Wednesday, November 26, 2008

My Mom's ENGAGED!!

My Mom just texted me to tell me she just got engaged last night!! Although Prop. 8 (same sex marriage) in California hasn't over turned she still proposed (and they plan to "marry each other" even if at the moment is isn't legal. She still loves her partner Shirley and they want to commit to each other in front of their loved ones.) So last night it was their anniversary. And my Mom made the sweetest scrapbook of no photos, instead it was all of the emails compiled that they had sent each other, all the love notes left behind, and my Mom even typed out every voicemail!! Shirley and all of her friends had an idea that my Mom would propose on their anniversary and I totally wanted it to come as a surprise so we decided to do it in a way that it seemed like the night was over and there was no way she'd get a proposal. AKA go to bed and that's it!! At 11:11 (usually AM because Shirley is always asleep at 11:11 pm) and at 5:55 (am and pm) Shirley always makes a wish. So last night at 11:11 my Mom woke up Shirley to say along the lines of, "Honey why don't you wake up and make a wish on 11:11 for our anniversary?" And then my Mom proposed!! Of course Shirley said yes, and to finish it off I believe my Mom gave Shirley the last little present.. The last page of the scrapbook which is the page that shows my Mom proposed!! I'm so happy for my Mom that she is happy. Glad she FINALLY found her life long partner. And YAY my Mom and I are engaged at the same time. Haha, how fun to plan our weddings together!! The wedding date will be 09.09.09!! (Our lucky number is 9 in our culture.)

CONGRATS TO THE NEWLY ENGAGED COUPLE!!


UPDATE: My Mom just cleared things up and said that she didn't give her the scrapbook gift yet because she is not done yet. But they will be exchanging gifts soon!! They are headed to Las Vegas tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving there!!

The Act of Giving!!

Happy one day before Thanksgiving everyone!! Here is an update on our donation for the troops. (Orignal post here and second update here.) A week ago I finally finish collecting and boxing everything up for the troops for the organizer Mary to pick it up. Here are the photos!!


These magazines and yummy snacks were given to us by my Mom's co-worker Anita M.


Tina on behalf of Dreamstar Parties donated a few more magazines, some chocolate, cereal bars, and organic vegetarian chili!!


A great package all the way from Hawaii from wonderful photographer Eddy Fong on behalf of Renai Photo sent in some yummy Hawaiian snacks!!


Newark's dentist Scott Nguyen and his staff from Sunnysmile Dental donated 29 magazines!!


On behalf of our household (Mom, Shirley, also Shirley's parents, and I) we donated a few more stationary items, loads of pens, and also some canned soup!!




The Hayward Library were so kind and allowed us to take as many books as we were able to carry!! Thanks to them for their very generous donation of 109 books. We chose the books from book sale. Please visit them for their great sidewalk book sales held often!!


Here are group shot photos of all the total goodies collected!!











When Mary came over with Baby Emily there was so much construction going on, it was going to be a pain in the butt to carry it all down the stairs while the construction workers were working on the stairs. We got so lucky, they saw us carrying some boxes and offered to help us. They carried all the boxes out of the house within literally minutes!! Those boxes were soooo heavy, them helping us saves us so much work!! Here is a photo of ALL of our hard work packed away in the van!! It's literally PACKED!!




Reading Material:
Magazines: 83
Books: 241
TOTAL: 324 Reading Material

Stationary Items:
Pens: 2 boxes
Markers: 1 box
Envelopes: 6 boxes
Stationary Paper: 11
Stationary Sets: 2
Memo Books: 2
TOTAL: 24 Stationary Items

Health/Beauty Items/Feminine Products:
Lip gloss/Chap stick: 6
Hair Ties: 2 sets
Shaving Creme: 2 bottles
Leg Shaving Razors: 2 boxes
Nail Care (mani and pedi full sets): 2 sets
Baby Wipes: 4 boxes
Bars of Soap: 7 bars
Candles: 5
Body Scrubs: 4
Shower Gels: 17
Lotions: 2
Deodorant: 6
Ointments: 5
TOTAL: 64 Health/Beauty Items/Feminine Products

Snacks/Foods:
Toffee Nuts: 3 packages
Sunflower Seeds: 8 packages
Pumpkin Seeds: 1 package
Sour Prunes: 2 packages
Popcorn: 3 boxes
Gum: 5 packets of 5 (25 total)
Cereal Bars: 5 boxes
Cream Cookie Pies: 2 boxes
Swiss Rolls: 2 boxes
Nutty Bars: 4 boxes
Powdered Donuts: 2 boxes
Hot Chocolate: 4 boxes
Tea: 4 boxes of 125 (500 total)
Roasted Peanuts: 4 cans
Assorted Candies: 4 bags/boxes
Hawaiian Snacks: 7
Canned Soup: 4
Chocolate: 1
Canned Chili: 1
Cheese Sandwich Crackers: 2 boxes
Chewy Granola Bars: 2 boxes
Animal Crackers: 1 box
TOTAL: 71 Snacks/Foods

Entertainment:
DVDs: 5
Games: 14
TOTAL: 19 Entertainment

GRAND TOTAL: 502 DONATED ITEMS!!



Wow the first batch of donations we had 293 items donated and I was amazed with that number and now with our second batch joining in the first batch we have a grand total of 502!! I'm just blown away!! Thank you so much everyone for all of your hard work!! I appreciate everyone and all the things you all donated!! I know this is will be a wonderful surprise for our troops!! I will keep you all updated when I get word when they get our goodies!! Thanks to each individual who donated!! It was very kind and generous of you!! Also if you have the time please visit at all the business that gave to our cause:

Dreamstar Parties
Renai Photo
Sunnysmile Dental
Hayward Library


Thank you everyone for sharing in this journey with me!! Love you all!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

New Secretary of State Appointed to Clinton!!

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Hillary Clinton to be the new secretary of state!! I like how this guy is thinking!!

Obama Appoints 7 New Gays!!

Obama has just appointed 7 openly gay people to his transition team. Whooo hoooo!!

Feedback.

Hey everyone!!

I'm in the midst of trying to find a new and cool layout, it's not done yet but for now I thought I'd let you all know about the cool feedback function we now have!! Below each post (above where you can comment) you can now leave your feedback on what you thought of the post. Let me know whether you thought the post was funny, interesting, or helpful!! It only takes a few second and will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks everyone!! Look forward to seeing your reactions!!

XOXO,
Missie

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Move Sundance!!

"Proposition 8 eliminates the right of African-American couples to marry."

"Only marriage between non-Jews is valid or recognized in California."

"Proposition M: A ban on Mormon marriage in California."

Does any of that seem fair?? Did you know the Mormon Church in Utah gave over 20 million dollars to support Prop. H8te in California?? My question is why the heck do they even care?? It has nothing to do with their state?? They should have kept their money for issues they may face in their own state, and I already hate the fact that organizations like this can give money. Seperation of church and state people, come on!!

I'm frustrated that religious organizations continue to give money to political topics, so if you agree with me you can join in supporting to move the Sundance festival from Utah. Utah isn't known for much at all, honestly I couldn't point the state out for you on a map!! That's how little attention Utah gets, however they do hold the annual Sundance festival there where tons of famous celebrities go and tourist, AKA money!! Utah Mormans want to donate in a cause they believe in and take away rights that should be for everyone then I believe I can take away their chances at making loads of money the only time of year they ever get visitors.

From the movesundance.com website:

A cruel dichotomy is that the film industry, a business with countless hardworking gays and lesbians since its inception, and a huge supporter of gay rights, holds one of it’s biggest annual events, The Sundance Film Festival, every January in Utah - the “ground zero” of hate and homophobia in our society, and the home of a church that continues to debase the lives of gays and lesbians. Utah is the most religiously homogeneous state in the country, with approximately 58 - 62 percent of its inhabitants claiming membership in the Mormon Church and filling its coffers. The church wields enormous influence over its followers. While not everyone in Utah is Mormon, and there are countless fair-minded Mormons who disagree with the hateful and homophobic philosophy and policies of the LDS Church, the UNDENIABLE fact is that…MONEY SPENT IN UTAH IS INEVITABLY FUNNELED INTO COLLECTION PLATES OF THE MORMON CHURCH; WHICH IN TURN SPONSORS ACTIVITIES THAT ATTEMPT TO DENIGRATE THE LIVES OF GAYS AND LESBIANS, AND DENY THEM BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.

Would the Mormon Church bring thousands of their followers to a convention in San Francisco?

IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE FILM COMMUNITY TO STOP FUNDING HATE AND BIGOTRY, AND MOVE THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL TO A STATE OTHER THAN UTAH!

Again for more information please go here.

Get Fat and Get Out of Jail Free Card.

Here is a very interesting read: A prisoner is set free because he's too fat to jail any longer!! To read the original article it can be found here for a fee, or for my lovely readers you can read it free below!!

Quebec Parole Board finds morbidly obese inmate suffering unduly, health deteriorating because of his imprisonment

INGRID PERITZ AND SIRI AGRELL
November 13, 2008

MONTREAL, TORONTO -- An obese inmate known as Big Mike is heading home early from a Montreal jail, as it appears that size does matter behind bars.

Michel Lapointe, who was imprisoned on drug-trafficking and conspiracy charges, walked out of Bordeaux Jail on Tuesday night after winning early parole - granted in part due to the health difficulties caused by his 400-plus-pound girth.

Normally, he would have had to go to a halfway house. But Mr. Lapointe was rejected by two such institutions because they said they couldn't accommodate someone his size.

So he got to go home.

'In the end, some might say he got off easy,' Mr. Lapointe's lawyer, Clemente Monterosso, said in an interview yesterday. 'But he didn't choose to be morbidly obese. This man is a colossus.'

The lawyer said the 37-year-old Mr. Lapointe suffered in jail because of his weight. His mattress was about a foot too narrow for his body, he couldn't squeeze his legs under the prison tables at mealtimes, and seating didn't provide support for his back.

'His health deteriorated in detention from lack of exercise, bad prison food and poor sleep,' Mr. Monterosso said. Mr. Lapointe was forced to take a lot of medication, he added.

Mr. Lapointe's weight had already come into play when he was sentenced in May. A judge reduced his prison term by six months because of the weight-related hardships endured during his 20 months of detention after his arrest.

In its decision this week, the Quebec Parole Board cited Mr. Lapointe's health - along with factors such as good behaviour, his non-violent crime and the support of his wife and mother - in justifying early release.

"You have been incarcerated for over 25 months and your prison conditions are difficult because of the state of your health," the commissioners wrote.

Mr. Lapointe has filed a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission."His rights were violated because he wasn't given the tools to rehabilitate himself," Mr. Monterosso said. "He deserved to be treated with dignity and humanity."

During his time in jail, Mr. Lapointe's weight increased to around 430 pounds from 300-plus when he was arrested. His lawyer blamed the weight gain on greasy food.

On Tuesday night, after his release from jail, Mr. Lapointe was photographed by a Montreal newspaper outside the prison gate, a cigarette in hand.

'Finally, I'll have a real bed and a chair to sit on,' he told Le Journal de Montréal.

Craig Jones, executive director of the John Howard Society of Canada, said Mr. Lapointe's case is the first he's heard of an inmate asking for special treatment because of his weight. But he expects it will not be the last.

Legislation governing incarceration in Canada requires prisons to adapt their facilities and practices to deal with inmates' individual needs, which can range in severity from allergies to mental illness and physical disabilities.

In many cases, Mr. Jones said, cells have been retrofitted so they can be occupied by prisoners in wheelchairs or with other specific health issues.

Mr. Jones also believes that Canadian correctional institutions should reconsider the diet imposed on inmates, one he said is heavy on carbohydrates.

'The diet is far from optimal, in my opinion,' Mr. Jones said. 'If I were a nutritionist and had the ear of Correctional Service Canada, I would be saying migrate them away from white bread and potatoes. But white bread and potatoes are cheap.'

In the United States, weight has already become an issue in the world of crime and punishment.

In May, a Long Island, N.Y., man accused of selling knockoff guitars was arraigned in a pickup truck in a parking lot because at 500 pounds, he was unable to walk into the courthouse.

In 2006, a death-row inmate in Spokane, Wash., died of liver disease 12 years after he was found to be too obese to hang. In 1994, a judge ruled that Mitchell Rupe, who had shot and killed two bank tellers during a robbery, could not be executed because his weight of 400 pounds meant that he might be decapitated."


OMG are these people crazy?? Should have made his punishment a diet!! What kind of message is this to our inmates?? Get fat and get out of fail free card!! Puh-leeze!!

Smokers no Longer Allowed to Adopt.

If you're a smoker and you wanna adopt, better stop smoking ASAP if you are living in London! The local authority in northeast London said the decision, which will come into force in 2010, was made to protect children from the "damaging effects of passive and second-hand smoke." I personally hate smoking cigarettes and just wish they never existed so I stand fully behind this new law. However I can see how a lot of other people may say this is taking away their freedom and it is crossing a personal line, but hey if you really want to have children I think this sacrifice is a small one. Plus it'll really show your commitment.

To read more on this topic please go here.

Boycott and Watch MILK Elsewhere.

The CEO of Cinemark, money hungry Alan Stock, donated $9999 to the Yes on 8 Campaign, but will now profit from showing MILK in his theaters.

MILK hits theaters on November 26th. If 1,000 of us commit to see MILK at a competitor’s theater instead of Cinemark, at an average cost of $10 per ticket,
that’s $10,000 of lost revenue.

Boycotts work. A boycott of a Sacramento theatre companyresulted not only in the resignation of a Yes on 8 contributor,but a public apology and donation to Human RightsCampaign! We can do this again.

Cinemark operates the “Century”, “CinéArts”,
and “Tinseltown” theater chains.

To find places that are showing MILK at NON Cinemark owned click below:
Check MovieFone here.
Check Fandango here.
Check Google here.

Also check out which theaters to avoid
in your area at the Cinemark web site:
www.cinemark.com

For more information please click here.

Take it to The Courts!!

The California Supreme Court has just agreed to hear the legal challenges to the recently passed gay marriage ban! The California Supreme Court didn't have to hear any of the oppositions to the new amendment to the state constitution but they did!! Lets keep our fingers crossed! (squeals YAY!!)



Friday, November 7, 2008

Melissa Etheridge is Gay so She Won't Pay Taxes!!

Singer Melissa Etheridge is one excited gay lady!! She's taking a stand and embracing her second class citizenship by without her taxes!! She writes to The Daily Beast to express her opinions.

"Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

Okay, cool I don't mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California. Oh, and I am sure Ellen will be a little excited to keep her bazillion bucks that she pays in taxes too. Wow, come to think of it, there are quite a few of us fortunate gay folks that will be having some extra cash this year. What recession? We're gay! I am sure there will be a little box on the tax forms now single, married, divorced, gay, check here if you are gay, yeah, that's not so bad. Of course all of the waiters and hairdressers and UPS workers and gym teachers and such, they won't have to pay their taxes either.

Gay people are born everyday. You will never legislate that away.

Oh and too bad California, I know you were looking forward to the revenue from all of those extra marriages. I guess you will have to find some other way to get out of the budget trouble you are in.

…Really?

When did it become okay to legislate morality? I try to envision someone reading that legislation "eliminates the right" and then clicking yes. What goes through their mind? Was it the frightening commercial where the little girl comes home and says, "Hi mom, we learned about gays in class today" and then the mother gets that awful worried look and the scary music plays? Do they not know anyone who is gay? If they do, can they look them in the face and say "I believe you do not deserve the same rights as me"? Do they think that their children will never encounter a gay person? Do they think they will never have to explain the 20% of us who are gay and living and working side by side with all the citizens of California?

I got news for them, someday your child is going to come home and ask you what a gay person is. Gay people are born everyday. You will never legislate that away.

I know when I grew up gay was a bad word. Homo, lezzie, faggot, dyke. Ignorance and fear ruled the day. There were so many "thems" back then. The blacks, the poor ... you know, "them". Then there was the immigrants. "Them.” Now the them is me.

I tell myself to take a breath, okay take another one, one of the thems made it to the top. Obama has been elected president. This crazy fearful insanity will end soon. This great state and this great country of ours will finally come to the understanding that there is no "them". We are one. We are united. What you do to someone else you do to yourself. That "judge not, lest ye yourself be judged" are truthful words and not Christian rhetoric.

Today the gay citizenry of this state will pick themselves up and dust themselves off and do what we have been doing for years. We will get back into it. We love this state, we love this country and we are not going to leave it. Even though we could be married in Mass. or Conn, Canada, Holland, Spain and a handful of other countries, this is our home. This is where we work and play and raise our families. We will not rest until we have the full rights of any other citizen. It is that simple, no fearful vote will ever stop us, that is not the American way.

Come to think of it, I should get a federal tax break too..."

So there you have it everyone, all the gays band together and not pay those taxes!! After all, you're only a second class citizen in the eyes on California.

Taking a Stand Against Injustice!!

(Taken from Perez Hilton)

"The people in San Francisco are taking a stand against injustice!

The San Francisco City Attorney's office is planning to challenge the validity of Proposition H8TE to ban gay marriage.

A rep for the City Attorney's office says City Attorney Dennis Herrera will file the legal challenge in the California Supreme Court.

In addition, the first lesbian couple to get married in Los Angeles County, after the Supreme Court threw out the gay marriage ban, are also planning to bring a lawsuit against Prop 8."


Count Them Absentee Ballotts!!

california.jpg

(Taken from Perez Hilton)

"Of the in-person votes cast on election day, the Proposition FOR H8te 'won' by roughly 506,000 votes.

But, on Wednesday, county officials were just beginning to tally at least 1.6 million leftover provisional and mail-in ballots across California.

According to the LA Times, counties have until Dec. 2 to count the votes, according to the secretary of state's office.

Some officials reportedly said they have more uncounted ballots than normal because of a surge in voting."

My fingers are STILL crossed!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Prop. H8te Isn't Dead Yet!!

Hey guys, great news; if you voted NO on Prop. H8te then you can still make a difference, this is NOT over.

Please sign this petition here to state the facts!! (And did you know even our California Governor voted NO on Prop. H8te??)

http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/


Below are some FACTS:

"To: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

I, myself, and many Californians I know are disgusted with the hatred that the passing of proposition 8 brought. I am asking you to read this over, THE FACTS, not the propaganda. Open your mind for a minute, and realize that this is terrible for future generations as well. How do you know that your future children or grandchildren won't come to you and tell you they are homosexual? Wouldn't you want your child to live a life in which the love they found was supported? Plain and simple, if you are an American, you should believe in preserving the constitution. Proposition 8's passing took away the 14th amendment for a group of people, and I would like to give it back.

Facts v. Fiction
Proposition 8 would eliminate fundamental rights for a group of Californians. It’s unfair and it’s wrong.

Fiction: Prop 8 doesn’t discriminate against gay people.
Fact: Prop 8 is simple: it eliminates the rights for same-sex couples to marry. Prop 8 would deny equal protections and write discrimination against one group of people—lesbian and gay people—into our state constitution.

Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless we pass Prop 8.
Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education. And no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it.
California’s top educators including Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell and California Teachers all agree: Prop 8 has nothing to do with education.

Fiction: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.
Fact: The court decision regarding marriage specifically says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.”

Fiction: A Massachusetts case about a parent’s objection to the school curriculum will happen here.
Fact: California gives parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health and family instruction they don’t agree with. The opponents know that California law already covers this and Prop 8 won’t affect it, so they bring up an irrelevant case in Massachusetts.

Fiction: Four Activist Judges in San Francisco…
Fact: Prop 8 is about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn’t grant the right, the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an outdated and stale argument that judges aren’t supposed to protect rights and freedoms. Prop 8 is about whether Californians are willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a fundamental right for one group of citizens.

Fiction: If Prop 8 isn’t passed, people can be sued over personal beliefs.
Fact: California’s laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage.
Publish Post


Fiction: Pepperdine University supports the Yes on 8 campaign.
Fact: The University has publicly disassociated itself from Professor Richard Peterson of Pepperdine University, who is featured in the ad, and has asked to not be identified in the Yes on 8 advertisements.

Fiction: Unless Prop 8 passes, California parents won’t have the right to object to what their children are taught in school.
Fact: California law clearly gives parents and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions.
"
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/

There is also a petition that is trying to stop Mormon's from donating to political campaigns. I know not everyone will agree with me posting this on the blog, but I do agree that I don't think ANY religious group as a whole should be able to donate because of the seperation of church and state. If a Mormon person ALONE would like to donate that's fine, but I do not agree with a congregation as a whole donating.
http://www. mormonsstoleourrights. com

Come on everyone, at least sign one if you do not believe in the other!! Please email everyone you know and let the message spread like wildfire, THIS IS NOT OVER YET!! We can do it!!

Again the two petition web address are:
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/ (Prop. H8te Re-opening)
http://www. mormonsstoleourrights. com (Stop Mormon Churches From Donating to Political campaigns.)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

We Still Won.

It's sad that people feel they have the power to tell someone who they can or cannot marry. The passing of Prop. H8te has spread sadness through out my family and friends, but please keep your heads up. We won in the end dear family and friends. Winning does not only mean getting the "reward" at the end, we won by educating more people and spreading our love out there to our brothers and sisters. In the end we won and although we have not been able to keep our short right to marry, the voters saying "yes" looked ridicules, uneducated and just cold hearted. I look forward to the next vote because each year this comes up the margin gets closer and closer. I am so confident that this, like all the other civil rights will be given to our brothers and sisters. It just takes time. The black civil rights got what they wanted, so did the woman's rights movement, and soon my family and friends will too. I am excited for the next election, I believe we will win our reward that's at the end of the rainbow (literally!!). I am extremely confident that I will see the legalization of same sex marriages in my life time. Think of it, in 4 more years more old cold minded folk would have died and more educated open minded (every skin shade) will vote and give us all equality!! I appreciate each and everyone who has supported this cause, supported your friends, your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, and each person's rights. And this fight you have fought beside me with is greatly honored my friend. I was, I am, and I will forever always be a Freedom Fighter. Fighting for the freedom and equality for my family, friends, neighbors, and for you and I. I will never stop fighting.

On another note, there are many people who have surprised me in voting Yes on this hateful discrimination of Prop. H8te and it saddens me to hear them say such closed minded things. That sexual orientation is not like the black vote, that gays are not equal to that sort of comparison. How can you say that?? Wasn't it just a few decades ago blacks weren't even seen to be in the same RACE as humans?? They (blacks) were looked down as animals, no right to read, write, an education, legal marriage, or vote. I mean being black was seen (back then) as the worst thing ever and (white) people punished them just for their color of their skin. They didn't have control over their skin color. Just as same sex couples have no way of choosing to be gay. Same sex couple are seen as human, they have the right to read, write, and vote, much more rights than a black person had decades ago, so I just don't see how a fellow minority (black Americans who supported Yes) can say that same sex couples aren't able to be compared to the civil rights of blacks?? I mean if anything the black civil rights people looked down upon blacks saying basically they are not human, and most (they Prop. 8 supports) claim Yes on Prop. H8te, "isn't prejudice, it's just protecting marriage". So how can a person (a few decades back) get the right to marry, but not a human who's just prefers the same sex?? Answer me that America. I do not agree on ANY discrimination. I am proud to be a minority, but I am more proud to say I am an American. I think everyone should. Racism is discrimination so I'm glad each race has the same rights, but for those who voted Yes on Prop. H8te, that's discrimination just ask well. Whites (esp. males) will never fully understand discrimination, not to the degree of a ethnic (esp. woman) person. But imagine if the world saw whites to be the lowest rung of the human race?? Would you like it?? Wouldn't you be crushed that people found you beneath them and thought you didn't deserve rights? Wouldn't it fluster you that people think they should have the power to control any aspect over you?? And my fellow minorities, discrimination is something we have all had to endure. But would you like it if something like slavery came back or segregation laws?? Please, don't be a hypocrite or have a double standard.

We are California and we lead the way of the nation. But sadly I think we lost that touch because we seem to not be moving forward with our great state, we want to be held back. There are other states (and countries) who have opened their eyes and welcomed their brothers and sisters, I give my hats off to their progressive state and for once hope that California will follow them. Weird to have California not as a leader, but as a follower. But either way, I can't wait for us Californians to recognize the right each and every human being has.

This is a great editorial written by Fran Dresher, the cancer survivor and actor from the hit show, The Nanny.

"When did it become okay to discriminate? What country are we all living in anyway? I thought this was America, am I wrong?

Wake up folks before it’s too late! This country was founded on the premise of separation of church & state. And why do you suppose that was? Because back in the day of our forefathers, (ya know, the dudes who fought and died for our freedoms) life under an oppressive British empire was more than they could take.

Living in a “my way or the highway” nation sucked! Dictation, Denial and Discrimination was the name of the game until our founding fathers decided that they’d had it!

“Let freedom ring!”, they shouted. And a HUGE part of that freedom was of course separation of church and state. If you are truly an American, (and not some closeted fascist) you are part of the privileged few on the planet who get to live in a country that supports tolerance of diversity. Heck we celebrate it! We can be who we want to be, pray to whomever we choose to pray and live as equals regardless of gender, race, creed or sexual orientation.

To think that in this upcoming election there is actually a proposition to add an amendment to the California Constitution to legalize discrimination! Shame on us! This proposition is not about gay marriage; it’s about hate, discrimination and intolerance of diversity. It is wholesale, unadulterated hate-mongering and it MUST be snuffed out in a dramatic fashion at once to illustrate to those behind it that in America we embrace the neighbor who might be different from us and are proud of it!

So to all you TRUE Americans, get out there and vote on November 4th, and let’s reject hate.

Get all your friends, co-workers and relatives to vote too and make sure you vote NO on proposition 8.

Freedom Fighter,

Fran Drescher"


Til the next election my friend.

Love, A Freedom Fighter

Introducing: The New President of the United States of America!!

Our New President: Barack Obama!!
It has happened, we have witnessed history!! The first colored President!! I don't know about you, but I'm so excited to finally see some change. The economy has just been so depressing and down in the dumps, I'm ready for some CHANGE!! Give me an America where there is no discrimination, where my fellow brothers and sister can have the same marriage rights as I. An America that protects our nation's daughters and sisters, provides jobs for our people, and land full with economy booming with positivity. Give me an America I can be proud of!! I don't agree on everything our new President believes in, but I do agree it's time for a change. And although I don't think Obama has enough experience as others (Hillary) does, but I am still rooting for him to prove me wrong and save America and lead us as our leader as a great America!! Go Obama!! Save us, change us, and lead the way baby!! Super hero Obama!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voted!!

Today was such an important date; It's Election Day!! And I just wanted to thank everyone who did their part of being an active American!! Your vote is so important and it needs to be head!! I've voted before but never for a President, and my Mom just recently became a citizen so this was her first time voting for a Presidential Election as well. So last night she called me and asked me what time I was voting, I didn't have a particular time so she asked if I wanted to go with her for our first time!! So today she picked me up and we went together to vote and am I so happy to say we are no longer Presidential voting virgins!! Above is a photo of us standing next to the American flag at our local polling place before we went in to make a difference and have our voices (that are ever so loudly, WE'RE SICK OF YOU BUSH!!) heard. It felt so good to exercise our right to vote as a minority woman!! I'm so happy how far we have came as a country, first getting blacks to vote, then women's right to vote, and hopefully soon the right for everyone in California to vote!! Together as a country we can change this world, so come on America, LET'S DO IT!!

Updates for the Troops!!

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A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated to the care packages for the troops in Iraq. (Original post here.)This has been such an amazing experience, I am overwhelmed at how many great things were donated. I'm going on Monday, November 10th to San Jose to drop off all the goods, so if you haven't dropped your donation yet and you still want to you still have time!!

I wanted to share this journey with everyone, that's why I opened up and welcomed everyone to donate with me. In addition, I want everyone who gave to come along the journey to get as much of the experience as possible. So I'm trying to find as many ways as possible to share this all with you. Including documenting all the goodies we've received from who. So very special thanks to the following:

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-Janet P. donated bath products, blank holiday cards, and magazines.

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-Stephanie (Aunt), Puma (Uncle), and their two daughter's Nikki and Leilani. They donated over 80-90 books.

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-My Mom's co-workers Carrie R., Pam K., and Suzanne F. also gave so generously to our troops. They gave games, stationary items, and lots of great yummy smelling lotions and candles. Thank you ladies!!

-Linda D. who donated a big check to the troops!! With that we bought plenty of goods including snacks, health and beauty products, and games.

-Tina R. and Dreamstar Parties donated snacks, games, and health products.

-And of course my Mother and I also gave goods such as snacks, lots of games, bath and health needs, also feminine items.

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I had checks sent in and money donated so I went shopping with all the money collected. Tina R. came and shopped with me. Above is all the goodies bought with the money from Linda D., Tina R., Dreamstar Parties, and my family.

Thank you so very much everyone for being so kind and giving this holiday season. I am so grateful for all the wonderful items we've received for the troops. It's not over yet though, I still have two more pick ups for tomorrow so the list will continue. I sat and went through each and every item donated to make sure they meet the standards of sending over, very few items didn't make it (if it didn't and it was your product I have called you to see if you would like to pick up the unusable good or have it thrown away) but almost everything was in perfect condition to be sent over. As of this very moment this is a list of all the goods we have collected that are going to be sent over:

Reading Material:
Magazines: 37
Books: 95
TOTAL:132 Reading Material

Stationary Items:
Pens: 2 boxes
Markers: 1 box
Envelopes: 4 boxes
Stationary Paper: 5
Stationary Sets: 2
TOTAL: 22 Stationary Items

Health/Beauty Items/Feminine Products:
Lip gloss/Chap stick: 6
Hair Ties: 2 sets
Shaving Creme: 2 bottles
Leg Shaving Razors: 2 boxes
Nail Care (mani and pedi full sets): 2 sets
Baby Wipes: 4 boxes
Bars of Soap: 7 bars
Candles: 5
Body Scrubs: 4
Shower Gels: 16
Lotions: 2
Deodorant: 6
Ointments: 5
TOTAL: 63 Health/Beauty Items/Feminine Products

Snacks/Foods:
Toffee Nuts: 3 packages
Sunflower Seeds: 8 packages
Pumpkin Seeds: 1 package
Sour Prunes: 2 packages
Popcorn: 3 boxes
Gum: 5 packets of 5 (25 total)
Cereal Bars: 4 boxes
Cream Cookie Pies: 2 boxes
Swiss Rolls: 2 boxes
Nutty Bars: 4 boxes
Powdered Donuts: 2 boxes
Hot Chocolate: 4 boxes
Tea: 4 boxes of 125 (500 total)
Roasted Peanuts: 4 cans
Assorted Candies: 4 bags/boxes
TOTAL: 57 Snacks/Foods

Entertainment:
DVDs: 5
Games: 14
TOTAL: 19 Entertainment

GRAND TOTAL (so far): 293 DONATED ITEMS!!

That's amazing!! Thank you everyone for all of your donations, every little item was so crucial and important, I thank each and everyone of you who donated big or small. It's all appreciated.

Here are photos of the goods in categories:

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All of the magazines donated!!

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All the books donated!!

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All of the stationary items donated!!

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All of the games and DVDs donated!!

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All of the health/beauty products/feminine products donated!!

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All of the snacks and food donated!!

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And here is everything donated together on the ground when I started to count and organize them into groups.

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And here when I was all done organizing things into categories, I piled them nicely into boxes!!

Again a HUGE thank you to everyone!! This couldn't have been done without each and everyone of you!! You are all the best!! Look forward to writing an update for everyone on Monday (the day of the drop off) and again when I get the the update when the troops have received out packages!! We are almost there!!