Meet my dear friend Avalanche of the Soul. She is one of the strongest Advocates against Sexual/Domestic Abuse. Her heart is made of gold and has helped so many with questions over the years. Please do yourself a favor and spend time reading the wealth of knowledge on her sight. XO Warrior
Domestic violence is a global epidemic impacting more women than war and cancer combined. Yet misinformation and misconceptions are actively fuelling this injustice. If we’re to eradicate domestic violence, we must first end victim-blaming. Here’s why.
We like to imagine that the world has grown more enlightened about domestic violence. It is no longer legal – in many countries, at least – for a man to beat or rape his wife. Some nations, such as the UK, have gone one step further in pushing to make psychological and emotional abuse (coercive control) a criminal offence. We live in a time in which there is unprecedented awareness of domestic violence / abuse and arguably greater social rejection of this devastating crime than ever before.
Yet domestic violence remains a global epidemic, present in every culture and community worldwide:
Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from domestic violence and rape than…
Tell Congress to Support Accountability for Students with Disabilities!
The Senate has introduced a bipartisan bill to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (also known as No Child Left Behind). The bill includes important provisions that support students with disabilities, but does not go far enough to assure accountability for student outcomes.
The final bill must include provisions protecting students from the harmful use of restraint and seclusion in school, provisions that ensure that schools are assessing the academic progress of students with disabilities, including mental health conditions, and measures that hold schools accountable.
Action Needed: Contact your Senators today to thank them for their support for students with disabilities and ask that the final bill include provisions designed to ensure that students with disabilities, including mental health conditions, are given the opportunity to reach their full academic potential and are protected from harm.
It was always having a heart-to-heart with one or maybe two other people at a time, sitting on a bathroom sink or on a stoop. This was how I had shared my story up until 2013, when I took a deep breath and, for the first time, recounted my sexual assault—and everything that followed—publicly at a Joyful Heart event.
My name is Sukey Novogratz, and I write to you today not only as a proud board member and supporter of the Joyful Heart Foundation, but as a survivor with a call to action.
When I was 17, the summer after my senior year in high school, I was doing a summer theater program at a prestigious, picturesque Ivy league school. It was unfamiliar terrain for me.
On the night of my rape, I had gone out with some new friends from my res hall. We were playing drinking games, and I chugged a glass of OJ and vodka. It wasn’t long before everything started melting away from me. I learned later that’s what Rohypnol, the date rape drug, does to you.
Over the next eternity of hours, I flew in and out of consciousness as three young men raped me over and over that night, leaving me naked, drugged, bruised and left for dead in the boathouse by the river.
It’s not just what happened that night that sticks with me. It’s everything that happened afterwards: the campus police who had neither the power nor the intention of bringing charges. The judiciary committee, who said things like, you’re Puerto Rican, correct? We hear you’re a sexy dancer. What makes you think you were raped? The three boys who assaulted me who walked into my hearing while I gave my testimony, prompting me to pass out cold.
Many things have changed for the better since my assault. But all too often, I hear about survivors whose stories are frighteningly close to my own. Rapists who, time and time again, just get away with it. And those victimized, like me, are told to change residence halls, change schools or simply let it go.
It is for these reasons I am part of the team behind The Hunting Ground, a new documentary that takes a deep and much-needed look at rape on college campuses. I signed on as an Executive Producer of the film because I believe in its power to bring change. And yes, there is great potential—and a great need—for change.
That’s where you come in. There are four things I’m asking you to do. Do one, do them all.
See the film. The Hunting Ground is playing in theaters across the country. Find one near you.
Host a screening. By bringing the film to your campus, community or organization, you can ignite a vital conversation about this issue. You can organize one or attend one of many that are already happening. Get started.
Take the pledge. As students, alumni, parents and teachers, we must all commit to holding our institutions accountable. Add your support.
Donate to Joyful Heart. I know I am not alone when I say that Joyful Heart helped me find something in myself I didn’t know was still there: a certain joy, a fearlessness. I am honored to support Joyful Heart’s transformative work today, and I urge you to join me. Get started with a $25 donation.
To me, change looks like an end to our society’s victim-blaming attitudes—the ones that expose themselves in the likes of those questions that I heard. It looks like holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. It looks like supporting one another and all survivors with compassion, care and a resolve to do better.
This week the songs are completely different, not even throw backs. I leave Sunday for appointment in DC with new Lyme Doctor on Tuesday morning. Being without a doctor for months now was brining me down. Meeting one of the top Lyme experts, makes me happy.
The second song may surprise you, it did me.Kid Rock has a crazy persona/life yet I believe he is a good man. I respect any entertainer who goes to show our soldiers some fun and love from home. Seeing soldiers huge smiles, taking their mind off reality for a short time makes me warm inside. I had not heard this amazing song before.
This post is to say thank you and hugs to so many who’ve touched my life. I could not begin to tell you how your support has filled the hole in my heart. XO Warrior
The first time I heard Jackson Browne sing, he was speaking to my heart. He’s words like poetry of situations in life I understood. In each song a line or two I couldn’t get out of head. I hope you enjoy this week’s picks. For me Jackson Browne is best enjoyed with lights out, candles lit around the room, a good Merlot to enjoy or share and a slightly introspective mood. XO Warrior
“But I don’t believe that life is supposed to make you feel good,or to make you feel miserable either. Life is just supposed to make you feel.” Gloria Naylor
I wish you a Passover Celebration shared with family and friends. Prayers for Jewish ancestors who found the strength to help their neighbor reach the Holy Land.
(March 19, 2015) — “Testing rape kits should be an absolute priority for the United States,” declared Vice President Joe Biden after touring a Maryland State Police crime lab responsible for analyzing evidence for crimes of sexual assault.
Biden was in Baltimore to draw attention to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), which will award up to $24 million to local law enforcement agencies working to test rape kits and investigate open cases.
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal also includes $20 million for backlog-related research at the Justice Department, and $105 million for reducing the DN A backlog and related purposes. Rebecca O’Connor, RAINN vice president for public policy, and Smith have been lobbying Congress to communicate the importance of not cutting funding. “At a time when the national spotlight is trained on the rape kit backlog and efforts to move more rape kits from law enforcement evidence rooms to public crime labs for testing, it’s imperative that Congress provide at least level funding for this critical program.”
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who joined Biden, urged the public to remember that “behind every kit, there’s a victim, and behind every victim there’s a predator. When you get a predator off the street, you not only do justice to the victim, but [prevent “future crimes].” Mikulski is the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Rape survivors Debbie Smith, after whom the primary federal DNA law is named, and Helena Lazaro joined the political leaders at the press conference.
Biden, a lead sponsor of the Debbie Smith Act, noted that he can still remember the day Smith told her story to a Senate committee in 2004, spurring Congress to act to reduce the testing backlog.
The vice president noted that SAKI is intended to complement the Debbie Smith Act and the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Report (SAFER) Act, passed by Congress as part of the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
SAFER, which requires that at least 75% of DNA funds go towards reducing the backlog and will help law enforcement agencies audit their unsubmitted rape kits, is awaiting implementation by the Justice Department.
Also pending are details of a national grant initiative announced by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., last year. The DA pledged $35 million in funding to help jurisdictions working to address backlogged kits.
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal also includes $20 million for backlog-related research at the Justice Department, and $105 million for reducing the DN A backlog and related purposes. Rebecca O’Connor, RAINN vice president for public policy, and Smith have been lobbying Congress to communicate the importance of not cutting funding. “At a time when the national spotlight is trained on the rape kit backlog and efforts to move more rape kits from law enforcement evidence rooms to public crime labs for testing, it’s imperative that Congress provide at least level funding for this critical program.”
We are a group of mothers, fathers, students, and concerned citizens in Oklahoma. We urgently need your help to make sure that a crucial bill to help stop the rape and victimization of young girls in our state is heard in the Oklahoma State House. HB 1362 is a vital bill that will make sure that victims have support, that school officials are trained to handle these situations, and that our students are effectively taught about consent and proper boundaries. It is essential that this bill is passed, not just for the safety of Oklahoma’s students, but also as a signal to the rest of the country that this type of legislation is needed to protect all of our young people.
House Bill 1362 successfully made it out of the Common Education Committee on Tuesday, February 24th — but now the real fight begins. The next step is a vote on the house floor, and if the bill is voted down it will be two more years before this essential legislation can be reintroduced.
Last fall, we organized the group Yes All Daughters after three teenage girls in our hometown of Norman, OK were raped by the same classmate and then bullied out of school after they reported their assaults.We organized a peaceful protest and the school district responded by creating a task force to address issues related to victimization and bullying. The perpetrator was arrested following our protest and is currently awaiting trial on First Degree Rape charges.
HB 1362 was introduced as a direct result of the assaults on these three girls, and our work to bring their stories to light. But the work is not done. There is no guarantee that the Oklahoma State House will pass this legislation, even though the rape and sexual assault of minors is still an enormous problem in Oklahoma.
Last week, in the town just over from Norman, four more students (all aged 18 and 19) were arrested for the alleged gang rape of a girl under the age of 16. We cannot continue to let this problem go unchecked in our state.
Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, yet this bill was not on the agenda until our last-ditch effort compelled legislators to read it in committee. We must demand that House Bill 1362 become a priority among the Oklahoma State Legislators.
Sign the petition. Stand with us against sexual violence. No more silence. No more shame.
Vote for stronger punishment against Domestic Violence in South Carolina
My name is Melissa Davis Walker, I am a survivor of domestic violence and I am tired of living in a state with the highest rate of domestic violence in the country. We need laws that protect victims from the people that abuse them. Currently, the laws are failing victims and they make little sense. First time offenses hold a 30 day sentence. But if you beat a dog, you could get up to 5 years. Tell Governor Nikki Haley and the South Carolina legislature that victims deserve stronger laws that protect them from the threat of domestic violence, pass Bill S3.
For 13 years, my five children and I lived in fear. My husband threatened, beat and choked me for the duration of our marriage, and I felt like the law couldn’t protect me. It was only when my son bravely confided in a school official after my husband pointed a loaded shotgun at his head, that we finally got the legal support we needed to put him behind bars. If he had only been charged for attacking me, he would be walking free today, and I might not be here to tell my story.
South Carolina is ground zero in the domestic violence fight. The toll of domestic violence is especially high on women. The state has the highest rate of female murders at the hands of men in the country, most attributed to domestic violence. Last year South Carolina’s murder rate for women was more than double that of the nation. Despite all this, there are few resources for victims of domestic violence and lax laws to punish their abusers.
The state is considering a bill that will require harsher punishments for offenders in the hopes of stemming the cycle of abuse. Bill S3 will allow the government to base punishment not on the number of times a person has committed the crime, but on the severity of the injury caused to the victim. No longer would a first time offense put you behind bars for a mere 30 days with a chance at release after serving just 15.
We must make sure this becomes law. Our laws reflect our values, and currently, our values are not adequately represented in our legal system. This doesn’t just reflect poorly on the state of South Carolina, but nationally, as domestic violence is a serious issue all throughout the United States. Victims’ lives must be protected and this law is a step towards that. Tell Gov. Nikki Haley and the South Carolina Legislature that women matter, pass Bill S3.
LETTER TO
South Carolina State Senate
Take action to save victims of domestic violence.
Change.org Petition Petitioning Andrew Eulass, Michelle Gallo, Dr. Paul Gordon Don’t allow our daughter to be segregated because of her Down Syndrome
The first thing you might notice about our daughter Hiba is that she has Down syndrome. But to those who know her, Hiba is a beautiful, intelligent, and compassionate 9-year-old. She loves math and her favorite show is “Doc McStuffins.” If you ask Hiba what she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you “a doctor.” This is not surprising considering how much she loves helping people. As her parents, we see a child with all the potential of any other child. Unfortunately, her school system has kept Hiba segregated from other students and it has taken its toll on her education and spirit. All they seem to see is a child with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome does not define our daughter. We are asking Glen Ellyn School District 41 to allow Hiba her legal right to be fully integrated and allowed to learn alongside “typical” students at Churchill Elementary.
For the past 5 years, Hiba’s education has been spent in isolated, 1-on-1 settings. It has been painful to watch Hiba not be responsive to this education approach. She has become depressed, withdrawn, and as a result, hasn’t performed well in her studies. Hiba knows she is being treated differently and separated from the “normal” kids.
Districts across the US have diversified the classroom to include both children with disabilities and those considered “typical” for the past few decades. Education research and organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society endorse full inclusion in education settings. This approach would allow Hiba to be fully integrated into the general education classroom with her “typical” peers the entire school day. She would be learning the same things, but with a modified lesson plan, technology support, and 1:1 aide in the classroom. This plan would be developed by a well-known inclusion specialist. We know this is the best approach for Hiba.
Educational inclusion won’t just benefit Hiba. When children with disabilities are educated alongside their “typical” peers, research shows academic and social benefits for everyone. True acceptance of diversity begins in the school environment. It is then carried out in the home, workplace, and community.
Glen Ellyn School District 41 insists this is not the best approach for Hiba. They point to how she has behaved and performed in the isolated classroom. School officials can’t see these are symptoms of being segregated and exactly why Hiba belongs in a classroom with her “typical” peers. This is why we started the petition. We need you to help Hiba get in a classroom setting where she will thrive. Your voice can make all the difference.
Our dream is for Hiba to be afforded all the same opportunities as everyone else so she can achieve her full potential and be a kind, active member of society. Please sign and share our petition calling on Glen Ellyn School District 41 to allow Hiba to be fully included and allowed to learn alongside “typical” students at Churchill Elementary.
Change.org Petition Petitioning Andrew Eulass, Michelle Gallo, Dr. Paul Gordon Don’t allow our daughter to be segregated because of her Down Syndrome
The first thing you might notice about our daughter Hiba is that she has Down syndrome. But to those who know her, Hiba is a beautiful, intelligent, and compassionate 9-year-old. She loves math and her favorite show is “Doc McStuffins.” If you ask Hiba what she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you “a doctor.” This is not surprising considering how much she loves helping people. As her parents, we see a child with all the potential of any other child. Unfortunately, her school system has kept Hiba segregated from other students and it has taken its toll on her education and spirit. All they seem to see is a child with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome does not define our daughter. We are asking Glen Ellyn School District 41 to allow Hiba her legal right to be fully integrated and allowed to learn alongside “typical” students at Churchill Elementary.
For the past 5 years, Hiba’s education has been spent in isolated, 1-on-1 settings. It has been painful to watch Hiba not be responsive to this education approach. She has become depressed, withdrawn, and as a result, hasn’t performed well in her studies. Hiba knows she is being treated differently and separated from the “normal” kids.
Districts across the US have diversified the classroom to include both children with disabilities and those considered “typical” for the past few decades. Education research and organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society endorse full inclusion in education settings. This approach would allow Hiba to be fully integrated into the general education classroom with her “typical” peers the entire school day. She would be learning the same things, but with a modified lesson plan, technology support, and 1:1 aide in the classroom. This plan would be developed by a well-known inclusion specialist. We know this is the best approach for Hiba.
Educational inclusion won’t just benefit Hiba. When children with disabilities are educated alongside their “typical” peers, research shows academic and social benefits for everyone. True acceptance of diversity begins in the school environment. It is then carried out in the home, workplace, and community.
Glen Ellyn School District 41 insists this is not the best approach for Hiba. They point to how she has behaved and performed in the isolated classroom. School officials can’t see these are symptoms of being segregated and exactly why Hiba belongs in a classroom with her “typical” peers. This is why we started the petition. We need you to help Hiba get in a classroom setting where she will thrive. Your voice can make all the difference.
Our dream is for Hiba to be afforded all the same opportunities as everyone else so she can achieve her full potential and be a kind, active member of society. Please sign and share our petition calling on Glen Ellyn School District 41 to allow Hiba to be fully included and allowed to learn alongside “typical” students at Churchill Elementary.
Please read the update on the Chibok, Nigerian girls. We are reaching the year mark of the 275 school girls being kidnapped by terrorist group BoKo Haram. Look in your heart to see how you can help. Thank you.
PETITION UPDATE
Our Chibok Girls – One Year Later
Ify Elueze
Bonn, Germany
Mar 31, 2015 — On Tuesday, April 14, it’ll be one year since our Chibok Girls were abducted. Lend your voice so we can connect supporters of our Chibok Girls in different communities around the world for coördinated action.
This is obviously a critical time in our advocacy to amplify our voices and remind the world that they are yet to be rescued. Our Chibok Girls have received support from ALL over the world and we need to harness all the support to build a powerful VOICE for them.
Our girls NEED us to keep the pressure on. If you would like to participate in an event, host an event in your city, or would like to be connected with others, please fill in the form on the official BBOG Nigeria website – http://www.bbogfamily.ng
Thank you.
The BBOG Family On Tuesday, April 14, 2015, it’ll be one year since our Chibok Girls were abducted. Lend your voice so we can… HTTP://WWW.BBOGFAMILY.NG
I hope you enjoy the tunes this week, both are favorites of mine. Kick back in comfy chair, something smooth to drink and enjoy the memories. Queen was a favorite of mine, Freddie with his theatrics. Bad Company still in top 5 all time bands, Paul Rogers voice fits perfectly with the band. I respect him for having the courage to follow Freddie. There is only one Freddie Mercury and only one Paul Rogers. I am thankful to hear and watch both. XO Warrior
I was emotionally in shock after reading the post. I have been raped more than once. The post breaks down many scenario’s. It can help parents talk to children of both sexes. The information helps you find out your States law on Rape. Do yourself a favor by reading and when appropriate sharing with your kids. XO Warrior
Unfortunately, sexual violence can come in many forms. In order to better understand the wide range of personal violence’s that can occur, we have included definitions of different types of rape and sexual violence, as well as other kinds of violence that often arise hand-in-hand with sexual violence.
How can you figure out if what happened was rape? There are a few questions to consider.
For purposes of this page, we use the term “rape” to mean all crimes of sexual violence, not just those crimes that would qualify as “rape” under the FBI definition or under state laws.
The exact definition of “rape,” “sexual assault,” “sexual abuse” and similar terms differs by state. The wording can get confusing, since states often use different words to mean the same thing or use the same words to describe different things. To see how your state legally defines these…
You are the best twin sister I’ve never met. We have lots of good times in our future knocking out our Bucket List.
I’m so happy you’ve met a man who knows how to treat a women. Take your time, fall in like first. if you see a future and have done all the homework possible, allow yourself to see where it goes.You deserve a man to hold you at end of day. When you find the right man, the kids will let you know. You need a strong man who can love your children as his. A gentleman to teach the boys how to act towards their mother and all women. Most importantly show them love by doing things together, boys seem to learn better when they don’t know their learning.
I thought the first video was hilarious. The Bryan Adams song is an old favorite of mine. I hear the words of deep love, forever love. I hear them whispered in my ear.
Just a loving word of advice in your new relationship. You are not in charge of everything, don’t make all decisions and remember staying up late to surf is not worth missing snuggle time.. XO Warrior
Four months ago I wrote the last Lyme Journal Entry. I thought my strength would allow me to blog through the illness. Then the 5-6 month point turned my life upside down and it’s been hell. I fired my Lyme doctor and not taking meds at this time. I know many are wondering why the hair photo? I was losing hair by the handful and showering was nearly impossible with longer hair. When you can’t stand, lift your arms or sit down without falling, showering is a problem. I planned a nice Army shave but David would not help. I grabbed the scissors and cut eight inches off. Feels great, looks like crap. Who cares?
I’m sure people have noticed my positive attitude is quickly sliding. The mounting problems are not all Lyme-related. My cat Truffles is dying, lack of communication from my doctor, getting so sick, and walking some days is extremely painful. Our bed was too hard so I moved to a couch months ago. I live on the couch now. Not bad for sleeping except all the animals want to go out, poke me in the back, and the cat wants to attack me. Even attempting to get enough sleep is impossible. With Chronic Lyme Disease sleep is your best friend and a key to survival.
Let me share some Lyme politics for newbies.
Most of the expert Lyme Literate Doctors, are not practicing. Several years ago doctors were watching people die using CDC standards, which state patients can only receive 2-4 weeks of antibiotics at most. The Lyme doctors who understood how the viruses worked knew 4 weeks was a joke. The doctors worked together helping each out calling in antibiotics for the other patients. I have Chronic Lyme, and it can take 1-3 years to get well. Medication is one of the many ways to heal. Getting enough sleep is number one after the meds., take supplements, gluten-free diet and eat foods to help your body heal. No Coffee and drink only electrolyte water.
There was a huge division among Lyme doctors when the CDC allowed several doctors to patent the virus. Makes no sense to me. For years patients were clueless of the division. Both sides fought hard with the CDC to prove their data, from the videos on YouTube it looks like the battle was lost before the presentations started. The expert Lyme Literate doctors were quite vocal and a witch hunt is what followed the meeting. Doctors appeared before the Medical Board and were not able to practice, some for up to a year. Several doctors lost their clinic and everything they owned trying to keep their patients alive. It is a complete mess the CDC let happen, needless to say, I’m pissed. Just a little more background info to burn into your brain.
Many Chronic Lyme patients become so sick they are not able to work. The first reality is you no longer have insurance and can not afford new insurance if you could buy. I’ve watched video after video on YouTube of people with good-paying jobs, racking up several thousand dollars in doctor bills and many having to file bankruptcy, losing everything. One video told of a couple who owed their parents $500,000. Lyme affects everyone in your family, friends, your health, and financial security.
It’s going on Spring in some parts but summer will be here quickly. I don’t want any of you or your family members to struggle with a virus that looks like a worm. The viruses travel through the blood until they can find a way to your major organs. Lyme likes to get cozy in the liver, kidney, heart, and brain. I have three tick-borne illnesses and Epstein Bar Virus. I have cognitive issues, my eyes constantly see things moving by my peripheral vision and balance are fleeting. I was in the bathroom two days ago about to reach for the medicine cabinet. I slammed into a wall hurting my writs and several fingers. If that wasn’t enough I slid down the wall falling on the toilet and hurt my leg. The doctors don’t know how much of your ability will come back if any. You have to keep fighting.
Why I fired my doctor. My husband and I formed an impression at the first appointment, not so good. I was desperate to start treatment and had no other options.
* I start a couple of drugs until the Lab work is back. At the follow-up appointment, the first words out of his mouth are you are in a great deal of pain. REALLY? His communication and organization skills are lacking. No pain meds were prescribed. He has to call someone in to bring him something several times during the appointment.
*I’m loaded down with over 50 pills to take a day plus 15-20 supplements and sleep all I can. The equation doesn’t work. I have gastro issues and the high-powered antibiotics made me nauseous all the time. I asked to have a PICC line in my arm to give my stomach a break. He did not plan to use a PICC line? Almost every patient gets a PICC line so they can fill you full of drugs and bypass your stomach. My wheels are turning. He had lab work for me to do, but I didn’t do it. He never asked about the Labs. He said my Lead levels were three times higher than normal, in the dangerous range. No follow-up test was ordered, it was like “So you know”. I’m scared, my brain is on overload, the test said current and ongoing exposure. I spent about two weeks looking for an answer. I looked at the top of the report one day, it wasn’t my report. Admin acted like no big deal. HIPPA laws are not new.
With the list of experts I start going down the list, ONE of the leading Lyme Literate Doctors still practices. The doctors called before the Medical Board and CDC. Now are full-time advocates/researchers. I phoned his office in DC and they are taking patients. When you have cognitive issues filling out 50 pages is crazy. I stayed up last night to get everything I could without waking my household. With God’s help, I will finish the paperwork tomorrow and get an appointment in the next month.
ILADS is the professional organization Lyme Literate doctors belong to. I saw the tab on site for ILADS Protocol on Lyme. I jumped for joy. Let’s hit them with our best shot. We have boxing gloves on and the truth will come out. The document was extensive for the different stages of Lyme or other tick-borne illnesses. I felt so happy that others may not have to suffer shortly. The document was well-researched by leading scientists, leading hospitals, and large populations of people. I cheered when I read research that outlined how the current system is incorrect, and they went all out. On the issues of insurance, extensive research with real patients exposed what the CDC is keeping from the public. If you want to learn more about Lyme, YouTube has so many videos, you might not have to go anywhere else. If you like the medical jargon go to the ILADS site.
A shout out to others who suffer from Lyme or tick-borne illness. I think of you, pray for you, and send good karma your way.
The Bridge School is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that individuals with severe speech and physical impairments achieve full participation in their communities through the use of augmentatation & alternative means of communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) applications and through the development, implementation and dissemination of innovative life-long educational strategies. The Bridge School is an internationally recognized leader in the education of children who use augmentation and alternative communication and has developed unique programs and trained highly skilled professionals in the use of state of the art assistive technology. Please look at the great work the school does and how you can help. http://www.bridgeschool.org
I had many adventures in my head and wrote my first Bucket List in 2015, it was invigorating to have it in writing yet I was struggling with Chronic Lyme and IV Therapy, my joy didn’t last until I went into remission years later.
A sincere thank you and a big hug for all the well wishes. I love hearing from you, you bring a smile on days when there are none. It will take a while but “I’ll Be Back”. XO Warrior
BUCKET LIST STARTED 2015
Tango Lessons
Visit Germany where my family lived before coming to America
Dive again, in 1999 I had panic attack and have not tackled fear
Enjoy Argentinian Wine Country
Be a RAINN Advocate Speaker for Child Abuse and Rape
Volunteer for RAINN to offer support to women while going thru Rape Kit process
Provide pastoral support as Ordained Minister with a focus on dying children and the elderly.
Swim with Manatees, Dolphins, and Sharks, Sharks only while in a cage.
Ride a Camel and Elephant in a native environment, treated ethically.
See every inch of Australia. Australia is several countries in one.
Hot air balloon ride through the French countryside.
Visit countries safe for American women traveling alone. To build confidence, I like to travel alone to foreign destinations. Germany, Istanbul, India, Dubai, and Alaska, that’s a good start.
Learn to rescue animals who coexist in our neighborhoods, like ducks, rabbits, owls, bobcats, and coyotes.
See fine Turkish rugs being made
See Silver Back Gorillas in Uganda
My organs save a life
I think seeing photos of past adventures will jack up my motivation.
Church of the Spilled Blood St. Petersburg, Russia
It’s 5:02am, I’m jamming picking Thursday tunes. I have so much fun deciding what to play each week. I hope you enjoy as much. I cover the years this week. Set back, adjust headphones, volume up and flash back to the memories. XO Warrior
A couple music favorites from my wild child days. By 12 years old I already lived a lifetime, the drugs probably kept me alive. Read my About Me page and you may agree. I would break a kilo of marijuana down to four finger bags in a couple of hours. Using old fashion sandwich bags, just roll and lick to seal. My 21-year-old boyfriend was a dealer and we would sell kilo in two nights. This became our Friday ritual every two weeks. There is a long story behind how a drug addicted 12-year-old missed out playing with Barbie’s. I had Angels guiding my path. XO Warrior
A couple music favorites from my wild child days. By 12 years old I already lived a lifetime, the drugs probably kept me alive. Read my About Me page and you may agree. I would break a kilo of marijuana down to four finger bags in a couple of hours. Using old fashion sandwich bags, just roll and lick to seal. My 21-year-old boyfriend was a dealer and we would sell kilo in two nights. This became our Friday ritual every two weeks. There is a long story behind how a drug addicted 12-year-old missed out playing with Barbie’s. I had Angels guiding my path. XO Warrior
Looking for the Light 