tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20871211072780698362024-03-05T03:39:03.392-06:00A Harpy's Point of ViewRamblings about whatever is on my mind, and a collection of my arts and crafts projects.Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-51820588039415108432016-08-07T07:55:00.000-05:002016-08-07T07:55:11.917-05:00The Civility Code by Michael W. Anderson Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdljLd8P-3N455aw9D_v7kgmY6Efci324RsDVCTCOx6TdCaXDprL52kGQqV2vlWr_bkd6DNkT1vYIvtzOkp-jGIdcWwW5m2qOPoanmaDjkP2BYKQB2hvYHKZx_nsldU3-PmdrCpVEqWWV/s1600/41rOZRJPlLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdljLd8P-3N455aw9D_v7kgmY6Efci324RsDVCTCOx6TdCaXDprL52kGQqV2vlWr_bkd6DNkT1vYIvtzOkp-jGIdcWwW5m2qOPoanmaDjkP2BYKQB2hvYHKZx_nsldU3-PmdrCpVEqWWV/s200/41rOZRJPlLL.jpg" width="130" /></a> I won this near future, dystopian fiction through First Reads on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, as I do so many of the books I review here. <u>The Civility Code</u> by <a href="http://www.mwandersonbooks.com/" target="_blank">Michael W. Anderson</a> is the first book of a trilogy.<br />
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The premise of the series is that offensive language has become a criminal offense, they added an amendment to the Constitution to this affect (Basically you are legally bound to be politically correct). To enforce this new law, a Civility Commission has been created. The commission investigates incidents of offensive language, prosecutes violators civilly and criminally, and determines what words are to be added to the prohibited word list each year. In the 20 years, since the law was enacted, 14,014 words have be added to the prohibited list. The list includes such words and phrases as: drunk driver, he, she, Mr., Miss, Mrs., clueless, fat, go on a diet, and not right.<br />
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The story follows the struggle between a group of hacktivists known as X and the Civility Commission over the law and the prohibited words. The hacktivists have been offered a window to take amnesty for their past crimes in order to escape prosecution, while the commissioner actively and passionately hunts them down.<br />
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The premise behind the book is what drew me to enter to win it, I think that the political correct/trigger warning movement has gotten out of control already and interferes with real discussions on serious issues. When I started the book, I had a hard time getting into it. The first chapter are so were difficult, I'm not sure if it was because of the new pronouns, the net shorthand used at the beginning, that I wasn't sure I was in the mood for the story, or the writing itself. After a couple of chapters, the story started to flow more smoothly for me. It seems the writing flowed better after that.<br />
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Anderson gives you insight into the personal lives and motivations of not only the hackers, but the commissioner of the Civility Commission. I look forward to to next volume to see how the stories and the characters progress.<br />
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Happy reading! <br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-27870755223500151442016-07-11T12:20:00.000-05:002016-07-11T12:23:16.264-05:00Shadows of the Dark Crystal by J. M. Lee Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriU8jjvXxZxfYYcI2t5jrhTO0t5PZ54kN0mATXlyKmf5rkHML9Mt3bLd7Zt15grnM88gHQoZJwIFdsgUnoqaPPuUYG8Hsht_fREkFVaWdOsmCPDAqa_r3QB2pIrFCYoW7WCFz0cUOPrMD/s1600/enc_shadowsofthedc_rightcolumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriU8jjvXxZxfYYcI2t5jrhTO0t5PZ54kN0mATXlyKmf5rkHML9Mt3bLd7Zt15grnM88gHQoZJwIFdsgUnoqaPPuUYG8Hsht_fREkFVaWdOsmCPDAqa_r3QB2pIrFCYoW7WCFz0cUOPrMD/s200/enc_shadowsofthedc_rightcolumn.jpg" width="133" /></a>I have eagerly been awaiting this book since Jim Hensen Productions announced the Author Quest contest about two years ago. "The Dark Crystal" was one of my favorite movies as a kid, still is. I love Jim Hensen's and Brian Froud's artistry. I will forever be grateful to Jim Hensen for introducing me to Brian Froud.<br />
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So when I won the ARC from Goodreads I was overjoyed, especially since the winner of the contest was local author <a href="http://www.joeyverse.com/" target="_blank">J.M. Lee</a> and a local bookstore, <a href="http://www.redballoonbookshop.com/" target="_blank">Red Balloon Books</a>, would be having a book launch party. I'm always happy to support local artists and independent stores. I'm also a giant book nerd and love meeting authors I've read.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RP57v79mfStggsfZ3hNem6MA42K7YQJ6EN7TE126ulkDABnyZV_9kbyiESNBNTXEc_aDfrQ-OWEcH6UGyl4yP6Df8DFgvgORYzP_BGH-babXOgCnlyim0QxX72OXyYmdAZP9H0BROMoB/s1600/Naia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RP57v79mfStggsfZ3hNem6MA42K7YQJ6EN7TE126ulkDABnyZV_9kbyiESNBNTXEc_aDfrQ-OWEcH6UGyl4yP6Df8DFgvgORYzP_BGH-babXOgCnlyim0QxX72OXyYmdAZP9H0BROMoB/s200/Naia.jpg" width="131" /></a>I was very excited that the cover was done by Froud, and I was briefly
disappointed that he didn't do the interior illustrations as well. Until
Friday, I had only seen the placeholder art for the book. In fact, the
first thing I did when I bought my official copy was to compare the art
in the ARC with the polished art in the finished edition. The
placeholder art showed me that I wouldn't be disappointed in <a href="http://corygodbey.com/" target="_blank">Cory Godbey</a>'s artwork, it definitely captures the spirit and whimsy of the world originally created by Froud and Hensen.<br />
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This is J.M. Lee's first novel. (I think it was his first public reading of his work as well. He did a great job, but you could tell he was very excited and nervous. I hope his parents being there didn't make him more nervous.) It's always a bit nerve racking as a reader - probably as an author too - to enter into a much loved universe when there has been a change in management, particularly when that management doesn't have any prior documented experience. I have to say that I wasn't let down by the book. It definitely had all
the heart of the original film.<br />
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Our protagonist is a young,
strong-willed Gelfling girl, Naia, of the Sog tribe. Her people live in
the swamp and she is desperate to see more of the world, like her twin
brother, Gurjin. However, this isn't possible as she must train to
replace her mother as the leader of the tribe. Her adventure begins when she spots a stranger while she is out hunting.
She then has the opportunity to leave the swamp to find out what
happened to her brother, who has gone missing from his duties as a guard
at the Crystal Castle.<br />
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I hope that if finds an audience with to today's young adult readers and helps them discover Jim Hensen's lesser known works (which I think were some of his best). I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series.<br />
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J.M thanks for being so gracious in sharing with us a peek inside Froud's design notes and for signing both my copies of the book. <br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-8950362666912311342015-11-29T11:39:00.001-06:002015-11-29T11:39:38.208-06:00The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8Sd7BrvEj7VREThSSZbuKiyYQ01VHsPtvF4gMnqzhqdIK7BhASW4vbq2VGkJDgtJCVXoiOhrcwAq6oSkorv4_joZ8DBkegtoAslGC9YAsKK1FK2N4Vb7DurN98mUoHVk1xRJlv7xSJxO/s1600/26075634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8Sd7BrvEj7VREThSSZbuKiyYQ01VHsPtvF4gMnqzhqdIK7BhASW4vbq2VGkJDgtJCVXoiOhrcwAq6oSkorv4_joZ8DBkegtoAslGC9YAsKK1FK2N4Vb7DurN98mUoHVk1xRJlv7xSJxO/s320/26075634.jpg" width="200" /></a><u>The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman</u> is the debut novel of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RobinGregoryAuthor/" target="_blank">Robin Gregory</a>, I won my copy through <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. Moojie is a historical/mystical fantasy aimed at middle grade readers. I think that the vocabulary may be challenging for many in this age group. This wouldn't be a book to give to reluctant readers.<br />
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Moojie is a disabled boy that loses two families and is searching for a place he feels he belongs. He struggles with bullies and to make friends. His quest for a new family focuses on a group that the villagers call the "Hostiles". Periodically, Moojie shows some strange abilities of unknown origins that cause unexpected and miraculous events. <br />
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As a debut novel, I think it was good. I found the pacing a bit slow in the beginning and had a hard time getting into the story. The second half of the book went smoother, and quicker, for me. I think the pacing of the book may have been deliberate on the author's part, as the chapter titles were very long and rambling in many cases.<br />
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I am a lover of the fantasy genre, but not so much when it comes to the mystical/existential stories. I am not sure if it was the mystical aspects, the pacing, or that I just wasn't in the right mood to love this story.<br />
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Happy reading! Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-11468964451794856792015-02-07T07:34:00.000-06:002015-02-07T07:34:09.665-06:00A Diary of a BurnOn December 21st, 2014, I had my first real burn injury. Not the little spatters that everyone gets while cooking, but a full-on freshly microwaved country gravy covering two of my fingers on my left hand. Just in case you aren't familiar with country gravy, it is basically fried grease, flour, and milk. It is very think and clings very efficiently. I would qualify this as my first truly serious injury.<br />
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I've been very lucky overall in my life when it comes to injuries. I have come through my years relatively unscathed. First grade seems to have been the worst year for me when it comes to injuries: I got a concussion when running under a friend on the swing and getting kicked in the back of the head, I got stabbed in the ear by a friend, and flew over the head of my pony and landed on my left arm with another kid landing on my back. The fall destroyed on the cushion in my shoulder joint, though I wouldn't know that for about 20 years (pre-MRI). I have scars on my shins from learning to ride horses in junior high. I pulled a thigh muscle in track during high school and ran on it for 6 weeks. I suppose that the scars of childbirth could be counted as injuries as well. My most recent injury prior to this burn was right before Christmas 2013, when I slipped and hit my head on the floor causing my glasses to cut the corner of my eye. So that is two Christmases in a row that have have been hurt. If it happens again next year, it'll be the beginnings of a Christmas tradition. This is not a tradition I want to start.<br />
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I do not recommend burning yourself, especially with anything sticky and clinging. This makes the burn so much worse as the substance doesn't just pass over the skin briefly. I am not one to run to the doctor or emergency room easily, I'd rather just take care of it at home. If I had gone by the look of my skin immediately after the incident, I would not have gone to the ER. It took hours for the blisters to start to truly form. However, the pain was beyond anything I had ever felt in my life. I can say without exaggeration that I wanted to cut my hand off to end the pain for a good 30 minutes. I put my hand under cool water just as one should, until that too began to hurt terribly. So I put in under water on and off periodically. Do not put ice on a burn as they told us to do when we were kids. It can exacerbate any potential nerve damage. My daughter was very helpful and concerned during all of this, she witnessed the whole thing. She even fetched my husband when I realized that I'd need to go to hospital.<br />
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I am including pictures to show the progress of my injury. If you are squeamish, I suggest not looking any further. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieheNCJjOZDe0WZW7DBc0pWAqKA1UyJE-99X08JljWLg9G-Bg3-ieOxe-qOOhedbAtuUHPGsaTC5pscP25xIjmN3PX79jbcyyjoDpAWqDZX0sLE9aKd1zIhftFy237r0oVlYTl-p2Z9370/s1600/20141221_133857%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieheNCJjOZDe0WZW7DBc0pWAqKA1UyJE-99X08JljWLg9G-Bg3-ieOxe-qOOhedbAtuUHPGsaTC5pscP25xIjmN3PX79jbcyyjoDpAWqDZX0sLE9aKd1zIhftFy237r0oVlYTl-p2Z9370/s1600/20141221_133857%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
These first two pictures were taken very shortly after the burn happened. You can't even see the redness in the photos. The burn seems quite innocuous. However these pictures are deceiving, the pain was rampant. The pain ebbed and flowed, at times I considered not going to the ER, but I knew better as I had seen a burn on a hand before. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsm99kAuhXsfez2xoZuHFrpN39s15FPbrYAH0Pxly_CJjFEvzukTMZRSDRtvfUVYKKKzN1HuXsitXEXdjsiI1fiHC132i-ldda6ee3M6LR3hpjM5HsMPPdY6rmKKaS9sDTk7h2dVBCNuR/s1600/20141221_143523%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsm99kAuhXsfez2xoZuHFrpN39s15FPbrYAH0Pxly_CJjFEvzukTMZRSDRtvfUVYKKKzN1HuXsitXEXdjsiI1fiHC132i-ldda6ee3M6LR3hpjM5HsMPPdY6rmKKaS9sDTk7h2dVBCNuR/s1600/20141221_143523%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>I knew that despite the appearance, the fact that the gravy had clung meant that it was likely that it was a second degree burn. I am so glad that I knew enough to take off my wedding ring at the very beginning, it would have had to been cut off my finger if I had waited to remove it. Taking off the ring was something that required some teeth gritting. Despite the lack of redness and blisters in the pictures, the second one shows that my digits had already begun to swell a bit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMocPdwpmSckNOfAzmYCv0SWIDy8MFjGhr0XHO4lVWtTbhCpgcJ20ExoCOmOZt6Qwykrzd31bZ-ZTovql-9CLuRFdy_zNPrfvALEfB7caExyD9PhKthrSaIF8S6TcrpowzhbTfL5AfI8qi/s1600/20141221_150020%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMocPdwpmSckNOfAzmYCv0SWIDy8MFjGhr0XHO4lVWtTbhCpgcJ20ExoCOmOZt6Qwykrzd31bZ-ZTovql-9CLuRFdy_zNPrfvALEfB7caExyD9PhKthrSaIF8S6TcrpowzhbTfL5AfI8qi/s1600/20141221_150020%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
I am very glad that I decided to go to the ER and get treated, though I had to wait for several hours to be seen as there were much worse injuries and illnesses involving vomiting in the ER with me. I actually ended up carpooling to the ER with my father- and mother-in-law because she was in the beginning stages of a seizure. It was a very strange day. The real blisters didn't begin to show up until about an hour and a half after I got the burn. It was while I was waiting in the ER. The blister started out so tiny and ordinary. I was able to wait patiently, and even read for a little while, before the pain waves became more intense again. Then I had to pace in the waiting room to help cope with the pain. I even ran cool water over my hand periodically because the skin stung from what felt like an intense sunburn dryness. I even had to get a nurse to help me go to the bathroom because I couldn't get my jeans button undone one handed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaFTjSs8sNY9m11LqKmaHTAaVUpbm05CVMACxdrSjLzAnbkUehWZVSq6tyTM7gx8RBa06pKpBOE8yiCxPJHqbfEhoqkwANKjOtc38PNVqCCKiu11ijhm7v7e_5qMFfwCuUGSHIwHu5jkK/s1600/20141221_160603%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaFTjSs8sNY9m11LqKmaHTAaVUpbm05CVMACxdrSjLzAnbkUehWZVSq6tyTM7gx8RBa06pKpBOE8yiCxPJHqbfEhoqkwANKjOtc38PNVqCCKiu11ijhm7v7e_5qMFfwCuUGSHIwHu5jkK/s1600/20141221_160603%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>My reward for my patience at the ER was some pain medication, some excellent burn cream, and some free gauze. Though I really needed about 10 boxes of gauze instead of the two they gave me. On the plus side, I got a wonderful lobster claw hand for the holidays.The fingers had to be individually wrapped within the larger bandage to prevent them from sticking together. If you've ever hurt your fingers, you'll be familiar with this practice. This detail became very important as my body tried to heal itself. It was pretty funny to watch me try to write at work the first couple of days. Luckily, much of what I do involves typing. Though I think, even that was a bit funny and awkward looking. It certainly was uncomfortable, and even painful, towards the end of the day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dRh1zRVDjYC7S8zv9AB41v98RvJtNhkShQA7cTUEFfEYuQwwEpnrmwKCre1dRAkSnyUncN1-LhcXbDyUfz2nl78twdGIOmHcuwfC85stAAY2I-r_X6fihwdp-q8gi6KlG5gxq7REAEty/s1600/20141223_211222%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dRh1zRVDjYC7S8zv9AB41v98RvJtNhkShQA7cTUEFfEYuQwwEpnrmwKCre1dRAkSnyUncN1-LhcXbDyUfz2nl78twdGIOmHcuwfC85stAAY2I-r_X6fihwdp-q8gi6KlG5gxq7REAEty/s1600/20141223_211222%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
Over the next couple of days, I was amazed and kind of grossed out over the blisters that developed. I think the best description of my feelings would be "fascinated horror". The one on my ring finger became particularly large, the size of a whole other finger. I continually marveled at what my body was doing to try to heal itself and terrified that the skin at the edges of<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzecJDsf-kvJEC_YBqO4wxCIHeYLsMb38n0Muc5X4egcuYNo97PQoN-HVPhkA24cyoTAegmy1MnFDSYL7YWEJzwXMIKjdCw0JNYZzybeEShSvnfKqlcjRZ_WLlwLo3ktVpOHi0mRmXuYP/s1600/20141223_211231%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzecJDsf-kvJEC_YBqO4wxCIHeYLsMb38n0Muc5X4egcuYNo97PQoN-HVPhkA24cyoTAegmy1MnFDSYL7YWEJzwXMIKjdCw0JNYZzybeEShSvnfKqlcjRZ_WLlwLo3ktVpOHi0mRmXuYP/s1600/20141223_211231%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a> the blister would simply rip apart from the amount of stretching that it was doing. It certainly felt like it was on the edge of tearing apart. I also worried about the skin over the blister spontaneously bursting because the skin couldn't stretch anymore. It took two days for the blisters to reach their largest size. I couldn't help but stare at them when changing my bandages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLPu8v8ZHgJKZq_A9ht0GET_rxKg_-KSJ-AD3Et3E7MyH8E6ZwRjkwbkq_wjmZTt5dLu_OA48YtrJmmaDB9qBTTjK41rx3snkPywNSHQHoLKYm8TvPeqPQuwAVTKKLeVHm7WyQXie0Dsp/s1600/20141227_155652%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLPu8v8ZHgJKZq_A9ht0GET_rxKg_-KSJ-AD3Et3E7MyH8E6ZwRjkwbkq_wjmZTt5dLu_OA48YtrJmmaDB9qBTTjK41rx3snkPywNSHQHoLKYm8TvPeqPQuwAVTKKLeVHm7WyQXie0Dsp/s1600/20141227_155652%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>At times, it was tempting to pop the blisters. This was something I knew I shouldn't do, as they are there to protect the new skin, so I was very protective of my blisters and tried to keep them intact as long as I could I was defeated by a need to consumer summer sausage. Cutting myself a few slices, the pressure of pushing on the knife caused the largest blister to pop. It was 6 days after the burn was received. In some ways this was much grosser than the blister itself. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0MtqZ_GuQwfMgSagXAgtpqpDRC3b8Dc6WNoXHzYuqxRtXd6pDXaBiUFJ5G3g7Z8gwE4n_ly4cCzwzXxMo-3ew4tR4hVcMeuuJZtLoo711jwpoQ_M6mI-XzxnoFu3FNcJQSZ1fsyBILel/s1600/20141227_155706%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0MtqZ_GuQwfMgSagXAgtpqpDRC3b8Dc6WNoXHzYuqxRtXd6pDXaBiUFJ5G3g7Z8gwE4n_ly4cCzwzXxMo-3ew4tR4hVcMeuuJZtLoo711jwpoQ_M6mI-XzxnoFu3FNcJQSZ1fsyBILel/s1600/20141227_155706%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>I left the skin so that it could continue to protect the new skin underneath. Plus, any manipulation of that skin caused a bit of pain. The blister on my middle finger had started to reduce on its own at this point, which was good, my fingers had been forcibly separated into a Vulcan greeting for a week (though no one could see it through the bandage) and the muscles were fatigued. It was a relief to not have to hold my fingers at such an awkward angle anymore and there were a surprising feeling of freedom, now that I could wrap my fingers individually and have a range of motion that more closely resembled normal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebbXM5_ikp1nyxIHAkAXpn_q-WrmIxrzW4f4S9m3IWAqi369ejAyrG4kVn8N75Y4LZzkfmgdeACtdJ4AUSXaYAHnyUGzmMiYYfExuptazFukXBUrEMQ4p8UJh9O9VuXRV9XYTWQ0-pmwv/s1600/20141229_211728%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebbXM5_ikp1nyxIHAkAXpn_q-WrmIxrzW4f4S9m3IWAqi369ejAyrG4kVn8N75Y4LZzkfmgdeACtdJ4AUSXaYAHnyUGzmMiYYfExuptazFukXBUrEMQ4p8UJh9O9VuXRV9XYTWQ0-pmwv/s1600/20141229_211728%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>I think the next stage of my recovery was my favorite. As the skin from the blisters dried out about 8 days after the original injury, my hand started to look like something out of a zombie movie. Though the hard, dry skin was a bit uncomfortable and would sometimes poke the tender new skin underneath it. I had to make sure I kept my fingers moving to help the new skin stay elastic. I wanted to use moisturizer on my dry skin but couldn't. So instead, I kept applying the burn cream like a good patient.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXpiCb8F-Xm_IimhcUFTE8sAe0QNIIxUWS29IJXBa1BYvk7uV1rYBt1SWWWWmc5Bx03lVha6IR0qiK0Z78IEFGcNVMG5H_x29CQCB4oiJnbEzT0qnXhlST4LVLnyrCEqoyd9PcIoK-2hN/s1600/20141230_200440%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXpiCb8F-Xm_IimhcUFTE8sAe0QNIIxUWS29IJXBa1BYvk7uV1rYBt1SWWWWmc5Bx03lVha6IR0qiK0Z78IEFGcNVMG5H_x29CQCB4oiJnbEzT0qnXhlST4LVLnyrCEqoyd9PcIoK-2hN/s1600/20141230_200440%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU9Tq8W0Cuv3-cIb9MRKVqsUDdib7iwdFjE6llSEkmEitQ5tymTeE6ertcc_ihIgTBmgpMpRZGS_faud4npaW0SF2OWTWttespfnSqFKnEuEFQjKo7xpox2_uXW8TU2nOM7YJ4RNwlXcd/s1600/20150107_151855%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU9Tq8W0Cuv3-cIb9MRKVqsUDdib7iwdFjE6llSEkmEitQ5tymTeE6ertcc_ihIgTBmgpMpRZGS_faud4npaW0SF2OWTWttespfnSqFKnEuEFQjKo7xpox2_uXW8TU2nOM7YJ4RNwlXcd/s1600/20150107_151855%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>It was very difficult not to peel the skin off once the scabs started flaking off. It's like that compulsion to remove torn labels, almost irresistible. I admit that the angry redness and the tenderness of the newly exposed flesh was helpful in resisting this temptation, but only at first. Also, knowing that doing so would likely increase any scaring. I'm not overly vain, but I've always thought I had pretty good skin, and I didn't want to screw that up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF7Fix-fdDVbgeBIQHSpCVAOtSpmhZGgz53FoxmN4bkjKrJjHniQH8yQxd13AeD8dOaipYj6GViJ4t44fZjXg64u6d3oCvr4mke0yunZBbWFGUWEjXsnOWuXFvJ_DIhrBSl83k7QXdtNn/s1600/20150118_103248%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF7Fix-fdDVbgeBIQHSpCVAOtSpmhZGgz53FoxmN4bkjKrJjHniQH8yQxd13AeD8dOaipYj6GViJ4t44fZjXg64u6d3oCvr4mke0yunZBbWFGUWEjXsnOWuXFvJ_DIhrBSl83k7QXdtNn/s1600/20150118_103248%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
My slavish obedience to the doctor's directions and my resistance to the temptation to pop the blisters or peel the scabs prematurely has apparently paid off. The burn scar is barely noticeable on my skin. There is some tightness to the burn area and it seems to dry out more quickly than the skin around it. My ring finger seems slightly bigger than previously, but I was able to put my wedding ring back on. (Though it's uncomfortable to try to take it off.) The area is still slightly red and is occasionally tender to the touch. Extreme cold seems to bother it more than heat.<br />
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Getting such a burn is not an experience I want to repeat, but I think I healed up rather well. I hope that you never get such an injury, or any injury for that matter.<br />
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I hope you have a wonderful 2015!<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-83508206792199086472014-12-06T12:52:00.000-06:002015-01-09T13:34:48.852-06:002014 Christmas Stockings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOKRZjHZiPogfDv5Huat_Cvw4uPy1SyzYnOWi5yXWjj6N3X8IBDYdQx2oZGaZz_L16397Bql20yjRllT3n9qsg8e8TzOkxdyQizvycSSC7zARKqBXMZNJy1GpRX-5q3vgvkQgny8KsO2y/s1600/Steampunk+Santa+completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOKRZjHZiPogfDv5Huat_Cvw4uPy1SyzYnOWi5yXWjj6N3X8IBDYdQx2oZGaZz_L16397Bql20yjRllT3n9qsg8e8TzOkxdyQizvycSSC7zARKqBXMZNJy1GpRX-5q3vgvkQgny8KsO2y/s1600/Steampunk+Santa+completed.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>I made three Christmas stocking for family/friends' babies this year. I don't know why they didn't listen when I commanded that no one else I know have any babies.<br />
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One of the stockings this year was for a baby that has already had one Christmas, I found out too late in the year to get it finished for his first Christmas. It was also a very complex, detailed design. This particular stocking was inspired by the art of <a href="http://www.mylespinkney.com/" target="_blank">Miles Pinkney</a>. He did a great Steampunk Santa magazine cover picture. I took the Santa and gears from this cover art to create a Steampunk stocking. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't really show the fact that the ray gun and name are made with sparkly thread.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBky_3r13KJH_xspMCSsV_A0hMdEsFdMx_3szE4LhVlpugEOMGTCaC4EZTHa4X1jsSYyNE4Oi34QrVCzj25_wNO8RSNbZhFhO7czkDTa9mQEuerQeRE0LVAiqOi9y_2EMP2Y1JsGYgwlJl/s1600/Samuel+Santa+completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBky_3r13KJH_xspMCSsV_A0hMdEsFdMx_3szE4LhVlpugEOMGTCaC4EZTHa4X1jsSYyNE4Oi34QrVCzj25_wNO8RSNbZhFhO7czkDTa9mQEuerQeRE0LVAiqOi9y_2EMP2Y1JsGYgwlJl/s1600/Samuel+Santa+completed.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>This year one of my friends from high school and his wife were blessed with their second son. They are more traditional in their tastes, so I went with a Victorian style Santa Claus design. I didn't design this one myself, it came from a magazine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77lcqe8q2VH81uNfR5XckCWb382MqcQCU_oBUO1Fr76zJVxEozBmCltqii0g5csSKPL9z0JWIn9u4KLmvToLo0cHFzKUnOWL85w5cgCFHM0w466rcrnKct4TyTVK3fsYMNIWSpT3T9qki/s1600/10734046_10204916799296008_2766988023113502657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77lcqe8q2VH81uNfR5XckCWb382MqcQCU_oBUO1Fr76zJVxEozBmCltqii0g5csSKPL9z0JWIn9u4KLmvToLo0cHFzKUnOWL85w5cgCFHM0w466rcrnKct4TyTVK3fsYMNIWSpT3T9qki/s1600/10734046_10204916799296008_2766988023113502657_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>The final stocking I created this year was for my newest niece. Her mother requested a Nightmare Before Christmas design. I chose a sparkly night sky fabric to try to capture the feel of the movie, though the picture makes the sparkles a little hard to see. This stocking was designed for 30 count fabric, but is completed on 32 count because the perfect color was only available in that size. I made some adjustments, but the stocking came out a little smaller than intended.<br />
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I feel that my designs and patterns are getting better with each attempt. I have avoided using back-stitching and french knots in my patterns until the Nightmare Before Christmas stocking. That is going to take some time to perfect as an art, I even asked some people to beta test the pattern to see if they have any suggestions on improving the back-stitching details.<br />
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I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and that you can celebrate with those and in a way that brings you true joy.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-1440598787398298462014-09-23T05:40:00.001-05:002014-09-23T05:43:01.988-05:00Contaminated by Em Garner Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fk3pkZIz5Hqgrxoxsa4lc4G0CXVwrk0pmYp-_-ovuAo6hNOB9eSCfge0zVQb4gyVJthxHTsfcf_s2jsK9ZP0SePlZ3uIcoZUdoTYkUouIL0a1j_DvFaqqO16iexbPh2IifUpvwGZ8QAA/s1600/Contaminated.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fk3pkZIz5Hqgrxoxsa4lc4G0CXVwrk0pmYp-_-ovuAo6hNOB9eSCfge0zVQb4gyVJthxHTsfcf_s2jsK9ZP0SePlZ3uIcoZUdoTYkUouIL0a1j_DvFaqqO16iexbPh2IifUpvwGZ8QAA/s1600/Contaminated.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<u>Contaminated</u> by <a href="http://emgarner.com/" target="_blank">Em Garner</a> is a post-apocalyptic YA novel, I won it on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. It's the story of Velvet and her sister, Opal. They are orphans as a result of a prion disease outbreak that is the result of a diet drink, ThinPro, being contaminated with unsafe proteins. The disease results in aggressive behavior, loss of speech, increased clumsiness, and other symptoms that give the infected a zombie-like appearance but without them actually being dead.<br />
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The book begins with Violet going to a kennel, where the neutralized, contaminated people (or Connies) are kept so that family members can reclaim them. The contaminated people are neutralized with a shock collar. Violet is looking for her mother.<br />
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Violet is struggling to survive and support her sister in this new world, she goes to school for half a day and then works the rest of the day. Though the contamination affect different areas of the country in different degrees, many basic services haven't been restored. There is martial law and curfews. Feral Connies still show up periodically, as the illness can lie dormant for extended periods of time based on how much a person drank and how contaminated the batch was.<br />
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I haven't read any of Em Garner's novels for adults, I hadn't even heard of her until running across this book on the FirstReads giveaway list. The story is an easy and quick read, it is well paced. The characters are pretty believable. There were a few spots that even made me laugh, especially one bit about kissing, boys, and pizza. It's an infection story more than a zombie one, but the world she set up works well. I look forward to reading the next book.<br />
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Happy reading! Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-9988969015793443012014-07-08T18:13:00.002-05:002014-07-08T18:14:45.556-05:00Thoughts about GenderI have been contemplating this post for several days. I can already see my husband's eyes rolling in his head as he reads it. I got into a conversation on Twitter a couple of weeks ago, something that I can't avoid doing from time to time despite the fact that Twitter is a terrible place for any real intellectual discourse. Who can be eloquent and clear in only 144 characters? Most of us seem to have trouble with that with much more space, or at least I do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrygqoA8c4t5SnonNVinoU_19PyLGZ250MOi3vXR5BdBhEepjy1G4PvM90ENfa27T69ON0aoi9wg1GS1Ho8Yq9GKJQ87ckQs7JMNjrFEG4hUE2IX0T93pNiGg791PwmjwIserY-i4HPs8S/s1600/gender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrygqoA8c4t5SnonNVinoU_19PyLGZ250MOi3vXR5BdBhEepjy1G4PvM90ENfa27T69ON0aoi9wg1GS1Ho8Yq9GKJQ87ckQs7JMNjrFEG4hUE2IX0T93pNiGg791PwmjwIserY-i4HPs8S/s1600/gender.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a>An issue related to the term "cisgender" came up, a term I'm not really fond of. It started me thinking about gender roles and concepts in general.<br />
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First, I want to clarify my use of terms. I'm sure you are already aware of this distinction, but I want to make sure there is no misunderstanding about what I write next. The words sex and gender are often used interchangeably, but they aren't actually the same thing. A person's sex is their biological male or femaleness, it only describes the reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics that they are born with and develop in puberty. Gender is the societal expectations for each sex. The roles, behaviors, personality traits, and attitudes expected from a person with male or female sexual organs. These concepts are largely stereotypical and puts everyone in nice safe boxes. I can't say the behavior of men and women is totally a concept of society because of the scientific evidence shows that there are physical differences in their brains, this is a product of many years of evolution and our roles eons ago. I don't believe however, that we need to let such things continue to define us in modern society.<br />
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I am rather an odd person in many ways, when I think of myself, the first thing that I think isn't that I'm a woman. I know that I am female, but for me it's not a defining aspect of myself as a person. I don't think of myself as a women first. It doesn't define my interests, views, personality, or opinions (most of them at any rate), so for me it is a secondary characteristic though it's one of the first thing other people notice. As an adult, I have frequently questioned my "girl card" points. I have given birth to a child (I look forward to the day that the men who wish to can experience this joy for themselves), so I'm definitely female, but I wonder how "girly" I am.<br />
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<i><b>My "Girl" Points</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li>Went through the horse crazy stage as a kid</li>
<li>Baking</li>
<li>Cross-stitch</li>
<li>Liked pink most of my life (not my favorite color now)</li>
<li>Blubber like a baby at movies, tv shows, and books</li>
<li>Like dancing </li>
</ul>
<i><b>My "Not Girl" Points</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li>Don't care about shoes</li>
<li>Don't like shopping</li>
<li>Don't like jewelry</li>
<li>Don't like chocolate (want it, maybe, once a year) </li>
<li>Don't want flowers as a gift</li>
<li>Don't like romance novels (though I had a phase as a teen)</li>
<li>Love scifi/fantasy and horror</li>
<li>Not overly sentimental</li>
<li>Would rather do yard work than housework</li>
<li>Don't like make-up (wear it for work so I don't look like a ghost)</li>
<li>Was never boy crazy</li>
<li>Never did the squeally, screechy girl thing</li>
<li>Never wanted to be a stay-at-home mom</li>
<li>Don't care about fashion </li>
<li>Bread winner</li>
<li>Linear thinker</li>
<li>Analytical/logical thinker </li>
</ul>
I realize a lot of the things listed above are based on stereotypes, that's all that our concepts of gender really are: a series of societal expectations that have nothing to do with people as individuals. I think this is detrimental to individuals and society. My mother took a test in high school to see what she should do with her life, this was in the 60's, and they added a letter to her name which made it seem she was male. With the male name, she was told she should be a mechanic or engineer. Well, they sent the same test in with her real name and she was told she should be a teacher or nurse. Today, we call this sexist, and it is, but it has to do with these stereotypes society has about men and women. Some of them have eased up, some continue just as strongly.<br />
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Men are just as trapped by these stereotypes as women. My husband was a stay-at-home dad for 7 years. I got all kinds of disapproving looks and comments because I was the bread winner and things were tight for us. If he had been the one to work, and I had stayed at home, no one would have questioned it even if finances were tight. I pointed this out to someone once, their comments ceased. The concepts are so endemic that we don't even realize that we hold these views until it's pointed out. People also seem to think that the word sexist only applies to treatment of women. People are sexist against men, too. Men can be incredibly nurturing people and parents, though traditional gender roles express a different opinion. If a man wants to be a nurse, it's been assumed that he's feminine (therefore also gay) or not smart enough to be a doctor. Admittedly, this attitude has lessened in the last few years as more men enter the profession. Men that want to teach young children face this sexism as well, but it's not assumed that they are gay rather that they must be pedophiles. <br />
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I am saddened that some in forward thinking communities are still trapped by these concepts of gender roles. I know that some people don't understand why others aren't comfortable with the label "cisgender". I can't speak for all, but I can speak for myself. Just like many don't like the labels that have been applied to them because of the stereotypical concepts that come with that box, the same happens when labels are applies to others. Some have already attached stereotypes to anyone that is "cisgender". I don't believe in "default", I don't believe in "normal"; I just believe in people. Such labels only serve to separate and divide us, because the labels become more important than the fact that we are all human.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-55448232377987895182014-05-27T12:37:00.002-05:002014-05-27T12:38:08.482-05:00Getting a Pet and Puppy Mills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_54Uj26YPs8io1xVLT1lxgldgtPH3KslDeTPeTCtcV6xHp6SmSLG9jvu0jICpA_MmgU4icpGMBEyJUtQ4POVgM4ua9cyGuMEz1ypJiHEa5NUT06N2JAfluBmUGPmOCZ1S7_ubkpcz8aL/s1600/2011-08-12_10-47-03_547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_54Uj26YPs8io1xVLT1lxgldgtPH3KslDeTPeTCtcV6xHp6SmSLG9jvu0jICpA_MmgU4icpGMBEyJUtQ4POVgM4ua9cyGuMEz1ypJiHEa5NUT06N2JAfluBmUGPmOCZ1S7_ubkpcz8aL/s1600/2011-08-12_10-47-03_547.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Jester dog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I recently read <u>Bones in Her Pocket</u> by <a href="http://kathyreichs.com/" target="_blank">Kathy Reichs </a>which
addresses the horror of puppy mills. At the end of this novella, she
included an exceptional letter about such mills. I am including her letter here, which I have already posted on my Facebook page, with her permission. Please read it and carefully consider where you get your next pet.<br />
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You Can Help Stop Puppy Mills</span></u></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
a forensic anthropologist I’m daily faced with the malice humans cause one
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an owner of five rescue
animals, I’m distressed by cruelty to all species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally, these paths intersect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bones brought to my lab turn out to be a
sackful of puppies, weighted down by a rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s hard for the heart to understand such brutality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And nothing is more merciless than a puppy
mill.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
puppy mill is defined as a ‘factory farm’ for dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are legal and some are illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Government regulation is lax, if it exists at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ‘crops’ are raised in cages,
often in the minimum legal space allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Females are bred as frequently as possible, and discarded when no longer
fertile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a life with no joy, no
love, no hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dogs are sick, starved,
and sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have never played on the
grass. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thousands
buy dogs from puppy mills annually, most believing they are getting their pet
from a responsible breeder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inhumane
breeders owners seduce people into “puppy love,” either in pet stores or through
online photos.</span> The Humane Society estimates there are 10,000 puppy mills
across the country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collectively, they
sell 2 million to 4 million puppies nationwide each year from facilities where
breeding dogs remain caged their entire lives, sustained solely to provide
offspring sold for profit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My home state
of North Carolina is one of the worst offenders, with n<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">o state-required
inspections and no laws governing breeders who sell to the buying public.</span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
can help prevent animal abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are
eight things you can do to stop the horror of puppy mills:</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Adopt
your next pet.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The perfect pet is waiting
for you at one of the thousands of shelters and rescue groups across the
country. If you want a particular breed, you can locate one by contacting
a breed-rescue organization. </span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don't
buy a puppy online or from a pet store.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If you buy a puppy, you’re most likely supporting
the puppy mill industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
must buy, please do your research to be sure your puppy isn’t from a mill.</span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take
action against pet stores that sell puppy mill dogs.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Ask pet store owners to consider switching to a
humane business model. If the store refuses to change, hold a peaceful
rally or written campaign in protest.</span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Advocate
for stricter breeding laws.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Write or
call your city, county, state and federal officials and ask them to take
these issues seriously. These communications influence legislators. To
help change your city, county, and state laws, sign up to receive action alerts
from Voices for No More Homeless Pets at <a href="http://yourvoice.bestfriends.org/" target="_blank" title="yourvoice.bestfriends.org">yourvoice.bestfriends.org</a>.</span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Speak
out in your community.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Write to
the editors of newspapers and local news about puppy mills that keep their
animals in unacceptable conditions. </span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Elect
animal-friendly candidates.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Ask
candidates if they support regulating commercial breeders and what they
would do about puppy mills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let
them know you support stricter puppy mill regulations and you vote.</span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Raise
awareness and/or donations.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Organize
a walk, conduct a bake sale or car wash, or set up a table at local events
to raise awareness and funding for animal rescue and breeding regulation.</span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don't
give up.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The fight against puppy
mills and inhumane breeders has been going on for decades. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things won't change overnight, but we’ve
seen progress. If you educate just one person about the horrors of puppy
mills or convince just one person to adopt rather than buy a pet, you've
made a difference.</span></i></li>
</ul>
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</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcan4A9PcomJ51sEJPz7Bi8yjR1X3XnvVEWZwIrFTAEKr2s_eHfW4aGlBfyIDvbMaGKpnwaJimW73BaGnHqUQvUDx-L44DdYW_mmZ68fTL7wk-E9yYZLbthzioHqapo3z7cynZkLxiwtEP/s1600/2011-11-19_15-05-59_897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcan4A9PcomJ51sEJPz7Bi8yjR1X3XnvVEWZwIrFTAEKr2s_eHfW4aGlBfyIDvbMaGKpnwaJimW73BaGnHqUQvUDx-L44DdYW_mmZ68fTL7wk-E9yYZLbthzioHqapo3z7cynZkLxiwtEP/s1600/2011-11-19_15-05-59_897.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><i> </i></div>
Having a pet is a great thing! We love our cats and dogs. My family adopted our dog through a shelter to be an emotional support animal for my husband. We'd have taken his brother, too, if we could have afforded it or had the room. Our cat was adopted from a friend of a friend because her owner was moving out of the country and didn't have time or money to do the necessary paperwork to take her beloved animal with her.<br />
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<br />
As many of you may know, Jester was hit by a car about a year ago. Thanks again to all of you that helped with his emergency vet bills, you will never know how much it meant to us.<br />
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My husband and I have only ever bought one pet, that was our first cat. All of the rest of the animals that we have had, have been adopted. Most of these were through acquaintances that just wanted the animal to have a good home with loving people. When we had to leave a pet behind in a move, we've always made sure to find them a home rather than take them to a shelter (adult animals are too hard to adopt).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsXHIECu_8fzu41qGJRBGzEM_SmWxLRcogYnEBgTibBLP6ywnw_A5mhHEIgIH7jpYkjEvjTVP82jEeEz1cxLeHHI2mnLWyGzCKpOXN52DbDtCqM7mt9_5CYrotDRIQwz73gRyJc7Ir4RW/s1600/jester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsXHIECu_8fzu41qGJRBGzEM_SmWxLRcogYnEBgTibBLP6ywnw_A5mhHEIgIH7jpYkjEvjTVP82jEeEz1cxLeHHI2mnLWyGzCKpOXN52DbDtCqM7mt9_5CYrotDRIQwz73gRyJc7Ir4RW/s1600/jester.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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The point of all this is that when you are looking for a pet, you should adopt rather than buy. There are many animals in need of homes, if homes aren't found for them, they are put down. If you must buy PLEASE do in-depth research on who you are buying from. Most breeders are puppy mills, they are in it for the money, it's BIG business. I am adding my voice to Kathy Reichs, research, speak up, speak out, and adopt first!<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-27408276287327511802014-04-13T13:18:00.002-05:002014-04-13T13:20:41.598-05:00Missing Microbes by Martin J. Blaser, MD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImQAf3tI018T4LXjNdUa_EyRRulOXjrdbTU-57g6h1D7LTlwvQ98xn-vysbfvky8YwdWiMJrqoyOOKq8T33G7dy-cx3Xt6Lr3AMJJlsAOSMnKYvh6Q-zA1GM74E_Eco87Gc_YDZ-Z7lps/s1600/missing+microbes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImQAf3tI018T4LXjNdUa_EyRRulOXjrdbTU-57g6h1D7LTlwvQ98xn-vysbfvky8YwdWiMJrqoyOOKq8T33G7dy-cx3Xt6Lr3AMJJlsAOSMnKYvh6Q-zA1GM74E_Eco87Gc_YDZ-Z7lps/s1600/missing+microbes.jpg" /></a></div>
I won an advanced copy of this book by Martin J. Blaser, MD from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. I have been interested in the affects that the overuse of antibiotics for a while, we've always been careful to avoid taking unnecessary medication. Most things pass on their own when the virus passes through your system.<br />
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Blaser explains so many things about antibiotics and his research that I'm not sure how to boil it down to fit in a review. He does a great job of looking at the side effects we've already seen from antibiotic usage around the world. Most of us know about drug resistance bacteria and disease, but it goes beyond that. The FDA finally announced that hand sanitizers do more harm then good, glad they caught up with the science (it took long enough).<br />
<br />
Our immune systems and growth are being impacted as well. The use of broad spectrum antibiotics not only attacks the harmful bacteria inside our bodies but the bacteria that helps us digest various foods and regulate our immune responses. The bio-diversity of our bacteria is being negatively impacted by our obsession with cleanliness and getting rid of all "germs". We have neglected to realize that the bacteria contained within us (which actually make up most of our mass) evolved with us.<br />
<br />
Blaser has linked the use of antibiotics with the increase in obesity, not just in the U.S. but all over the world. This includes areas where the western diets has not been adopted but the use of antibiotics has. The increase in height all around the world can be connected with the use of antibiotics as well. 80% of antibiotics sold in the US are sold to farmers specifically for the purpose of causing their livestock to grow faster and fatter while eating less. We then consume the meat containing these antibiotics. Though progress has been made on this front with <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/28/1287973/-Pharmaceutical-companies-agree-to-reduce-antibiotics-for-animals-on-labels-sort-of" target="_blank">25 companies recently agreeing to reduce the sale of antibiotics</a> to farmers.<br />
<br />
His reasoning is sound and though the microbiome scientists haven't linked specific bacteria with obesity, allergies, asthma, etc. they have found very strong correlations. The sudden outbreak of allergies to commonly used foods strangely coincides with the dramatic increase in antibiotic use.<br />
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Ways you can help:<br />
<br />
1. <b>Only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary</b>. Don't get them every time you or your child gets an ear infection (Over 80% are caused by viruses.). Check to make sure that your doctor doesn't give your newborn antibiotics automatically at birth without a specific cause. Most people are unaware of this practice in US hospitals. It's only necessary 1 in 200 cases, so 199 kids are getting unnecessary medication. Ask your dentist to not give you antibiotics unless there is an eminent risk of infection. After taking antibiotics you are more at risk to get sick from another infection, (strange that this isn't on any of the warning labels.) sometimes up to as long as 3 years later.<br />
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2. <b>Stop using hand sanitizer</b>. There is a layer of helpful bacteria on your skin, using hand sanitizer kills it off and increases your risk of disease and infection. Even the <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/12/16/fda-proposes-ban-antibacterial-soaps/GcpggqoyCcdJGZkRKBMHaN/story.html" target="_blank">FDA</a> has realized the negative impact of hand sanitizer use.<br />
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Other things that need to be done to improve the situation involve restricting the use of antibiotics on farm animals, paying pediatricians better so they can take more time with each patient to ensure a better diagnosis, better training for pediatricians, better tests for determining bacterial/viral infection status, better antibiotic development focusing on directed antibiotics, plus other methods to fight diseases.<br />
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I have barely scratched the surface of what Dr. Blaser had to say, I highly recommend this book.<br />
<br />
Happy reading!Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-8527337142636242112014-03-13T17:11:00.000-05:002014-03-13T17:11:57.476-05:00Bucket List Item #19 - Accomplished!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMShrgjRRSAB_IP1KxCEjIRQKSq0-rH1iuV9NjvqE18Ef9pqiIbevm6NWsBde6B7JsUiWVoJSrWSixA-KeDb-PCTSv6w65eYFRlBgAOeHbd6Z0ZtJ6iQUbNpomJO4pJmk_t_iCQ8wxqfYq/s1600/exposure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMShrgjRRSAB_IP1KxCEjIRQKSq0-rH1iuV9NjvqE18Ef9pqiIbevm6NWsBde6B7JsUiWVoJSrWSixA-KeDb-PCTSv6w65eYFRlBgAOeHbd6Z0ZtJ6iQUbNpomJO4pJmk_t_iCQ8wxqfYq/s1600/exposure.jpg" /></a>Yesterday, I got to fulfill #19 on my bucket list. I met Kathy Reichs. (That number does not reflect any priority, just the random order of how things popped into my head as I made the list.) She and her son, Brendan, are doing a book tour for <u>Exposure</u>, their new YA novel from the <a href="http://viralstheseries.com/">"Virals" series</a>. These books feature Tory Brennan, the niece of Temperance Brennan.<br />
<br />
The location of the book talk/signing was a small, independent bookstore in Minneapolis called <a href="http://www.wildrumpusbooks.com/">Wild Rumpus</a>. Wild Rumpus is a magical and enchanting bookstore focused on young readers of all ages. They have a kid-sized door built into the adult door, a multitude of store pets including cats, chinchillas, and birds. I truly wish I didn't live an hour away from this place, I'd be there all the time. If you live in the area, please give them your patronage, if you live far away order from them online. (We need to support the independent bookstores.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jyQr3xJmSI07jE1M81U_9sK9ncNUkZFiJ35rUns9WW1JJtdyWBLC7zT5Y2RaD2OqvmM64DUHiGHevdmIFp0Ujdf5Q3mdIArjooONvyuT8sCpbjZDmh7idJ8VJfRjjvb7xkzOPMKPO7Iq/s1600/KathyRME.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jyQr3xJmSI07jE1M81U_9sK9ncNUkZFiJ35rUns9WW1JJtdyWBLC7zT5Y2RaD2OqvmM64DUHiGHevdmIFp0Ujdf5Q3mdIArjooONvyuT8sCpbjZDmh7idJ8VJfRjjvb7xkzOPMKPO7Iq/s1600/KathyRME.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>While we were waiting for the book talk to begin, the Girl got on to me for being to excited about meeting Kathy and acting too much like a giddy teenager. I told her it's allowed for me to get excited. I admit to gushy about meeting Kathy and the awesome bookstore, but there was no jumping up and down or squealing.<br />
<br />
Kathy and Brendan were friendly, articulate, and even funny. It's obvious that they enjoy writing and working together, though it has its challenges. They encouraged questions about the Virals series, the Temperance series, and the Bones tv show. Kathy talked about not really wanting to do a cameo on the show, until she heard David Duchovny would be directing the episode. It's nice to see a famous person get just as starstruck and excited to meet someone as I am to meet them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vDGrmZxv1eNuWli1fYvbgpYEjHkECwTXscZ08NP-ClPhmJwURIGAuqe6t-tXPn_sPp92khBLMTbiiZDbbzY530AzQwxJyeUnOCk6QKBZ9AiyJmEDIcvl1KIFMY-WNQseMkAxZdp3tMoz/s1600/KathyRTheGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vDGrmZxv1eNuWli1fYvbgpYEjHkECwTXscZ08NP-ClPhmJwURIGAuqe6t-tXPn_sPp92khBLMTbiiZDbbzY530AzQwxJyeUnOCk6QKBZ9AiyJmEDIcvl1KIFMY-WNQseMkAxZdp3tMoz/s1600/KathyRTheGirl.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>I got <u>Bones are Forever</u> signed, while the Girl got <u>Exposure</u> signed by them both. I wish I could have asked her more questions or been able to discuss science with her. Though I would have probably been too nervous to be a thoughtful conversation partner.<br />
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I did learn that "Bones" has been picked up for another season, the next Temperance Brennan novel will be out in September, and the next "Virals" novel will be about next year (probably April).<br />
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Many things are still hectic in my life, but I have completed one and a half of the things on my bucket list in less than a month. That isn't a bad start to a new year.<br />
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Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-54170242590137230802014-03-11T06:50:00.000-05:002014-03-11T06:50:14.188-05:00Extreme Medicine: How Exploration Transformed Medicine in the Twentieth Century by Kevin Fong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHY_USWJKWSpOvsIIlsW3NnvUX0THzfn_nuwoT7oiVp88H9e_uM8YqP9-bj6Eh8YyBl90FsbvKK7bubFqFJLj4bw6R6COVkB3mZ4IYd7dGLpwS07jOHupz7jDtwGBuXyFahlm4l5n0bOi/s1600/9781594204708_custom-14713d8588e54f066a6abf7b5a13e4c9de832ea1-s6-c30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHY_USWJKWSpOvsIIlsW3NnvUX0THzfn_nuwoT7oiVp88H9e_uM8YqP9-bj6Eh8YyBl90FsbvKK7bubFqFJLj4bw6R6COVkB3mZ4IYd7dGLpwS07jOHupz7jDtwGBuXyFahlm4l5n0bOi/s1600/9781594204708_custom-14713d8588e54f066a6abf7b5a13e4c9de832ea1-s6-c30.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
I've always been interested in science and medicine, but I admit that reading the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs helped draw my attention to this<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/"> Goodreads</a> giveaway for this book. The technical details about forensics in the series reawakened my desire for actual knowledge rather than my more casual interest of the past. So upon seeing <a href="https://twitter.com/Kevin_Fong">Dr. Kevin Fong</a>'s book comparing and paralleling extreme medicine and exploration, I was intrigued.<br />
<br />
Right away, I could feel Dr. Fong's passion for both medicine and exploration. The book is well organized and easily understandable. Dr. Fong is good at using analogies that make the body processes and affects on the body comprehensible. There are 9 different areas of focus, and all are kept to an easily readable length. <br />
<br />
The first area of exploration is ice, we learn about Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated but crucial expedition to the South Pole and what happens to the body during hypothermia. Dr. Fong takes us through some of the technologies developed to allow us access to such temperature extremes so that we may learn more about our planet. And in the final segment about ice, we learn of the first time that doctors used hypothermia as a medical tool to save a live.<br />
<br />
In the section on fire, we learn how World War I doctors and pilots provided the basis of modern day plastic surgery and why burn injuries are so dangerous.<br />
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In the heart section, I was shocked to learn that the heart was forbidden territory for a very long time, and that the field developed so quickly. There are many interesting personal stories in each section, that put a human face on these explorations into new medicine and environs, but if I share them here I'll be doing Dr. Fong's work for him.<br />
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Trauma and intensive care are closely associated with hospitals in my mind, and with each other. These two sections trace the development of each specialty. Our current procedures for triaging injuries in emergency situations comes from the personal tragedy of Dr. James K. Styner. He went on a crusade after his family was in a plane crash, and the local small town doctors didn't know how to prioritize cases. He had to function as his children's own emergency doctor while ignoring his own injuries. The inside look at the SARS epidemic and seeing how intensive care units were started was also interesting. I didn't know half of the side effects of polio, I guess my generation is lucky that way.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
This passage from the water section gave me the shivers, the thing to remember is that Dr. Fong really did this. Imagine how terrifying it would be if it wasn't a training exercise.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
"The water is rising fast now, already up to my waist, and every fiber of my body is telling me that I should unclip that harness and punch through that window. But to do that would be fatal. Free of the seat, I'd be swilled around the cabin by the inrush of water; finding my way to the exit and then locating the metal bar that jettisons the window would be impossible. If I'm to survive this, I have to wait. The water continues to bubble into the cabin. It's at my chest now, and the whole vehicle is overbalancing, skewed by the weight of the engines and rotors above, turning upside down in the darkness. The water is up to my chin as the cabin starts to rotate. These are my last few breaths, and I'm still strapped into my seat, resisting the urge to get the hell out of there."</div>
</blockquote>
The sections on Orbit and Mars, look at the medical challenges of space travel. Dr. Fong is an astrophysicist as well as a medical doctor, and he was lucky enough to get training at NASA on dealing with astronauts medical issues. I knew about the weakness they feel after an extended space stay, but knowing the reasons for it and how it's combated put a new perspective on things. Seeing the technologies that are being developed so that long term space travel can be achieved, along with the possible health issues resulting from a trip to Mars made me see why we haven't done it yet.<br />
<br />
You would think that space travel would be as far as medicine could go, but it's not. The final frontier section looks at elderly medical care. It looks at how the body's systems slow down, and the delicate balance that doctors need to find. The judgement they need to decide whether it is more humane to treat the health issues or to let things run their course.<br />
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From the outside, progress often looks like it happens smoothly and is planned in advance. I like that Dr. Fong points out that leaps of progress are full of stops and starts and are often accidental. That we focus on the successes rather than the failures and the cost of getting to the successes.<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-62258174858406567962014-02-27T06:16:00.002-06:002014-02-27T06:16:32.176-06:00An Item on the Bucket List Accomplished, Well Almost<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66s1LxYj9a1ZlYoK1aow3RKm4wGF0-RuGma1ju_YTnfhXOS8N9YaIjMJKfm6xfQ2JjLKNMlq_fm_-VuK8Wp7Y8ovP9jasbq7dsLsubstbjFwU6QAKPP86uec-udXcnlkeCT1TkIvvv10n/s1600/20140223_122153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66s1LxYj9a1ZlYoK1aow3RKm4wGF0-RuGma1ju_YTnfhXOS8N9YaIjMJKfm6xfQ2JjLKNMlq_fm_-VuK8Wp7Y8ovP9jasbq7dsLsubstbjFwU6QAKPP86uec-udXcnlkeCT1TkIvvv10n/s1600/20140223_122153.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrIv53ZBNWFxdD56gcxruBfYXEPALVXK_GsR1S44z_IQ12nptqBhanStuTHk8j3ISED-rQTiSrw-RR_VGvVT1X35h8VQWeTKNBxzEcz8NHTjpAbeJq-Uuzp0T25HHSjaFtZLjljpTIkh0/s1600/Bill+Nye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrIv53ZBNWFxdD56gcxruBfYXEPALVXK_GsR1S44z_IQ12nptqBhanStuTHk8j3ISED-rQTiSrw-RR_VGvVT1X35h8VQWeTKNBxzEcz8NHTjpAbeJq-Uuzp0T25HHSjaFtZLjljpTIkh0/s1600/Bill+Nye.jpg" height="176" width="200" /></a>Bill Nye was in Minneapolis, at the Mall of America last Sunday. He did a science demonstration at the rotunda. This event was advertised for kids, but most of the audience was adults. There was standing room only on all four levels of the mall. The ground floor barely had enough room for two people to pass each other behind the crowd. The seats filled up by 9 am, and I thought that getting there at 11 was early enough. These crowd pictures were actually taken about an hour before it started, the upper levels were even fuller when the even actually started. It's so exciting to live somewhere where a science demonstration got such a huge turn out. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7m0-7Sln1nnk0xHJ5pEH8IyUvEoNGbe4sHbprmrtWvwpcD22WaOcO8yM-zsMDloPV11EDWwHDl6lcCQ2P8KCUkxmmssoupl1-NHzhF7kl1FbjbegZsOAe-ECleY7rP-nU7yBFIyrozDI/s1600/20140223_122212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7m0-7Sln1nnk0xHJ5pEH8IyUvEoNGbe4sHbprmrtWvwpcD22WaOcO8yM-zsMDloPV11EDWwHDl6lcCQ2P8KCUkxmmssoupl1-NHzhF7kl1FbjbegZsOAe-ECleY7rP-nU7yBFIyrozDI/s1600/20140223_122212.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
Bill Nye was charming, funny, and rolled with the technical difficulties without even batting an eye. He even gave the crowd a bit of the old soft shoe while they worked out a glitch. The event was sponsored by <a href="http://www.sophia.org/">Sophia.org</a>, a website that is a resource for teachers and offers resources for flipping the classroom. Bill has created some videos for them, it's really not surprising that he'd team up with such a group as science education and awareness is a focus of his.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bjKJ01l2BBtzG6LXHT78yWvrU4vSRKbXJMP6G-Hor58Ro6RvWYj05eUawM1-InSHH6el7-X_OCMGS8TwoPD4g-MxYGj4cRJQRE2Kb4OGPUUHMYzadRpjAZdFjh299oSyk_nIx7zAtdlf/s1600/20140223_132148%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bjKJ01l2BBtzG6LXHT78yWvrU4vSRKbXJMP6G-Hor58Ro6RvWYj05eUawM1-InSHH6el7-X_OCMGS8TwoPD4g-MxYGj4cRJQRE2Kb4OGPUUHMYzadRpjAZdFjh299oSyk_nIx7zAtdlf/s1600/20140223_132148%5B1%5D.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>They did demonstrations of various scientific concepts like the power of air and momentum. I have to admit, that I was partial to them using a giant air cannon made out of a trash can to blow out a candle. Making one of these air cannons maybe the summer project around our house. The used a bicycle wheel to show how spinning objects don't fall, and Bill sat on a spinning office chair and let the wheel move the chair. There was a game of tug-o-war, where the two sides were pulling against a vacuum of air less than an inch thick. I think the crowd favorite was watching Bill Nye apply a sledgehammer to a cinder block that was lying atop a man's chest while he laid on a bed of nails.<br />
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It was a great experience, even though I didn't actually get to officially meet Bill. It was a crowd full of my tribe: the geeks, nerds, dorks. There were people dressed up in superhero costumes and handmade Viking helmets. Most everyone was very nice and considerate despite the crowded conditions. Maybe I was just having a fan-girl high. Even stores on the other side of the mall got into the spirit of the event.</div>
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I only have two regrets: 1) the demonstration only went until 2 instead of 3, and 2) Bill didn't stick around for autographs. So my bucket list item of meeting him wasn't quite met, but I did get to see a pen that was given to him by Neil Degrasse Tyson.<br /> <br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-25494587288950670882014-01-19T08:11:00.000-06:002014-01-19T08:12:24.337-06:0013 Quick Shivers Anthology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I saw this book on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> as one of their giveaways, I thought the concept of horror stories only 100 words long to be intriguing so I entered to win. I had not heard of the <a href="http://dailynightmare.com/" target="_blank">website</a> that put together this anthology, and all the authors were new to me. I didn't know that they support Midwest (local for me) authors and I'm still not quite sure what "snob horror" is as a genre.<br />
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I am a voracious reader and frequently devour my books like one pigging out at a buffet. I did that the first time I read this collection, it doesn't work. I had to slow down my reading to gain a feel for the stories (which seems odd since they are so short). One of the methods they used to help establish mood in these stories was to use unusual fonts. I'm still trying to figure out if the fonts were more of a help or a hindrance for me as a reader. In a couple of the stories, they change in fonts made it difficult to know which line to read next. I admit the length of the stories caused me to fear that they would end up being poetry, they didn't. They were; however, some of the tiniest pieces of micro-fiction I've ever seen.<br />
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The collection was a very interesting experience. Some of the stories really managed to create a mood in those few sort words. I enjoyed the book, but I think I will always prefer longer stories.<br />
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Happy reading!Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-48740170363895903192014-01-12T20:46:00.000-06:002014-01-12T20:46:31.239-06:00Christmas Stockings for 2013I made two stockings this year, one was commissioned as a Christmas gift, the other was a present to some friends' baby boy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJZQQ4CEF_FUZ9nv9w5hGvrQazEqbUOJG3QxEePLsr7j_3J86H5tMfZNEbJUfEQPl8O_nXZG7Z-w2Sn80zLAPelQnGZZuJvhSvmzmQ5_MnKlFVN5uVFbHrIO3shVJiKmX_M2B133T9JsR/s1600/kate+snowflake+stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJZQQ4CEF_FUZ9nv9w5hGvrQazEqbUOJG3QxEePLsr7j_3J86H5tMfZNEbJUfEQPl8O_nXZG7Z-w2Sn80zLAPelQnGZZuJvhSvmzmQ5_MnKlFVN5uVFbHrIO3shVJiKmX_M2B133T9JsR/s200/kate+snowflake+stocking.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
The commissioned stocking was a gift for the purchaser's girlfriend and a variation on a snowflake stocking I had made as a gift. It is amazing how much changing the background fabric can change the look of a design. It made it to its destination on time and was enjoyed by the recipient.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXrXiPkJ-OfDDgup1eZ02g2BuXAcxrNJz5EFwp6qk-Q4lMvos0WXoLDLcg48JjA7_TrB8a7D21dVwPTkoayI7QKyqdpoUll-wd3LwMiBvJ_XYVA0w9XX0vcfmCZB-uONKsTD0esVMtge0/s1600/557633_4250059448660_280046730_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXrXiPkJ-OfDDgup1eZ02g2BuXAcxrNJz5EFwp6qk-Q4lMvos0WXoLDLcg48JjA7_TrB8a7D21dVwPTkoayI7QKyqdpoUll-wd3LwMiBvJ_XYVA0w9XX0vcfmCZB-uONKsTD0esVMtge0/s200/557633_4250059448660_280046730_n.jpg" width="181" /></a>The second stocking, which was finished a little late for baby's first Christmas, was inspired by this original work of art by <a href="http://www.scottbrundage.com/" target="_blank">Scott Brundage</a>. It was brought to my attention when my spouse used Chtulhu Santa as his profile pic for Christmas a year or so ago. Our friends having the baby are huge H.P. Lovecraft fans, so I knew that this would be a perfect gift for them and their new spawn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH2moK8-RII08joaG_Urlr7a6hqQXmvEmUqP0x9C373mcnhPR45pnpJCKzIEwtoPmkBulbNh50i6Rr09rrltYrHImbgOQcyKo3AW_0kER8ulKDVUMiEWriNlxCtlZb_60EOr6wduhKGRf/s1600/Lowell+Chtulhu+Santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH2moK8-RII08joaG_Urlr7a6hqQXmvEmUqP0x9C373mcnhPR45pnpJCKzIEwtoPmkBulbNh50i6Rr09rrltYrHImbgOQcyKo3AW_0kER8ulKDVUMiEWriNlxCtlZb_60EOr6wduhKGRf/s200/Lowell+Chtulhu+Santa.jpg" width="150" /></a> This stocking is one of the more detailed pieces that I have worked on. To maintain the integrity of the picture, I had to use very small stitches. It worked out to 744 stitches per square inch. The detail is fine enough that my phone would try to tag the little boy's face when I took a picture of it. I think it transferred mediums very well, and I hope <a href="https://twitter.com/OleScotty" target="_blank">Scott</a> doesn't mind the use of the image.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-82873114316279230542014-01-04T07:19:00.000-06:002014-01-04T07:19:00.313-06:00My New Bucket ListI did a bucket list last year as well, so I'm sure there is a lot of overlap here. I've thought about the things that I'd like to do before I die in the past, as most people have. I'm sure that my return to this concept has a lot to do with my grandmother's recent passing. Some of these thing I can word toward, others are thing that are only likely to occur due to chance, either way it's fun to dream.<br />
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It's been a rough year at our house, but I've managed to try a couple of new things. I've been selling unneeded items on Ebay and I tried a Blackberry cookie recipe. Thanks to a friend, I got to try Benihana's. It was delicious, I highly recommend going there for the food and the show.<br />
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These aren't listed in any particular order, just the order that they came into my head.<br />
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1. See the Grand Canyon - I've been to Palo Duro Canyon which is the second largest canyon in the US, so I might as well up the ante and see the biggest one.<br />
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2. Go to Yellowstone National Park - I know, I know, it's a super-volcano. It's a beautiful place and it might bring about the extinction of all life on earth. It would be so awesome to stand on top of our potential doom.<br />
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3. Visit Seattle, Washington - I hear it's a really mellow place with a great art and music community. Plus, I know somebody that lives there and I haven't seen him in years.<br />
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4. Go to Canada - It has beautiful lands, and my interest was further peaked by reading <a href="http://kathyreichs.com/" target="_blank">Kathy Reich</a>'s books about Temperance Brennan. Plus, it's the closest foreign land to me, I could finally go out of the US.<br />
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5. See Mount Rushmore - I mean, really! Who doesn't want to see giant Presidents' heads and take a picture pretending to pick their stone noses?<br />
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6. Meet <a href="http://www.stephenking.com/index.html" target="_blank">Stephen King</a> - I love books, this man was my introduction to horror novels. Plus, he's a generous and compassionate person.<br />
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7. Meet <a href="http://joehillfiction.com/" target="_blank">Joe Hill</a> - Stephen King's son, though I think he's a better writer than his dad. He seems nice as well.<br />
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8. Win a fair competition for cross-stitch - First I have to figure out the entry rules and pick a piece.<br />
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9. Meet <a href="http://www.corneliafunke.com/" target="_blank">Cornelia Funke</a> - She wrote the Inkheart series, please do not judge the books by the movie. The movie was a dim shadow of the books. The books speak of and exhibit the magic words have.<br />
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10. Meet <a href="http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/" target="_blank">Neil deGrasse Tyson</a> - A proponent of curiosity and science education and fascination.<br />
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11. Meet <a href="http://www.billnye.com/" target="_blank">Bill Nye</a> - He's Bill Nye the Science Guy, that alone is enough. He's also an advocate for the importance of NASA's space program and space exploration. <br />
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12. Meet <a href="http://www.eddieizzard.com/" target="_blank">Eddie Izzard</a> - I love his movie roles, got to see him in concert, and he's a humanitarian. He's hilarious, sexy, and intelligent. Not to mention that seductive British accent. This is one of my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZVjKlBCvhg" target="_blank">favorite comedic bits</a> by him.<br />
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13. See <a href="http://media.wickedthemusical.com/media/?gclid=CLT-n6CT4rsCFY47MgodzWYAJw" target="_blank">Wicked the Musical</a> - I loved the book. The songs I've heard from the show are great.<br />
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14. Go to ISTE conference. - ISTE is the International Society for Technology in Education. They have a<a href="https://www.isteconference.org/2014/" target="_blank"> yearly conference </a>full of ideas, techniques, and new technologies.<br />
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15. Go to <a href="http://www.diversicon.org/" target="_blank">Diversicon</a> - This is a scifi/fantasy literature convention in Minneapolis. They have guests and host book events all year round. Translation: book nerd paradise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpI3ex2gIsUyf_76QVr-5iCkUyHLjhiRQO92bNedLOeRYhMA5kFFtop46aSUrYK353oLLgkb3lwHdfqiXEiOisrBdkZsBN4NY4Zm2YMJyUP-NSM14tko2Gf-ATjQU2vGivlbd-VLZf45-/s1600/irish-gaelic-phrases-failte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpI3ex2gIsUyf_76QVr-5iCkUyHLjhiRQO92bNedLOeRYhMA5kFFtop46aSUrYK353oLLgkb3lwHdfqiXEiOisrBdkZsBN4NY4Zm2YMJyUP-NSM14tko2Gf-ATjQU2vGivlbd-VLZf45-/s200/irish-gaelic-phrases-failte.jpg" width="200" /></a>16. Learn Gaelic - The language of my ancestors, that's enough reason for me.<br />
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17. Go on mob/ghost tours in Minneapolis - I don't believe in ghosts, but <a href="http://minneapolis.about.com/od/eventsfestivals/tp/Ghost-Tours-In-Minneapolis-And-St-Paul.htm" target="_blank">ghost tours</a> seem like a fun and silly way to spend an evening. <a href="http://www.wabashastreetcaves.com/gangster.html" target="_blank">Mob tours</a> are historical and fascinating.<br />
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18. Meet <a href="https://twitter.com/SirPatStew" target="_blank">Patrick Stewart</a> - He is an amazing actor and man. I couldn't find a website for him, just his fan club, so I linked his Twitter account. He supports gay rights and an active protector of abused women.<br />
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19. Meet <a href="https://twitter.com/KathyReichs" target="_blank">Kathy Reichs</a> - I really enjoyed the Temperance Brennan series as well as her YA series. I found the scientific pieces of her books very interesting and the field of forensic anthropology is fascinating.<br />
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20. Run a 10K - I've run a 5K, so next is a 10K. The trickiest part of this goal will be figuring out how to train year round without a gym membership.<br />
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21. Finish library degree for Minnesota - I need 7 classses to get my Library/Media Specialist license for MN, only 17 hours of coursework. This would allow me to be a school librarian or work in a technology integration position.<br />
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22. Get an English degree - My favorite subject that I've taught so far is English, getting a degree in English would allow me to teach middle school and high school English in Minnesota, allowing me more professional choices.<br />
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23. Get an Anthropology degree - This would just be interesting.<br />
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24. Do a biathlon -I'd consider doing a triathlon, but I'm a terrible swimmer. I can ride a bike without crashing, so I thought a biathlon would be a better choice.<br />
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25. Do a half marathon - After a 10K, there's a half marathon. I'd like to run one of these at least once. If I survive it, I'll consider doing a full marathon.<br />
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26. Travel to the UK - I want to visit England, Scotland and Ireland. I some friends I met online that I'd like to meet in person. It's the home or a large number of my ancestors, and I'd be able to further my genealogy research. Plus there is Big Ben, the Tower of London, the White Cliffs of Dover, and the Highlands.<br />
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27. Go on a cruise - This is an interesting way to go on vacation in my mind. Someone else takes care of the transportation while you relax on the way to your destination or destinations. Then you get to do more fun stuff when you get there and relax all the way back home.<br />
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28. Attend <a href="http://fantasticfest.com/" target="_blank">Fantastic Fest</a> - A genre film festival in Austin, TX. They focus on horror, scifi, and independent films. There are celebrity guests, huge parties, and discussion panels.<br />
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29. Go to Australia/New Zealand -There is a wildness connected with Australia and New Zealand in my mind. A purity of nature. I have a couple of friends there I'd like to meet in person. Plus, the Great Barrier Reef and the Snowy Mountains. Both countries have beautiful landscapes. I admit that I want to visit the locations where they filmed Lord of the Rings as well.<br />
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30. Own a house - I need a base of operations.<br />
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31. Own a brand new car - I just think it would be nice to have a vehicle that isn't second hand just once.<br />
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32. See Niagara Falls - Huge, giant waterfall. Enough said.<br />
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33. Read 2000+ books - I saw an article a while back that no one can read more than 2000 books in a life time, this seems erroneous to me, so I've made it my goal to beat that number. I've currently<br />
read 1500 books, though I've probably read a few more than I forgot about.<br />
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34. See the <a href="http://www.actionfiguremuseum.com/" target="_blank">Action Figure Museum </a>- I have driven past this so many times on the road trip between Texas and Minnesota. This is one of the few reasons I can see for visiting Oklahoma. They also have a collection of cartoon art.<br />
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35. Go to a rock concert - I've never gotten to see a rock concert, and there are many people I'd like to see: Billy Joel, Billy Idol, Elton John, Bette Midler, Blues Traveler, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M2jrY86WKnG52W5QYm32MyscA9pBJIUrRr3NfrNoH79W3aYWEEwPWCerplX8T0pULG0GbJLVtYVC1f6xy5-JUc3VVafRdApGXVlbgMw8ULfsjZYesrjD8gVORSLTVPskyLVEJdJC0TS7/s1600/GOLDEN+EAGLE+MEDIEVAL+ARCHERY+DISPLAY(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M2jrY86WKnG52W5QYm32MyscA9pBJIUrRr3NfrNoH79W3aYWEEwPWCerplX8T0pULG0GbJLVtYVC1f6xy5-JUc3VVafRdApGXVlbgMw8ULfsjZYesrjD8gVORSLTVPskyLVEJdJC0TS7/s200/GOLDEN+EAGLE+MEDIEVAL+ARCHERY+DISPLAY(1).jpg" width="148" /></a>36. Learn archery - There is a certain elegance in archery. Maybe I grew up on too much Robin Hood.<br />
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37. Learn piano - I really only want to learn one song, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mVW8tgGY_w" target="_blank">Fur Elise</a>, but I think I'd have to learn at least some of the basics to play it well.<br />
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38. Finish my zombie novel - The main story is done, but it needs a lot of revising and editing. I'm not sure it will ever be published, but I want to feel satisfied with the "finished" product.Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-89710200909621007552013-12-25T11:09:00.001-06:002013-12-25T11:09:17.593-06:00A Very Special Christmas Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A week ago today, my family lost our Mama Bess, my grandmother and The Gurl's great-grandmother. She was one of the most important people in my life, she was the glue that held us all together. Most of my childhood memories revolve around her and the time at her house and in her backyard, especially Christmas memories. Christmas it's just not the same this year.<br />
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I wasn't able to speak at her funeral, because I get too blubbery when I'm upset and become incomprehensible. So I thought I would put my thoughts here.<br />
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My Mama Bess was one of the kindest, gentlest, and most generous people I have ever known. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone, even Richard Nixon. She constantly "adopted" grand-kids from among my sister and I's friends. Before I started typing, I had tons of things I wanted to say, now the idea of summing up her life seems a bit overwhelming (even just the parts I know).<br />
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To this day, I can picture the living room in my grandparent's house by simply closing my eyes. This was where we had every Christmas, where we celebrated birthdays, Easter, and graduations. My stocking and Easter basket always awaited me on the turquoise blue and green couch from the 70's. It really was terribly hideous, but I loved it.<br />
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My sister and I would decorate the Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving dinner. Then on Christmas Eve, we'd get to open one present each. It was always pajamas, always. In later years, Mama Bess would forget to label the Christmas Eve presents, and we'd have to wait for her to find the right boxes for us to open. It was quite fun watching her hunt for them under the tree. We'd then be tucked into bed, so Santa could come. Even at 16, I was the first one up, usually around 4 am. I'd wake my sister up, but we weren't allowed to get the parents up until 6 am. Once everyone was up, we'd took turns opening gifts. Opened presents would be piled on top of the glass table in front of the couch where my sister and I set up camp. She always insured that we had something under the tree from our grandfather, though she did most of the Christmas shopping. Then it was time for our Christmas dinner. Always turkey with stuffing, except for me. Mama Bess always made some hot dogs for me to eat when I was a kid because I didn't like turkey. She never pushed me to eat the turkey, just made sure I had enough to eat.<br />
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Mama Bess also taught me my first curse word while she drove me around in Houston traffic (I was about two). If you aren't familiar with Houston traffic, it would test the patient of the saints (higher rate of road rage than NYC). It was the horrendous curse of "Hell's Bells". I remember that her car always smelled of that new car plastic smell mixed with mint.<br />
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She always ensured we had clothes for school, especially shoes. She and my grandfather took my sister and I on many adventures to other states. They took us all over Texas to see antiques, historical sites, and fossils. One of the only pieces of jewelry I wear is an antique ring they got for me on one of these trips. They took us to Louisiana on a tour of plantation homes and the bayous. We got to see the stairwell they based the one in "Gone with the Wind" on. <br />
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We'd help in the their large garden outside, and then we'd snap the green beans that we helped pick. I was a terrible thief, I continually snacked on them as we worked.<br />
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She used to make my sister and I matching outfits for family pictures, she often did this by hand. She quilted blankets and crocheted baby blankets. Many of the quilts she made were originally her leisure suits from the 70s. She made my mom's prom dress, and I think she made my aunt's wedding dress. She made us clothes for our Barbies. She could make her own clothes patterns from newspaper pages without a guide.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama Bess and The Gurl</td></tr>
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She ran the company they owned for many years and was a teacher of all grades in a one room school house in her youth. Despite these things, she always questioned her own intelligence and capabilities, this always made me a bit sad. She wanted to take care of others and help them, which she did very well, but often to her own determent.<br />
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When my sister and I were little, we always rolled the loose coins from our grandparents' room and change dish. We got to keep half of whatever we rolled. It was so fun and exciting to be earning money.<br />
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Mama Bess always gave me unconditional support and love. She supported me completely, never judging. She would offer advice if it was requested, but always unwavering support. She always told me she loved me, that I was smart, and that she was proud of me. One of the most impactful things she ever told me was that I am a strong woman. The first time she said that, it bowled me over and brought me to tears. <br />
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I am so glad that she got to see The Gurl reach high school. That Mama Bess got to know my daughter as a young lady, if not an adult. My daughter has been very lucky in her life to have known all of her great-grandparents on my side of the family and all of her grandparents on both sides. I just wish that we could have had Mama Bess around a little longer.<br />
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On the way from the service to the grave side Sunday, The Gurl told me that the thing she remembers most is Mama Bess always telling her, "I love you a bushel and a peck". I said that she always said that to my sister and I do. The Gurl promptly stated that this was Mama Bess' catchphrase. I really can't think of a better one for her.<br />
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I am glad that my Mama Bess isn't hurting anymore, but I also wish she was still here. I will always love her and miss her.Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-43194927553896330612013-08-25T14:00:00.000-05:002013-08-25T14:00:40.148-05:00Chimera by David Wellington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was so excited when I got the email notifying me that I had won this book from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. I was introduced to <a href="http://www.davidwellington.net/" target="_blank">David Wellington</a> through his <a href="http://harpyqueen.blogspot.com/2010/12/plague-zone-by-david-wellington.html" target="_blank">zombie</a> series, and moved onto his <a href="http://harpyqueen.blogspot.com/2011/06/13-bullets-by-david-wellington_17.html" target="_blank">vampire</a> and <a href="http://harpyqueen.blogspot.com/2011/07/frostbite-by-david-wellington.html" target="_blank">werewolf</a> books as well. Each of these series had their own unique feel within their perspective sub-genres, and I enjoyed them a lot. Chimera departs from David's usual fare of supernatural horror and moves into science gone wrong and government conspiracy.<br />
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The book opens with prisoners escaping from a top secret military installation. There is no explanation, no exposition, just immediate and intense action. I was hooked right away. The pace doesn't slow down as the story continues. The sections of the book are marked with the time from the initial event: T+ 1:46, etc. Not being military, it took me a little bit to wrap my head around how to read this, I've only seen it used in countdowns before.<br />
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We are introduced to Jim Chapel while he's at work and struggling to concentrate on his paperwork. We quickly learn that Jim is a war veteran and has lost an arm, though he's not letting this slow him down. We went from duty in the field to working for Military Intelligence providing oversight for civilian government contractors. To break the tedium of his work and refocus his mind, he goes for a swim in the pool. In the midst of his swim, he notices that he is being watched and that the man is laughing. Chapel doesn't think anything of it at first, he is use to people finding the appearance of a one-armed man swimming amusing. But the man doesn't leave, Chapel is pulled from his swim for a secret mission, so secret that he can't even tell his current boss that he's leaving. The man will not tell him anything about what the mission is or where they are going, he just keeps laughing.<br />
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Chapel is escorted to Pentagon and taken deep into a former fallout shelter turned office where he meets Rupert Hollingshead (the man that requested him for the mission). Hes told that he must capture the escapees but little else, so little in fact that it increases the danger of the mission. From the title, some of you have likely figured out what kind of prisoners escaped the facility. He must deal with genetically modified humans without having any ideas about their capabilities.<br />
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Hollingshead, part of the DIA, is in a power play with Agent Banks, from the CIA, over who is in charge of the mission and how it should be handled. The laughing man is Banks' lap dog. They present Chapel with a kill list and tell him there are four men he needs to capture. With so little information, Chapel's task is almost guaranteed to fail. <br />
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I won't go any further into the story of the book, I know how evil spoilers are. If you are looking for an action packed read, then grab this book.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-59115627631910413802013-08-05T19:31:00.002-05:002013-08-05T19:31:51.601-05:00Behind the Burly Q by Leslie Zemeckis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My first exposure to Burlesque what the t.v. movie about Gypsy Rose Lee with Bette Midler playing her mother. I didn't have any particular interest in Burlesque at the time, I was just a huge fan of Bette and musicals. So I tuned in. After moving to Minnesota, I decided to expand my experiences and went to my first Burlesque show. It was great fun, astonishing, and surprisingly held in a bowling alley. I hope to go to another Burlesque show soon.The combination of these experiences (and a strange obsession with classy clothes of old) led me to be very excited when I saw <a href="http://www.behindtheburlyq.com/" target="_blank">Behind the Burly Q</a> among the giveaways on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. I put my name into the drawing. I promptly forgot about entering with my busy schedule and suddenly I get this book in the mail. Now, the only thing better than a free book, is a surprise free book. It made my day. Unfortunately, I couldn't read it immediately but I didn't wait long.<br />
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After the initial excitement of "Eeekkk! Free book!", I began flipping through the pages. My excitement only increased as I saw names like Alan Alda, Frank Sinatra, Abbott and Costello, and Jack Ruby. I had no idea that Alan Alda practically grew up back stage. The book covers about 30 years of entertainment history and all its ups and downs. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6643044.Leslie_Zemeckis" target="_blank">Leslie Zemeckis</a> takes a look at different aspects of a life in Burlesque in each chapter. She explores the good and the bad of a career in the industry and being on the road. More importantly, she looks at the women and men that were a part of Burlesque. The only name I knew going into the book was Gypsy Rose Lee, though some of the names tickled the back of my mind. They are names heard in the background of film or briefly mentioned in entertainment news. This book was more than a dry history about Burlesque, it brought the men and women alive, their triumphs and their trials. <br />
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The women and men in Burlesque were incredibly strong and independent. They defied convention, not usually out of rebellion but out of necessity. They faced persecution (mostly the dancers), law suits, and were looked down upon. Several of their personal stories brought me to tears. Their profession was often considered the lowest form of entertainment and they were thought to be of no talent, yet many of the Burlesque comedians are now household names and the women often stripped into their 70's.<br />
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If you are interested in entertainment history, non-traditional professions, or just interesting people give this a read. It has ignited my curiosity to know more about the individual ladies and the art form of Burlesque.<br />
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Happy reading!Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-51196949956914882622013-06-10T21:11:00.001-05:002013-06-10T21:11:26.390-05:00Surviving Life with the Chronically Depressed<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I am writing this blog to discuss what it's like to live
with someone that suffers from chronic depression and how to take care of yourself
while doing so. This idea was spurned by reading part of The Stress Pandemic
which neglected to distinguish between being depressed, clinical depression,
and chronic depression when distributing advice about curing oneself. Another
thing that inspired this article is that I'm participating in <a href="http://namiwalks.nami.org/Amypcampbell" target="_blank">NamiWalks</a> to help and in honor of those suffering
from mental illness. Feel free to promote the fundraiser or donate using the link above. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXNdQq2r0LlvErKurajhZONQtNtgAe1AlBH0HFIh9xC99z90W5FH1YYnAetAXYUc8kQd3qBwXHWJOT-RRKOqreurm9ppPwZ_6oyBu-N3AnsT4UmlBIrJ631y3ZV6FQ1oenTqSZY-Oebpv/s1600/namiwalks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXNdQq2r0LlvErKurajhZONQtNtgAe1AlBH0HFIh9xC99z90W5FH1YYnAetAXYUc8kQd3qBwXHWJOT-RRKOqreurm9ppPwZ_6oyBu-N3AnsT4UmlBIrJ631y3ZV6FQ1oenTqSZY-Oebpv/s200/namiwalks.jpg" width="200" /></a>I figure the best place to start is by explained what
depression is, as many people have a misconception about what it actually entails.<br />
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Depression isn't simply being sad or unhappy or feeling blue,
it's not laziness or an excuse. This is not to say that sadness can't become
depression, it can. Depression is despair, it is the loss of all hope. It
brings self-loathing and physical pain. Yes, I said physical pain. Severe
depression doesn't just cause emotional pain but actual physical pain as well.
And we aren't just talking migraine headaches, but pain everywhere. There are
days when it hurts to simply get out of bed. You're tired and ache all over
like you have the flu but you aren't infected with a virus. Though you may not
be aware of it, there is a representation of the horror of depression in
popular culture, the Dementors from Harry Potter. They are Rowling's
anthropomorphic symbol of her depression over her mother's death. Depression
affects many things adversely: memory, concentration, energy level, appetite,
sex drive, immune system, etc.<br />
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfGE8mzhhBX_J_ksYre9I4Elva_l9XvA191QKnoSOUT77YVXVcKAzkruu3HTFRvUymnUzGNpGioTBtqAAIc_95iE1Dw3u58HdEOG7B6mJqxiTj8z6blayTW5LGU1b_Bm6CEe-PAU5ZF8C/s1600/dementors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfGE8mzhhBX_J_ksYre9I4Elva_l9XvA191QKnoSOUT77YVXVcKAzkruu3HTFRvUymnUzGNpGioTBtqAAIc_95iE1Dw3u58HdEOG7B6mJqxiTj8z6blayTW5LGU1b_Bm6CEe-PAU5ZF8C/s200/dementors.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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When there is someone in a family that suffers from a
chronic mental illness such as depression, bipolar, or post-traumatic stress
disorder they aren't only ones that live with it. They person who is diagnosed
with the disease definitely bears the brunt of the affliction, but its
consequences and side effects are felt by the entire household. </div>
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I am no expert, I haven't had any formal training, I can
only speak from my own experiences living with a person suffering from mental
illness. As the person without the illness, you are often the bread winner,
organizer, housekeeper, and support system for the family. This isn't easy, it
can be very stressful and tiring. There are times when it is very lonely. Yet
those times when you see the person you fell in love with shine through are
wonderful. These moments may come frequently or many months apart. When they
are frequent, it's easy to forget there is anything wrong. You can lose track
of the fact that your spouse, parent, or child has a dangerous disease. When those moments are
months apart, you question why you stay, how you can keep going, and whether
you'll ever be the one to be taken care of. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Things I've
Experienced and How I've Dealt with Them</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG7BAQVY4Lwl166K25mgeBvWfpsEBGjkMnHGOXwh2zGN_7k2XbNUIYWI-bjyw8niMgPHjKn_86WoIhqscVlXsNCZ_vlnp0XiU9InFVimXHrzXRtcFh8E-uMlRydmojJB0M7SNf0SqLHCl/s1600/depressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG7BAQVY4Lwl166K25mgeBvWfpsEBGjkMnHGOXwh2zGN_7k2XbNUIYWI-bjyw8niMgPHjKn_86WoIhqscVlXsNCZ_vlnp0XiU9InFVimXHrzXRtcFh8E-uMlRydmojJB0M7SNf0SqLHCl/s200/depressed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
One of the toughest things to deal with when living with a
depressed person is their withdrawal into themselves. They don't reach out to
show affection very often, you usually have to reach out to them. And sometimes
when you do, they pull away or get aggravated. This can lead to feelings of
rejection, loneliness, and unimportance. Even though your mind knows that it is
a result of their disease and that they love you, it is sometimes hard to deal with
emotionally. It is hard to express love for others when you are immersed in
feelings of self-loathing and unworthiness.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There are many ways to deal with the emotional, and
sometimes physical withdrawal. Often, you just have to keep reminding yourself
that they love you, even if they can't express it. This isn't always effective,
however. Talking about it can also help, because sometimes they aren't even
aware they are doing it. For me this has always worked best, when talking about
it later when I can be calm about it. The ill person needs to know how their
actions are affecting others, but anger and hurt from their loved ones can
cause guilt and more self-loathing which can precipitate a worsening of the
depression. You need to assert yourself and express your feelings for your own
health. Sometimes your partner will just not realize how long it's been since
you have paid any attention to each other and simply asking them to have dinner
with your or watch a favorite tv show together will do the trick.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Another challenge is bearing the majority of the household
responsibilities, financial, physical, and emotional. Stress tends to aggravate
depression and can set them into a downward spiral. This response has caused me
to shield my spouse from as much stress related to money and my emotional state
as possible, not only for his well-being but for mine as well. At the same time, shielding them from it can make them feel as if they are being treated like a child. Feelings of being useless often accompany depression as well, part of this is their mental state and part is a result of the exhaustion, pain, and lack of motivation making it hard for them to help clean, make meals, etc. The ill person often feels better if they can help out in some way though the challenge is often getting them to start on something. Small tasks that help out someone in the family and is part of something they are passionate about or that uses a skill that only they posses can help.<br />
<br />
There will be days when the depressed person will say horrible things, talk of ending it, or how there just isn't enough happiness to make life worth living anymore. Usually the fact that they are being verbal means that they aren't actually in danger of committing suicide. Those who are serious about it usually pretend everything is fine and do it in secret. (There are stats somewhere that back me up on this but at the moment I'm too tired and lazy to look them up and provide you a link. You know how to Google as well as I do.) I always try to stay calm and remind my husband of the good things in life: me, the Kid, the dog, etc. Of course, a person in the midst of a depressive mood will blow all of this off as nothing. They still need to hear it, and does sink in even if they deny it. It can be hurtful to hear that the person you love doesn't feel that you are reason enough to live for, especially when they are saying other things that scare you. You have to do your best to stay calm and rational and to focus on the good. There will be times that you aren't successful at this. You will lose your temper. Panic and resort to guilt, etc. The key here is to forgive yourself. No one is perfect and you can't be in control 100% of the time.<br />
<br />
<b>Self-Care</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXCuXnTSJPGSBtThMUS97s_9MI0Kf4ByzoObzUDJ16dgFyu8rxAGrJjmZ3gP_s_0P64cYGD8ZlT8wieyyk9Xr_sw6kRaGtCsycQxMMEpNCOprzCpBPZYNcJYEkmi5nxVV3foml7w6gtbb/s1600/self-care-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXCuXnTSJPGSBtThMUS97s_9MI0Kf4ByzoObzUDJ16dgFyu8rxAGrJjmZ3gP_s_0P64cYGD8ZlT8wieyyk9Xr_sw6kRaGtCsycQxMMEpNCOprzCpBPZYNcJYEkmi5nxVV3foml7w6gtbb/s200/self-care-21.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
When you are in a relationship with a sick person, the focus is usually on them and their needs. This is true whether the person is suffering a chronic physical or mental illness. Your needs will often be pushed to the back burner out of necessity or circumstance.You are frequently so worried about your loved one that you forget to worry about yourself. I've been guilty of this quite often. Making sure you care for your own emotional, mental, and physical needs will reduce your stress level and exhaustion.<br />
<br />
1. Make sure you find time for yourself. - It doesn't matter if this is going for a run, hanging out with friends, or just getting out of the house for a couple of hours.<br />
<br />
2. Make sure you are eating well. - We all know a balanced diet improves health and energy levels but everyone needs a gentle reminder once in a while. Make sure to treat yourself to a favorite meal or food.<br />
<br />
3. Do things that make you happy. - I'm guilty of getting small things to make my husband and kid happy but forget to do it for myself. Make sure that you spoil yourself sometimes.<br />
<br />
If you have any similar experiences and would like to share how you coped, please comment. Any tips for self-care would be welcomed as well. <br />
<br />
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Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-21744069666173060452013-05-26T21:07:00.000-05:002013-05-26T21:07:03.315-05:00I Dare Me, a Personal Challenge<span></span><br />
I've lived a pretty quiet, sheltered life (not counting
economic disasters or a couple of hurricanes). I've also lived largely following the rules or in fear. Fear of
disapproval of others, fear of failure, fear of being invisible, fear
of being noticed, fear of losing control, and even fear of new foods. I'm tired of hiding, allowing
my fears and worries to control me. I'm sick of being timid. The idea of opening this up to strangers online even scares me, that's the main reason I'm doing it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XA4kfpe_EvRgVlo5OTHpToDenev1L9xa8hMtwgKExcSeD3a897KwgmayDNMwjMSngbqDQuuSWhIxgxuT-l5IqQ4p-58fnV82q31GwLpDM7PtCtXfN8FmYSxnULOQoK9zCl6TJk4kAd73/s1600/something+completelyy+different.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XA4kfpe_EvRgVlo5OTHpToDenev1L9xa8hMtwgKExcSeD3a897KwgmayDNMwjMSngbqDQuuSWhIxgxuT-l5IqQ4p-58fnV82q31GwLpDM7PtCtXfN8FmYSxnULOQoK9zCl6TJk4kAd73/s1600/something+completelyy+different.jpg" /></a>I am almost 40 and have yet to find
my passion in life, that thing that really drives me, that pumps me up
to jump into my day with both feet. I know I want to change direction, but I don't know which direction I want to head in, I figure trying new things is a good way to get an idea.<br />
I've thought about this before, and have tried to
expand my horizons, go on new adventures but I want to do more.<br />
<br />
To
achieve this end, I'm asking for the help of the internet. I
want to challenge myself to try one new thing or one thing that scares
me a month. My plans to do Karaoke
is actually part of my desire to try things that scare me or that are new. So I'm asking
for suggestions of things to try or do. You can think small too, I'm a
terribly picky eater, much to Don's dismay. My only restrictions is
that they can't be illegal or harm anyone and it has to be fairly
cheap.<br />
<br />
I know the stories of many of my friends, it's time I create some of my own. I will be posting the results of the things I try.<br />
Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-34297573258787641062013-04-10T09:50:00.002-05:002013-04-10T09:50:38.667-05:00The Temperance Brennan (AKA Bones) Series by Kathy Reichs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHtepU4DK33K4ThvlYQuIuqk1ZPoxh9u6T68a9D49IG3xa-luVy4QG3HgJ2b3EjZ7nzjjkMe7vKSUKftd30xcJaaFDlY-ic5aV1WE-glf6FBDOfrb_y55Wfg_BYd1gLlTaflqIEpiiGPn/s1600/tempy+and+Kathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHtepU4DK33K4ThvlYQuIuqk1ZPoxh9u6T68a9D49IG3xa-luVy4QG3HgJ2b3EjZ7nzjjkMe7vKSUKftd30xcJaaFDlY-ic5aV1WE-glf6FBDOfrb_y55Wfg_BYd1gLlTaflqIEpiiGPn/s1600/tempy+and+Kathy.jpg" /></a>This book series by <a href="http://kathyreichs.com/" target="_blank">Kathy Reichs</a> is one that I probably would have missed if it wasn't for the fact that they based a TV show on it. I love the show Bones, so I jumped into the books as well. I love cop and forensic procedural dramas on TV, but I'm not a big fan of mystery novels. Unfortunately, the plot synopsis for mysteries and procedural dramas often sound very similar on book covers.<br />
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This series has its share of mystery, but it is definitely a procedural drama. It is different from the TV show in many ways. In the show, Temperance Brennan is shown as a hyper-rational, non-believer that has a hard time relating to other people. In the books, she is a lapsed Catholic, divorced mom, and recovering alcoholic. She is extremely intelligent and has a lot of integrity in both versions.<br />
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Forensics has fascinated me for years, I was obsessed with Forensic Detectives for quite a while. However, the details about forensic anthropology are new to me, so the science interested me as much as the stories. I even sent Kathy Reichs a tweet asking how accurate the science in the books is. Her response was that it is "very" accurate.<br />
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There are currently 15 books in the series, with two more coming out this year. I enjoyed the series quite a bit though some books more than others. I liked the characters surrounding Tempy, as well as Tempy herself. There were parts that seemed a bit repetitive, but I'm not sure it's possible to avoid that entirely in a series of any length especially when you can't be sure the reader started with the first book and read them in order.<br />
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The following three books from the series had the most intriguing or unique plots in my point of view. <br />
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Bones to Ashes in the tenth book in the series, it centers on the discovery of a set of bones discovered in an attic in Arcadia, Canada. These bones turn out to be those of a young girl. Between the location of the bones' discovery and their apparent age, they bring back some strong childhood emotions for Temperance. She wonders if this skeleton could belong to her best friend from childhood that suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from her life with the warning "I'm dangerous". Temperance is a consummate professional in her field and works hard to maintain a professional demeanor, but this case sorely tests her abilities to put her emotions aside and remain objective. The emotions in this book touched me and rang very true.<br />
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Another book from the series that I really enjoyed was the eighth book, Cross Bones. This book abounds with conspiracy theories as well as a trip to Israel. The case starts with the murder of an Orthodox Jew in Montreal. The murder seems very unusual and answers can only be found in Israel. In the middle of the murder investigation, some ancient bones are found. It is suggested that these bones could belong to Jesus or a member of his immediate family. These bones could also lead to confirming the location of the Jesus family tomb. People take steps to prevent Temperance and her team from finding out. I like the way Reichs deals with this at the end of the story.<br />
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The seventh book in the series is Monday Mourning and another favorite of mine. Three skeletons of young girls are found in the basement of a pizzeria during some plumbing repairs. Temperance is convinced that they are recent murders despite being found with antique buttons. She must fight to prove the young age of the bones and have it investigated as a set of homicides. Once she proves the age of the bones, they must race to catch the killer and prevent other deaths. This one fascinated me because of the serial killer aspect.Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-27523444527722535702013-03-30T09:13:00.001-05:002013-03-30T09:13:43.612-05:00My Bucket ListI've been asked many times what my ambitions are and I have to tell people that I really don't have any. To me ambitions are things you need to achieve, while dreams are things that you want to do to make your life richer or happier. I have gotten two degrees to help me in my career and support my family. I am happily married with a beautiful and intelligent daughter. These are the things I need in my life, the rest is just icing on the cake (to borrow a cliche).<br />
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I have gotten to experience some special and unique things in my life. I've been to Disney World twice, walked in the footprints of dinosaurs, and camped in the second largest canyon in the United States. I have survived to hurricanes: Rita (which chased us to Lake Livingston) and Ike (which shared his eye-wall with us for several hours). I've met <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Norris" target="_blank">Chuck Norris</a> (before he lost his mind) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Ryan" target="_blank">Nolan Ryan</a>. I experienced several true road trips where gas stops hat to be planned out so that you didn't run out before the next town. I've met two of my favorite authors twice each: <a href="http://scottwesterfeld.com/" target="_blank">Scott Westerfeld </a>and <a href="http://markzdanielewski.com/" target="_blank">Mark Z. Danielewski</a>. I got to tour the <a href="http://www.bluebell.com/" target="_blank">Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory</a> and the Bellville Chip Factory/Museum. I got to take English riding lessons for a brief time (would love to do it again). I wrote in novel in a month while doing <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> with my husband and came to a greater understanding about writers' experience and work.<br />
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I am finding that as I get older, I want to push myself farther, experience more, and try new things where I was too timid to do so when I was younger. Honestly, I tired of being afraid of the world. I decided to make a "bucket list" of things I dream of doing, achieving, or trying. I'm sure the list will change as time goes and hopefully because I've completed that item. I left off some things because they are things that are immediately manageable, I just have to motivate myself to do them. Things like create more, work on my novel, and blog more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9de6CjAxRmaZ8gNcur1xjzmjZgedGIF-WZUUUGvfeu-rEQjfS-NpfcR_JT76DKAW5C2UjbaDBEZ9UGkkQPaYBmvIj40Wm6CBMxk4orlzuKOtSWtvBfDsSEnqZ0EQrCo2oGWLg0Iit912I/s1600/Patrick+Stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9de6CjAxRmaZ8gNcur1xjzmjZgedGIF-WZUUUGvfeu-rEQjfS-NpfcR_JT76DKAW5C2UjbaDBEZ9UGkkQPaYBmvIj40Wm6CBMxk4orlzuKOtSWtvBfDsSEnqZ0EQrCo2oGWLg0Iit912I/s200/Patrick+Stewart.jpg" width="136" /></a><br />
<i><b>People to Meet</b></i><br />
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1. Patrick Stewart<br />
2. Penn & Teller<br />
3. Eddie Izzard<br />
4. Stephen King<br />
5. Cornelia Funke<br />
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The reasons I want to meet these people are varied, but I respect them all in one way or another. Patrick Stewart has always struck me as extremely intelligent and classy, plus he's a knight. And what girl doesn't want to meet a knight? I know that Penn & Teller is really two people and that it's kind of cheating to put them together. However, that is how I picture them in my head. Together they are an act, as well as being very good friends, so it would seem wrong to meet one without the other. My reasons for wanting to meet Penn & Teller and Eddie Izzard are very similar. I find them intelligent and funny. I also respect the charity work that Izzard does and admire him for running 5Ks. Stephen King and Cornelia Funke are two of my favorite authors and write very different kinds of books. I enjoy their stories and respect their talents. King has been a huge part of my life for about 20 years, thanks to my husband's obsession with his body of work and insistence that I become familiar with at least some of it. I also admire King's generosity in giving to charity, his constant support of shelters for abused women, and his fight with addiction. Funke's work is the embodiment of the love of reading, at least the Inkheart series is. I would love to meet the mind behind that work.<br />
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<i><b>Places to Go</b></i><br />
1. California (Hollywood)<br />
2. Washington<br />
3. Oregon<br />
4. Chicago<br />
5. At least 2 countries<br />
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It seems weird that almost all the places that I want to visit in the U.S. are on the West Coast, but I've lived in the South and visited the East Coast twice. Hollywood, California is just about visiting where the "movies are made". I want to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, maybe go to the studio where Gone with the Wind was filmed, check out the beaches, and maybe be a micro-stalker of celebrities by doing one of those cheesy "Tour of the Stars' Homes". I'd like to go to Washington to see the redwood forests. I hear Oregon has a great art and writing community, it's also home to a friend I haven't seen in many years. As for Chicago, I have friends that live in the burbs of that metropolis. I also hear that it's an awesome place to visit. I might even take one of those tours about the Gangsters of the 20's and 30's. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lS_k68RylsbAkXiQK59JqDn8Y6OAsujHPb6a80p_GhVn6_zBOV0cUA_c_9tMIng-V4g-SiEXYAMNP9HZFk-GGrJdGe8eD4aQfR1H8CyLBluHcsiA58dTLOiD9PGaogcB6-gmuxaPEQdt/s1600/fantasticfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lS_k68RylsbAkXiQK59JqDn8Y6OAsujHPb6a80p_GhVn6_zBOV0cUA_c_9tMIng-V4g-SiEXYAMNP9HZFk-GGrJdGe8eD4aQfR1H8CyLBluHcsiA58dTLOiD9PGaogcB6-gmuxaPEQdt/s200/fantasticfest.jpg" width="133" /></a><i><b>Events to Attend</b></i><br />
1. <a href="http://convergence-con.org/" target="_blank">Convergence</a><br />
2. <a href="http://fantasticfest.com/" target="_blank">FantasticFest</a><br />
3. A huge movie premiere<br />
4. A huge book release party<br />
5. <a href="http://www.isteconference.org/2013/" target="_blank">ITSE conference</a><br />
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For those of you that don't know me, I love books and I'm a bit of a SciFi/Fantasy geek. Convergence is a local genre convention focusing on scifi/fantasy. This year the theme is Doctor Who. The only thing keeping me from it is having the right amount of funds at the right time. Next is the legendary (and to me almost mythical) FantasticFest. A movie festival focusing largely on horror films, they have other genre movies and a large number of independent films are showcased. Great movies, food, trivia events, and parties crammed into 7 days. It's suppose to be an absolute blast and completely exhausting. I think the movie premiere and book release party are fairly self-explanatory. The ITSE conference is a education conference focusing on using technology in the classroom. It helps teachers integrate technology instruction into their assignments, gives new techniques, etc. It would be great to continue learning and meeting other educators passionate about technology.<br />
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<i><b>Things to Achieve</b></i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1nerzm1U5Nn5v0tTmagIDQOB1kA1CySVr3_qH0hog_Dsh0gGvpCW05bkkJrCUOrX1SsGLm7mtuuwpr7Jn5bycr4qanRIbDKw1_YZ7n1oTvqdRnDpxtUOv3VrHrji1dhZC8zxucPae7_d/s1600/house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1nerzm1U5Nn5v0tTmagIDQOB1kA1CySVr3_qH0hog_Dsh0gGvpCW05bkkJrCUOrX1SsGLm7mtuuwpr7Jn5bycr4qanRIbDKw1_YZ7n1oTvqdRnDpxtUOv3VrHrji1dhZC8zxucPae7_d/s200/house.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><b> </b></i><br />
1. Own a home<br />
2. Have $20K in savings<br />
3. Run a 5K and a marathon<br />
4. Support Doctors without Borders<br />
5. Help with AIDS/cancer research<br />
6. Try pufferfish<i><b> </b></i> <br />
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I know, I know! The first two are incredibly practical and boring, but they are also comforting and provide a secure home base for further adventures. One of my goals for the new year was to get in shape and exercise more, I started off strong but between winter weather and nursing an injured dog, it fell to the wayside. Since it's warm enough now, I've begun my training for a 5K. I will be running one in September for sure, and maybe one in July. The one in September is to help raise money for those suffering from mental illness. I'd appreciate any sponsorship that you can spare, here's my <a href="http://namiwalks.nami.org/Amypcampbell" target="_blank">personal fundraising page</a>. I want to donate to <a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/" target="_blank">Doctors without Borders</a> as well, I don't have the skills to volunteer with the organization unfortunately. I really respect and support this group because they are a secular organization that helps people in need of medical care. They don't try to convert or sway the people, they just help them. I want to help raise money for AIDS and cancer research as well, they both hurt so many lives. My craziest dream is to try Pufferfish as a food. I became fascinated with the idea after reading about it in a book when I was about 14. I realize how dangerous it can be, but I find it almost irresistibly intriguing. <br />
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Now you probably know more about me than you ever wanted to, feel free to share some of your wild and crazy dreams in the comment section.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-4994833625397748302013-02-05T06:42:00.001-06:002013-02-05T06:42:17.020-06:00Help Jester Mend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jester, the great escape artist, made another run for the border last night. He wanted a game of chase with Daddy, sadly Daddy lost site of him.<br />
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About an hour after that, we get a call that someone found him. Sadly, they also had to inform us that they had hit him as he darted out into the street.<br />
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We took him to the emergency room, and the vet bills are already huge and we really need help as they won't treat him unless we can pay immediately.<br />
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I've started a Giveforward.com page to help us get our baby home. Please help out with a donation or by sharing <a href="http://www.giveforward.com/helpjestermend" target="_blank">the page</a>. How can you say no to that face?<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-46589769774644489002013-01-12T11:38:00.000-06:002013-01-12T11:38:01.882-06:00Religious Double StandardsI am an atheist, and I do not apologize for this. I keep atheism posts on my Facebook page (and here) to a minimum as most of my friends and family are believers. I believe strongly that one shouldn't push one's views on others, and if you wish you receive that courtesy you must act on it. I believe that everyone has a right to believe what they want and that this right needs to be respected. However, I do not believe that respect must extend to the beliefs themselves. I am not extended the same courtesy by the majority of the believers on my list. They are constantly posting religious sayings, Bible verses, etc. They would say that this isn't pushing their belief, yet if I was to constantly post sayings by atheists (especially those questioning faith) I would be told right away that I was being pushy and insulting.<br />
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I recently posted a joke (shown at the right) related to religious belief on my Facebook
page, the result of this was someone unfriending me and telling my
spouse that "I'm full of hate". I'm not going to say that I don't feel hatred, that would be a lie. I hate child molesters, rapists, war mongers, and asparagus. My original intent was to save it until I could get home and share it with a small group of friends that would appreciate it and then remove it. Needless to say, I decided to leave it on my wall. A bit of a rebellious act I admit, but it's my wall and I don't like being told what can go there when I already censor myself to a large extent.<br />
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This general post was taken as a personal insult on this person's intelligence. Now I am not one to use a person's religious beliefs as a measure of their whole intelligence. I know many very intelligent people who are also believers. They are critical thinkers in so many aspects of their lives, the only area they avoid using this ability seems to be their religious beliefs. If I'm going to question your intelligence, I'm going to look at the choices you've made in your life not what religion, if any, you follow. You ability to learn from mistakes, adapt, and make good choices are a much better gauge of intellect than which god you follow.<br />
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I mentioned that I ignore offensive homophobic and racist posts all the
time, and was told that that I'm not a minority. Yet I am a minority,
one that is discriminated against under US law. There are many places
where atheists can't run for political office based on the fact that
they do not have a religious belief. And I think it's asinine to for
someone to tell me that I can't be offended about such posts because I'm
not a member of that particular group. I am offended by such posts,
partially because it offensive in general and partially because
(especially in the case of gays) it was taught to the person by their
religion. They often don't even see it as bigotry because it's a
religious belief.<br />
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My posting was in no way intended to be insulting or malicious, this person assumed that was my intent because she was aware of my atheism. Through out the exchange on my wall, I was polite while she resorted to name calling and threatening a friend that spoke up for me. She carried the conversation over into text message and her last comment included a statement that "faith teaches tolerance" which I found ironic since she resorted to nastiness. I wanted very much to list the many examples of religion showing the exact opposite of tolerance, but I resisted as I knew it was pointless.<br />
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The comments about hate and tolerance got me to thinking. Atheists are accused regularly of being depressed, bitter, angry, and hateful. And I'm sure there are atheists that fit into all these categories, at least part of the time. Because every person on the planet no matter what they believe has these feelings at one point or another. And yes, many atheists make fun of religious beliefs. Just as many religious people make fun of other faiths. But that's ok, since they are doing it in the name of religion. They only consider it a problem when it is directed that their particular belief system. Yet religious people don't make jokes about atheism. Instead, they tell atheists that they don't deserve to be citizens of the US and should just leave, that they are immoral and criminal, and threaten them with burning in hell for eternity. I don't know what their definitions of tolerance and hate are, but these comments definitely counter my definition of the former and fulfill my definition of the latter.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087121107278069836.post-83617424036303413862012-12-24T09:54:00.001-06:002012-12-27T15:19:34.741-06:00Not the Christmas Post I Intended<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsXHIECu_8fzu41qGJRBGzEM_SmWxLRcogYnEBgTibBLP6ywnw_A5mhHEIgIH7jpYkjEvjTVP82jEeEz1cxLeHHI2mnLWyGzCKpOXN52DbDtCqM7mt9_5CYrotDRIQwz73gRyJc7Ir4RW/s1600/jester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsXHIECu_8fzu41qGJRBGzEM_SmWxLRcogYnEBgTibBLP6ywnw_A5mhHEIgIH7jpYkjEvjTVP82jEeEz1cxLeHHI2mnLWyGzCKpOXN52DbDtCqM7mt9_5CYrotDRIQwz73gRyJc7Ir4RW/s320/jester.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So sweet!</td></tr>
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Update 12/26/12, Jester was found and taken to the local vet. He's now safely back with us.<br />
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I was very hopeful about this Christmas, it was<br />
going to be small but good. I had planned to write a Christmas blog, but now it will be very different post than I intended.<br />
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Yesterday morning changed my plans for my blog and my feelings of Christmas spirit. I was taking our beautiful dog Jester on a morning walk when he slipped his collar. I tracked and followed him for about an hour through the snow and woods (he's a runner and much quicker in the snow than I). I returned to the house when my feet were too hurt and numb to continue and got The Girl up to help me look again.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_54Uj26YPs8io1xVLT1lxgldgtPH3KslDeTPeTCtcV6xHp6SmSLG9jvu0jICpA_MmgU4icpGMBEyJUtQ4POVgM4ua9cyGuMEz1ypJiHEa5NUT06N2JAfluBmUGPmOCZ1S7_ubkpcz8aL/s1600/2011-08-12_10-47-03_547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_54Uj26YPs8io1xVLT1lxgldgtPH3KslDeTPeTCtcV6xHp6SmSLG9jvu0jICpA_MmgU4icpGMBEyJUtQ4POVgM4ua9cyGuMEz1ypJiHEa5NUT06N2JAfluBmUGPmOCZ1S7_ubkpcz8aL/s200/2011-08-12_10-47-03_547.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at that face!</td></tr>
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We followed him through the underbrush for another 40 minutes before completely loosing track of him. Both of us were numb through and through, we had to head home.<br />
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Upon arriving home, I called the Sheriff's office to notify them that he was lost so they could contact us if he was found. I signed up for <a href="http://lostdogsmn.com/" target="_blank">Lost Dogs MN</a> website, after learning of it through a friend. I filled out a form at <a href="http://petharbor.com/" target="_blank">PetHarbor</a> to have them send his information to all local shelters, vets, etc.<br />
Today, I called our in-town vet to notify them and lucked out that they are the intake location for lost dogs for the three surrounding towns. Any dog found in town is automatically brought to them. I fear him getting hurt or someone keeping him since he's such a pretty and sweet dog.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcan4A9PcomJ51sEJPz7Bi8yjR1X3XnvVEWZwIrFTAEKr2s_eHfW4aGlBfyIDvbMaGKpnwaJimW73BaGnHqUQvUDx-L44DdYW_mmZ68fTL7wk-E9yYZLbthzioHqapo3z7cynZkLxiwtEP/s1600/2011-11-19_15-05-59_897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcan4A9PcomJ51sEJPz7Bi8yjR1X3XnvVEWZwIrFTAEKr2s_eHfW4aGlBfyIDvbMaGKpnwaJimW73BaGnHqUQvUDx-L44DdYW_mmZ68fTL7wk-E9yYZLbthzioHqapo3z7cynZkLxiwtEP/s320/2011-11-19_15-05-59_897.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jester biting at snowflakes.</td></tr>
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According to some of the information I looked up, being that he's young, a pretty good size, and energetic, he could have travel up to five miles in a day. This is the <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/uBmHu" target="_blank">last place</a> we saw him. Please share this far and wide, we miss our baby dog.<br />
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<br />Harpy Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778031856111869842noreply@blogger.com0