So This Just Happened.....

Forget Roy Moore.  This post is about a proposed Supreme Court Justice, BK, who has been under attack this week for something that happened when he was 17.

Woman claims she attended a HS party and he was drunk.  He pinned her to the bed and attempted to rape her.  ATTEMPTED.  At SEVENTEEN.  He's HOW OLD now???????

Forgive me.....where the hell was she with her accusations when he passed the bar?  Became a prominent lawyer?  Became a judge? 

Oh wait.....what was I thinking?  Now it's perfectly fine to paint yourself a victim if your attacker FORTY YEARS AGO is now running for public office......and has different political views.

Earlier, I posted a similar meme on my wall.....it had BK and his accuser in the background.  I noticed about 7pm that I had several notifications, and one blasted me for posting it.  Unfortunately, I cannot copy/paste the conversation, because the entire post has disappeared.  Basically, she said shame on me for offending sexual assault victims everywhere.

I apologized, then said I'd been sexually harassed in junior high and had been assaulted my junior year....but felt ZERO need to call out my attackers 40 years later.  I also said I would PM her later.

She chose to unfriend me.  I DID PM the other friend who disagreed, and she told me not to sweat it; she didn't feel slighted, and that we could still disagree and still be friends.

That's CLASS, folks.

Too Close To Home....

My heart breaks for my church, my parish, the people of my diocese today.

(Sept 8th)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A priest with ties to the Wabash Valley has been placed on administrative leave, accused of sexual misconduct happening decades ago.

According to the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, the claim was made against Father DF. (omission of name is mine, to protect SEO)

FD is prohibited from public ministry as the investigation continues but denies the claim. FD has served in several parishes, schools and missions in Vincenness, Montgomery and Bicknell.

According to Catholic Diocese of Evansville, FD has served in the following parishes, schools and missions:

- Rivet High School, Vincennes

- Sacred Heart, Vincennes

- Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg

- St. Peter, Montgomery

- St. Michael the Archangel and St. Patrick

- Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City

- St. Philip, Posey County

- St. John the Baptist, Vincennes

- St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes

- St. Thomas, Vincennes

- St. Philip Neri, Bicknell

- St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes

- St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes

- St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes

- St. James, Haubstadt

Victims or anyone with information about cases of sexual misconduct are urged to contact police and the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 812-490-9565 or toll-free at 866-200-3004.

Today in church, the vicar of the Evansville diocese arrived to let our parish know about the claim.

What jumps out immediately are two things:  This happened DECADES ago.  Where was this person when all the attention about priests behaving inappropriately 18 years ago?  FD has been a beloved priest and established community member for at least 12 years (that's how long I'VE known him!).  Secondly,  Secondly, I've observed him around people of all ages, and NOT ONCE has he EVER been 'inappropriate' toward anyone.  If anything, he could use some 'people skills'.....though when Fr. Benny was around, I did see the man lighten up and actually laugh.  I've even got a picture of him in his bathing suit.  And no, he was not wearing his collar.....just thought I'd throw that in!

I'm praying this either took place before he took his vows, or as a young priest, made an overly friendly gesture which was simply misconstrued.  Or this is a false memory.

Look at the hulliballoo over AG and the bishop at a Certain Person's (AF) funeral last week (again, initials are used to protect SEO).  Inside Edition claimed he touched her breast, and she 'acted uncomfortable', and 'not wanting to cause a scene'....'every woman knows this feeling'.

BUT.....if you watch the ENTIRE clip, her uneasiness wasn't due to the fact his hand was high on her waist....it was because of the bad joke about her name!  And their size difference didn't help.....if the man had his hand on her waist, it would have caused him to stoop, and then everyone would be saying he was looking down her dress.

Stop and think about it the next time you hug someone who comes up to your armpit.  Put your arm around them and see where YOUR hand lies!

I'm in no way condoning this behavior.  If it turns out our beloved priest IS guilty, then I stand corrected.  Isn't there a statute of limitations on DECADES, though?  If the man has been a model citizen, shouldn't that account for something?  Let God be his judge.

It's my understanding that with other priests, this has been going on up until the time they were caught.  That's different, and they should be brought to justice.

In the meantime, I'm praying for answers, for the upheaval in my church family, and for parishoners where were visibly upset and had to leave the service briefly this morning.

Sometimes You Just KNOW......

So I answered a call for vendors last Wed, getting two towns mixed up in my head.  Yes, that actually happens.

The organizer messages me, and asks what kind of books I write, so I tell her, at first thinking, "Oh, I've picked up a new reader."

But a second later, it hits me....I think my new 'friend' is the coordinator.  I immediately type back, "Is this in regard to the XYZ event?"  And realize I had the wrong town in mind.  I was thinking it was only half an hour away, but the actual town is an hour or so from us.  No problem; there's a fantastic restaurant I've not been to in over two years in that town.  I might even be able to convince the family to come over!

Second thought, maybe she's looking for more family-friendly vendors, so my 3rd message is offering to leave the adult stuff behind.

No response.  No vendor app in my email, even though I'm getting notifications from that thread which says she's sending them out.

At this point, I'm suspecting she's trying to find a way to let me down easy.  I set myself a deadline:  If I've not heard anything by the weekend, I'll tell her I've got another offer (closer) for that day.

I attend an event on Saturday, and meet the lady next to me.  I've never heard of her company, but when she mentions 'entered in the drawing if you try something on', I agree to be a guinea pig.  While I'm scooping my size 22 body into this 42 foundation garment, I notice her name tag.  She's the very organizer I'm getting weird vibes from! 

Later, she checks out my books, and I reiterate the fact I'll be more than happy to leave my KM books (save for WHH) at home.  She says she'll think about it.  I drove home and decided not to bother with her event.  I mean, who the hell has to 'think about' if you want a published author at your event?  Vendor fairs are always a gamble.  I've sold as many as 9 at a few, and as little as zero.  Normally, I sell at least 3-4.  This particular one is going to cost $40, and at the rate my sales are going, it's not worth my time and money to beg someone to include me.

Sunday evening, a PM pops up.  I see it's her, and instead of reading it first, I check my email.  Nothing, so I figure it's a 'Thanks but no thanks'.  I check the message. 

"Just don't think it would be a good 'fit' for you."

I type back a cordial, 'That's fine.  Thank you for letting me know."

I hit send and think, "Bitch."

I'm not mad or sad; I'm more indifferent.  After all, I'd already decided not to do it; it's just the fact she beat me to it, I think.

Rejection's never fun.

Now the question remains:  Do I unfriend her, or let her decide if my witty posts are worth it?  Maybe she'll change her mind next year and ask me again?

Yeah, I know.  Don't hold my breath.

Bitter Pill, Over-Protective Grandma, Or Normal?

Bitter  Pill:
Yesterday, I went down to see the newest member of the family, my great-grandson PRJ, born Saturday to Miss Drama Queen.  He had been moved to the NICU, since his amniotic fluid was infected and caused his mommy to run a fever.  His APGAR scores were low; he was pale and jaundiced.  I was not allowed to hold him, but I could stroke his tiny hands, feet, and tummy.  When I left, he was supposed to be released this morning.

I posted my eagerness to hold the little darling this morning on FB, then took my mother for an appointment.  My SIL called, and laid down the law.

"No one's going to hold that baby until I do."  (I *assumed* if P was released, then of course my SIL would have held him before me, since I'm an hour away and she's only 15 minutes from the hospital!)

"I told J (her daughter) to back off and let MDQ do what she wants; she's the mama after all, and Mamas know best."  (Ummmmm......MDQ is only 16.  She knows nothing, and will need guidance.  ALL new mamas need guidance, even those with degrees in Child Development!)

"I just know S and J (aunt and cousin) didn't wash their hands when they held the baby on Sat."  (Ummmm, no, I don't think that caused P's seizures.)

I asked if D and N had been to see P yet.
"No, b/c I'm sure it's hard on N, since A (son who died) was in the NICU.  She'll see him when he's out of the hospital and home."  (Okay; I get that the NICU might bring back mild flashbacks, but it's been 15 or so years now!)

"It's also hard on me, since because of what happened to A."  (Get over it; this is NOT the same situation!  A had a severe birth defect; P just has an infection!)

"I told A not to allow anyone to touch the baby until they've washed their hands, aren't sneezing or coughing, or anything, so he doesn't get sick."  (So in other words, you want to put him into a bubble and not let him out until he's old enough to go to school?)

So what's the verdict?  Is this an over-protective Great-Grandma 'Mother Hen', or has my SIL gone completely off her rocker?  She's worked herself into a panic, all because her great-grandson is in the NICU, born to a teenager who's only experience with babies has been Miss A (my granddaughter).

Part of me is furious for being 'put in my place'.....but as I told her, I most certainly would NOT have held P before she'd had a chance to!  And to hear her make it all about 'her'.....grrrrrrrrr.....

But then again, I've never had a child in the NICU, so I'm not familiar with the anxiety.  To me, the child is surrounded by capable doctors and nurses who are doing everything in their power to get him well, and to teach MDQ how to care for him.  So why panic?  It's in God's hands.

So get off the panic button and let YOUR DAUGHTER, the baby's GRANDMOTHER, and the new mama figure it out.  The last thing P needs is extra people hovering over him.

By all means, give advice when asked, and certainly step in, should there be a PROBLEM, but otherwise, stay out of it.

Latest Hoopla

Everyone's up in arms over the current situation at the border.  People are being detained in former Big Box stores, as the Gov't sorts out papers on who's legit and who's not.  What's really sparking the outrage is a video/photo showing kids and parents separated in what looks like cages/holding pens, with no blankets, and kids crying for their parents.

What they don't realize is this video/photo was shot in 2014, when OBAMA was in office, and this law was put into place in 1997 under CLINTON!  Our current administration, with the exception of some senators and representatives, had NOTHING to do with it!

I get it; I know the panic/worry when a parent has been separated from a child.  This happened to me in 2004 when my 12 y/o decided to take the escalator in the Detroit airport, instead of going down the elevator with me, his sister, and his younger brother who was in a stroller.  Instead of meeting us at the gate, he chose to wander through some of the shops.  It took me a good fifteen minutes to find him. 

Then there was the incident with my 11-or-12 y/o (what IS it about that age?) at the Chicago S&I museum.  We were ready to head into the viewing of Our Magnificent Oceans, when we realized W wasn't with us.  Several frantic moments later, I reported him missing, at the exact moment he did the same!  I heard his little voice on the radio, and two minutes later, his guard brought him to me.  That kid stuck like glue to me the rest of the day.

So yeah, I get it.

But 1) If you plan to come into our country, do it LEGALLY. 

2)  Learn our language.  Why should we bend over backward learning yours?  If I move to France, I'd be expected to learn French.  If I refuse to learn the language, no one's gonna hire me or bend over backward to change laws in that country.

3)  By all means, practice your religion.  Don't believe in Christmas?  That's okay.  Believe all Christians should be executed?  Why the hell did you move here in the first place?

I am soooooo sick of the division in this country.  When did it become all right for one group of people to insist EVERYONE conform to their ideals?  If I don't agree that business owners have a right to refuse service to someone, then I'm harassed, sued, and run out of town.  On the other hand, if I don't express that belief, then I'm welcome in polite society.  If everyone agreed with everyone, we'd have a pretty boring society.

Yes, I may come off as ignorant.  I'm not a racist; I'm not homophobic.  Just because I choose not to embrace every ideal out there does not mean slap a label on me.  A lot of it has to do with personality.  If our personalities clash, I have the choice to limit my interactions with you.  It does not mean I'm against everything you stand for.

I also choose not to immerse myself in 24/7 news.  Or 24-7 'fluff TV'.  I'll listen to your opinion; I'll most likely simply let it go in one ear and out the other, unless I actually feel otherwise.

I have friends who are Christian, Conservative, Liberal, GLBT, and polar opposites.  Would I put them in the same room?  Depends on the situation.  I'm a peacemaker, not a pot-stirrer.

As in HS, I cannot be labeled.  My mother was on the faculty, so people thought I was a narc.

I was in band, so people thought I was a 'band fag' or a member of the 'whore corps'.

My BFF was a jock.

My other BFF was an unwed mom.

My prom date was an admitted pot smoker who came from a broken home.

My major was Home Ec.

I worked in the library during my free period.

If I WANTED to do drugs, I knew where to get them.  I chose not to.

So what was my label in HS?  No one knew.

Same today.  I'm married to a racist, but this doesn't mean I am.

My older kids have smoked pot.  I'm not proud of this, but they have learned from their mistakes.  Does this make me a bad mom?  No, it means despite my mothering, they chose to do this.

One of my kids was involved in an interracial relationship.  We tried to be friendly to her, but when she attacked my child and nearly caused him to hit her back, we stepped in and drew the line.

My adopted child is gay.  I will defend her choice to live this way.  I even wrote a 'bi-curious' book several years ago, based on another BFF of mine.

My daughter got pregnant in HS.  I fought for her to finish her education, and am helping her raise my adorable granddaughter.

Don't label me; I'm very tolerant unless someone's opinion is attempted to be shoved down my throat.

Are You KIDDING Me???

Tonight, on the Star Chamber Show, we were joined by someone new in the chat room, and after exchanging pleasantries, this person suddenly turned snobby:

"writing a book is by no means 
a world accomplishment that."

"it perhaps can be self 
soothing...but not an accomplishment that can 
assist the suffering masses."

"the world needs real 
info...enlightening info....sacred info"

This, after expressing seeming disdain for my 22 published works....

"Quality, not quantity is what counts" 

and...

"99.99% of books published are crap"

I tried to stay nice.  I said I'd read a lot of crap, but it was the exception, rather than the norm.  I was commenting on something the host said, that it takes guts to put ourselves out there....

"That's how we learn if we have any talent!"

To which this person replied, "I disagree."

Thankfully, the co-host managed to be tactful in her responses, while I was dearly wanting to type.....

"Are you TRYING to insult us?"

"We also need ENTERTAINMENT!"

"What would YOU consider a 'worldly accomplishment'?"

"What the hell do you call all those self-help books, if not to assist the 'suffering masses', and how do you know a good book to disappear into won't help?"

"Oh, so you're one of those people who only reads non-fiction?"

"I highly doubt the dictionary of the occult/English language is 'enlightening'!"

Then this person commented he'd read Drakula...."though 99% was supposedly true."

WTH?????

I seriously hope that
a) this person was simply bored and decided to see if he could get a rise out of us on Live Radio
b) this person never pops into the show again.

I might not be so nice next time, and actually TYPE the above responses, to see what happens.

"Not The Cos! Say It Ain't So!!!"

A jury found Bill Cosby guilty of sexual misconduct yesterday.

I'll admit, when the accusations first came out, I didn't believe them.  After all, this was a guy who espoused Family Values.  Prime Time on Thursdays belonged to good, wholesome, programming, with The Cosby Show, Different World, Cheers, and Night Court, with Hill Street Blues at 10pm.  I loved his Fat Albert cartoon in the 70s.  Who didn't love his Jello Pudding commercials?  His stand up routine?

This Cosby is different.  He's swearing at the prosecutor.  He's claiming these women are 'f**n' crazy'.  One woman last week even ran topless in protest, the names of his accusers written on her body.

Everyone is blackballing him.  His shows will not be shown anywhere, no one is coming to the man's defense.  Even Keisha Knight-Pulliam refused to talk about him (from what I saw, anyway....maybe it was edited out?) when she was on BB.

A question was posed several weeks ago:  Can you separate the ART from the ARTIST?  Can an artist be a horrible person, yet have his works revered?

I do hope that one day history will remember Cosby for the GOOD things, not just the fact he is now a convicted rapist.

It breaks my heart to see a childhood icon fall from grace.

UPDATE:
9/28/18:  The judge sentenced him to 3-10 years.  He was led away in handcuffs.

The man is legally blind and 81 years old, yet a judge actually believes he's still a threat to women?  Why not just sentence him to house arrest and live out the rest of his life on the sexual predator list?

"He was being held up as an example...."

To quote a good friend....."It's a sad time to be a man these days."