Confessions

The ugly truth, as much as a lover as I am, is that I really have this desire to knock someone out, just once.  That is really sad, and it is certainly not a martial arts attitude.  But, it's the truth, and above all else, I value honesty.

Waiting and Grief

I am not waiting.  I am not grieving for any one person.  So far as I know, I have no friends or family affected (other than being sent there to help in rescue efforts) by the earthquake in Haiti.  However, today I read this.

Relatives of Americans Missing in Haiti Angry

It made me extremely sad.  I know that they just want to know.  The waiting to know is almost unbearable. But, have they not seen the utter devastation?  Do they not realize that it may take months, even years, to find everyone that was covered in the rubble?  Do they not realize that their loved ones may never be found?  Do they not realize that Haiti is a third world country and does not have the access to the things we do, in situations like this?  Do they not remember how long it took to identify bodies after 9/11, and that not all the people were found?  Do they not realize that rescue crews are doing everything they can to help everyone?  I know that grief can make you crazy, but expecting a miracle just because miracles happen is too much.  Miracles don't happen because we're the US.  Our government is not the cause of miracles.  That's a huge misconception.

I am so sorry for all the loss of lives, homes, and families in Haiti.  I wish that I was still nursing so that I could donate breastmilk for the babies.  I wish that they needed Gary.  If Gary went down there, I would feel like I was doing something.  As it is, I just have to keep living my life.

Edit: And, this is what I'm talking about.  There is no way, with all the mass graves, that everyone will be identified.  And, truly, I feel for these families.  My brother drowned 10 1/2 years ago.  He was identified by tattoos and a steel plate in his hand.  None of his friends or family ever saw him.  Sometimes, it is hard for me to believe he is really dead, even though I logically know that he is.  It will be even harder for these families if their loved ones are never found.  But, it's not the government's fault. It just is.

Setting Boundaries

As adults, we have to set boundaries for all the youngsters around us.  I'm not just talking about how late they can stay out, and what movies they can watch.  I'm talking about the boundaries of their relationships with us.  We especially need to be aware of the need to set boundaries when we are dealing with teens of the opposite sex.

We see it much more often in the news than we should, men and women having sex with teenagers.  When men have sex with teenagers, it is often considered child abuse.  When women do it, it is not nearly as frowned upon, except by mothers of boys.

But, sometimes, this is not just a case of sex.  Sometimes (often, it seems, in the case of the women), these things start out as friendship.  Slowly, the friendship develops, until eventually, the friends find themselves much more than friends.

Women need to be aware of their friendships with teenage boys.  They need to realize that those boys are not old enough to set those boundaries.  It is the woman's responsibility.  When a friendship starts to become too intimate, the woman (or man) needs to take a few steps back and throw ups some walls.  It is  after a relationship becomes intimate emotionally, that it becomes intimate physically.

I just want to make it clear that when a teenager tells you that you're a MILF, your relationship has become too intimate.  Now, I'm not saying that you're not always someone's MILF, but when your relationship is close enough that they are willing to tell you so, you need to back off.  That probably means that you missed a few warning signs that the levies were breaking.  You need to throw up some walls, and dam up the holes, before the hurricane hits.

Our Stance on Terrorism

It has been obvious over the last 12 months that our stance on terrorism had taken a drastic turn.  The current administration is attempting to try terrorists in civilian courts.  I'm just waiting for one of them to get off on a technicality.  If you really believe this won't happen, you're fooling yourself.

Now, we've told Israel that if they don't make deals with terrorists, they're out in the cold.  *sigh*  I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but for some reason, I can't help it.

I Disagree

Maine Woman Who Killed Husband Won't Go to Prison

I really don't have a problem with this woman killing her husband.  After all, I wouldn't have a problem with a Muslim terrorist's wife killing him, and I would kill my husband if he ever abused our children.  Quite frankly, if my husband was looking at child pornography, I would report him to police.  On the other hand, I know that many women who are abused feel that they have no way to get out of those relationships.  So many women are killed, even after they 'escape' an abusive relationship, that I can understand that feeling.

However, there are a few quotes that I disagree with.

Assistant Attorney General Leane Zania recommended that Cummings spend a year behind bars. Although Cummings was clearly abused by her husband, a message must be sent that "this kind of 'self-help' is severely anti-social behavior and that it will be punished accordingly," Zania wrote.

I don't consider killing an abusive, deranged husband "severely anti-social behavior." In fact, I consider it a a public service.

And, I consider this quote,

Outside of the courthouse, Amber Cummings thanked people in the community for their support. Her husband was mentally ill, she said, and she didn't want people to be angry with him.

proof that Ms. Cummings is mentally ill, probably due to the abuse. Anyone that doesn't want other people to be angry that she was abused, needs the help of a good therapist.

Sometimes, I Swear

Sometimes, I swear long and hard.  After all, I used to be a sailor.  I have the credentials for it.  Usually, it is after reading a comment like this:

 ....the determination has been made that right now any additional transfers to Yemen is not a good idea."

No freakin' way!  What, you're trying to tell me that a country that has hosted Al Qaeda (willingly or unwillingly) since BEFORE 2000 is not a good place to send Gitmo terrorists detainees?  Whatever gave them that idea?

Then, there's the "I think the important thing to recognize here is that once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have," she said on ABC's "This Week." "We trained for this. We planned for this." 


Because we all want to have to rely on the willingness of passengers/civilians to die, in order keep other people from dying.  Swearing happened when I heard that quote.  Yes, of course the last resort is the other passengers.  But, in my opinion, if this is what they've trained for, I definitely need to become a prepper, because our country just isn't safe.

Winter Warmth?

Oh winter sun,

You're so deceiving.

You look so warm,

But you're really freezing.