On June 25th, Kathy Lee Gifford was presenting a segment for the popular NBC program, "The Today Show," during which she referred to pagans as "nasty" and "bad." This has outraged members within the pagan community, as well as Eilfie (who is a fellow PRS investigator and one of my best friends).







I agree with Eilfie; what Gifford said is in poor taste and I believe that she should apologize to the entire pagan community. This comment was made in front of a popular, national TV program, so this apology should be done nationally as well.







There is nothing bad nor nasty about being a pagan. There are millions of respected citizens out there who practice it. I encourage all of you who believe in equality and religious tolerance to take the time to voice your disapproval and write to NBC/TODAY show producers. You can do so by e-mailing Today@NBCUNI.com . You can also help spread by spreading the word on your MySpace or websites.







I am reposting Eilfie's MySpace blog, as it includes links to the video (so you can see how it was used for yourself) and an online column trying to raise awareness about the remark.







Thank you all for your support!

-RYAN

REPOST FROM EILFIE'S MYSPACE:

Spotted this article today on Witcvox "Thank you, Kathey Lee Gifford" while catching up after my trip, and decided to check out the clip it spoke about for myself.






I was quite surprised when I saw her saying "the nasty bad pagans" as a add on to the list of possible answers.





Was this suppose to be some kind of joke? What the heck?
If it was a joke or silly adlib to help him decide which answer it was, it was in poor taste. I do not think it was a comment that was needed to be said, whether it was about the ancient pagans or the modern ones.






The woman who wrote the article, Sandy Laureau, said that she wrote a email to the Today hopping they will do something about this. As she stated herself, the email might get barried or ignored since we do not have a strong voice in the public.







Sandy Laureau article:
http://www.


witchvox. com/va/dt_va.



html?a=usca&c=words&id=12685

video clip:
http://today.


msnbc. msn.



com/id/21134540/vp/2536821625368216

It is about four minutes in when the question is asked. You will need to copy a past. You will need to insert the pound symbole (number symbole) between 6 and 2 of the last set of numbers in the link (25368216(pound symbol)25368216).







Look over both yourself and decide what you think, if you think it was in poor tast or even just going too far. Let them know. And let me know what you think as well.







http://www.


msnbc. msn.



com/

Eilfie

Since moving here to Tucson, Arizona I have met some interesting people...some kind and some very unkind. It seems to be an area where I had it in my mind that these people were somewhat different from NYers, Jerseyans, and East Coasters. I was right, however not in the positive light. It saddens me as I was raised to believe that the west was a gentler, kinder bunch of people.
Since moving here I have met not only very few nice people out here but I have recently come to write to people who are reading a newspaper article online and I am finding how crude, rude and ugly these people truly are.

This is all due to a new article on a young couple who have been brought to charges of animal cruelty. However, what the newspaper fails to mention is these young people are not the only ones to blame for this, as they were left with two young children by not only her father but his former girlfriend who left the animals to live elsewhere. So instead of the original responsible parties being charged these two young ones are charged.

"

Pima County Sheriff's Deputies have made two arrests in an animal cruelty case you saw only on KOLD News 13's Animal Defenders last week.

James Carpenter and his wife Marlena Carpenter were arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty.  They're accused of neglecting at least a dozen cats and some dogs at a mobile home in Avra Valley.

Investigators say the owner of the animals had left town back in March or April and left his pets with the couple.  Then last week the Carpenters told authorities they couldn't take care of them anymore. 

When deputies got to the mobile home they found some cats severely underweight and others dead.  One cat and two dogs had to be euthanized. The rest of the cats are being taken care of at the Pima County Animal Care.

Pima county deputies say a third arrest could come soon."

 

Now do I feel this excuses these two NO..however we do need to take a look at the original irresponsible parties and hold them accountable as well.

 

I am very upset to meet so many unkind people in this area. I have read comments like take them out to the hot desert and let them burn...what is that teaching them? That two wrongs make a right?

My views are simply this:

Why not jail them for the wrongs they did, fine them & then make it so that they can no longer have pets. In order to do so, the government needs to make a database much like the child sex database.

I am just so sickened at the thought also that if you are a pagan/wiccan or have a care2.com site you are found to be a whacko or get attacked as I have been.

Need to see what I mean go read Tucson Citizen. I can't say enough how sad I am over this whole mess and how disgusted I am that people are so heartless and cold and un-accepting of others viewpoints. Much like a lynch mob they are out to lynch anyone who doesn't agree with them.

I hope this does not fall on deaf ears at all. I hope there is some shred of human decency out there where I am not wrong in my hope for a better world.

 

Peace

What a different life I live NOW
Current mood: accomplished

 

After talking to my mom recently on the phone, looking in the mirror after working for 9 days straight being sick with a sinus infection & strep, and hobbling around on my torn ligaments in my knee, I had come to realize that I am no longer the person I was before I moved to Tucson. For those who truly know me, the real me, not the fabricated person set up by another's words to make me out to be who I am not...they will probably agree.

Let's start with a picture:

This was taken the summer before I moved out here from NJ. First let's look at mine & Ron's posture, the dark circles under our eyes and just our whole demeanor. Yes we are smiling however it wasn't on the inside that we were smiling I think it shows well in this photo.

Now look at our photo taken when Gail & Sam came out:

Our shoulders are higher, our smiles shine through to the outside of us.

Where am I taking this?

Why am I posting this?

To show others who have been or are like myself and Ron in a place where misery, depression, sadness and an overall hanging of negative just loomed over us where we used to be.

To show that like many others who found their true happiness, we have finally found ours. We found our Peace of Mind, Our Serenity, Our Pure Joy...in just making one brave move into the unknown.

As most know, we moved out to Arizona not knowing a single soul out here. Only knowing it was MY dream to be here since I was young...thank you Mom for giving me this dream when I was young by showing me pictures of your visit here...I appreciate what a precious gift you gave me even though you may not realize it..thank you so much. *MUAH*

My life in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania was a constant struggle...a constant turmoil of events that took place and brought me to where I am today.

Growing up and living in an area where the memories started out very traumatic and never really escaping that constant reminder of what happened only to live so close & drive near those places & be reminded daily of those horrible events that took place.

DISTANCE DOES HEAL THE SOUL & HEART OF THESE THINGS.

I didn't know who I was back there in that place...I was always looking to be someone I wasn't inside....that person just stayed cowering deep inside my soul waiting for her time to come out and say HELLOO I am here.

I have always been a fighter, a strong individual with a strong soul & will *just ask Mom she will tell you*. At one point in my life out there I lost my will to survive, to fight, to keep going....I became suicidal in thoughts, I wanted to stop living out there. Life was just too hard for me and I was tired of fighting.

I can remember just sitting there asking the Universe, just let me have a car accident and die...or better yet thinking of driving my car off Hawk's Nest and plunging to my death. I became a person I hated to look at in the mirror...always trying to hide the dark circles under my eyes, trying to create a new smile or laugh for myself hoping I will be ok.

My final straw in my struggle was finding Mickey, my brother 5 minutes from being fully dead, holding him in my arms as I tried so hard to resuscitate him to life, holding his hands in the hospital as the machines beeped to keep him "alive". Getting the final phone call from Dad telling me he decided against Mom's and my choice to pull Mick's plug and let him go. My world crashed in on me when I lost my best & closest friend in my brother.

Then to have Roger, my ex take me to court the following day to say I am mentally unstable to see my children again, to have supervised visits with them court ordered on me...only for him to cancel every one of them saying it was an inconvenience to his and the girls schedule for them to see me one hour a week. To try to fight in court to see them...only to have the judge, him & his lawyer laugh at me in my face and then having him cut off all phone conversations from me against all court orders. Trying to violate him only to be laughed at. I couldn't take anymore....I had to be rid of NY, NJ and PA for good.

I worked my tail off, paid $1000 a month for a 4 bd home only to lose it due to lawyers & child support *the man makes $60,000 a year, owns a home he rents out and lives with a woman he isn't married to, go figure*. Downgrading to a 1 bd home, paying $750 a month and still struggling to make it.....going to food pantries to get food....selling off belongings to be able to get gas money...the struggle was too much out there to survive to fight to only lose again.

Ronnie fought his own demons of his past...the drugs & alcohol....tried to quit smoking pot only to be around his former so called friends who influenced it more...to be around my cousin Amanda another influence....to be around his own blood sister Betty another influence....Ronnie was not strong enough to just quit and walk away...especially with Pop his dad helping us whenever we needed it financially or food wise.

One day we both woke up and realized we needed to get out of the HOLE we were in, otherwise we would end up like alot of other couples just trying to make it...in a dead end...we hit that point. Getting up out of bed was a constant struggle....we started arguing more and more....becoming unsocial.

January 2007 we decided we ARE OUT HERE!!!!!! FOR GOOD AND NEVER TURNING BACK!!!!!

We both worked meaningless jobs in our eyes, saved what we could for the move....sold off all our belongings we just couldn't get the money we needed we felt as if we were destined to stay there...we felt as though someone had a stronghold on our finances, our lives..our sanity...like someone was forcing to stay and holding us down.

I WAS NOT HAVING THAT NO WAY IN HELL!!! I WANTED A BETTER LIFE FOR US BOTH!!!

So I sold off everything, I got pulled over for driving with no license, no registration, no insurance on my car....they impounded it as it was our last day to live in NJ....

THAT WAS MY LAST STRAW NO ONE WAS HOLDING ME TO NJ, NY OR PA ANYMORE....I WAS GONNA FIGHT BACK NOW!!!

I HAD ENOUGH OF THIS STRONGHOLD

I told Ron let them take the car...we are going by plane...our stuff is at your dad's...let's have him drive us to the airport get two tickets and get the hell out of here....and we packed 6 backed of luggage ....one held my computer the rest our clothing that we felt we needed.

We called my Mom and said "Mom we are heading to Arizona getting on a plane we will call you when we land." Right after that my cell phone is turned off, luckily Gail was not gonna stand by and let us miss out on this dream...she helped us with the cell phone issue and it was turned back on. Meanwhile my Gramma Todd was in the hospital dying of cancer...this I found out a year after she stops speaking to me...I rush to her side and stay with her until I got the call they were taking off machines as well.

My world at that point had ended in NJ, NY and PA....I WANTED OUT MORE THAN EVER!!! Told my cousins I will not be at her funeral as I am about to board a plane to Arizona, I have an apartment waiting and a life to live.

My father in law offered me a room in his house to stay til we got things cleared up financially....I looked at Ron and said NO I AM GOING TO ARIZONA!!!!! NOTHING IS STOPPING ME!!!!

My final farewell was with Bec & Larry my fur-nephew, who brought me sushi and we cried as we sat in her car, eating sushi at midnite. I love you Bec for all you have been for me, I miss our sushi sessions.

I don't think I slept a wink that night because I knew my dream was coming true...I was moving to Arizona come hell or high water. 4 am and the alarms go off ....we all get showered, dressed and ready to drive 2 hours to the airport *Newark*.

After a tearful see ya later with Pop and Yvonne *his wife*, Ronnie and I board the plane....what a ride it was...laughing now ....every bit of turbulance Ronnie would panic...I would tell him it is ok...mind you it was his first time on a plane.

We land to see cacti, palm trees, blue skies and 65 degree weather ...coming from grey skies, dead everywhere and 30 degree weather, IT WAS AMAZING!!!

Our first couple days here we both land jobs.....in our little 1bd apartment...with no furniture, sleeping on an air mattress, calling a food pantry to deliver food to us we have no car...no television..no cable for internet..no phone yet...

Ron is screaming I am going back to NY this sucks!!!

I am screaming WAIT BE PATIENT WE JUST GOT HERE....MY FRIENDS KIM, KK, BEC AND GAIL ARE TRYING TO HELP KEEP THINGS CALM AS WELL.

Ron goes for many walks & comes around to realize it is gonna take time...we both get minor jobs at a bagel store or grocery store to bring a few dollars in....Gail helps us out alot with some financial stuff which I am very grateful for. Thank you sweetie for just being there when we needed you most.

Then I walk to this store with pool stuff in it...walk in get an application and my world changed right there in a dime.

Ron worked for CVS while I worked at Leslies...little by little we got things for our apartment...we were able to afford food and pay our bills finally.

I moved up the ladder at Leslies became assistant manager, lived through some really cool weather (MONSOONS), all the while our apartment got better and better, our relationship with each other and others got better and better. We both laugh more, smile more inside and out...love life....Ron used to say he didn't want to get old....now he wants to grow old with me...enjoying life to the fullest. By September we had a bed....a real bed...we had a couch...TV and furniture

Got a dog too....Mu Shu...had to give him a new home though due to working so much...I became the store manager in October of 2007 Ron got a maintenance job here at the complex as well. Life turned around for us...we needed patience.

Our bills are paid in advance, we have not been late on a rent payment since moving here. I can pay child support and still have some money for food. We don't have a car yet though we take taxis if we need to or bum a ride off of our friends. We offer gas money when we do so or buy them dinner or something like that.

I was a size 16, pale, sad eyes, depressed when I left NJ.

And now today am a size 10 and still losing the weight, tanned, getting toned, and there isn't a day when I don't laugh or smile.

We have since moved into a 2 bd apartment which we can proudly afford, I bought Ron an Ipod Nano for his birthday...and one for myself for Mother's Day....

 

I still remember my daughters and cry from time to time & someday I know they will see who I really am...the real me, I think of Gramma & Grampa, Mickey and Jonathan...I look at where I was and stay focused on where I am going now...there is no more looking back and staying there rotting away.

Ronnie is no longer struggling to control an issue that was so difficult for him. He no longer does any drugs...has his beer now and than...and he depends on himself and myself to make our life complete. He is closer to his mom, his Dad, his sisters *Karen and TT*, gets along better with Gail and is so close to his Sam, he is at peace now and happier than ever and I am sure they will agree to this statement.

It's not in what I have only acquired physically or materially it is what has been acquired, NO SET FREE from deep inside of my soul that I am proud of.

I HAD A DREAM, A DREAM THAT WAS BURIED DEEP IN MY SOUL AND HEART....SCREAMING TO BE SET FREE.

In my move to the unknown I have found who I am...I am no longer recreating myself....I know who I am and who I want to be in my life....

I found myself to be this wonderful, loving, sensitive, caring, responsible, sexy, intelligent, short, fun filled, positive energy filled bitch that just wants to share it all with the world and show them that WE NEVER HAVE TO JUST TAKE WHAT IS BEING OFFERED TO US OR GIVEN TO US. WE MUST ALL FIGHT FOR OUR DREAMS AND PASSIONS...NEVER GIVING UP ON ANYTHING OR OURSELVES.

That is my story and I hope it does get read by everyone and shared...I hope I can inspire others to know life is not something that controls us we need to take control of OUR OWN lives and live our dreams out.

With this said Peace to you all I hope someday you all find that peace and serenity, laughter and smiles, and sunshine in your lives.....Moca does too.

 

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!




This is for the mothers who sat up all night with sick toddlers in their
Arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid
Saying, 'It's ok, Mommy's here'.

Who sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who
Couldn't be comforted.



This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair
And milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween
Costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And
The mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections hang on their
Refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at
Football, hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of
Their cars, so when kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of
Course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store
And swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice
Cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but
Realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained
All about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to,
But just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year.
And then read it again. 'Just one more time.'

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their
Shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted
For Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and daughters to
Sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little
Voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, though they know their own offspring are at
Home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach
Aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get
Calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to pick them up.
Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the
Words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14
Year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the
Mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of
Their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school,
Safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and
Now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook
Dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down
The street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. To
Put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. When you want to hear
Their key in the door + know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear
News of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal, and so our thoughts are for
Young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers + stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every
Day that we love them. And pray.

Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.

'Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall.'

Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.  (I just did)

Announcing the Brave Daredevil Non Acrobatic RAE

 

Drumroll please........

Ok so Sam and Gail are here visiting for a week. We have some stuff planned however fate is deciding that we have to hold off a bit on some stuff.

I thought I was a tomboy, a daredevil, invincible to the core however fate told me different haha terrible joke.

I went for a walk with Ron and Sam to one side of a wash, it windy *first sign to turn around and go back from whence we came*, then it got chilly *second sign* so we decided to take a "short cut" & cut over the cement wall at the school next door to get to the apartment.

Well, Ronnie went first offered me his shoulder to take to get down off this wall of almost 5 foot tall, mind you I am only 5'2"...well I grabbed his shoulder instead of climbing on his shoulders like a normally do...and JUMPED from that blasted wall.

Well the knee decided to go left while the rest of me went right....and down I went to the ground....rolling to my left side holding my knee bawling like a baby in pain. I don't normally cry when I get hurt unless it REALLY REALLY hurts...and this REALLY REALLY hurt big time.

So Ron says come on hunny you have to get up you can't lay there...Sam gets off the wall with Ron's help...and both grab each side of me and lift me as I am bawling & cursing screaming "I don't want to get up I want to stay here it hurts tooo fucking much!!!!!!"

So Ron and Sam help me on each side to waddle to the apartment....step by painful step.

Get to the stairs OMG THE STAIRS I HATE STAIRS NOW!!!!!!

Sam on one side, railing on other, Ron ready to catch me if I fall back. He quickly runs up grabs Gail, telling her I got hurt. Gail takes one side of me, Sam the other and lift me off my feet....arms and legs in their arms carrying me to the couch where Ron is preparing to take care of me.

Gail runs for the ice packs checks my knee while I am crying more begging her no more please. Then she puts the ice on my knee only to find out I need it UNDER my knee....I pulled my ligaments in this whole process...Ron & Sam run to CVS to get a heating pad and ace bandage...Gail stays with me checking my knee, ankle to make sure I am getting blood supply to my toes too. They give me 600 mg of Advil and are making sure I am drinking fluids, as all my color drained from me and I am now shaking.

Gail tells me after 2 hours I am getting my color back, checks my pulse to make sure I am ok, the swelling is going down finally.

I fall asleep for a bit and wake to Ronnie holding me, crying he feels like it is his fault I am hurt...and feels horrible for it. Gail takes our pic she says we looked cute....I eat dinner with them while sitting on the couch....watching Mr. Mom my all time feel good movie.

We all decide that today we are NOT going to the Pima County Fair I can't walk it and I can't walk the wash like I love to do...instead we are going to the pool where it is warm and I am gonna move my leg in the water.

Mom calls and I tell her I am feeling better...and going to bed.  I am now exhausted.

Gail helps me to my room cause I am not thinking and get up off the couch only to fall again...DAMN KNEE.

Gail undresses me and gets my PJs on for me and says to Ron "You missed me undressing your wife." chuckling....kisses me gently and tucks me in. Ron is getting me water to drink cause I drink 4 glasses a night.

I have a hard night sleeping cause I am afraid to move now. Get up this morning having to pee and Ron has to help me to the bathroom....have you ever had to have someone help you wipe your butt...let me tell you it is embarrassing.

Ron helps me get dressed and puts an ace bandage on my leg now. I hobble holding the walls down the hallway to the couch. Sit there and decide I am going outside to the patio, Ron takes our funky green chair out there puts another chair with a pillow on it for me to sit and relax with my morning coffee, a book and some classical music.

Then when I decide I am ready to hobble inside....Ron gets my computer and wheels me from room to room.

So this is day two of my vacation and wouldn't you know I am NOT AN ACROBAT ANYMORE!!!!!!

Now I know why Mom didn't name me grace.

Have a great day everyone.....

No more walls for me.