A Plea, A Problem And A Rant

Although Human Rights Watch is unable to verify the authenticity of this letter, it does reinforce what they already know about the Chinese labour camps and supports what they know to be deplorable work conditions in them.

By now, most have heard about the woman in Oregon, who opened a box of Halloween decorations purchased from K-Mart to find a handwritten letter allegedly from a worker in one of these such camps. A plea for help and an end to what’s going on in a country that sends so many products overseas to you and I. The letter states, “Thousands people here who are under the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party Government will thank and remember you forever.” Folded into a small square and stuck into the Styrofoam packing, the woman does not doubt the authenticity. The works earn approximately ten yuan per month. For those of you who are not in the know on Chinese currency; a yuan is around $1.60. Actually, I’ve since been corrected by someone who is more in the know than I am regarding Chinese currency. A yuan is actually closer to .12 cents.

Remembering The Forgotten

Welcome to a brave new year. Why you might ask?

Each new year comes with new promises. Promises to the ones we love, promises to ourselves and promises to be the better human being than we were the year before. While we may fall short on some of our plans and our expectations of a new beginning; there are other resolutions that we can, or must uphold.

During the past few weeks, I’ve had the luxury of some time off in my work schedule. This allowed me to relax and unwind and truly enjoy the Christmas and New Year’s hectic pace without becoming truly frazzled. While comfortably ensconced in house and home, I curled up with my Kobo ereader for some quality reading time. While my choice of books is not for the faint of heart,

To Teachers That Love Their Jobs

Many times we take the teachers that love their jobs for granted as parents. There are no other words necessary than the words spoken in this video.

You’ll Never Stand Alone

As you listen to this beautiful song by Whitney Houston, please remember all the loved ones lost. Their names should remain in our hearts. While there is no turning back the pages of time; forgiveness for the actions and resolution to take action for a better world must be learned from this tragedy. The victims who meant so much to their family and friends must not have passed on in vain. The loss of innocence and fears of the survivors need to take solace in the fact that their nation and other countries are with them in solidarity and empathy. This must never happen again.

♥ Charlotte Bacon – 2/22/2006

♥ Daniel Barden – 9/25/2005

♥ Rachel Davino – 7/17/1983

♥ Olivia Engel – 7/18/2006

♥ Josephine Gay – 12/11/2005

♥ Ana M Marquez-Greene – 4/4/2006

♥ Dylan Hockley – 3/8/2006

♥ Dawn Hocksprung – 6/28/1965

♥ Madeleine F Hsu – 7/10/2006

♥ Catherine V Hubbard – 6/8/2006

♥ Chase Kowalski – 10/31/2005

♥ Jesse Lewis – 6/30/2006

♥ James Mattioli – 3/22/2006

♥ Grace McDonnell – 11/4/2005

♥ Anne Marie Murphy – 7/25/1960

♥ Emilie Parker – 5/12/2006

♥ Jack Pinto – 5/6/2006

♥ Noah Pozner – 11/20/2006

♥ Caroline Previdi – 9/7/2006

♥ Jessica Rekos – 5/10/2006

♥ Avielle Richman – 10/17/2006

♥ Lauren Russeau – 6/10/1982

♥ Mary Sherlach – 2/11/1956

♥ Victoria Soto – 11/04/1985

♥ Benjamin Wheeler – 9/12/2006

♥ Allison N Wyatt – 7/3/2006

Heroes; They Walk Amongst Us.

A Stratford, Connecticut high school graduate, a first grade teacher and a person that sacrificed herself for the safety of her entire class of first grade kids.Rest in peace, Victoria Soto. Our great nations  weep with your sacrifice but they also celebrate your quick thinking and dedication to protecting your small charges. Not one of her students was harmed in the shooting. You will not be forgotten.

Victoria Sota, 27, was gunned down on Feb.14 after hiding her students safely away from the shooter

The heroes truly walk amongst us. The dreadful tales of yesterday are beginning to come to light. The stolen innocence even from the survivors, both grown and small. The sleepy town shaken to the core along with the nation. Disbelief, anger, sorrow; they cast a wide net across our great lands. For we, on North American soil and across the great oceans, share the pain of loss today. Our steps are slower and our hearts are heavier.

Dawn Hochsprung, 47, was the principal at the school. She was gunned down as she and a colleague rushed the gunman. Her friends and family stated the “she loved her job”.

Dawn Hochsprung, 47, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, loved her job.

Mary Sherlach, 56, the school’s psychologist was shot as she faced the situation. Jumping to the side of her colleague, principal Dawn Hochsprung, they were both gunned down execution-style.

Mary Sherlach, 56, was killed as she and colleague rushed the gunman to try and disarm him. She was looking forward to her retirement next year

In no way, does this post diminish the loss of life of their small charges; this is merely to show that in their final moments that those small ones were not alone. They had adults who were willing to and did give their all to protect them. To the surviving faculty, you all took charge of what was an impossibly unfair and cruel situation. You are all heroes walking amongst us. May your hearts heal as you continue your important work.

Heartbreak In Connecticut

The world is waking up today from the grim aftermath of yet another school shooting. Parents and family of the victims are waking up to an empty bed in their home. Harsh reality is unimaginable, the finality of the situation; a horrendous awakening.

Tiny Angels

Tiny Angels rest your wings
sit with me for awhile.
How I long to hold your hand,
And see your tender smile.
Tiny Angel, look at me,
I want this image clear….
That I will forget your precious face
Is my biggest fear.
Tiny Angel can you tell me,
Why you have gone away?
You weren’t here for very long….
Why is it, you couldn’t stay?
Tiny Angel shook his head,
“These things I do not know….
But I do know that you love me,
And that I love you so”.

Author Unknown

Yesterday, as students assembled for school in their classrooms; Adam Lanza, the reported 20-year-old shooter, took the lives of adults and children in a shooting spree that has rocked the continent.

The elementary school, Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newtown Connecticut was the scene of yet another tragic shooting. As children, no doubt busy with thoughts of Santa and the upcoming holidays, were gunned down. Faculty members whose job to protect and nurture the small ones, were mowed down by numerous shots. When the shooting ended, 20 students and 6 faculty members were gone.

New details emerged about the killer and his family. The Lanza family moved to Connecticut from New Hampshire, then divorced in 2008. Adam Lanza lived with his mother while his older brother, Ryan, stayed with his father in Hoboken, Nj. The brothers had not spoken in two years. The shooter has been described as a reclusive “genius” who was ‘always a little different.”

In the sleepy town of Newtown, they are ill-equipped to deal with such a huge crime scene. Their homicide rate – 1 homicide in the past 10 years. Their grief is punctuated by disbelief as this new red dawn rises and they must grapple with the enormity and emotion of their losses. They are not alone. The world grieves too.

Blessings and Peace For All

Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. friends. May you have a holiday filled with family and fond memories.

Here’s a heartwarming video that serves as a reminder to all of us what the holiday message is all about.

The Puppeteer And His Posse

Abuse is kind of like a puppet held in place by a string. Your puppeteer has a firm hand, a voice that projects itself into your mind and then there’s the game-playing that can literally make you dance to  their song. If the puppeteer is really good, you don’t even notice the strings. It’s all an act. One that you’re caught up in. The strings keep you tied to the hope of what was once what you believed your reality was. The sad reality is that broken strings would be in a sense, a reprieve, but you can’t move your hands to untie the knots. You’re caught up in a vicious circle of mental flip-flopping. Where will I go? What will I do? How will I manage?

There’s a kind of “black and white” value that is present when there’s physical, financial and sexual abuse.  There’s a trail. Whether it’s a paper trail or a physical sign; they leave their indelible mark. It’s a much clearer picture. It’s much harder to define, evaluate and get validation for the abuses caused by manipulation, lies, and deceit. In small doses, you’d probably have a difficult time identifying these factors as abuse or chalking them up to life’s ups and downs with a spouse. It would be just a transition in most cases. Brought on by difficult times or stressors.

When the isolated experiences are cemented in place by years; they develop into a pattern.  A repeat offender, so to speak.

A Moment Of Silence

We Shall Keep the Faith

by Moina Michael, November 1918

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

In Tribute to the fallen U.S. Armed Forces

For those of you who’ve watched the “highway of heroes” video just posted this afternoon; I thank you. It’s always important to take time to appreciate those who’ve given so much for our many freedoms. In my “googling” I came across this image. I’m not sure where this took place or indeed if it’s a regular occurrence; however, I was struck by the thought and dumbstruck by the vastness of this dedication.

To the United States troops as well, we will remember your many sacrifices.

A touching sentiment for the many fallen U.S. armed forces personnel.

The Highway Of Heroes

Very moving tribute to our Canadian soldiers.

For visitors on this site who are not Canadian or weren’t aware, when our fallen come home to their final resting places across our great nation, they travel a stretch of the 401 Highway in Ontario referred to as “The Highway of Heroes”. People, in support of their fallen brothers and as a show of solidarity, stand on the overpasses and greet the soldier who has come home to rest.

In recognition of their sacrifice, please enjoy this video and reflect on their gift both to us and for people abroad.

Legacy Of The Fallen

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day.

A day when we recall those who continue to fight for our freedom as well as those who have succumbed on the battlefield while fighting for our country and our liberty. They’re often faceless; names of those loved ones who we cherish but do not know. To give life’s greatest sacrifice for the greater good.

I’ve known a few who’ve made it their calling to serve our country; we’re both blessed and fortunate to have them still amongst us. But there is a family near by

Such Talent

Wow! What a talented young lady. And a beautiful song.

Give her a listen ~

Through The Forest

The most common question either spoken or implied is “Life is good for you now, why would you look to the past now after all this time?” My life is most certainly good now. Thankfully. I have no desire to go back physically in time and re-live this. However, for the sake of putting this old demon to rest, I will. All the while, in my mind,

The Oldest Fireman

I don’t care if this clip is about a hundred years old, it’s still fresh and funny after all these years. Reliving my childhood; The Carol Burnett show was always a fav of mine! 🙂

Hope you enjoy it as much as I just did. Again

Cheers!

If You Don’t Know Me By Now

Here’s a mellow one for you to unwind with tonight. Always loved this song. (mind you the dude could use a haircut…lol)

Hope you enjoy it too!

Peace out!

Stewed Onions

Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep. – Carl Sandburg

Onions. They seem pretty harmless. Lots can be said about these little guys. I love symbolism and imagery, in case that one happened to slip by you. The life I shared with a sociopath reminded me so much of the characteristics of an onion that I named several posts with that in mind. If you haven’t taken the time to read “The Exploits and Misadventures of Onion Boy” series on this blog, then feel free to do so. It’s hard to follow and out of sequence. But admittedly the jumbled mess that was my life has left me scrambling to seek answers. I guess in part that’s the reason for the chaos in the numbering of the sequences. Some day, I’ll re-write them and put them in order, but for now hopefully it’ll be ok.

But back to the onions and how they relate to life. It’s ironic

Cast A Positive Light

Pretty flowers…but a pretty important message.

Sometimes I like to post something that’s a little more upbeat and positive. The subject matter is sometimes very heavy and dark on this blog. It’s important to let the light in from time to time and make sure that there is some equilibrium. The good with the bad. It keeps us sane and grounded; nobody wants to hear the bad all the time. It just drags you down and keeps you there. I prefer to reach for the sunlight from time to time like a flower in a garden. Corny, but true.

I’ve been a big fan of history tho’ it wasn’t a strong suit in school. I truly believe it’s important to always remember where we’ve been, what we’ve done, in order to know where we’re headed.

Whether it changes the path of humankind to know the events of the past, I’m not sure.

Time To Say Goodbye

While my American neighbours are anxiously watching the red and blue bar battle atop the Empire State building and my fellow Canadians are keeping tabs on the U.S. electoral process, here is one of my all-time favourites.

The wonderful talents of Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. I’ve still got the shivers….Enjoy!

Sweet…

Here’s a little bit of cuteness to start your day out!

Enjoy your day 🙂