tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81829870322601698302024-03-12T16:24:10.602-07:00Just My Two SenseLife goes on... and so do I.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-60623864036440877222019-10-28T04:00:00.000-07:002019-10-28T04:00:08.367-07:00I Hate My Job... Old post recycled from 8/24/14 AKA The ugly truth about customer service over the phone<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know no one wants to hear me complain about my job, so this is your only WOB warning. This is a major rant. So major I wrote in in word before I copied it to Blogger. This is why I hate my job. I used to love helping people; my job makes me feel bad about it now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sit in a cubicle, in a row of twelve cubicles, staring at a small monitor, connected to a slow running machine, in a warehouse filled with these same rows. The only change is the daily move from row to row so you never sit in the same place twice in a week. This is supposed to be meant for moral, so we don’t get bored with our jobs. They constantly upgrade the software we use to make our jobs “easier” and “more efficient”, when in reality all it does is make it harder to attain these high standards they set because they refuse to spend the money to upgrade the hardware required to run the software.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what we as reps must maintain for goals daily, weekly, and monthly:<br />Average Handle Time (AHT) – no more than 530 seconds or 8.83 minutes. This is up from the 507 seconds it used to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Optional Courtesy Credits (OCC) – no more than $1.80 per call average. It used to be $2.30 per call but when they raised the AHT they lowered a few things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Disconnects (Disco) – no more than an average of 1%, which was also lowered from 1.3% per day when the AHT was raised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Earned Representative Performance (ERP) – must be no lower than 93% and this is based on surveys customers complete randomly chosen by an automated system. You know those survey calls you get which are automated? They ask you to rate the representatives over performance from 0-10. Well just FYI that affects the pay of the representative you are rating. We are as nice as we can be, but remember that if you are angry with the company, don't take it out on the representative. We don't get paid enough as it is, and we are forced to work overtime to make up what we lose in pay when our stats are down. Hell we're forced to work overtime as it is in my site as my site requires mandatory overtime to be worked, five hours to be exact. I know, I shouldn't complain, it’s extra money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rep(resentative) Resolve (RR) – must not be lower than 95%, this is also on those surveys that are sent out, and it’s based on whether or not the representative you spoke with resolved your issues or not. Unfortunately, some issues just aren't able to be resolved, like if your kid uses 10GB of data and you had a 3GB share plan and you didn't call to up your data limit to cover the overage, that $150 charge is valid. But I get customers with this excuse, “But my kids used it. It’s not fair that you're charging me for something my 8 year old did. I shouldn't have to pay that fee because a little kid used it and not me. I gave junior the smartphone for emergencies only. Just because he used all that data doesn’t mean I should be charged for it.” No, I am not kidding, I did get that from a customer recently. We can offer to up the data plan and add precautionary features like Family Base (which will be your best friend if you have Verizon and have kids) and I can do a re-rate of your bill to cover SOME of the overages, but if you aren't willing to work with me, and just want all of the valid charges credited, I can’t help you. The most I am able to offer is a $20 courtesy credit, and only if my supervisor approves it, which they won’t if you aren't willing to make changes that will help prevent the overages in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of this affects my pay. It also affects my ability to move up within the company. Yes I know ATT and T-Mobile and Sprint are offering unlimited data plans and family plans, but read the fine print. Read it with Verizon too. You’ll find everything you need to know in the fine print. Don’t sign anything without reading it first. DON’T trust the reps in the store!!!! They make commission. They don’t care about you; they care about their bank account!!!! I don’t know how many times a day I have to fix issues a store rep has caused with outright LIES to a customer. IF you go to an indirect retailer and they charge you fees in store and you see those same fees on your bill, GO TO THE STORE for the credit. KEEP all of your receipts. See, when you pay an indirect retailer the fee (which you shouldn't because upgrade fees and activation fees are AUTOMATICALLY billed to your account which WILL show up on your bill) the retailer has now been paid TWICE! The retailer must credit your bill because they need to pay Verizon back. That is what the upgrade fee and activation fee is really for; paying premium and indirect retailers for selling our product.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, we know their practices are shady. No, we won’t do anything about it. Not that I wish we couldn’t. We can file a complaint against them, but all that does is earn them a slap on the wrist. And it does nothing for future consumers. This is a consumer beware business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But what really gets me is that I get dinged for genuinely helping my customers. When I help my customers with credits I believe are valid, it hurts my ranking and prevents me from moving ahead in my job. Helping my customer disconnect a line they no longer need therefor should not have to pay for, it lowers my ranking. Yes, you can disconnect a line, but we are forced to attempt to prevent that. So listen to the reps offers and don’t get mad. Please let them do their job, because our disconnect calls are listened to, and if we don’t follow the procedure properly (which when a customer is angry because we are trying to prevent a disconnect we bypass the procedure and then get written up for it) it hurts our ranking and we have write ups, and after so many of those write ups, we can and do lose our job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I used to have a heart. I used to care about my customers, genuinely care. Now after 13.5 months with this company, I could care less whether or not I save you money, or whether or not you were hornswoggled into a plan that actually costs you more than your car payment. I will tell you the charges are valid because there aren't notes in your account validating the conversation you had with a previous rep, because we won’t listen to the call to validate that what you’re stating is the truth. We are trained to believe what is written in the account, not what you say over the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yesterday, a little old lady called me. Sweet as can be. Is living on a fixed income and has bundled her Verizon bill with her Century Link bill because it gives her a discount (please for the love of all that is good don’t EVER do that no matter what company it is). She calls because Century Link has shut off her home services because she has a $3300 bill with us. She called last month to change her price plan because her daughter kept going over their 1400 minute plan causing $30 a month in overage. The More Everything plan would prevent that and save the customer an additional $15 a month. The rep made the plan changes and notated the account that the customer called in to change the plan to prevent overages in the future. The rep changed the plan and told the customer she now had unlimited talk and text. The customer was happy. The customer went over her 1400 minutes by 6,982 minutes, which at .40₵ a minute, is $2792.70 because the rep actually future dated the plan change rather than doing it on-demand and still LIED to the customer and told her she had unlimited minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had to get the credit approved for her, and I didn't want to because it would affect me if I gave her the credit. It negatively impacts me when I have to credit someone for something that is a valid credit reason. We are not in the business to help our customers. Last year, at this time when I was still new, I wouldn't have batted an eye at getting her the credit, I would have fought to give her the credit and THEN some for the inconvenience of being lied to by a previous rep. Yesterday I looked for anything to avoid giving her the credit. I came home and bitched about giving a $2800 credit (before taxes, after the taxes are credited it will go up to $3150) and Scott had to slap me with reality. The reality is I did a GOOD thing. The Company has trained me to believe otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am losing my humanity in this job. I feel like Gollum and your lines of services are The Precious. We loves The Precious. My hair is thinning at a rapid rate, and what I am not losing is turning gray. I dread going to work in the morning. I have panic attacks thinking about my job. I get the shakes whenever Scott tells me it’s time to go to work. As soon as I get to work, Gollum comes out and takes over my body. I had a customer who lost her son in the war in Afghanistan, and all I could think of while expressing condolences was, “How am I going to prevent her from cancelling his line of service?” There is something wrong with that. I know it, you know it, but because it negatively impacts me at work, it sits there in my mind to try and prevent her from cancelling his service. Last year I would have disconnected without batting an eye and seriously meant the condolences I was expressing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know all of this sounds too awful to be true. But it is. We don’t read from “scripts” but we are scripted and coached to speak a certain way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In conclusion, what I want to say is this: When I say I hate my job, don’t see it as me being finicky or unwilling to stay with the job, it’s me stating as loud as I can that I want my humanity back. You would feel the same way if you worked where I work. I guarantee it. Rant over, for now.</span></div>
Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-45018146434948561282019-10-27T18:06:00.001-07:002019-10-27T18:06:42.253-07:00This is what I should be focusing on...I have a writer's blog called <a href="https://ithinkthereforiwrite.blogspot.com/">"I Think Therefor I Write"</a>, and truthfully, this is where my attention should be. I want to write more... in fact I will start uploading things I have written for writing classes up, so maybe check it out for updates. My early poetry sucks... but I will be posting some more recent poetry within a day or two, as well as some more short stories.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-14147956153179488732019-10-27T18:00:00.001-07:002019-10-27T18:00:07.447-07:00Heroine... or Villainess... Chelsea ManningI read the entirety of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Manning">Chelsea Manning's Wikipedia page</a> and I don't know whether or not I can decide if she is the heroine, or villainess of her story.<br />
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Manning had a hard life for sure, two alcoholic parents, being born in the wrong body, suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, the list goes on. I think a lot of her issues stemmed from feeling like she couldn't be who she was, and while in the Army, being forced to be something she wasn't. Being bullied because some men felt so threatened in their own masculinity, that they couldn't let her be who she was. Toxic masculinity at it's finest folks.<br />
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But, we as Americans deserve to know what is going on within our own country, and what our government is doing in these wars drummed up by people who themselves refuse to (or fake bone spurs to get out of) serve/ing in. I mean, after all, it is OUR money that pays for these wars, so why shouldn't we be privy to the ugly details? Was she really putting innocent people at risk? Or just those who stood to profit off the wars? If what we're doing is so bad, why are we doing it in the first place?<br />
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These are all questions that need answers. Look at the "Collateral Murder" video... innocent journalists, people and children were either injured or killed by our military. Senseless violence on begets more senseless violence. And the sooner we learn that, the better off we'll be.<br />
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It sucks that the people she thought were her support system are the same ones who turned her in. I was glad to hear that the hacker community did turn their backs on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Lamo">Adrian Lamo</a>, what he did was way worse than what she did in their community. He swore he wouldn't reveal her as a source and then he did and turned her in to the authorities.<br />
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There has been no substantiated proof that what Manning did put anyone in harm's way, all she did was shed the light on America's ugly, and violent proclivities. Whereas the American government has put many innocent lives on the line, destroyed many innocent people, and tried to cover it all up. We the people, deserve to know the truth, but, as Jack Nicholson said, "You can't handle the truth!"Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-57975331213096436192019-10-27T16:47:00.001-07:002019-10-27T16:47:23.240-07:00First post in a few years... A Re-IntroductionI guess it's time to dust off the old blog and reintroduce myself to everyone. Hi Bloggers, I'm Micha (Mikki, Micaela, evil sister... lol jk) I don't post very often (every couple of years or so) but since I am finishing up my bachelor's degree (Finally, damn it's taken a while) I am dusting off the old blog for a class assignment. Trust me, if I didn't want people to read the dirty deets, I would have created a new blog, but I like this blog, and don't really care who reads it, I'm an open book. Ask questions, I might answer, or I might not. Depends on my mood, always does. ;) I started this blog almost 10 years ago now, thought it would make me write more, but by the time I get done with work and making dinner, and hanging out with my kids, I just don't have the energy. Not to mention I am STILL trying to write some awesome fiction novels... I will try harder to write more here, maybe take time off all the Facebook, and the Insta and the twitter... (I sound old huh?)Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-16499678273871970912017-10-25T16:13:00.000-07:002017-10-25T17:12:41.383-07:00Is Cultural Appropriation Just One More Way for Whites to Segregate People of Color?<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s that time of year again, time for scary movies, trick-or-treating,
fun Halloween parties, and getting dressed up in costume. The time of year,
however, that we’re all starting to dread for obvious reasons. Halloween used
to be fun, I loved dressing my kids up every year, I created most of their
costumes because, in all honesty, I was too poor to actually buy them one. Now
they’re older, and I believe last year they decided that would be their last
year to dress up and trick-or-treat, which sucks, but I get it. Too many adults
ruined it for them last year by saying, “aren’t you a little old for this?”
Why? Why can’t kids of all ages go trick-or-treating and get free candy? Now
that the grown-ups have ruined trick-or-treating for the teens and pre-teens,
who I would frankly rather have them out trick-or-treating than going to
parties getting drunk, or high, now they want to ruin it for the little ones
too. “No sweetie, you can’t go as Mulan because you’re white/black/Mexican basically you're not Chinese,
and that would be considered racially insensitive, or worse… dun-dun-duuuuun, ‘cultural
appropriation’. And we’re not little racists are we sweetie pie?”<o:p></o:p><br />
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But what, exactly, is cultural appropriation? The Oxford Reference
(online) defines cultural appropriation as: “A term used to describe the taking
over of creative or artistic forms, themes, or practices by one cultural group
from another. It is in general used to describe Western appropriations of non<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "simhei"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‐</span>Western or non<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "simhei"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‐</span>white forms, and
carries connotations of <b>exploitation</b>
and <b>dominance</b>” (npag). The Oxford
Living Dictionary online, defines it as: “The unacknowledged or inappropriate
adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by
members of another and typically more dominant people or society” (npag). One
other way it has been defined to me as, but I have not been able to confirm
this with any dictionary source, appropriating another’s culture in order to
gain financially. That was in reference to a post on Facebook earlier this
year, by a relative who thought it was “appropriate” to dox white owners of
ethnic businesses. Perhaps this “cultural appropriation” war was started by the
left in order to criticize the right and shame them into not making fun of
minorities, but it has grown in just the last two years (thanks Trump) to
becoming more widespread. I what I keep reading/hearing about what people of
color are calling “cultural appropriation,” sounds/looks more like “culturally
offensive”. Is this “cultural appropriation” issue really about people of
color, could it be about white-guilt/shame, or is it actually another form of
racism?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In just the last two years, it has become more prevalent to hear
stories around Halloween, about cultural appropriation and how to avoid it. Parul
Sehgul nails it in her article <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/magazine/is-cultural-appropriation-always-wrong.html">“Is
Cultural Appropriation Always Wrong?”</a> She talks about Halloween, afros,
bindis, and more, but this is what really hit home for me, “…Seen in this
light, ‘appropriation’ seems less provocative than <b>pitiably uninformed and stale</b>. It seems possible that we might,
someday, learn to keep our hands to ourselves where other people’s cultures are
concerned. But then that might do another kind of harm. In an essay in the
magazine Guernica, the Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie called for more, not
less, imaginative engagement with her country: ‘The moment you say a male
American writer can’t write about a female Pakistani, you are saying, ‘Don’t
tell those stories. Worse, you’re saying: As an American male you can’t
understand a Pakistani woman. She is enigmatic, inscrutable, unknowable. <b>She’s other</b>. Leave her and her nation
to its Otherness. Write them out of your history’” (npag). When looked at it
this way, what I see, is a complete white-washing. Whites must remain white,
you can’t be other, because being other is bad. And those who are crying “cultural
appropriation” are 98% white. The very few non-white town criers of “cultural
appropriation” do NOT speak for the majority, they can’t. Being a non-white, I
know this because I don’t believe in saying that what is happening is actually “cultural
appropriation”. But I also KNOW that I cannot, and I will not, speak for the
whole group of people who share my ethnicity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By the way, what is so wrong about being other? Why does being other
bother people so much? Why are white people so concerned about “cultural
appropriation”? There are some aspects of this whole “cultural appropriation” debate
that I do agree with, like not mocking other cultures, that’s seriously messed
up, but, when I see things like, “If you're caricaturing Hillary Clinton or
Donald Trump, that's fine, those are public figures. Those masks are always
fair game…” and, “Do your homework. Put yourself in someone else's shoes
figuratively, before you do so actually. And think about how someone else might
feel if you were dressed up as the sexy or slutty version of them for Halloween”
(Dastagir, npag), it really makes me mad. Why is it okay to appropriate someone’s
identity to mock them, but not their culture? Isn’t that more offensive than
mocking a culture? Wouldn’t mocking one specific person be considered bullying?
Why does the fame (or infamy in Trump’s case) make it ok to mock the celebrity?
And what exactly does it mean when we say we’re “mocking someone’s culture by
dressing up for Halloween in a character costume?”<o:p></o:p><br />
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Children everywhere, want to dress up as their favorite character for Halloween,
from Mario and Luigi, to Princess Moana. Now we have white people telling us it’s
not ok to do that, we should say no to it because it’s “cultural appropriation.”
Jane Ridley talks of mom, Sachi Ferris’ decision to have a cultural sensitivity
conversation with her daughter who wanted to either Moana or Elsa for Halloween
(both Disney princesses, one white, one Polynesian). Ferris had this to say
after her daughter made a decision, “But she nixed the Moana costume for Mickey
Mouse, because, as Ferris wrote, ‘we don’t have to worry about making fun of
anyone or dressing up as a culture <b>different</b>
from our own because Mickey Mouse is a pretend mouse’” (npag). This belies more
of a racial aspect, and steering your child away from other races because they’re
different, other, bad. But it ok to be something that isn’t real because that’s
not bad.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Well, if we’re going to use that logic, while the Polynesian culture is
real, Moana is not, she is just a character in a cartoon. Elsa is from the
Scandinavian folk tale of the Ice Queen, but she is still just a made-up
character. So, since they are made-up characters, it should be ok to dress as
them. But it not, because they’re of a specific culture and it might be
offensive. Dressing up as Mickey Mouse is ok, because he’s just a made-up character
and not associated with any one specific culture.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Cool, now that we’ve cleared that up, why is it ok to dress as a witch?
Aren’t you afraid of offending the Pagan religion/culture? How about dressing
as a Nun/Priest, or a race car driver, police officer, construction person,
teacher? Do none of these other cultures deserve respect as well? Aren’t we
just mocking these cultures? What about dressing up as an animal, don’t animals
have feelings? Why, is it that we can take into account a select few cultures
and the fear of offending them, but not others? Why is it ok to mock
celebrities or actual important people like Clinton, Obama, Bernie Sanders,
teachers, clerics, professional drivers, etc. but it’s not ok to dress up as
Moana, Tiana, or Elsa? Oh, and the other costume that people never seem to take
issue with, the hillbilly redneck costumes? Don’t the people of the south ever
get offended by that stereotype? Why do we find it so cool to mock all
southerners as racist, red-necked, trailer trash? Just a little more fat to
chew on there.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Have we taken political correctness too far? Why does everyone feel the
need to be “offended” or “triggered”? Maybe it’s my age, and the era I grew up
in, but, I don’t see cultural appropriation when I see a child dress up as
their favorite character. I see a child who is happy they are being allowed to
be who they want to be, even if it’s just for one day. Is what we’re calling
cultural appropriation really just a way of separating white from other? What
if what we mean is culturally offensive, not appropriation?<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a mother of a transgendered child, I know the importance of letting
your child freely express who they are, without repercussions of negative
feedback. So why is a child’s costume any different. Or, for that matter, an
adult’s costume? I am all for being sensitive to other’s feelings, I hate to
see bullying in nature of any kind, but what makes a Halloween costume considered
cultural appropriation? Halloween is all about having fun, and being something
different, free candy, and great parties. Why do we have to always be afraid of
offending someone with our Disney Princess or other character’s costume?<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the other side of the spectrum, I can see how there are some
culturally offensive costumes. While I think dressing up as the Disney Arabian
Princess Jasmine is ok, she was just a character in a movie after all, dressing
in a hijab is wrong. That’s actually the definition of cultural appropriation
right there, exploiting/mocking of a minority culture by a more dominant
culture. People who are dressing in hijabs, as Native Americans in full
headdress, in Black/brown face, or even as a hillbilly redneck, are usually
doing so to mock the culture, and to that aspect, I can agree 100% that is what
I would call “cultural appropriation” and truly offensive. I can concede that
cultural appropriation is bad, when it’s really happening, but I don’t believe
a character costume is mocking a culture. It’s not mocking anything. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ce/f6/fd/cef6fd7fb9da55bbe0440161987d13e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="560" height="237" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ce/f6/fd/cef6fd7fb9da55bbe0440161987d13e1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We tell our kids every day, “you can be whatever you want to be when
you grow up,” but as children they can’t be a Princess from their favorite
movie, or an Italian plumber from their favorite video game because it might be
offensive. But you can dress up as a Zombie Kylie Jenner, or a fluffy headed
Hillary Clinton, or even a fat Trump because “they’re famous and should expect
to be mocked”. Or you can go as a cute animal because that won’t offend anyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If we’re so offended by character costumes, why aren’t we offended by who
created those characters? Perhaps we are, maybe that’s why I see more and more “white
saviors” jumping in on this cultural appropriation talk. In fact, the articles
I have found that argue dressing up as a Disney Princess of color is cultural
appropriation have mostly been written by white men and women. The articles, or
blog posts that are written by non-whites, are not actually talking about
character costumes, but about that offensive native headdress, or other
culturally mocking costumes such as Sexy Hula Girl, or Sexy Native girl, etc.. The
ones that say, “Let your kid dress up as whoever they want,” are often written
by people of color.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have also noticed that those talking about how every costume is cultural
appropriation (and they really mean offensive), tend to be from the liberal
left. I’m a liberal, I am a person of color, and I do believe in political
correctness if it’s done right. What I can’t get on board with is a white
person telling me what I should find offensive. I don’t find people dressing up
as Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) offensive. Since my Hispanic culture doesn’t have a
Disney Princess (sorry, I don’t count Elena of Avalor as one), I really don’t find
a lot of the Mexican costumes offensive, but, that is just my opinion and I am
only one of literally millions of Mexicans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Teen Vogue found six women of color for their <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/cultural-appropriation-halloween-costume-video">video</a>
about costumes that they consider cultural appropriation, when in actuality
they mean that they are culturally offensive. But the accompanying article was
written by a white woman who interviewed the women of color. How much of what
these women had to say was suggested to them as cultural appropriation? Are
these women being used as tools to get other people of color on board with the
war against cultural appropriation? Is this a segregation tactic that white
people are forcing onto people of color so that we can be pissed at white
people for being racists when they’re not? And are other truly culturally
sensitive white people jumping on the band wagon to avoid looking like racists,
when there is no racism or “cultural appropriation” going on with these
character costumes?<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I have a friend on Facebook who wrote a blog post about
cultural appropriation, I know she means well but, people of color don’t need
to be told by white people when to be offended by someone’s Halloween costume. I
think, and I am pretty sure this is right, that people of color know what we
find offensive. Zawn Villines writes in her <a href="https://pregnantandfeminist.blogspot.com/2017/10/5-excuses-white-parents-give-for.html">blog
post</a>, “On one side are people of color and their allies, pleading with
white parents to please not dress their kids in black face, please not turn
someone else's race or culture into a farce, and please listen to those of us
trying to teach our kids to respect other cultures. On the other side are
parents who insist that telling their kid not to dress like Moana, an Indian,
or a black person will ruin their childhood” (npag). And while she is not
wholly wrong, I would like to point out that being white does not lend
authority to knowing what all people of color feel offended by. It also doesn't give you the right to dictate what people wear, or the right to judge them as being automatically racist, or culturally insensitive. Thanks for being an ally, but I really think you should let people of color be the judge of what they find offensive, not tell us what you're telling other white people what people of color are offended by, just because you heard one person say it was offensive to them.<br />
<br />
But again, one person does not speak for a whole group, which Zawn did point out in her own post. "Not all people of color are the same. Asking a single person of color to excuse your actions is inherently racist, because it treats all people of color as if they are the same. It relies on tokenism, and forces a single person of color to speak for an entire group" (npag). I would like to point out, that I agree with this statement, but I also see the irony in it as well. By telling someone they're "inherently racist" for asking a person of color this question of what they find to be cultural appropriation, aren't you, in fact, speaking for a whole group of people? Telling us WHAT we should see as racist? I understand that you're trying to be sensitive, and teach your child to be the same way, but what I see is yet another white person telling me how I should feel, and what should offend me because I am obviously to stupid to figure it out for myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, black face is wrong, culturally offensive, and morally
objected to by all people of color. Letting your child dress as their favorite
Disney Princess is not offensive, unless you let your child literally make it
offensive. Princess Tiana, for example, your child can wear that costume so
long as they don’t paint their body/face black to portray her. Letting your kid
dress as Mario from Super Mario Bros isn’t offensive either, unless you let it
be by affecting the fake, horrible Italian accent to demean and mock Italian
people. It’s really in how you choose to let your child, or in how you choose
to, portray the character you are going as.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I guess, what I am trying to say is this, I am tired of
white people telling me to be offended by things that are truly trivial, like a
child’s Halloween costume. I know you mean well, but I find it truly offensive
that you think people of color cannot decide for themselves what is truly
offensive. While you all talk of cultural appropriation, and how to avoid it,
you are telling people of color, “keep to yourselves, we don’t want to
integrate with you. You’re different, you’re not like us, and we really don’t
want to be like you. Being like you is bad.” That’s truly more offensive than
you, or your child, wearing a Moana costume. I find that to be another form of
discrimination, and truly offensive. To all the “white saviors” out there, are
you really trying to protect our feelings, or your own culture/way of life?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="left" class="SectionTitle">
Works Cited<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBibliography">
Zawn Villines. "5 Excuses White Parents Give for
Cultural Appropriation in Halloween Costumes-</div>
<div class="MsoBibliography">
And Why They're Wrong ." Pregnantandfeminist.blogspot.com,</div>
<div class="MsoBibliography">
pregnantandfeminist.blogspot.com/2017/10/5-excuses-white-parents-give-for.html.
Accessed 25 </div>
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Oct. 2017.</div>
<div class="MsoBibliography">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oxford Dictionaries | English.
"cultural appropriation | Definition of cultural appropriation in<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
English by Oxford Dictionaries." Oxford Dictionaries |
English,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/cultural_appropriation.
Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Margaret Drabble. "Cultural
appropriation - Oxford Reference." Oxfordreference.com,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199214921.001.0001/acref-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9780199214921-e-1528. Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Parul Sehgal. "Is Cultural
Appropriation Always Wrong?." Nytimes.com, 4 Oct. 2015,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
nytimes.com/2015/10/04/magazine/is-cultural-appropriation-always-wrong.html.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Alia E. Dastagir. "Is it OK for
a white kid to dress up as Moana for Halloween? And other <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cultural appropriation questions." USA TODAY, 23 Oct.
2017,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
usatoday.com/story/news/2017/10/23/halloween-cultural-appropriation-questions/780479001/. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Jessica Andrews. "Watch 6 Women
Destroy Your Culturally Appropriative Halloween <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Costume." Teen Vogue, teenvogue.com/story/cultural-appropriation-halloween-costume-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
video. Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Jane Ridley. "Moms are freaking
out that 'Moana' costume is 'cultural appropriation'." New York<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Post, 16 Oct. 2017, nypost.com/2017/10/16/moms-worry-trick-or-treating-as-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
moana-is-cultural-appropriation/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-79726823401074103982015-09-25T14:14:00.002-07:002015-09-25T17:52:15.487-07:00The Solution That's No Solution At All Approach For Disable Student's and Their Parents<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5dqrm-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5dqrm" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="5dqrm-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5dqrm.0:$5dqrm-0-0">I am writing this in response to <a href="http://www.10news.com/news/mom-fights-school-for-wheelchair-access">a news report</a> on the situation at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary School, and their response that they are “working with Mrs. Wesley”, and the truth behind their statements.
I am a friend of Alexis’, and I have been following this story since LAST year when the transportation department decided that after providing her with bus service, they were going to stop doing so because she “opted-in” to the school. I don’t know why, after all they had been providing it for her despite the fact that she had opted-in, but now they want to deny her children, and many like hers, the opportunity to get the same education as everyone else.</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="5dqrm-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5dqrm.0:$5dqrm-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bmevd-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$bmevd" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="bmevd-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$bmevd.0:$bmevd-0-0">This school is so much more than a school to her kids. It’s a community. As she has stated, many times over, the school is more than 30% disabled children. That is a community that makes her kids feel welcome. The school provides her children with a safe learning environment, which in these days, seems hard to come by. Currently there is a viral video of one brave boy standing up to a bully at his school who was beating up a blind child. Every child deserves to feel safe when they go to school to learn, and her kids get that level of comfort at this school.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fheun-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fheun" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="fheun-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fheun.0:$fheun-0-0"><br data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fheun.0:$fheun-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0">I am posting, along with links, her comments about this situation from her Facebook account. I have already cleared this with her permission. I hope someone will help her and her children, as much as she has helped her community. If you go to her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexis.wesley.52?hc_location=ufi">Facebook page</a> you will find that she does so much for everyone, but not very many are willing to return the favor that are in a position to do so. So far only ONE <a href="http://www.10news.com/news/mom-fights-school-for-wheelchair-access">reporter</a> has picked up her story and it needs to be more.
If, after reading her story, you feel compelled to truly help, please flood the San Diego Unified School District's Superintendent's mail box, voice mail box, and email in box. Here is that info:</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0">
Office of the Superintendent
4100 Normal Street, Room 2219
San Diego, CA 92103
619-725-7104 (Phone)
<a href="mailto:cmarten@sandi.net">Cindy Marten</a></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0">While you're doing that, contact the school as well:
Lindbergh Schweitzer
Principal: <a href="mailto:vpeterson@sandi.net">Victoria Peterson</a>
Telephone Number: (858) 496-8400 ext 2166
</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0">And since we're at it, maybe we can contact the transportation department that wrongfully took away her kids' only safe way to get to this one particular school, to which their only response has been a heartless "Enroll them in another school," which tells her that they don't believe her children deserve to go to a good, safe school:
Transportation Services</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="dcikl-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$dcikl.0:$dcikl-0-0"><a href="mailto:scaldwell@sandi.net">Scott Caldwell</a>
4710 Cardin St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Phone - (858) 496-8460
</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6mhj8-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6mhj8" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6mhj8-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6mhj8.0:$6mhj8-0-0"><br data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6mhj8.0:$6mhj8-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="86jlt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$86jlt" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="86jlt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$86jlt.0:$86jlt-0-0">09/08/15 @ 11:35am: Crazy morning!!! Got stuck in traffic due to a lane closure for 40 minutes making us late for the first day of school. Also they don't provide a drop off lane or enough parking so families usually park blocks away down residential streets and walk their (usually able-bodied) kids in. This is usually no big deal except this is the first school day after they cut bus services for many of us. People were circling the neighborhood and cops were there chasing parking cars out of alleys! I parked so far away that I had to carry Roland, two back packs, and pushed Laelia's wheelchair down several blocks of uneven pavement before I even saw the school! Roland was crying and I was drenched in sweat. I handed all Roland's required paperwork to the office, but was told that the school nurse wants Roland's medical records from Ukraine! (Hahahahhaha!!! Good luck with that!) </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="86jlt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$86jlt.0:$86jlt-0-0"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexis.wesley.52/videos/10208070040774716/">Video</a></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fku4u-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fku4u" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="line-height: 19.012px;">I was also told to come early in order to not get blocked in by buses for 20 to 30 minutes. The bus drivers were really apologetic and really friendly (and absolutely shocked we lost bus service) but had nowhere else to go to get out of the way of the handicap parking spots and the joke of a disabled pick up/drop off spot. I'm sorry but I don't want to pull my kids out of school early every single day due to this! I am limited in what I can do because I have special needs students and need to load a wheelchair into the back! I need bus service back, darn it!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="97brd-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$97brd.0:$97brd-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="986n6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$986n6" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="986n6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$986n6.0:$986n6-0-0">@ 6:37pm: A teacher at the school came to chat with me as I spent over a half hour trying to get my kids (while school buses blocked the handicap spots) and told me, "Many students stay home the first day because of this." Another mom spoke up and said, "Sometimes the first week!"</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="986n6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$986n6" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="986n6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$986n6.0:$986n6-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="efjfs-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$efjfs" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="efjfs-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$efjfs.0:$efjfs-0-0">Not cool. A school with a student body that is 30% disabled needs a better system.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="efjfs-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$efjfs" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="efjfs-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$efjfs.0:$efjfs-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="d1l4f-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1l4f" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="d1l4f-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1l4f.0:$d1l4f-0-0">@ 7:19pm I was also told to come early in order to not get blocked in by buses for 20 to 30 minutes. The bus drivers were really apologetic and really friendly (and absolutely shocked we lost bus service) but had nowhere else to go to get out of the way of the handicap parking spots and the joke of a disabled pick up/drop off spot. I'm sorry but I don't want to pull my kids out of school early every single day due to this! I am limited in what I can do because I have special needs students and need to load a wheelchair into the back! I need bus service back, darn it!</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="d1l4f-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1l4f" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="d1l4f-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1l4f.0:$d1l4f-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="f5nej-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f5nej" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="f5nej-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f5nej.0:$f5nej-0-0">09/09/15 @ 11:35am: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexis.wesley.52/videos/10208074247119872/">Video</a> </span><span style="line-height: 19.012px;">The dangerous way the special needs parents exit the lot after getting our kids. We just cross our fingers and hope a car is not pulling in as we're reversing our way out.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4qav-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4qav" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="4qav-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4qav.0:$4qav-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="3roi-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$3roi" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="line-height: 19.012px;">This <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexis.wesley.52/videos/10208074169037920/">video</a> shows how we were forced to go from the handicap parking spaces/drop off (we got there early so it wouldn't be crazy) into the street to get to campus. We are literally forced into the road where, to no one's surprise, Roland darted in front of a car this morning. Not the car's fault since we were literally in the street! I cried my way into a meeting with the transportation specialist, then the Vice Principal, and eventually the principal herself who I took on a tour. Everyone agrees it's ridiculous but don't know how to fix it. Major changes need to happen for a safe drop off and pick up that is under an hour from the time of arrival. I just told her, "School buses block this drop off in the afternoons and its locked in the mornings! Tell me what I need to do to get my kids with disabilities to school safely where I won't get blocked in for over half an hour and I will do it." Looks like the city and police department need to get involved to make the necessary changes, but in the meantime they are working on somehow helping my two get into school safely. I'm expecting a call from the principal before the end of the day. The plan in the meantime is to have my kids miss the last 20 minutes of school each day so I can get them before the buses block the handicap parking. Yeah...</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2un76-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2un76" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2un76-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2un76.0:$2un76-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4vpof-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4vpof" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="4vpof-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4vpof.0:$4vpof-0-0">09/10/15: More school drama. Met with the principal again today where I asked her to join me in dropping off my kids at school. She saw for herself special needs kids in wheelchairs being taken into the street with no safe access to the building and a giant delivery truck blocking the handicap drop off. Even though I arrived half an hour early there were no available handicap spots (preventing me from unloading my daughter), the gates were locked, and the delivery truck was blocking the spot in the curb lowered for access. The principal stopped a few other parents and an aide unloading kids and running them into the road, and they all complained. She told me if I hadn't continued to complain that she never would have known this was a problem since it's been this way for years. (I told her that there are a lot more of us now that the district no longer buses special needs kids who opt into special needs schools. But that's a different battle.)</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4vpof-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4vpof" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="4vpof-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4vpof.0:$4vpof-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a62la-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a62la" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="a62la-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a62la.0:$a62la-0-0">Winning! Starting tomorrow there will be an assigned staff person at the gate allowing kids with special needs into the building safely. Another parent ran up to me in the auditorium to thank me for working this out! This doesn't solve the problem that there are not enough handicap spots, but it does become much safer for the lucky few who do manage to get a spot.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a62la-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a62la" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="a62la-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a62la.0:$a62la-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e0hvt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e0hvt" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="e0hvt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e0hvt.0:$e0hvt-0-0">Now that drop off is better I'll focus on pick up. School buses block in the handicap parking daily and the only recourse I was given was to pull my kids out of class early every day (!) to avoid being blocked in for half an hour. Unacceptable.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e0hvt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e0hvt" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="e0hvt-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e0hvt.0:$e0hvt-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fan0h-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fan0h" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="fan0h-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fan0h.0:$fan0h-0-0">09/11/15: Has the bestest safest accessiblest drop off today at school! They opened the gate and had the VP there to open it for disabled students. Many parents were thrilled!</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fan0h-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fan0h" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="fan0h-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fan0h.0:$fan0h-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="d6eov-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d6eov" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="d6eov-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d6eov.0:$d6eov-0-0">Pick up from school still completely unbestest, unsafest, and unaccessiblest. We're blocked in by buses and I was told by the principal that there's nothing she can do about it and there is zero way to get my kids so oh well. I was told I should not continue to pull my kids out of school early to be able to reach them, but I could not get them after the buses leave or it would be considered abandonment, and would I please stop getting so upset about it! Yeah... I wrote an email to the superintendent today about opening up the other lot (which would mean roping off that section so students wouldn't be there, and I volunteered to do that daily). I doubt I'll hear back. If not, invitations to come pick up my kids with me goes to every news station in San Diego.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="d6eov-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d6eov" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="d6eov-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d6eov.0:$d6eov-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0.0:$2hmm0-0-0">09/14/15 @ 11:52am: Showed up to a locked gate and no one there. I have a deficit of emotional energy to deal with this. I'm starting to get stomach aches when getting my kids to and from school.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0.0:$2hmm0-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xST1wwyukP8/VgW3AI46VrI/AAAAAAAAARk/MhXHJyO4y-s/s1600/Gates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xST1wwyukP8/VgW3AI46VrI/AAAAAAAAARk/MhXHJyO4y-s/s320/Gates.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0.0:$2hmm0-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2hmm0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2hmm0.0:$2hmm0-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="67ia7-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$67ia7" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="67ia7-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$67ia7.0:$67ia7-0-0">@3:05pm: Sent to the Office of Quality Assurance just now:</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="67ia7-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$67ia7" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="67ia7-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$67ia7.0:$67ia7-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e36os-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e36os" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="e36os-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e36os.0:$e36os-0-0">To Whom It May Concern:</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e36os-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e36os" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="e36os-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e36os.0:$e36os-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6s3du-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6s3du" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6s3du-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6s3du.0:$6s3du-0-0">For the last six school days (including this morning) there has only been one morning my kids had safe, accessible access to get to Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary School (west campus). That was Friday when the Vice Principal stood at the gate to let in kids in wheelchairs. If he is not there (like this Monday morning) then we are forced into the street past a red curb to get into the school. My son ran into the street as he has some behavioral and emotional issues and was almost hit by a car.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6s3du-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6s3du" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6s3du-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6s3du.0:$6s3du-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1b9t2-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1b9t2" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1b9t2-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1b9t2.0:$1b9t2-0-0">As for pick up in the afternoons I have NEVER had safe, accessible access to get my kids since the handicap parking lot turns into a parking space for buses which completely cuts off that lot. And it's the only lot for the west campus. I was told by the principal that she does not have the authority to move the buses and allow access to the special needs drop off/parking spaces.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1b9t2-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1b9t2" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1b9t2-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1b9t2.0:$1b9t2-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1c2df-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1c2df" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1c2df-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1c2df.0:$1c2df-0-0">In order to avoid the buses blocking the school lot I have been forced to pick up my children half an hour early, and even then I still get blocked in and must wait with my children until 15 minutes after school gets out. I was told in no uncertain terms that pulling them out early is bad, but that showing up when the handicapped parking is available is also bad as it's after the pick up time and I could be accused of abandonment.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1c2df-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1c2df.0:$1c2df-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="f7kv0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f7kv0" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="f7kv0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f7kv0.0:$f7kv0-0-0">(There is no curb access from the handicapped parking on the street. So there's a blue curb and handicap sign but no way to get up that curb with a wheelchair! But I've been informed that that is a city issue, and not your problem. But once again, there's no access!)</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f7kv0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f7kv0.0:$f7kv0-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7pef0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7pef0" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="7pef0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7pef0.0:$7pef0-0-0">Why is this a problem now? Well, many of us who have children with physical disabilities (I have two such children this year), had bus services for the last several years which provided safe and accessible access to school. But all of the families who have opted in to this school known for their services and community for special needs children (who make up 30% of the student body) lost our bus services this year. Without bus services and without a way to get our children to and from school since they are not able-bodied, we are stuck without options. The ONLY option I've been given is to attend another school.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="714lq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$714lq.0:$714lq-0-0">Help.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="714lq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$714lq" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="714lq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$714lq.0:$714lq-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6q34d-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6q34d" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6q34d-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6q34d.0:$6q34d-0-0">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4486r-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4486r.0:$4486r-0-0">Alexis Wesley </span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4486r-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4486r" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="4486r-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4486r.0:$4486r-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4fg08-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4fg08" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="4fg08-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4fg08.0:$4fg08-0-0">@ 4:26 pm: There is no curb access from the handicap street spot! Also the only crosswalk which is way out of the way doesn't have access at the end of it and you have to go into the street to get onto the sidewalk. The principal suggested I park on the street with the other parents while the handicap lot is blocked, as if we had a flying wheelchair! When I pointed out that there was no access to the sidewalk and I couldn't get the wheelchair to the school from the handicap spot she said that that was the city's problem. So today I complained to the city because that will just fix everything... Not!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4fg08-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4fg08.0:$4fg08-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6dcfh-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6dcfh" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6dcfh-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6dcfh.0:$6dcfh-0-0">09/15/15 @ 9:26am: The principal was at the gate letting in special needs kids today. My daily morning worry/stress stomach ache was unnecessary.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6dcfh-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6dcfh" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6dcfh-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6dcfh.0:$6dcfh-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9jitf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9jitf" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="9jitf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9jitf.0:$9jitf-0-0">@ 6:19pm: Handicap lot was still bus parking so my daughter's aide had to walk the kids down the street where I illegally parked in an alley so I could safely load them in the car with enough room to navigate the wheelchair. Pretty much it sucked.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9jitf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9jitf" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="9jitf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9jitf.0:$9jitf-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b6ugq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$b6ugq" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="b6ugq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$b6ugq.0:$b6ugq-0-0">09/16/15: I drop my kids off at school (vice principal at the gate!), have a meeting with my Parent Support Liaison who is sending emails to transportation and special ed dept today, stop by Target to buy a couple lunch boxes for the kids, and get home to find that EIGHT NIT KITS FOR THE WOMEN'S SHELTER HAVE BEEN FUNDED!!! Thank you!!! What a great morning!</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b6ugq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$b6ugq" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="b6ugq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$b6ugq.0:$b6ugq-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a9erf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a9erf" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="a9erf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a9erf.0:$a9erf-0-0">09/17/15: The bad news is that if my kid had an emergency we'll be blocked in because transportation illegally blocks the handicap parking and exit. But the good news is, there's a sign! (/s)</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0">Note how the only handicap access is not available from 3:15-4:15, yet school gets out at 3:45 and pulling kids out early is truant and getting them late is abandonment! What is another option for safe accessible access to our special needs children? The answer is screw you!</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqrAw9DhcKw/VgW3QayzZ6I/AAAAAAAAARs/sUMQP9pmJPc/s1600/Stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqrAw9DhcKw/VgW3QayzZ6I/AAAAAAAAARs/sUMQP9pmJPc/s320/Stop.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<div style="color: #999999; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #999999; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0">09/21/15 The response she received from the transportation department in regards to possible changes and solutions to provide every disabled child with safe access, and remember while you're reading this, they (the school, district, and transportation) are "working with her":</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0" style="color: #999999; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Ms. Wesley,
Thank you for bringing up your concerns about our bus loading zones at Lindbergh. Transportation takes student safety very seriously and I would like to answer your concerns and let you know why the loading zone is set up as it is today.
The bus loading zone at one time encompassed the entire curb line in front of the school with both Magnet buses and Special Ed buses unloading on both sides of the main walkway into the school. The school administration asked if we could modify the loading zone to allow parents access to the front of the school. After a review of the site it was determined we could free up a portion of the curb line in front of the school and safely place the Special Education buses in the staff parking lot because there would be no movement of staff vehicles in the lot when the buses arrive. At the end of the day the majority of the staff would be able to exit the lot without interfering with the loading of students near the gate. This move allowed the school to have a handicapped zone & a 3 minute parking zone in front for their parents. These separate bus loading zones have been in place and working great for years and it is the safest option available.
You had mentioned about opening the gate at the end of the staff parking lot to allow buses on the playground. We looked at this option when we made the change. The blacktop does not have the structural integrity to accommodate a school bus so we cannot use it. Likewise having buses circle a loading zone would not be feasible either as it would cause the buses to run late on the Lindbergh routes as well as the routes those buses service afterward.
You indicated that the parent drop off and bus loading zones were not separate. In fact they are separate the Magnet buses loading zone is on the north side of the main walkway and the parent drop of is on the south side. The bus and parent loading zones are also separated by a red curb as well. The Special Ed buses are located in the Staff Parking Lot.
At Lindbergh the loading zones are designed so vehicles will not pass directly into the bus loading areas. The loading zone in front of the school is clearly marked “School Buses Only” and the Special Ed loading is in the staff parking lot which is clearly posted as “Staff Parking Only”. Parents should not be using the staff lot to load or unload students as parent parking has been provided at the front of the school on Mt. Albertine Ave.
The layout of the school site does not allow for many variations of the loading zones or parent pick up points as there is only one curb line that is accessible due to the fact that Balboa Ave is all red curb because of the traveled portion of the roadway that makes it unsafe.
I hope this answers your questions about the current conditions as well as gives you a little background on why the loading zones were placed where they are today. If you have additional questions feel free to contact me and I will do my best to provide those answers as well.
I appreciate you taking the time to voice your concerns and our staff will continue to look at the issues and work with the school to provide the safest options for our students.
Thank you,
Scott</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0" style="color: #999999; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0" style="color: #999999; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was her response:</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0" style="color: #999999; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
This right here is my problem. You say parents should not be using the staff lot as if there is any other safe or accessible option. You say "parent parking has been provided at the front of the school on Mt. Albertine Ave" as if my kids are able-bodied and don't require wheelchair access. There is no curb cut out for wheelchairs on Mt. Albertine and when I told the school that they agreed it was a problem--just the city's problem.
If you don't move the buses I can't get to my kids. Period. I invite you to come pick them up with me sometime and see for yourself.
</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1nehq-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1nehq.0:$1nehq-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="f6fl6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f6fl6" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="f6fl6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$f6fl6.0:$f6fl6-0-0">09/22/15 @9:26am: The final answer from the school is no. No, they will not provide a safe, accessible pick up for my kids. I spoke briefly to the principal this morning and she told me transportation refuses to move the buses, even move them up enough to let cars out. She then shrugged and said "it IS a staff parking lot" like that label made it okay there was no other handicap access and students clearly used the lot as it was the only handicap drop off. Her tone made me want to cry. She thinks she put in a good effort by asking and having all those meetings with me and oh well it's just not going to work out. She's done.</span></div>
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<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="80h0s-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$80h0s" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="80h0s-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$80h0s.0:$80h0s-0-0">My stomach is in knots, but my kids need a lawyer. Any San Diego recommendations?</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="80h0s-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$80h0s.0:$80h0s-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fg8q9-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fg8q9" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="fg8q9-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$fg8q9.0:$fg8q9-0-0">@ 12:15pm: Yeah it's not about how they are set up, but how the school handles it. Like there is a lot the buses could pull up into, but they say they can't/won't. Then why can't the special needs families pull up there? Because they don't want to mess with it (lock and unlock that gate). That's just a school that doesn't care.</span></div>
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<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="58ku6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$58ku6" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="58ku6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$58ku6.0:$58ku6-0-0">09/23/15: Facebook is becoming my little record of wrongs. We arrived to school this morning to a locked gate and special needs kids walking into the street to enter the building. We entered the staff gate which at first I thought may have been opened so kids wouldn't be in the street but we got nasty looks when we did and someone ran up and locked it behind us so I don't think it was left open for our safety--just by accident.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="58ku6-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$58ku6.0:$58ku6-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="33rh4-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$33rh4" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="33rh4-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$33rh4.0:$33rh4-0-0">09/24/15: Got an email from the transportation operations supervisor this morning that made me cry buckets. (Long email short: He said to use the parking that's inaccessible.) It also encouraged me to finally do the press release. I hate that it's come to this. Why can't my kids have a safe way to get to school without calling the press? I love this school, why do I have to fight it?</span></div>
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<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9utrr-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9utrr" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="9utrr-0-0" data-reactid=".0.0.1.$right.0.0.0.0.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9utrr.0:$9utrr-0-0">09/24/15: Daddy took the kids to school this morning. The gate was locked. A person who matched the description of the principal said he arrived too late for gate access. As they were speaking it was 9:10. School starts at 9:15. They were not late for class, just for access.</span></div>
Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-3799163293322640862014-02-04T20:04:00.000-08:002014-02-04T20:04:00.098-08:00Been a while......Since I wrote here. I've been busy keeping my life put together. It hasn't been easy but Scott and the kids and I are doing well. Trying hard to keep our heads afloat, but things are falling into place as they should be. I've been really sick since last Wednesday, but other than that I am good. Will write more later.<br />
Mahalo<br />
MikkiMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-11504874539340867562013-02-25T12:46:00.002-08:002013-02-25T12:46:46.499-08:00Well I fucked up for my graduation in JuneI had to drop my required math class this quarter because I was falling behind in it. With all the essay's I had to write for my English class and for my Spanish class, I fell way too far behind in my math. Sigh. So hopefully I can graduate at the end of fall, but it means I will have to wait to walk in June next year. However, It gives me time to complete the extra English classes for a special certification that will give me a boost when I apply for UW Bachelor of English program.<br />
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Hubby changed his major as well. I quit my job with Jackson's back in January because I wasn't getting the time off to go to school. I have another job and now Hubby has a job too. So now we have two incomes coming in. It's good to have the help. I don't feel like everything is up to me to accomplish alone anymore.<br />
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I am going to take the summer off from classes. I need a break from school. I've been so stressed about graduating that I have spent some time in the pit of depression. I need to re-focus my life, and I need some time off from school. It'll get better... and I will graduate. When I do I will post pictures and the video from the ceremony.<br />
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Mahalo<br />
MicaelaMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-16739733233802503952012-11-18T20:28:00.001-08:002012-11-18T20:28:09.164-08:00The HolidaysThanksgiving is coming up. I will actually have it off for the first time in years. I have the day all planned out. Up bright and early at 5 am to start getting the turkey ready. I'll be baking pies all week (I plan on giving some out to co-workers and neighbors). We'll be buying a real tree this year, we will most likely be decorating it on Thanksgiving. We've been stashing money all year for Christmas. I'm super excited, but even more than that, the kids will be super excited. It's been 3 years since we've been able to do Christmas properly, and now we've finally gotten into a position where we can.<br />
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Along with the Holidays, comes the family stress. I have tried to tell people that I don't care what my family says anymore, but they like to stir the pot. Apparently I am still "lying" about my family. Whatever. Listen, I have nothing to be ashamed of, I have never lied, if my family wanted to keep the skeletons in the closet, they should never have lied about me. I hate when people say shit that isn't true. I have NEVER lied about my family, the truth is always more fun. Too bad they can't get that through their thick skulls. Oh well.<br />
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The kids are doing awesome. Buddy broke his wrist at the end of September, then I pulled my ACL a week later. It's still not healed and L&I seems to be dragging their feet. I can't stand on it for long periods of time without it hurting. It never feels stable, and frankly I wish they would just fix it one way or another. I am going on two months of the damn injury and it's driving me nuts. :( Buddy got his cast off on Halloween... lucky kid. Well, that's it for now. I know not much, but I got promoted two weeks ago and got put into a brand new store, so while we've been working out the kinks (seriously, the store only opened two weeks ago) my boss and I have been pulling LONG days and longer weeks. ( She's had more days off than me though).Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-27086909072621985212012-09-18T01:58:00.000-07:002012-09-18T01:58:18.639-07:00Change is a comingNew quarter of school starts in one week. Yay! A lot of changes have happened in just 6 months time. After being homeless for two years, I got an apartment. My family and I finally have some security. My husband is going to his fifth quarter of school while I am entering my seventh quarter.<br />
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Work is going good. I am working all over right now. I got a promotion in July, then my store was closed for a complete rebuild. Unfortunately the position I held at my old store was already filled so they made me a book floater. Basically means I go to all the stores and do their books when they need me to. Only 7 more weeks to go until my store reopens. YAY!<br />
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The kids had their birthdays over the summer. Baby girl got her kittens and Buddy got his video camera. The video camera was such a good deal. I thought my whole budget for his bday was going to go towards his video camera, but actually it only cost me $50 brand new. I walked into the store and walked past the electronics department. I notice they had a Flip camera on clearance. It was on sale for $95. Their clearance sale took an additional 40% off, bringing it down to $60. Since they only had the demo model left, they knocked $10 off the final price. When I got home I looked it up. It is the Flip Ultra 3rd Generation (newest model) and on Amazon it goes for $350 dollars. That is a savings of 85%. Baby girl's kittens were rescues. She was only supposed to get one, but she has daddy wrapped around her finger and she got a brother and sister pair. Honestly it was for the best to get both because with everyone in school, they spend a lot of time alone. They have each other so they don't get lonely for the few hours they have to be left alone.<br />
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This blog will more than likely be talked about by my siblings. I hear they're spreading their usual lies and rumors. I don't know why, but I do know I am not going to engage them anymore. I've moved on with my life, I hope someday they move on with theirs. The kids in my family (yes me included) were seriously fucked up by our parents. Dad screwed up my brother and one of my sisters, my mom messed up the other. these kids were their "favorites". I was the child no one wanted. After hearing it from multiple sources, I know why I was unwanted. My oldest brother said it first, then it was my moms friend (who was an aunt to me and now is no one) but apparently I am the product of a rape. My father raped my mother in one of his drunken rages, and she got pregnant with me. She never wanted me. It's taken me 32 years, but I finally can say that I did nothing to deserve the hatred she showed me while growing up. I always thought I was not good enough, when really, it was my parents who were lacking.<br />
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Well that's it for now. I've done my blog update, and my personal mini-therapy session all in one. Hope you all have a blessed week. I'll update again as soon as I can. School and work and two active kids keep me really busy.<br />
Mahalo<br />
MicaelaMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-85163654459215785082012-09-01T11:31:00.001-07:002012-09-01T11:31:13.168-07:00I have 6 quarters of school under my belt... And it feels great! This quarter I am taking two more classes online. As we only have one vehicle it will make things easier for me to get school work done, get the kids to and from school (we have to drive them and pick them up as well) and still go to work full time. My GPA isn't super high, but it's decent, almost a 3.0, I am having issues with my Spanish class, but maybe I should drop it all together and finish my ASL instead? I don't know. We'll see how it goes. I am NOT going after my nursing degree anymore, solely because my heart really isn't in it. I've always been a good writer, and while waiting for required classes to open I took some creative writing classes. I gained a 4.0 and a 3.8 in both and my instructor advised me to switch my major as she could tell I had a love of writing. So, now I am going for my AA in liberal arts as an English Major. I am going to purchase Rosetta Stone for two languages, Spanish and Russian, and get my teaching degree instead of my nursing degree. I won't make a lot of money as a teacher, but it will still be triple what I make now, so that makes it ok. Besides, Hubby is going for Masters in Computer Science, he can make all the money. :) I should be done with my reqs by the end of spring and able to graduate in June with my AA. I can't wait.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-5634152030856572552012-08-31T00:23:00.001-07:002012-08-31T00:23:49.199-07:00President Obama, I support you.I support President Obama. I have my reasons. But I have to open this to Mitt Romney as well.<br />
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Mitt, America is my country, I was born here, I don't question whether or not my President was born here, but I DO question the person who is running for President what they have to hide when they REFUSE to share more than 2 years of tax returns with the country. Your own father said that two years could be a fluke and that anyone not willing to release at least ten years worth of tax returns has something to hide. George Romney would be ASHAMED to call you his son. And to try and USE your wife's illnesses as a way to gain sympathy is ridiculous. For Shame Romney.<br />
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By the way, America is NOT a business, we are a country! You are claiming you are going to run this country like a business, you mean like those businesses you closed down and sent good American jobs overseas? Yeah that is NOT what this country needs. We need to tax companies for sending jobs overseas, and companies need to start providing AFFORDABLE insurance for their employees. Why do I have to pay $400 a month to cover my family with health insurance when I only make $1600 a month? How am I supposed to support a family of four on only $1200 a month?<br />
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You and Ryan are completely out to lunch. It is to bad you have never gotten a real dose of reality in your life. You back-pedal worse than Lindsey Lohan on a good day. That's ok though, Mr. Romney, because the American people can see through your lies and falsehoods, down to the real you, the one not right for running a business, let alone our great country. Even if I had a gun to my head to not vote Obama, I still wouldn't vote for you. I'd write in a vote... better yet, I'd vote for Roseanne Barr before I would EVER vote for you.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-5248404732999666132012-05-24T12:57:00.000-07:002012-05-24T12:57:27.158-07:00I don't have to stalk people when they give information to my friendsApparently my older brother who's "gay" and has "AIDS" and is "dying" has posted a blog about me. Awww, how sweet. Apparently I stalk him and don't have a GED or go to school now while working full time, and I'm a liar and deceptive and filled with venom and hate for him. Awww, sorry bro, but whoever reads your blog doesn't know the real you, or the fact that you're a convicted child molester, or the fact that you stole money from your dying mother's bank account because you and dad have the same name and his name was still attached to the account AFTER he died. I bet you thought the money was rightfully yours as you are the "oldest" son of dad's, which is a lie. Why is it a lie? Because dad had three other son's besides you, Jimmy and the twins (with another woman). Or at least this is what I have been told by dad (before he died) and his family and mom too. Go ahead call your dead parents liars, I dare you.<br />
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I do not falsely claim to be working on my BSN, I am in school now for my Pre-nursing degree at Pierce College in Washington. Once I obtain that I will apply for every ADN (that's an Associates Degree in Nursing in case you're wondering) program in the state of Washington. After I complete that I will apply for every BSN (Bachelors of Science and Nursing FYI) in the country. My grades are good, not great, but hey I work full-time and am raising two kids with my husband, and yes we were legally married by our pastor and friend at City of Light Community Church in Federal Way WA. I don't have to lie about things that are true. I don't ask for help anymore, my so-called siblings and aunt cured me of that. I rely only on my husband and myself to get where I am going. after I asked them for help, they go around spreading lies about me telling people who I thought were friends just enough to make them (my sibs and aunt) look like angels and me look like a conniving, evil bitch who spews venom and hate.<br />
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The sad thing is, I don't hate them, I feel pity for them. They feel they have to lie to cover up the bad things they do so they can hopefully make people see them as really good people. I'm the black sheep because I didn't spend my life sponging off of my parents (as if they would have had anything to offer me after three of my sibs drained them dry) and because I won't buy into their bull-shit. Oh well, God knows what's in everyone's heart, and I don't have to worry about me, I just will continue to pray for my siblings and aunt and hope they find God soon. Life is too short to waste on trash, that's why I choose not to worry about them. I only wrote this blog to set the record straight. I do not lie because I don't have to.<br />
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So Larry, if you're reading this, stop lying to people about your condition, even your sister Sue said that IF you actually have HIV you've only had it a couple of years. Matty said you refused to have safe sex with him (that's the guy you were abusive with) and I can validate my education with grades and transcripts, can you? I want all of you to leave me alone and stop spreading lies about me. I do hear about it from other people you know. I don't have to stalk anyone's blog to find out. I don't even follow your sisters blog anymore, because none of you are worth wasting my time over. I'll live my life, you go live what's left of yours.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-14621008529225588062012-04-13T01:13:00.001-07:002012-04-13T01:13:51.892-07:00Married LifeI can't believe how much married life has changed me. I am so much more aware of my loving husband. He is so much more affectionate. Oh my goodness it has been awesome these last two months. I'm crazy scared that I know I will lose him one day (there is a 21 year age difference) and I just know I will be completely devastated. I just know that I am going to cherish every loving moment I have with him the God is willing to give us. It only took us 14 years to come to this point, I am all for a long term relationship before marriage, it just works out.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0Milton, WA 98354, USA47.2498904 -122.317846747.2283334 -122.35732870000001 47.2714474 -122.2783647tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-15274878880573839972012-02-13T22:39:00.001-08:002012-02-13T23:02:07.921-08:00Things are looking up!In less than four days I will be moving my family out of the crummy hotel and into a decent apartment. And in 12 days, I will be marrying the love of my life. So much to do and so little time to do it in. I stopped blogging for a while because my sibs were stalking my blog and telling friends I had known for a long time that I was crazy. I let those go that decided to believe them over me and kept those that knew me better than that. This is my blog, my therapy, my life. Now that they don't have mommy and daddy to take advantage of, they're looking to cause trouble. They have people I was very close to totally snowed. Not my loss, it's theirs. I'm happy now and they're pissed because I've gotten over being their family. They're pissed because I'm standing on my own two feet and I don't need them. My fiance and I are so happy. It's been a long time coming but we're making the right decision for our family. Only three people will be missing from the wedding, my new brother David, My niece Katrina, and my new sister Carol. If I can I will post pics of the wedding and new apartment soon. School is also keeping me from blogging as much. I am doing ok there.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-55906268055556180722011-10-26T21:42:00.000-07:002011-10-26T22:27:27.870-07:00School is going great and I am learning things about ......psychological disorders and I realized something most profound this week. It's not my fault. My family's behavior, they're "poor me I'm a victim attitude" is their chemical imbalance in their brain.<br /><br />My brother suffered from ADHD as a child, and that is OFTEN diagnosed along ODD which is Oppositional Defiant Disorder, which progresses in the teen years into CD or Conduct Disorder. CD then progresses into ASPD also known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder. You can find all sorts of videos on YouTube on both ASPD and ODD. And people who suffer from this often blame others for their problems. "It's not my fault, it was my mom's fault I stole the car she made me mad..." this was said by a 7 year old whole his grandmothers car and wrecked it and five other cards along with it.<br /><br />My brother at a young age would act out violently and blame others for his behavior. Even as an adult he's not to blame for his illness (he claims he's HIV Positive for the last 14 years but he supposedly was only diagnosed a couple years ago according to my sister, but she's a "recovering" addict and also doesn't believe her choices should have consequences and that she can't be held responsible for her actions) it's the fault of his boyfriend who "didn't" inform him he had the disease. I remember this man, his name was Matty. I also remember seeing the bruises on Matty's face after a terrible fight with my brother. Matty blamed himself and he worried about my brother because my brother REFUSED to protect himself when they had sex. Matty informed my brother that he was HIV positive and my brother acted like it was no big deal. My brother wouldn't let Matty wear protection either, and if he tried to fight my brother on the issue my brother would hit him. My brother must suffer from severe ASPD and the only way to help him is for him to be in prison, or so the research shows.<br /><br />My sisters are the same way, always blaming others for their misfortune. One sister goes even further to exploit her friends and readers of her blog by telling them I'm the crazy one. Everything that comes out of my mouth is a lie and I'm a sociopath. I must be a very terrible one because I have a sense of morality that won't allow me to take advantage of people's good nature like they do. If I was a sociopath I would be able to manipulate what I wanted out of people without remorse or guilt, but I hate even asking for help. The only reason I do is for my kids.<br /><br />I do have my own issues though. I'm not perfect nor am I claiming to be. I just realised that I may suffer from ADHD. I did an indepth research project on the subject and found that every symptom listed in DSM-IV (save for one) I could mark and emphatic yes on.<br /><br />Anyhow I have come to the conclusion that I have done right by myself by cutting my sisters and brother out of my life. Thanks for listening.<br />Mahalo,<br />MicaelaMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-38651397903173453292011-06-28T19:46:00.000-07:002011-06-28T19:56:19.202-07:00Finally!My daughter finally had her tonsils taken out. # years of fighting with dr's telling them there was something wrong with her tonsils because they were swollen and them telling me I'm WRONG that her tonsils were normal. The last time she was sick I took her to see her doctor and told him she was constantly sick. He asked one question, "does she snore?" Like a mack truck rumblin down the street with a flat tire. He said her adenoids and tonsils needed to come out. Referred her to a ENT specialist he took one look at her tonsils and said they need to come out. Made an appointment for her. She had it yesterday. She came through like a champ. The doctor came out after he was done (20 minutes later) and said her tonsils and adenoids were HUGE!!! Hmmmm Seems like once again I was right. I've come to the conclusion the Doctors don't really care about their patients unless they have lots of cash or private insurance. I have medic-aid for my kids and no one wanted to help them. Their new doctor totally is awesome. Anyhow, she pulled through just fine she's not feeling tooo horrible (her throat hurts but she's got energy up the wazoo) trying to eat whatever she can but having a hard time swallowing the soft foods she is allowed. She's such a trooper.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-66920661059359646252011-06-16T09:26:00.000-07:002011-06-16T09:31:52.717-07:00SchoolI have finished the spring quarter with a B in Biology and a C in Math. I took an Incomplete in English to finish two essays. I should get an A once those are done. I had great teachers this quarter and am hoping for the same this quarter. I had to drop a class as I need the money to fix my car and pay rent. :( oh well I only dropped a Math class and I am still on track for the end of next summer. That's the important part there. I will by this summer have completed my req's for a world language with ASL 121 and 122 and have Psych 100 under my belt along with 30 credits. I am beyond excited.<br />Mahalo<br />MicaMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-76299171474907880972011-05-27T07:23:00.000-07:002011-05-28T08:58:50.232-07:00My long term goalsI am doing well. Actually better than that, I am very blessed. I have family who loves me (Carol, David, Katrina, Vincent, Taryn, and Scott) friends who give moral support and encouragement from miles and miles away (the Yaya's and all my FB buddies) and I am in school working on my degree. I had a negative nelly tell me I couldn't overload my credits for the summer... guess what? I got my extra class. Now they're saying that I won't pass it because the teacher is a jack who just gives you the work and doesn't help you with it... guess what, I will not only pass the class, I'll ace it, and do you know why? Because I hate it when people tell me I can't. My family always told me I can't do this or I can't do that, and for years I listened, I believed that when they said I wasn't smart enough, or pretty enough, or good enough. Well I don't listen any more. I believe in myself and my abilities. I am smart enough, I am good enough, and dammit I am pretty. I may not be movie star gorgeous, but I look good when I put the effort forth to do more than just brush my hair. Anyhow, I plan on being done with over two years of pre-req's by the end of next summer. I'm on track with that so far which is good for me. I am blessed and I say thank you to all who have been there for me and made me realise just how good I really am.<br />Mahalo<br />MicaMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-60602693359185822432011-05-24T16:41:00.000-07:002011-05-24T16:44:19.550-07:00Dream boardMy sister Carol asked me what is on my dream board today. Today it is to complete my pre-reqs so that I will get accepted into the Nursing program at my school. I also dream of one day being able to speak four other languages (at least) two of which I will take classes for in the next year, Spanish and ASL (American Sign Language).Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-46184617926376133292011-05-24T09:38:00.000-07:002011-05-24T10:04:17.495-07:00For all too long I have made this blog about mebut so what, it's my blog. Now you know all about me and my life growing up... well not all, but certainly a lot more than anyone else in this crazy world will tell ya. A little more about me. I am 30 goin on 31. I've spent much of my life being told I was no good and never would be by my family. what am I doing today? I'm at school, an actual accredited college (community college is still college) working on my pre-requisites to get into the ADN to BSN transfer program to UW. For those that don't know what that means and ADN is an Associates Degree in Nursing and a BSN is a Bachelors of Science Nursing degree. I don't associate with my biological family anymore because they just can't face the truth of their crimes and like to tell the world they are actually the victims and I'm an insane Sociopath. But is anyone ever truly sane? My sweet niece asked me that the other day, and you know she is absolutely right. So as of Now I have decided to go my own way. I can say I never lived off of my mom and dad, my sibs can't, I can say i was never an addict, my sibs can't, and I can say that I am not a bad parent, my sibs can't, they will, but they'd be lying. What mother or father lets their children live in squalor when they can change it? What mother leaves her kids with her cancer riddled mother for weeks on end just so she can go out and get high without judgement? My two sisters did that. I on the other hand work full-time, go to school full-time and love my children enough to work on getting a degree that will get me out of being homeless and into a great and rewarding career. My sister has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and like the other two sibs in my family who were diagnosed with a mental disease CLAIMS she doesn't need medication... lol. She also claims she can open a childcare center in her home even though she has been diagnosed with BPD... who in their right mind would have given her a liscense? Now I know she's full of shit and I should have known it from the get go when she started talking out her ass, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt and she proved to me what a sucker I can be. Arrgghgh, ok, enough about her... i guess I'm still mad about how she lies about me on her blog, butI need to get over it. I wrote about it in the blog before this and it made me feel better. I wrote without anger and without being beligerent. I am good. I am calm, I am happy and I am very proud of myself for going on this path to school to have a career. Anyhow Just a note to let you all know that I will be updating this blog with more posts on my and my studies and my kids from now on. The sibs might psycho stalk me and write crap about me on my blogs, but I know the truth and that is they're just jealous of the fact that I'm not a loser like they are.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-54608715764135872262011-05-24T08:23:00.000-07:002011-05-24T10:12:19.933-07:00For those (my idiot sister) who tell the world I am lyingNo one is listening to a self-preserving addict. You ex-boyfriend Ronnie tried to molest me while you were drinking and getting high, so you made me play a drinking game with beer called "one red-hen" until I was drunk enough to look like I didn't know what I was talking about. You didn't want to get in trouble with James, our older brother who had legal custody of me at the time. Larry Molested me when I was 11, dad and Candida caught him and I got in trouble for it, which is why when he raped me at 13 I never told anyone, because I thought it was my fault he did it. As for being a victim of rape, if you were a victim of it, I am sorry to hear that. It wasn't your fault. You're right crack whore was the wrong word, meth-head, pot smoker, coke-snorter are much more appropriate as I watched you with my own damn eyes do all of that with your ex- and your old high school buddy Bambi. If you don't think sleeping around with every guy in a two-block radius while claiming love the one right next-door (Kyle) make you a whore, then ok, you're not a whore.<br /><br />As for thinking I am a real catch, obviously someone does think that of me... My fiance. He's the only one who matters. I don't falsely claim shit just to look like a victim, I am a victim who refuses to be a victim anymore by staying quiet about what happened to me and you and Candida and Larry are still trying to torment me in anyway you can to make yourselves look better, and you are PISSED that I won't let you, that I REFUSE to be quiet about ALL the skeletons in YOUR closets. So in reading your last post I would take that to mean that WES doesn't know the truth about your brother being a CONVICTED child molester. That you and everyone else have told him that Larry was FALSELY accused... so sad you lie to your own man about it. maybe you should learn the definition of HONESTY... go get a dictionary out and look it up.<br /><br />As for your beloved auntie not cheating on her husband ask her who Bubba is? I saw the emails and heard the disgusting phone calls between them, and the real reason we left her house was because I was able to find somewhere else to live. As for owing her money, she's saying that to save face. She believed I was the one person she could trust with the information on her affair, but she just sickens me. uncle Kenny treats her like a queen when he needs to kick her sorry ass to the curb. She wasn't a real mom, if she was David would never have turned out the way he did.<br /><br />Yeah you and your other brother and sister get along, cause you are all fucked up in the head. Not a one of you truly know what life is about. You lived with mom and dad till the day they died and you went looking for other people to glom on to when you realized how hard life really is. Suzie you leached onto Wes because you can't be without a man, Candida gloms onto you because she can't do it to me, and Larry does the same cause he already tried and failed with Candida according to our phone conversations. here is what I find hilarious though. When you are supposed to be getting "clean" you were still feeding your addiction, how else would you have gotten pregnant twice during that first year you were getting clean? Isn't the first thing they tell you as an addict who's trying to get clean is to stay out of a relationship even sexual as your head isn't cleared enough from the drugs to handle one? Hmmmm, me thinks she failed from the get go.<br /><br />As for me writing Aunt Liz off, it was more of a result of looking at our relationship over the years. She never called me, I always had to call her. She couldn't remember my birthday (and she let me call her mom, wouldn't a mother remember her daughter's birthday?) let alone my kids' birthdays and she allowed me to let them call her Grandma, but she sure could remember Nicoli's birthday. The reason she gave us a month is because we were interrupting her phone sex time with her married boyfriend in another state. Did you know she seriously thought of leaving Uncle Kenny for this man... then she realized he had no money to let her mooch off of him the way she can mooch off of Uncle Kenny.<br /><br />Let's see, why did I leave California.... hmmmmm? Well unfortunately the place we moved was not a good place to move into, just cheap. I'd tell you what happened but you would say I am making it all up because I am a sociopath. Do you know what a Sociopath is? Apparently not because you are just very uneducated. A sociopath is<span id="hotword"><span style="cursor: default; background-color:transparent;" id="hotword" name="hotword" > a</span> <span style="cursor: default; background-color:transparent;" id="hotword" name="hotword" >person who h</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword">as</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span style="cursor: default; background-color:transparent;" id="hotword" name="hotword" >psychopathic</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">personality,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">whose</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">behavior</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">is</span> <span style="cursor: default; background-color:transparent;" id="hotword" name="hotword" >antisocial</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">and</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/who">who</a><span id="hotword"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">lacks</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">sense</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">moral</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">responsibility</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">social</span> <span style="cursor: default; background-color:transparent;" id="hotword" name="hotword" >conscience. I am not a sociopath. I have normal friends who care about me so I am not anti-social, I am in no way psychopathic, although you and Larry and Candida piss me off almost to the point of it, </span></span>And if I lacked a sense of moral responsibility I'd be in jail or would have spent some time there like you and you brother Larry. I also don't lack for a social conscience, if I did, I wouldn't be working on my NURSING degree to HELP PEOPLE who suffer from disease. As for blackmailing you, well you need another course in how to define the word. You do not know what you are talking about because you are an idiot. This is from Wikipedia, it's the definition of blackmail:<br /><p>In common usage, <b>blackmail</b> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime" title="Crime">crime</a> involving threats to reveal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substantial_truth" title="Substantial truth">substantially true</a> and/or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met.<sup id="cite_ref-merriam-webster_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-merriam-webster-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-American_Heritage_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-American_Heritage-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> It may be defined as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coercion" title="Coercion">coercion</a> involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats for the purposes of taking the person's money or property.<sup id="cite_ref-merriam-webster_0-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-merriam-webster-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-merriam-webster.com_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-merriam-webster.com-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-West_3-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-West-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-McLaren_4-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-McLaren-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Burton_5-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-Burton-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Newton_6-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-Newton-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> It is the name of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory" title="Statutory" class="mw-redirect">statutory</a> offence in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_and_Wales" title="England and Wales">England and Wales</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland" title="Northern Ireland">Northern Ireland</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_%28Australia%29" title="Victoria (Australia)">Victoria</a>, and has been used as a convenient way of referring to other offenses, but was not a term of art in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_law" title="English law">English law</a> before 1968. It originally denoted a payment made by English persons residing along the border of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a> to influential Scottish chieftains in exchange for protection from thieves and marauders.<sup id="cite_ref-merriam-webster.com_2-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-merriam-webster.com-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-West_3-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-West-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup></p> Blackmail may also be considered a form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extortion" title="Extortion">extortion</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-merriam-webster_0-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-merriam-webster-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> Although the two are generally synonymous, extortion is the taking of personal property by threat of future harm.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> It is the use of threats to prevent another from engaging in a lawful occupation and writing libelous letters or letters that tend to provoke a breach of the peace, as well as use of intimidation for purposes of collecting an unpaid debt.<sup id="cite_ref-West_3-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-West-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> Some US states distinguish the offenses by requiring that blackmail be in writing.<br /><br />I never threatened you or held anything of yours in exchange for being financially paid off. I simply asked for your help as you and your sister, and Larry always did of me whenever I had money. Because as darling daddy always said, Family will always be there for you when you need them most. What a liar he turned out to be. Maybe your readers should hear the truth about you<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail#cite_note-West-3"><span></span></a>, and if they want to hear it, all they have to do is read my blog. I don't backpedal shit, I put the truth out there, it's my therapy, it's how I move on from your guys' bullshit and the things you did to me in my life. You don't want to hear it because you are an addict who is still ashamed of what she did and you don't want people to know just how bad you really were when you were high, drunk and just plain stupid.<br /><br />I gave you one too many chances apparently, and for someone who supposedly is a follower of God, you sure have a funny way of acting as one. You never made amends with me, so for you to be on step 9 for the rest of your life should be fun for you. making amends with me would not injure me or others at all. As for not being apart of your life, it's no big thing to me. I have REAL family that loves me and cares about me enough to be there emotionally for me and support me in all my endeavours that I don't need you, Candida or Larry. Part of my fucked up childhood included being tormented emotionally and financially by you three and I won't put my kids through that. They don't need the toxins you three put out into the universe in their lives.<br /><br />Good luck finishing your program... step 9 is a good step to be stuck on and if you tell your friends you finished it, I'll put ads out in all the newspapers in the entire state of Kansas telling them how you never made amends with me and prove just what a liar you really are.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-72894244458386652522011-05-22T09:53:00.000-07:002011-05-22T10:24:39.565-07:00Life is funnySo the world was supposed to end yesterday at 6pm... seeing as we are all still here today, I don't think that horrible prediction came true. the guy who made this prediction, made it years before too. And when they day came and went last time, he said he got his math wrong. I feel sorry for the idiots who bought into his crap and gave him all their worldly goods (especially money) because he did this just to make money. he is not a "prophet" and those that believe in him as one should get their money taken from them.<br /><br />Side note... My "sister" stopped following my blog and removed me as one of her followers, she probably also blocked me from being able to see any posts as well cause whatever she is spewing is crap anyways. For someone supposedly trying to get clean she sure does act like an addict who doesn't want to hear the truth about herself or her family because that would make her a bad person... well she is a bad person, and a bad mother, I know how she is raising my nieces now and it is awful. She is more worried about herself and how everyone sees her and her family that she is basically acting like a frickin prison guard and treating her home like a prison. I blame her boyfriend for this, but hey who am I to lay blame? My sister has always been attracted to the worng kind of guy and he's probably just another asshole like the one she was with for so long that tried to rape me when I was twelve... but HE was her "true love" and she didn't want to lose him... idiot.<br /><br />My other "sister" is just plain crazy so we won't talk about her, besides that I love my niece to much to say shit about her right now.<br /><br />I have true sisters though, and they have always been there for me through thick and thin. They also send words of encouragement and truly care about me and my family and we're not even related by blood. That's what makes life so funny, you go through the first part of your life believing in your blood family and they turn out to be complete shits. Then one day when you least expect a group of people, or even just one person here and there, come into your life and take you into their arms and call you sister, daughter, and friend, and they treat you how you've always been told family would and that's when you realize that sometimes God makes mistakes, but in the end, he always fixes them and puts things right.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-15761211164579548372011-05-18T12:41:00.000-07:002011-05-18T12:50:24.184-07:00"family" that is allI was responding to a status update my niece posted on her facebook page about wrapping herself in a positive bubble to achieve her dreams. My idiot sister, her mom, posted on there how I was screwed up and everyone says I need mental help including the woman who "tried" to treat me as her daughter. This is the same woman who is mentally unbalanced (as are most in my family) and yea I might need therapy to get through the crap my family did to me my whole life, but I am in no way as mentally fucked up as my siblings are. I thank God everyday for the fact that I am not an idiot, or a crack whore, or bi-polar, and anything else that is wrong with my siblings. I only hope that my niece's and nephews find a way out of there without being screwed up by their parents. I feel sorry for my niece's and nephew's who are still stuck with crazy, psychotic people for parents and If I could do it, I'd have them taken from their parents and placed in a home like my older niece was, loving caring and with people who are able to PROPERLY care for them and aren't psychotic.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182987032260169830.post-1685147519321175742011-05-05T12:07:00.000-07:002011-05-05T12:36:02.023-07:00Something to cry about... Mother's DayMother's Day is just a few short days away, and while I am a mother, I have no real mother myself. The woman who gave birth to me 31 years ago come June 25th, died three years ago from Cancer. The woman I called "Mom" until I looked at our relationship 6 months ago, has no contact with me. I have no mother. But I grew up without one despite having two. My birth mother was never a true mother to me. I was the unwanted product of a rape. The woman I called mom, well she really only did it out of a sense of duty to my birth mother.<br /><br />I was reading my brother's blog and he talks about the sadness of the day my birth mother died. Both he and my sisters were there. Supposedly when she died three years ago, they all became orphans? I didn't know that even if you're an adult you could become an orphan. I'm 31 in June and I am the baby of the family. I grew up as an O.W.P. (Orphan with Parents) because neither of my parents were really there for me. I always defended the way I was raised thinking that there was nothing wrong with it, but when I look back on the things that happened to me and how my parents dealt with it, I realized they weren't my parents. I was an orphan thrust upon them, a burden that had to be shouldered.<br /><br />When my brother molested me at age 11 and my father and sister Candida caught him, he was not punished... I was. It was my fault because I was too girly still playing with dolls and playing dress up in front of him. Two short years later he raped me while my mother slept in the other room. I told no-one because of the fact that it would have done me no good, no one would believe me because I was the "troublemaker" because I wouldn't conform to their ideology of how life really was. It took me years to find my voice, and when I did, I never shut up about it. After my son was born, my parents (who I was living with at the time) announced that my brother would be coming to live with us, and I started having a panic attack because I didn't want him anywhere near my infant son. I went into protective mode and I told my family what he had done to me. My mother was shocked, and until the day she died she still denied it was true... same with my father. I was gone less than a month after my brother moved in because I was protecting my child from a convicted child-molester who wouldn't register with the state let alone tell his parole officer there were children in the house in which he was residing.<br /><br />I am the black sheep of the family because I won't give up everything for my siblings. They always want money, or something from me and up until I was 22 I was all too willing to give in. But, if ever I should need anything... uh no, because we can't help you. We make it a point not to help anyone financially, or loan money or anything like that because then it becomes habit. Yeah I'll remember that the next time you need your rent paid, or someone to take in your kids because you were found to be an unfit mother. I raised several of my sister's kids until they were taken out of her custody. I don't know if my niece's and nephew remember my screaming and pleading to the police to let me keep them... I was only 15, but they were my babies, not my sister's. If I had owned my own home at 18 I would have adopted all of my sister's kids and kept her completely out of their lives.<br /><br />This is the first Mother's Day I have had that I won't have anyone to call and say "Happy Mother's Day" to, and that's alright with me because I have two beautiful children who will wake me up early that morning by climbing into bed with me, give me their precious homemade gifts, and wish me a Happy Mother's Day before turning on Spongebob Sqaurepants and ignoring me for the rest of the day. :D I'll tell you this, it's not depressing, it's refreshing, because I know my children love me, I don't go one day without telling them how much I love them. I also let them know that they are my greatest Mother's Day gift, because without them, I wouldn't be the Mom I am.<br /><br />So, to those of youwho are truly Mothers, and to those of you who have taken on the great joy of raising your niece's/nephews grandchildren or even adopted or foster children, Happy Mother's Day. May you treasure those homemade gifts made with love and admiration for the woman/mother you truly are.Micaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15202009254628034547noreply@blogger.com1