text:
by Mr.Ellipses
Why is it necessary for a black person to say "I do not speak for all black people…" after giving an opinion on a subject? Why don't white people find it necessary to say "Obviously, I do not speak for all white people but…"? Why is it that white people are automatically granted individual autonomy on almost every subject, but many people of color are not granted similar autonomy? In fact, if we extend this generality further, many minorities are often snatched from their perspective groups and then forced to be speak on behalf of the category society has placed them in.
This phenomenon actually causes a lot of trouble. You see, when your actions and words not only reflect yourself put also are forced to reflect your entire group, and you have no say in which group people place you in, your individuality gets chipped away at. Many people of privilege do not know or understand what it feels like to not be able to talk for yourself. Many people take their "individuality status" for granted, and assume this is the norm. Most minorities recognize though, that this is not the norm.
The reality is…. when the fcking popo (police) put out a radio call for some black or brown suspect.. all of a sudden all black and brown people are put in danger. You see the actions of that one individual effect us all. After building a lifetimes wroth of experience with events like these. Minorities recognize that they are often not able to act as an individuals.. minorities build an understanding that.. their actions, whether they like it or not, whether or not it is fair, reflect on other minorities for better or worse. This means that we bear additional responsibility for members of our group, a responsibility that many white folk do not have to shoulder. Many brown folk quickly found this out after the attacks on 9-11, where Americans thought to attack and target any brown men with beards.
Yet, when similar events happen around white people… there are no riots or targeted assault of white people. After the the bombing caused by Timothy Mcveigh or Ted Kaczynsk.. did white people have to be put on high alert as targets? Nah….. You see white people especially, have this sort of magical guard around them, that protects their individuality. They can pretty much live carefree because they know that everyone looks at them as individuals, and no matter how many white criminals or terrorists there are…… no one is going to think that reflects badly on every white man. That same magical barrier is not granted to many POC's and other minorities.
Instead everything we say, everything we do, can always be, and is, symbolically used to reflect on our group. This sort of thinking leads to a rather peculiar phenomenon when we are talking about equal rights. What ends up happening pretty frequently, because minorities are not granted individual autonomy, is that the people part of the privileged group use minorities to propagate discrimination. They use them as petty tokens to be tossed about and frequently used to clog the machinery that is being put in place to make a more equal society.
The phenomenon I am describing here is called tokenism, and I want to talk about it today because it does not get talked about enough.
Tokenism has a long history in the Unites States… and it is precisely because minorities can be used to symbolize and represent their entire groups, in ways that privilege people can not, that tokenism is such a deadly tool. It is deadly because it is remarkably effective in propagating bigotry and preventing a serious discussion of various social issues. Whites are actually quite fond of using POC's to defend against other POC's that demand a more "radical" version of equality they are not prepared for. It is also the "I have a black friend" excuse we here so many whites throw out there because they too think that they can use single individuals from a group to defend against others from that same group. It is that age old deadly formula to defend against being accused of bigotry… you throw out a member of the group that accused you, and have that member say "chill this guy is cool"… and then bam.. this produces a magic repellent against discussing an issue with the seriousness it deserves.
The republicans did this when they tossed out Herman Cain. You take this rich black man, and have him argue against affirmative action, or have him say that racism is not a big deal anymore, or have him defend the Republicans when accused of racism…and this actually works. It serves to diffuse the issue because.. well because people are fcking stupid and they think that just cause a black guy says it.. it must be true and it must represent the black community.
Fck Miley Cirus did that sht just now… in her recent rolling stone interview that fool said that black people like Pharrell and Kanye supported her racist VMA performance. They saw nothing wrong with it, they did not take offense.. therefore, as representatives of the black community, she now thinks she is immune to the accusations of racism during her VMA dance. It is fckign sad too… cause this sht works. The rolling stone article did not dig in deeper and show the logic behind the claims of racism… nope.. what they did instead was take the words of like what.. 3 black people… and give the impression thus, that this incident was not super duper racist as fck.
See, what tokenism is.. is it is this false platitude thrown out to give the appearance of equality without actually doing the work required to have equality. What happens is that the dominant group picks up one person or a few from the oppressed, and then carries them as the spokesperson for the entire group… the odd thing about this is that the dominant group is almost always going to pick a person from within the oppressed group that is not the "radical" one. In that, they have all these choices… and which one do you think they are going to pick.. the confrontational ones or the more the ones that like to accommodate them? Of course they are going to pick the ones that take more accommodationalist positions because those are the ones that challenge power less, and thus less likely to make the people of privilege uncomfortable.
Therefore conversations go like this… a POC says something is racist, white people run up and grab another POC that proclaims it can not be racist. A woman says something is sexist, men run up and grab a different woman who says that it can not be sexist. A gay person says something is homophobic, and straight people run up and grab another gay person that says this can not be homophobic. What ends up happening then is that you get two minorities fighting each other, and the privileged people are no longer are required to take part in the discussion. In the end, this works to discharge and dismiss many conversation that would be worthwhile because they force people of privilege to recognize a bigoted system of social rules.
The thing about this is that, people of privilege are naturally going to gravitate towards positions that re-enforce their privileged positions, therefore not only is the minority they chose to throw at you going to have internalized bigotries they propagate (women who say sexist things, gays who say homophobic things, and POC's who propagate racist norms).. the privileged are also, when the two minorities are arguing with each other, likely to "crown" the winner of the "debate" as which ever minority had a position that did not force the privileged to recognize the unfair social structures.
That right up there, in sum, is what makes tokenism so dangerous… because it allows people of privilege to outright deny their place in the unfair system of hierarchy. If they can not face the reality that they benefit from a system of prejudices, then they can not work as allies to end a bigoted social hierarchy. Instead what they do is calmly work to keep the system in place.
You see, most minorities know this as well. They know that the privileged are often going to try and use them to propagate bigoted norms by presenting them as symbols of some particular ethnic group that just so happens to land in agreement with the privileged side of the debate. This means minorities have this extra baggage of responsibility, that many do not wish to bear, to make sure that their words can not be twisted, as they often are, to justify bigoted views. This extra responsibility works to take away individual autonomy.. for if you know that your words will not be taken merely as your own words, but rather as a representation of an entire group of people. Minorities who do not wish to harm their own group by saying something to validate this or that bigotry, will quickly find themselves constantly moderating their own voice such that they say the "right thing" at all times.
This kind of thing is something that sucks… and it is, unfortunately, a part of becoming an adult as a minority. Which is why minorities get angry, extra angry, at fellow minorities who have thrown caution to the wind and decided to support and justify the bigoted norms that the people of privilege propagates… well because.. they should know better.. and they should know how easily this fcks up progress. I mean, I take talk a good game.. but it takes me a long time to break through the privileged barrier when talking to, in particular, white people… and I can say all the logic around my position and teach everything that I know… and then, it takes only one fcking piece of sht POC to say "Nah do not listen to that guy"… and all my work is undone. You see, because white people, and most people of privilege, would rather agree with a pleasant fiction than recognize the unpleasant reality of how unfair this society is. So I got a special place in my heart, that says fck you, to those types of minorities.


text:
06 March 2014
One Bag: Simplicity One Day At A Time
Today was the first day of the 40 Bags In 40 Days project. I have to tell you there is an incredible private group on Facebook that is super gung ho and supporting each other on this project. Pretty amazing. It's amazing how many people have gone through really tragic circumstances that have led them to have a bit of a clutter problem. I find it amazingly inspiring to people pulling themselves up by the bootstraps in the lives as a result of this project. Just one small bag each day has become a gateway to monumental change and healing in their lives. It's beautiful to see people really stepping up to support each other in this group and creating such a positive energy.
I have gathered three grocery store size bags of thrift store donations from around the house the past couple of weeks. One item is a horrible pair of pants that I thought I loved. I haven't work them for a while, pulled them out and thought "These are the ugliest pants I've ever seen." They immediately went into the thrift store bag.
Monday night I stayed up late reconsidering how I am using our storage space. We have this somewhat ridiculous broom closet next to our ridiculously narrow and deep pantry in the kitchen. I remembered that night that I had built some very simple MDF shelves to fit inside the poorly organized kitchen cupboards at an apartment I lived at a few years ago. I realized for less than twenty dollars I could build three shelves that would fit perfectly in that lame little closet and then use it as extended food storage. The broom, mop and saved plastic bags can be easily moved to the front hall closet a few feet away. Wondering why I didn't think of this before. It's amazing that as organized as I have tried to live in this apartment, I keep finding ways I could use spaces so much more effectively.
I also ordered another over-the-door organizer to put on the door of the front hall closet. I realized it would be a great place to store all the cleaning supplies and laundry things. Bingo. Several shelves cleared and all that stuff out where we can see it and easily find it. Love it.
Last night for my first day of 40 Bags In 40 Days I cleaned out a three-shelf cupboard in the hallway to The Bug's room. I had been keeping small home decorating items, candles, vases, etc. in there. I also had a few of The Man's things I'd stuffed in there last year. I pulled everything out, Then I filled a bag of thrift store donations, put The Man's things together so he can go through them tomorrow and I put the things I am keeping in a box to find a new home for them. I knew it won't take much to find a small place to keep these things. They might fit into the craft dresser I will be cleaning out soon.
Now the three-shelf hall cupboard can store The Bug's toys. So out of sight. I am so happy about that. It will also relieve a lot of clutter in her room and in the living room. We will probably get a few small boxes or baskets to store the toys in inside the cupboard. Tomorrow we are going to go through the toys and thin them out. That is going to be a struggle to get her to let go of anything. Fingers crossed on that.
The other big project I tackled over the weekend was cleaning out my email inbox. I went from 56 pages of emails down to one page. I already had my folders all organized, but at some point I quit keeping up with it on a regular basis. That was exhausting. But now I'm committed not to let it get beyond three pages ever again. Whew.
If any 40 Bags folks visit, say hello in the comments below. Have a great day everyone!
image via mca
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome to Bethany Amanda Photography!
Bethany Amanda Photography is a Top Fine Art Wedding & Newborn Photographer based out of Ottawa. Capturing beautiful organic stories of true love and pure bliss from couples and new families. Capture your newborns photos in a relaxed, warm, and beautiful new studio offering up unique props and textures for printing beautiful custom fine art photos for your walls to cherish for a lifetime.
Service bilingue disponible
Fine Art Wedding Photography
Your wedding will be a once in a lifetime lovely event; this is why you want to keep things simple yet professional with an artistic touch.Learn More
Styled Wedding Shoot
The coordination of colours were flawless and timeless. This is sure to inspire some wedding day fairy tales.
About Us
My goal as a photographer is to capture precious images of your family that you will cherish for a lifetime and I am extremely honoured to be able to capture these moments with you.Learn More
From the very first contact, Bethany was so quick to get back to us and wanted to meet with us, which we loved since this was a big day, and we wanted everything to be perfect.
I had the pleasure of working on a shoot with Bethany and it was amazing to watch how well she directed the model and all of her creativity and ideas come to life. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking.
Bethany is an amazing photographer. She was extremely professional and accommodating. All of our messages and inquiries were responded to quickly.
I had an amazing Maternity session with Bethany! She is super friendly yet professional and made me feel amazingly beautiful and comfortable right away!
Bethany Amanda Photography Blog
Check out our latest photography blog posts and stay tuned for more.
Subscribe to our mailing list!
Our subscription allows me to send you the most up to date information on promotions and discounts. Please feel free to subscribe!


text:
Help support the Best of Missouri Hands when shopping at smile.amazon.com, Missouri Artisans Association could increase its AmazonSmile donations every time you shop Amazon online.
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
Our link is: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/43-1507492
Thank you for your participation in the AmazonSmile program and the Best of Missouri Hands.


text:
From Ben Worthen over at the WSJ Biz Tech blog.
Bill Gates to Workers: Appreciate Software
I don't even know where to start with this one. We know that Microsoft has transformed everyone's work life. But take a look at this Vista Fact Sheet and let me know how excited you are about it.
I think the disconnect is that Microsoft (and almost all other technology companies) have a feature/benefit focus to all communications. This does not connect with consumers.
Connect to my emotions. Make me feel better. Make me feel cool. Make me feel like a hero. Make me feel like an outlaw. Make me feel something. Then I will care


text:
When i see an object, I see some sort of creator/designer behind the object.
For example, look at the computer/iphone/ipad/blackberry/whatever-you're-using-to-view-this.
On the keyboard you see an array of meticulously arranged letters/number/and symbols. With just one click of the "power" button, your computer gets a breathe of life and begins to run all the necessary processes. By looking and thinking about how a computer works, there can be no doubt that there has to be someone who thought out the design for building the computer sitting in front of you.
In the same way, that's how i know that a Creator exists. I can see it in nature. In the trees, clouds, mountains, rain, snow. These things couldn't have just came from..nothing? But one thing that truly makes me believe in a creator, is the human body.
Our bodies are craze.
- in one hour, your heart works hard enough to produce the energy to raise almost 1 ton weight 1 yard off the ground.
-in 1 sq inch of skin, you have 4 yards of nerve fiber, 1300 nerve cells, 100 sweat glands, and 3 million cells.
-our bodies can heal and replenish itself. we make a new skeleton every 3 months, and we get new skin every month.
There are other CRAZYY things our body can do, but, to me, the most amazing thing about humans are our brain. The ability to think and reason is amazing. That's how i know that we didn't just spontaneously come to life. Just like how i put AP|Photography on my pictures, God puts his watermark on his creations too.
I'm a computer science minor, and programming SIMPLE projects can take HOURS AND HOURS. one big thing that computer scientists are always trying to improve is artificial intelligence. Basically creating "The Terminator". A computer that can think and reason for itself. Personally i dont think a computer will ever be able to reach that stage. anyways, after wasting my life in lab this week, i sorta began to imagine God as this crazy computer progammer that designed the human race on his macbook.
I wish God could tutor me in compsci.
Friday, February 5, 2010
God as a computer programmer.
Posted by AndrewParkPhotography at 4:02 PM
1 comment:
:). Agreed.ReplyDelete
Finally, someone who understands what I go through for computer science... Hahaha.
I might write an entry on this later, but cryptography is also really interesting in how there are certain encrypted messages that you don't know if they're just random junk or if they're actually encoding a secret message. The only way you can tell is if you see patterns, and if, once decoding it you discover something meaningful.
In the same way, when we examine nature, how do we know there is a designer? When we find patterns, complexity, and meaning we can be sure that there is a designer. When we see His watermark, we can be sure He was there.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The $ 5600000000 budget would again. Some funding that was cut in July 2008, to health care, schools and universities, according to the AP / State The budget includes $ 1 million for an HIV prevention program, that means 39 ecclesiastical educational initiatives, as well as $ 2 in South Carolina AIDS Drug Assistance Program. HIV / HIV / AIDS Council Executive Director Bambi Gaddist said that she was 'deeply concerned 'that the funds would be eliminated. 'We are pleased with their uptake are thrilled,'she said, adding.
That's not what we want, but it's the best we can do under the circumstances, said House Ways and Means Chair Dan Cooper , added: We have no plans to raise taxes (Adcox, AP / Columbia State.
More than 80 percent of cervical cancers occur in developing countries, according to WHO, because most women in these areas be tested opportunity to be examined for early signs of cancer using a Pap smear. Vaccines could girl from who prevent infected with the virus in the first place.. A new study suggests that girls and women can not need all three recommended doses of HPV vaccine to get the necessary protection to prevent cervical cancer. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the publication of Oxford Press, the NCI is not published.Continue reading


text:
Thursday, 18 July 2013
What's on: Friday 19th July
5 comments:
Nice Website...ReplyDelete
Hey JOIN now fblikesbot.com and Increase Facebook Likes your profile and websites.
Increase Facebook Likes and check your website worth worth my websites
FB Likes and check your website worth Website Value Calculator
Hot Wallpapers
its may be very beneficial for you also really
This information is impressive; I am inspired with your post writing style & how continuously you describe this topic.
Pawn Shop
Pawn Loans
Pawn Shops
Pawn Loan
Pawn Shop near me
fire and safety officer training institute in ChennaiReplyDelete
fire and safety course
diploma in fire and safety
safety engineering courses in chennai
Safety engineer courses in Chennai
safety engineering course in chennai
safety engineering degree in chennai
diploma in safety engineering course in chennai


text:
Portland Pottery in early January. However, they were still in the midst of enlarging the high fire gas kiln. Got it completed and now work is sailing through as we all get accustomed to the changes in the kiln. Check out teacher Lori Watts blog. Strictly fun!
More old stuff, new stuff.
Heart bowls that I got too late for Valentines Day but thank goodness love is a year round thing! Perfect for cereal since after you finish the cereal, you can tip the point into your mouth and there goes the milk!
Photo by John Morrill Read, (website under construction), friend, human being and artist extraordinaire! Art turned 60 and we had to celebrate. Great time of year for the party, everyone was tired of wintah, and we had a Texas theme with Ronda Dale along with Kevin Attra and special guest Nina, all delighting us with Texas swing music. Everyone participated in the amazing food and a good time was had by all from what we hear. Never saw so many cowboy hats in Maine in one spot! Boots, too! Art was certainly feeling the love that afternoon. What a nice way to usher in the 60's.
New Work-Found a new fish plate for this year and I really like them a lot.
Still making wool bowls. thanks to my cousin Julie and her knitting group in Trinidad, CO.
Cushing Matte Blue if you can imagine!
Fun with Cushing Matte Green and wax resist.
open studios on Peaks this summer. Can't wait to share his work and I love having his energy in my studio. I also have a new "claymate" in Justin Palmer, an islander with a degree in ceramics from Bennington, VT. The studio is alive and well!
The cork bulletin board is finished! Looks great and thanks to all my pals who have been saving their corks for me so I could finish. Mucho appreciate y'all drinking all that wine to help me out.
There you have it, 3 months worth. Enjoy! I am headed for the studio. Happy creating!


text:
The Railway Man R
Playing at the following locations:
Based on his best-selling memoir, The film tells the extraordinary and epic true story of Eric Lomax, a British Army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a Japanese labour camp during World War II. Decades later, Lomax discovers that the Japanese interpreter he holds responsible for much of his treatment is still alive and sets out to confront him, and his haunting past.
1 hr. 56 min.
Opened April 11th, 2014
Nicole Kidman
Stellan Skarsgård
Colin Firth
Jeremy Irvine
Hiroyuki Sanada
Jonathan Teplitzky
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Today's Showtimes
Click times to purchase tickets
Click times to purchase tickets
No showtimes available
on this date.
on this date.


text:
By Rad Berky, from Charlotte Observer
A 7-year old Lincoln County boy is recovering after being mauled by a pit bull mix Friday afternoon. Investigators say John Ellis Nixon had gone to see a friend at the house on Rolling View Lane in Pumpkin Center where the dog's owner, Doug Queen, lives with his family.
His mother says the boy was just outside the door of the house when the dog attacked him.
"Bit him twice in the face and head and backed away, by the grace of God, because pit bulls don't ordinarily do that," said Amy Nixon.
Nixon drove her son to Carolinas Medical Center in Lincoln County and from there he was transferred to CMC Main in Charlotte.
"I couldn't even look at his injuries they were so bad. The whole side of his face was covered in blood," she said. Lincoln County Animal Control has ordered the dog to be kept in the house for 10 days while there is an investigation. If it is determined the dog is dangerous and a threat, the dog will have to be relocated outside of the county. There was no answer Monday at the Queen's home, but a dog could be heard barking inside.
Next-door neighbor Casey Still said the dog had growled at her before.
"I've always been afraid that dog was going to do something like that," she said of the dog that she often saw running loose in the yard.
Surgeons were able to save the 7-year-old boy's eye and his ear that had nearly been torn off by the dog.
On Monday, the boy was back home with his family.
"He slept a good while this morning. He is resilient and he is doing well," said his mother.
Update January 27, 2011 - The following article is by Diane Turbyfill, Gaston Gazette:
Boy recoverying from dog attack, family wants animal put to sleep
Amy Nixon won't rest easy until the dog that nearly ripped her son's ear off is put to sleep.
"We plan to follow the proper measures and see that this dog never has the chance to hurt anyone else. That's all we can do," she said.
Nixon's sons left on their bikes Jan. 20. Not 10 minutes later her son Joshua peddled back in a panic.
Nixon expected a scraped knee or elbow. Then Joshua told her his 7-year-old brother, John Ellis, had been bitten by the neighbor's dog, Silo.
"I get chills just talking about it. All I could do is get in the truck and go down there," she said. "I ran with him to the truck, I don't know how my legs carried me."
The little blond boy was taken to the nearest hospital and later transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
But the little boy's resilience was on display Thursday. He was up and darting around the house despite the sewn-up gashes in his head and a fractured cheekbone.
John Ellis Nixon's plastic surgeon has been pleasantly surprised by his recovery. But the emotional wounds for Amy Nixon may take a little longer to heal.
Nixon and her husband, Michael Nixon, want action.
They want their child's medical bills paid for, and they want assurance that the shar-pei/pit bull mix that bit their son on the face won't ever return to the neighborhood.
Lincoln County Animal Services responded to the dog bite call at 3587 Rollingview Lane. They confiscated the dog and continue to hold onto the animal.
Pet owner Doug Queen has requested a hearing so he can get his dog back.
Queen maintains that his dog is not dangerous and that the attack was a fluke.
Silo has been impounded by Animal Services once before for biting a woman inside the house. Queen said the first and second bites were not an indication of a bad animal. The male dog is a family pet, he said.
The dog typically stayed in the house and sometimes would be let out to run in the neighborhood, said Queen.
Nixon said she and other neighbors have asked the Queens to keep the dog restrained. She thought the family kept the dog tied up when children came over.
"We are quite upset that the responsibility hasn't been taken to keep an aggressive dog at bay," she said. "We know that the Queens would never have wanted this to have happened. On the other hand they know that they have an aggressive dog."
If Queen loses his appeal, Silo will not be able to live in Lincoln County.
Nixon said Silo shouldn't be able to live at all. The animal is unpredictable and aggressive, she said.
"It is our wish that the dog be euthanized," said Nixon.
The incident happened after school when Nixon's sons and two little girls went to the Queens' house to see if one of the children wanted to come out and play.
Silo was outside and growled at one of the children, then bit John Ellis Nixon twice on the head, according to his mother.
The boy suffered a 4-inch cut on the top of his head down to the bone. He has stitches above his eyebrow and below his eye. His cheekbone under his eye socket is fractured and internal stitches were used behind his ear, his mother said.
"We are so blessed that he wasn't killed or injured worse than he was," she said. "His ear was nearly ripped off."
Nixon was thankful to all of the calls, visits and prayers the family has received in the past week. She felt strongly that prayer has helped her son in his recovery.
After the attack, John Ellis Nixon asked his mother if God wanted Silo to attack him.
"I said, 'No. God is the only reason that dog only bit you twice and backed away,'" she said.
A hearing to determine if Silo will be labeled a dangerous dog has not yet been scheduled. A date will be established that all parties can agree on.
Nixon said she wants to attend the hearing, and once the issue in her neighborhood is addressed she wants to go a step further. The Maiden woman wants to push legislation that would put restrictions on owners of dangerous dogs.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
7-year-old boy recovering after being mauled by pit bull mix
Labels: lincoln county, north carolina, pumpkin center, small child, v. man
No comments:
Post a Comment
I welcome your comments and questions.
Be advised that comments are moderated. Not for views, but for content.
Profanity, personal attacks, and spam within comments will result in your comment being rejected.
I, personally, love Pit Bulls as well as all dogs and most animals.
If your comment differs from my feelings or opinions, I will post it anyway, providing it does not include any of the three exceptions listed above.
Same goes for comments that are in harmony with my opinions.
Thank you for participating.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
I rarely say no to hand-me-downs because,
you just never know what you will get.
If they didn't want it, I can give it away just as easily,
This summer we have been so very blessed by:
a BMW pedal car
a little tykes van and car
a water pirate ship
along with
wagon, dump truck, lego table, 2 trikes and a glider
and a DOLL HOUSE!!!!
fully equipped with tons of accessories!
We are super blessed by our generous friends....
how did we get so lucky?!!!
Thanks for thinking of our kids,
they LOVE their new toys!!!


text:
|Reviews for Screaming in Silence
| Swashbucklist chapter 2 . 7/28/2010
A fairly atmospheric fanfic, although it was confusing at times. I've nothing against slash, but what bothers me hear is that it came out of nowhere.
| MsDuck chapter 3 . 10/15/2008
Beautiful really. I hope you update. :)
| StudioGothique chapter 2 . 11/20/2007
First Verg and Hayami fic ever, therefore, you are the sex D:
I love you
| Snipermander chapter 2 . 4/30/2006
Of all the stories I read on this website, this has got to be one of my favorites! Your description of Verg's feelings of loneliness and suffering are so moving! You're certainly a great storywriter. You should try and continue this story, if you can.
I was happy at least when I found stories about Verg, cause he's my absolute fav character of Blue Sub 6!
Keep up the good work (your grammer and spelling are great as well)!
| KuroKitsune-chan chapter 2 . 12/25/2005
Nice chapter!
| KuroKitsune-chan chapter 1 . 12/12/2005
You have to continue! plz!
| Swifthound chapter 1 . 10/28/2005
Ah, lovely. I love your way with words, it's a lively voice you have that makes me want to keep reading. And I want to see where the plot is going too.. will be keeping an eye on this ;)
| Angie chapter 1 . 10/21/2005
If Blue Sub 6 had continued, it would most likely would have been like this. GREAT JOB.
another chapter please!


text:
Do you commute by auto rickshaws or taxis often? If yes, Suruk is for you.
Suruk meters your rides and lets you know the correct fare so that you can find out if a meter is tampered with or not.
You can rate the ride as well as get the Suruk community rating for a particular vehicle before deciding to board that.
In short, Suruk is the app to have for any commuter of hired rides.


text:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has agreed to sign a two-year contract
However, the two years will be spent ensuring the club are better equipped for the regime change after fans' protests against the 67-year-old spelled out the probability that this contract may be his last.
Ultimately, with the Kroenke owning two-thirds of the club it was left to him to pick through the results of last season – winning the FA Cup but finishing fifth – and decide that the Frenchman was still for now the man to try to take the club forward.
In return, Wenger has had to accept some restructuring of behind-the-scenes responsibilities, although he won his battle to remain in sole control of all technical matters pertaining to the football side of things.
The strategy to fight to keep Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez at the club was also thrashed out at the board meeting, with the club ready to go as high as £300,000-a-week for each.
However, the board have steeled themselves for a summer of widespread changes in playing personnel as Wenger looks to continue the process of "reinvention" he demonstrated towards the end of the season.
Arsene Wenger must battle to keep hold of Alexis Sanchez
The contract says two years but the reality is that Arsene Wenger has really only got two months.
In that time, he must help reorganise the behind-the-scenes structure of the club, persuade his key squad members to remain, strengthen around them and in that way win over the fans.
Oh, and sign a striker.
That could just about make the atmosphere at the Emirates workable by the time the season kicks off in August and prevent another season of protest and division.
It would prove not only that Wenger genuinely is a changed man, but more importantly that he has his title-winning ambition back.
Robin Van Persie was the last striker that Arsenal have had who has been good enough to deliver a title. Unfortunately, he only proved that when he joined Manchester United in 2013.
Get Quotes on Home Insurance
It was Sir Alex Ferguson's last season and the fall from Champions League grace at Old Trafford since then is what has terrified the Arsenal board.
Arsene Wenger lifts FA Cup as Arsenal players celebrate Sat, May 27, 2017
Arsene Wenger was the centre of attention during the wild Arsenal celebrations
Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 11
Arsenal celebrate winning the FA Cup against Chelsea
Replacing such an established manager is fraught with problems, so all the time Wenger was ticking along in the top four, why take the risk? But there was a new attitude in the boardroom yesterday. The fans who wanted Wenger out may have had their wishes ignored but not, entirely, their voices.
The anger behind the protests was driven by a perceived lack of ambition – a manager, backed by a board, all too easily content.
This time, though, it was spelled out to Wenger that the club's ambitions, very firmly, are to win the league. They may not have the spending power of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, but now, at last, that is the foremost target. They are going to have a go.
The improved contribution from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil is enough to persuade the board to go as high as £30m-a-year for the pair. They are, after all, world class assets and not ones that can be afford to leave for nothing 12 months down the line.
Moreover, they fit perfectly into the 3-4-3 system Wenger finally adopted six months after Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino were busy showing how effective it can be in the Premier League.
But they need somebody in between. Specifically, somebody capable of scoring 20 goals a season. For the last eight years, everybody who has won the league, has had one.
They are expensive, mind, but that is why finally getting that central talisman is such a measure of Arsenal's real determination to compete. Get it right, and all the other transfer business of the summer falls into place behind it. In the past, though, Arsenal have tried to buy such a key piece of the jigsaw on the cheap.
In 2013, as Arsenal looked to find somebody to fill the 30-goal gap left by Van Persie's departure, Wenger dithered over paying £23m for Gonzalo Higuain. He ended up paying just £10m for Olivier Giroud. The most he has ever managed is 16 in a season. The board have made it clear they no longer want second best. That is how you end up with Lucas Perez and not Alexandre Lacazette.
Wenger is a determined man. His demeanour in the tunnel after the FA Cup final was a timely reminder of that as he prepared for his meeting this week. He truly believes he is one of the world's top managers, and on a one-to-one basis perhaps he is.
But now he has to show the same boldness in the transfer market he showed until shortly after Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and all those other revolutionary new signings of the previous century.
Robin Van Persie was the last striker that Arsenal have had who has been good enough to win a title
Overarching that, the word coming out of the Emirates yesterday was "evolution", not "revolution". Eventually, that will make easing Wenger out of the door easier than it ever looked like being this time around.
But with evolution, you still need major, landmark changes that show a process is moving in the right direction.
Recruiting a world class striker is one of those. It would pander to fans and bring greater positivity behind a more aggressive-thinking Wenger ahead of next season's Premier League assault.
In "evolutionary" terms, a marquee signing is what Wenger needs to give his next two years some legs.


text:
TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E15
Posted by The Obscured Vixen on February 16, 2012
The Vampire Diaries S3E15
All My Children
Talk about another action packed episode. And holy cliffhanger ending, Batman!
Elena tells Damon about the spell that she helped Ester cast on the original children. Elena feels guilty because she knows Elijah doesn't deserve to die. Damon tells her that she'll have to get over it because they all need Klaus dead.
Elijah stops by Elena's and asks her if she would go somewhere with him. He takes her to where he grew up over 1,000 years ago. Elijah is being all reminiscent, then suddenly turns on Elena. He accuses her of lying to him about what his mother did and demands to know the truth. Eventually, Elena tells Elijah about Ester's plan to kill all of her children.
Elijah grabs Elena and takes her into the caves he used to play in as a child. Elena can't get out, and has no signal to call for help. She's trapped.
Elijah sends Rebecca to the caves to use Elena as a hostage. Elena tries talking some sense into Rebecca, but she's just not having it. Rebecca claims that they're not girlfriends and she doesn't care what she has to say.
I LOVED when Rebecca tells Elena to shut the hell up. I didn't care for her at first, but her character is really growing on me.
Elijah blackmails Stefan and Damon to stop Ester from killing her children if they want to see Elena again. Elijah wants them to kill Bonnie and her mother so Ester cannot complete the ritual. If they are not dead by the rise of the full moon, Rebecca will kill Elena.
Stefan and Damon are trying to find another way to get Elena back without having to kill Bonnie and her mother.
Ester visits Bonnie and her mother because she needs to channel their bloodline for power to kill her children. Ester is going to harness the power of the full moon and asked Bonnie and her mother to help her for extra umph.
Alaric and Meredith are together at The Grill when Alaric gets a call from Damon. They form a plan to trap the originals, but need Meredith's help.
Kol begins to hit on Meredith while she's playing pool, and she does her best to keep him distracted. Alaric sneaks up behind Kol and stabs him with the stake and ash from the white oak tree to put him out of commission. Kol and the rest of his siblings begin to collapse… except Klaus.
Klaus finds Alaric and Damon bringing Kol's body out of The Grill and shoves them out of the way, causing Alaric to crash into the side of the building. Klaus pulls the stake out of Kol causing them all to come back to life.
When Rebecca collapses, Elena runs away through the caves. When Rebecca comes back to life, she chases after Elena. Just as Rebecca is about to catch up to Elena, Elena runs into the part of the caves where the sealed coffin is placed. Bonnie case a spell that no vampire can pass the threshold so Rebecca cannot enter.
Because Rebecca can't cross the threshold, she finds a can of gasoline and throws it all over Elena and the cave. The only choices Elena has is to stay and burn, or leave the cave.
Stefan confronts Bonnie and says that he has to kill Ester and stop the ritual. Bonnie knows that Ester is channeling her and her mother's power and she can't be stopped. Stefan warns Bonnie that Ester can only channel their power while her and her mother are still human. Damon forces his blood on Bonnie's mother then snaps her neck causing her to begin her transition into a vampire. This breaks the connection between Ester and the witches power, stopping the ritual.
Later when Damon and Stefan get home, Damon accuses Stefan of not drinking human blood anymore. He knows that Stefan is still in love with Elena and wants her back. Damon admits that he tried to win Elena's love but she just didn't want him. Damon says that he's better as the bad guy anyway.
Yes you are, Damon! Welcome back evil Damon, we've all missed you : ) I was so not a fan of evil Stefan.
While in the cave, Rebecca reads the marks on the wall and realizes that 300 years after they brunt down the original white oak tree a new one grew. They are no longer safe because there is more ash that can be created to immobilize them.
Alaric has a cracked rib and a concussion from stabbing Kol, and Meredith says she'll take care of him. They go back to her place and she patches him up. Later when he wakes up, Meredith is still asleep. Alaric goes through her things and finds police case files on Caroline's father and her ex-boyfriend, along with the murder weapon. Meredith walks in while Alaric is snooping, pulls a gun on him, and shoots him.
How can you end an episode like that?! And now we have to wait four more weeks for another episode. *sigh* I'm so hooked on this show.
Related Posts:
- TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E14
- TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E13
- TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E12
- TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E11
- TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E10
7 Responses to "TV Review: The Vampire Diaries S3E15"
February 19, 2012 at 3:13 am
this episode is incredibly amazing
February 19, 2012 at 3:16 am
do anyone have a prediction for next episode


text:
About Us
Privacy Policy
Contact Us
View Cart
Books and Media
CDs & DVDs
> Tim Story Lunz CD
Tim Story Lunz CD
Product Description
Join us for a Free Performance: Tim Story, The Roedelius Cells 7 P.M. at the GlasSalon
Maumee-based composer,producer, and performing artist Tim Story is internationally acclaimed for his electronic and acoustic music. A long-time collaborator with composer Hans-Joachim Roedelius (founder of the influential German music groups Harmonia and Cluster),Story has revisited a decade of recording sessions with Roedelius on piano, cutting apart tracks and recombining very small cells of this material into layered, evolving patterns. The resulting The Roedelius Cells transform TMA's GlasSalon into an eight-channel, multi-sensory installation. As visitors walk through the physical space, the juxtapositions of the cells' interactions evolve in unique and unrepeatable ways, inviting the listener to participate in their own unique sonic experience. The Roedelius Cells continues through Friday, March 24.
Lunz was the culmination of the 20-year friendship of composers Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Tim Story. When Lunz originally hit the record shop shelves of London in 2003, listeners only knew of the Roedelius/Story collaboration via a few concerts and the abstract musique concrete of their limited edition cd "Persistence of Memory". Lunz quickly changed that. 12 strange and beautiful miniatures, each creating a unique sense of time and place with a surreal blend of melody, texture and mood. Lunz inhabits a world all its own, of lush acoustics and angular electronics, translucent pianos and dark ambiences. It's a mysterious world where the innocent and the distressed occupy the same singular environment, coalescing perfectly. Even the familiar signposts like Roedelius' piano and the warm cello of Martha Reikow are often subtly altered to suit the extraordinary landscape. Full of nuance and detail, Story and Roedelius painted a canvas that is simultaneously minimal and maximal, warm and shadowy, familiar and disorienting. Met with near unanimous praise, Lunz garnered raves in the UK press, and was named in Amazon's Top 5 releases of the year in its category. Recorded by the artists in Austria and the U.S. over a 5-year span, Lunz reflects a striking fusion of the musical sensibilities of each composer, sensibilities honed over a combined 50 years of remarkable musicmaking. Nepenthe Music is proud to re-issue this classic with the striking bonus track "Iota", released here for the very first time.
What's New
2017 Holiday Catalog
Exhibition Banners
Posters and Custom Archival Prints
Books and Media
Jewelry & Accessories
Mobile Accessories
Home and Gift
Art Supplies
TMA Merchandise
Original Artwork
Takashi Murakami
Frank Stella
Visual Literacy
Visit The Toledo Museum of Art
Sign up for e-news and updates.
About Us
Privacy Policy
Contact Us
View Cart
Copyright © 2010 Toledo Museum of Art Store Featuring Collectors Corner


text:
Home /
Our Sources / About Us
/ FAQs /
Advanced Search
Not what you're
looking for? Try an advanced search.
Download the entire decision to receive the complete text, official citation,
docket number, dissents and concurrences, and footnotes for this case.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
November 29, 2010
THE PEOPLE, PLAINTIFF AND RESPONDENT,v.TERRANCE LOVELACE, DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT.
The opinion of the court was delivered by: Rushing, P.J.
P. v. Lovelace CA6
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
Terrance Lovelace was convicted of criminal offenses after he stole a car from an salesman during an ostensible test drive. On appeal he challenges the imposition of an enhancement for personal use of a firearm. He contends that the trial court erred by excluding expert testimony to the effect that a firearm such as was described by the victim may be indistinguishable from a "replica" weapon which is not a firearm at all. We find no error in the exclusion of the proposed testimony. We therefore affirm the judgment.
Defendant was charged in a seven-count amended information with (1) carjacking where the victim is a passenger (Pen. Code, § 215), including personal use of a firearm (id., § 12022.53, subd. (b)); (2) fleeing from a police vehicle (Veh. Code, § 2800.1, subd. (a)); (3) drunk driving (Veh. Code, § 23152, subd. (a)); (4) driving with excessive blood alcohol content (Veh. Code, § 23152, subd. (b)); (5) hit-and-run driving with property damage (Veh. Code, § 20002, subd. (a)); (6) driving with suspended license (Veh. Code, § 14601.1, subd. (a)); and (7) a second count of hit-and-run driving with property damage. It was further alleged that he had sustained a prior felony conviction resulting in imprisonment.
The only issue on this appeal concerns the carjacking charge, and more specifically, the firearm-use enhancement. The other charges arose from defendant's exploits while in possession with the stolen vehicle. We summarize the evidence only as it bore on the one charge at issue here.
On March 6, 2009, Farzad Rad was working as a salesman at a San Jose auto dealership. On that day, he testified, defendant appeared at the dealership and expressed an interest in purchasing a 2008 Dodge Charger then on the lot. Rad described defendant as unkempt, unshowered, smelling dirty, redolent of alcohol and marijuana, and seemingly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However defendant said that "he just got out of the military and received a bonus and he was going to buy the vehicle with the bonus he had received from the military." Rad was unable to verify this claim but, falling prey to his own optimism and pressure from above, agreed to a test drive.
Because defendant said he did not have his license with him, Rad said he would have to drive. They got into the car and Rad drove it to a light rail parking lot "where we demo all our vehicles," i.e., open the doors and display the vehicle's features. As Rad was doing this, defendant said a couple of times "that he already liked the vehicle and if he just got to dr[i]ve it that he was going to buy the vehicle from me that day." After defendant assured him that he was validly licensed to drive, Rad agreed. While defendant drove, he sang along with the radio. Rad had told him to take a very specific route--about a four-minute drive--back to the dealership. Defendant instead drove into an apartment complex, telling Rad that he lived there and that if Rad would wait in the car, he would get his wallet to purchase the car. He drove into a "dead end at a kind of alleyway with apartments on both sides." He asked Rad to help him move two garbage cans that were obstructing the car. Rad took the keys from the ignition and got out of the car. As he moved the cans, defendant ran to the driver's side of the car and got in. Upon realizing that there was no key in the ignition, he got out of the car and came towards Rad, appearing angry.
Rad gave conflicting accounts of ensuing events. On direct examination he testified that defendant simply "came around the vehicle and grabbed the keys from me," telling him to sit on the ground Asked if he noticed any weapons, Rad testified, "I don't think he had any, although I might have thought he did, but he didn't." He suggested that he might have confused the occasion with a robbery he had suffered two weeks earlier at a park.*fn1 He testified, "I've had time to think about it and I believe that he didn't have a weapon." He said that he had been "very scared" and "might have thought that there was something that wasn't there"--though he resisted the suggestion that he had "imagined" a gun. He also said that as defendant approached him, he closed his eyes or flinched out of fear.
Rad acknowledged telling officers that defendant had threatened him with a gun. When shown Officer Baza's handgun after the incident, he had said that defendant's appeared to be "the same type of weapon," though he believed defendant's "had duct tape on it." He did not remember reporting that defendant had "held the gun in his right hand with his index finger on the slide and his middle finger on the trigger." When Detective Mizuhara had questioned him a couple of weeks after the incident, Rad had said there was a weapon. But, he explained, Mizuhara had told him to "think about" the gun "very well because it's very important to the case."*fn2 Rad testified that "starting that day I started questioning myself on what I had seen."
After a series of sidebar conferences the prosecutor confirmed that Rad was not testifying by choice, and asked him why not. After an allusion to missing work, he said that he was "scared of seeing Mr. Lovelace" and didn't want to do so "ever again." He had received a threatening call at work, and though he thought it was probably a co-worker "play[ing] around," he was "actually scared." He and his wife had moved, and he had quit that job, "because that was the last place that that gentleman had seen me working at, and I didn't--I didn't want to have any issues with him after the event." He had also been told by Detective Mizuhara that defendant was a gang member. Rad said he was afraid of gang members. He did not "like testifying against gang members whatsoever."*fn3
Continuing his narrative on direct examination, Rad said that after defendant took the keys he told Rad to sit on the ground, got in the car, rolled down all the windows, turned on the music, and drove away. Rad went into the middle of the street and hailed passing drivers until one of them called 911. An officer approached in his car, and Rad made his first report to police.
Officer Baza testified that he took Rad's initial statement. Rad appeared "nervous," "[v]isibly scared," and was shaking. He reported that the person who took the vehicle had a weapon.*fn4 He described it as a black semiautomatic and a Glock-type firearm.*fn5 He said it looked like Baza's sidearm, a Glock 19, which is a nine millimeter semiautomatic. Rad mentioned silver duct tape on the handle. He said that the person held the gun in his right hand with his index finger on the slide and his middle finger ...
Our website includes the first part of the main text of the court's opinion.
To read the entire case, you must purchase the decision for download. With purchase,
you also receive any available docket numbers, case citations or footnotes, dissents
and concurrences that accompany the decision.
Docket numbers and/or citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a
legal proceeding. Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision. If the document contains a simple affirmation or denial without discussion,
there may not be additional text.
Download the entire decision to receive the complete text, official citation,
docket number, dissents and concurrences, and footnotes for this case.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
LRC, Inc. About Us


text:
Wolverine: Rot (Premiere Edition Hardcover)
No reviews yet. Be the first to review this. | See similar products
Dr. Rot is back!
- More Below…
Product Description
- Artists
- Jason Latour
- Rafael Albuquerque
- Paul Pelletier
- Authors
- Ivan Brandon
- Cullen Bunn
- Binding
- hardback
- Cat No.
- 2654669
- 9780785161455
- Previews
- Previews july 2012
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Series
- X-Men
- Marvel
- Type
- Graphic Novels
- Universe
- Marvel
Dr. Rot is back!
Discover the secret behind Rot's twisted family and what Wolverine's connection is. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Wells is circling closer to the truth behind the brutal murders he's investigating. And Wolverine is his lead suspect! It's Wolverine vs Dr. Rot for control of Wolverine's brain, but can Wolverine destroy the last vestiges of Weapon X's programming? Plus: An untold tale of Wolverine as he takes former X-Force member Elixir under his wing. After M-Day, not all depowered mutants found their way in the world, and one of them comes back for Logan!
Collecting Wolverine (1988) #305-309.
Customer Reviews
There aren't any reviews published for this product yet, why not be the first to write one?Write your own review.


text:
Toolbar Icons
Business Icons
Business Icon Set
Toolbar Icon Set
People Icons
Database Icon
Network Icon
Icon Editor
Free Icon Editor
Toolbar Icons
Icon Software
Icon Creator
Download Web Icons
Website Icons
View Icon Set
Hardware Icon Library
PDA V2 Icon
PDA V2 Icon
Add PDA V2 icon to cart
Purchase PDA V2 icon for $1.00 now!
Image sizes: 256x256, 128x128, 48x48, 32x32, 24x24, 16x16
File formats: BMP, GIF, PNG, ICO
Purchase entire Hardware Icon Library now!
View Hardware Icon Library now!
Download demo icons
Tags: cartoon icon pack, folder icon in os x, leeda icon 40, funny computer icons, hide windows update icon
Their stock of energy finished to a maximum by donations of others
The ships, would suffice approximately for a year if not to take into consideration
Possible full-scale battle, air and the water, reproduced in Tanks with marine seaweed, would suffice on all life. Seaweed Supplied a food reserve if their usual would come to an end Concentrates.
Only presence of the third person created some real
Inconvenience. As has noticed Bigmen, "Meteor" has been created for a two. It
Unusual concentration of energy, speed and arms became possible In many respects thanks to the thought over economy of its premises.
Therefore the third had to sleep on a quilt in a cabin of pilots.
it has noticed that some inconvenience was compensated Advantage. Now it was possible to establish four-hour watches at Control panel instead of usual six-sentries.
On what Bigmen has hotly objected:
- Certainly, but, when I try to fall asleep on this devil's blanket, and at
Devices blockhead Vess, it does so that all alarm lamps shine to me Directly in the person.
- I check different emergency signals to be convinced in them Serviceability. Such is an order, - Vess has easy answered.
- And, - continued Bigmen, - it all time whistles. Listen, Lakki,
If it once again issues me a refrain from "My lovely Aphrodite" - though once again,
- I will rise and I will break off to it hands and then I will hammer its these stumps to death.
It will be compelled to punish you it will fill in with blood all it a cabin, -
Has very seriously warned Lakki.
it has kept silent, but next time during watch at devices,
It, being directed to an armchair of the pilot, has managed to attack a hand brush
- About it! - the Martian has exclaimed, upraising hands upwards and rotating
Eyes in reply to a furious cry of Vessa. - And I also have thought that this such,
Under my heavy Martian boots? About, my Vess, really it were Your small fingers?
- Now it is better to you not to sleep at all! - cried out Vess from a pain. - if you
Icon Sets
Download Icons
Copyright © 2006-2017 Aha-Soft. All rights reserved.
Individual Ready Icons
You can buy individual icons to suit your needs. Each icon is $1 when purchased individually.
Icon Usage Agreement
Large Weather Icons
depict different weather conditions typical in software, weather portals, and mobile gadgets. The icons arprovided in all resolutions standard to Windows, Mac OS, and mobile platforms. The largest versions are huge 512x512 pixel icons with vector sources in Adobe Illustrator (.ai) format easily affordable and ready to be printed or used in presentations in highest resolution.
More info
Speed up creation of e-romance Web sites and software with ready-made Delicious Love Icon Set. The library contains over sixty love icons and pffers many symbols and objects common to Web sites dedicated to human relationships.
More info
Icons for medicine and chemistry: ambulance car, snake cup, pill, tablet, tooth, phial, syringe, test-tube, skull, bones, molecules and others.
More info
Transport Icon Set
. A collection of colorful and distinctive icons depicting all transport types for the transport and tourist industries.
More info
Security Software Icons
is a library of professionally-crafted stock icons for use in commercial and personal products, such as software applications, websites and presentations. The icons have a bright color palette, smooth and well-rounded edges.
More info


text:
Contact me today for more information about this home or to schedule an appointment. I can also provide information about other homes for sale in this neighborhood and surrounding areas. If you're just starting your search, we can schedule a no-obligation buyer's consultation to answer questions and help you determine the right budget for your new home.
I can also provide a complimentary Comparative Market Analysis if you're considering selling your home or you can get an Instant Report with computer estimates at http://bhhsne.findbuyers.com/robertrosa
Have a great evening and be safe out there! No more Storm Chris!


text:
Thursday, July 31, 2014
An astute observation
In Eric's truck there is an actual outlet to plug things in (I know, where were all these great gadgets when we were young? Remember pushing in the cigarette lighter and then watching it glow? That was our highlight of being in a vehicle.) Anyway, we were all riding in the truck the other day and Joey happened to be sitting up front between me and Eric. He was looking at (pushing) every button on the dash. Then he stops, looks at something for a few quiet seconds, and asks me, dead serious, "Mom, is he sad?" To what was he referring?......poor sad Mr. Outlet.
Posted by The Swensons at 3:38 PM 1 comment:
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Into the Wild
It has certainly been a jam-packed summer so why stop now? Our next adventure was to head out to Yellowstone. We took this trip 2 years ago and the kids (well, Ty and Jake) have been dying to go back. So for our big family trip we did indeed go back. On our way up we stopped at Jackson Hole and walked a bit downtown and had lunch. The kids even met Albert Einstein!Of course we had to stop at the antler arches. Tyler is trying to convince me to let him build one in his room. Uhhhh, right. They were pretty cool though....for Jackson. Eric was a champ driving the truck hauling his dad's HUGE trailer house through the "quaint" streets of downtown. "Quaint streets" and "trailer house rig" are two phrases that don't go together well. But Eric was awesome. If I had been driving...well, that's a different story.
Our first stop that day was Fishing Bridge, suitable since that's where we were camped. Look at all the fish! Actually the entire trip we saw NO fish at FISHING BRIDGE! A few small little guppy fish is all. Maybe they should change the name?
Out trip was a blast. The boys want to go back next year! Who knows, maybe we will!
Posted by The Swensons at 11:43 AM 1 comment:
Monday, July 21, 2014
Girl's Trip!
Last year, Maggie and I decided to take a girl's trip up to Seattle to visit my sister Carrie and her family. We had so much fun we decided to do it again this year. We flew up there a few weeks ago--Maggie certainly felt special taking a trip with mom, leaving those silly boys at home. She loved every minute, starting with the airport--moving sidewalk awesomeness. We made it there despite a bumpy ride on the flight and began our few days of fun. Maggie got to see two of her cousins--ones she could play with an boss around! Boy did she love that. Seattle is a great city--beautiful weather while I was there and tons of great food. We went out to eat a lot...a LOT...but that's what vacations are for!
We also went out to Snoqualmie Falls and did a short hike to see the waterfall up close. The hike was like a cool nature walk. The girls had fun trying berries and playing on trees.
Posted by The Swensons at 6:22 PM 1 comment:
Monday, July 7, 2014
Busy Busy Busy Summer!
I don't know WHAT has happened, some kind of time warp, because summer is half over! Whaaaaa???? I remember when I was young that "old" people would always talk about how time moves so fast. I never agreed--waiting for a trip to Tahoe or wherever seemed like it took F.O.R.E.V.E.R!!! Minutes were like hours, days were like weeks. Well, I guess I must really be old now, because for sure time is passing more quickly. No way is Tyler almost 11???? He's practically moving out of the house. So the gaps in my blog are not due to my negligence, it is just due to some cosmic forces making the earth rotate faster, passing time more quickly. It cannot be that I am getting older.
Father's Day was great, we made dad a fun picture.
A few days ago Jacob got BAPTIZED!!!! Hooray! It was such a special day. He was a little nervous, which was so cute.
Summer has been moving along in between all our many activities...lemonade stands for one!
Father's Day was great, we made dad a fun picture.
A few days ago Jacob got BAPTIZED!!!! Hooray! It was such a special day. He was a little nervous, which was so cute.
Summer has been moving along in between all our many activities...lemonade stands for one!
Posted by The Swensons at 8:25 AM 1 comment:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
PARK 51 Debate
Barbara Cervone from What Kids Can Doshares this "In The News" curriculum resource: Tanenbaum's Religion and Diversity Education program specializes in multi-cultural/coexistence education that includes religion as a component of identity to be recognized and respected. Tanenbaum tackled the divisive mosque debate by creating resources for educators to help turn the Park51 controversy into a lesson in coexistence. Included with this Curriculum Guide are balanced materials and resources to address this contentious conflict. Click the link below to download your free copy.
To learn more about the Tanenbaum organization, click the link below.


text:
7 Weird Things Meme
My bloggy friend, MP, picked me to do a fun little meme called "7 weird things about me". I'm all for this one because I really do think I'm a bit odd and also because I think people are attracted to me for this uncommonness :c) (Has to be the answer with my husband!)
I got my inspiration for these 7 weird things by looking at what pictures I had recently taken on my camera. So they may be really weird, they may not be weird at all. But these pictures are the weirdest I had that would help me tell something about myself (not that photos are part of this meme's requirement, but I'm using photos to make it more interesting).
So here it is, My 7 Weird Things About Me Meme.
I might be weird because for New Year's Eve we weren't going to do anything in celebration but lounge around at home, but hubby said, "why don't we go out for dinner?", so we all piled into the car and drove to a Mexican restaurant. That's how we spent our New Year's Eve, eating chips and salsa, and it was a blast.
Okay, so you all know about how my friend, Erin, has introduced me to the greatest thing Canada ever made, ketchup chips, right?! Well, she knows how much I love them and so she sent me even MORE for Christmas this year. I know my love of ketchup chips is really weird, but I also think taking pictures of my ketchup chips is probably even weirder.
I think I may be weird because I have always let my son play around with my point-n-shoot camera, absolutely risking it's lifespan. But I'd rather chance it than missing the opportunity for him to experiment and shoot pictures from his viewpoint. He's been doing this since he was 2. Here's one he just recently shot of himself.
I think I might be weird because even though I am deathly scared of heights, I leaned out to take this picture at the top of the John Hancock building because I knew it was a good shot! I'll risk just about anything for a good picture!
Other people probably find it weird when they are sitting next to me at Starbucks and I pull out my camera to take pictures of things and myself -- like these!
Last week my mom brought me over my school letter jacket because she doesn't want it anymore. I was going to cut my letter off of it and then pitch the jacket, but something held me back. Probably the attachment I have to things. But it's in perfect condition and, well, it was my letter jacket! But what will I ever do with it?! Yep, I'm really weird because I cannot for the life of me part with such an ugly thing. I have the I-Can't-Part-With-Anything syndrome. But at least I know I have this syndrome and don't deny it!
And finally, I am probably really weird because it really really bothers me that both my husband and my son can curl their tongues but I cannot. They tend to rub it in all the time, just like what they're doing here. Yeah, little stupid piddly things such as this, really bother me. :c)
And this is TOTALLY off-topic, but while writing this, guess what was delivered?!? A man just showed up on my doorstep with Neil's luggage!!! Alexis was right -- they DID have it and they DID deliver it to me themselves! I can't wait to see what he has for the kids, but I'll let him dive into that. Neil will be so so happy!
Ok, so now I tag Alexis, Michelle, Erin, Amy, Missy, and Jen @ One Mom's World.


text:
MLB Rumors: Jerry Hairston Draws Interest from Yanks as Team May Bring Him BackDecember 14, 2010
Via Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger:
"Meanwhile, one person with knowledge of the situation said the Yankees have expressed interest in bringing back a member of the 2009 World Series team, Jerry Hairston Jr."
Hairston, 34, earned $2.125 million in 2010 and $2 million in 2009, so there isn't much of a reason to expect that he'll get a big raise next year.
He hit .244 with a .652 OPS in the pitching-friendly ballpark in San Diego last season, and in 2009 he hit .251 with a .710 OPS.
Typically that isn't much to get excited about, but Hairston is a strong defender who can play literally every position except catcher and first base.
By signing Hairston the Yankees would gain flexibility in putting together the rest of their roster. They could use him as a backup infielder, making Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena expendable, or they could keep them around and use Hairston as a backup outfielder.
Related Stories
- February 27, 2010 -- Former Yankees in Pictures
- January 18, 2010 -- Yankees Made No Offer to Hairston
- January 17, 2010 -- No More Debate, Jerry Hairston "Closing In On" Deal with Padres
- January 17, 2010 -- The Case For Pena To Replace Hairston


text:
The theme of this week was productivity! Data collected, data marked, data analyzed. I cannot wait to tell you more on Tuesday of next week. I also had some great Zumba classes and today is 2 full Pilates classes! That's right kids, no pushups, no running stairs, no plank marathons! Just some amazing pilates moves that will kick your butt.
Here's some exciting moments this week:
1. Bought the Lululemon wunder under crop in bordeaux. They are beautiful, what a great purchase. I think I am now obsessed with these crops in color (rather than the 3 black pairs I have) and want more, sorry B! 2. Watching the Rider game from the south again. I was multitasking while reading and studying. 3. We made an amazing lettuce-free taco salad this week. It had shredded carrots, green onion, beans, pork, homemade guacamole, salsa, cheese and flax chips. Yum! 4. Stats reading is so much better when accompanied by great leftovers.
This weekend: grocery shopping, cooking, data analysis, reading, and work. The weather is supposed to be beautiful so hopefully a walk to our local coffee shop will happen too!
See you Monday!


text:
[Marlene Targ Brill is a Chicago based writer with a distinguished list of children's books to her credit. Her most recent publication celebrates Annie Shapiro, who began that uprising 100 years ago, just 6 months before the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. The following interview, conducted by Joan Brunwasser in Op-Ed News, explores Chicago as the center of the men's clothing industry and how that related to organizing the entire industry. She came to write the book from a suggestion by her sister-in-law. as she reports in the interview,
As an author, I've often had people come to me with ideas they think I should write about. I usually tell them to write the story themselves. But when my sister-in-law told me about her aunt and the strike she led when a 17-year-old Russian immigrant to Chicago, I thought I would include her story in lists of topics for editors who I knew. For years, no one was interested. In fact, I was so sure no one would become interested, I threw away the articles my sister-in-law had sent to me about her aunt, Hannah (Annie) Shapiro.
Then, I got the magic email that authors love to read.
Conducted after the recent events in Wisconsin brought workers' rights to the fore once again, the interview and the book itself have great relevance today. The entire interview may be read by clicking this link.]
Marlene Targ Brill on "Anne Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike"
My guest today is Chicago-based author, Marlene Targ Brill. Welcome to OpEdNews, Marlene. You have a new book out. Can you tell our readers about it?
photo credit: Richard B. Brill
Thank you for permitting me to talk about my latest book, Annie Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike. This true picture book story discusses the role Hannah (Annie) Shapiro and other Chicago immigrants played in the 20th-century labor movement. The book tells how 17-year-old Annie rebelled against 10-hour workdays, bullying bosses and cuts in already-low wages. She walked out of a Hart, Schaffner & Marx Chicago sweatshop in 1910 and urged others to join her. Because of her brave stand, 40,000 other workers walked out, closing down the men's textile industry in Chicago and Milwaukee. The strike triggered formation of a giant national union now called Workers United and resulted in employees nationwide receiving better treatment and wages.
There was so much going against Annie. She was a young person, an immigrant, who spoke broken English and was embarrassed about it. She was not well-educated; she was 12 when she had dropped out of school to go to work because her mother got sick. And her large family depended on her earnings to get by. Yet she risked everything by not accepting terrible work conditions and being willing to do something about it. Success didn't come easy. Tell our readers what happened when she and the other girls who were her fellow workers approached the United Garment Workers Union for support.
The UGWU was male-only, and after all, this was 1910. At first, the men didn't take the women seriously. So Annie and the twelve original women who followed her out of Shop 5, where they worked, asked the Women's League for assistance. The League was a group of wealthy women who helped families who came to Hull House, Chicago's settlement house founded by Jane Addams, for assistance. League women gladly picketed with the strikers and raised funds to help families in distress from the strike. After a couple thousand workers joined the protest, the UGWU decided the girls not only raised a serious issue but one supported by workers throughout the men's textile industry in Chicago. [The interview continues here.]
[Brill refers in her interview to Workers United, the union that is descended from the original garment workers unions of the early part of the 20th century. Workers United annually conducts a commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York, as they have this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that tragedy. This past September, Marlene Targ Brill spoke at the Workers United convention. On Thursday, April 7, Noel Beasley will represent Workers United at the Chicago commemoration of the Triangle Fire. For more information about that event click here.
To learn more about Annie or Marlene Targ Brill's other titles, go to www.marlenetargbrill.com or contact Lerner Publishing at www.lernerbooks.com.]


text:
While it is tempting to dismiss this letter as a loony bit of correspondance , THIS combined with the admission of the Speaker of the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) HERE as highlighted HERE suggests quite strongly that the message Iran is sending the U.S. and the world is that it is ready, willing and even eager to go to war.
Given the theocratic nature of that government, it cannot be assumed they will take decisions in a utilitarian manner.
And so the analysis suggests they might even be willing to start off the proceedings. I'm not sure about that but it cannot be ruled out.
If you are an investor and have not yet taken positions in gold, silver or oil this might be the time to do it.
UPDATE : Bush Letter to Ahmadinejad
Friday, May 12, 2006
Ahmadinejad Letter Deciphered
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
What does anyone with hand pain from RA do to ease the pain? I can tolerate pain. I've lived with it for years. But my hands hurt so bad I can't do all the things I want.
Most of the pain is on the inside of my wrists, both hands, all down my thumb. Also the joints on almost all my fingers.Should I use heat? Would ice packs be better? Does anyone know of a topical cream that might help?
I started taking MTX recently, but relief from that hasn't kicked in yet. I also take 1000mg of Naproxen a day (I know, not a good combination, but I'm working on changing that).
Any "non-prescription" suggestion would be appreciated!


text:
Cinnamon Raisin Bread
2 cups almond flour
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. sea salt
5 eggs
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tsps. vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use parchment paper
to line a bread pan.
2. In a mixing bowl mix together the almond flour,
baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
3. Combine eggs, honey, melted coconut oil and
vanilla using an electric mixer. Slowly add dry ingredients
to the wet, and continue mixing. Stir in the raisins
when the mixture is ready for baking.
4. Pour batter into lined bread pan. Bread should be
done in 30-35 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean.


text:
Regular price: $24.18
I have finished the first book earlier and this sequel just now. It was narrated by the same great French narrators. Both did an outstanding acting together.
The story continues from where it was left in the first volume and goes on from autumn 1942 all the way through New Year's Day of 1944. The war is over soon. One year and a half left!
As a historian fanatic, I am greatly satisfied by this audiobook presentation of Regine Deforges's chef d'oeuvre which had captivated me when I was a teenager.
I am getting the third and final book now.
For French speakers, I strongly suggest this audiobook trilogy. The narrative performances are astounding.
Comment personne ne pouvait aucun apprendre a chaque retour de cette histoire ne soit vraie.


text:
Today is six months since the snap.
How far have I come? Well I am typing this in Dublin. But really I'm not about to channel Oprah, so to steal from Fat Boy Slim…
You've come a long way baby
Today is six months since the snap.
How far have I come? Well I am typing this in Dublin. But really I'm not about to channel Oprah, so to steal from Fat Boy Slim…
You've come a long way baby
This week saw my last visit to the Dr. Its been three months since I removed the boot, so to mark the occasion I headed back to the hospital to see my very lovely Dr for what I hoped was my last appointment.
On my journey over I thought if I was discharged would a thank you hug be too much? Is it allowed on the NHS? He is a lovely and he did fix my stupid leg, a hug isn't too much is it, I thought? A handshake too formal and a simple 'thank you' not enough, its quite a quandary. I arrived to find my Dr was sunning himself on a beach somewhere rather than locked in a stuffy airless room ready to prod my leg and impart some words of wisdom. Hugging the Registrar would mean a quick call to Psyche so that decision was made for me. Perhaps a card and box of Roses?
Anyway back to the reason for my visit. After a quick look at the leg I was discharged. Just like that. Done. Finished. Nothing else to say, in the eyes of the medical community, my leg is fixed.
Physio will still continue for a couple of months, I'm a few weeks away from starting running. But apart from that I am healed.
For the first time in my life I am continuing to receive good reports. Yesterday was my six week post op review appointment. There's lots going on…
I'm now down to one wedge
I don't need to see the Dr again for another 4-6 weeks
Physio starts Monday
I've been given the okay for delicate range of movement in the foot
I'm still on two crutches until the physio says otherwise. Did try one step but even writing this makes me feel nauseous again
The boot will continue to be part of my wardrobe for another 4 weeks or so
I'm really happy. My Dr is really happy. We're all really happy. I hope you reader are happy.
Its raining here which is trying to scupper all my hard work – wet surfaces and crutches make for slips, skids and sore legs. If this was a Hollywood movie my post Dr visit slip would have ended with me flat on my face and a tense hospital visit to see if I had undone all my hard work. It was in fact a mini slip which whilst shocking was a good reminder that I am not a crutch wielding superhero and should be careful.
My reward is to go shopping. I've been on a shopping diet lately, so I am so excited I feel like a 7 year old off to a birthday party. I know all I will want to buy is shoes, however I am focussing my mind (see previous post for this in action) on items which are not dependent on me, a) queuing for a changing room or b) needing to remove the boot to try on.
There are lots of psychologies…breakups, make-ups, breakdowns. We read and talk about them everyday. So and so split up, why because he/she cheated. Simple? No because behind it there's some if not a lot of psychology.
I've started to think about the psychology of a rupture. In very black and white terms when you get injured a great deal of your focus shifts to healing. In my case fixing the tendon, putting it back together but there is also your confidence you need to rebuild, a universe to continue exploring and the journey to begin to understand your body again, what can it actually do? Today, tomorrow, next week. Its a constant dialogue and you don't always like what its got to say.
People say 'listen to your body', well mine is giving off two signals, pain and no pain, which I am now fluent in. But the underlying confidence to know that I can do something is missing. Its a massive gaping confusing hole. I now look to my Dr to translate whats in this hole for me. 'You're doing well' is all you long to hear.
A couple of months ago I could leave my flat, for love affairs, career struggles, meet new people and experience everything this great city has to offer. In fact, passport in hand my universe was wherever I wanted to go. Now my universe has shrunk a little and consists of about 100 metre radius of my flat.
I wonder what people with ruptures did before the internet? My life is now 80% digital and 20% real. My conversations still happen in real time but through Skype, social networks and tweets. I work in digital and I have embraced more about the internet and social media and its ability to enable my new lifestyle than what I used to do to feed my professional appetite.
The internet won't help me heal but it keeps me connected to a world that I can't participate in as fully as I would like. Observing is fine for a while.
There's a lot going on here. I've never been injured before. the last time i was in hospital I had my wisdom teeth out. So these thoughts are jumbled and slightly incoherent but hopefully it gives you an idea of what's going on behind the aircast. I am certain that one day in the coming weeks I will leave my flat again wearing two shoes, skipping down the front steps on my way to the tube and the thought of my ruptured tendon won't ever figure. The psychology may take a bit longer.
Four week post op report was good. Off to Highgate to see my lovely but schooled in 'Tough Love' Dr.
I have taken to necking ibuprofen before my appointments and today I was glad I did. The Dr is really pleased with how I am healing. In fact so pleased that he insisted on manipulating the tendon to show it moving my foot, quite like a gleeful puppeteer. School of Tough Love in action. I was rather green faced puppet – however pleased the report its not really what I wanted to see on a Friday afternoon.
We tried to take out two wedges (from four) but the tendon started to stretch and hurt so we opted to remove just one. Why isn't there a half wedge?
Next appointment is in two weeks time and we're aiming for that to be a two wedge removal consultation and to start physio.
Post appointment I treated myself to a coffee and watched the world go by. I have felt quite vulnerable when I've been out by myself but I'm starting to build up confidence on my crutches and managed a rather speedy hop back to the car.
Today was indeed a good day.
I am off the to see the Dr today. Tomorrow is four weeks since my op and its been the longest and shortest month. Basically an oxymoron of a month.
As you can see in the picture, my leg has shrunk further and as you might be able to see I think I might be getting a sore from my aircast.
Just the day to day sexy stuff of a rupture.
I am not looking forward to the Drs. I am pretty positive in most situations but have decided to go with a worse case scenario with today's consultation. I haven't done anything to warrant it, but if I think this then anything else is fine.
That's what I did today. I went for a walk.
Ma A decided that I was going to become agoraphobic if I stayed indoors any longer and that fresh air, sunshine and the sound of squealing children was what I needed. I agreed to the former two and a disagreed to the latter one, but as a romp round Oxford St is out of the question I acquiesced and got myself suitably attired for Gunnersbury Park.
This is my first trip out since the boot was fitted. I spent yesterday getting to grips with it and reminding myself to walk lightly on it, whilst trying not to remember the horror stories of people who had re-ruptured whilst recovering. Why I read things I shouldn't, I'll never know.
It was slow going, but glorious to be outside. I managed about 100 metres before a sit down was in order. A number of children stopped and pointed, asking their parents 'why the lady had the funny boot on' I hoped that they would say I was some futuristic police office, that's what I would have told them. But unfortunately no.
It was easier on my booted leg than I thought. I can put partial weight on it, I have no idea what 'partial' is so I am just lightly walking and stopping the pressure when it starts to hurt. Its my left leg that pains me currently. I like to think my leg has sympathy pains. In all probability its painful from under use the last couple of weeks and now having to do the job of both legs. Poor left leg.
My crutches are also starting to hurt my hands which slows me down. My hands weren't made for crutches, but until I am fully up we've made a deal that that's their job.
Its back to the inbox tomorrow, but from home for two weeks, then I am back in the office, so a daily jaunt out round the mini park by my flat will help build up the muscles ready for the Piccadilly line.


text:
The journey of providing foster care is dotted with "a-ha" moments along the way. Over time, we pick up new information and strategies, process challenges through new lenses, and receive relevant suggestions from others in our expanding network of those who have journeyed before us. It often seems like our lives, and ultimately the lives of the children in our care, could have eased "if only we had known this sooner," or "had that tool in our back pockets from the beginning." Karri Bartlett and her husband, Nate Toth, have been providing foster care in Dane County for about two-and-a-half years, learning and collecting tools over time. Karri shared some of her wisdom in hopes that it can provide an "a-ha" for others who may be in the midst of what can sometimes feel like an uphill climb.
As it turns out, Karri and Nate's most valuable "tools" are not literal things. They come in the form of ideas, education, perspective shifts, emotional supports, and deeper understanding. Unfortunately, there isn't a "life app" that we can just tap up on our smart phones to make everything work the way we want it to. But our figurative tools tend to open up new possibilities in how effectively we parent and how we can best support the wellbeing and long-term success of the children in our care.
Karri describes her and Nate's motivation as foster parents simply as, "doing our part to make sure that these kids are productive members of society." She goes on to explain that, to her, that means that the children in their care grow with stability, love, and other key fundamentals while being able to heal from any wounds they may carry. Some important tools in the Bartlett-Toth household include:
- Initiating necessary services for the children in order to set them and their families up for success
- Establishing trusting co-parenting relationships
- Balancing structure and routine for the children with immense flexibility on the part of Karri and Nate as parents
- Seeking support and respite, knowing that a healthy caregiver is better able to offer of themselves
- Soaking up as much education and information as possible about the needs of the children in your care
Karri makes sure to promptly align services (medical, dental, therapy, educational – anything to support the child's physical and emotional needs) for the kids in their
care. She says, "Whether they're with us for a few weeks or a year, I feel like it's our job to help them get the best that they can get during that time." Karri recognizes that these services are tools for facilitating success for these children, which is at the core of her intention as a foster parent.
Advocating as a foster parent for quality and relevant services is important, too. Karri encourages other foster parents to communicate consistently with a child's therapist, for example, and work with the feedback given for continuity for the child. When looking into daycare providers, she recommends asking questions about whether they take short-term placements, whether they have experience with children in foster care, and how they perceive and respond to behavioral challenges. "Do they have experience and education related to childhood trauma?" Karri notes that programs like Head Start have many additional supports, such as social workers on site, connections with a wealth of resources, and experience working with visit schedules, co-parenting boundaries, and more. In Karri and Nate's experience, Birth to Three services have provided fantastic support. "They were able to identify what the kids were getting from the behavior and how to channel it into a positive behavior. They've been a great resource."
Through Karri's work, her life experiences, and her education, she has had the privilege of gaining an understanding of many complex factors that might effect a biological parent's struggle. This understanding helps her to work with the parents of the children she and Nate care for, and build relationships with them. For example, her understanding of, "how addiction works, how that plays out in behaviors, and that it's an illness," allows Karri to partner with the parent and support the best outcomes for the child in her care. She points out that, "in most of these families, they have trauma of their own, and if nothing else, they have the trauma of this child being taken away." She acknowledges that, usually, there are other major factors at play. "A lot of times, the parent you'll be working with will be the victim of numerous issues themselves, such as poverty or trauma." Karri says that her understanding of the impact of poverty, as well as equity issues, for example, helps to make it easier for her to work with families. She says it is important to acknowledge that most of these parents are doing the best that they can and deserve the benefit of the doubt, even though they are not parenting the way you would want them to parent, perhaps. "But they're showing up, they're trying, they're doing the best that they can with very little support. All of the treatments, the supports, the court costs, the lawyers – they're not always set up for success, so I give parents credit that they're trying to undo lifelong trauma that they've endured, as well as lifelong poverty and the effects of that."
Karri points out that mental health is an issue. Even while receiving training to become a foster parent, she recalls hearing things like, "What's wrong with them?" or, "How could they do that?"
"There are extreme cases, but most of these families are doing what they know, doing what they've learned, doing what's normal in their social group, and they don't know other ways of parenting." As a foster parent, she feels it is imperative to acknowledge that, "we all come from different life experiences."
Karri and Nate work hard to maintain a positive relationship with biological families, while setting healthy boundaries. Karri sees this as a benefit to the children, "so when they do go home, we can still stay in touch and stay a part of their lives."
Karri says that "even if it's very challenging to work with the parent, you have to [do it] for the best interest of the kids." If you have an ongoing relationship with the family after the child is reunited, you can continue to encourage the parent to follow through with the services and supports the child needs, and be an ongoing cheerleader for their success.
There are many ways to foster this positive relationship from the get-go and beyond. Karri hesitates to invite biological parents to their home for the initial meeting, but over time, she tends to first invite them over along with the social worker and gradually open up from there, depending on the case. She suggests showing the parent the child's room if they visit your home and giving them a snapshot of what their child's life looks like during this time. Karri also suggests that, if you're planning a visit to the zoo or the pumpkin patch, invite the parent to join you. Particularly around holidays, Karri values being inclusive of the parent for everyone's benefit. "Invite them to trick-or-treat together." She stresses the importance of doing all this while being mindful of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.
Flexibility vs. Structure
One of the challenges of parenting children with special emotional needs is providing the structure and routine they benefit from while maintaining flexibility. "We can take a new placement with an hour's notice and they can also leave within an hour's notice. So there has can be a lot of change, requiring a foster parent to be very flexible."
Karri reminds us that kids come with an emotional suitcase and it's a foster parent's role to help them unpack it. While other families may be able to stray from routine at times, Karri has found that that hasn't worked well with the children she and Nate have cared for. "Our kids have to go to bed at 7:30 or they won't function at all if their routine is off." She suggests communicating clear expectations, having a consistent schedule, and a lot of foreshadowing, to help children adjust to a routine and any changes.
Self-Care for Parents
Self-care is an area that Karri looks back on with hindsight and wishes she and Nate put more attention to from the beginning. One thing she would have done back then was to have used respite support. She explained that they had the mentality that the children wouldn't be with them forever, so they didn't need date nights or time away; but now she realizes that that time away really is crucial. Parenting is a challenging venture and, in Karri and Nate's case, because of a high level of needs of the children in their care, they were rarely with the kids without the other adult. "It's hard on your relationship," Karri says. "It's tricky because you don't want to leave them with a stranger but we need to [take breaks] more often for ourselves and for our marriage."
Karri adds that, as a mother, she feels like it's harder for her to take a step back and let things go for her own wellbeing. "I think, if I'm not there, it's going to be harder for me in the end. I do think it's hard for women to step away from the family. We feel like we just 'do it right' or 'do it better' sometimes, and it's okay to walk away and do something for you and it all works out. The house may not be as picked up as I want it to be, but everyone is happy, fed, loved, and in bed. So I put that into perspective.
"Whatever it looks like for you, you have to take care of your own mental and emotional wellbeing. It may be exercise, being outside, a pedicure, a massage – anything that's for you."
Another way for a foster parent to care for themselves is by seeking the shared experience and support of other foster parents. "When I first started, I looked at a Facebook support group a lot. I read people's stories and situations. You find parents asking things like, 'Is this normal?' and others responding with reassurance and suggestions for what to do." If online social networking isn't your forte, you can ask your social worker if there are any parents in your area that you can talk with as resources.
Karri has experienced a feeling of empowerment and a better ability to advocate for the children in her care if she takes the time to educate herself on the challenges the kids in her care face. "There's so much that you can read and learn about. Just expose yourself to as much of that info as you can." She suggests googling mental health diagnoses, such as Reactive Attachment Disorder. "We've seen attachment issues in almost all of the kids we've cared for. It's important to understand what it looks like. You might think, 'The baby never cries. It's so nice.' But that's not a good thing." If you understand that, you can communicate concerning behavior to therapists, teachers, and case workers. "Your social worker is also helpful." The case worker can provide assurance, resources and background experience to help you better understand the needs of the children in your care.
This is just a beginning to the tools you can arm yourself with as you navigate caring for children as a foster parent. Challenge yourself to reach out – to the Coalition, to a support group near you, to your social worker – for more ideas and perspectives. Browse the tip sheets on our website or check out a book from our online lending library to stock up on information and insights. We wish you well as you take each step forward in this journey. We're here as a resource along the way.
A special thank you to Karri Bartlett for sharing her thoughtful contributions for this issue of our newsletter.