Oh, (Charlie Brownesque) Christmas Tree, Oh, (Charlie Brownesque) Christmas Tree..!

My latest contribution to the Pickens County branch of the Sequoyah Regional Library System's annual "Festival of Trees" made it up in time, 15 minutes before closing on Thanksgiving Eve (as opposed to the usual 3 the two years previous, YAY).. True to itself, it looks again this year like the artificial version of Charlie Brown's tree from the perennial children's holiday classic..

This year's theme for mine was is, "Nothing About Me Without Me", a mantra oft echoed by persons with disabilities (PWDs) with respect to who makes daily Life-affecting choices.. Came out just as I'd hoped.. Will share pics, credits, and the tree's handmade "ornaments" soon..

If you happen to stop in the library, can't miss it.. It's that Charlie Brownesque-looking Christmas tree there on your right as you enter.. Poor little thing, hate to do it to it, but may need to finally replace it with another next year, bless it's rusted wired little Heart.. :grin:

Cyber hugs, especially to the librarians who have been so supportive of my entries each year..

Hit and Run Post :: GOPUSA :: Fred Thompson said *WHAT*..?

"Hit and Run Post" translates into my apologies up front for any accidental whoopsies because of its rushed creation......

In at the library again today because I'm typing up what will be ornaments for my disability self-advocacy entry in this year's "Festival of Trees" (if I finish in time :Oy, goodness, grin: )..

In spite of the ever desperately ticking time clock, OCD dictated that I quickly check in with my email inbox as well.. In doing so, found that the latest GOPUSA Eagle newsletter had arrived.. This week's feature story shared that Fred Thompson believes our nation's national security to be the top issue for Election 2008..

Most respectfully (and all things genuinely considered), I begs to differ..........

Having just paid $3.03 a gallon for gas at the Ellijay Wally World last night (two and a half gallons to make the trip safely back into Pickens County), being able to just afford to put something more than those dadgum ramen noodles on my table at night rules in my house..

Milk, eggs, surely any number of other staples I haven't even looked at because, again, I just plum can't afford them, are over the top, too.. How in the H-e-double-toothpicks do these companies beginning to seriously gouge consumers expect us to continue if we can't afford to fuel our bodies, let alone the vehicles that get us to work, to healthcare providers, to schools, to volunteer activities that perpetuate the Spirit of Giving to others..?

And where, oh, where is my Hero of the Future, the politician who has been here, done that in similar Shoes to know that, without even the very basic sustenances in Life, you might as well be trying to sell me the Hope diamond when you endeavor to get this Mind focused on national security just this very moment..?

Nope. Once again most respectfully, national security will not be Issue One these fingertips will seek out in determining where they will ultimately lay themselves come Election Day, 2008.........

Cyber hugs..

RFID tracking of "Special" Olympics Athletes..

Something that crossed my inbox since the last time I accessed it is a CIO.com article entitled These Jobs Are Totally Cool..

So, ok, up front and at first glance, the one André V. Mendes does seem admirable.. He oversees the use of RFID technology to track participating athletes..

Just one teensy, tiny caveat there.. These fingertips can't help but inquire: Did he ask the athletes if they wished their civil rights and personal privacy to be invaded thusly..? :raises brow:

To read up on RFID tracking of people, try starting with the following I first used then work your keyword choice from there to follow what fits your own opinion of the same.......

Internet search: rfid tracking people..

Cyber hugs..

PS.. Totally cool, LOVE to learn something new every day, albeit the following does come absolutely at the bottom of the following referenced webpage.........

Special Olympics provides a Language Guide for those interested in their program.. Very lastly but surely not leastly at the end of their section titled "Terminology to Avoid", they speak of refraining from the use of the word "special" with implied reference to it creating stereotypes.. Catching up with the spirit of disability self-determination, they do appear to be..

How to get from CSB to 10 Donated Grains of Rice in One Easy Word..

Taking this lead with the proverbial grain of salt.......

A recent Internet search on the keyword phrase "community service board" plucked Knitting Sox Fan's One More Thing in from the depths of the Blogosphere.. The lead came in because she was referencing a website link her school's CSB had shared within, that URL being FreeRice.com..

Now I say I take this lead "with the proverbial grain of salt" because, being undeniably gull-a-bull, can't help but wonder and hope for the genuineness of Free Rice's promise at hand.. Once the first word is guessed and clicked through, though, this site features advertisers the likes of Radisson Hotels and Resorts, Apple's iTunes, and Toshiba undoubtedly in part as a response to Free Rice's admirable slogan expressing that they were created "in support of the United Nations World Food Program"..

Just one little caveat, one tiny little pinch at these fingertips, though.. Maybe someone could suggest a slighter more appealing mantra than Play and Feed a Hungry Person for their banner page.. :irrepressible cringe:

If you're up for a little cognitive challenge, check out Free Rice's FAQ, About, and Totals pages to see for yourself if they are worthy of your valuable Time.. From this (once again borrowed) desktop, looks like nothing to gain but the Smarts and some inescapable Feel Goods for the effort.. :wink:

Cyber hugs..

Cyber hugs to all my Friends out there..

And huge apologies that I have not been able to return messages left for me at certain social networking websites all over the Internet.. Just been without a working computer at the house.. You have no idea how many of you all pass through my thoughts each and every day.. :grin:

The upside to being without a 'puter is that it leaves, yuck, tons of time for housecleaning, ugh, not to mention conspiring to repair a near constantly ailing vehicle of late.. More on the latter later as I have a bunch of public "thank yous" to leave for all those who have been so helpful and, more importantly from these Shoes, kind and respectful throughout all my questions and one-on-ones as I bounce through the list of tow companies, auto repair businesses, and auto parts stores here in Pickens County..

Cyber hugs..

PS If anyone knows where I can get my hands on an inexpensive computer from Year 2000 or better, you'd be my Hero for the Day.. I've run the gamut of community thrift stores with no luck in recent weeks.. 23,000 plus emails in my inbox when I got to the local library earlier.. At least 85% of those emails contain awesome disability advocacy information that never should have stopped at these fingertips........

Cyber hugs X2.. :grin:

In Loving Memory :: George the Wonder Dog..

Still can't type much right now as the pain continues to reel me.. Just miss my little buddy so much..

The paint on this, Life's most recent of experiences, still wet, cannot help but express the following........

While I remain extremely supportive of psychiatric service dogs for those of us with mental illness as a way to mitigate our disabilities, that support now becomes conditionally with a word of warning that the loss of the same for the more vulnerable among us can be as devastating, if not more, than the disability itself.. A buffer contingency plan must be in place against the ever real unexpected loss of one's very mortal PSD..

It's been a very.. very.. long week, indeed.....

Cyber hugs..