justxploring's Blog

Do you ever feel like doing this to someone?


 

A Christmas Story

Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the
room, bellowing a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!"

"Santa!" shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run
to him, IV tubes in tact.

Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug.. A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old -- gazed up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room. As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering "thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes. Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good girl that year. As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels.

"Oh, yes, Santa ... I do!" she exclaimed.

"Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you,"he said. Laying one
hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that
God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that
angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying,
still with eyes closed, he started singing softly, "Silent Night, Holy Night
.... all is calm, all is bright." The family joined in, still holding
hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this
moment, as Sarah beamed at them all. When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah's frail, small hands in his own.

"Now, Sarah," he said authoritatively, "you have a job to do, and that is to
concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your
friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall
this time next year!" He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little
girl who had terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to give her the
greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of
HOPE.

"Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah's mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa's side to thank him.

"My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. "This is
the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and hugged him.

One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his
six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. "Hi, Santa! Remember me?!"


"Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at
her. After all, the secret to being a "good" Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the "only" child in the world at that moment.

"You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped.

Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy -- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before. He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.

That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed --and
been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this miracle of hope.
This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well.
He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "Thank you, Father.  'Tis a very, Merry Christmas! 

(So, believe in miracles!!)

 

Not original - just something I read online and wanted to share. 

SOCIALISM: You have two cows. State takes one and gives it to someone else.

COMMUNISM: You have two cows. State takes both of them and gives you milk.

FASCISM: You have two cows. State takes both of them and sells you milk.

NAZISM: You have two cows. State takes both of them and shoots you.

BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. State takes both of them, kills one and spills the milk in the sewage system.

CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

Just wanted to give some advice to those who might be looking for bargains this weekend. 

I prefer checking put prices online before going to a large store like Best Buy or Circuit City.  Sometimes I've ordered an item on the internet and picked it up at the store, but I still get the web-only special price.

Friday was a big shopping day, but I had to work.  I honestly can't afford to shop right now, but there are some things I need for my office. I'm low on ink and haven't used color in months, so I got on CircuitCity.com and several discount sites and was facing over $50 for 2 cartridges for my Canon photojet printer. I noticed that Circuit City had an HP deskjet 3915 printer with a black and a color cartridge for $70 but had a special "check out price in cart" ad.  It was $19.99!  However, it said "only available in stores."  I called the toll free number and cust serv said I would get that price at the store in Naples. So I  printed out the page and went to Naples at 5:00.  There were no printers displayed with this model number available. I asked a salesman if he would look in the back, and he found it. Yay! (I thought.)  However, he rang it up at the regular price without the $50 discount. He said that was probably one of those 5 hour internet specials. Since they have lots of computers, I got on CircuitCity.com and showed him the ad. He got a manager who also told me that must be an internet-only sale, so I clicked on the price and pointed at "only available in stores." After all, why would I drive 18 miles in traffic if I could have purchased it online? (I had free shipping.)  After she closely checked out the ad and realized I was not able to buy it online, she used her passcode to override the system and I was a happy camper.  BTW, I don't think this is being cheap at all, just a good consumer.

So I just wanted to let everyone know that you can get a brand new printer for $19.99 if you can find one at your local Circuit City store. I wonder if the cartridges are full size, but even if they're not, it will be like paying $10 apiece, so it's still a bargain to me.  Most people like the all-in-one printers, but this might make a nice gift for many people if they use a USB cable (which can cost as much as the printer, but I have one already)  Also, if you buy a USB 2.0 cable for a printer or scanner, don't spend the $25 at the store. I made that mistake last year when I bought my laptop. I didn't realize my old style cables were obsolete and drove to the nearest OfficeMax, paying over $20 for just one.  You can get a really good Belkin 6 ft cable for under $5 on Amazon or at discount stores. Check it out.

When the sun shines, it's sunny.  When the wind blows, it's windy.  When the snow falls, it's snowy.

This really isn't very complicated.  Yet there are some of us who take simple meanings and add their own personal or political views.

Definitions of 3 words from the dictionary. 

Pacifism: 

A pacifist believes that negotiation is always preferable to war as a means of solving disputes.

He is inclined or disposed to peace.  He is not quarrelsome or unruly.

Ex: "Mommy!  Johnny called me a bad name and he threw mud in my face."

"Okay, Bobby.  I'm going to call your Dad and we'll all go over to Johnny's house after dinner to discuss this problem with Johnny and his parents. Maybe we can find out what's troubling him and work something out so we can all be friends. Okay?" 

Apathy 

Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference.
Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness.

Ex: "Mommy! Johnny called me a bad name and he threw mud in my face."

"What the f*** do I care, Bobby?  You're a pain in the a**. I'm watching my favorite soap opera.  Go upstairs and do your homework."

Violence

Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing.
Abusive or unjust exercise of power. Vehemence of feeling or expression; fervor.

Ex: "Mommy!  Johnny called me a bad name and he threw mud in my face."

"Okay! I've had it with that brat. You go to your room and get the new bat I bought you for Christmas and we'll both go over and beat the living crap out of Johnny.  In fact, I'm gonna git me a broom and knock some sense into that lousy whore he calls a mother.  Call your Dad before we leave and tell him to pick up some buckshot on the way home from work and we'll show them who's in charge on this block!"

I wouldn't be able to say it any better, so I'm simply directing you to a video on MSNBC where, in a eulogy, Keith Olberman paid tribute to "Stay The Course" after President Bush decided to stop using the phrase.

"Listen, we've never been stay the course..."  OMG, Mr. President. Give me a break!!

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

"The way he's dealing with it is to try to fudge and fuzz up the issues," said Richard Kohn, a visiting history professor at the U.S. Army War College and Dickinson College, both in Carlisle, Pa. "On the eve of a crucial election, there's so much dissatisfaction with his leadership and the war itself that he has to give the impression that he's rethinking his strategy."

I think from now on, we need to "adjust" the meaning of everything we say, no matter how many times we say it.  The word that's been understood here is "stay" which is obviously the fault of our school system for teaching students using the dictionary.  Obviously the President did take a course that is now popular in the schools where I live. It's called "English as a second language."

Since I am blocked from a Blog, I will write my comment here in response to what some people label the "Mainstream Media."

Freedom of the press always meant that different forms of media, including radio, tv, newspapers and magazines could report the news to the American public without censorship. Obviously, even the most politically neutral reporter has a personality and will, therefore, add some flavor to the news with his/her editorials, comments and reactions to news stories. However, a good reporter should always tell the truth.

Throughout the past 6 years, sources that have disagreed with policies of the current administration have been labeled as being radically Liberal, pro-Democrat, or even the Clinton News Network. In fact, I've read on this board many times that "Fox is the only news worth watching." So what does that tell you about the person who wrote it? I just don't know how anything can be "fair and balanced" when it leans so far to the right, but it's certainly one source of information and I have watched it with an open mind.

I began to feel concerned about my freedom of information well before the new Military Commissions Acts was signed last week. Beginning in 2002, several reporters were fired from their jobs after protesting the invasion of Iraq. Some celebrities who questioned the President's decision were banned from appearing on some television and radio stations. If you questioned our position in Iraq, the events of 9-11 or WMD, you were called un-American, un-Patriotic, un-Christian...lots of "uns." The new self-indulgent "Christian" media asked its readers to support violence and aggression. Whatever happened to "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God?"

I don't know how many reports are censored every week before going to print or airing on television. There are many of them. Although we might never get the whole story, the only way to keep the news that reaches us fair, honest and ethical is to rely on a variety of independent sources and research groups. The Mainstream Media is about making sure that such diversity exists and that all points of view are heard. The day I get my news from only one place without analyzing and reviewing the facts from a variety of reliable sources is the day I pledge my allegiance to a dictator and I'm not ready to give up my freedom just yet.

Most people already know this but, in case you don't, you might be able to vote next week in your local community. I'm not talking about absentee voting. To get the hours I just Googled the words "early voting Florida" and got a link to my county web site which listed the locations and the hours.  Starting Monday Oct 23 - Saturday Nov 4, people in Lee County can vote any day, except Sunday, until 6:00, Saturday until 5:00.  I'll have to go on Saturday. In Nov 2000 I got stuck at work on Tuesday evening and didn't make it to the polls on time.  6 years later I'm still paying for it! (Yes, it's all my fault!)  So in 2004 I voted on my day off at one of the early voting sites. It was quick & easy.

So there's no excuse NOT to vote if you are a registered voter. 

I'm not as technical as many others on this board, but I just downloaded Netscape 8.1 and it's very easy to use.  I chose the windowscape theme, but I might change it to the fusion theme.  I chose the former only because it resembles IE6 (only cooler) and I don't like too many changes.  I think it's easier to use than IE7, but choosing a browser is always a personal decision.

For those of you who have never changed browsers, don't forget to import your favorites if you have a lot of bookmarks. I usually dump all my cookies and browser history so I start out fresh.  This is my first day using it, so I'll post if I run into any problems.  This is the newest version of Netscape.

The only thing I really knew about Sinclair Lewis was that he wrote one of my favorite novels "Elmer Gantry" (also a great movie) and the books Babbit, Arrowsmith and Main Street.  Most of us read a Sinclair Lewis novel in high school or college English. He was the first American to receive the Nobel prize for literature over 75 years ago.  He was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize which he declined. Today I read something he predicted would happen in America. I thought it was an interesting and ominous quote.

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross." ~ Sinclair Lewis

Lately everything seems to be going wrong. I'm waiting for a jet engine to fall out of the sky and land in my bed (if you saw the movie, you understand)  If I add up all the dental work I'm told I need just to eat normally or the car repairs to drive safely, I'm looking at over $10,000. 

Today I decided to finally get front brakes since the dealer has been telling me for over a year that I need them. I used to use a local mechanic all the time before I bought my 2001 Hyundai, so I went to him at 8:30am for an oil change and said to do the brake work required. More charges on my Visa! Last year he told me my brakes were fine after 3 different places told me they were bad - Midas, Meineke and the Hyundai service advisor. He quoted me approximately $150 which would include machining the rotors.

After the oil change, he showed me my brake pads and said they still had about 20% left and I didn't need to spend the money now. John, the shop owner, asked if my car is still under warranty and told me to see if Hyundai would replace the axle first. I was just at the dealership a few weeks ago for a battery and an alternator (another long story...turned out it wasn't the battery since the car died 2 days later, but it was too late and I was out $140)  They never told me I needed the front axle, but they did say my brake pads were dangerously thin. To me this means they never really took the wheels off and checked the brake pads. I have 2 days left on my warranty. So find an honest mechanic and have your car checked thoroughly if you have a warranty before it expires. 

Many people love their Hyundai Sonatas. Maybe I got a lemon. My power windows have all needed new cables. Twice I had to drive in the rain with my windows stuck down. My power doors have all needed new (actuators?) but at least I could get in with the key. The back doors had to be opened by reaching from the front. The clearcoat has completely peeled off my bumper and the doors. The window tint bubbled and peeled off. The radio speakers are shot and I never turn up the volume. The car looks like an old piece of junk. I was told I need a timing belt that costs $499 and a tune up. I don't know if I should believe anyone at the dealership any more. I hope they fix the axle. I know the first thing I'm buying when I finally hit my numbers.

Anyway, thank goodness for honest people. I know I'm giving John all of my future business. I shop around for a "deal" but maybe that's not the most important thing after you find someone you can trust.

This is in response to a post that says Gerry Studds had to sneak his 17 year old companion to the Middle East to have sex.

I want to make it very clear that I do not accept bad behavior, but there is a huge difference between being a homosexual and a pedophile. There is also a difference between having a consensual relationship and being solicited or raped. There are 3 people whom the Republicans keep targeting in defense of Mark Foley, a sexual predator. They are Gerry Studds, Bill Clinton and Barney Frank.

First, before someone preaches the Law, he/she should know what it says! The age of consent is 16 years of age in Washington DC. and in many states. There actually isn't an “age of consent” when it comes to a male/male relationship in most states, but every state has a different statutory rape law. Gerry Studds was a homosexual and did not hide it. Although his actions certainly are questionable and he is guilty of bad judgment, he was not a sexual predator or rapist. In fact, following allegations by Republicans in 1983, all the claims against him proved to be 100% false and it took a lengthy investigation to discover that he had an affair 10 years earlier in 1973 with a 17 year old page. Again, I am not condoning his relationship with a page, but that 17 year old was considered to be an adult at the time and was also a gay male who consented. Apparently the people who go to the polls to vote must have examined the evidence and did not condemn Mr. Studds, because he continued to serve for another decade. I doubt if anyone, even the most liberal minded, would vote for a child molester or a sexual predator.

So now we get to Mr. Clinton. Please correct me if I am wrong, but he was guilty of cheating on his wife and having an affair with another adult. Bill Clinton also was wrong and, as I said before, bad behavior should never be condoned, but he is not a sexual predator or a rapist. Yes, Bill Clinton lied to us, but what other country would be investigating or trying to impeach a leader for having oral sex? Monica was far from an innocent victim.

I won't even defend Barney Frank here, because he wasn't guilty of anything except bad judgment since the man he had sex with was 28 years old. He also was not a page or even worked for the government, so Congressman Frank wasn't taking advantage of a subordinate. Again, the people continue to support and elect him, so unless the people of Massachusetts are all blind to criminal behavior and sexual deviants, Mr. Frank is not a pervert and didn't break the law.

So now we come back to Mark Foley, who campaigned diligently against the very crime he committed. He stood in front of the his constituents and said “We must protect our children” while he was sending disgusting messages to a 16 year old boy. In 1998 Mark Foley, in response to Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky said:

I copied this from the St. Petersburg Times.  Words like "hypocrisy" don't begin to describe his remark.

Mark Foley is a sexual predator. He is NOT just guilty of bad judgment or having an affair with a subordinate. (neither of which I approve)  However, it is apparent that some Republicans feel that, by attacking the Democrats, Mark Foley's actions will not put a dark cloud over their party during the upcoming election.  Don't worry guys, it was already raining pretty hard. He just added some bad wind and it really stinks!

I remember singing lullabies to crying babies to comfort them.

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird don't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Mama's gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Mama's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won't bark,
Mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

Now parents just beat them to death.

I know lately I've been posting a lot of bad news, but it never stops!  I'm afraid if we squirm and turn away in revulsion, it will continue to spread like all the other horrors in the world. It's as if we get used to them. "Oh, another school shooting today, Hon," Mrs. Johnson says as she greets her husband at the door. Tonight I turned on the 11:00 local news and in Fort Myers, about 20-25 miles from my home, another infant was beaten to death by his father....the man said she cried too much.  Her skull was fractured and her chest had been crushed by a hard blow.  The TV news Friday evening said the infant was dead for 3 days before the police were called which conflicts with the newspaper article below. In any case, it's very sad and disturbing.
From The News-press
 

Police accuse dad of killing baby
 

By Michelle L. Start
mstart@news-press.com
Originally posted on October 12, 2006

Born prematurely, 2-month-old Solycia Devine Clark spent most of her short life hospitalized.

Ten days after the girl returned to her parents’ care, her father killed her, Fort Myers police Sgt. Mike Carr said Wednesday.

Police charged Antonio Devon Clark, 22, with second-degree murder after preliminary autopsy reports showed Solycia had head and chest injuries. Clark also faces charges of aggravated abuse and probation violation for possession of cocaine and marijuana.

Solycia was pronounced dead Monday at Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center after paramedics tried to revive her at the Gulfstream Isles apartment where she lived with Clark, her mother, Michele Frye, and a 20-month-old brother.

Paramedics received a report from the home at 10:29 a.m. Monday that the girl was not breathing.

Clark confessed to the killing, Carr said. Police declined to provide further details.
The public defender’s office has advised Clark against talking to reporters.

No one was home at Clark’s Red Cedar Drive apartment Wednesday afternoon.

Clark is being held in the Lee County Jail without bail.

Police called Florida Department of Children & Families officials to investigate whether Solycia’s brother had been abused, Carr said.

Neither police nor DCF officials would say whether the child had been removed from the home. DCF officials declined to say whether the agency had previously been called to the home.

Clark was convicted in 2004 for cocaine possession, court records show. He spent 19 days in jail for violating probation on the drug charge.

Clark is the second Fort Myers man in five months to be accused of killing his infant child.

John Thomas Hickman Jr., 22, pleaded guilty Aug. 29 in the May slaying of his son, 11-week-old John Thomas Hickman III.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has said Hickman Jr. abused the boy because he was crying. He bruised the boy’s ribs, broke his back and fractured his skull, according to DCF records.

The child’s mother, Yakelin Diaz, is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 6 on child abuse charges. Police and DCF accuse the mother of overlooking the abuse her son endured.

It rarely is intentional when fathers kill their infant children, said Duane Dobbert, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University who specializes in criminal forensics.

“It is sometimes an absolute act of anxiety, despair and frustration,” Dobbert said. “Maybe he hasn’t slept all night and the baby keeps crying. It is an irrational act. It usually comes down to the fact that the child is crying.”

It sounds to me as if he is making excuses for these baby killers.

Everyone keeps saying that Florida is Paradise.  I guess it is for the people who live behind the gates of the guarded communities and play golf all day.  I just read the newspaper and saw this. I hope this family is in Paradise now.  At least the 4 and 6 year old children should be. This is like something right out of a story about a Mob hit on TV.  Maybe the parents had drug or gambling problems, maybe not.  But why shoot the little children? I guess it's true that there really are monsters living among us. From The Naples Daily News: 

This story is not only sad, but very bizarre. I want to know how it could take 3 years for someone to realize a 6 year old (now 9) was never seen outside, never visited a doctor, never attended school, never played with neighbors....... 

His father was arrested. I hope the mother is next.  She told police she was "allowed" to visit the boy for an hour each day while he was locked in his room. What about the grandparents? Why didn't anyone call for help? Or is this another case of the Florida DCF failing to protect an innocent child like Trenton Duckett?  At least this boy survived his ordeal and finally was rescued.  I hope he doesn't get lost in the system and is allowed to be adopted soon. He deserves a life full of love, support and lots of hugs every day.

In the news today.  Jacksonville, FL  October 12, 2006

Father arrested on aggravated child abuse; son kept in home for 3 years