I Wanna Be a Writer

I have always liked to write ~ for as long as I can remember. I wish I had kept some of my writing from high school. It would be fun to see how it has changed over the years. Anyhow, I write poetry and short stories, mostly just for fun or for friends. But I have always wanted to write a novel. Sound silly? And the older I get, the stronger the desire. I can't afford to take classes or anything. But, I recently found a whole year's worth of "The Writer" Magazine. It is FULL of information and writing exercises. It is a fascinating magazine. So, I have finally started working on my first novel, using some of the tips and lessons from the magazine. I also started 2 new blogs. The second one is linked to the first one. Just something I decided to try for fun. I don't know if I'll ever get anywhere with it, but it feels good. Another thing I have always enjoyed is learning new things. And I certainly have lots to learn about writing. So you should check it out. Click here to go to the first site. There is a link on that site to get to the second one if you have any interest.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow! It has really been a while since I've written anything here! Where did the time go?

Well, as you can imagine, I'm sure, life can be hectic, chaotic, full of pain, full of laughter, full of stress, full of peace, lonely, full of friends, etc., etc. Sometimes one season follows another, sometimes it seems like several different seasons at once. Such is life on this planet.

So, many things have been going on. You should see my granddaughter now! She is 14 months old and more amazing everyday. She is definitely a delight to behold. I could go on and on, but I'm probably the only one who would really enjoy that, so I won't.

Oh, and I started a new blog. You gotta check it out! I love to read, and I love to write (all kinds of writing), and I think this new blog could be a blast. Go to http://progressivenovels.blogspot.com. I can't wait to see where this goes (assuming others get involved and find it as intriguing and fun as me...)

I have to run for now, but I promise I'll be back.

Nadya Suleman and Her Octuplets

Wow! Fourteen children. I don't know this woman or very much about her, but she must have a heart the size of Texas. Have you listened to any of her interviews on TV? She is very articulate, intelligent, educated. She is actually going for her Masters Degree in counseling! She is no "idiot" as many have called her, she deserves NO death threats, as apparently many have made toward her. Do we wonder why she would make such a decision? Yes. But do we ~ any of us ~ have a right to attack her for her decision, threaten to take her kids away and adopt them out, or belittle her for her way of life? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

How can ANY one of us complain that she has used disability payments (which she rightly received, not by manipulating any "system") to help pay for raising her children?! How can we say the budget deficit is already too large and therefore she deserves no public assistance (which she hates receiving and has a plan to stop as soon as possible)? How can we be FOR the so-called "stimulus package" of President Obama and yet complain AT ALL about any budget deficit, or about burdens on the taxpayers? You have GOT to be kidding.

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is struggling to close a $42 billion budget gap by cutting services, declined through a spokesman to comment on the taxpayer costs associated with the octuplets' delivery and care. State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, an oral surgeon who sits on the Health Committee, said that once a state Medical Board investigation is complete, lawmakers could review issues from government oversight to standards in fertility treatment." Just how many freedoms are we Americans willing to give away anyway?!!! My outrage is NOT toward Nadya, but toward those citizens who are so heartless, and those government officials who would use this as an excuse to take away more of our rapidly eroding personal freedoms.

"It's my opinion that a woman's right to reproduce should be limited to a number which the parents can pay for," Charles Murray wrote in a letter to the Los Angeles Daily News. "Why should my wife and I, as taxpayers, pay child support for 14 Suleman kids?"

"Why should my wife and I, as taxpayers, pay child support for 14 Suleman kids?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Those of us who consider abortion to be murder are yet required AS TAXPAYERS to fund abortions for any and every reason ~ worldwide!!! There are so many things our tax dollars are paying for that we SHOULD be outraged about, and yet we are, for the most part, strangely silent.

And all those who have sent DEATH THREATS to this family actually believe there is less wrong with THAT than there is with having a large family!!!

Would I have made the same decisions Nadya has made? No! But should she have the freedom to choose the size of her family? YES! How many single mothers continue having children out of simply irresponsible choices (too inconvenient to use a condom but oh well, I'm on welfare anyway and always will be, so no big deal)? This is not what Nadya has done. She CHOSE to have a large family. She has a PLAN to improve her life circumstances and NOT BE DEPENDENT on welfare long-term.

She was also berated on talk radio, where listeners accused her of manipulating the system and being an irresponsible mother. "From the outside you can tell that this woman was playing the system," host Bryan Suits said on the "Kennedy and Suits" show on KFI-AM. "You're damn right the state should step in and seize the kids and adopt them out." Berated on talk radio? What kind of people have we become? And "you can tell that this woman was playing the system." How can you tell that? Because I can't tell that. "The state should step in and seize the kids"? Let me ask you, should the state step in and seize kids every time the parents make choices the state doesn't like ~ or you don't like? Because that would certainly make me feel safer in my home. If I insist my kids attend church, should the state step in and "seize them"? If I insist my kids speak respectfully to me and other adults, should the state step in and "seize them"? If I insist my kids do chores around the house and don't pay them minimum wage, should the state step in and "seize them"? If I choose to home school my children, and as a result they score better on every academic test known to man than public school children their age, should the state step in and "seize them"?

Do we think anything through to its logical conclusion anymore here in America? This so-called "stimulus package", or "national healthcare", are 2 things that can ONLY BANKRUPT this country, if you think things through to their logical conclusion. But that doesn't seem to be very popular these days. I want what I want TODAY ~ to hell with tomorrow, to hell with logic, to hell with freedom. Give me, give me, give me. America has become the spoiled brat in the Willie Wonka movie ~ I want it! Give it to me NOW! I don't care! I want it!

Wake up America. Open your eyes and see where your selfishness and greed are taking you and your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren. Work hard and pull YOURSELF up. Stimulate YOUR OWN family economy with delayed gratification, putting even very small amounts into savings, being creative entrepreneurs, helping each other, getting out of debt and staying out of debt... Stop asking and expecting the government to take care of you. That isn't America. There is not ONE SINGLE country in the entire world where socialism has worked, or where national healthcare has worked. Not one. Do your homework. America has always been unique and it has always worked, and because it worked so well, we were able to help other countries and peoples. Now we are becoming more like the other failed countries, and there is no one to help anyone.

It isn't too late... yet... But it is getting close to it. Start by changing your own attitudes, and by voting for people who can help AMERICA for tomorrow, not just you and not just for today.

I hope you will tell me your opinions. And I hope they are not laced with "death threats" because we may disagree. I have been articulate and rational, though passionate. Please do me the same favor.

Paula

I have been reading about the Paula Goodspeed suicide. You know, the one who auditioned on American Idol and was turned away. Goodspeed had been diagnosed with mental illness before she auditioned on the show. Apparently she had already been stalking Paula Abdul, had legally changed her first name from Sandra to Paula, had a personalized license place that referenced Paula Abdul, had Abdul's picture hanging from her rearview mirror, and tried to dress like her and imitate her style. I read that she had been sending disturbing letters and notes to Paula Abdul for almost 18 years before she ever auditioned on Idol. I also read that Paula Abdul, who begged the show's producers not to allow the audition, was shaking and terrified during the audition. And now Goodspeed's family wants to blame her suicide on Simon Cowell's rudeness during the show. Amazing. I am sorry for the tragic death of Paula Goodspeed. But it seems to me she was a ticking time-bomb that could have been triggered by anything. I didn't even think Simon's remarks were all that rude ~ he simply questioned how any performer could sing with "so much metal in her mouth." (Goodspeed wore braces.) If you listen to her interview before the audition, she could barely speak clearly, leaving you wondering how her singing would be. And it wasn't at all good. And as far as criticizing Simon Cowell for his "rudeness": a) the show is extremely popular not only to viewers but to aspiring singers, with Simon being the way Simon is; b) those who have seen the show and know themselves to be "sensitive" to criticism should avoid auditioning in the first place (I know I'm too sensitive to ever give it a try, and so I don't); c) I didn't think Simon's comments were that harsh ~ he could have been saying that without the braces she might have a chance so try again at a later date; and d)as I said before, she was already so troubled that if she hadn't been set off by the show it would have been something else. I pray for her family, I pray for Paula Abdul who I believe is also suffering in all of this, but I do not believe Simon or anyone else is to blame. Please, please, please let's stop always trying to blame someone when something happens. Life happens, life owes us NOTHING, life can be hard, and it can be tragic (believe me, I know), but life is what it is, and no one "deserves" better, or "deserves" a break, or "deserves" to have it easier ~ life just is what it is on this earth. If we want more inner peace as we experience life as it is, there is only one source for that kind of peace, and it isn't having more money, or suing someone for more money, or gaining fame through whatever means so you can get more money ~ seriously, it is ONLY possible with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your savior. The peace He gives comes from Himself, who loves you and never changes, and His peace is dependent ONLY on Him and not on your outward circumstances. And what He gives He gives because of His great love, NOT because any of us "deserve" it. My heart breaks for those who experience tragedy, such as the family of Paula Goodspeed, and I will continue to pray for them as they have to face each day without the one they love. But I do hope they will stop trying to find someone to blame. It won't help them deal with their loss.