Really? Throwing Hot Water On A Kid Seemed Like A Good Idea?

The sad state of the world and society we live in. In what kind of thought process does it seem like a good idea or fit punishment to throw hot water on a 3 year old? Somebody capable of this thought process is obviously capable of a whole lot more – and the sad thing about Illinois is – regardless of the charges and the verdict – she will likely be out of jail and free to further her sick and twisted thought processes in less than 5 years.

Too bad she wasn’t dealing drugs at the same time – at least then she’d be mandated a sentence. So come on over to Illinois all child abusers and sex offenders because as long as you don’t repeatedly sell drugs, chances are – we’ll assume you can be rehabilitated. Hell, it’s only our kids. But watch out drug dealers – if you get caught a few times – you’ll be in jail forever.

Woman charged after hot water thrown on childJournal Star
Posted Nov 26, 2008 @ 08:42 PM
PEORIA —

A Peoria woman was ordered held on $125,000 bond Wednesday for allegedly throwing hot water on a 3-year-old boy this week.

Regina Rogers, 31, 2825 W. Ann St., appeared in Peoria County Circuit Court charged with one count of aggravated battery to a child, a felony that carries a six to 30 year prison range. Probation is not an option.

Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Kenny said police were called by the boy’s mother who noticed the burns. After questioning, Rogers allegedly admitted she had grown frustrated with the boy after changing his diaper several times.

While he was in the tub, she allegedly filled a cup with hot water from the sink and threw it on the child. Officers from the Peoria Police Department tested the water from the tap and found it was hot enough to cause the first- and second-degree burns that covered much of the boy’s back.

Rogers will next appear in court Dec. 26 for a preliminary hearing, though it is likely a grand jury will hear the case before then.

Thanksgiving Closet

In a closet? No, not me – not on Thanksgiving – or any day for that matter. Actually, it seems like I have symbolically been locked in the holiday closet – somehow. Not by my own family – I wouldn’t really take well to that – I am who I am – regardless of how anyone else views it. However, my girlfriend of a year seems to immediately take to the closet on holidays. It’s not that her family doesn’t know she’s a lesbian – they do and they have for years. They also know about me and about my kids – althought I’ve never met them. Essentially, she takes to the holiday closet – right next the the elephant that seems to always be in the room.

So, I sit here on Thanksgiving with my kids and my dog – trying to decide where to go, or what to do. And we sit here without a person who has been a key part of our lives for the last year – because she chose to spend another holiday with her “family.” I am slightly hurt that she never really gave it a thought – but I do understand. And we will move forward from this.

So perhaps in the next year of holidays – perhaps she will redefine family, and consider us during the holidays. Perhaps her parents will realize what they’re doing to her by refusing to accept who she is. Maybe they’ll realize they’re about to lose her and decide they should really be supportive of her – because she is happy. Perhaps society can take a step forward and realize that a lesbian relationship is no different than a heterosexual relationship on the fundamental points.  Until then, I am thankful for what I have and hopeful for the future.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Birthday Week

Savannah’s B-Day Mosaic

Originally uploaded by Fergie1979

Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again. (Menachem Mendel Schneerson)

As always – birthdays are a challenge for parents – the act of getting everything to fit together – all without letting the birthday kid know how much work is actually required. As you get older, birthdays become more of a hassle and a physiological and biological ticking clock – so while they’re young – kids should be able to approach with the excitement only youth can provide. It really should be their day – there’s nothing wrong with spoiling a child one day a year.

So, Savannah’s 7 now – hard to believe it’s been that long. She got her customary choice of breakfast entree on her birthday – and strangely chose a waffle with frosting (who knows…). She took treats to school and had to go to her Dad’s on the night of her birthday (another post all together).

We did her birthday dinner on Sunday when she got home and I think things went well – she had a good time and it was good for her to have the world focused on her – if only for a while.

This year seems to have turned into a “birthday week” concept instead of the day agenda – so we’re almost done with the festivities. We will be forging through Savannah’s first birthday party involving school friends on Tuesday. As to avoid following the crowd too much, we’ve skipped the Chuck E. Cheese concept and we’re going to try Build-A-Bear.

We will continue through Savannah’s 7th birthday extravaganza – further events and opinions pending…

Does God Speak Through Brain Worms?

Talk about a horror movie – and this happened in the United States – and does so frequently! Never have I seen a better argument to wash your hands and teach your kids to wash theirs! Realistically, the end result was more or less a miracle for this woman and her family. Perhaps this is God’s way of getting through to people that they should appreciate their lives, their families and everything they have. To quote Tim McGraw – “Live Like You Were Dying”

This would be a moment to follow through on song lyrics – imagine preparing yourself for a potentially fatal operation – not knowing the cause or prognosis of this newly developed brain tumor – and then to find out it was (granted a disturbing) only a worm and you’d recover immediately. A different route to an appreciation of life – but God works in mysterious ways.

Gay Parents – If You Have A Problem With Them, Don’t Be One…

Studies have been done. People know this – they just fall back on their prejudices and hatred to fuel their arguments, instead of science. I’ve been told by many people that I should not be openly gay – because, of course – of what it would to to my children. I don’t waste my time arguing because the logic behind their arguments is nothing more than hatred fueled fear. And realistically, there are some parts of being a child of gay parents that are harder – but only because of the society in which we live – not because of any deficiency in gay parents.

Back to the studies… of course, there may not be a multitude of studies, as the concept is lagging behind societal advancement. Not surprisingly, the studies are showing that the children of lesbians are not only as healthy and well adjusted as the children of heterosexuals, but they have stronger social skills and are in general, happier.

So, to all those wasting their time and energy propagating hatred and anti-gay adoption laws – it’s time to recognize that society is advancing. There are children everywhere who are hungry, unhealthy, depressed and in need of help – but they are not the children of homosexuals. Perhaps the money wasted on hatred would be better spent helping the children who actually need your help?

http://www.mombian.com/2008/11/25/children-of-lesbian-families-happy-and-healthy-despite-homophobia/

http://www.nllfs.org/

Where’s Mr. Liberal/Change Obama Now

Come on Obama – nothing like a politician turning back on his empty promises before he even hits the office. As a very openly Republican lesbian, it shouldn’t surprise me that Obama has so quickly repressed his on again off again support of LGBT issues. Holding out on even addressing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy? I vaguely remember listening to months of debates, press conferences and commercials promising “change.”

You won the American people with your passion and charisma – to keep them, you’ll have to follow through – even if your “changes” meet some resistance.

Clinton as Secretary of State?

Surprisingly I wouldn’t oppose Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. After the drama and negativity of the entire election process, I developed a new respect for Clinton and her stance on most issues. As a rare gay Republican – I may have actually voted on the Democratic lines if Hillary had been a choice.

Her views make sense. Although she is pro-choice, she supports finding alternate methods of decreasing the necessity of abortions, rather than aggressively encouraging abortion as an answer to “unwanted” pregnancy. She has a long standing record of supporting LGBT issues. She is liberal and open-minded but not in the socialist way Obama trends towards.

So, hopefully Clinton finds her way into the new government. And with any luck, she’ll have a positive influence on the Obama presidency and the future of this country. So – cankles or not – go Hillary.

Does Everything Happen For A Reason?

I have always lived by the ideal that “everything happens for a reason.” Unfortunately, it’s this concept that’s currently making my most recent decisions difficult. I feel like I really should be ready to change jobs – but the signs keep pointing against it. The money isn’t adding up – the shifts aren’t fitting like they should – staying where I am is beginning to look like the best option.

So, perhaps I will find the happy medium. Maybe I’ll let this opportunity pass me by and it will turn out to have been a huge mistake. Or alternately I could take the chance and end up losing a lot. Hopefully an answer comes along – I’m sure it will.

Evolutionary Basis of Homosexuality?

Society as we know it seems constantly involved in a debate on homosexuality. The cause, the cure, who’s to blame, the morality, the ethics – all debates that when you really look at it, you have a hard time understanding why so much time, emotion and energy is wasted on such a topic. Nature vs. nurture? Is it a choice? Can it be genetically explained? Is there a genetic predisposition, as in say – alcoholism? Does it matter?

The religious community presents another arena for over speculation. What does the Bible say? What does the Pope, your minister, the nuns, your grandmother say? What are the moral implications of homosexual behavior? Gay marriage? Kids growing up with gay parents? Why any of this matters to everyone, I’m not sure – and I’m not here to speculate.

I’m also not going to argue the everlasting debate of creationism vs. evolution. I personally believe the two can exist together – not independently of each other. With that – on a scientific level only, disregarding all sociological factors and established societal norms – perhaps the surge in homosexuality in recent history is a result of an evolutionary attempt to control the population. The world as we know it is quickly becoming overpopulated and the populations are causing the supply of natural resources to dwindle. Gay couples do cannot procreate in the natural sense of the process. (I am not saying gay couples should not have children, I believe we are some of the best parents). But in a gay relationship, there are no accidental pregnancies. On a statistical basis – homosexuals cause less population increase.

I do not personally need an explanation for my lifestyle. I am comfortable with who I am. I am not attempting to explain anything. However, I am prone to intellectual thought processes and these hypotheses are nothing more than a byproduct of my constant cerebral processes.

Friday Fill-Ins (A few hours after Friday)

1. The last band I saw live was Matchbox 20. 2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is a nap! (if you don’t celebrate thanksgiving, insert your favorite holiday)3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is yet to begin.4. Thoughts of job changes, moving and change fill my head.5. I wish I could wear a bikini.6. Bagpipes are funny.7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to not being in charge! tomorrow my plans include visiting Doug to see how much more hair I can talk him into cutting off and Sunday, I want to SLEEP!