I tried writing this a few months ago, only for it to be somehow lost in cyberspace. After the time spent writing it only to have it disappear, I gave up and really haven't posted anything on here in a while. Today, though, I was looking through old Google Reader stuff… Read full post »

The United States is the only industrialized nation without a national health system. The right to health care is international law and is guaranteed in the constitutions of many nations-but not the United States. Recently, America has been viewed as barbaric by other nations for its lack of guarante… Read full post »

There has been a lot of debate about the role of labor unions in our "modern" economy.  Many business leaders claim that labor unions have out lived their usefulness and are unnecessary to today's economy. These corporate commanders fail to realize that without labor unions, most of their custom… Read full post »

I’m having some crises of faith or a drifting into faith. I’m not sure right now. Ellie has been wanting to attend church for a while. I have wanted to humor her, then Saturday I genuinely wanted to attend church. But what church? (Insert Joseph Smith reference here, I guess) I’ve… Read full post »

1. The Year
… Read full post »

It's been a while since I've been on here. I lost my internet service back in August and my internet time has been limited ever since. I have been reading and writing in the time since then and will try to catch up. Not that anyone really reads my stuff or… Read full post »

In no particular order:

• Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer

• Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

• The Prydain Cycle by Lloyd Alexander

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

• The Lord of the Rings by J. R.

… Read full post »

I painted this mediocre picture of a fairy. It isn't very good and for some reason I was going through a phase where I really liked fairies(sad, because I was 30 at the time.

I like to paint, even though I'm not very good at it. It's relaxing and the… Read full post »

I read an article about a waitress who was fired after complaining about a low tip on her Facebook page. I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy. Despite all of the tipping etiquette out there, I still believe that a tip is earned and not a right. 

I know that most restaurants… Read full post »

In eighth grade I won second place in the Farm Bureau's America and Me essay contest for my school. Third place was one of my friends, Michelle. After receiving our certificates and ribbons on stage at graduation, she and I vowed not to tell anyone that there were only three entries… Read full post »

I've gotten a few welcome messages lately that have taken me aback. I'm not new. I've been posting for more than a year and a half. My writing for the most part goes unread, though.

I'm not complaining. I write when I can and have stopped caring whether anyone reads. What… Read full post »

Almost 5 million links about this subject, and the stories that follow that search are heartbreaking. As a single mom, these stories both terrify me and break my heart. I know that they are the exception and not the rule, but in my mind the risks are far too great. … Read full post »

I have a confession to make: I used to be conservative. I felt being gay was wrong and disgusting. I thought everyone on welfare was there because they were lazy. I thought abortions should be banned for everyone. Then I grew a heart.

I had always been an advocate for sticking… Read full post »

The Humane Society of the Unites States announced on Wednesday, February 3 that they are launching a new line of dog food. The Hsus touts that the dog food will be cruelty free, all-natural, and certified organic. The animal rights organization also states that the food will be free of animal… Read full post »

I have friends who live in other countries. Whenever we talk, either online or over the phone, we get into the politics of our respective countries and  comparisons. For eight years I was forced to defend my country's honor by pointing out that not all Americans were like Bush.

When Obama… Read full post »

As I have mentioned on a few previous occasions, I am fat. I don't remember when I stopped caring about it, but I did at some point. When I read stories about the obesity problem in this country, I shrug. I definitely eat healthier than some, but not as healthy as… Read full post »

My son has Asperger's, the serious condition with the funny name. This means that despite being very intelligent, he is/… Read full post »

I slept for a few moments

Now he's gone

My fragile brother lost in both the clouds of his mind
and the streets of Mesa

I shouldn't have slept

I knew something bad would happen

Almost typed bed- now that's a freudian slip

I don't have the talent of words right… Read full post »

My brother is 20 years old. He is the youngest of four and the only boy(I'm the oldest).  We left his abusive father, my stepfather, when he was only 4 and moved from Virginia to Michigan. My mother remarried a few years later to a man who wasn't always the nicest to… Read full post »

Sunshine soaked summer days inspired trips into the woods and fields near my home in Rhode Island.   We called it exploring, and actually made some really neat discoveries.

I found a family cemetary that dated back to colonial times. The trees, bushes and weeds had been encroaching on the… Read full post »

A few months ago, I , like many other Americans downloaded the KFC coupon offering a free Kentucky Grilled Chicken combo. When I took my children to redeem the coupons, we were told that due to overwhelming demand, they were not accepting their own coupons. So without quibbling, I filled out… Read full post »

High school was a miserable time for me. I hated going to school. I was sometimes able to hide until everyone was gone and then spend the day with the house to myself. It worked because I usually arrived home before everyone else anyway.

It wasn't that I didn't like learning, quite… Read full post »