and we spoke long into the night. He felt certain he knew who had murdered his brother. There had been a misunderstanding with a client, things had gone badly. He had already spoken to those that traded in information, and the one that he blamed had left for the wildlands. He stated his intentions to follow him and claim the vengeance that was his right. I reminded him that the right was mine. We argued, but eventually agreed to travel together into the wildlands. He agreed the right was mine, unless he got there first.
Unknown to us we were chasing after the wrong person. After we left our homelands, the true killer, a very powerful nobleman, stepped forward with evidence pointing to a conspiracy between myself and Aros’ brother to kill him and claim the business fortunes for ourselves. Now it appeared that instead of seeking justice, we had fled from it.
I have written up a number of characters over the years I have been doing this. I am actually surprised at how many years it has been...I'm guessing maybe 10-12 years, I don't remember exactly when it started. The first character was Masiah, she lived a long time. Then there was Quinn Nightshade in a different game. I probably got to know her more, integrated her more, than any other character. She was strong and willful...and somewhat rude and clueless about the rules of society. I expected her to die quickly...she ended up ruling the city. There has been Allura Kaj, above, Storm Diego and Raven. They all feel like people I know, friends...pieces of myself.
My name is Allura Kaj, I was raised in a small enclave not far from Shonar. My father, was a merchant, a wealthy merchant it seems, once he married my mother. I was their second and last child, since my mother died bringing me into this world. I know very little of my mother. Her name was Amrona Kaj. I never met her family, and very seldom was she spoke of in our home. What I knew of her, was discovered in dusty corners and whispers overheard between household staff. My brother, Garnett, was 10 when I was born and he always blamed me for her death. I guess it\'s reasonable to say we were never close. He avoided me whenever possible, often following our father to work. My father, Elim Ander, traded goods among the clans, providing people with those things they could not secure themselves, he dealt with many of the local craftsmen. We lived comfortably and entertained lavishly. He was always shown respect by the visitors to our home. My father employed a teacher as soon as it was thought I was old enough to learn. He often told me it was important that I be educated, so that I could become a proper gentleman’s wife. I had other ideas about what life held for me. I often snuck away from home. I could be found exploring the local woods or in the bazaar, listening to the stories from those that frequented the stalls. I would climb to a vantage point above the market and just watch the people. I knew what everyone was doing, knew their secrets, knew the thieves and eventually could spot the victims before they’d even been hit. I learned everything I could. I became a student of human nature.
Then one evening, at one of my father’s parties, I overheard him speaking to a long time business associate of his. The elderly man was in need of a wife, he and my father were discussing my availability to fill that position. This would be a beneficial business arrangement for them both. It seemed I was to be bartered for, much like anything else my father owned. I left home that night, my pockets heavy with the better pieces of my mother’s jewelry and her family’s name. I considered it my inheritance, since I knew I’d never see it any other way. I once heard my father was in a nearby town asking after me. You learn to hear these things even from a distance. I wondered if he worried for his only daughter. I suspect, more likely, he was upset that I had interfered with his business arrangements, or perhaps he was looking for the jewels I had hidden away.
It did not take me long to realize that I was crafty enough to survive on my own. My studies, those from my teacher and those in the markets, served me well. It is easy to make coin telling futures, who can contest what you say? I used people’s fears against them. I have worked in many capacities, not all of them legal. I have protected travelers, and I have robbed them. I will state however, that I have never killed another, at least one that didn’t deserve it. Once I give my word I am true to my allegiances, which can be bought. I do not like going hungry or sleeping on the ground. I spent a few years moving from town to town through the woodlands, avoiding attention as much as possible. Then I met Aros, literally running into him in an alleyway. He never asked why I was running in an alley at night, cloaked in black. I never asked about the pouch he swiftly hid in his jacket. It just seemed to be an unspoken agreement from the beginning....don't ask.
I do not know why I trusted him. There was something about the way he looked at me. We accepted each other on face value, found each other's company agreeable and offered something the other lacked. We settled into his cottage at the edge of the clan's land. We spent our days apart, never asking how the other spent their time. I knew he shared a business with a brother I never met. He occasionally talked about some of the people that he had dealings with, but never by name or what their associations were. Some of them were very powerful, and it seemed Aros was in a position to know their secrets. We shared our nights, except when he traveled for business, then we celebrated his homecoming. We were happy until a year later. Aros was traveling, but this time he did not return home as expected. Word soon came to my door that he had been slain at the hands of another.
Reluctantly, I sought out his brother, to discuss info I thought might lead to those responsible. Something that Aros had said had made me uncomfortable because he had seemed nervous about it. Aros had told me that he held a secret on a dangerous man, but he would not tell me any details. I needed more than I had, and thought his brother might know more. They shared a business and spent their days and many of the travels together. I thought perhaps he had confided in him. I did not know if he would see me. He had never cast shadow upon my home, and I assumed he had not approved of me. I almost left without knocking. When he opened the door I thought I was seeing a ghost. I stood there staring. The way he looked at me, I thought perhaps I was to be blamed, once more, for a death I could not prevent. But he invited me to the fire and we spoke long into the night. He felt certain he knew who had murdered his brother. There had been a misunderstanding with a client, things had gone badly. He had already spoken to those that traded in information, and the one that he blamed had left for the wildlands. He stated his intentions to follow him and claim the vengeance that was his right. I reminded him that the right was mine. We argued, but eventually agreed to travel together into the wildlands. He agreed the right was mine, unless he got there first.
Unknown to us we were chasing after the wrong person. After we left our homelands, the true killer, a very powerful nobleman, stepped forward with evidence pointing to a conspiracy between myself and Aros’ brother to kill him and claim the business fortunes for ourselves. Now it appeared that instead of seeking justice, we had fled from it.
I have written up a number of characters over the years I have been doing this. I am actually surprised at how many years it has been...I'm guessing maybe 10-12 years, I don't remember exactly when it started. The first character was Masiah, she lived a long time. Then there was Quinn Nightshade in a different game. I probably got to know her more, integrated her more, than any other character. She was strong and willful...and somewhat rude and clueless about the rules of society. I expected her to die quickly...she ended up ruling the city. There has been Allura Kaj, above, Storm Diego and Raven. They all feel like people I know, friends...pieces of myself.
July 28, 2012
Chick-fil-a
I find myself, again, writing on a controversial subject. Not so much because my opinion matters, but to work out some of the conflicting ideas I have in myself.
1. I have no issue with marriage between two people of the same gender. If two people love each other and want to make a spiritual and emotional commitment, why not allow them to make it legal?
2. There have been wars fought to keep our freedoms...one of those basic rights is, freedom of speech.
3. I RESPECT PEOPLE THAT STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. (Cap lock accidentally, but seems important).
Therein lies my mental struggle. I don't have to agree with you, but you still have the right to say it. I am sure there are other business owners that agree with, Chick-fil-a president, Dan Cathy's stand. They are sitting back quietly hoping nobody will notice them, because taking a stand is controversial and potentially bad for business. So they go along to get along. It's the smart businessman thing to do. I will note here also, that several companies have come out in support of gay marriage, most notably Target, Starbucks and Amazon. And just why is it, do you think, that you don't hear about that? These companies are not little Mom and Pop local businesses...and yes there has been a call to boycott Starbucks, but nothing like the furor caused by Chick-fil-a. I have to wonder, as I have before, if media isn't driving us.
I have to stop here a moment for a bit of education. Mr. Cathy has taken a public stand against gay marriage based on the biblical definition of marriage. So what does that mean? I am not an expert, but I can give a brief overview...No sex outside of marriage. No divorce, except for adultery. The wife must submit to the husband in all things. The husband is to protect and provide for his family, putting the family's needs first. This is the basic idea of marriage as outlined in the Bible. So before you step up to support Cathy, take a look at your own home and ask if you meet his standards.
So what conclusions have I drawn? I still believe in two people's right to make a public, and official, declaration of commitment. I still believe in the right to form and express an opinion...hopefully, an educated one. I still believe in the right to stand up for what you believe in. I also believe that you have to face the consequences for your actions. I also detest when the actions of one causes problems for many, especially when the many have little or nothing to do with the actions of one. Many Chick-fil-a's are franchises, owned not by the company, but by individuals...people that had nothing to do with Cathy's stand. These are the local Mom and Pop's trying to put food on the family dinner table. They may or may not agree with the company's stand...how do you know? I'd bet there are even franchises owned by gays...oh what a mess that has to be.
And here again, I had to stop, time for a little self education. See, I believe in making decisions based on knowledge, at least as best as I can understand the information that I can find. And what I found after doing a little digging...Chick-fil-a exceeds $2 billion in annual sales and a whopping 50% of net profits from the franchise goes back to the corporation. So, yes, taking a stand and boycotting Chick-fil-a may indeed send a message. But what is that message? Take a stand for what you believe in. But that is exactly what he did. And sometimes you just have to agree to disagree. No minds will be changed over a chicken sandwich and waffle fries. But if you are going to take a stand against Chick-fil-a because he was bold enough to exercise his right to freedom of speech and spoke his beliefs, then know where other companies stand and support those that agree with you. Skip Chick-fil-a and head over to Starbucks.
And in the end, it all comes down to this, for every $1 spent at Chick-fil-a, 50 cents goes to the owner of the store and 50 cents goes to the corporation...and some portion of that is going to support an anti-gay group.
All of that just to decide where to get my chicken sandwich.
1. I have no issue with marriage between two people of the same gender. If two people love each other and want to make a spiritual and emotional commitment, why not allow them to make it legal?
2. There have been wars fought to keep our freedoms...one of those basic rights is, freedom of speech.
3. I RESPECT PEOPLE THAT STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. (Cap lock accidentally, but seems important).
Therein lies my mental struggle. I don't have to agree with you, but you still have the right to say it. I am sure there are other business owners that agree with, Chick-fil-a president, Dan Cathy's stand. They are sitting back quietly hoping nobody will notice them, because taking a stand is controversial and potentially bad for business. So they go along to get along. It's the smart businessman thing to do. I will note here also, that several companies have come out in support of gay marriage, most notably Target, Starbucks and Amazon. And just why is it, do you think, that you don't hear about that? These companies are not little Mom and Pop local businesses...and yes there has been a call to boycott Starbucks, but nothing like the furor caused by Chick-fil-a. I have to wonder, as I have before, if media isn't driving us.
I have to stop here a moment for a bit of education. Mr. Cathy has taken a public stand against gay marriage based on the biblical definition of marriage. So what does that mean? I am not an expert, but I can give a brief overview...No sex outside of marriage. No divorce, except for adultery. The wife must submit to the husband in all things. The husband is to protect and provide for his family, putting the family's needs first. This is the basic idea of marriage as outlined in the Bible. So before you step up to support Cathy, take a look at your own home and ask if you meet his standards.
So what conclusions have I drawn? I still believe in two people's right to make a public, and official, declaration of commitment. I still believe in the right to form and express an opinion...hopefully, an educated one. I still believe in the right to stand up for what you believe in. I also believe that you have to face the consequences for your actions. I also detest when the actions of one causes problems for many, especially when the many have little or nothing to do with the actions of one. Many Chick-fil-a's are franchises, owned not by the company, but by individuals...people that had nothing to do with Cathy's stand. These are the local Mom and Pop's trying to put food on the family dinner table. They may or may not agree with the company's stand...how do you know? I'd bet there are even franchises owned by gays...oh what a mess that has to be.
And here again, I had to stop, time for a little self education. See, I believe in making decisions based on knowledge, at least as best as I can understand the information that I can find. And what I found after doing a little digging...Chick-fil-a exceeds $2 billion in annual sales and a whopping 50% of net profits from the franchise goes back to the corporation. So, yes, taking a stand and boycotting Chick-fil-a may indeed send a message. But what is that message? Take a stand for what you believe in. But that is exactly what he did. And sometimes you just have to agree to disagree. No minds will be changed over a chicken sandwich and waffle fries. But if you are going to take a stand against Chick-fil-a because he was bold enough to exercise his right to freedom of speech and spoke his beliefs, then know where other companies stand and support those that agree with you. Skip Chick-fil-a and head over to Starbucks.
And in the end, it all comes down to this, for every $1 spent at Chick-fil-a, 50 cents goes to the owner of the store and 50 cents goes to the corporation...and some portion of that is going to support an anti-gay group.
All of that just to decide where to get my chicken sandwich.
July 22, 2012
Colorado
I've taken a few days to let all of this percolate through my brain...the shooting at the Colorado theater. People are killed by violence everyday, even sometimes in multiples. It makes the news, it passes through our thoughts and we move on. So why do incidents like this shooting at the premiere of Dark Knight Rises resonate with the public consciousness? Why are we still considering it days later? Besides, of course, the never ending news coverage. I don't think it's the senselessness or the violence. Or the why? I think it's the vulnerability. You are not safe. Anywhere.
I have read a lot about the story on news media and social networks. Reading people's thoughts and reactions. It always amazes me that people will express an opinion, when it is obvious from their statements, that they have no clue as to what happened. Are they not paying attention, or just jumping to a conclusion...or do they just twist the events to meet their needs to be judgmental?
I have seen many comments made about the people that dressed in costume for the movie. Most of them negative. Not that the people in costume had anything to do with the shooting. I've seen it reported that the owner's of the theater are going to ban costumes. My first thought was, define costume. If I want to wear all black to a vampire movie, is that a costume? Or are they going to ask me to open my mouth so they can check for fangs? Because my fangs are so dangerous. What about a purple wig to Hunger Games? I can, sort of, understand the concern about masks...but from what I have read, none of this had anything to do with the shooting.
I have read many comments from people, that at least claim, to have a concealed carry permit. They grouse that they can't carry their guns into the theater. They state they since they have a carry permit they should be allowed to protect themselves and be allowed to carry their weapon wherever they go. I don't have a carry permit and I'm not sure how I feel about returning to the days of the wild west when everyone was armed. I have cheered the common man that has protected himself against those that meant him harm. But in a dark, crowded theater, where people are panicked and running, I think more people shooting, would have led to more people dead or wounded...plus in this case, the shooter was probably better armored than SWAT.
I saw a news agency ask the question if this would change people's habit of going to theaters. Some people answered, yes. I don't understand. That's like saying your going to quit driving because someone was in a car accident. I refuse to let the violence change my life, I feel like that is letting them win. I fly. I go to work and the mall. But I am more aware of people around me, especially when they are being verbally threatening. I see this at work, and think to myself, "Will this be the one that comes back and shoots the place up?" But then, I go on. On another note, I wonder if the news media is making news when they ask a question like that, stirring up fear. Or are they just expressing the fear that is already there?
I saw on Facebook a suggestion that Christian Bale, dressed at Batman, should visit the children that were injured, to show them there were heroes too. Personally, I would think after this experience that seeing Batman walk in, might be a little traumatic. Besides, it isn't Batman that comes to the rescue in real life. The heroes are the people that covered others with their bodies, the people that carried others out and the police officers and others that ran into that theater...real people.
My condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those involved. I even include the family of the shooter. It was not their fault, but their lives will never be the same either...and they are unlikely to get the community support.
I have read a lot about the story on news media and social networks. Reading people's thoughts and reactions. It always amazes me that people will express an opinion, when it is obvious from their statements, that they have no clue as to what happened. Are they not paying attention, or just jumping to a conclusion...or do they just twist the events to meet their needs to be judgmental?
I have seen many comments made about the people that dressed in costume for the movie. Most of them negative. Not that the people in costume had anything to do with the shooting. I've seen it reported that the owner's of the theater are going to ban costumes. My first thought was, define costume. If I want to wear all black to a vampire movie, is that a costume? Or are they going to ask me to open my mouth so they can check for fangs? Because my fangs are so dangerous. What about a purple wig to Hunger Games? I can, sort of, understand the concern about masks...but from what I have read, none of this had anything to do with the shooting.
I have read many comments from people, that at least claim, to have a concealed carry permit. They grouse that they can't carry their guns into the theater. They state they since they have a carry permit they should be allowed to protect themselves and be allowed to carry their weapon wherever they go. I don't have a carry permit and I'm not sure how I feel about returning to the days of the wild west when everyone was armed. I have cheered the common man that has protected himself against those that meant him harm. But in a dark, crowded theater, where people are panicked and running, I think more people shooting, would have led to more people dead or wounded...plus in this case, the shooter was probably better armored than SWAT.
I saw a news agency ask the question if this would change people's habit of going to theaters. Some people answered, yes. I don't understand. That's like saying your going to quit driving because someone was in a car accident. I refuse to let the violence change my life, I feel like that is letting them win. I fly. I go to work and the mall. But I am more aware of people around me, especially when they are being verbally threatening. I see this at work, and think to myself, "Will this be the one that comes back and shoots the place up?" But then, I go on. On another note, I wonder if the news media is making news when they ask a question like that, stirring up fear. Or are they just expressing the fear that is already there?
I saw on Facebook a suggestion that Christian Bale, dressed at Batman, should visit the children that were injured, to show them there were heroes too. Personally, I would think after this experience that seeing Batman walk in, might be a little traumatic. Besides, it isn't Batman that comes to the rescue in real life. The heroes are the people that covered others with their bodies, the people that carried others out and the police officers and others that ran into that theater...real people.
My condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those involved. I even include the family of the shooter. It was not their fault, but their lives will never be the same either...and they are unlikely to get the community support.
July 21, 2012
Play
July 12, 2012
RIP Jimmy
I found out today that the guy I consider my first boyfriend, died of a massive stroke a few months ago. We were a couple for a few months...I think I was in the 7th grade, he was a sophmore. Big stuff. We obviously didn't make it as a couple, but we stayed friends for the next few years. Him acting as my big brother, along with a few others, and making it difficult to have a "love life". The kind of thing you can do when the people are young and the relationship simple. He graduated and I didn't see him so much. But he always had a big smile and a hug for me. I think the last time I'd seen him was...wow, maybe 10 years ago. We didn't really know each other anymore, just memories of people and times long gone. But he still had a smile, still happy to see me.
He was 52.
He was 52.
July 03, 2012
Tap, tap, tapping
I had stopped writing but it seemed somehow unfinished. More tap, tap tapping at my mental door. One side of my brain trying to freak out. The other, rational side, saying, nothing to do. I am usually good at compartmentalizing but every now and then the obsessive gene clicks in. I want to do something. I want, need, some control. I have searched and searched the internet and every crook and nick that I can think of for information. I keep trying to be the one just sitting back and...it isn't working too well.
Tap, tap, tap.
June 14, 2012
Moon
I recently was told that I was born under the new moon. I found this fascinating, just because I have a long felt connection with the moon...but never really considered what phase I was born under. The new moon is basically the opposite of the full moon. The new moon occurs when the moon is between the earth and the sun, and as I understand it, they rise and set about the same time...rendering the moon invisible to the naked eye.
Want to know what phase you were born under?
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.php
Just like astrology, some believe the phase at the time of your birth influences your personalty. According to one site, the child born under the dark sky of the new moon is:
This person possesses a quality of spontaneity, thus, planning ahead is not always met with success. They view life as a grand adventure with unlimited possibilities. Living in the moment, the past is not important to them. Being born when the Moon sheds no light, they have come to learn to respond instinctually and to act on intuition. They are able to navigate without maps and arrive at their destination with time to spare. They are often criticized for being overly self involved, but there is a need for them to learn about who they are and to project it into the world.
I'll share that link too, just for the fun of it...
http://cafeastrology.com/natal/lunarphases.html
Want to know what phase you were born under?
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.php
Just like astrology, some believe the phase at the time of your birth influences your personalty. According to one site, the child born under the dark sky of the new moon is:
This person possesses a quality of spontaneity, thus, planning ahead is not always met with success. They view life as a grand adventure with unlimited possibilities. Living in the moment, the past is not important to them. Being born when the Moon sheds no light, they have come to learn to respond instinctually and to act on intuition. They are able to navigate without maps and arrive at their destination with time to spare. They are often criticized for being overly self involved, but there is a need for them to learn about who they are and to project it into the world.
I'll share that link too, just for the fun of it...
http://cafeastrology.com/natal/lunarphases.html
June 13, 2012
Stuck in your head.
June 12, 2012
Dreams
I have had some bizarre dreams recently. Some of which I would only share with close friends. Some of which I'll keep to myself. I am not sure what has produced such vivid dreaming. I am grateful for the sleep.
Last nights dream stuck with me through the day. This is another aspect of these dreams, they don't shred like gossamer at the sound of the alarm. In the dream I was being interviewed. They had asked me a long list of questions. I'm not sure why I was being interviewed. The questions were not job related nor were they subject related. A lot of interests, beliefs, thoughts, etc were covered. Some were very intrusive, but did not bother me in the dream. I answered all of the questions honestly...and without a hint of sarcasm or wit. Not me at all. Now that I think about it, it was like I was in a trance. Eventually, the interviewer struck on the subject of religion. I explained my beliefs and dis-beliefs. But for the first time in the interview, he was accepting of my answer. He wanted a word. I told him I could not give him one. I am not Christian or any other religious affiliation. I am not agnostic or atheist. He pointed out that I kept telling him what I was not. He wanted to know what I was...in one word. I sat staring at him for a long time and finally said, I am...
wishful.
Wishful? He asks, looking somewhat skeptical of the answer I have finally settled on.
Yes, I tell him.
I am wishful.
Wishful for happiness.
Wishful for peace.
Wishful for love.
Wishful for understanding.
The list went on.
And, finally, I tell him, I am wishful for there to be a higher being than us all. Someone with a plan. Someone that knows the why for all the pain and suffering and the trials and tribulations. Someone to make it all worthwhile. So he asks, if I wanted there to be a God, why didn't I believe in one? I told him I wanted unicorns too.
Then the alarm went off.
Last nights dream stuck with me through the day. This is another aspect of these dreams, they don't shred like gossamer at the sound of the alarm. In the dream I was being interviewed. They had asked me a long list of questions. I'm not sure why I was being interviewed. The questions were not job related nor were they subject related. A lot of interests, beliefs, thoughts, etc were covered. Some were very intrusive, but did not bother me in the dream. I answered all of the questions honestly...and without a hint of sarcasm or wit. Not me at all. Now that I think about it, it was like I was in a trance. Eventually, the interviewer struck on the subject of religion. I explained my beliefs and dis-beliefs. But for the first time in the interview, he was accepting of my answer. He wanted a word. I told him I could not give him one. I am not Christian or any other religious affiliation. I am not agnostic or atheist. He pointed out that I kept telling him what I was not. He wanted to know what I was...in one word. I sat staring at him for a long time and finally said, I am...
wishful.
Wishful? He asks, looking somewhat skeptical of the answer I have finally settled on.
Yes, I tell him.
I am wishful.
Wishful for happiness.
Wishful for peace.
Wishful for love.
Wishful for understanding.
The list went on.
And, finally, I tell him, I am wishful for there to be a higher being than us all. Someone with a plan. Someone that knows the why for all the pain and suffering and the trials and tribulations. Someone to make it all worthwhile. So he asks, if I wanted there to be a God, why didn't I believe in one? I told him I wanted unicorns too.
Then the alarm went off.
June 07, 2012
Words
This is a frequent post by me...words. Mightier than the sword and all. From the book I'm reading...
"Ignorance isn't bliss, but neither is knowledge. Sometimes you just know more, but it doesn't make you any happier."
You can never unknow. It's a fact of life. All you can do is forgive and move on...or just move on if forgiveness isn't an option.
"Ignorance isn't bliss, but neither is knowledge. Sometimes you just know more, but it doesn't make you any happier."
You can never unknow. It's a fact of life. All you can do is forgive and move on...or just move on if forgiveness isn't an option.
June 01, 2012
I have changed
May 29, 2012
I misheard
Today, I heard one of those radio ads for sexual enhancement...you know, one of those "size matters" ads that I am sure is meant to make every man feel inadequate. During the ad, I heard them say something along the lines of, created by the best fornicators. Stop. Rewind. My brain caught up and said, what? I think what they said was, created by the best formulators.
Yesterday, while semi watching TV, I heard an ad I am assuming was for hardwood floors...I was watching HGTV. What I thought I heard was along the lines of, call Boner when woods important. I have no idea what they really said.
What can I say? My brain is an interesting place.
May 26, 2012
Today's random thought
People are like used cars. You can fix them up, but they still have the miles on them.
May 23, 2012
Choosing my poison
Or rather choosing against the poison.
I had my first doctor's appointment of the year today. I go twice a year, whether I'm sick or not. I love my doctor. She reviews with me things that have been going on. We talk about a lot of things...and she knows me well, as she sees me much more frequently than twice a year. She sees me outside the office in my semi-natural element...work.
Today she asked about my fibromyalgia. It waxes and wanes, but my increased stress has annoyed it. It's a nasty cycle of stress, pain, sleeplessness...each contributing to the next, round and round. She asked me again about starting medication. I don't remember the name of this one. Not Lyrica, I was actually foolish enough to try that one. I politely declined the offer, explaining I could deal with the fibromyalgia but I could deal with the psychological side effects of the meds. They make me s-l-o-w. It is very much like being stoned. I don't want to live in a daze. Oh, and there is the dependence. Both times I went off Lyrica, yes, I was stupid enough to give it a second chance, I was deathly ill. I can deal with the flu-like pain, stiffness and muscle spasms. I can deal with the insomnia and fatigue. I can deal with it all, but I can't deal with changing the way I think.
Per WebMD:
I had my first doctor's appointment of the year today. I go twice a year, whether I'm sick or not. I love my doctor. She reviews with me things that have been going on. We talk about a lot of things...and she knows me well, as she sees me much more frequently than twice a year. She sees me outside the office in my semi-natural element...work.
Today she asked about my fibromyalgia. It waxes and wanes, but my increased stress has annoyed it. It's a nasty cycle of stress, pain, sleeplessness...each contributing to the next, round and round. She asked me again about starting medication. I don't remember the name of this one. Not Lyrica, I was actually foolish enough to try that one. I politely declined the offer, explaining I could deal with the fibromyalgia but I could deal with the psychological side effects of the meds. They make me s-l-o-w. It is very much like being stoned. I don't want to live in a daze. Oh, and there is the dependence. Both times I went off Lyrica, yes, I was stupid enough to give it a second chance, I was deathly ill. I can deal with the flu-like pain, stiffness and muscle spasms. I can deal with the insomnia and fatigue. I can deal with it all, but I can't deal with changing the way I think.
Per WebMD:
Symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms or tightness
- Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
- Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep
- Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
- Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and performing simple mental tasks ("fibro fog")
- Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
- Tension or migraine headaches
- Jaw and facial tenderness
- Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Increase in urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder)
- Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise
- A feeling of swelling (without actual swelling) in the hands and feet
Fibromyalgia symptoms may intensify depending on the time of day -- morning, late afternoon, and evening tend to be the worst times. Symptoms may also get worse with fatigue, tension, inactivity, changes in the weather, cold or drafty conditions, overexertion, hormonal fluctuations (such as just before your period or during menopause), stress, depression, or other emotional factors.
You have to love that first line, "Fibromyalgia symptoms may intensify depending on the time of day -- morning, late afternoon, and evening tend to be the worst times." That doesn't leave a lot of left over time. Symptoms get worse with fatigue or inactivity...see, damned if I do, damned if I don't. I don't have all the symptoms, at least not all of the time. I've encountered people that are on disability for fibromyalgia and I wonder what they do. I hurt worse for being still, honestly, as strange as it sounds. The muscles stiffen and it's hard to move. I have also wondered, if they are disabled from the symptoms of the disease...or the treatment.
May 22, 2012
Self bartering
I have been overanxious the last few days. The subject of my anxiety seems to be a vacation that is being planned enough in the future that it should be on a back burner. That is why I do not think that is the real issue. I think I'm becoming anxious over something that does not need to be considered, rather than worrying about the more immediate threat. Though technically, both occurrences are set to happen within a weeks time frame. Not a week now, but a week far in the future. Wow, as I say that I wonder if I can manage both things that closely together? I have no control over the timing of one, but a little over the other. And as I have no control over the one that I think my psyche is trying to protect me from, I wonder what good it will do me to fret about it? Wait, I do have control. I don't have to float along the stream if I feel my destination is the open maw of a beast ready to devour me.
OK, a bit over dramatic. I don't like feeling anxious and I am surrounded by it at work right now. So many people, so unsure...and no answers to allay their fears. The unknown is always the worst fear. I absorb their emotions like water to a sponge.
OK, a bit over dramatic. I don't like feeling anxious and I am surrounded by it at work right now. So many people, so unsure...and no answers to allay their fears. The unknown is always the worst fear. I absorb their emotions like water to a sponge.
Research
Cancer is the normal replication of cells, gone haywire. What triggers this malfunction is under constant study. I guess scientist hope if they can figure out the cause, they can prevent it. But from all the studies I've heard we'll have to give up eating, drinking...breathing.
May 21, 2012
Crime and punishment
If there were enough people reading my blog, I'm sure I'd get some grief for this one. First off, I will admit that I do not know all the facts. I watch the news...I don't think that means I know all the details. I'm just a little confused by two stories I heard tonight, one on the local, the other on the national news. I am expressing my confusion based on the stories as I perceived them. Now that I have completed the disclaimer...
On the local level, a high school teacher was sentenced to 10 years for, as I understand it, propositioning a 13 year old girl on Facebook. Propositioning. An inappropriate conversation. Yes, he was wrong. Yes, he was in a position of authority. But nothing in the news story indicates that there was ever physical contact. Nothing says pictures were sent. He propositioned her. She told her Dad, the police were called. Ten years? All I can think is there is more to the story they are not reporting.
Now in contrast...
A college student uses a "spy cam" to video tape his roommate. He broadcasts the roommate's "sexual encounter" live on the web, daring, his word, people on Twitter to view the live feed. Shortly after finding out about the video the 18 year old boy jumped from a bridge to his death. Because it was a gay encounter, there were accusation of a hate crime. This college student, was sentenced to 30 days and 3 years probation.
I do not know what the right answer, or sentence, is for these crimes. But they seem off to me, especially when contrasting the two. There doesn't seem to be any sense, logic, fairness.
On the local level, a high school teacher was sentenced to 10 years for, as I understand it, propositioning a 13 year old girl on Facebook. Propositioning. An inappropriate conversation. Yes, he was wrong. Yes, he was in a position of authority. But nothing in the news story indicates that there was ever physical contact. Nothing says pictures were sent. He propositioned her. She told her Dad, the police were called. Ten years? All I can think is there is more to the story they are not reporting.
Now in contrast...
A college student uses a "spy cam" to video tape his roommate. He broadcasts the roommate's "sexual encounter" live on the web, daring, his word, people on Twitter to view the live feed. Shortly after finding out about the video the 18 year old boy jumped from a bridge to his death. Because it was a gay encounter, there were accusation of a hate crime. This college student, was sentenced to 30 days and 3 years probation.
I do not know what the right answer, or sentence, is for these crimes. But they seem off to me, especially when contrasting the two. There doesn't seem to be any sense, logic, fairness.
May 17, 2012
Change
May 16, 2012
A horse is a horse, of course, of course...
I was a little annoyed when I first heard about the jockey being suspended from horse racing for beating his girlfriend. You take away a man's livelihood based on an accusation? The man's job does not put anybody at risk, so why not let him work until the dust settles? What happened to, innocent until proven guilty? Now you may have noticed that I said, "when I first heard"...since then I have heard on the news (and we know that all newscasts are factual and unbiased, true?) that he was already restricted from a previous charge of abuse, and was only allowed to ride as long as he stayed out of trouble. I don't know...I still feel he has been deemed guilty without due process.
May 13, 2012
Eyes
spark.
It isn't just dogs. I see this in lots of animals...but not all.
The same can be said for humans. Sometimes you look into the windows of the soul, and realize nobody is home.
May 07, 2012
Brillant
May 05, 2012
Where is my GPS?
I had a plan with that last post, but I must have lost my map, because I never got there. This frequently happens. Usually because of the lapse of time between my mind turning over an idea and my ability to sit down and think it through and apply to megapixels.
As previously stated, I've had people on my mind, people long gone. This type of reminiscing happens to me ever so often. I am not seeping in regret...but, I think, more reminding myself of lessons learned. Reminding myself where I have been to appreciate where I am...and even a few happy memories.
Anyway, I digress. My goal, the thing that keeps knocking on my memory bank seeking attention...
There have been a few people I have known, that were/are, what most people call, two-faced. I'm not sure what triggered this particular line of thought. It has not been a recent experience. But usually, when something doesn't dissipate on it's own, it needs further exam. So here I am, again.
The behavior I speak of, is the person who will say I love you to your face, then talk bad about you the moment you are out of earshot. I do not understand this behavior. If you care for me, why talk bad about me? If you don't like me, why pretend? Okay, let me clear something up, behavior towards a person you don't care for, but maybe, for whatever reason, impossible to avoid...I do not believe that you need to be rude. It is usually unnecessary, and uncalled for, surely you were taught better. But you can be polite without being someone's best bud.
Where I tend to come into this, is the ear on the other side...though occasionally, I know I have been the subject. My mother was notorious for this type of behavior. I'm not talking about a bitch session. You can love someone without necessarily liking everything they do. Everyone, I guess, gripes about the people in their lives from time to time...very normal. The difference, is when someone will say something along the lines of they really don't like someone, but they will jump all over spending time with that person because there is some benefit. Two-faced. And every time I am the "ear" in this equation, I can't help but think that person is treating me the same way when I walk out of the room.
I'm not sure I am any closer to understanding why this has been at the forefront of my mind lately. Maybe I have heard some snarky comment recently and I still haven't resolved it. Hmmmm. I'm hungry...maybe I can't do self therapy on an empty stomach.
As previously stated, I've had people on my mind, people long gone. This type of reminiscing happens to me ever so often. I am not seeping in regret...but, I think, more reminding myself of lessons learned. Reminding myself where I have been to appreciate where I am...and even a few happy memories.
Anyway, I digress. My goal, the thing that keeps knocking on my memory bank seeking attention...
There have been a few people I have known, that were/are, what most people call, two-faced. I'm not sure what triggered this particular line of thought. It has not been a recent experience. But usually, when something doesn't dissipate on it's own, it needs further exam. So here I am, again.
The behavior I speak of, is the person who will say I love you to your face, then talk bad about you the moment you are out of earshot. I do not understand this behavior. If you care for me, why talk bad about me? If you don't like me, why pretend? Okay, let me clear something up, behavior towards a person you don't care for, but maybe, for whatever reason, impossible to avoid...I do not believe that you need to be rude. It is usually unnecessary, and uncalled for, surely you were taught better. But you can be polite without being someone's best bud.
Where I tend to come into this, is the ear on the other side...though occasionally, I know I have been the subject. My mother was notorious for this type of behavior. I'm not talking about a bitch session. You can love someone without necessarily liking everything they do. Everyone, I guess, gripes about the people in their lives from time to time...very normal. The difference, is when someone will say something along the lines of they really don't like someone, but they will jump all over spending time with that person because there is some benefit. Two-faced. And every time I am the "ear" in this equation, I can't help but think that person is treating me the same way when I walk out of the room.
I'm not sure I am any closer to understanding why this has been at the forefront of my mind lately. Maybe I have heard some snarky comment recently and I still haven't resolved it. Hmmmm. I'm hungry...maybe I can't do self therapy on an empty stomach.
May 03, 2012
Long gone, never forgotten
It is amazing how much influence people can have on your life, even when they are no longer a part of it. From our earliest days we are influenced by the thoughts and behaviors of others. People come and go, some by their choice, some by your's...and others, by no one's choosing.
I think of people with random activities that remind me of something they used to do. I wonder about the well being of people I have lost touch with...even after years. People haunt my dreams.
Not every influence has been good, some have been invaluable, and some...it's hard to know the difference. Sometimes it's only clear in the rear view mirror, sometimes not even then.
I won't regret. I kind of like who I am.
I think of people with random activities that remind me of something they used to do. I wonder about the well being of people I have lost touch with...even after years. People haunt my dreams.
Not every influence has been good, some have been invaluable, and some...it's hard to know the difference. Sometimes it's only clear in the rear view mirror, sometimes not even then.
I won't regret. I kind of like who I am.
May 02, 2012
Diversity
I have had several topics floating about recently in need of closer examination, but hadn't put thought to blog (instead of pen to paper) yet. But a new one has reared it's head demanding my attention. This may not even be a new topic, but here it is again.
There is a lot of talk about diversity. It seems everyone pays it lip service as the right thing to do...the school system, the government, the job. But honestly, a good deal of people are only comfortable if people are different just like them.
I recently saw a poster that said something to the extent of, "People with tattoos don't care that you don't have one." Wow, did that hit home. I never criticize a person for not choosing ink. I can't say that people have always showed me the same courtesy. Not that anyone's opinion of my art concerns me, it's the point of it.
The same can be said for religion, the Atheist I have encountered don't care what you believe, they just want the right not to. In peace. They don't want it explained to them...over and over again what you think they don't understand.
Diversity needs to encompass everyone, not just race/ethnicity/culture...but choice. Choice is what makes us individuals. It's what makes us interesting.
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