NaBloPoMo, I'm just not that into you

I'll admit I only gave NaBloPoMo half a shot. The first impression was good enough for a second date...but then the relationship fizzled. Here's why:

I just don't want to engage in conversation that isn't coming from my heart. Whether it's something substantial or not, I want to feel it....you know? I sincerely give kudos to all those that are dedicated & creative enough to do it everyday.

So, NaBloPoMo....it's not you. Really. It's me. For some reason I just got a little nervous around you and that's no way for a relationship to start. So let's be just friends, okay? And maybe someday we'll meet again.

Haiku is easier than I thought

My Grandma's cat "Red"

Sleeping on top of the fridge

Childhood memories

______________________

Today's NaBloPoMo brought to you in the form of a Haiku.

Please leave all comments in the form of a Haiku.

JUST KIDDING.

Pretty in Pink

11.15.09Not to diminish all the other glorious colors of sunrise, but doesn't she look so pretty in pink?

I figure that I might post photos more often...not because they are such excellent quality and/or that I'm a great picture-taker, but because I've joined NaBloPoMo and it's important to post everyday. That's the objective, anyway.

So on days that my mind/life/work is too busy to post something substantial (relatively), I'll post a pic I took with my modest Nikon Coolpix 8700. I promise that I'll try like crazy to make them interesting and/or unique.

BTW, I bought this camera second-hand and it came minus the instructions. I have no idea on most days, what I'm doing. It's hit & miss. I must remember to hunt for a manuel to purchase. I'll just add that to my ever-growing/changing to-do list.

Indian Summer

It's November for crying out loud! And the middle of it to boot. I live in NWPA & we usually get a last hurrah of unseasonably warm weather in late fall. But this is remarkable. And it's expected to continue through the next week. And worth a mention: We've already had snowfall. Snow that stuck.

There were two neighborhood girls swimming in the pond at our house for an hour yesterday. It was that nice out. I'm not sure of the water temperature but the air was a balmy 70+.

11.14.09In December this dock is usually the ice skating launch.This is really unlike any other Indian Summer we've had. At least that I can remember. At this rate, the pond won't be hard enough to skate on until February.

Even the ducks were happy and didn't mind being chased out of their home for awhile.

Ducky. Yep.

The Sisters Bitchfest

 

I have a bitchfest with my sister once a week, give or take. It's really cheap therapy. We'll talk/bitch about everything under the sun. From the really annoying things our mates do to headline news. This week, her boyfriend is our #1 bitch. And rightfully so, if you ask me. Which she did. Here's her guy's unofficial score from one evening:

Big DUH! - 20

Bonus! - 1

Not so good... I personally think he's looking to get side-lined. For the record, when she loves him, I love him. BUT, that's not the point today.  His most recent Big DUH! score is deserved. Here's the skinny:

He offered to take her to the movies and invited his sister along. No problem here, as my sis loves his sis. My sis paid for her own ticket and again, no problem. He offered to buy the refreshments, so bonus (hence the score) for him. He takes their orders and goes up to buy the popcorn & soda...and comes back with 3 popcorns and 2 drinks. My sister says: "Didn't you get anything to drink?" He says: "Yeah, but I got something different than what you wanted, so I just got one for me and one for you and my sister to share."

Come again?

(It sounds the same the second time around, so I'll spare the keystrokes)

So my sis is pissed and ends up getting her own drink. Of course Big Duh Guy doesn't understand because they always share a drink, what's the difference? His reason is that if both she and his sister wanted the same thing...why can't they share? That she even has to explain is another score. That he can't get it through his thick skull is another. Believe me, they add up quickly and before you know it...in one night he has a whopping score of 20. Could be more or less, but the bottom line:

BLOWOUT.

We talked about other topics, of course. But I kept coming back to this one. I mean "I just can not believe he did that"...came up several times, when we weren't even talking about it anymore. Which made it number one for this therapy session. a.k.a. the bitchfest.

Obsessed with Equality

                                                                           

I am. Obsessed with Equality. Or the notion of it. Fairness I can live without. We all know that life isn't fair & it isn't a bowl of plump, ripe cherries.  I accept that. Fairness is not the same as Equality.

Let me ask you:

1. Are/were you free to marry the one you wanted?
2. If you chose to, could you adopt and/or foster a child?
3. If your spouse was dying in a local hospital, would you and/or your children be granted access to their bedside?

Are you saying..."Well, yeah! Of course!" Seems like a no-brainer, right? Not so.

______________________________________________________________

America is touted as "The Land of the Free & The Home of the Brave". It's a pretty and picture-perfect lie. All Americans are not free to choose their own lifestyle without public & religious ostracizing. Ask the majority in the LGBT community. They are not free to marry whom they choose. They are not free to adopt a child, regardless of their wealth & stability. They are not free to be by the bedside of their dying loved one in a hospital.

They are not all brave. Some people would be risking their lives & livelihood if they were brave enough to be themselves. Many will spend their whole lives pretending to be someone they are not because they are fearful. Afraid of being shunned by their families, co-workers, church, community and friends. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity farce.  A falsehood that we like to believe is honored. Not so. Many, many people face discrimination in the workplace today. Unless you DADT. Don't even think about putting up that fancy frame on your desk with your family photo in it...you'd be "telling" and we can't have that. Never mind that your neighbor in the next cubicle or office has their spot decorated with cookie-cutter family pictures. Sound imbalanced to you? It is.

I think it's important to remember that when one individual is discriminated against, there's a domino effect. It hurts their family as well. Their spouse and children are directly impacted. How is it that we can put equal rights up for a popular vote? Americans are not required to vote. It's elective. And yet we'll put the issue of equality into the hands of the people, who may or may not show up that day to cast?  If the state is going to allow our rights to be determined by our neighbors, why not mandate them to come to the polls to decide? It's your right to choose to vote, you say? Imagine not having that right.

I'm not angry because life isn't fair. I'm upset because we are not all treated equally and afforded the same basic rights. Civil liberties. I'm talking about the regular Joes and plain Janes that work hard, pay property, state, local and federal taxes to the same domain we all do. But because Joe may love John and Jane may love Jill, they and their children aren't given the same benefits as Harry and Sally or Jack and Jill. Absurd. Take their money all day long, but afford them less than your neighbor. WHY? I shake my head because it is one-sided and senseless.

I have become obsessed with equality. I want to see the day when, in every single state and on a federal level, my parents will be recognized as equals. Where they can choose marriage with shared benefits, given access to each other when, after 30+ years, one may lay dying in a hospital or put a picture of their family on their desk at work. You know: the basics.

Wedding Anniversary

11.02

I don't love you more today than I did back then. I've just loved you longer.

Still kissing everyday. But tonight we'll dance, too. Lucky us.

What would you do in this Scenario?

I have watched the ABC hidden camera show on Primetime called "What Would you Do? several times. The shows producers employ actors to portray bigots, abductors, helpless children and the elderly in need, etc. Then they set up a scene in which it would call for strangers...good Samaritans really, to step in and give assistance or support.  This is all done with hidden cameras recording. Sometimes I am surprised at how other people will turn their backs when they see something happening that just isn't right. Most of the time their excuse is "that it didn't involve me".

How sad. Sad that folks won't help out their neighbor or get involved because it wasn't "me". I can imagine that would change if they ever found themselves in the other shoes.

I didn't see this episode when it aired, but saw this particular clip at Pam's House Blend.

RIDICULOUS as it was, it got me to thinking. I actually started to cry....Wondering how in this day and age people would stand by and let this happen. Would you?

Every Child Deserves a Family

This week U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) introduced The Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827) an adoption anti-discrimination bill.

This legislation would restrict federal funds given to states that discriminate based on the marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity of the individuals wanting to adopt or provide foster care to the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for a family. Rep. Stark: "We got 25,000 kids a year maturing out of the welfare system without permanent foster care or adoptive care, and the prospects of those children having a successful adult life are diminished greatly," he said. "These are kids who end up in the criminal justice system, or end up homeless."

There are states (Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Nebraska & Utah) that currently prohibit the adoption and/or foster placement of children based solely on whether or not the applicants are married or gay. Arkansas prohibits all unmarried couples from adopting. And Florida strictly prohibits gay couples from adopting. With the enactment of this bill, those states would lose all federal funding, private agencies included, if they continue to discriminate based on their current policy.

I say Hooray! My family is authentic. It's whole. If state and privately-run agencies want to discredit and disqualify individuals that don't fit into their definition of what is "family", then they won't receive the federal money that keeps them in business. Period.

So how long do you think it will take before these agencies comply and better-define Family?

Jennifer finds Justice

It's been 19 long years since Jennifer Schuett was kidnapped, raped and after having her throat slashed, left for dead at the age of 8. Her story has been in the news most recently on CNN and America's Most Wanted. I first heard about Jennifer's story last month when the story ran on CNN.com.

Jennifer, age 8

Since her story was reported nationally, her website; Justice For Jennifer has received over 12,000 hits. She is an incredible woman who never gave up the search for her attacker and now, her long-overdue justice has been realized. She wanted to use the voice that, at one time, was taken from her and encourage other victims to speak out against their attackers. Use their voice, as she was using hers. 

After all her perseverance and persistence, her attacker has been caught! Can you begin to imagine how she must be feeling? That the monster that stole her from her home, stole her innocence and attempted to end her life, is behind bars?

She has been healing for years. Now she has the knowledge that her attacker isn't God knows where...but behind bars, where he's belonged for 2 decades.

I truly admire Jennifer. I suspect that she is more determined and stronger than myself. A real hero, in my book. I hope you'll take the time to visit her blog and give her some comment love.