etcetera

a little of everything

X-Rated: Not for the faint of heart

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2-week old baby

Not too long ago I read an article on the arrest of a child porn ring… and have been sick to my stomach every time it crosses my mind.  Which is often.

Can anyone explain to me why a man would do such things?  To such small children?  One as young as 19 days.  Yes, you read that correctly: 19 days old.

Operation Bulldog hunted these men down.  And found one of the ringleaders next door… in Bloomington, Indiana.  He has received 315 years in prison.  These are cases the death penalty could be given.  It’s all on tape.  The evidence is there for all to see; no guessing.  They murder the minds and souls of these children, turning them into sociopaths and molesters and murderers.

Beth Thomas was one such child.  Click on her name, and you will be taken to an informative blog with the videos of her treatment and the outcome of that treatment.  The videos are worth taking the time to watch them.

My heart breaks… as does God’s.

Some days I don’t even think about it

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Some days I am free from remembering… now, after so many years.  The whole day passes and visualizing the events, rehearing the words, feeling the terror, aching with the pain just isn’t there.

But not today.  Not since Aurora, Colorado.  The old kick to the gut was back, the sadness a fog.  I know how those families feel; I know how the shooter’s mom feels.  And they both hurt so much they can barely breathe.

victims of Aurora, Colorado

The victims were all great people, some heroes; one not even into her little life yet, just beginning it, six.  My heart hurts.

Is James Holmes a monster or is he mentally ill?  The age-old question in courts of law.  Either way, he will be out of the picture for the rest of his life.  As he should be.

Getting Back in the Saddle…

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This year has kicked my butt!  I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly kicked it:  the birthday, the son, the falling.  Who knows?

getting ready to ride

The important thing is that I am finally, after half the year has come and gone, oiling the saddle and readying it for another ride.  Life may have kicked me off once again, but now it’s time to put on my stirrups and do a little kicking in life’s sides to get it back into at least  a trot.

hmmmmmm

So I am thinking about my little blog and what to write about until I start cooking.  (Stop laughing!)  I have a few topics in mind.  And would really like to get some feedback on them.

1)  My experience as well as the experiences of others with angels and other supernatural God moments

2)  My son’s struggles with and final diagnosis of schizophrenia

3) Digging out old pics and posting them with stories

4)  courtroom stories  (names changed to protect the innocent… or not so innocent)

5)  my personal favorite… Kate and Ava

6)  Just whatever strikes my fancy – including good recipes

Which by the way I have.  A good recipe.  It came from my friend Lisa’s Pampered Chef newsletter.  It is called Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle.   And is soooo good!  I made it for 4th of July.

Try it!

4th of July

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The flag of my country

Today is the 4th of July.  The day we here in the United States celebrate our freedom, our independence.

The flag represents so much to me:  the history of our country, the beauty of our land, the hope that still lives in our people.  Just to name a few.

It brings to mind the masses that came through Ellis Island, wars, presidents, founding men and women of the first colonies, union struggles, women’s fight to vote and become equal, those oppressed who continue to wage the battle for equality… so much more.

Did you know the flag should never touch the ground?  And it should be illuminated if flown at night?  Flag etiquette and history can be found here at this site:  Flag of the United States.

We have a great country although not a perfect country.

I only know of one perfect country.

The Megastar Lolong

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Lolong in his new digs

How would you like to come eyeball to eyeball with this big thug?  After a man and a girl went missing in the Philippines, the townspeople captured this huge croc, who they dubbed Lolong.

I wrote about him a while back in Taking Advantage of Great Opportunities.  And just today here he is again… in the news as a superstar.  With his own digs.  And a great following.

Probably licking his chops at all the tasty-looking morsels lined up to get his picture.

Let’s hope he doesn’t escape as the two chimpanzees did in South Africa, mauling a Texas grad student.  After all, Lolong already knows how fresh humans taste.

While I Was Going Through My Pictures…

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A very young Ava

Feline Ava

I wish I had put a beer in Ava’s hand.  This is just the ultimate look-alike pics.

Woody Allen on sex

What can I say?  I live alone.

goth hippie

One of my favorite facebook steals.  I have never been Goth, but I have been in the hippie,  gypsy,  suit,  jogging-pants mom, Southwest/Spanish modes… just to name a few.   It was always a surprise –even to me– (and still is) what kind of season of life or flavor of life I would be in from year to year.  So I keep all my costumes wearing apparel just in case.  One never knows when the big jingle jewelry or the long, flowing skirts will be needed.

My favorite quote of all time.

The days that are tough; the weeks that are looooong; the years that are distraught, never give up.  Over and over again I am given that message… and I will give it over and over again.

Get your pictures out and take a slow stroll through them.

Thoughts of an addict

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Don’t tell me what I’ve done.

You don’t know how I feel.

What am I even capable of?

I will steal, but will I kill?

That test has not presented itself

And for this I do not know

But I warn you, anyone this concerns,

Don’t try me; through me anger flows.

I do what I say;

I say what I mean.

I inherited crazy;

It’s all in my genes.

So smile and laugh with me!

I’m broken inside

Twisted and tied.

I see your face

Torturing myself.

I get lost in the pain

Forgetting what is real.

My thoughts turn to hate

My memory fades

Yet I still feel you.

All the hurt I endure

I am cold and insecure.

I feel warm when I’m with you.

Please save me.

Just take it all away.

I don’t wanna stay

Here anymore.

A Look at Some Possible New Names for Babies

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In light of all the new, odd, different, hard-to-pronounce names that some of the celebrities are coming up with these days, my co-workers and I were thinking up some new ones as well.  We think they’re very unique and are rather catchy baby names.

There could, however, be a lawsuit if someone did actually name their child one of these names.  Well, take a look for yourself:

Cialis:  “That kid has such a hard head!”  “He’s always happy, always up.”  “I don’t know what makes him bang things like that!”  “That boy is always ready and up for anything.”

Ambien:  “She is such a sweet, laid-back child.”  “Why, she has slept all night from the first day we brought her home.”  

Lunesta:  “She floats around without a care in the world.”  “I’ve never had a problem with her naps.”  

Darvon:  “That child hurts himself all the time and never cries!”  “He has a great pain tolerance.”

So can anybody come up with some more?  We had a ball today doing some ad lib on conversations about certain named babies.

 

… as the day is long

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summer evening

The days are getting longer.  I like that.  The light continues for evening working in the yard, walks around town, sitting on the porch, and chatting to the neighbors.  Funny.  The way our lives are relegated by the minutes.

Have you ever thought about how relative life is?  The long and short of our days depending on the circumstances?  “Today has flown by.”  “Will this day ever end?”

My life, your life, transfixed on the minute minute or the malingering minute, those that rush by and those that seem to hang there forever.

The minute.

Sit down and try these examples.  Set a timer, get out a new puzzle or a cross-word book or a book you are loving to read.  Do that activity for only one minute.  Now set the timer again, balance on one leg or sit absolutely still or hold your arms raised out to the side.

Amazing how fast or slow a minute can be.

Enjoy your quick minutes, my friends.  Spend several of them getting to know the Triune God, getting to know your children, getting to know your spouse, getting to know your parents, getting to know your friends, siblings, neighbors.  Delight in those minutes that you can walk and talk and think and see and breathe well and hear.  Love those minutes when you can love those who love you… and those who don’t.  Create and sing and write and express and become in those minutes that you are given inspiration.

And for you in those long minutes of life, take comfort in knowing that this minute, too, will pass.