Tag Archives: Accountability

06.19.18
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Commentary #75: “The war on drugs failed. It’s time for a war on abuse.”

Honor Blackman

Image Credit: AZ Quotes

The headline grabbed me instantly. It spoke to me.

Here’s the link to the opinion that CNN published on their website on Friday, June 15, 2018:

Full disclosure: This was published under CNN’s Opinion section.

CNN also published this Editor’s Note at the top of the page: Natalie Schreyer is a reporter at the Fuller Project for International Reporting, a nonprofit news organization that covers issues impacting women and girls globally. She is working on “Abused in America,” a Fuller Project initiative to cover domestic violence in the United States. Jessica Klein is a journalist and co-author of the book “Abetting Batterers: What Police, Prosecutors, and Courts Aren’t Doing to Protect America’s Women.” The views expressed here are solely those of the authors.

I read this opinion. And then I re-read it. It stuck with me all weekend long. It’s still with me as I finish writing this post.

The comparisons that Schreyer and Klein make are staggering. After reading it several times, it makes complete sense to me.

—

Sure, I’m definitely biased here. I am a domestic violence survivor. I am an abuse survivor. Neither of these are ever okay. I’ve read several powerful memoirs and accounts of survivors (Tornado Warning), and stories of those who tragically lost their lives (If I Am Missing Or Dead: A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder, and Liberation) over the years. I don’t want to read new ones, if I’m being perfectly honest.

There must be harsher punishments for habitual offenders. The opening story for this opinion both broke my heart and made my blood boil – An alleged abuser has never been convicted of a crime, despite 160 encounters with police in 15 years. Quick math – That’s an average of 11 encounters per year. That’s too many.

One encounter is too many.

It took way too long for the current stalking laws to be enacted, and even now, those laws aren’t necessarily the same in every one of the 50 states (although it absolutely should be). The problem here is there’s a lack of consistency. The power is usually left up to the states, and that’s where many problems lie. Where you live is a huge factor, and it absolutely shouldn’t be that way!

—

But, what about all these non-violent offenders, in prison for decades on drug charges?

I could write a proverbial book. What the Nixon administration started in 1971 was a so-called “war” that will never be won. Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush kept fueling the fire. I myself was in the D.A.R.E. program in fifth grade. I vowed to never smoke cigarettes after watching my grandmother, my dad’s mom. She lived with emphysema for more than 20 years. She also had COPD, and was on oxygen since I was a child.

Now, in 2018, our country has been facing the “opioid crisis” for several years. Like the authors argue, “addicts who need medical treatment more than criminal punishment,” is so true. And, sadly, not likely to happen. There is a lack of investment in mental health treatment and addiction treatment. Addicts need resources such as medical intervention, quality treatment facilities, quality therapy and/or counseling, and continued support for as long as necessary to keep them sober, stable, and functional.

Why? We have more people in prison for drug possession than mental health treatment facilities. These men and women (not all, mind you), unfortunately, re-offend and get sent back to prison because they can’t get a good, steady job after being released. Struggling to support themselves and their families, they turn to what they’ve known as their source of income. And they’re stuck in this vicious cycle that doesn’t seem to end.

When I think of an “addict,” I think of someone involved with drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, or crack. The harder, more dangerous drugs.

To think of how many people (many are people of color, too) are in jail or prison for non-violent marijuana offenses makes me incredibly angry. I’ve been supportive of the interest to legalize / de-criminalize marijuana. But, that’s another story altogether.

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There needs to be far more accountability on the domestic violence and abuser side, however. The authors pointed to a fascinating report from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, which focused on High Point, North Carolina. When the focus was shifted toward cracking down on intimate partner violence, the number of intimate partner murders dropped from 17 (between 2004-2011) to just one (between 2012-2014).

Numbers are powerful. Seventeen murders dropped to one? Wow.

As I mentioned earlier, the current stalking laws took way too long to pass. Now, there really should be domestic violence courts in every state. The script should be flipped – Turn the thousands of drug courts (3,100 quoted in the opinion) into domestic violence courts. Problem solved? Maybe.

I’m not saying to get rid of drug courts altogether. What I’m saying is to shift the balance. Shift the balance of the number of courts, and maybe that will also shift the balance of power.

—

I certainly don’t have all the answers. I just feel strongly about the issues presented in this opinion. I hope more is done for all victims of domestic violence and abuse. No one deserves to go through the horror, shame, and terror. And this includes women, men, and children. There’s a lot of focus on women, but men and children are abused and violated every single day.

For more information, check out these resources. Many of these were also cited in the opinion.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.01.18
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Getting Personal #125: June Goals

BeautyBeyondBones 2

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

Hey there, June! Nice to see you!

We’re halfway through 2018. Wow!

Here are my goals for the month of June:

  1. Attend P.E.O. State Convention.
  2. See Incredibles 2.
  3. See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
  4. Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.
  5. Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.
  6. Write at least 1,000 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.
  7. Download Evernote.
  8. Host a “vacationing doll” from Ohio!

Here’s the breakdown:

Attend P.E.O. State Convention.

  • P.E.O. State Convention is in Blacksburg, Virginia this year!
  • The theme is “Catch The Waves To Better Futures,” so we’re having a beach party in the mountains!

See Incredibles 2.

  • Finally! Fourteen years in the making, we’re finally getting a sequel!!

See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

  • We really liked Jurassic World when it came out in 2015, so we’ve been intrigued about the sequel for a while now. Bring it on!

Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.

  • I’m determined to make this happen in June!

Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.

  • This has been been bugging me for at least three weeks. It’s absolutely happening!

Write at least 1,000 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.

  • This is another thing that’s been bothering me. After all the work I did for Camp NaNoWriMo in April, I didn’t write a single new word during the month of May. Challenge accepted!

Download Evernote.

Host a “vacationing doll” from Ohio!

  • One of my American Girl doll Facebook groups is full of ideas. A woman in Ohio has nine kids, so vacations are expensive. Her 7-year-old daughter loves AG, and wanted to send one of her dolls, Emily, on “vacation.”
  • Al and I will have her for a full week, before I ship Emily off to the next destination!
  • I’m so excited to be participating!

Do you have any goals for the month of June?

If so, I’d love to hear about them!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.31.18
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Getting Personal #124: May Goals Recap

BeautyBeyondBones 8

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

May was a month full of adventure!

Here’s the link to my May Goals post:

Ready?

Here we go!

  1. Drastically curb my spending habits. — Accomplished!
  2. See Solo: A Star Wars Story. — Accomplished!
  3. Finish prepping the Lady Lounge for the new standing desk. — Did not accomplish.
  4. Schedule the replacement of our ductwork and HVAC system. — Did not accomplish.
  5. Finish the book I’m currently reading, plus write the Book Review. — Accomplished!
  6. Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018. — Did not accomplish.
  7. Update the Household Bills spreadsheet. — Did not accomplish.
  8. Visit the farm! — Did not accomplish.
  9. Prepare for P.E.O. State Convention. — Accomplished!
  10. See the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform the music to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets live. — Accomplished!
  11. Publish my first “Down The TBR Hole” post. — Accomplished!
  12. Continue progress on my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor. — Did not accomplish.

Here’s the breakdown:

Drastically curb my spending habits. — Accomplished!

  • I’m so incredibly proud of myself. I actually did it!
  • The power of writing down a goal really works.
  • I saw the difference in my bank account and credit card statements.
  • I also FELT the difference, which I think is the most important thing. More money in the bank means more money to go toward the things we NEED.
  • My stated goals were: (a) not buy any more new clothes [both for Laura Beth, and Laura Beth’s American Girl dolls], and, (b) not eat out as much for my lunches.
  • I felt successful with both goals, and I’m very happy.

See Solo: A Star Wars Story. — Accomplished!

  • We saw Solo on Thursday, May 24th.
  • Is is the best Star Wars movie ever? No. Absolutely not.
  • However, it is fun, entertaining, action-packed, and a good story. The cast is AMAZING!
  • Give this movie some love and go see it.

Finish prepping the Lady Lounge for the new standing desk. — Did not accomplish.

  • We had other priorities this month. The standing desk is lower on the list!

Schedule the replacement of our ductwork and HVAC system. — Did not accomplish.

  • We had to get our electrical panel upgraded first, and we’re just waiting for the city inspector to sign off on the work.

Finish the book I’m currently reading, plus write the Book Review. — Accomplished!

Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018. — Did not accomplish.

  • This just didn’t happen. Looking forward to doing this in June.

Update the Household Bills spreadsheet. — Did not accomplish.

  • See above comment. I’m determined to do this by the end of June!

Visit the farm! — Did not accomplish.

Prepare for P.E.O. State Convention. — Accomplished!

  • It’s almost time! I’m so excited to be a delegate with Darcy this year!

See the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform the music to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets live. — Accomplished!

  • Al and I went to Chrysler Hall on Friday, May 4th.
  • It was such an awesome concert!
  • Plus, we got to eat California Pizza Kitchen AND cotton candy during the movie!

Publish my first “Down The TBR Hole” post. — Accomplished!

Continue progress on my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor. — Did not accomplish.

  • I had all the intentions of working on it during my trip to Florida, but it just didn’t happen.
  • However, with my self-imposed deadline of December 31, 2018 on the fast-track, I best be cracking for the rest of the year!

Final Thoughts

  • I was able to put Accomplished next to six out of 12 goals! I’ll take it!
  • The six goals that I did not accomplish: I forgot what happens when you take a week off of work and travel extensively for that week! On to June!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of May?

Come back tomorrow to see my June Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.18.18
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Hot Topic #26: North Korea

North Korea Quote

Image Credit: Wilson Center

Unless you’ve been living under the rock, it feels like North Korea has been in the news every single day.

I wanted to use this post to walk through several things: A brief history, news articles and documentaries, China’s concerns. and what the media is NOT reporting.

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.

Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan in 1910. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided into two zones. The north was occupied by the Soviet Union, and the south was occupied by the United States. Attempts at reunification failed. In 1948, separate governments were formed – The socialist Democratic People’s Reublic of Korea to the north, and the capitalist Republic of Korea to the south. An invasion by the north led to the Korean War, from 1950-1953. The Korean Armistice Agreement brought a ceasefire, but no peace treaty.

The North Korean army is the fourth largest in the world. With 1.21 million active duty personnel, it is only behind China, the United States, and India. Its population is estimated, in 2016 numbers, to be over 25 million people. The country shares land borders with China and Russia.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land, 160 miles long and about 2.5 miles wide. It separates the two countries. It was established in 1953 by an agreement between North Korea, China, and the United Nations.

The country functions as a highly centralized, one-party state. They are governed by the Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System. The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) dominates all North Korean politics, and has an estimated three million members.

Kim Jong-un is the current Supreme Leader, or Suryeong, of Korea. He is part of the Kim dynasty, which has ruled North Korea since 1948.

Aside from general media coverage, there have been several interesting documentaries made about North Korea.

Al and I watched The Propaganda Game several years ago. I think we watched it through Netflix. It was incredibly compelling, eye-opening, and frustrating. I was so angry after we watched it.

In addition, multiple movies have featured North Korea, including The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Die Another Day (2002), Stealth (2005), Salt (2010), Red Dawn (2012), The Interview (2014), and Northern Limit Line (2015).

Over the years, concerns have arisen regarding the Kim dynasty, their treatment of their citizens, and nuclear weapons.

More recently, although North Korea has announced their intent to fully denuclearize, there are significant concerns from the Chinese government. North Korea has been blowing up and destroying some of their nuclear weapon facilities, and China has been very concerned about the radiation dust, and other environmental hazards. But, of course, the media here in the United States isn’t talking about that. But, they should be.

There’s a lot about China and North Korea that hasn’t been reported in the United States. It’s infuriating, really. I learned about investigative journalism early on in my education at Longwood. But, the current reporting has a certain strategy and angle. Not that any of that is an excuse. It’s crappy reporting, crappy journalism. I also believe there is a culture of fear now. Especially since Donald Trump is the President of the United States.

For more information, check out the links below. As always, I try to gather my news sources from a variety of United States and international news organizations.

 

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.02.18
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Getting Personal #120: Camp NaNoWriMo April 2018 Recap

Camp 2018 Writer Profile Photo

Image Credit: Camp NaNoWriMo

I was inspired to write this post from my friend Madi Grace!

Here are the links to her Camp NaNoWriMo 2017 recaps:

Here are the links to my posts where I mentioned Camp NaNoWriMo, and announced my decision to participate for the very first time:

As a reminder / refresher, my goal for Camp NaNoWriMo was to write 20,000 additional words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor / attempt, tentatively titled, “Experiences from Camp.”

Synopsis:

Kristin, a teenager from Kansas, has heard of this experience called “Camp” in Maine. However, everyone who has gone there can’t accurately describe their experiences – Just a lot of mystery, suspense, some thrills, and a lot of chills. When she’s selected to go, she’s excited to meet Brennan, and see “camp” for herself. From the start, Kristin doesn’t get what she’s bargained for, and her excitement turns to absolute terror.

Previous Stats

March 27th

  • Current word count: 11,216 words

March 31st

  • Added 2,025 new words between March 29th and March 30th.
  • Current word count: 13,241 words.

And now, here’s how I did!

Day 1

Today: 785
Total: 785

Not a bad start!

—

Day 2

Today: 0
Total: 785

There were several days throughout the month where I wrote absolutely zero words!

It was frustrating to not have written anything on Day 2, but I persisted.

—

Day 3

Today: 602
Total: 1,387

More progress!

—

Day 4

Today: 892
Total: 2,279

This was my highest word count so far.

I felt like I was on a roll!

—

Day 5

Today: 0
Total: 2,279

This was the start of a days-long slump where I just did not make any time to write.

—

Day 6

Today: 0
Total: 2,279

Again, little to no time was carved out to write.

—

Day 7

Today: 0
Total: 2,279

Day 7 was the start of the first weekend of the month, and we were so slammed that I came home utterly exhausted.

—

Day 8

Today: 0
Total: 2,279

Day 8 was also part of the weekend.

But, I was bound and determined to break out of this slump!

—

Day 9

Today: 983
Total: 3,262

That’s more like it!

This was my highest word count since camp started.

I was rejoicing!

—

Day 10

Today: 329
Total: 3,591

I started to notice that if I wrote a high number of words one day, then the very next day, my word count was typically lower.

Oh well, at least I added words!

—

Day 11

Today: 1,198
Total: 4,789

Holy moly! I knocked the daily word count (667) out of the park!

This was my highest word count of camp at this point.

The only way to go is up!

—

Day 12

Today: 0
Total: 4,789

Day 12 was shortly after my family started experiencing a big crisis.

So, I’m not surprised that I didn’t write much on this day.

—

Day 13

Today: 667
Total: 5,456

Nailed the daily word count, down to an exact science!

—

Day 14

Today: 0
Total: 5,456

Another weekend day – No progress.

—

Day 15

Today: 1,530
Total: 6,986

After a rough day, this was the highest word count of camp at this point.

My high scores, so to speak, were increasing!

—

Day 16

Today: 0
Total: 6,986

Utter exhaustion again.

—

Day 17

Today: 435
Total: 7,421

Much better!

—

Day 18

Today: 1,006
Total: 8,427

Even better than the day before!

Inching closer to the halfway mark!

—

Day 19

Today: 0
Total: 8,427

Another rough day.

—

Day 20

Today: 820
Total: 9,247

I was thrilled that I exceeded the daily word count.

Just inches away from the halfway point.

—

Day 21

Today: 455
Total: 9,702

Word by word, I felt happy that I was getting closer to the 10,000 word mark.

—

Day 22

Today: 660
Total: 10,362

Hallelujah!

I crossed the 50 percent mark today.

Cue the happy dance!

—

Day 23

Today: 635
Total: 10,997

As the numbers increase, I’m hoping that I can actually succeed with my goal!

—

Day 24

Today: 795
Total: 11,792

The word count today was better than yesterday.

I’ll take it!

—

Day 25

Today: 0
Total: 11,792

Another weird day.

Feeling a bit stagnant, and unsure.

—

Day 26

Total: 1,080
Today: 12,872

In spite of the ongoing family crisis, I felt really good with today’s results!

—

Day 27

Total: 1,230
Today: 14,102

Amazingly, I exceeded yesterday’s word count.

I also took the day off from work, I needed a decompression day. The family crisis turned into mourning. My family lost three uncles within two weeks of each other.

But, I’m very pleased with my progress!

—

Day 28

Total: 3,051
Today: 17,153

It’s amazing what can happen when your husband takes a long nap in the afternoon.

This word count absolutely crushed all the other high scores.

I was on cloud nine!

Plus, the finish line was in sight.

—

Day 29

Today: 1,063
Total: 18,216

Inching closer and closer.

I really felt the pressure today!

—

Day 30

Today: 2,040
Total: 20,256

Oh, my goodness. I DID IT!!!!

I REALLY DID IT!

I exceeded my goal for my first-ever Camp NaNoWriMo!!!!

Current word count: 33,507 words.

Camp 2018 Winner Facebook Cover

Image Credit: Camp NaNoWriMo

Final Thoughts

Wow. I’m stunned. Astonished. And thrilled!

I was immensely apprehensive about signing up for Camp NaNoWriMo, especially since I didn’t participate in “regular” NaNoWriMo in 2015, 2016, or 2017.

But, through the encouragement of Madi, and several other friends, I decided to take the plunge.

I felt 20,000 new words for this novel was a very lofty goal, but I was very pleased that I not only met it, but I beat it by 256 words. It’s so inspirational!

I loved the camp environment and atmosphere. It was like a virtual writer’s retreat for a whole month! Also, you had the option of being placed in a “cabin,” so you could meet and interact with other writers! We had several lively discussions and cheering sessions in my cabin. So much fun!

I cannot wait for the next Camp NaNoWriMo in July. Bring it on!!

Have you done NaNoWriMo in November before?

Have you done Camp NaNoWriMo before?

Let me know what you think!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.01.18
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Getting Personal #119: May Goals

Quote

Image Credit: OJ Benson Notes

Hello, May! It’s nice to see you! Everything is in bloom, the beautiful spring colors are back, it’s riding in the car with the windows down weather!!

Here are my goals for the month of May:

  1. Drastically curb my spending habits.
  2. See Solo: A Star Wars Story.
  3. Finish prepping the Lady Lounge for the new standing desk.
  4. Schedule the replacement of our ductwork and HVAC system.
  5. Finish the book I’m currently reading, plus write the Book Review.
  6. Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.
  7. Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.
  8. Visit the farm!
  9. Prepare for P.E.O. State Convention.
  10. See the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform the music to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets live.
  11. Publish my first “Down The TBR Hole” post.
  12. Continue progress on my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.

Here’s the breakdown:

Drastically curb my spending habits.

  • Maybe, just maybe, if I write everything down here on the blog, I can actually make this work.
  • My pledge, to myself, is to spend as little money as I possibly can during the month of May.
  • This means doing everything I can to: (a) not buy any more new clothes [both for Laura Beth, and Laura Beth’s American Girl dolls], and, (b) not eat out as much for my lunches.

See Solo: A Star Wars Story.

  • This movie looks really good. We’re looking forward to seeing it at the end of the month!

Finish prepping the Lady Lounge for the new standing desk.

  • I just need to: (a) clear out the remaining boxes, (b) sell off my box of American Girl items that are duplicates or things I don’t need anymore, and (c) give the room a good deep clean.
  • We may not necessarily buy the standing desk this month, but the room will be ready for it.

Schedule the replacement of our ductwork and HVAC system.

  • This is one of the big home improvement projects that’s been hanging over our heads for a while. After we suffered for nearly two weeks last summer without A/C, it’s time to suck it up and get everything replaced.

Finish the book I’m currently reading, plus write the Book Review.

  • I’m motivated to break out of my reading slump!

Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.

  • This is something that Al mentioned recently, and we just need to sit down and do it. The plan is to make a “map” for the rest of the year, and plot out what goals we want to accomplish every month, whether it be something for the house, traveling, and so on. I have a good feeling about this!

Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.

  • I’ve fallen behind again. I’m determined to get caught up, and stay that way!

Visit the farm!

  • We’re excited to head to the Vardaro Farm again this month!
  • Look for an Adventure Time post after the trip.

Prepare for P.E.O. State Convention.

  • I’m headed to P.E.O. State Convention again! This time, it’s in Blacksburg, Virginia, near Virginia Tech!

See the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform the music to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets live.

  • My parents weren’t able to use these tickets, so they gave Al and I first dibs.
  • We didn’t have the heart to drop $100+ on tickets when the symphony performed the music to Harry Potter and The Sorceror’s Stone back in November, so my parents’ loss is our definite gain.

Publish my first “Down The TBR Hole” post.

  • A friend of mine commented on how long my TBR had gotten when I published the latest recap in April. It’s gotten out of control!
  • So, inspired by my friend Destiny at Howling Libraries, I plan to take a virtual chainsaw to my list, and definitely clean it up!
  • Here’s an example of one of Destiny’s posts: Down the TBR Hole #27
  • My post will probably be a little different than hers, but I’m excited to do this!

Continue progress on my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.

  • I made AMAZING progress on the novel during Camp NaNoWriMo during the month of April!
  • So, I’m not setting a specific goal here, but I want to keep writing, as consistently as possible.
  • I’m definitely signing up for Camp NaNoWriMo again in July – I can’t wait!!

Do you have any goals for the month of May?

If so, I’d love to hear about them! Comment below!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.30.18
by

Getting Personal #118: April Goals Recap

BeautyBeyondBones 5

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

Welcome back! April was a relatively busy month. But, the weather has finally started to stabilize, several rains have washed away the nasty pollen, and we’re already a full quarter through 2018. How crazy is that!!

Here’s the link to my April Goals post:

Ready?

Here we go!

  1. Give blood. — Accomplished!
  2. Celebrate Dad’s birthday! — Did not accomplish.
  3. Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2018. — Accomplished!
  4. See Avengers: Infinity War. — Accomplished!
  5. Continue working on my Lady Lounge. — Accomplished!
  6. Read at least two books. — Did not accomplish.
  7. Enjoy time with Melissa! — Accomplished!
  8. Attend the TAPA Spring Luncheon. — Accomplished!
  9. Attend Olivia’s bridal shower! — Accomplished!
  10. Visit LanternAsia with Al, Casey, and Beth. — Accomplished!
  11. Attend the P.E.O. Family Gathering. — Accomplished!
  12. Update my TBR. — Accomplished!

Here’s the breakdown:

Give blood. — Accomplished!

  • We celebrated our 18th Anniversary blood drive on Saturday, April 7th.
  • I was able to give a Power Red donation for the first time! Yippee!
  • What is Power Red? — Power Red is where you essentially donate two units of your red blood cells. Everything is spun through a centrifuge, and you’re given back your platelets, plasma, and some saline. You have wait 16 weeks to donate again, which is okay because I’m going to be out of town for the June blood drive. I don’t feel guilty now!
  • For more information: Power Red Donation – American Red Cross Blood Services

Celebrate Dad’s birthday! — Did not accomplish.

  • Dad’s birthday fell in the middle of the week. We’ve offered to take him to dinner at some point, but our family experienced a series of crises the week after his birthday (Family illnesses, and Mom and Dad needing to travel down to care for said family).
  • So, we’ll officially celebrate some time in May!

Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2018. — Accomplished!

  • I feel SO GOOD that I did this!
  • I can’t wait to do it again in July!
  • I’m writing a Getting Personal post about my experience, so look for that on May 2nd!

See Avengers: Infinity War. — Accomplished!

  • Al and I went to the Peninsula Movie Bistro on Saturday, April 28th.
  • No spoilers, but if you’re a fan of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this movie is a must. We’re already planning to see it again in the next week or so.

Continue working on my Lady Lounge. — Accomplished!

  • Oh, man! I’m so excited!!
  • Al’s dad delivered the custom doll cabinet he built for me on Saturday, April 14th. So, I hustled my butt and got all the boxes cleared out for him during that Thursday and Friday.
  • The last piece is to move the remainder of the boxes that are along the wall where my standing desk is going to be. Almost there!!
  • Look for an upcoming Home Improvements post soon, with photos!

Read at least two books. — Did not accomplish.

  • With the aforementioned family crises toward the beginning of the month, I’ve been so exhausted by bedtime that I fall asleep pretty quickly.

Enjoy time with Melissa! — Accomplished!

  • Al and I drove up to Richmond on Sunday, April 29th.
  • We had such a nice visit. Her mom made amazing paella, and then we hung out with Melissa for several hours, just catching up. I didn’t want to leave! We finally left, reluctantly, at 8:00 p.m. to drive home.

Attend the TAPA Spring Luncheon. — Accomplished!

  • The luncheon was held on Saturday, April 14th. It was a gorgeous day!
  • One of my sorority sisters, Beth McOsker, was honored as the “Greek Woman of the Year.”

Attend Olivia’s bridal shower! — Accomplished!

  • Olivia’s shower was hosted by my mom on the afternoon of Saturday, April 14th. It was so wonderful!

Visit LanternAsia with Al, Casey, and Beth. — Accomplished!

Attend the P.E.O. Family Gathering. — Accomplished!

  • The Family Gathering was held on Saturday, April 28th.
  • Although I arrived a little late, it was a very spirited, positive discussion. We met until noon, and everyone came away with several great ideas!

Update my TBR. — Accomplished!

Final Thoughts

  • I was able to put Accomplished next to 10 out of 12 goals! Yippee!!
  • The two goals that I did not accomplish: Family illnesses suck, so much. But, it’s okay. We’ll get through this!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of April?

Come back tomorrow to see my May Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.13.18
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Hot Topic #25: Teachers On Strike

Image result for teachers on strike

Image Credit: Vox

First, it was teachers walking out in West Virginia.

Then, it was teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky.

All of them have one thing in common: They have gone on strike, to protest numerous issues.

These include low pay, pension laws, and the abysmal state of the public school education system in the United States.

Timeline (so far)

  • February 22nd: The call for West Virginia teachers to strike comes from the West Virginia branches of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.
  • February 23rd: Teachers rally in front of the West Virginia State Capitol, while others picket individual schools.
  • February 27th: An announcement of a deal between union leaders and Governor Jim Justice.
  • February 28th: Every county in West Virginia announced school closures.
  • March 3rd: The strike is extended into the eighth workday when the West Virginia Senate proposed a 4% pay rise, instead of the 5% pay rise passed by the West Virginia House of Delegates.
  • March 7th: School personnel return, after the State Senate agreed to the House’s position.
  • End of March: Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signs a bill raising spending on teacher and support staff pay by $405.5 million. This equates to average raises of $6,100 for teachers, and $1,250 for support staff. However, the teachers’ union had been asking for an average of a $10,000 raise for teachers.
  • April 2nd: Oklahoma teachers go on strike, concurrently with Kentucky teachers. Oklahoma teachers protest low pay, overcrowded classrooms, and tax cuts which created lower state-wide education funding. Education spending per student in Oklahoma has decreased 28 percent since 2008. Kentucky teachers are protesting changes in their state’s pension laws.
  • April 13th: Oklahoma teacher walkout ends. Teachers around the state pledge to continue fighting for more school funding and higher pay. Oklahoma teachers are the lowest paid in the entire U.S. The walkout ended when the union understood the state legislature did not want to contribute any more revenue for public education. The amount of extra education spending for the next fiscal year is roughly $479 million for teacher and support staff salaries, and school needs.

 

Image result for teachers on strike

Image Credit: USA TODAY

Image result for teachers on strike

Image Credit: Vox

For me, I’m glad that teachers are utilizing their voices. They have reached their breaking points. It’s not all about their compensation, but a host of issues. State funding has decreased. Schools are not being maintained. Teachers don’t have enough textbooks, and some of these books are more than 20 years old. Others have taken to social media to post photos of broken chairs, outdated equipment, and even their salaries. Several have questioned why they need a college degree to be making so little money.

Some teachers in Oklahoma have been working THREE additional jobs, or more, on top of their teaching. Some do landscaping, others drive for Uber and/or Lyft, and so on.

That’s absurd!

—

The most recent development was in the state of Arizona. It was looking like those teachers were going to strike, but the governor recently offered a 20 percent pay raise. We’ll have to see how this pans out.

Teachers are entrusted to give quality education to our children, and future generations. How can they possibly teach well if they struggle with so many issues? I could go on and on about:

(a) the detriments of standardized testing.

(b) teachers buying basic school supplies for their classrooms throughout the year, in order for their students to be able to learn effectively.

(c) teachers dealing with student hunger, either by recognizing how many are on free or reduced-cost meal programs, or having food pantries in their classrooms because their students aren’t getting enough to eat.

(d) administrators and school boards working against teachers, including issues such as continued disciplinary problems, vandalism, dysfunctional parents, and more.

(e) school administrators, school board members, and district/city school superintendents receiving substantial pay raises.

And there are more. Before she retired last year, my mom saw several excellent teachers leave their public elementary school in favor of private schools. These teachers did not feel free to truly teach and be creative in their classrooms, among other problems. It was incredibly sad!

And my mom taught English as a Second Language (ESL), so she didn’t have the full classroom of kids that were going through round after round of standardized testing. She did teach elementary school in North Carolina during the 1970s and 1980s – 13 years total – and it was completely different back then. The teaching environment has changed so drastically in the last few decades, and not for the better. No wonder there are less and less people majoring in education and becoming teachers.

If you’re curious, here are the five of the top-paying states for teachers. However, keep in mind that these states are also some of the most expensive places to live in the U.S.

  1. Alaska – Average salary: $74,122
  2. New York – Average salary: $73,247
  3. Connecticut – Average salary: $72,524
  4. California – Average salary: $68,711
  5. New Jersey – Average salary: $67,938

And, here are the lowest-paying states:

  1. North Carolina – Average salary: $43,059
  2. Arizona – Average salary: $42,875
  3. South Dakota – Average salary: $42,564
  4. Mississippi – Average salary: $42,393
  5. Oklahoma – Average salary: $41,088

Source: These states pay teachers the most. Where does your state fall?

Sources

In addition, the fight for teacher pay and benefits continues in my local area, as well. I live and work in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. There are seven major cities here: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach.

As recently as this week, teachers have been packing local City Council meetings, calling for raises and more school funding.

In case you’re wondering, Virginia ranks eighth in the list of teacher pay by state, with an average salary of $64,285.

What do you think about teachers going on strike?

Do you think other states are soon to follow?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.05.18
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Commentary #68: “Support Systems” (Reblogged)

I’ve been following Sara’s blog for quite a while. Her poetry is beautiful. She does fun Questions of the Day every now and then.

She also makes the time to reply to every comment that is posted. She’s so sweet, and incredibly supportive!

I wanted to share this post of hers about support systems. It’s a long one, but she pours her heart out. I know I’m glad I took the time to read it.

Sara, you’re an awesome person!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Sara's avatarLordess

For a large portion of my life, I have felt that I have not had a very strong support system. Growing up, I was not taught how to talk about my feelings, I was encouraged to shut them down. It was not until I was living in “the real world” that I noticed the way I expressed myself was not normal, but it was the only way I knew. I did not have the kind of parents you could talk to about anything and everything.

I first experienced death when I just turned 10 years old and I did not know how to deal with such a thing. I was not talked through loss. I was given the news and then left to my own devices. I even remember some cruel kids mocking how this person died. I was lost at that point and from here is where I started building…

View original post 1,130 more words

04.01.18
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Getting Personal #113: April Goals

Hello, April! I’m so happy that you have arrived. Bring on the warmer weather!!

Here are my goals for the month of April:

  1. Give blood.
  2. Celebrate Dad’s birthday!
  3. Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2018.
  4. See Avengers: Infinity War.
  5. Continue working on my Lady Lounge.
  6. Read at least two books.
  7. Enjoy time with Melissa!
  8. Attend the TAPA Spring Luncheon.
  9. Attend Olivia’s bridal shower!
  10. Visit LanternAsia with Al, Casey, and Beth.
  11. Attend the P.E.O. Family Gathering.
  12. Update my TBR.

Here’s the breakdown:

Give blood.

  • Our 18th Anniversary blood drive is this coming Saturday, April 7th.
  • If you’re in the Hampton Roads area, come on out and Give the Gift of Life.

Celebrate Dad’s birthday!

  • Al and I likely going to take my dad out to dinner to celebrate his birthday very soon!

Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2018.

  • See my announcement post from March 27th: Getting Personal #111: Camp NaNoWriMo.
  • I’m SO PUMPED to do this. Seriously! I haven’t felt this invigorated to write in months. Bring it on!

See Avengers: Infinity War.

  • We’re definitely seeing this on either the Thursday night it premieres, or Friday night. We’re so stoked!

Continue working on my Lady Lounge.

  • I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

Read at least two books.

  • I’ve finally broken out of my reading slump. I stopped reading the book I was attempting to finish, set it aside, and moved on to a different one.
  • It was an excellent decision – I’ve been powering through 5-6 chapters per night!

Enjoy time with Melissa!

  • My best friend is coming home for a visit!
  • She’s invited Al and I to drive up to Richmond on a Sunday, to eat lunch with her, her mom, and her stepdad.

Attend the TAPA Spring Luncheon.

  • I am part of the Greek Woman of the Year Committee, so I look forward to being part of the award ceremony on Saturday, April 14th.

Attend Olivia’s bridal shower!

  • After the TAPA luncheon, I’m headed to my mom’s to celebrate Olivia! She’s getting married in July. She’s one of the first friends I made when we moved to Chesapeake in 1992.

Visit LanternAsia with Al, Casey, and Beth.

Attend the P.E.O. Family Gathering.

  • This is something new we’re trying as a chapter. It’s not a formal meeting, but a space and place to harbor open discussion and idea sharing.
  • I’m hoping for a good turnout and positive discussion about the upcoming year!

Update my TBR.

  • It’s that time of year again! Look for my post within the first two weeks of the month.

Do you have any goals for the month of April?

If so, I’d love to hear about them! Comment below!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂