I'm hoping this works; if it does, I would much rather be there than here. This was my first attempt using a digital camera. I still prefer the purity of a SLR, such as my Pentax, but it will do. Sunrise at the Outer Banks.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
...hoping this works
I'm hoping this works; if it does, I would much rather be there than here. This was my first attempt using a digital camera. I still prefer the purity of a SLR, such as my Pentax, but it will do. Sunrise at the Outer Banks.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
...new shoes
OK, I just spent a whopping $14.99 on a new pair of flats. $4.99 more than I usually spend since I am so hard on shoes and the expensive ones don't last any longer than the cheaper ones. Besides, this pair was from Marshall's, which means they are a name brand (some Italian thing) and are probably good shoes anyway. But...the left shoe squeaks everytime I take a step. What is with this? All day I tried just walking on my left toes, since they don't squeak that way, until someone asked me why I was limping. I looked liked Chester. Do they make WD40 for shoes? Any ideas on how to make squeaky shoes unsqueak?
Thursday, August 11, 2005
...Tom who?
Late for bed as usual, I stayed up and watched an old ’89 flick with Al Pacino called Sea of Love. I love the movie anyway (he is VERY sexy in this movie!), but what held me at the end through all the credits was this incredible version of the title song. The original was by Phil Phillips and the Twilights and I knew right away this guy singing wasn’t your ordinary pretty boy singer. His voice was raspy, older, full of wisdom, the melody hauntingly beautiful, enhanced by the rhythm of slow moves.
Who is this guy, I remember thinking. Finally, at the very end of the credits: End version of Sea of Love by Tom Waits. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of him before, especially since his rendition was so bluesy. A quick search gave me more info. Well, goodness, he’s been around for ages and ages. He and his long-time wife are responsible for his lyrics and he sings them with a gritty understanding of what life is really all about. Of course, I had to sample many MP3s and downloaded some (which are not working now…Help Chad!). Anyway, here’s a sample of one I really liked:
I never saw the mornin' 'til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody until I needed the song
I never saw the white line 'til I was leavin' you behind
I never knew I needed you until I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke "I love you" 'til I cursed you in vain
I never felt my heart strings until I nearly went insane
I never saw the east coast until I moved to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off of your breast
I never saw your heart until someone tried to steal it, tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face
My kind of blues artist! Where have I been for the past thirty years? Doesn’t matter, I got the CD titles now and my next trip to Borders should be quite fruitful. Thanks, Tom.
Who is this guy, I remember thinking. Finally, at the very end of the credits: End version of Sea of Love by Tom Waits. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of him before, especially since his rendition was so bluesy. A quick search gave me more info. Well, goodness, he’s been around for ages and ages. He and his long-time wife are responsible for his lyrics and he sings them with a gritty understanding of what life is really all about. Of course, I had to sample many MP3s and downloaded some (which are not working now…Help Chad!). Anyway, here’s a sample of one I really liked:
I never saw the mornin' 'til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody until I needed the song
I never saw the white line 'til I was leavin' you behind
I never knew I needed you until I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke "I love you" 'til I cursed you in vain
I never felt my heart strings until I nearly went insane
I never saw the east coast until I moved to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off of your breast
I never saw your heart until someone tried to steal it, tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face
My kind of blues artist! Where have I been for the past thirty years? Doesn’t matter, I got the CD titles now and my next trip to Borders should be quite fruitful. Thanks, Tom.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
...on four-year-olds
Lil' Isabella left with her parents a bit ago and not surprisingly, it is very quiet around here. This little gal would chatter away, non-stop, if she didn't wear herself out and have to sleep. I am so thankful God blessed us with this little angel in disguise. (She was making mudpies today...REALLY in disguise.)
We had such a good time with her, despite her wearing us out! Dad and I are really looking forward to next year, when she can come and visit for a month or so (retirement is looming...YEAH!!!). I figure I can hook her up with some playground and library activities and be a runaround Nona. I think she'll will be one of the best parts of retirement!
About an hour after she left, we contemplated calling Lisa and asking if she could bring her back, because the house is just too quiet without her. However, reason settled in and we opted for naps! We loved having you all....LOVE YOU!
We had such a good time with her, despite her wearing us out! Dad and I are really looking forward to next year, when she can come and visit for a month or so (retirement is looming...YEAH!!!). I figure I can hook her up with some playground and library activities and be a runaround Nona. I think she'll will be one of the best parts of retirement!
About an hour after she left, we contemplated calling Lisa and asking if she could bring her back, because the house is just too quiet without her. However, reason settled in and we opted for naps! We loved having you all....LOVE YOU!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
...Life at the Welfare, Part II
Where was I…..(interrupted by Mickey and Disney!)
Yes, May. May is a bad time for me at work and I’m usually so focused on what I’m doing on the job, that it sometimes carries over into my personal life. Once a year, at least in Ohio, Child Protective Agencies are mandated to report to the Child Fatality Review Board. The Board reviews all child fatalities in the county for the past year. It is a consortium of several agencies including the Health Department, police departments, mental health organizations and of course, Child Protective. The purpose of the Board is to gather data and information so that social agencies can institute preventative measures for families at risk.
This May, I had eighteen names on the list. Eighteen children died under some circumstance or another which warranted a review. Not all children come under review. For example, some children with severe birth defects who die shortly after death are not necessarily reviewed, at least by my agency. My job is to check and see if we have any history on the family and then provide the Board with a comprehensive review of investigative procedures and services which we provided to the family.
Of the eighteen, I had case histories on fifteen children. Just because our agency is involved it does not necessitate blame toward the parents. Some deaths are clearly accidental…a car accident, a drowning, or SIDS. However, there is always that case or two that you just can’t get out of your mind. I go over every piece of evidence, every statement and every incident of abuse/neglect in the file. I then compile my findings in the most objective manner I can muster. Sometimes, after reading the case, it is very difficult to be objective.
This year, there were two child fatalities which really bothered me (not that they all don’t bother me in some way or another). As I read the history on one incident of abuse against a little boy (under two years of age), I remember getting physically nauseous. This little boy was beaten severely, choked, banged against a wall and wrapped in a heavy blanket, thrown (literally) into his crib and left to die. The perpetrator, the mother’s boyfriend, related to the police that the boy was "getting on his nerves". After wrapping him in the blanket and throwing him in his crib, he left the home and had a drink with friends. He not only left the baby in the home alone, he left the little boy’s sibling in the home, too…a four-year-old. He left the home twice during the night, while the child was still alive.
I couldn’t get out of my mind the shear agony this little child was in. Of course, the man beat him more because he was crying from the first beating. He never sought medical assistance for the child or notified the child’s mother. The little boy had broken ribs, broken arms, and severe bruising all over his body. The eventual cause of death was asphyxiation (possibly from the blanket being wrapped around him so tightly.) I keep thinking of this little child, this little boy who caused harm to no one, suffering so needlessly at the hands of the "boyfriend". What his little mind was thinking, I can only surmise. To compound this tragedy, the boyfriend is serving time, yes, but for an unrelated crime, not of the death of this little child. He was never charged.
Unfortunately, some histories are quite extensive and require much reading and note-taking and I didn’t complete all the reports until about mid-June. I’m in the distinct position of viewing bits and pieces of people’s lives. Regrettably, the bits and pieces that I get to see are inconceivable to most people. I am constantly left with…..what if? What if this agency or that agency had stepped in? What if this person just had a job? What if drugs and alcohol were not a factor? What if this Mom just had some support? What if they just graduated school? What if...what if...what if?
What if we just cared about one another?
Yes, May. May is a bad time for me at work and I’m usually so focused on what I’m doing on the job, that it sometimes carries over into my personal life. Once a year, at least in Ohio, Child Protective Agencies are mandated to report to the Child Fatality Review Board. The Board reviews all child fatalities in the county for the past year. It is a consortium of several agencies including the Health Department, police departments, mental health organizations and of course, Child Protective. The purpose of the Board is to gather data and information so that social agencies can institute preventative measures for families at risk.
This May, I had eighteen names on the list. Eighteen children died under some circumstance or another which warranted a review. Not all children come under review. For example, some children with severe birth defects who die shortly after death are not necessarily reviewed, at least by my agency. My job is to check and see if we have any history on the family and then provide the Board with a comprehensive review of investigative procedures and services which we provided to the family.
Of the eighteen, I had case histories on fifteen children. Just because our agency is involved it does not necessitate blame toward the parents. Some deaths are clearly accidental…a car accident, a drowning, or SIDS. However, there is always that case or two that you just can’t get out of your mind. I go over every piece of evidence, every statement and every incident of abuse/neglect in the file. I then compile my findings in the most objective manner I can muster. Sometimes, after reading the case, it is very difficult to be objective.
This year, there were two child fatalities which really bothered me (not that they all don’t bother me in some way or another). As I read the history on one incident of abuse against a little boy (under two years of age), I remember getting physically nauseous. This little boy was beaten severely, choked, banged against a wall and wrapped in a heavy blanket, thrown (literally) into his crib and left to die. The perpetrator, the mother’s boyfriend, related to the police that the boy was "getting on his nerves". After wrapping him in the blanket and throwing him in his crib, he left the home and had a drink with friends. He not only left the baby in the home alone, he left the little boy’s sibling in the home, too…a four-year-old. He left the home twice during the night, while the child was still alive.
I couldn’t get out of my mind the shear agony this little child was in. Of course, the man beat him more because he was crying from the first beating. He never sought medical assistance for the child or notified the child’s mother. The little boy had broken ribs, broken arms, and severe bruising all over his body. The eventual cause of death was asphyxiation (possibly from the blanket being wrapped around him so tightly.) I keep thinking of this little child, this little boy who caused harm to no one, suffering so needlessly at the hands of the "boyfriend". What his little mind was thinking, I can only surmise. To compound this tragedy, the boyfriend is serving time, yes, but for an unrelated crime, not of the death of this little child. He was never charged.
Unfortunately, some histories are quite extensive and require much reading and note-taking and I didn’t complete all the reports until about mid-June. I’m in the distinct position of viewing bits and pieces of people’s lives. Regrettably, the bits and pieces that I get to see are inconceivable to most people. I am constantly left with…..what if? What if this agency or that agency had stepped in? What if this person just had a job? What if drugs and alcohol were not a factor? What if this Mom just had some support? What if they just graduated school? What if...what if...what if?
What if we just cared about one another?
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