When to draw the line.

What's going on in America these days? It's horrific. Children being abused, neglected and killed left and right. Most of the time by their own parents! The age old question, why have them if you don't want to take care of them? I can't imagine murdering anyone let alone a child. Such sad times. People may question, where was CPS during those times? It seems a hit and miss with them. Take the Garrido case, Phillip was a registered sex offender and even served time in prison for the rape and kidnapping of a woman. Where was CPS then? Check out that story here.

Then you have the story about the Demaree's who had their children taken away from them for a month after dropping off photos to be developed at Walmart. The lab tech reported the bath-time pictures to CPS. Read their story, because it could easily happen to you. I feel sorry for those children who didn't know or understand what was going on, and not being with their parents for a whole month! Seriously, things are getting out of hand. Just when do you draw the line?

Check out these other tragic stories:

Haleigh Cummings: missing

Caylee Anthony: deceased

Hasanni Campbell: missing

Adji Desir: missing

National Center For Missing Children

Americas Most Wanted Missing Children

Lock up your sons, the cougars are coming!

Mrrrawwwwwww!

So what's the big fuss anyway? Men and women have been doing it since the beginning of time. For some reason, it seems more prevalent nowadays. There's even a reality show called Cougar. Pick up any tabloid and you'll find an article about Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher, Linda Hogan & Charlie Hill, or Halle Berry & Gabriel Aubry.

Check this:

Wikipedia's definition of cougar: a stalk and ambush predator

Urban dictionary's definition of cougar: an older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man

I think the difference lay between cougars, or women who hunt younger men for personal or sexual reasons and women who just happen to have a younger boyfriend. Meaning, she didn't hunt him down because he was young. I believe in the 'click' thing. And it's hard to find someone you click with, no matter how young or old you are. So if an older woman finds a younger man that she clicks with then, the more power to her. And him.

I'm sure Cleopatra & Ptolemy weren't thinking they shouldn't be together because of their ages. Or Queen Elizabeth I and her one time fiancee Francois, Duke of Anjou. Oh wait, she may be the exception..haha..she was one hot tamale in her day. Well, that's another story. :)

My boyfriend and I were taking a walk one day and he says "Did you see the way those older women were looking at you? They looked to you like an Oracle, waiting for advice as to how you did it!" That really cracked me up, as I don't see peoples reactions that way. When I'm with him, I don't see his age. "We just click man!"

Mrrrawwwwwww!

MY AGONY

I've had my share of emotional tragedies. Although inevitable, and unavoidable, death will cast it's cloak upon us all. There was a time a few years ago that I just seemed overwhelmed by the deaths in my family due to their untimely circumstantial passing. One morning, my agony was released when I awoke and put pen to paper. The following is an unedited version of what came to me. Hopefully it will help someone in their own torment and grief.

My Brother lay in a pool of his own blood. Words cannot describe how I felt when I myself received that dreaded call early one morning. All I could do was scream. How could this happen? A brother, a son, a nephew, a cousin, a friend, loved by all? A person so full of talent and life. The poet, the dreamer, the "one" who got things done. It felt like my heart was being wretched out of my skin, and I would walk miles to lay a single beautiful perfect rose upon his grave. Sitting there crying, talking, rejoicing in the life of the day, sharing news, stories, new songs. How could one who brought so much joy to others, bring so much pain? I still do not know if it were you who took that gun, and put it to your chest my brother, I do not know the events of that day. But you will always be in my heart, and even to this day, I pray that you are in that place, that peaceful place, in the midst of God, finally understanding all, knowing all, and loving all.

My husband lay there screaming in agony. A skeleton of a man, why would a disease such as this take the life, this beautiful life out of such a wonderful man? A husband, a father, a brother, a son, a cousin, a nephew, a brother-in-law, a friend, loved by all? My heart was slain when I found you that day. You would not let me take you to get help. You would not let me sleep by your side, nor have your son in the house that night. Yes, "they" say you know, when it's your time, yet it was not our time. A man so full of love for his family, who gave every waking moment tho in constant pain, to share the joys of childhood with his young son. You continued your life the best you knew how. You gave more to me and Joe in your short life, than anybody I know. You will always be in my heart, and even to this day, I pray that you are in that place, that peaceful place, in the midst of God, finally understanding all, knowing all, and loving all.

My mother lay there lifeless. The morphine riding her veins so as not to feel the pain of this tumor growing so rapidly in her beautiful body. A woman who was absolutely loved by all. A mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister, a cousin, a niece, a mother-in-law, a friend. There are no words to describe the look in your eyes, before you slipped off into unconsciousness. I wished I could take the pain from you, your fears. Yet, I rejoiced in hearing your last words..."HE IS HERE!" and tho it was hard to let you go, I finally had to take my grip from you, and let you slip away. I have you in my heart always, and will never forget the love that you had for me, and the sacrifices you gave for me. You brought such love and happiness to all those around you, and people were drawn to you like a magnet. I take your spirit with me everywhere I go, in this road that I travel now, and know that I will always have a piece of you in me, and in this I am content. You will always be in my heart, and even to this day, I pray that you are in that place, that peaceful place, in the midst of God, finally understanding all, knowing all, and loving all.

My sister, I was not with you the day your sweet young life was taken from you. My heart is still filled with such pain, such pain, that's so hard to bear. A sister, a daughter, a mother, a niece, a cousin, a friend. Where did you lose your way in life? If I could have seen, I would have kept you safe from harm. My baby sister, I'll always remember the good times, and keep your memory close at heart. You were loved by many, in your wake, this I seen. You touched many lives in your very own way, and you will not be forgotten. Your tragic ending bothers me to this day, the twisted metal of your coffin cannot be erased from my mind, yet, you will always be in my heart, and even to this day, I pray that you are in that place, that peaceful place, in the midst of God, finally understanding all, knowing all, and loving all.

PENNY CANDY

I grew up in a small town atop a hill surrounded by woods. We had so much fun as kids. Stayed outside all day playing but had to be in before the street lights came on. High water low water, Annie Annie overhead, red-light green-light, hide n seek, the list goes on. Riding our bikes in the summer time. Skuffed knees and iodine soaked bandaids . Going to the playground and cooling off in the baby pool. Times were good. We used to play below the house in the woods near the trestle and play in the creek. (pronounced crick) The smell of sassafras, catching small crabs and laying in the wheat grass trying to figure out shapes in the clouds. But nothing beat going to the dime store at Ruth and Joe's and buying penny candy! What a treat for us kids. I remember a dime could fill up a small brown bag and we'd happily be on our way munching on our goodies.

Here are some of my favorites!

ARE YOU PREPARED?

Everyone is subject to some sort of disaster. The question is, are you prepared? Depending on where you live can narrow things down a bit. For instance, I'll most likely go through a major earthquake if I stay in California. So, just how prepared am I? The electric goes out. The gas gets turned off. There's no water. My building is stable enough to stay but we're warned not to go outside. What do I do? I'll go through my apartment now to see how well we'd survive.

....since it's dark, I stumbled my way into the bedroom and phew, there's the flashlight in my nightstand drawer and it works! I check in my battery drawer but there's only 1 for the flashlight and it needs two. (mental note buy spare batteries!) I then go to the kitchen drawer and get out the tea lights and find the lighter. I remember I threw a bunch of matches away. :(

I then light the candles that's always set out and find only 2 extras on my office shelf. I don't have any stored water and only one 16 oz bottle left which equates to one toilet flush. My grocery order was put off. One bottle of grape juice, 7 beers, half box of wine, 2 boxes of lemonade and a few bottles of coke. That's it. 

Since I cannot cook and I don't have a grill, knowing everything in the fridge will eventually spoil I look to my cupboards. This will we our staple to survive the next few days or even weeks. A few cans of green beans, corn, peas, tuna, tomato soup and a box of granola bars. One loaf of bread. Half jar of peanut butter and a few bags of cashews. If push came to shove we'd have to start working on stuff like croutons, spaghetti sauce, cake mix, but I would hope we'd get help fast from Red Cross or FEMA.

I don't have a battery operated radio so I don't know what the situation is in our area. I don't have a first aid kit in the event one of us had been injured during the quake, I just found some small bandages in the medicine cabinet. We do have a lot of blankets, and my important papers all in one container. 

I check my wallet and I only have $4.00 in cash. I'm not sure how long it's going to take the banks to open. We'd survive for about a week on what I currently have at home, but that's it.

We need to be more prepared, all of us. We can't rely on outside help, especially in the early stages. One of my friends who went through one of the hurricanes last year in south Texas said it took her 6 months to get any financial help from FEMA. When they did come, they brought them EXPIRED rations! Please don't rely on anyone but yourselves. Get prepared, be prepared.