Negative Press

So, for the third day we read about Shylea Thomas. WTFH?! I mean, I know we are all busy...but how in the world does a person let a child who is so incapacitated become so malnourished that she dies?! Was her adoptive mother so proud she couldn't ask for help? I do not understand. Yet, as an outsider, I understand that some people just refuse help. For example (of course, because these are my tirades!): at the public library where I work we have a regular woman who happens to be homeless. Several of us (people who work for the library) have offered this woman help; from rides to places to advice on how to get help to food. This woman is not mentally challenged. She is not insane. She is a hard-working woman whom for whatever reasons, which many of us know, fell upon hard times. And she refuses to ask, get, accept help. As if it's against her core-being to accept help?! It frustrates me. How can I help her when she will not help herself?! Yet, for nearly 2 years she's lived in her vehicle, or stayed at stranger's houses...and now, she has no vehicle and her "friend" has been evicted. Where will she stay? How will she survive in our community that does not have a soup kitchen nor homeless shelter. I can't invite her into my home because she would view it as a handout, it would remind her of what she lost...it is heartbreaking. She will not ask her family for help. She tried to make it on her own after she left an abusive relationship.

When I lived in Chicago, years ago, there was a homeless woman who caused such a ruckus. She'd lift her shirts and show people her bare-breasts for money. The police knew this woman and regularly told her to move along. They were accustomed to her tricks and ways to get money. Her name was Mary. She'd take the few dollars people gave her and spend it on wine or booze. Most of the time she'd sit on the sidewalk, dirty, unkept and stare at people as they walked by. She was grubby and dirty, weathered and worn. Every time I saw Mary, I wondered "where are her family? Is she so incapable of getting along with others that she can not accept help? Maybe there is no one to help her." And I wondered back then, 1989, what we were doing wrong that people like Mary were falling through the cracks of our system. And, now, today 20 years later, in my small town that is growing, Fenton, Michigan, I come into contact with a woman who doesn't appear to have a drug or alcohol addiction, she keeps herself clean and has coherent, intelligent conversations with people; yet, she's homeless. In twenty years, there's been no improvement. The Mary's of the US are left to beg, borrow or steal their way through life because we have nothing better to offer them. There is something seriously wrong with this picture!

Truth in Sayings

Every day we hear various phrases, comments, references to literature, myths, the common "you know what they say" and we all say "who are they?" Can we believe everything we hear? Do you believe what your minister/priest/clergy say? Do you believe what your boss says? The President of the United States? People or Star magazines? The newspapers? Katie Couric? NPR? The list goes on and on.... Exactly what should we believe???? and who?

A few events bring me to this topic, one being that I spend entirely too much time trying to understand the meaning behind people's words - especially the written word that appears in black and white. The second factor came from watching "Private Practice" where one of the stories perpetuated the idea that "if you really love someone, you'll let them go." When I was in high school, I believed this completely. As time passed and my relationships became stable, reliable and dependable, I no longer found the need for that statement; that is, until recently. Having lost a loved one, the pain is real and the letting go seems worse. It's the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds that makes the letting go so difficult. And now, I don't believe in the truth of that statement at all. Why should anyone have to let go of someone they love? and the only answer I can fathom is if the object of the love didn't love back. That is the only time the statement makes sense.

Empowering Women

My Spring 2009 Ms. magazine arrived today. Most times it gets thrown into a pile of magazines that I have every intention of reading "someday". Due to an unforeseen chain of events, I opened my Ms. magazine in a timely fashion today. On page 11, I was surprised to see a list of deeds performed by President Obama. While I haven't paid much attention to his administration thus far, trying hard to ignore stories about his dog buying issues and not caring whether he gambled on the Super Bowl; it was almost laughable to me that the media hadn't covered this list. I peruse Yahoo News, MSNBC.com news, NPR, The Flint Journal and am a member of Facebook and Twitter where postings and tweets are as varied as they get.

Why hadn't I seen this list? Is it because the media doesn't want to call attention to the changes or because it isn't seen as a positive change for the U.S.? I'm thankful to Ms. Magazine for sharing "The First 70 Days: Giant Strides for Women". Here's the list condensed:

• Overturned "global gag rule"
• Signed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
• Expanded gov't health insurance covering 11 million children
• In the $787 billion economic stimulus package saved and created jobs held traditionally by women AND increased Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits
• Moved to rescind Bush's "conscience" clause which would allow health care workers the ability o deny patients abortions and birth control
• Appointed 7...yes SEVEN women to Cabinet-level positions
• Instituted a new ambassador-at-large for global women's issues
• Lifted restrictions on stem cell research
• Established the White House Council on Women and Girls
• Restarted US contributions to the United Nations Population Fund
• Reinstated low-cost birth control availability at college health centers and 400 clinics serving low-income women
• Pledged to sign the U.N. declaration to decriminalize homosexuality
• Announced the U.S. will seek a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council

Amen to that President Obama!!! These are awesome changes that will provide better life situations for girls and women. Thank you for thinking of my daughter and yours!!

Signs of Spring

In an informal survey on FB, the consensus is worms are yucky! Warning - no scientific research was used in the survey only the opinion and perceptions of a few. One noted that worms are a sign of spring. Another researcher noted that males seem to be very fond of worms particularly their unique scent. On rainy days, it was discovered that worms like to spread out across driveways. No fishing fanatics weighed in on the evidence, however one respondent LOL'd.

Okay, so I'm being facetious. What would we do without the second sign of spring?! In Michigan, spotting a robin is the first sign of spring. A close second is the arrival of the earthworm. Simply put worms are weirdly wormy. I must admit I'm rather fond of one particular worm, Lowly. In his one boot and hat, Lowly worm is a precious character created by the late Richard Scarry. I thought it cruel and unusual that Mr. Scarry would name the poor creature Lowly as if being a worm wasn't bad enough. However, Lowly is an endearing character you grow to love. One of my favorite aspects of Richard Scarry's books was to look for Lowly worm on each page. Long before Where's Waldo? we had Lowly worm to hide in the pages of pictures.

As a tribute to Richard Scarry and all earthworms, I declare April 21st to be the official "Lowly Worm Day". This special recognition supports the green agenda currently sweeping the nation as worms are vital to our earth. Did I just say that? As if being environmentally friendly is a new concept?! During my college years 22 years ago, my friends and I used to volunteer at the Recycling Center in Albion, MI. Recycling, earth friendly products, canvas bags so not new to me...and definitely wasn't a new concept back in '87 either. But I digress...this is a tribute to Lowly Worm. As part of celebrating Lowly worm, and putting forth a green effort, I encourage you to consider composting. Lowly will be so proud! Happy Earth Day!!

Stuck in Truck Cab

I had grand plans for this overcast, humid spring day. I planned to drop my daughter off at her dance rehearsal come home and spend a couple of hours in the yard picking up debris from winter. But, NO! Someone had other plans for me. My two sons wouldn't or couldn't stop bickering which distracted their poor mother (aka ME!) so as we left for the rehearsal we left the dancing shoes behind - only to discover that we'd forgotten them half way to Fenton Lawn. OMightyG! spare me some mercy - puh-leeze!! After dropping my daughter off, my sons & I had to make another trip back home (approx. 20minute drive one-way). How ridiculous to spend 100minutes in the truck just driving to and from home! Grrrrrrrrrr!!

So, as punishment to the bickering boys, I dragged them to Kroger's to grocery shop. Haha! The ultimate in punshiment or so I thought. Oh, foolish mother, I am. The only torture that provided was to make me crazy watching them bump every shelf in nearly every aisle. Imagine if you will smushed bread, broken jars, evil eyed old woman glaring at me....OK! so it wasn't that bad!!! But, by the time the three kids and I returned home (4.5 hours later), I'd had enough of the constant chattering and the cooped cab; not to mention I was hungry!!!

Needless to say, I didn't accomplish my grand plans --but I did manage to rendezvous on Dort Hwy. to get 2 CM 8x10 photo albums, and grocery shop. Not bad for a day's work!!

Welcome back Crazy Lady!
Nearly 2 years to the day...sidetracked by unmentionables, lost and confused, learning new tricks of the trade (ie. FB, Twitter)....but coming back to Blogger better than ever & gratefully, not bigger. Heeheehaha!

Snow in April

I'm so ready for spring's sweet arrival. No more SNOW! The cold, and cruel rain, sleet and snow have ruined my hyacinths, tulips and daffodils. I'm so sad. It looks like Mother Nature will be my excuse to revamp my flower beds. Now where to begin???