FREE CREDIT REPORT W/OUT USING A CREDIT CARD! EUREKA

Guess What! It is me again blogging. How long has it been? I don't think I can even count the days! For those that keep up with my blog, let me just say, MY LIFE HAS CHANGED so much in the last 6 months, and my future is now heading in many different ways. Long story, and will try to get around to blogging about it as soon as possible.

For those that are new to my blog, this is important information to read, as it has to do with credit and getting your credit online that is really free. Funny how I found this out reading where I took on a free 15 day membership with one that charges you after 15 days. I read their TOS and within their TOS, discovered I could get all three reports free. (By the way, I was just about to pay $24.00 with this particular credit report place when I found out, by agreeing to their TERMS of SERVICE. And low and behold, I assume by law, they gave a link where I can get this all free. LOL It does pay to read any and all of TOS within websites, as you can find out all kinds of good stuff without being ripped off, so to speak.)

I am sure that most all have seen the commercial where the young guy is always singing about his credit and how his life became screwed up by not checking his credit first. Singing songs about not being able to buy a car or marrying a girl before he checked what her credit was like, to give a few examples. He is SO CUTE, and I really liked the commercials.

As it has turned out, recently, I needed a credit report. So, off I trot my fingers to FreeCreditReport.com. Turns out, I was a ghost while trying to get my credit report, as I have not placed anything on my credit since 1996. 1996 was 12 years ago, and when they tried to identify me, I could not remember stuff. This was a headache, and ended up having to fax them tons of stuff to prove I was really me. I got a little irritated and ventured over to other free credit places (well, free for 15 days.) I was a ghost there also.

At these free credit reports for a certain amount of days, before you can get your credit report (and it usually only gives you only one out of three) you always have to give your credit card number to continue. I always make a date of when I do this, as I really do have intentions of canceling whatever I am doing, especially if I am just looking for something simple and not really interested in all their "Premium Memberships" that cost each month that I know I will never use.

OK, I see that I am running off at the mouth again I see, so I will get to the meat of this blog.

Here is a link where you can get your credit report for free once a year. You can access this link once a year for most states, and you are given 30 days to view or do whatever you need to do on the site. They DO NOT ask for a credit card to do so. (But be very careful, as there are links within this site where you might think they are part of viewing your credit and you would have to pay.) This site also allows you to do what the other paid sites let you do, such as disputing your credit, or changing things that are not correct on your credit file.

And the winner is************* Annual Credit Report Make sure you check out their toolbar at the top. Especially the FAQS. It is really informative and important.

I could just KICK myself in the BUTT for not finding them first. If you google Free Credit Report, they do come up pretty fast, but others come up before them, and they all say they are free until you get to the fine print of what all their memberships offer within your so many days time frame. Once you get to Annual Credit Report one is almost of the opinion that it is just another one like it or attached to it, as like I said before, some of the advertisements on the site can be misleading and take you to a paid membership site on credit reports.

In ending, I HIGHLY encourage anyone to check their credit, especially if it is really free. Main reason I say this as I have very little credit, but even in all three of my reports, I found out that several things were wrong within my credit report and therefore, disputed them. I also found out that checking my own credit did not count in ratio of having several places (credit cards, car loans, housing, medical, etc.) of messing up my credit score. (If your credit is checked a lot by places you are trying to get credit, then it can lower your credit score.) If something is wrong with your credit, then FIX it. Especially now with the economy in such a slump. On my credit report they had the residence I lived in back in 1999 as my last place of residence. OMG! LOL.
What made it really funny was they had all my other addresses listed as well, even the right dates, but still listed my 1999 address as my current address. (Well, I faxed them all the proof and information they needed. I guess they will now have a lot of new paperwork to do concerning me.)

Hope many read this blog and I hope this helps. See, many of the good things in life are free. Just gotta find them. Which is why I choose the word EUREKA as I am so happy I found this information.

Katie

HURRICANE MEMORIES~LOADED THOUGHTS! GUSTAV?

KATRINA MEMORIES~LOADED THOUGHTS!

The title above is of a blog I wrote back in June, 2006. No reason to really click the link as I have done a complete copy and paste of it. Once you finish reading the blog, is the update of how this once again may happen. Another hot August day, but years later. Also, I will give links to update on this from what I have found, and the resembles of Katrina.

While I was working on my own personal goals tonight, my husband appeared with a magazine in hand in a demanding voice of “you love to blog, you must read this, as trust me, you will find time to blog on this.” I looked in his eyes, and he stood there with the pages open for me to read, and stood over my shoulder while I read the article. I should have know if was an article by National Geographic, as he reads them all. From the antique volumes to the new ones pressed in dates of 2006. And he reads them from front to back!

With him over looking me, I started to read the article. It started off describing a broiling hot summer day on a August afternoon, and forecasters warned of storms approaching that would hit the city of New Orleans. How it was forecasted and the devastation would unfolded. How the storm turned into a hurricane and the loss of life was involved. How the storm gathered speed and why people evacuated to higher ground. The story entailed how thousands remained in place, giving examples of the homeless, the car less, the aged and infirmed, as well as the die-hards that refused to go.

The article talked about how the devastation continued. How it hit certain areas in close relationship description of a nuclear warhead, pushing a deadly splurge into Lake Pontchartrain. How the waters of the lake broke away under the strength of the storm, flooding the city with unexpected waters. How it enveloped the city and destroyed the houses, and took away the bars and strip joints on Bourbon Street, and how it reached the entire city going over 25 feet while people rushed and climbed on roof tops to escape the fury.

The article went on to read about thousands drowning in the murky waters, and pointed out those that did now drown would die do to contamination of sewage and industrial waste, and how thousands of others would perish from the flood in regards to dehydration and disease while they waited to be rescued. How millions would be homeless, and thousands were dead and dying. How this was the worst disaster in the history of the United States.

He was expecting a reaction out of me, as he knew I had been watching CNN all day today on the Katrina disaster memories, and he is used to my tears that fall, but his point was strong as he knows me well and my emotions. He expected me to look into his face on the next line I read of “When did this calamity happen? It hasn’t-yet!” My first thought was, “Oh God, the possibility can happen again”

My husband took the book from my hand, and flipped it over for me to read the date. The date on the National Geographic magazine is October 2004. My insides and my body shook. We had already discussed this and knew this was reported on, but seeing this in such description in reality stunned me.

The article goes on to read that the doomsday is not far-fetched. That the Federal Emergency Management Agency list a hurricane to strike New Orleans as a dire threat to our nation. It even goes so far to say that Red Cross has a problem with hurricane shelters with claims the risk to workers is too great.

The article is devastating to read, as it brought back so many memories that touched the entire USA. And like with Tsunami, it reaches much further.

Jim, my husband deals with things different than me. While I cry and mourn on these things, his heart is heavy as he cannot stand the fact that people in power did not know this was going to happen and then it did happen, or if they knew the possibility of it, they refused to believe it, or own up to the fact so therefore passed the buck to stay clear of any blame.

Article is provided on the warning and prediction of trauma that did hit our USA and devestated so many lives less than a year ago, and their lives still continue to be stiffled, and hurt! GONE WITH THE WATER~NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 2004

While the article of 2004 says so much that stands true in reality today, it breaks my heart to just go on. There was a statement in the article of why people will be broken forever, our wallets also suffer the problem as tax payers. And this could have also be avoided. When this happened, my last thought was a tax problem and my dollar spent as a tax payer, but what the author wrote gives me reason to think on this without guilt. When such a disaster happens to us, as a nation, as a caring respondent, our first thoughts are for the people that suffered. Our other thoughts come later. Reading the article will let you decide with your own feelings!

Katie

Date now is August 30th, 2008! Below!

Now here we are once again almost of what could be devastating news, and will hit in the early days of Sept. yet the same day as the Anniversary of Katrina, when the news of Katrina hitting New Orleans August 29, 2005.

I so hope this is not a repeat of Katrina and the devastation we saw back in Aug. 2005, but it could be. Many residents of Katrina have not even finished building the homes that they wanted to return to. The levy's are not even ready or strong enough as this takes so much time and money to finish and prepare for such another disaster. Streets and highways are already jammed and buses are already being loaded. At least the people are taking much more energy to realize the importance of such a disaster that can strike. There are tons of links of what is possible and what can happen. Many forecasters are even predicting that the storm surge can be higher than what Katrina brought. It really matters not if we are prepared for this or not, as it could very well be a reality of the repeat of Katrina with Gustav and with Hannah right behind it.

The news is pretty much updating every few minutes now of the possibilities of what can happen or expectations. Please see the links below. And once again, my thoughts and prayers are with all that might suffer from this, and as a nation as well should it come to this. Hugs to all, Katie

PREPARING FOR GUSTAV

GUSTOV NOW MAJOR HURRICANE AND PICKING UP STEAM!


GUSTAV TRACKING, Information, Wind, Surges, Forecasts, related issues(I consider this to be an excellent link as it gives so much valuable information)

Google research of "Gustav" will bring many more excellent links!

Recognizing Other Bloggers

Even while my life is busy, I have yearned to blog as a release from the complications of life, and decided to do some blog exchanges. The blog exchanges I do, I must feel they are worthy to blog about before wasting my time. Especially if the bloggers have something valuable to offer not just me, but readers as a whole. Trust me, I have turned down blog exchanges already.

Today, I was offered to do a blog exchange on Filipino Life Abroad. I was really impressed with this blog as it is pretty much close to the way I write when it comes to everyday life, my feelings of what is going on with me personally, plus this blogger also writes on things that could be informative to other readers. While the name of the blog is Filipino Life Abroad, her blog does not just cover subjects on life abroad, but also several interesting subjects or educating information. There is a touch of sweetness and soul searching also in some of her blogs, which I found very interesting. I am really glad I had the opportunity to give this blogger some exposure to my dedicated readers. Her writing style is really excellent, and it is evident that she puts a great deal of time and thought into her blogs.

I was also impressed with the widgets and other blog options such as interesting polls and a really neat video bar. It really dresses up her blog by placing these options here.

If you get the chance, visit her blog for some interesting blogs and information on other subjects. My Thoughts and Considerations is that Filipino Life Abroad has a great blog, and I will be back to visit her blog often!

Katie

LUCID DREAMS and Questions

I am trying to get back to blogging. I feel kind of out of touch with blogging, yet working on it and touching base with things I have written on before, regardless of how long ago it was. Which pretty much brings me to the blog of dreams, due to the fact that I have had lot of dreams lately, plus the subject of dreams have always interested me. I wrote a blog about dreaming and what it all means over a year ago called What Are Our Dreams Trying To Tell Us?, and a reader commented that I might be a lucid dreamer. My first reaction was "NO, that is not so", yet, I was ignorant to the fact of what a lucid dream meant, and thought it meant that I peed in my bed! OK, I am not the smartest tool in the tool shed at times, but I do pay great attention to educate myself to understand and research more on the subjects I write about, and with lucid dreams, I think I have accomplished some what of this.

Readers may ask the question, what is lucid dreams? This question was also one I wanted to know as well, and basically, the answer is being aware of what you are dreaming while in a deep sleep. The quality of lucid dreams can vary with individuals in many degrees, which in times can be exciting or frightening, depending on how you look or deal with your dream. At high levels of your dreams, if you are a lucid dreamer, you are pretty much aware of everything experienced in your dreams as if in real life so to speak, and the ability of handle it. If the dream scares you, you are capable to wake yourself up in efforts of not facing the trauma that it might have brought you otherwise from a sweaty and scary sudden wake up dream, realizing the reality that you are not in any real immediate danger, and safely tucked in the comfort of your own bed. For example, say you have a constant dream of going down a long hill of a road where it meets at a five points area with no stop signs available, and on the way down the hill, you see multiple car accidents, and all the gore, before getting to the bottom of the hill. With a lucid dream, you would be able to wake yourself before getting to the bottom of the hill, or if you wanted to, you could avoid the trauma of the bad dream and wake yourself up. Or you could take the responsibility within your dream to meet what your fears are at the bottom of the nightmare hill, proceeding through your fears as you go, and braving your way through the five points and onto the next road. Pretty much like a video game play, reaching the next level. The dream decision is yours, to take it to the next experience, or end it where you feel most comfortable. This is my opinion at least when it concerns lucid dreams, and how I try and work with them when I have that chance.

When it comes to lower levels of lucid dreams, this to me represents a level of being less comfortable and the ability in a degree concerning a dream world of what can happen or not, in relationship with depending on a choice inside the dream, which has not yet matured in a dream stage of lucid dreaming. Yet, I think this level of dreaming leads towards help and experience y with what will eventually be total lucid dreams that one (you) might experience at a later stage concerning your dreams in time. Examples of low level lucid dreams gives the dreamer the ability to fly or alter their dreams to fit their particular mood at times and in some cases I think, or this level of dreaming may find a map in comforting ways to the dreamer , yet also in these low level dreams, the realization of what they (you) are dreaming may not deliver the option to change or alter the dream. The dreamer may wake up in a cold sweat, fear of immediate conscious danger that is not real, before the dreamer realizes it is only sleep related. Yet, also at times, when they (dreamer, you, etc.) wakes up, the realization sets in that this was only a bad dream, finally apparent to the dreamer. Therefore, I think with that in mind, the dreamer will reflect with the knowledge given, that they are safe and have the ability to deal with their dreams and work with their dreams on a more comfortable level. At least this is true with me, and what I have accomplished in my own dream route.

I wanted to know more about the definition of LUCID DREAMS! The best description I found was given in the link provided, explains that lucid dreams are experienced by ones who are dreaming while actually knowing what they are dreaming, described by Frederik van Eeden, an exceptional link who also goes on to suggest that the word of "lucid" and in relationship to dreamers in a mental clarity, such as being in a midst of a dream and realizing the experience of being there, yet understanding it was not a real physical experience, but just a dream. My take on this, is that the dreamer is triggered or set off by the dreamer realizing impossible things in the dream, such as flying, meeting or fighting monsters, seeing ones they know are dead in real life, but are alive in their dreams, etc. With this definition and explanation, this pretty much describes me and what I have felt within my own personal dreams.

A great deal goes into the research of lucid dreaming, such as how far can lucid dreams be controlled, or are they related to out of body experiences, why one has lucid dreams, how it deals with adventure and the fantasy world in dreams relations, facing and overcoming nightmares, and the list continues, and with me, etc. means etc. as so much is given on the the Internet concerning these very questions. Thankfully the Internet is vast and stock full of many links and information to help dreamers understand more, as it is a very questioned subject.

I have given the most researched link that I found on the Internet to the readers in regards of information concerning Lucid Dreams. Many more links can be found on the Internet by using keywords of "LUCID DREAMS", and other keywords. It really is a very interesting subject! And with my take f lucid dreams, I give you my Thoughts And Considerations!

If you are interested in this subject and can find the time, check out the particular link I have given above on Frederik van Eeden , or do some research on your own!


Thoughts and Considerations from Katie, and her Logue!

Keeping Up With Life's Challenges

It has been a pretty long time since I have written a personal blog. I think about writing in my blog all the time and even have all kind of subjects listed in my journal of what I would like to write about. But my life has been so busy lately, that I have put blogging on the back burner somewhat. Good thing is that I do like the new challenges in my life, and look forward to them each day.

As I wrote about in a few previous blogs a couple of months ago, I joined a social networking site called Rotatrix Friends Network , or RFN for short. RFN has had some growing pains as any new fast growing site would have, which in return called for a lot of changes. One of the new changes was getting rid of the old administrators and replacing them with new ones. Any I am one of the new administrators there, along with my husband and two other people, who are very good friends of mine that I grew to know and love while I was Exec. staff at RFN. This position at RFN keeps us all on our toes, as so much needs to be done, and so many things are in the works, which is expected with so many members of almost 14,000 and still growing so fast. Thankfully, we all work so well together, and have accomplished a great deal within the network.

Besides RFN, and my regular personal life, I have been writing advertising blogs for Smorty, and I really enjoy the extra income from doing that, as it only takes me a few minutes to write the blogs. While there are several opportunities to write on, I only choose the ones that I feel comfortable with. It takes me longer to research the product I am going to write about, then writing the blog itself.

Other news in my life is that Renee, my daughter, will not have to return to Iraq. I am so happy that I do not have to worry and be stressed out about her being over there again.

Anyway, just letting the readers catch up with what has been going on in my life and why I have not been blogging much. I am hoping to get better organized in the future, and start back to my blogging on a more regular basis.

Hugs to all!

Katie

Disappearing Bee's Will Up Food Cost

It appears each day that what is happening to mother nature, has a direct influence on our world. It is becoming pretty scary, not to mention costly to humans and planet earth. Now there is a buzz about the disappearance of bees. Without the bees, crop products do not produce well as we need the bees to pollinate the crops. This in turn also has and will continue to force farmers to go bankrupt. Not only that, but what crops are available will be extremely high in the grocery stores and farmer markets. Scientist do not yet know what is causing the bees to disappear, and hopefully a solution can be found to save the bees. Interesting read below on this.

When Will The Shootings Stop?

When will it end? It seems every time we turn around, another innocent individual is killed. Sometimes it becomes disheartening to watch the news due to the violence that abounds . It seems to me that students are being targeted more and more, and this is scary. What do you think about this and the violence that is so close to our homes?

MEREDITH EMERSON, TEARS ARE SHED

It totally amazes me how emotional we get when we so hope the one all are searching for will be found. For many days, besides the family of Meredith Emerson, many caring and loving people have been on pins and needles searching and hoping for her safe return. According to CBS NEWS, Missing Hiker Found Dead In Georgia, Meredith Emerson body has been found. Other news stations are now confirming this, and it is not what any of us wanted to hear. Meredith Emerson went hiking with her dog Ella, whom she loved so very much. Meredith Emerson was young and strong, and her life had so much to tell, yet her life has been stopped suddenly, and many cry with this. How sad, such a tragedy. I don't even know her and it breaks my heart. Life just sometimes seems to jump out at us, when we never expect it.

Meredith Emerson, 24 years old, a vibrant and beautiful girl who loved all animals so much, but especially her dog Ella, who was always beside her, yet they both quickly made the news. No one wanted to hear the outcome of this news, but sadly I think it rested in our heart, and broke out hearts, and explains why it is so heartbreaking for all those that hoped to see her smile again.

Of course an autopsy must be done to conclude what we already expect. This is police procedure to do this in any case. Enough said concerning this.

There in not much more I can say concerning this, as tears are in my eyes and in the eyes of many, and I know my tears cannot even compare with her families tears and what the family is feeling and suffering right now. With that said, I am so sorry and wish I could do more to comfort you, as I know your heart is breaking. So many want to help alleviate your pain with this loss. I hope this brings at least some comfort your way as a family concerning Meredith. I speak for so many when I say HUGS AND KISSES in so many ways. Katie

THE MEGAN MEIER CASE - MEDIA VILLIANIZES BLOGGERS INSTEAD!

Fighter of EOPC, did a live broadcast with FOX NEWS' Mike & Juliet Show on 11/30/07, where EOPC was sandbagged, insulted, called names just for using a pseudonym to protect themselves and for bringing some attention to the Internet and public as a whole on the Megan Meiers story that happened in 2006.

I am here to support them.

What is your reaction when a 13 year old commits suicide by hanging herself, all due to what the Internet brings on its super highway and you learn an adult used her as a token of play? Especially at the hands of an adult that knew her & her family well, and that set up the plot (using the fake name "Josh Evans") to make this child feel really special, unique, only to destroy her in the end with so much trauma and stress. An adult who told Megan "the world would be better off without her". An adult who has shown no remorse or taken any responsibility, to the point she told Megan's mother to "give it a rest."
This was such extreme emotional rape that this 13 hung herself as she just felt that she could not face life anymore. Is this plot a murder even though they did not knot the loop, or place this child's head in the noose? Some say not, and it is a controversial subject.

In my eyes, it is just as close to murder as one can get without touching this poor child, pulling a trigger or hiring a hit man.

Let me give you a brief history of this child, as it might fit the description of your own child without you even knowing the trauma that lies deep in child's heart, the way they feel about life and not fitting in, their personal insecurities. Megan, battled attention deficit disorder, bipolar depression and a weight problem for much of her young life; always tried to fit in with others her age, suffered with her own emotions and others not understanding. She had a great deal on her plate for a 13-year old child with all these problems. Anyone that would pay attention to her, make her feel special, compliment her, tell her she was worthy, etc., would obviously mean a great deal to her. It was the attention she needed to make her feel better, and gave her a reason to smile and face the next day with a smile. ALL of this was known to her cyberbully/ attacker. Very well known.

To make a long story short, she had a falling out with the perpetrator's daughter. And this other child's parents that had issues with Megan, stepped in via the Internet creating a FAKE MySpace profile of a boy that supposedly liked Megan, and that eventually led to Megan hanging herself.

Instead of explaining to their own child that this is part of growing up, how to handle this situation and being a REAL PARENT, they set out to destroy Megan. And they did. Took time to set up falsehoods, talking to Megan on the Internet with MYSPACE, instead of being a RESPONSIBLE PARENT to their own child of how to handle teenage years. And to make matters worse, since these adult parents knew Megan, they knew her insecurities, and how to get to her, how to make her suffer. How to destroy her. They might as well have had a gun and shot her. Yet, no gun was needed. And, I think they knew that. I think they knew Megan well enough to expect the outcome of her committing suicide.

"Oh, Mom, you don't understand" Megan said to her mother. The thing is, Megan's mother did want to understand, yet realized that while she talked about the dangers of the Internet, and all the things that could go on with it, especially her young daughter that felt some wonderful feelings with all the attention she was being given, her mom also I think had to be careful of how she choose her words to warn her child.

Telling her to not believe anything she heard on the Internet, also might come across to Megan that her mom, who loved her with her heart and soul, was putting Megan down as Megan might have then thought that her mother did not believe in her or think she was special to have a caring and loving relationship. We do have to pick our words careful when it comes to things like this. Parents are not trained on how to express to their children that they are tokens in a game, or beingused, therefore try to give some leeway to let in what happiness their child is experiencing. Yet, I bet they do not sleep well at night as they are unsure of what consequences might fall as they could not find the right words without hurting their child more. Taken from EOPC in a blog with words from Megan's mom:

"That was always the talk," Tina Meier told Lauer, repeating the conversations she had with her daughter: "'Megan, c'mon, we don't even know this person. Let's not get too excited.' She'd say, 'Oh, Mom, you don't understand.' So I did talk to her daily about that. But children at this age, they don't think that."

And then the boy, (remember, this was not a boy, but a parent, an adult) turned on Megan, leading a campaign of vilification and online name-calling that ended when Megan took her own life.

If this does not bring tears to eyes, then we might need to check our tear ducts. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE that a child's mind can be played with by someone using a false personna that spent time with her, told her how wonderful she was, built the confidence as a person she felt she could depend on, make her smile and feel special, thought her life was changing; yet once this was all purposely done, sprang upon her that she was nothing, so much that this poor child felt she can no longer live and takes her own life.

Megan Meier hanged herself Oct. 16, 2006.

For over a year, the law did nothing. Lawmakers used the excuse that "no law fit." That's simply not true.

On Friday, November 30, 2007 Fox TV's Mike & Juliet show had Fighter on via phone, NEVER mentioning that EOPC is a victim's services site. A site that helps those adults conned, coerced, and traumatized by predators online. They treated this one member of the Fighter team as a representative punching bag of a "CYBER MOB" (their term) of bloggers, never mentioned their site (despite producers promising they would!) or the great work EOPC does for victims.

Fighter was also villanized along with other bloggers for posting ALREADY AVAILABLE INFORMATION about the perpetrator of Megan's cyberbullying. Things already posted by the New York Times. Mike, one of the hosts, chided Fighter for linking to Rotten Neighbor, despite Fighter telling him repeatedly they had never advocated violence or viligilante justice against the perpetrators and again, was linking to already publicly available information. Eventually the show just cut off the phone connection so the Fighter team couldn't say another word!

As fellow blogger Danny Vice says:

The media has earned it's reputation as the "drive by media" for a reason. It thoughtlessly reveals the names of anyone it deems newsworthy on almost every subject, in it's relentless bid to get the 'exclusive rights' to a story or simply gain market share.
...

The Vice could go back and list thousands of stories where the media wasted no time in delivering the names and occupations of individuals that were later exonerated of any wrong-doing. The vice is aware of no instance where the same media outlet apologized to the family who was wrongly accused. The media simply cut the story and jumps on the next "name" that emerged as a compelling story.

Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry", a great song from the 80's, certainly nails it on the head rather well I think. The hypocrisy here is so well documented over decades of story telling, that simply opening tomorrow's newspaper easily confirms the silliness of it.

The Vice has concluded that naming Lori Drew was legitimate news. She is a primary subject of the story, is not a rape victim, and is not a minor. Identifying her breaks no new ground, nor does it deviate from what news outlets do on a daily basis.

The Vice also reminds readers that her name and her role in the Megan Meier tragedy were documented as public record. A public record that Lori filed on her own accord. This is a critically important fact in this case.

News outlets, bloggers and the general public were handed Lori's name and Lori's own self admissions when she herself filed that police report and sought to elevate the severity of the situation that had developed between her and the Meier family.

Had Lori Drew simply acknowledged what she did was wrong, and apologized - the police report that identified her may have never been filed, and the entire situation may have well been kept at the lowest profile.

The real story here may not even be about Megan Meier. It may simply be another example of why the Golden Rule has endured the many years it's been repeated. Do unto others, as you'd have them do unto you.

CLICK HERE FOR DANNY VICE'S GREAT BLOG

Dr. Keith Ablow proved he is merely a media sensationalist as well by questioning the fact that Fighter is a pseudonym for the team of people who do the blog (because EOPC outs predators (potentially DANGEROUS pathologicals) and the persons running the site wish to protect their own families while assisting victims) implying Fighter had 'psychological problems' to which the audience foolishly was prompted to applaud (and did so like lemmings).

The Fighter Team was positioned instead as 'raving lunatics' and a 'cyberbullys' who weren't allowing the law to 'take its course' -- all without giving a fair shake for the great work EOPC does.

Dr. Ablow and the hosts never even bothered to question the sociopathic tendencies of the adult that drove Megan to her death or the righteous indignation of bloggers who are angry that the law has done NOTHING in over a year until this came to light.

Nor was the sick blog called 'Megan Had It Coming' called out.
WEB HOAX LED GIRL TO KILL HERSELF

MYSPACE HOAX VICTIM'S FAMILY SEEKS JUSTICE

PUBLIC OUTCRY ON THE MEGAN MEIER CASE

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR MEGAN

MEGAN MEIER: A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT EOPC IS ABOUT

FIGHTER ATTACKED ON FOX TV OVER MEGAN MEIER CASE

JUSTICE FOR MEGAN - SIGN THE PETITION & LIST OF LAWMAKERS TO CONTACT

SUPPORT FOR EOPC ON THE MEGAN MEIER CASE

FOX ATTACKS BLOGGER FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR MEGAN MEIER

CONTACT THE MIKE & JULIET SHOW AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK OF THEIR CALLING BLOGGERS A "CYBER MOB



I am reposting a letter EOPC got from Dr. Sandra Brown in support of their work:

The Dangerous Relationship Institute
A Relational Harm Reduction & Public Psychopathy Education Project
Sandra L. Brown, M.A. Director

Cyberpaths/ EOPC and all the other victim-based websites whose mission it is to educate and provide sanctuary and healing to those who have been victimized are the heart-beat of the victim's rights movement.

As the web grows to become a healing hospital, those of us who provide online services like Cyberpaths/EOPC know all too well, there are far more victims than website providers.

We need more victim-based services online that boldly proclaim the rights of victims, offer psychopathy education, and solace for those wounded in the soul.

We thank & support EOPC for their valuable contribution to victims worldwide in their valant efforts to educate and protect.

I am always saddened to hear when media and others take pot-shots at victim service providers like Fighter and EOPC. We owe them our gratitude and respect for the work they do and the lives they save.

It's easier to throw pot-shots than it is to provide what victim service web sites do, day in and day out. We need more courageous souls like "Fighter" that step forward and do the work--not more sensationalistic media seekers!

Thank you EOPC--from one victim service provider, to another.

Sandra L. Brown, M.A.
Psychotherapist, Author, & Pathology Researcher
The Dangerous Relationship Institute/Safe Relationships
Author of: How to Spot a Dangerous Man Before You Get Involved,
Counseling Victims of Violence Eds I & II, Women Who Love Psychopaths

Christmas Is Right Around The Corner! SANTA! SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS AWARD

September 29th, I got a comment from my good friend Michele from her wonderful blog Concerning the Spirit Of Christmas Award at Rocky Mountain Retreat. The award is a Santa Clause Reward pretty much, based on blogs that have touched the hearts of others, and one I humbly accept and am honored that she would think of me to give me this award. Remember all, Christmas is closer than we think, and the spirit of the holiday gives us much to think about.

To know more about the award, click


This is what Santa himself says about this award:

Ho! Ho! Ho! Everyone
As we are now into the last 90 days before Christmas I am releasing my next group of the Christmas Spirit Award.
This award is for those who talk about and show the spirit of Christmas in their blogs.

What is the Spirit of Christmas you ask?
Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the "Spirit of Christmas".

This is the only award that I am releasing that you may pass on to others. I am giving it to five and you should too. Those that have touched your heart with their kind and giving and caring nature.
As always,

Santa ô¿ô


Choosing of who I think deserves this award in reality is not an easy task. I have so many online and blogger friends that are so kind and loving and go over and beyond with their friendship. With the decision not being easy, I still made my choices.


My first thoughts were to give this Santa Award to Margie, a new friend that I meet on Rotatrix Friends Networking. She and I have become good friends and have enjoyed and discussed our love of animals. She and I are even working on putting a website together concerning our love of animals and common relationships we have on our love of horses. Margie has definitely touched my heart and soul with her kind words, her caring and giving nature and her good advise. Thank you Margie. You deserve this award! Santa would be so proud of you! I am. You are now listed on my daily reads, as I think your words and efforts are important. Your words of My menagerie of Pets is a very important issue! Santa would be proud that this award was given to you!

I am also giving this award as Santa would want me to, to another friend from Rotatrix Friends Networking Community. TERRY, again I am honored to give this award to you! Terry's Blog Life Easy Shopping and Tips, is a wonderful blog where Terry tries with great efforts to share her secrets of tools in success in making money on the Internet. She is so honest and caring within her words displayed in her blog. She has become a great friend of mine and has helped me in so many ways. Thank you so much LIFEISEASY~TERRY, you really put an effort in the realization of what you are doing to help others. This blog and the ho ho ho of what Santa thinks, fits you so well. Santa would be proud of you!

Really important to me is Daria Black and her website (she has so many) but did want to point this one out as she has worked so hard on it, and is so determined for herself and what she tires to educate others on concerning Webernet Architect Design. Daria always finds ways to reach so many people with her words and her ideas, and her importance of her gifts that she hopes to share with others, always giving ideas and help to her readers which she gives with so much of her time in research that she freely gives and it really makes a difference to so many. (I also have a link to her other site in my side bar of my daily reads. If you click it, you will understand why!) Daria touches many souls and gives gifts without us even knowing it many times. Her gifts find ways into my dreams, or things to think about or ponder upon. Thanks so much Daria. Your friendship to me is so important. Santa would be proud of me giving this award to you!

I could never leave Ms. Karen out. I have known her since I first started blogging. She somehow found her way into my life, and I am so thankful for this. She has reached me in her humor that makes me remove my keyboard before reading some of her humorous blogs due to spitting what is ever in my mouth in efforts of saving my keyboard. She has also written about such serious and deep thinking things that I have to remove my keyboard again as I do not want my tears to mess up my keyboard. She has away that makes the humor so funny, yet so serious, and with other blogs of her, just so down right human for us all to think about. Santa would be proud that I gave this award to her.

And last, I give the award back to Michele to her blog Rocky Mountain Retreat, as she is one person that has touched my soul and heart in so many ways. She works so hard to place smiles on people and give information about so many things, and with saying this, I am talking about her ability to write, her ability in her art, her ability in placing smiles among so many. Continuing with this, I mean her personal, humor, educational she gives, and so much more. I really think Santa loves her a lot. I know I do!

Ending this, I know that times are busy right now, and the ones I have given the humble award I was given from Michele, they can do what they want with it. Times are busy right now with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, their jobs, their lives, their personal stresses in front of them. I do not want them to think this honor to them has to be passed on. My whole idea of writing this blog was to just point out to my readers of how wonderful these bloggers are. And how proud SANTA would be of them!

Hugs to all the bloggers mentioned above. All are deserving of such an award and so much more!

Katie

STAR BLOG AWARDS! IT WAS NOT HARD TO CHOOSE!

What an honor! Again I have been awarded with a blog award, named BLOGGING STAR AWARD! My good friend Daria Black passed this award on to me, which was awarded to her from Rolando & his Wonderful Playground Blog!

First things first, with the two mentioned blogs above, thank you so much for such an excellent reading experience, information, etc. etc., that I have gotten from both your blogs. Great job, and both are exceptionally written and brings a great deal to the blogsphere in blog land!

With that said, I am excited to point out and award others of excellent writing, time, consideration and thoughts of other bloggers that I keep up with, and if one takes the time to read their blogs, one will see that it is evident that these bloggers spend a great deal of thought and consideration of what they place in their blogs, making them deserving of this award also, not to mention exception and needed reads, and why I choose to pass these awards on to them. I hope readers will take time to view the bloggers and the links provided, and you will understand why I speak so glowing of them!

When Daria gave me the award of Star Blogger, the first person I realized I wanted to pass such an award to was Terry, a good friend that I meet on Rotatrix Friends Networking site. I personally never thought I would join a social net working site, but glad I did, as Terry has been instrumental in helping me with many things, and sharing her knowledge with me and so many others in many areas. I so appreciate that, and that has made my joining of RFN even more enjoyable.

Her screen name of lifeiseasy alone is an eye catcher. She sports 3 blogs, and I want to mention them all as I have found a great deal of information with all her blogs that has helped me in numerous ways. But, I think I will give her "ABOUT ME PAGE" first. I feel the "About me" pages on bloggers always give readers a great deal of information, not to mention a great tool in wanting to know more and read more about the blogger. Terry has a excellent blog called NOT MAKING MILLIONS YET?? I think this is a very interesting and eye catching title. She is not making millions yet, but if you read the blog, you can see where her directions are aimed and headed, and how she is so consistent in sharing what she has learned so far, and how she wants to share and help people within their own personal quest! Her above mentioned blog gave me excellent ideas on how to do things concerning PAGE RANK! I did not even know that I had a Page Rank until she told me so. (Have since changed to Firefox, and have learned a great deal more and understand page rank a little more now!) Her next blog is titled Shopping and Blogging Tips which is full of excellent ideas and wonderful blogging tips. For true bloggers, this is an excellent blog, especially for new bloggers! In this blog, she has awesome and explainable ideas within her blog which gives readers much to explore on help and ideas to implement with their personal blogs. Her other blog is Lifeiseasy ADSENSE 101 and deals again with helping others with blog ideas. Again, she was instrumental of my own placing of adsense in RFN, and now actually making new money there. (Just a few scents of right now, but HEY, thanks again Terry for the few pennies I have now earned. They all add up in time!) I loved her last blog concerning Tags and Keywords placed in blogs! Very informative! Terry, you have some wonderful blogs here, and it is an honor to nominate you as a STAR BLOGGER! You have really helped me out in so many ways, and I am sure many others as that is just the type of person you are. Thank you! YOU ARE A STAR BLOGGER!

Next in my list is for KELI who writes the most humorous blog on Counterfeit Humans - How to Maintain Sanity over Everyday Stupidity. If you ever deal with stupidity in your everyday life, and need to find some humor in it, THIS IS A MUST READ BLOG! Keli's writing style puts you right into the story as if painting a picture. We all need a laugh in our personal daily lives concerning our own stupidity and the stupidity of others, and she has a way to place it right before our eyes. She is a must read of mine, as well as my husbands, and we always make sure when we read her blog that some kind of plastic piece of material is available to protect the keyboard and monitor(this mainly has to do with spitting in what ever is in our mouth, or for that matter, just the spit as if in a contest. Laughing causes spits, please remember!). Other reasons why? If we do not have the named protection, we have to sit way back to protect both (And this makes it difficult to read!). Keli's blog would not surprise me to find it under the true definition of ROTFLOL. By the way Keli, why I am thinking about this, I would love to see a blog about where your own stupidity might have come into play at some point! I think we all have our stupid moments, and I would be more than happy to give you some material on this concerning me. BUT NO FAIR in mentioning my name. LOL YOU ARE A STAR BLOGGER!

Again with blog awards, I would like to mention Michele over atThe Rocky Mountain Retreat. Her blog is always an inspiration to me. She actually has 3 blogs. Her other two are on Fishing and Weather and Space. Make sure if you visit her blog that you visit her ABOUT ME PAGE for other links concerning her. Anyway, back to her blog at the Rocky Mountain Retreat. Her blog always is about everything and anything concerning life and so much more that we endeavor in our life. In other words, something for everyone, and never a dull moment! An exception blog where any reader can find something special that interest the reader. Thanks Michele for always such an enjoyable read with your blogs! YOU ARE A STAR BLOGGER!

Last on my list is to give the award back to Daria in regards to her other sites that she spends so much time and effort on. THESE are beyond words of how much it can mean to others to read her blogs if really interested in finding the ins and outs on so many things within blogs, writing tips, and in between it all. A little of everything concerning writing, blogging, life in general, etc. is found within her FIGMENT WRITING STUDIO and COMMUNITY, which is such a wonderful place to visit and explore! It is chock full of so much information, and the posts that really interested me most are her writing prompts, which evidently she has spent so much time on. The other that has meant a great deal to me is her JOB BOARD, where she has done a great deal of research in sharing with the readers, directions of her words leading readers to new possibilities. So much more is there besides the two that I mentioned. And if that is not enough, she has spent a great deal of time, effort and research on her site WEBERNET ARCHITECT DESIGN STUDIO, which by her PAGE RANK of 4 proves how much this site is viewed and considered. I am not surprised at all, as everything Daria does is done with over 100% effort, and a great deal of thinking and planning when doing so. YOU ARE A STAR BLOGGER!

This ends my blog. I am so thankful that I have such good friends that I have found via the Internet to give these awards to. I wanted to give the award also to Ms. Karen, but Daria always beats me to awards considering Ms. Karen Place! Other than Ms. Karen, I cannot imagine right now giving this award to anyone else other than the chosen that deserved the award so much and that I am happy to give it to! Not to mention that all these STAR BLOG AWARDS have helped me in so many ways of information, help, inspiration, laughs, and the list could just go on and on! LITERALLY!

Katie

STUPIDITY! How Far Can It Go?

I was reading Daria Black's blog tonight and comments on her blog, and as usual I view the websites of those who commented. A Keli commented, so off I go to her site Counterfeit Humans - How to Maintain Sanity over Everyday Stupidity. OMG, this is the funniest site dedicated all to STUPIDITY. One of my favorite subjects. My husband and I spent over an hour laughing so hard at this, drying our eyes of tears from sheer laughter, and excited now to read it every chance we can. Remember, laughter is the best medicine! Ms. Karen, if you read this, please visit this blog as it sounds like something you would write with all your wit and humor. You will thank me for sending you to this blog.

This is for sure one blog I will add to my favorite and daily reads. My husband and I wanted to know more about the person writing this blog, and from what I read, Keli is a name picked out just for this blog and in real life Keli is a attorney and has many articles, etc. in many places under her real name. I can believe that.

Keli, you rock! And please let me know when you come out with your book on STUPIDITY as I promise ~ I WILL BUY IT, and even buy more to give to friends as gifts.

Katie

AMERICA STOOD STILL~911

Today is the Anniversary of the 911 disaster that happened 6 years ago. Still thinking about it today breaks my heart. I wanted to take this opportunity of expressing in this blog of what I wrote that very day back in 2001, just a few hours after the twin towers were hit by high jacked airplanes destroying so many lives and making us all as a nation to sit up and realize what had happened, and why we all cried together as a nation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
America Stood Still Today~911

I had to remind myself to breath several times today, as I got dizzy just watching the news and what took place.. I had to let out breaths of air as if coming up from underwater.

This is reality in the worst way, but as I watched the news, it seemed so unreal as I had never experienced anything like this before, and hopefully never will again. But it did happen. I have to grasp that and remember.

Magnificent towers of Businesses and lives, reaching toward the skies as if trying to touch space itself were hit by American planes filled with innocent people with no control, capturing and distinguishing lives on fire that could not be put out with a blow. But the blow touched everyone and always will. As I watched, the towers tumbled and then fell, with the dust and smoke reaching way beyond the 100 stories. But the dust of what happened will never settle. As they fell with the lives in them, the Nation was hit as if lighting. America, USA our Nation was struck, and forever will be touched.

As the strong construction of the Twin Towers crumbled and smoke expanded higher than the buildings themselves, I broke down and cried personally, as well as many in this great Country did. Millions of lives were touched, and we have no way of knowing how many were changed and destroyed. No one can measure the gallons or inches of tears that have or will fall in time.

Some of these measurements are personal and not to be recorded. One can only imagine! But think big!! Reality of tears will go on for years and will never be measured. While my own personal feelings become evident, I need to remember and think and act on it. Did I tell my child, family, my husband, my friend "I LOVE YOU". I need to do it now. Taking things for granted are no longer accepted.

While I watched the buildings of the Twin Towers & Pentagon tumble, rumble with devastation and smoke and then fall before my eyes, I had to remind myself that they are only buildings - Man made!! But, the people inside of them were our stepping stones of our Nation, our future. The victims, casualties and heroes cannot be rebuilt, never saved and with their loss and hurt of burning, hurting, devastation; their families and friends and all who loved them suffer along and always will. Forever.

While I think, mourn and grieve on this, it is not just the victims in these buildings. This is a much bigger picture. The America Airlines crashing into the buildings with no choice ( or so we hope) What were they feeling, thinking, praying while they knew that death was near and intimate? Who were they going to visit, what friend or family, what business meeting were they going to attend. How many knew them and loved them and will never get the stories out of them. What will the "little black boxes" on the plane tell us about them? While I know nothing about them, I mourn and grieve for them and grieve for their families.

While this tragedy goes on and will for ever, I also think of the heroes efforts, and their strong and brave stands must be remembered. My heart felt as never before as I heard that over 200 fire fighters were missing. How many more of police, emergency and just day to day caring people, and other heroes are we going to grieve over as a Nation?

While my heart skips more beats that I had hoped for, I go back to my own life and family. All of a sudden all my aches and pains and psychological problems are no where close to what this Nation has just experienced. Especially the families that are suffering more than I will ever understand or experience on a day to day basics. There are no words or thoughts of how I can put this. The magnitude of these events reach higher than most can comprehend. My own thoughts are "AMERICA HAS BEEN GROUNDED"" and cannot go further than that. My personal grief as an American is devastating, but cannot reach what the family or victims will experience.

As a victim of nightmares myself, I can only understand my own scares, but while I do, I will lay my head down tonight and think of the victims, their families, loved ones and the survivors. I know that many nights of screams and sweats will awaken them. It hurts me that I cannot console them.

This is a wake up call for AMERICA. DID WE MISS A WARNING? AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACH!! How do we deal with this?

My thoughts on this are that I am heartbroken, stunned, and have no power to help. Yet, as I feel this, I still believe that this is the greatest country in the world. I still cry every time I hear the NATIONAL ANTHEM. I still get goose bumps when "GOD BLESS AMERICA" is played or sung. I always get emotional with "I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN"!


This is certainly the most tragic, traumatic, stunning, devastation act that my 47 years have experienced. But, I have to believe that the US, AMERICA will pull together and work through this with love and strength and support. Character, backbone, morals and values make this a great Nation. My hope of all hope is not just that "peace is WON" but "PEACE IS ONE". We will get through this. I know we will.

THE SEVEN P'S MEME

Daria Black has tagged me to answer THE SEVEN P's. I consider this a really good meme as it really makes one think about themselves. My next blog was intended to be about UU Religious Education, but I have not finished that blog yet, and so I share this blog with you for now. Below are my answers to this.


My Passion:

My biggest passion is my writing, as I hope it will reach out and help, encourage, educate, amuse and define to others of who I am. When I speak of writing, I don't mean in just blogs, but in emails, poetry, short stories, letters to my children, and other places as well. This passion lies also in my personal journals, as I have discovered that when I am able to write my personal feelings down, I learn a great deal about myself, both good and bad.

My Purpose:

Is to make a difference or impact in this world, and the lives of others, whether it be large or small. Helping, understanding and having empathy for others, and even just doing small things for others, has always given me a natural high. In other words, if filling my purpose in life helps others find their purpose in some way, then much fulfillment enters my soul.

My Pursuit:

Reason. I want to know the why and wherefore of things, as well as why things happen or do not happen. Even when it comes to myself and what I do with my life, I want to know and understand the reasons behind it. Searching reasons about life as a whole has always sent me on many adventures and through this I have discovered a great deal of knowledge.

My Position:

I am a mother, grandmother,wife, daughter, friend, writer and hopefully an educator.

My Pummeling:

Organization. I find it very difficult organizing all the projects I am working on, not to mention other projects I want to do in the future. Organization with me takes a lot of discipline on my part, and that is something that I am trying to work on daily.

My Progress:

Progress to me is reaching goals, or at least trying to. With that in mind, my past progress has been excellent, especially work related. Now my progress seems to go in cycles at this point in my life, mainly due to the organization mentioned above. I consider writing this blog as progress, as it was something I said I would do.

My Personality:

Is outgoing, fun loving, yet very serious at the same time. I have been in sales that were very productive 95% of my adult life, and I feel my personality traits had a great deal to do with my success in sales.

With all that said, I am going to tag Small Town RN, Michele and Kiril at Sneakeasys Joint.

I don't know if they participate in meme's but hopefully they will as I would love to see how they respond to this as all of them are great writers and thinkers.

A QUEST FOR TRUTH! UNITARIAN UNIVERALIST CHURCH AND RELIGION

"free and responsible search for truth and meaning."

For the last few days I have been thinking about the Unitarian Universalist Church, as I have been a UU member in different cities since I was 16 years old. Recently I did a blog about my 23rd year wedding anniversary, where our wedding vows were administered by a UU female minister, and I found myself missing the UU church and the beliefs of a UU congregation. The little rinky dink town that I live in of only 500, does not have a Unitarian Church, but I have been happy to discover that there is one within 30 miles of here.

Many people balk, especially Christians, on the UU religion and belief, yet statistics have proven that the membership is still growing in leaps and bounds. The controversy is that UU's is not a true religion and there is no creed within the church. The lack of formal creed has been a cause for criticism among some who argue that Unitarian Universalism is therefore without religious content. Although lacking an official creed or dogma, Unitarian Universalist congregations respect the Seven Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association as noted below.

"We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote"

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

So, yes Unitarian Universalism is a faith with no creedal requirements imposed on members. It values religious pluralism and respects all diverse traditions within their movement. Many times it is seen as as a syncretic religion, as personal beliefs and religious services draw from more than one faith, tradition or belief.

I personally, think it is an excellent religion , and one where I personally draw much hope and faith within our ever changing world.

Why do I personally feel this way? Because UU religion is a liberal religion, and as members we keep our minds open to the religious questions people have continuously struggled with through out history and now. UU's believe that personal experience, conscience, and reason should be the final authorities in religion. In other words, religious authority of our personal beliefs lies not in books, other people, or institutions, but in ourselves. The UU religion is a free religion, and UUs believe people should be encouraged to think for themselves, and that should be honored and appreciated for their own individual thinking, regardless if we differ in these opinions.

UU's believe in responsible freedom of speech, thought, belief, faith, and a great deal more. We also proudly believe that each person is free to search for their own personal truth, concerning issues such as the existence, nature, the meaning of life, creation, and afterlife, and that is just naming a few. UUs can come from any heritage, have any sexual orientation, and hold beliefs from a variety of cultures or religions.

The following excerpts are from First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, and in this blog I will talk more about the UU church in Baltimore.

"We uphold the free search for truth - we will not be bound by a statement of belief, nor do we ask anyone to subscribe to a creed. We believe that religious wisdom is ever changing; human understanding of life and death, the world and its mysteries, is never final. Revelation is continuous. We celebrate unfolding truths known to teachers, prophets, and sages throughout the ages.

We seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion. The here and now and the effects our actions will have on future generations deeply concern us. We know that justice, equity, and compassion should govern our relationships with one another, with diverse peoples, races, and nations."

The two paragraphs above say so much to me, as it describes so much of how I think and feel, which is why I choose the UU church and religion.

I found a survey where the Unitarian Universalist in the United States were asked which provided term or set of terms best describe their belief Below are the top choices.

Humanist - 54%
Agnostic - 33%
Earth-centered - 31%
Atheist - 18%
Buddhist - 16.5%
Christian - 13.1%
Pagan - 13.1%

On my journey of researching the Internet about the UU religion, I wanted to make sure that I found a link to the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore as I have memories of a Religious Education Director(RE for children) member attending a seminar in Birmingham Alabama in efforts to help RE directors, ( I was a RE director for the church in Huntsville), with curriculum, ideas and teachings for the children. It was an amazing weekend, and will be further discussed concerning Religious Education in my next blog.

Anyway, the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore was originally called "The First Independent Church Of Baltimore" and the UU Church of Baltimore has the distinction of being the oldest building in the United States built for, and used ever since by, a Unitarian congregation. If readers have time, I encourage you to visit the link, or at least bookmark it for reading later, as it is the best site on the Internet when it comes to UU churches that I have found. And if you are interested in knowing what UU sermons are about and how they reflect the UU religion, please take some time to read their Sermon Index.

My experience with the UU church as a member has brought a great deal into my life. While the members come from all talks and walks of life and races, what I discovered about the members is that they all are what I consider above average intelligence, very articulate and deep thinkers, and concerned about many things and the UU church has given them the opportunity to explore and express themselves. Many famous people are (and were) members or connected to the UU church. Albert Einstein wrote "the religious spirit of science.....a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection." This spirit, he says, is "closely akin to that which has possessed the religious geniuses of all ages." which can be viewed more and understood in this article Let's Get Physical by John Hertz, where he explains this particular quote is in so much relation to UU beliefs.

Also Famous Unitarians, Universalists and Unitarian-Universalists has a list of famous UU's, and I found this link concerning Charles Darwin also fascinating in reference to UU churches, religion and beliefs.

There is a great amount of information dealing with this subject of UU churches and their religion and beliefts on the super Internet highway that one can google to find more on. With me, it turned into an very interesting journey, which is why I blogged about my Thoughts And Considerations concerning this. I am working on my next blog of Religious Education for children in reference to Unitarian Churches. I am hoping that it will give parents a better idea of what and how children in a UU church are taught and how the curriculum is planned.

Finding Friends From Your Blogs

This past weekend, I wrote a blog about something that happened in my personal life. Very seldom do I write about my personal life, but this time I was glad that I did for many reasons. One of the main reason is because a new reader happened to find my blog and wrote a very heart felt comment on my blog, which meant a great deal to me. I checked this new readers blog out as I wanted to know more about her. As it turned out, she has three wonderful blogs. Not only are they wonderful, but they are so informative, well written and beautifully put together. Therefore, this blog is dedicated to her blogs and I really hope my readers spend some time viewing her blogs, as it will be well worth your time.

First of all, I was very excited to see that she is a Capricorn , as I am also. I have discovered that the majority of people that I meet that are Capricorn's, I get a long with extremely well. Capricorn's are acknowledged by their organizational skills, practicality , and their self discipline. By viewing her blog, she evidently has all these traits.

Her Fishing Fiesta blog I found extremely useful and informative and will be spending a great deal of time at that blog as my husband and I love to fish. She has many excellent pointers in this blog, wonderful pictures and advice. I really think even professional hobby fisherman (or women) can learn a great deal from this blog.

Her The Earth And Weather Space blog is awesome. I love her caption of the "Average Person that Likes To Have Their Head in the Clouds" .The pictures and information here is just spectacular. She once again caught my interest with this blog as I am very interested in space exploration. It is evident that a great deal of time and research was put into this blog. WOW!!

All Kinds Of Information LURKS Here in this blog. Here, you will find a little of every thing in large amounts of life, nature, and so much more. A very practical, informative and well written blog that touches on so many things. The information one will find on this blog can be serious, humorous, and the A to Z of daily life as she sees it. The pictures she has placed here are just beautiful. I WANT her camera.

In ending, thank you Michele for commenting on my blog. I am so glad you did for many reasons. And one of the main reasons is because it has given me the wonderful opportunity to visit your beautifully written blogs and share it with my readers. I really applaud you for such excellent blog material, which is evident that you have spent much time and consideration, research and though before placing them on the Internet.

A Charmed Life! Could "IF" have changed it?

To understand this blog more, I suggest that you read the blog below it where I blogged about my 23rd year wedding Anniversary. Things did not go as planned. And for several hours of that day, I felt horrible guilt.

To make a long story short, my daughter and her friend were in a terrible accident yesterday. An unexpected storm hit and due to the amount of unexpected rainfall in such a short period, the truck they were in hydroplaned, and after flipping twice, they landed 200 feet from the road. Almost all the glass in the truck shattered and could be found several feet from impact, as well as in the hair of these young girls. The accident was so bad that it pushed the driver side tires completely under the vehicle, and the top of the truck looked like a bomb went off. Why had they left the comforts of their home? The answer was to bring a nice bottle of wine to us as a gift to celebrate our 23rd milestone Anniversary. The amazing thing is that they survived the accident without a hospital stay, and very lucky to be in a comfortable home bed. If anyone looked at the truck, total amazement would be in their eyes that they even survived.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you would have noticed that I seldom talk about personal things in my life. I have broken this chain, at least for now concerning this blog, as I think it is important that what I have reflected upon will be understood conerning my feelings, as well as maybe some comfort to others. My first selfish thoughts were that our Anniversary had gone bad. Then my thinking changed on that, after I was able to settle down somewhat, so to speak.

My thoughts now are that this is a wonderful Anniversary. Why would I hope for more. We could be spending it on preparations of a funeral, or constant sitting at the hospital hoping for the best if a serious life threatening issue called us to our daughters hospital bedside.

My husband always uses the words of "We live a charmed life", which many times I have argued as things seemed not to work out in my life plans. Tonight he reminded me that even if we make plans, we are just lucky if they turned out to be the plans we made. And what "if" always makes a mark on all lives, and not just ours. History proves that. With these words of wisdom I seem to understand, or at least try to, what life delivers us in a different light. For example, our daughter involved in the accident was adopted by us when she was three days old. What IF we had not moved to our small apartment while single and then got married. What IF we had not meet the neighbors and they told us that the girl across the street was due in one week and was giving the baby up? What IF we had not gone over there and convinced her to give us the baby? What IF the baby now 22 years old had died or was seriously injured? Would not the what IF of our adopting her years ago brought more what IFs? What IF we did not have the chance to be thankful for all concerning her? What IF she never entered our life? She did, be thankful for that and thankful you can see her first thing in the morning. What IF did not happen, but life reality did.

What IF World War Two had never happened? For that matter, any wars? What IF Ann Frank had not died, and the world had not been able to read her diary? What IF that did not happen, or for that matter Martin Luther King, and so much more in history that teaches us to live and grow upon?

According to my husband, he and I have lived a very charmed life and have been very blessed, as the what IF's that have touched our souls have not been so bad, especially compared to others that have suffered so much more than us.

After all his words, I agree, especially today that our what IF'S have been a charmed life, and I have no reason to think other wise, but to only be thankful of the IF's among our life. And I am hoping that if the IF's follow a blow much harder for me to handle, that I can reflect back on his words and carry on. I am sure he is counting on me to do so. These are true Thoughts and Considerations of mine. I started to write a poem concerning my daughter of what my feelings are, and I was only able to write three lines. While the three lines are not complete, they say so much to me, and I am sure once my stability returns that I will complete this poem.

Your tears melt into mine and I taste the salt of both.
It somehow taste familiar, I guess that is what love does.
Why am I so lucky in holding you in my arms and heart?

Apache Wedding Blessing and your "Your Still The One"

Today is our anniversary, my husbands and mine. We have been married 23 years, and I hope to see many more years of marriage. I feel extremely fortunate that I can tell people that I am in a happy marriage, as sadly many people cannot say that. I was married before, and I know myself how awful it is to be in an unhappy marriage, but this all changed the day I married Jim.

Jim and I have had many bumps along the way of our life together. Life does that to people, but we have figured out how to get over the obstacles that have faced us together. The happiest years of my life has been with this man, and he has taught me so much about life, as well as about myself. He and I are best friends, and actually were before we even realized that one day we would marry. I think one of the reasons our marriage has been so strong is due to honesty, trust and loyalty between us. The fact that we have so much in common has also been a great attribute in our marriage.

I think back to the day we were married, and it is still so clear in my mind, and a wonderful memory. Our wedding was small, as got married in our living room in our small apartment. Only our family and closest friends were there. We had a big part in writing our vows, and my two small children were part of the wedding ceremony. Jim had written a poem about us, and read it at the ceremony. My daughter at age 5 sang "The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow," as we felt that song reflected how we looked at life. Life can and will be hard, but the sun will still come up tomorrow. My son, age 3 had the rings to give us, and that did not go well, as he wanted to keep them and we had to force him to give us the rings. Also in the ceremony we gave the children roses as a token of family love. (The children are from a previous marriage and a few years later, Jim adopted them.) Our wedding was much different than most weddings, and we were married by a Unitarian minister. Eight months later we adopted a beautiful little baby girl, and our family was complete.

Today I am sure Jim and I will be looking once again our wedding album. We do this each year, and it always brings tears to my eyes. (It will probably bring tears to my eyes today as we look so old now compared to the pictures. LOL)

I have included the prayer which was read at the end of the ceremony, and that wonderful poem has continued to be on the top list of my many favorites. We hope to plan a large party when we hit the 25 year marriage milestone, and have the song Your Still The One, played at our Anniversary party. Ain't life grand?

Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there will be no loneliness,
for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.

May beauty surround you both in the
journey ahead and through all the years.

May happiness be your companion and your days
together be good and long upon the earth.