Third time is a charm

Yesterday's time to stop and think was good, and prematurely halted when it cleared up and ended up being just gorgeous here! I had to get out and do stuff.

Joshua BBQ'd chicken for lunch just because. He's worked really hard this summer to be a good BBQ cook. It was delish! Awesome kid too, but he really hates it when I try to take a bite outta him.

I made plans to go clothes shopping with my friend V (before my discount expires) so we met at a store between our 2 homes. I found a nice pair of slacks and she found a couple of tops. We went out for a soda. Just before we parted I toyed with the idea of going to Bed Bath and Beyond to see if they had an over-the-door hook for my closet (mine broke, oops) but decided that I wasn't enthused about it, so I said goodbye and went home.

Almost home, I call J. Oh heck, "Do you want to come to the Bed Bath and Beyond near us with me?" Yeah, he did. Cool. While there he found the bedding set we'd been searching for for his room! One problem - they didn't have a twin size, and wanted to charge us $8 for shipping because they didn't have it! Oh heck no. Tell me where it is and we'll go get it. Guess where? Yep - the previous BB&B. Drat. Out we went and all is well ~ Plus he got a carpet and a pencil cup. Lucky kid.

We went from there to grocery shopping. Then of course there was no room in my car for more! LoL

Home again, I find a screen name I know and love. Avivah, is on the computer in Minot! We chitter chatter. Verizon is still a problem and we discuss that. She sent me some great pics from her trip to the Minot Zoo. Great convo and lots of virtual hugs and smooches are traded. Gosh, I adore that girl.

My BFF chimes in from across town and asks if I can come look at shelf and paint chips for a project he's considering. Sure! Where does he live? a mile S of the BB&B on the other side of town. Yep, that's 3!

Oh my poor gas tank. $! Guess that means I should get my tail in gear and earn a little more. This whole having weekends off thing is still novel ~ and exhausting too. LOL It's a good kind of exhausting. :)

Have a great Monday!

Thankful

Yesterday was beautiful and I went out midday to enjoy the sunshine.
Today is rainy and I'll probably stay in and enjoy the productivity.
There's something to enjoy and for which to be thankful in every day.

In catching up on a few days of e-mail I realize how much I am thankful for the rights of free speech and assembly for those who choose to use them properly, and how those rights appear to be endangered.

Though they chose not to post a comment here, there are several who sent me e-mails saying:

• ALL people who were victims of police brutality in Denver and St. Paul deserved it.
• That, even after being shown reports from several news sources, they were convinced that those sources had ulterior motives and were not reliable.
• ALL protestors must have been members of radical groups that forced police to take drastic actions.
• Americans shouldn't exercise their right to lawfully assemble or to speak out against war. Literally: Those who would assemble and speak out should "stay home".

As the two major candidates express their homogenized platforms, effectively lulling the masses into a factless, statisticless, glazed-over stupor, the population that demands government accountability, focus on international trade imbalances, cessation from unjust war, solutions to joblessness and alternative energy here in the United States, is furious and frustrated, and, even while expressing that in a lawful and permitted manner, is silenced by force.

I agree that those who caused damage, broke demonstration area lines, and blocked delegate busses from reaching the convention, all provoked police action. If that was their goal they certainly achieved it. In spades.

Still, I am proud that groups like "Funk the War" and "Military Families Speak Out", among others, stood up and spoke out in law abiding ways. I hold a strong belief in non-violence and peaceful demonstration. Citizens here have a right to be heard.

What is unfortunate is that peaceful groups got treated the same way as destructive groups. Of course, so did innocent observers, journalists, bikers and select St. Paul "hippie" residents in their own homes.

Today I am thankful that the conventions are over, that the police state has abated for now, and that both police and protestor have time to evaluate the actions and reactions that led to such horrific scenes.

Now is the time to "stay home", all of us. Reflect on what you've heard and what you've seen. Set aside the grand-standing and pomp. Push to fill in the facts on those hole-filled platforms. Think about your willingness to live with what is being proposed. Take in what each candidate's idea of leadership means to you.

And, if you are ever moved to take a stand against your government and legally, peacefully, demonstrate or verbalize your feelings, think about how you may be treated, and what that says of our "inalienable rights" of speech and assembly.

Today, in Michigan, I am thankful for the quiet, cleansing, rainy day.

LISTEN

It may not speak from my belief system, but the message touched me and applies everywhere. Start wherever you are right now.

Listen... hear the oppression, the brutality, the injustices.

Listen.

As you listen and are moved, act.

Blessed Be.

More about yesterday

This is the update I received on the situation with the people I know who were arrested during a peaceful protest in St. Paul (video).

These people are NOT those who were 'acting out'. They were not destructive, or foul mouthed, nor were they resistant to the unjust arrests.

(edited)
Jason was tased seven times on the street, while completely unresisting. We just heard from him. He's still pulling copper out of his hip from the taser gun, has a long, deep laceration in his leg that is still untreated, was beaten up badly and has a black eye, a hurt mouth and many lacerations, but says he's doing great.

Elliot, a nineteen year old who came to our camp, was badly beaten when the cops knocked him off his bicycle. They stepped on his chest, and he was coughing blood all night but received no medical treatment. The guards were calling him "Princess" and making homophobic remarks.

We heard from Jason that last night, Elliot was making noises to protest not receiving any food for more than twelve hours. Twelve officers entered his cell. Screams were heard for over five minutes. He was tasered three times, maced, and beaten, then removed and the men were told he was being taken to a restraint chair. We have heard, now, that he is being released and are trying to confirm this.

Riyanna is still in jail. When last we heard, she was okay and with the other women.

Many others have been arrested and are being badly treated and denied medical care, so please include them all in your prayers and energy. I'll keep you updated. love, S

As furious as I am?
Here are some numbers for you to take action.
St. Paul Mayor, Chris Coleman: 651.266.8510
Ramsey County Sherriff, Bob Fletcher: 651.266.8500
Complaint number, Ramsey County jail: 651.266.8989

They are all flooded with calls but I eventually got through. Other than seeing the horrifying arrest on video, we, the people, are not considered witnesses to contend their innocence or the unjustified arrests. Rather than that, I told them that Jason, Riyanna and Elliot, and undoubtedly others at the Ramsey County jail and holding facility, are being held without appropriate medical treatment or food and are being treated in ways that are inhumane and cruel.

I pray those words are helpful. What words will you use?

WATCH, PLEASE

http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=81605

This is government's idea of security at the RNC/DNC, each with an infusion of $50 million in federal funds to burn and having completely unchecked power.

If you don't see it, and hear the words "He's not resisting", turn it up, watch it again. Judge for yourself... as he is tazed mercilessly.

If you don't think the words "barbaric" and "uncalled for", watch the video again and again until the horror sinks in and unfolds before you.

These are people, one being tazed and another being arrested, that I know, though we have never met in person. They are well known within my community, and personally known by people I love and respect. What they did to deserve this treatment is something unconscionable, they stood up, peacefully.

The RNC is not alone in this. The DNC had its own events, though there were fewer. This is a press conference after some of the police intimidation and violence happened in a permitted park area.

Yes, there were protesters at both conventions that were violent. Some believe that you have to cause chaos for people to take note. They broke windows, slashed tires...

These are not those people.

These were peaceful protests by people without weapons. People who believe that we all, you and me and everyone, have the inalienable right to gather and speak our minds in this country.

The police have terrified a 5 year old girl, putting a gun to her mother's chest right in front of her, committed illegal search and seizure, beat an innocent bicyclist until he vomited blood, arrested a whole family as they confiscated their environmental education bus, and so much more. All because of peaceful protests, some against our government, many of them against the war in Iraq.

Lest you think this is a personal appeal, try some others. Sadly, there's plenty of them.

Say a prayer, generate some energy, light a candle, do whatever it is that you are moved to do as an American, as a compassionate human, to bring healing to these terrible scenes.

Stop the fear and severe reactions brought about by peaceful protests. Allow people to have their voice without such dreadful repercussions.
Please.

2 Scoops!

Scoop #1: A friend of Sharon's - and therefore a friend of mine - Jon Ostrower, SCOOPED the Democratic VeeP pick (Joe Biden, for those of you living in a hole) on his B2B blog before it was announced! Yes, the facts were verified. Jon scooped it first.

Scoop #2: A new Ice Cream shop is open for business in Allen Park, Michigan, called the AP Daily Scoop! It is owned and operated by my friend and all 'round awesome woman, Sheila, and her business partner Bonnie! Read about it here and here ... and then git'cher tail over to Allen Park, MI for some ice cream!

So for today - That's the SCOOP!

"You don't know what you've got til it's gone....

they pave paradise and put up a parking lot."

Or in my case: You work on the weekends (Sundays in particular) for 30 years of your life as a teacher. Then you work random times and days through the weekends as a retail sales associate.

I was rarely confronted with an issue that had me resenting my Sunday classes. I didn't know what I was missing 'cause I never really missed it (except annually on Mother's Day). I had a fine parking lot and I didn't know any better.

In retail I knew right away that I wanted the flexibility to be home when my kids were home. Much of that meant weekend days/evenings, but I could only ask for so many of those off. It was really tough some days, to confess to the kids that I had to work - almost always smack in the middle of the time they wanted to do something with me.

Of course it was a good lesson for them to see and learn. Work is a neccessity, not a convenience, and you just have to roll with the punches and do your job. But I was beginning to remember paradise and to resent the parking lot.

Since getting my new job I have my weekends OFF. Wow, what a difference. NOW I know what I've been missing! The concrete has broken, fresh rain water is getting to those neglected roots, and the flowers are growing towards the beckoning call of sunshine.

Last weekend I went out on Saturday night and had fun. This weekend I went to the Detroit Grand Prix with Joshua all day Saturday and went out yet again with friends on Sun/Mon. Just came home this evening.

Dare I say it? I feel positively... human!