A Plea for Help for Friends

A great post from a friend.

Please visit and do what you can to get this out into the world!

Thank you all!!!

http://handoverfist.blogspot.com/2013/08/plea-for-help-for-my-friends.html?spref=tw

What WOULDN'T you do?

Suz

Guns

I read an article last night which was terrifying in its content and because I've seen that kind of thing too many times to have it be surprising anymore. The article was about a man who had taken his rifle and handgun to his wife's workplace. He then proceeded to shoot her between 3 and 5 times and then shot himself, taking his life as well.

What frightens me about this kind of thing is one of the hallmarks of why so many American's want real gun control. It's that part of guns which makes killing so easy to do. I understand that guns are in the Constitution and they have a place in our history. The problem is that now days we can't go even a day without seeing a story that chronicles a child shooting a sibling because of a parent or guardian who doesn't understand common sense or gun responsibility.

There is a need in this country for a serious discussion on limits. As well as mental health. This is not either of those discussions. It is however my thoughts on guns. Here goes....

Guns are a simple and easy way to kill. That's all they are. You can say that they are for hunting (which is stalking an animal to kill in a society where most of the people who do it don't need the meat so it's just sport really) or for "home protection" but the reason you have a gun instead of a bat is because you feel the need to either do maximum damage (i.e., kill) or show that you can. They have lost the reason for which the 2nd Amendment was actually written. We have no fear of our government as they did during the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Constitution. But people feel the need to arm themselves against imaginary foes and thus these weapons end up killing innocent people one way or another.

The story which prompted this posting is a perfect example of what happens all too often. Someone has a bad day and decides that someone has to pay for the circumstances that led up to the day in question. Pick a person or place, grab your guns and head out. Their lives mean nothing, obviously. And so people die. All because someone has a bad day. How is that civilized?

The NRA has popped up to say to its members "If THOSE other people had guns they could stop the person having the bad day" and their members parrot the concept. For them EVERYONE should have a gun.And what would we be then? The NRA also sponsors the "Stand Your Ground" laws which say you get to shoot someone who you think is going to harm you negating any thought of their humanity or life. Over a TV if need be or even a drink. It really doesn't matter. Because the bottom line for the NRA is money. Money and power and they don't care who dies as long as money gets into the hands of gun manufacturers.

I respect human life. I also like my possessions but I won't take a human life over my television. Or even my car. Things can be replaced. Human beings can't. That's pretty simple.

Friendship (5/12/11)

I wrote this back in 2011 in May. I never posted it for some reason. Here it is now though.

There are all different types of friends.  Acquaintances, who blow in and out of our lives like a breeze or the seasons.  Friends, who take places in our lives but will move in and out as life moves along.  And then there are the best friends.  What I see as a pair of friends who care truly and deeply for each other,without looking for "what's in it for them".  There is love there, but not a romantic love.  I believe it's stronger to be honest.  As true love can be.  Not to say that romantic love isn't important, but it grows into something different.  This is why the best and longest lasting marriages are between "best friends" as I have seen through my own life.  These types of friends are rare.  I would guess that they are usually of the same sex, but not always.  I have found that it's the men who I have had the pleasure of being on this level of friendship with the most challenging.  For some reason, it is just very different than a best friend relationship with a woman.  In the past few weeks I lost someone  who I thought was a best friend due to choices she made that effected me deeply. This isn't the venue for the particulars of the situation (although not many read my blog, I'm trying to be as discreet as I can, because you never know).  The interesting thing is that were it a man who was the "best friend", things would be different. The choices that I made and my reactions.  I find this interesting when I set myself outside the situation and look at it as objectively as I can.  The truth of the matter is that as acquaintances come and go, friends stay on and "best friends" linger in our hearts and to lose one is heart-breaking.  But if they are lost, then were they ever a best friend to begin with? Or just a friend who stayed on a little longer or someone who didn't share whatever it was that made you believe they were who you thought they were to have made them a best friend.

Update to Abortion post

The conservative in question had told me many times that this bill was for "women's health care" using the example of  LASIK surgeons. "Shouldn't these clinics have the same requirements as a LASIK office? Those doctors have to abide by the same regulations b/c they are ultimately performing surgery at these places" Now while I am all for women's health care I couldn't find anything on the net to back up her claim. When she and I started talking it was with an agreement that FACTS MATTER in decisions. So I had asked several times for corroboration of her claim, believing she was being factual. She continued to say "keep looking". When I had exhausted such search engine questions I decided to call LASIK offices and asking. What I was told by the offices I reached was this: There is no regulation which says LASIK surgeons need to have any privileges in their local hospitals or even admitting privileges to perform their surgeries. So it looks like this "fact based" conservative disregards facts in her actual decision making. I did ask her about it but she has declined to answer. At all. Hmmm.

Abortion rights: Conversations with a conservative...

I have recently had to opportunity to "Twitter friend" a conservative Tea Party Texan woman. It is an enlightening prospect. We agreed to follow one another and focus on the facts of things. But soon I realized that it's not just the facts but the conclusions that we come to from those facts. I had never before been so frustrated at the views of another human being who I wasn't related to. She is a nice person. I just have huge problems with the way she sees (and thus I imagine most conservatives) the world. It's astounding to me, but I guess it's the same way for 'them' looking in at me. So here goes a breakdown of what has happened thus far in one of our discussions.

Abortion rights

 I had posted something regarding the TX SB5 bill http://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB5/id/867548 and how I felt it was absolutely wrong. I had not read the entire bill but had seen the summary. SLW (my conservative Twitter friend) sends a message saying that it was a good thing because it brought up the clinics in TX that performed abortions which were surgical in nature. Now I agree that women need excellent care as do all people. However I was astounded at what I saw next. SLW stated that all the attention was ridiculous b/c the bill was being blown out of proportion. If you recall people from all over the USA went to show support for TX women and help save choice. So I said, well if even 5 of the supposed 37 out of 42 closed in a state as large and spread out as TX it's bad, but she continued to state that it was "all about saving women through health care". I was amazed. So I asked "Are you pro-choice?" to which after a few more "it's about health care" tweets she answered "I am up until the 24th week b/c babies have survived when born that early".  
...................  

STUNNED
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This means several things to me a) she isn't pro-choice b/c there aren't limits in choice (as I have been informed numerous times from the gun crazed crowd)  b) there are discussions out there which put women even greater danger b/c of what NICU's can do c) the bill bans at 20 (no response on this)  d), oh it goes on and on.

So I reply and we continue to go back and forth. She says it's just about women's health care b/c doctors should have privileges at hospitals near them. But when I bring up that doctors who perform abortions are not welcomed onto hospital staff when the hospitals are religious (that covers quite a few here) and are doctors who perform LASIK required to have hospital privileges in TX at the hospital nearest them? She says yes but I have yet to find any evidence of it. 

Fundamentally she refuses to see this bill as anything more than a way to enhance women's health. The reality is that the bill also discusses "fetal pain" which is unreal. And the requirements expected from these women's centers are unbelievable. And that doesn't even take into account things like people who don't realize they are pregnant until after wk 20, which we know happens b/c there is an entire series based on the reality of women who didn't know until birth (it's not a fun show). I don't understand women who support and defend these things.

It's truly stunning to me that in a day and age where women have so much to fight for as a group, we fight amongst ourselves about something like choice. There are so many factors in a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy. Not even 12% of abortions are outside of the first trimester. Does there need to be legislation anywhere that makes even first trimester choice harder? And please don't get me started on how rape kits DON'T work to facilitate pregnancy prevention. 

These are my thoughts on the conversation. Thanks for reading! 

Where is the 'Spirit of the Season'?

What is it with the 'Spirit of the Season' not applying to the road or grocery stores?

So today, coming out of a shopping center I stopped to allow 2 cars that had been waiting at a stop sign for quite a few cars ahead of me, to go b/c I wasn't in a hurry and no one was behind me. Off they drove w/o a look or notice past my waving them through with a smile. And then I got honked at by a person who'd raced up behind me. Obviously the 30 sec they had to wait was just unreasonable. This is not uncommon I know and I know I am not the only person who tries to be kind to others on the road, b/c it happens to me and I try to acknowledge the kindness of others. A little wave or a smile going by is enough, but too hard for many.

And as for the grocery store... Well, it might be easier to shop at the Super Bowl. So many people going to shop on a Saturday, typical for working families and the Double Coupon day makes it even busier. But to run in for some milk and wait in line for the express line watching a woman say to her child loud enough that I heard it 2 carts back that the guy in front couldn't count his 17 items when it says 15. Is the 2 extra items going to make a huge deal? So I moved to the self check-out, waiting behind a woman who was having the ever popular issue with the bag noticing the item that she needed to wait for the manager on duty. As she looked back at me and apologized I said "Don't worry about it." even though my back was bothering me from standing around. She then went into a diatribe about the inability of the self-check outs to work. So I politely said that she could override the bag requirement by pushing a button that seemed obvious to me. I was not polite enough as I was told that "You don't need to be a bitch about it, I'm almost done." And as she left after paying & getting her bags I got called the same name again.

Now I know that people get rushed and things are busy. But if there is going to be a big to do about the 'War on Christmas', maybe we should start with just having civility towards one another maybe during the holiday season.. And here's a great idea: How about year round?

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PBS & Muppets v. Romney

Just makes me smile. :-)

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President Obama's Third & Final Debate

So tonight will be the last debate where we will have the honor of seeing President Obama's skills in action, the way those in the White House & other power centers get to see. I will thus also have to endure Romney and his lies played out for the audience he is expecting. And by FoxNews' reaction tomorrow we will know who really won. Because if President Obama stands up for himself, his record & calls Romney out then the mutants at FoxNews will shout that he was rude. I know that's going to be their war cry tomorrow. Go forth and be the man I am proud to have voted for, Mr. President! And have no fear that you will have my vote again sir! You've earned it and my respect. Thank you.

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The Thrills of GetGlue

So over a year ago I found this website..GetGlue. You create a profile, a lá Twitter/Facebook etc, and start to check in to things you are watching, listening, reading, thinking about, whatever really. The coolest thing at the time was earning stickers for different things checked in to. I have loved stickers since I was a wee girl and it has never stopped. The really cool thing though was not just earning stickers, but making aquaintances who have become friends. Good ones even! It can update to FB/Twitter & FourSquare if you want it too and is really a fun environment. Unless you come across the ever popular name calling 'my view is always right' folks. But no web site is perfect and I must say my debate skills have grown on Glue. So if you have some time & like stickers or just wanna interact with people who share your interests, then I say, give it a shot! They'll even mail you your stickers if you want...currently mine are stored in the ether waiting for me to summon them. So hope to see ya there someday! And have a splendid Saturday! Suz

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2012 Election

I will never understand what the former Gov. of Mass. wants to be President for. It can't be to better the country. That'd take an actual plan. There are those who say President Obama didn't have a plan 4 years ago... I disagree, but any plan went out the window when he became President in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. And at least President Obama has been where so many people find themselves these days. Romney's idea of horrible was when his wife was diagnosed with M.S. And you bet that's terrible. But there are many out there who've faced that kind of devistating news while in the process of losing their homes and possibly their jobs as well. Romney will never understand that kind of terror. Iys partly why, when he tries to relate to 'regular people' he comes off as aloof and plastic. Even last night during the 2nd debate he couldn't show much besides petulance and arrogance. Romney says he knows how to create jobs, but all we have seen and heard is that he creates jobs overseas. And that doesn't really help American's trying to get work...unless they want to leave the country. But that's what Romney thinks will happen to illegal immigrants. Does he not know the reason they came here is because if how awful their lives were before they came here. So inaction is the Romney plan for illegal immigrants. Well done. Then there is the ever re-evolving tax plan. As of last night, families get a $2500 exemption that they can use however they want within the current exemptions. How much do you want to bet Romney & those like him will get much much more than $2500. So the ever evolving Romney plan to 'make it better' is still a joke and will remain so. I guarantee that the die-hard Republicans and the Tea Party are less than happy with Romney, but they'd never vote for someone who has most likely been where they are and really understands how our Constitution and government actually work. But I will. And with sense guiding us instead of hate, President Obama will have 4 more years to put this country back on the path we were on during the Clinton years.

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Why screaming at people on social networking sites is dumb.

So as a member of "Facebook", "Twitter", "Skype", etc.  I know that putting my viewpoints out there is sometimes going to irritate another member. Usually, because the members (people, friends, tweeps) are part of a like minded group or are actually friends in real life, you don't expect to be screamed at for an opinion that may differ from anothers.  Now when I say "screamed at" I speak not just of those WHO SPEAK IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS to let you know they are upset, but also of those folks who will continue to rant against you on a topic that they just know in their hearts is right in their view and wrong in mine. Case in point...

Over the past 24 hours I have gotten over 18 twitter messages from an individual, who shall remain nameless, because someday he'll realize what an absolute ass he's been & I want that moment to be his alone (although he may just continue to be an ass, but that's his problem). This individual has a problem with the fact that I have some Palestinian friends and I RT (re-tweet) some of their messages about where they live & what they think. Now I also have some Israeli friends who agree with the Palestinians & I RT their msgs too. I would and do the dame with anyone reporting atrocities where they are. But this particular individual has taken it upon himself to berate, argue, offer deals, & a host of other things (calling me an idiot every other msg is my favorite) to get me around to his way of seeing things. He especially likes to reference Israelis as "dirty Jews" in some strange attempt at what I'm not sure, but that does trouble me, because to call Israelis that is just shy of neo-nazi propaganda. And I have never felt that way about another ethnic group (just to clarify). Now, his ranting, which after the 5th msg I stopped replying to and said "We're not going to agree, do let's just let it go", but he kept on going. I wonder if he feels he's going to change my opinions or just likes to berate others. Either way, he looks like an idiot.

And that's really the point of this post. If someone disagrees with you and has maybe gone back-n-forth a bit, but then lets go by agreeing to disagree, just let go. You can have your opinion all you want, # away! Let the world know, but stop trying to use Twitter or FB as a bully pulpit for what you believe if someone disagrees, its ok. It's our right as Americans! Otherwise you just look like a bully. And usually an idiotic one at that.

#Peace #Love & #Understanding

Suz

Concepts... Having a clue.

Had a conversation recently with someone about an issue that I am very familiar with. Tried to explain my position clearly and my degree of familiarity. To say I had hit a brick wall was putting it mildly. So this is truly a short post to just say to whomever reads it... Please make sure you really know what you're talking about before you begin to pass judgement on others or in any way criticize what choice someone makes. They may be making the decisions they do for reasons you can't comprehend, because a) you haven't walked in their shoes or b) its what they know is right for them.

Here's to a great week ahead! And to the best of friends. May they be plentiful and true in your life.  XO Suz

Juicers ROCK!

Just got a new juicer. Gotta say I'm a happy camper! Just gotta train Dave that force doesn't have to be the last resort! Goober almost broke it on the first use.... jeez! Anyhoo, buy a juicer for better living kids! 

POM-egranate juice

Just a short post. Bought a POM WONDERFUL Pomegranate Blueberry juice at the store the other day. Drank it yesterday and all I can say is WOWZA! Not only did it taste UNBELIEVABLE (like ripe blueberries and pomegranate) but I felt great after I drank it! So I'm drinking another one now (YUMMY) and I plan to make them when I get my new juicer in the next few days. I have to say thank you to Corey for introducing me to juicing and PomWonderful for introducing me to pomegranates. I know this seems like a bit of an ad, but its just me.  Happy me! (Note the empty bottle!) Suz

BTW I called PomWonderful and shared my happy feelings. They were very nice. They must drink this stuff to be so happy! Hehehe!

Friendship

There are all different types of friends.  Acquaintances, who blow in and out of our lives like a breeze or the seasons.  Friends, who take places in our lives but will move in and out as life moves along.  And then there are the best friends. The ones who take root in our lives like a tree in a garden.  A pairing of friends who care truly and deeply for each other, without looking for "what's in it for them".  The people you would do anything for.  The family you weren't born with, but found, by the grace of the universal spirit.  There is love there, but not a romantic love.  I believe it's stronger to be honest.  As true love can be.  Not to say that romantic love isn't important, but it grows into something different, better, more.  This is why the best and longest lasting marriages are between "best friends" as I have seen through my own life. (i.e., Jo & Tom, Holly & Thad, Cindy & Chris, March & John).  These types of friends are rare.  I would guess that they are usually of the same sex, but not always.  I have found that it's the men who I have had the pleasure of being on this level of friendship with the most challenging.  For some reason, it is just very different than a best friend relationship with a woman.  In the past few weeks I lost someone  who I thought was a best friend due to choices she made that effected me deeply. This isn't the venue for the particulars of the situation, if you need to know, you do. The interesting thing is that were it a man who was the "best friend", things would be different. The choices that I made and my reactions.  I find this interesting when I set myself outside the situation and look at it as objectively as I can.  The truth of the matter is that as acquaintances come and go, friends stay on and "best friends" linger in our hearts and to lose one is heart-breaking.  But if they are lost, then were they ever a best friend to begin with? Or just a friend who stayed on a little longer or someone who didn't share whatever it was that made you believe they were who you thought they were to have made them a best friend.

Sorry again to have been absent for so long.  This really will change. 

Love and peace to you all! XO.

Note....

Upcoming post.  Gotta get it all straight in my head first tho.  See you soon!
And hi from the goof balls!

Pain

For most of you out there, pain is something that comes around sometimes.  You take ibuprofen or acetominephan and go about your day.  Well, as those of you who know me, things are a little different.  Lately, Long with the thrilling combination of bronchitis and laryngitis, I find myself in more and more pain.  Specifically in my upper back.  You may not know it, but you use your upper back muscles for a lot of things that you don't think about.  Like your core muscles, when something is wrong you're in trouble.  Trouble here means pain.  So if you get a chance today, please say a prayer for me.  I would truly appreciate it.  Thank you and I'm sorry for being so maudlin.  I truly hope you have a good day, more than you know.  Suz

Ever get too tired to...

Sleep?  I feel like a little kid.  "But I'm no sleepy" as I walk into a wall or fall asleep with the blog half typed as such.. ccgseii .kxgzrezgb +) KC+h ťgkvwethigjxgi.       See?  Ok. Now I am that tired.  And here's Dory to cuddle.  Night! 

Just plain tired...

So after a z-pack and vitamins galore and sleep... all the things you should do when sick, I felt good for 2 days about.  Then no sleep (ok 6 hours since Monday, despite every attempt), fever, and guess what fabulous duo are back? Bronchitis n Laryngitis....with special guest star sinusitis!  Woot! Sniffle...

Now, i know that I'm lucky to have friends and my folks to help keep me goin, but jeezy chreezy!  I'm just done with it.  I don't know what else to do to be better.  Doc wants to see me to make sure it's not pneumonia... fun fun!  Let's throw in a spinal tap just for good measure, shall we?  Sigh.

I'm sorry for dumping all this on you my reader but who else listens as well?  Hollywood kiss (to avoid germs).  Thank you!  Love Suz

Am I losing my mind?

Let's say you lent me your car and I used it.  Now a few days later I don't remember where it's parked and you can't find it.  And I'm not really looking for it that hard.  Would you be just a wee bit pissed off?  Ok, then I'm not losing my mind.  What was misplaced is smaller than a car, but just as necessary to the things you've planned for your day/week. 
Just wanted to float that out into the ether.  Suz