Fake Fur Update

Not only has this story been picked up by the Associated Press, but this issue is now being presented on the BBC website, lending more credibility to this horrible deception.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6205093.stm

If you want to be able to take action, please follow this link to the Humane Society's website to send a letter to congress for better labeling laws and enforcement.

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2007_fur_labeling?qp_source=gaba2c

Sorry to get so serious and so political, but I just can't sit by while animals are being used in such a horrific fashion. I hope you, too, will find a way to help, just look at your own beloved pets for inspiration. As much as you would not want that pet to suffer, think of how these animals are being treated across the world in China. Help them. They deserve it, even if it's just a small action, it could set off a chain reaction that could stop this torture once and for all.

Thank you.
R

Very Upset

First of all, I'm very upset about the story I recently read about the faux fur fallacy. I've even been losing sleep over this, and I think there aren't very many other people concerned about this. I don't understand why there isn't more of a reaction in the news community (yet?). Let me tell you a few of the reasons why I think there should be worldwide backlash:

• Consumer deception--People who may have the right intentions, wanting to buy fake fur to save the lives of innocent animals, are being deceived. How horrible I would feel if I found out the fur-trimmed jacket I bought was really someone's German shepherd puppy pelt.
• People are losing pets--beloved family members, children's playmates, cuddly pets are being stolen. How heartbroken I would feel if I found out my sweet Pomeranian had been kidnapped and then tortured for his fur. It's unbearable to think about.
• Unimaginable pain and suffering--These animals are undergoing the kind of pain and horror we usually only see in horror films of serial killers on a bloody rampage. It's gruesome and inhumane on so many levels. Just because they are dogs or cats doesn't mean we should treat them like this. Watching their cell-mates skinned alive, seeing their bodies hanging around, waiting for the same fate they know is coming . . . Crying as they are strangled but still alive, helpless to stop the pain as they feel their own flesh being torn from their bodies . . . It's a fate no one and no being should have to go through.
• This isn't justifiable in any way--Animals being killed not for food, but for fur. There's no higher purpose to the killings, just vanity. The suffering of these animals is something people around the world have tried to prevent, but it's still going on, and it's worse than before. The deception, the kidnapping, the torture are all things people are believing do not exist.
  
• Don't we owe it to humanity to check into this? I know I am horrified thinking that this might be going on. I've been losing sleep over the fact that I know I cannot stop the next animal from suffering unimaginably, that there will be more and more before the truth can come to light. If it isn't true, wonderful. Wonderful! But if it is true, we need to do something. Can't we investigate? Please? I feel helpless right now.

More nights of sleeplessness await, I know. And over an issue that isn't yet confirmed. But I need to know. And I need to know when it is stopped, if this is confirmed in any way. I beg for people to help.

One more reason for disappointment on my part is the fact that I had a pointless doctor visit yesterday. The doctor basically told me he didn't know what was causing my pain, gave me a prescription for something that would alleviate symptoms I don't have, and told me to follow up with the doctor who sent me to him in the first place. Typical medical community two-step that I danced back in San Antonio before I moved here. I miss Doctor Roldan. He always helped me, had great intuition, and never left questions unanswered. Great caring doctor. I wish I could drive home just to see him, but I don't think my insurance would approve.

Well, that's enough depressing news for one day. I'm sure I've lost readership (such as it was) over these topics. Who needs to hear why someone else is miserable? I don't know. Sorry to anyone else who is still reading, waiting for some iota of entertainment value. Sorry.

Take care, and I will blog ya later,
R

Link to the original article copied below

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=444606&in_page_id=1879

Author Andrea Thompson, 26 March, 2007

Very Important Message for Animal Lovers

I just received this, and I couldn't even read all of it, it was so horrible. You may not be able to either, but I think more people should know about this, mostly because of the inhumanity. The methods used by these companies should make your heart break, and hopefully inspire change in such a deplorable industry. Please read.

 Slaughter house: China butchers cats and dogs to satisfy the west's hunger

>for fur

>

>

>

>It sounds too grotesque for words. But pelts from slaughtered cats and dogs

>are being passed off as 'ethical' fur. Last week, the US fashion industry

>cracked down on dubious ladelling, not good news for British shoppers as

>fashion insiders predict a flood of rejects from the US

>

>The short video would have made even the most hardened fur-lover recoil. A

>grey longhaired German shepherd puppy is hauled from its cage by the neck

>before being strung up by a wire noose, which slowly strangles it to within

>an inch of its life. It is then skinned alive whilst blinking helplessly

>and moaning in agony.

>

>A PR disaster for the fur trade, this video is part of a huge campaign by

>the Humane Society of the United States.

>

>It culminated last week in the international animal rights charity exposing

>shocking new evidence that coats purchased from the top-end US designer

>store, Nordstrom, which stocks designer labels including Calvin Klein and

>Tommy Hilfiger, were found to be trimmed with fur from domestic dogs, even

>though the fur was advertised as fake.

>

>There was public outrage and the fashion industry in New York is still

>feeling the shockwaves. Panic set in as top names Calvin Klein, DKNY and

>Rocawear, and celebrities including Beyonce and P-Diddy whose fashion lines

>were stocked instore, rushed out statements expressing disgust.

>

>Described in shock news headlines as the 'biggest industry-wide deception'

>in recent years, it began after a tip-off from a customer who bought a

>surprisingly soft coat marked 'faux fur'.

>

>DNA tests revealed it to be domestic dog originating in China, which

>supplies well over half of the fur to the global market and is renowned for

>its inhumane killing methods.

>

>Other coats were found to be the skins of similarly banned members of the

>canine family, such as Racoon dog and wolf.

>

>There have been whispers for some time about the increase in dog and cat

>fur entering the global fur chain.

>

>But last week's news finally blew the lid off the scandal. And those naïve

>enough to believe that this is an isolated incident are in for a wake up

>call.

>

>In America importing cat and dog furs into the country has been outlawed

>since 2000. But in the UK - a nation famed for its animal lovers - there is

>no law banning the import of cat and dog fur at all, making it even more

>likely that a similar scandal could emerge.

>

>The Britsh Fur Association has signed up to a voluntary EU labelling scheme

>in a bid to reassure shoppers that its pelts are not tainted by cat and dog

>fur, and this autumn it plans to launch the Origin Assured (AO) label which

>will confirm that 'a product comes from a country where national or local

>regulations or standards governing fur production are in force'.

>

>But unlike Australia, New Zealand and 5 other EU countries, the UK

>government has so far refused calls to sign up to a blanket ban on such

>imports.

>

>"Because fur is often dyed and treated, it is almost impossible to

>establish with 100 per cent certainty the true origin of the fur in our

>stores and markets," says Mark Glover, UK Director of Humane Society

>International.

>

>"With DNA testing proving expensive and time consuming, and garments

>needing to be sent abroad for analysis, it is also impossible to check

>every garment that enters the market.

>

>"It is now widely established that much of the exceptionally real feeling

>faux fur on sale in street market stalls across the country, like that in

>the US, is actually real."

>

>Last week's US clampdown is also expected to have a huge knock on effect

>globally - with imports of dog and cat fur now flooding the European market

>where legislation is more lax and demand for fur is equally high.

>

>But with most high street retailers and several top designer brands moving

>production to China in a bid to keep costs down, how long will it be before

>a major UK fashion chain is caught out? And when a cat pelt, can be bought

>in china for less than two dollars (compared with $6 for a dog) it is not

>suprising that many retailers turn a blind eye to its origins.

>

>Cat fur is soft and luxurious enabling it to be passed off as any number of

>more expensive furs. While German Shepherd is the most popular breed of dog

>because its long fur so closely resembles that of wild animals such as

>coyote or racoon. Labrador and Alsatian pelts have also been found.

>

>Recent figures reveal that China slaughters over two million cat and dogs

>every year to satisfy Western demand - supplying 50% of the fur in America.

>

>"How much of this is cat and dog pelt is impossible to tell but official

>figures reveal that 5,400 cats and dogs are slaughtered across China every

>day with the majority shipped to the West- someone has to be buying them,"

>adds Glover.

>

>While campaigners are pushing for EU-wide measures to ban the sale of cat

>and dog in all 25 member nations, the RSPCA says there is a strong

>likelihood that cat and dog fur is being worn by unsuspecting customers in

>a variety of fur trims.

>

>One major high street chain was even also forced to withdraw all fur from

>its collections after jackets trimmed with 'coyote' were found to be dog

>fur.

>

>Wander through Covent Garden's jubilee market or celebrity favourite

>Portobello Road any afternoon and you are confronted by a vast array of fur

>lined gloves, coats, hats and accessories priced at rock bottom prices,

>such as £10 for a pair of leather fur lined gloves.

>

>Some are labelled 'genuine fur', others simply 'made in china' but because

>most of these garmets fall outside the usual mink or fox labels, they are

>imported under the 'Other fur' category, which means retailers are not

>legally obliged to state which animal they come from.

>

>"The demand for fur this winter has been so high that I've struggled to

>keep up," said one retailer in Covent Garden's Jubilee Market this week.

>

>Asked if he knew the origin of the fur on a pair of black leather gloves he

>was selling he shrugged his shoulders. Such demand inevitably means buyers

>are less discerning about its source.

>

>Posing as potential buyers, animal charity Care for the Wild International

>(CWI) went undercover in London and Hong Kong to reveal the extent to which

>Chinese fur is flooding the UK market. They were offered a range of skins

>including leopard and domestic cats skins.

>

>While many originate from Spain, the vast majority are Chinese. The vast

>majority of 'rabbit' pom pom scarves - popular for the past two winters,

>and a snip at £5 is available in markets up and down the UK - were exposed

>as cat fur.

>

>The Humane Society International first revealed Europe's role in the dog

>and cat fur back in 1998. As part of the original inquiry, investigators

>followed pelts across the world to France and Germany, where the fur was

>being made into coats, clothing trim, glove linings, and children's toys.

>The fur was also found in Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, and the

>Netherlands.

>

>Sickening evidence collected included a blanket made out of 4 golden

>retrievers bought in Copenhagen, individual cat skins complete with eye

>holes, paws and tales in Barcelona and a full length coat made out of up to

>42 Alsatian puppies bought in Berlin. And in spite of anti-fur campaigners,

>the demand for fur in general on our high streets this winter was higher

>than ever before.

>

>Sales in the UK topped 50 million for the first time - up 30 per cent on

>two years ago. But because of dubious labelling, there is no official data

>on the trade.

>

>"It is the importer of the fur garment who chooses how the product is to be

>labelled," says Glover.

>

>"We have recordings of Chinese factory owners admitting to us during

>undercover investigations that they are happy to attach any label to

>garments to make them more marketable." The fur industry's new labelling

>initiatives have been seen by many as a step in the right direction.

>Regulations include guidelines that protect the environment and ensure

>sustainable wildlife programs and humane farming practices.

>

>"The labelling programme is part of a commitment to openness and

>transparency," says Andrea Martin of the British Fur Association.

>

>"As an industry, we deplore and work against the mistreatment of all

>animals."

>

>But it is the people who operate outside the official fur industry who are

>the worry, as investigations by PETA reveal.

>

>Footage shows dogs and cats in cramped factories or being rounded up on the

>street where they are sold for their skin. Many still have their collars on

>at the time of slaughter - a sign they were domesticated pets.

>

>Dogs can be seen cowering in dark cold unsanitary rooms surrounded by the

>bodies of dead skinned dogs suspended from hooks.

>

>Cats are strangled with nooses one by one in wooden cages. This summer the

>EU will decide whether to impose a blanket ban on the imports of all cat

>and dog pelts, which at least is a step in the right direction. But the

>Internet is set to be the next hurdle.

>

>The rise in web shopping means that hundreds of China-based companies can

>carry on passing off cat and dog fur under various guises to customers and

>fashion retailers online - no questions asked.

>

>So, next time you're tempted by a 'faux fur' trimmed parka, or a

>suprisingly cheap pair of fur-lined gloves, you might want to think twice

>about whether the mittens are kitten and the hood is hound. Chances are it

>is.

 

Still no sleep.

I keep trying, but I guess I still have some anxiety over the pain in my abdomen. I just don't know what it is, and it's starting to make me panic a bit, I think. When it hurts as I'm trying to fall asleep, I start thinking of all of the things it could be, and then I can't sleep anymore. It's easy to let your fears get out of control, just as easy as it is to let your sadness take hold.

But I can try to get an appointment with my doctor soon, I have to wait and call the office tomorrow. Then lose sleep as I wait for the appointment, then panic as I wait for test results . . . I'm sure I won't be sleeping for a while.

Then I think I hear my son cry during the night, like his injection site is bothering him. I think maybe the Tylenol wore off, and he needs a new dose. But he slept fine, and took some Tylenol this morning. He's playing and rambunctious, as usual. But the mom instincts don't stop, the worry finds it's way into my daily life for a full 24 hours a day.

This is my definition of motherhood, by the way. Motherhood: A state of constant and intense worry, punctuated by moments of unimaginable emotional bliss. That's really what it is to me. The unprecedented bliss is what I live for, and it's worth all of the worry.

Well, that's my rambling for the day. Hope to hear from some people out there, just so I don't feel like I'm talking to myself or lost in cyberspace. No pressure, though. When you're ready. :)

Till then, take care. Blog ya later.

R

Getting some sleep . . .

. . . finally!

My son got the immunization that he was supposed to have gotten on Monday, and now I can stop losing sleep over it. I really hate when he has to get shots, partly because I have to stand there helplessly while someone injures my boy, and partly because I never know what kind of reaction he will have afterward. Will there be fevers, pains, fussiness, lack of appetite? I don't know. And it could make my week a lot tougher, caring for him and trying to care for myself in the meantime.

Well, it went fine. He got a lollipop and all was well. He has had soreness and lack of appetite, but that's about all. Some Tylenol and he's fine. I hate hearing him cry and even beg for medicine, it just seems very sad. And I feel like an evil witch for having subjected him to such torture quite voluntarily, no matter what the benefits of immunizations are. I still feel evil after that. So then I spoil him with a happy meal and a book from Half Price. He was very excited about that.

And my other errands got done this week, too, including getting my prescriptions set up with the new insurance and talking to the doctor about my abdominal pain. He pretty much passed the buck on to my ob/gyn, but at least I talked to him about it. I hope the gynecologist knows what to do. I really dread another health care battle like I had with the hypothyroidism. I hope they can figure out what's wrong without my having to beg them, and plead with them to believe me that something is indeed wrong with me. I hope. I will probably lose sleep over this, now that E is fine. I guess there's always something.

Well, I guess I can hit the hay, or at least try. Until next time, g'night.

R

I will (apparantly) never learn . . .

. . . You'd think I would have learned this by now, but I should never, ever, EVER watch tv programs about ghosts and the paranormal right before bedtime. Never.

I consider myself a sane person when on my medications, and a reasonable, intelligent person as well. I'm not sure what I believe is true about most paranormal experiences people claim to have. Many of them can be explained by other forces or even by the person's own brain chemistry. Hearing voices, seeing apparitions, and things of the sort can be explained by psychiatric hallucinations, electrical stimulations created by the movement of the earth's crust, and many other earthly phenomena. I've seen convincing documentaries that completely disprove the U.F.O. phenomenon entirely. And I think I was hoping it wouldn't be so convincing . . . But it was.

In the past, I've had what I would consider paranormal experiences. However, I would like to follow that by saying I have begun to doubt the veracity of those experiences simply because I have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders that, in some cases, can cause mild hallucinations. When I was a pre-teen girl, I had an experience where I saw a toddler girl in my bedroom once I awoke from a dream. My parents liked me to think I was still dreaming, but I am convinced to this day that I was not. I completely believed the girl was there, since at the time I did not believe in ghosts or anything of the sort. I think I told myself that I just missed the doorbell and that my sister was having a surprise sleepover with one of the girls from her daycare class. I mean, there was a girl in the room--what else could it be? She looked as if she had awakened from a nightmare as she stared at me--seeking comfort from another child, I assumed. But as I approached the girl, reached out my hand to her shoulder, she vanished, suddenly and right before my eyes. I was terrified out of my mind, and slept the rest of the night under my blanket.

So, what do I make of this experience now? Not much. Maybe I was dreaming. Maybe I hallucinated. I really don't know. Maybe she was a ghost, but I can never be sure, especially now that I know what I now know about myself. But there are two experiences that I have yet to explain away.

The first was in the same house where I saw the child. My sisters and I were all watching television on a Saturday night, relaxing on the sofa while my parents slept in another room across the house. I don't remember what was happening at the time, but we were suddenly interrupted by the loud thumping sound of footsteps on the roof. We knew the sound well, since my grandfather and my dad frequently worked on the house while we lived there, fixing the tv antenna, installing central air and heat, and other projects. But this was late on a Saturday night, and my parents were asleep. They could not have opened a door without us hearing, since it was one of those old, creaky houses in an aging subdivision. You heard everything.

We stared at the ceiling, all of us, jaws slacked, asking each other if we knew what was happening. We could easily follow the path of the footsteps across the ceiling, heard them stop right above us, and clinking metal sounds like someone had set down a toolbox. I remember being overcome by fear, thinking that maybe someone was putting a bomb on our roof or something--hey, I was just a kid. But then the clinking stopped, and the footsteps resumed, crossing the remainder of the roof to the edge of the house. My sisters and I ran quickly to the window so that we could look upward and try to see if someone was looking over the edge of the roof so we could see who it was, but instead, we just heard a thump, right beneath us, on the grass right outside the window. We sat there in the window, staring at nothing, just a faded sound, on the lawn in front of us on the other side of the glass.

Next came the "did you just hear that?" and "did you hear what I just heard?" from the terrified children in the room, and we huddled on the sofa, frozen in fear for the rest of the night. My parents had no explanation for that one in the morning.

Another experience that I can't explain happened at the house where I used to work as a nanny. During the morning, before I had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and had my extreme fatigue explained to me, I would nap in the parents bedroom. Often, but not every time I napped in that room, I would feel someone's hand touch my face in a tender and reassuring way. It was soothing, and I would feel like I could drift off to sleep without a care, then I would realize it was very VERY real, and that I wasn't yet sleeping or dreaming. I would sit up with a start, only to realize I was alone in the room. Time and time again this happened, and every time it felt so incredibly real I would think that the father of the kids had come home early and was attempting to wake me, not yet realizing that I hadn't fallen asleep yet. But I hadn't heard a door open, or heard footsteps . . . Then I would jolt upright and notice nothing in the room yet again.

I would discount these incidents entirely, were it not for something my sister said to me about a year after I had left that job. She asked me if I had ever felt like someone's hand touched my face before I fell asleep there . . . I said yes, then said it only happened in that particular bedroom, while she nodded knowingly. "And there was something about his fingertips," I said.

"Yes!" she shouted. "Like his fingers were calloused or something?"

I think I just stared at her for a while, then said, "Yes, or like his fingerprints were especially raised or something . . . I thought maybe it was something about his fingerprints."

"I thought maybe it was callouses," she said. But we had both touched on the same thing.

So, even if it was a vivid, realistic dream that occurs in light sleep, why did we both have the exact same dream? And why did we both have that dream in that one place, and never anywhere else? And then we never had the same dream again, ever, after leaving that job? Does it mean anything?

I don't know. So I'd like to have some paranormal experiences again, as a person who has undergone treatment and medication, just to see what I really believe, now that I consider myself sane. Maybe I should become a ghost hunter or something. It might be overly terrifying for me, but at least I would know it was real, for once. But then I'd never get any sleep . . .

Ever.

R

Success!

I almost don't believe it, but I reached a milestone today. Finally, after working so hard at it over the years, I lost 10 percent of my body weight! That means, in Weight Watchers terms, I got my key chain! :) WooHoo! I didn't think I'd be able to lose weight, first of all, but to reach this goal so soon into the program is an even bigger shock for me. I am thrilled, just thrilled. And I got it in front of my supportive group with my sweet group leader--it was nice.

E had a checkup today at the doctor, and then we did some brief shopping. An otherwise uneventful day. I do have to share a toddler-ism I just heard today: Trying to say, "Easter Egg Hunt," my son told me he wanted to share in an, "Easter cunt." Hmm. Not sure they have that. Made me blush, if you can imagine!

Night-night. I really need to rest up for tomorrow. Groceries, a boy's hair cut, and an immunization shot are to follow. Take care, and de-lurk, if possible. I'm getting lonely! :)

R

Neologisms

----------
emailed by my husband
----------
A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created
("coined") - often to apply to new concepts, to synthesize pre-
existing concepts, or to make older terminology sound more
contemporary. Neologisms are especially useful in identifying
inventions, new phenomena, or old ideas which have taken on a new
cultural context. The term e-mail, as used today, is an example of a
neologism. Neologisms are by definition "new", and as such are often
directly attributable to a specific individual, publication, period or
event. The term "neologism" was itself coined around 1800; so for some
time in the early 19th Century, the word "neologism" was itself a
neologism. Neologisms can also refer to an existing word or phrase
which has been assigned a new meaning.

Some previous Washington Post winners:

1. Coffee (n.) - the person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted (adj.) - appalled over how much weight you have
gained.

3. Abdicate (v.) - to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade (v.) - to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly (adj.) - impotent.

6. Negligent (adj.) - a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer
the door in your nightgown.

7. Lymph (v.) - to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle (n.) - olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence (n.) - emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are
run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash (n.) - a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle (n.) - a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (n.) - the formal, dignified bearing adopted by
proctologists.

13. Pokemon (n) - a Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster (n.) - a person who sprinkles his conversation with
Yiddishisms.

15. Frisbeetarianism (n.) - the belief that, when you die, your Soul
flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Circumvent (n.) - an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by
Jewish men.

The Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from
the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one
letter, and supply a new definition. Here are previous winners:

1. Bozone (n.) - The substance surrounding stupid people that stops
bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows
little sign of breaking down in the near future.

2. Cashtration (n.) - The act of buying a house, which renders the
subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

3. Giraffiti (n) - Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

4. Sarchasm (n) - The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and
the person who doesn't get it.

5. Inoculatte (v) - To take coffee intravenously when you are running
late.

6. Hipatitis (n) - Terminal coolness.

7. Osteopornosis (n) - A degenerate disease.

8. Karmageddon (n) - It's like, when everybody is sending off all
these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and
it's like, a serious bummer.

9. Decafalon (n.) - The grueling event of getting through the day
consuming only things that are good for you.

10. Glibido (v) - All talk and no action.

11. Dopeler effect (n) - The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter
when they come at you rapidly.

12. Arachnoleptic fit (n.) - The frantic dance performed just after
you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

13. Beelzebug (n.) - Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into
your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

14. Caterpallor (n.) - The color you turn after finding half a grub
in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

Ignoranus (n) - A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

On my mind . . .

I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping again, probably for various reasons, but partly because my mind won't let go of certain thoughts long enough to let me sleep. I wonder if it's because of the bipolar disorder, which can cause racing thoughts, especially at bedtime. I used to have this problem a lot before therapy and medication, but less so now. I don't know if I'm under-medicated, in need of therapy, or just plain having trouble sleeping. Is it because I'm a human being this time, or is it because I'm bipolar? I just don't know.

Regardless, I cannot sleep. So I thought I'd share some of the things that are on my mind preventing me from relaxing.

• I miss my dad. I read an email from him today and started crying. I haven't seen him in so long, it feels like forever. I used to see him every Saturday when I lived in San Antonio, and we would spend hours together, just getting to know each other all over again. Now he's 5 hours away, not an unsurmountable distance, but inconvenient nonetheless. Not exactly a quick day trip, although we've done that before. But we don't do that very often, as it's extremely draining being in the car that long. Driving through Austin is always hard since there seems to be one giant traffic jam there no matter what time of day or night you might pass through. Anyway, I miss him.
• I can still cry for my two lost pets at the drop of a hat. They were such a part of my life for so long, it's hard to move on from there and to heal. I dream about them, which makes me think they could visit me in my sleep and hold them once again. Maybe they will visit me less and less as I heal, making sure I'm okay before they move on. I miss them both deeply, my poodle and my rabbit.
• I'm angry at President Bush. CJ told me about a quote she'd heard, that he's "dividing our allies and uniting our enemies," the opposite of what should be done, and I think that's true. I don't know how Clinton can be impeached essentially for having an affair, and for sending our troops, unjustified, into another nation to be killed and to kill others, is somehow not an impeachable offense. I just don't get it. People are dying over this "mistake". He has yet to apologize, which is the least of what he should do, especially for the families of the soldiers who have died serving this country and believing he wouldn't send them in harm's way for nothing. It hurts me to think about the soldiers and their families, knowing it didn't have to happen, that they knew all along there was no evidence or justification for war, that we hadn't finished the job in Afghanistan, that we have basically proven right every stereotype the world views about American politics, that he is representing us to the world, and that innocent people have died in Iraq as well, that more people will die while he tries to fix this mess . . . It hurts. I love this country so much, I hate for other people to hate it. But sometimes they have good reason to, which is something I am sad to admit. What's best for the country is to build up our military strength, improve our security at home, and not spread our armed forces to the winds like an unlimited resource. These are people we're talking about. I could go on, but I won't.
• I still haven't heard from the insurance company about my surgery. I'm supposed to get a predetermination letter in the mail, but I have yet to receive it. I wish there was some way to check the status of that. I'd like to know what's going to happen. I'm still in pain here.
• Have I lost weight? I don't know. I missed my last meeting out of illness, and now I'm waiting until Tuesday for my next meeting. I would go to another meeting except I'm hoping to receive my key chain and if I do get it, I want it to be in front of the group I know and with my group leader. It would mean more for me to get it that way. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but I'm still cautiously optimistic.

Well, no one ever said the things keeping you awake have to be important things, or even interesting things. But that's where my thoughts are this early, early morning.

Time to try to get some sleep again. Maybe I can breathe this time. It's hit and miss lately. And I can't sleep with my mouth open. I just can't. I've tried. I just hate the cold feeling across my teeth as I inhale, and the dryness in my mouth . . . It'll even wake me up if it happens while I'm sleeping. I've trained myself to sleep with it closed, but on days when I have almost no air flow through my nose, it's an inconvenience.

Nighty-night.
R

More surprises from E

Yesterday, my toddler son surprised me with an unusual request. I'm sure parents of toddlers know how unusual my son can be--that he sleeps until 9:00 am, that he eats broccoli, will have a bowlful of black olives at mealtime, and more . . . But yesterday afternoon, while I was on the phone with my sister, CJ, he actually asked me if he could take a bath!

Yep, asked me if he could bathe. That was easy! Wow! And all he did while he was in there was play with a simple rubber duck. Sat there in the tub and squeeze it for about 15 minutes. Doesn't get easier than that. I think I got pretty lucky in the son department . . .

Today, he caught me putting a shirt over my bra. I was struggling to pull it over my elbows, and he stopped right next to me, poked me on the side of my bra, and just said, "Fruit on dere." Hmm. Then I realized that the bra was Fruit of the Loom, so there was fruit there, but I would say that was the last thing I expected him to say while catching me putting on a shirt.

The best surprises are the unexpected I-love-yous and the unprompted hugs, but all the surprises make him such an adventure. Like the last time I made him a quesadilla, then, tasting it, he looked at me and said, "It's good," with an approving nod. And when he tells me how much he does not want to eat eggplant, but will try it anyway. At least one bite, then decide if he doesn't like it. Then he'll clean his plate. What a great boy.

I'm still stuffed up and sleepless. So that's all I will write for now. I will catch up later.

R

I'm sick again . . .

But CJ, unsleepy, leaves her take on the topic of racism.

Something Positive . . .

. . . for a change!

I thought I'd share something I learned recently at a Weight Watchers meeting that applies to so much more, and it's been motivating me lately:

If you do nothing, nothing will happen.

Think about it.

G'night.

R

Reverse Racism/Racism

I've been thinking about something lately, and I thought I might share my viewpoint.

What is "reverse racism"? It's a term I made up, so I'm sure I'll have to explain. I'll give an example.

If someone says, "Black babies are so cute," or, "Mexican men are strong," is that considered a compliment? Or is it racist? Think about it. It's a compliment, meant to show the listener that the person they are talking to is open-minded or has a positive view of different races. However, I think it's the latter of the two explanations. Giving a compliment may not be racist, and it's not motivated by hate, but a generalization based on something the person has no control over is a prejudice, in my mind. Maybe the comments are motivated by "white guilt" or just ignorance, but they can hurt. And the person who said these things does not believe she's a racist person, but I see these small instances that seem to imply that she is, whether she knows it or not.

I think part of my opinion is formed from the fact that I see people trying to justify to others that they are open-minded, and it might be some insecurity on their part. Once I tell someone like this that I am part Hispanic, all of a sudden this person begins telling me all of the people they know of different minority groups, telling me of a minority person they respect, telling me something that they believe is complimentary about Hispanics . . . Just because you know a black person doesn't make you open-minded, I'm sorry. And then singling out someone on the basis of race, regardless of the circumstances, then becomes a racist act. If you see that person as a particular race and not an individual, it seems you still separate yourself from those groups. And then all of a sudden your best friend is a black person? Does that person know about this? Maybe we should tell him or her how proud you are to have a black friend, and what this does for your self-image.

Maybe you find yourself watching the news, and you see white people running a charitable organization that helps out the underprivileged in a particular community. The people they are helping happen to be minorities. So then you feel good about yourself that some white people are reaching out and giving back, and you see some minorities getting a helping hand and getting their lives back on track. You think we're moving in a positive direction. I'm not implying that these things aren't a step forward, but when you start thinking about white people helping the world, it starts to get a little uncomfortable for me. I don't mind that they are helping, just the fact that some whites might then feel that they have taken part in the charity themselves, as a race and not as individuals. Or that people see minorities as people who need help. I'm sure it's something like racism in the workplace or in the community that limits opportunities given to some, but it's an economic factor, rather than a race factor that causes many of the stereotypes people have of downtrodden minorities.

I know racism still exists in a negative way. I can't prove it, but I think the homeowners association here made the Hispanics on our block move their plants indoors and remove the landscaping materials they had put in, when I see white families on other streets with the very things these people were asked to remove. I really can't see any other reason to do that. The HOA simply didn't like these people for one reason or another, but I think I know the reason. It's one of the things I don't like about the South, in general--that racism still abounds.

Racism in this area of Texas is more obvious than in San Antonio, I think because minorities are so prominent there. This is a predominantly white area, and you can occasionally see the prejudices emerge. The Confederate flag decals, the nasty looks, the rude attitude, the insults . . . It's all here. I don't like it. It makes me ashamed to call myself a Texan, and it's a real shame since there are so many good things about Texas to be proud of.

Sometimes it's necessary to generalize people into groups or even into races, just for organization's sake. But when it's unnecessary, it's a negative generalization. "Hispanic women are pretty," isn't a compliment to me, since they aren't really complimenting ME. They are saying I had nothing to do with it--the exercise, the diet, the care for my skin and hair, my choices in clothing--are all beside the point, it seems. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I don't want to be just a Hispanic. Sometimes I need to be--I get it. I understand. I accept the responsibility. But I don't always need or want it. I want some of my own efforts to be applauded.

I'm probably overly self-conscious about race issues. I know that. I've had arguments over this topic with people I know and respect. It's the racism I hate, not the races. I don't hate white people, just specific people's attitudes towards others. Not everyone does this. But I think we should think about how we look at other people and decide whether or not we make racist generalizations. Analyze our own behavior toward others, how we act around different races, and how we interact. Do you catch yourself assuming the Mexican person down the block is dealing drugs? Or that the black person behind you is getting ready to mug you? Or that the minority family on your street is struggling to make ends meet?

Someone I know (and will not name) believed that the black family across the street was into drugs and crime. And when some mail turned up missing from the mailbox, guess who was immediately blamed? As it turned out, none of these assumptions were true, and this person ended up eating crow. She really thought her opinions were justified, however, even after being proven wrong. I think it's sad. I don't like seeing people this way. I hate seeing entire families of predominantly white Texans "guarding" our border for national security, while ignoring the insecure Canadian border, I guess because Canadians look too much like "we" do. And somehow I don't think these vigilantes are checking for passports or reviewing the Interpol wanted listings. I agree that we need secure borders, but at what cost? What about humanity? Don't people deserve the chance to make a life here in the United States? If life is so difficult where they come from that they would literally risk their lives to make ends meet for their families, why are we being so heartless? Why do our borders have to be protected against darker skinned people and not others? The terrorists of 9/11 mostly crossed into the United States through the Canadian border, not Mexico. So why is Mexico such a threat? Really, we should ask ourselves what the real reasons are.

Well, I'm sure I've made some enemies tonight. I'm tired, so I'm sure I didn't really make my points clearly enough. I may be doing some clarifications tomorrow. It's a big topic for one blog entry, so I'm sorry this became so involved and extensive. I'm sure I didn't do justice to the points I was trying to make. I was kind of all over the place tonight, and not very clear. That happens when I'm sleep deprived.

Good night, peeps, and blog ya later.

R

Did I say that?

I guess I did, because my boy repeated it back to me today. This is how it went:

I was getting ready to meet over at my in-laws when my son walked in the room. As a finishing touch, I decided to use a body spray that I had gotten a while ago at Bath and Body Works. As I'm misting the spray over my body, my son asks, "What, you don't smell too good today?"

I laughed at the unexpected question, then I think I just agreed with him. I must have said it once while I was using the spray once before, and I guess I told him that I used it when I don't smell good. I guess. I don't really remember. I'm not sure where he might have picked that up, though, except for me.

We ran around in the backyard for a little bit after we got home. For some reason, this reminded E of something he had seen on tv, and he told me, "The Mythbusters said, 'ahhh!' when the fire came up in the Mythbusters' house." Sounds like lots of episodes of Mythbusters! But I smiled and said, "Yeah!" with some mock enthusiasm. He liked this idea all of a sudden, and says, "We're the Mythbusters! We're the Mythbusters guys!" Of course, his idea of pretending to be the Mythbusters is just to keep running around the yard exactly as before, only occasionally reconfirming that we are indeed Mythbusters. Then he wanted to use the pooper scooper. Weird boy.

I can't sleep for some reason, so I thought I'd blog a bit. I should try again, though. Never give up! I'll catch that sleep! It can't hide from me forever! Sooner or later, it'll get tired. I'm watching and waiting . . . Then I'll catch some sleep.

Laters,
R

Confession

I guess I need to confess (hey, that rhymes!) that on Tuesday I actually gained a pound after my vacation. I have been telling myself it's because of bloating and because I ate extra even on days when I was in the car a lot. I didn't stray from the plan at all, but I guess I should have made modifications for being in the car. I probably didn't drink enough water, either. Not good. Not good at all.

So I'm back on track this week and hoping for better news on Tuesday. I really think it's nothing to worry about, but I didn't really want to publicize my disappointment. But I guess someone else might benefit from hearing about it, especially someone else trying to lose weight. All I can really do is what I've been doing, and then see if I need to make changes when I see my weight results next week. So far, the plan has been working, so I have only vacation and car time to blame. I really think it's the most plausible explanation. I mean, I really stuck to the plan, even when I REALLY didn't want to, like when I smelled fried catfish and wanted it, saw delicious chicken-fried steak and wanted it, when I craved Doritos and passed them up . . . Countless times. I didn't even get my customary car-trip scone at Starbucks! That's dedication! Really!

So I'm going to be smarter this week, drink lots of water, and as my former doctor in San Antonio put it, "Pee like a horse!" It's funnier when he says it, since he has a strong accent and an intimidating voice. You don't expect him to say stuff like that! Anyway, that's my strategy for the week.

I've been tired after a massive grocery trip yesterday that took several trips to the trunk to unload, and two loads of laundry to fold and put away. My muscles are hella sore. So now I need a resting day. Vacuuming tomorrow, maybe. I need to visit my Millie (mother-in-law) tomorrow since she's having back surgery on Wednesday and could use some friendly distractions. But otherwise we have no plans this weekend. Sounds nice.

Later, folks. Talk to you soon.
R

Vacation Pics

Got to go hiking a little bit, saw some lovely scenery:

The Bennster got to travel with us this time, and he went hiking, too!

Then we had to take a boat out on the lake, even though it was off-season and the water levels were a bit low. It was warm and beautiful that day, and we had a relaxing time. Doesn't C look manly at the helm of our boat?

Alas, we had to come home. We missed our house and our darling son. And I missed this blog! And the internet! Wow, it's hard living without the internet once you've become so used to having it in your life. I kept wanting to look things up every time we had a question! But we're back.

Write more later!
R

Here's C standing in front of an idyllic Arkansas valley on our vacation this past weekend.

Our condo was right on a finger of Lake Hamilton.

Happy Anniversary!

This is a belated post--my anniversary was Friday, March 2! We hit the big 0-5 wedding anniversary, and went out of town for a vacation to Hot Springs, AR.

The things I love about my husband:

• He says, "I love you," every day.
• He kisses me good-night.
• He has a way of saying just the right thing at just the time when I need to hear it.
• He thanks me for cooking dinner and for putting the baby to bed, even though I do it every day.
• He has a great sense of humor--weird, rude, and often self-deprecating.
• He's actually excited about getting our lawn green this summer. He bought a book about it and everything--it's bedtime reading. :)
• He remembers to encourage me without pushing me--a tough thing to do.
• He asked me to marry him before I had even started my medications or therapy--I'm surprised I was lovable at ALL!
• He proposed to me in Paris, France! A romantic proposal . . .
• When he met me for the first time, he brought gifts for my dog.
• During a romantic interlude in a hotel room, we forgot to close the door all the way. I was horribly embarrassed, and to diffuse the situation he snickered, "Did you hear those people earlier? Geesh, get a room, People!"
• He rubbed my knees and helped me down every single flight of stairs when my knees had become horribly inflamed and painful on vacation a few years ago. I couldn't even bend my legs when I woke up in the morning, they had swollen so badly.
• He always tries to talk to my Grandmother in Spanish, and listens even when she goes into a guilt trip tirade.
• He's a fantastic father who loves and plays with his son daily, carries him on his shoulders even when it hurts, changes diapers, takes him to his grandma's when I need a break, and much, much more.
• He gives me spontaneous foot rubs while we're sitting on the sofa watching tv.
• He tells me I'm beautiful, sexy, fun . . . Things you can never hear too often . . .
• He's mine--all mine! :)

I love you, Honey! Happy 5th Anniversary!
R

Getting To Know Me

Welcome to the 2007 edition of getting to know your Friends. What you are
supposed to do is copy not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a
new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers so they apply to you,
and then send this to your friends including the person who sent it to you.

The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your
friends, that you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning? I'm lucky, my toddler sleeps till 9:00am.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Both--Gimme!
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What is this "cinema" you speak of?
4. What is your favorite TV show? 24, Deadwood, Big Love
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? A variety of healthy foods
7. What is your middle name? Lynn
8. What food do you dislike? Liver, digestive organs, anything that is still looking at me, and stuff with suction cups.
9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Finn Brothers, "Everyone is Here"
10. What kind of car do you drive? A top-of-the-line Ford Focus
11. Favorite sandwich? Pretty much any sandwich with bacon--or guacamole!
12. What characteristic do you despise? Prejudice. Really despise it.
13. Favorite item of clothing? Clothing.
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Paris, France, or almost anywhere in Canada.
15. What color is your bathroom? Beige-y.
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Whatever's cheap and fits me.
17. Where would you retire to? Paris or Canada.
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My husband threw confetti all over me to wake me up (the sharp, pointy, poky kind) and read me a card with a funny birthday song on it--we still quote that card as a pick-me-up now and then.
19. Favorite sport to watch? basketball.....go Spurs :)
20. Farthest place you are sending this? New Jersey
21. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? You know who you are . . .
22. Person you expect to send it back first? ???
23. Favorite saying? "Crapola" and stuff I picked up from "Deadwood"
24. When is your birthday? June 25
25. Are you a morning person or a night person? They are both pretty sweet . . .
26. What is your shoe size? 6 or 6 1/2. And, how rude of you to ask!
27. Pets? My only dog, a Pomeranian named Benny.
28. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I've lost almost 14 pounds so far!
29. What did you want to be when you were little? An artist or an author
30. How are you today? Fine, how are you?
31. What is your favorite candy? Chocolate. Chocolate anything.
32. What is your favorite flower? Daffodils
33. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? All of 'em.
34. What church do you attend? What business is it of yours? And why do you assume I go to church and not a synagogue, temple, or "nothing"?
33. What is your full name? XXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXX
34. What are you listening to right now? My husband and my son laughing together.
35. What was the last thing you ate? An english muffin sandwich
36. Do you wish on stars? used to, but that is a lot of pressure for a star
37. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? What is a fat, cranky color?
38. How is the weather right now? Cold. Windy.
39. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My husband.
40. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Like? No. LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEEE? Yes!
41. Favorite soft drink? Diet Rite Strawberry Kiwi soda
42. Favorite restaurant? A bunch from San Antonio, TX
43. Hair color? reddish brown
44. Sibling? 2 sisters and a brother-in-law
45. Favorite day of the year? All of 'em. Any day I can get out of bed is a good one.
46. What was your favorite toy as a child? A stuffed horse named Derby Dan. I still have him.
47. Summer or winter? Winters in Texas are pretty mild. Spring in Paris, Fall in Fredricksburg, TX and in the Northeast--in other words, it depends.
48. Hugs or kisses? Oh, a lady never tells!
49. Chocolate or Vanilla? Ice cream? Both. Candy? Chocolate.
50. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes, or they won't be my friends anymore.
51. When was the last time you cried? Watching Dangerous Catch on Discovery Channel--a ship sank. It was very very sad.
52. What is under your bed? Carpet
53. Who is the friend you have had the longest? IXXX
54. What did you do last night? Watched Big Love and South Park with my husband.
55. Favorite smell? That pear stuff I used to put in my bath in Montreal on my honeymoon--it smelled wonderful! Still my favorite smell.
56. What are you afraid of? I don't want to think about it.
57. Plain, buttered, or salted Popcorn? Buttery and salty!
58. How many keys on your key ring? 2 maybe, and some keys floating around without chains . . .
59. How many years at your current job? Hmmm . . . I've been a mom for over three years now!
60. Favorite day of the week? They are all pretty sweet . . .
61. How many towns have you lived in? 2. Yippee.
62. Do you make friends easily? Apparently not or I'd have some by now.
63. How many people will you be sending this to? Not telling. It would be too sad.