I’ve become one of them

A couple years ago a friend of mine was all excited when her husband bought her a hand sander for christmas. I was shocked! I couldn’t understand why? What is there to be excited about when it comes to a hand sander?

Let me first explain that I grew up having what I needed (food, clothes..even if they weren’t Hip and from the mall, and I had a roof over my head. But I didnt have all the extras a lot of my friends had. I had one parent who worked and went to college. I had a brother and 2 sisters who lived in the house with me, so I wasnt an only child and I wasnt spoiled.

When I was old enough to get a job, I had to help my mom out, pay bills, food, ect. Don’t get me wrong, I didnt mind helping cause that was my mom. Then I met Brad. It took him 4 years to get me outta the habit of me NOT buying myself anything nice or expensive or anything that was a “luxury” cause I was use to not being able to. He finally broke me of that I learned what it meant to be spoiled.

I got what I wanted. I bought what I liked regardless of the price. I finally, for once, didnt have to shop for what was on sale. It was nice. I liked it! lol I liked being able for once to shop and buy myself stuff without feeling guilty.

So when my friend got her sander and was all happy I laughed (yes, at her) and shook my head. I didn’t understand. I was still enjoying being spoiled and shopping JUST to shop!

Now I understand. We have our own house, we are settled with kids, and we have started a “home” rather than just a place to live.

I still am spoiled, and so are my kids. They know the value of a dollar though, as we have fell on hard times since the economy has gone to shit.

But now…. for instance, I got a new vacuum cleaner and was happy as clam! lol And my friend (yes the hand sander!) was on the phone with me and listening to me go on and on about my new toy. She laughed and me and brought up how I laughed at her at one time.

Today I got new wicker baskets, and a new rug for my kitchen and I stopped to think about how a couple years ago, that would have just seemed like something I had to have. But now, Im happy to get something for my home.

I actually asked my hubby for a new kitchen table and some plants for valentines day. I guess once you have a home rather than renting an apt from Joe the Local Grocery store owner… your views change. I don’t mind being this person now. I actually like who I have become.

LOL But I never thought I would. I never thought Id get all excited because I got a new area rug and couldnt wait to get it into the house, unroll it and walk on it. If I get new kitchen towels, Im happy cause I have something new for our home. Even if I buy myself nothing else that entire month, those cheap little dish towels from the dollar store are my pride! lol

Im glad my son (who is turning 15 this month) has learned and seen how hard we have had it at times and I hope he will grow into a man that knows the value of a dollar, yet will know when its time to spoil yourself and when its time to be responsible.

Im thankful that my hubby gave me that “time” in my life to spoil myself so I at least got it out of my system, so when the time came I could be where I am now.  An adult. In a home. With a family. Our home, Our family.

I have become one of those ppl. and I love it!!!

Sex offenders and harsher laws

Sexual predators. They are closer than you probably think. If you take the time to look online at the sexual predators in your area, you would be suprised how many are within 1 mile of you. If you don’t have that any, or even just a few, you should feel lucky. At any given time when I catch the Sexual Offenders Registration, which I do alot, I have 20-30 within my city. 10-15 of which live within a one mile radius of my house. Where my daughter lives. Where my daughter lays her head to sleep and dreams.

I know there are different “types” of sexual offenders. Some are just over the age of 18 who slept with their girlfriend who was 16 or 17. Those are not the ones that I am referring too. I am referring to the rapists, child molesters, the sick men (and yes even woman) who prey on our kids. Who pray on anyone.

My experience with these people have always been the same. They never change. There is something seriously wrong in your head if you find a kid attractive. There is something not right if you have to rape someone, molest them and ruin them. That can’t be fixed. They can’t be fixed. There is no cure.

I know after their time is served and they have paid their debt to society that whats passed is passed. Bullshit. *cough cough* People like that never change. And I for one don’t let me guard down around anyone with a past like that.

The defense some of these guys use: “It was done to me” “I had a poor childhood” “I was raised to think it was okay” “My dad never hugged me” PLEASE! Join the rest of the world. My childhood was crappy, my dad was never around… I turned out great!! Know why? Cause I know right from wrong. I have a conscience. I have a soul. I have morals.

2 years ago I got a knock at my door, it was sheriff. Informing me a sexual predator who served 30 years in jail for raping a 4 year old little girl moved in 2 doors down from us. My daughter was 3. You can imagine what I thought. What I felt.

6 months had past since he moved in. I avoided walking past that house, and if I had to walk past it, I would cross the street. He had a right to live there, but I had a right to be cautious. I used my right.

One afternoon in the summer me and Brooklyn were outside. I watched her closely, and you can imagine why. Here come that guy. Holding a white puppy, trying to lure her on to his porch, while I was right there. I couldn’t believe it! He told her to come in his house and play with the puppy. I grabbed her and ran into the house. I was right there, now imagine if she was alone. I was pissed, shocked and scared. I called my husband at work and told him what happened, needless to say, he came right home. We called the cops. The cop that came to the house was genuinely trying to help. He talked to us for a while and told us what we could do, what we should do. He was helpful. The next day we had that guys parole officer and some FBI guys at our door. In the end, know what happen to him? Nothing. They let it go.

A few years ago when Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped, raped and killed by that sexual offender who lived close by, unknown to his neighbors, hit close to home,  for I knew her family here in Ohio. I am all for stronger sex offender laws.

I do not believe in the government being in our “personal” buiness. Reading our emails, listening to phone calls, ect. But I do believe that we, as a society, have a right to be safe. So when they propose to monitor all repeat sex offenders, and have harsher stonger laws, Im right behind them giving them my full support. Ankle bracelets, 24 hour monitoring so their whereabouts are always known.  Theres thousands of repeat sex offenders in any given state, that do not register, who live by schools, innocent children, unsuspecting people.

Being a victim of such a subject I believe that something needs to be done. Jessica Lunsford could easily have been my sister, my friend, my daughter, me. It could be anyone of us. It happens everyday, and it will continue to happen until something is done about it.

There are many different degrees of sexual offenders (which I spoke of earlier) and I know not everyone is guilty of things they are  accused of. But if they are a repeat offender, then I think it should apply to them. Everyone makes mistakes, and they do learn from them. But if they do it again… apparently they didnt learn and will continue to keep doing it. Its not easy to recover from something such as this and most victims never do fully recover. Something is taken from you. Something is lost forever. And noone has the right to take that from us.

So to protect my daughter and the world she is going to grow up in… I say Stronger sex laws. I say its time to put a stop to the rights they take away from our youth, our woman, everyone.

I will continue to check the sex offender registry, religiously. I will know what I can about my neighbors and where my kids are not safe at.  I encourage everyone to check it out, be cautious, be aware, be informed. Don’t think it can’t happen to you or anyone you love, but chances are, in some form or another… its happened to someone you know and love. Not everyone reports this or even tells. Molestation usually happens by someone we trust and love. Knowledge and being informed is the best key to preventing, recognizing and fight back against the sickness that surrounds us in our world.

Stronger sex laws. I’m all for it

I am what I am – Embracing my inner nerd

I am what I am.

Im a dork. Some would even call me a nerd! I am what I am.

I watch sci-fi shows. X-files, Stargate, Star Trek. I like Star Wars and I’m in love with Lord of The Rings. I have an extensive collection of Tolkien Books, which I read, Alot. Im quite familiar with The Rules Of acquisition  (Thanks to many many many hours of Quark’s ramblings and witty comebacks.), Rather it be DS9 or TNG, I know it and love it. And I watch the Sci-fi channel, quite regularly. And yes, Even Harry Potter. Im a trekkieringergatewarpotter freak. I spent 9 months when I was pregnant with my daughter on the couch playing final fantasy and Zelda.  I am what I am.

I Love to watch Roots, and own the book. I find it interesting. I own and watch Gone with the Wind way too much and could recite the whole movie. I have read the book numerous times and will read it a few hundred more times before I die. I love to read Jane Austen and watch Pride and Prejudice. I can recite that movie by heart as well.  And would love to live back in the day when a lady was a lady and wore corsets and knights roamed the lands and girls rode side saddle. I would love to live in the Renaissance Era. I love to go to Renaissance Faires and will have a Ren wedding. I am what I am.

I watch weird stuff on TV. Most Shocking, Americas Most Wanted, (religiously, Never miss a week), I use to be addicted to unsolved mysteries. And I watch anything to do with ghosts and hauntings. I believe in UFO’s and life on other planets. I don’t think we are the only ones in the universe. I got banned from calling Unsolved mysteries when I was younger. All I was trying to do was give them my theory on some of their stories. (Gimme a break, I was 10). I still know that number by heart too although its not in service anymore!!! I  am what I am

I read, watch and listen to anything that involves serial killers. No I’m not twisted or demented, although Brad would argue differently. I just find it interesting to watch and learn. I call it research since my greatest fear is being killed by a serial killer. Maybe I shouldn’t watch the stuff I watch.  I like to watch weird stuff, what can i say. If there is a cop related show I watch it. CSI, NCIS, Law and Order, Without A Trace, Cold Case… you name it, I watch it. I like the mystery and I like the cop type shows.  I am what I am

I believe in ghosts. Paranormal, hauntings. No, I’m not a witch and not into Wicca,  but I do believe in life after and I believe in life after death here, now. I have seen what I seen, I know what I have seen and I am what I am.

What am i? Me. I am me. With all my weirdness,  all my quarks. I am Amanda.

The girl who don’t like chick flicks cause life isn’t that way. The guys don’t always swoop in at the last minute with roses on a white horse, life don’t work that way. Unless your me and your guy is mine. I don’t like to read sappy romance novels with a box of tissues crying cause the tall dark dashing man came back for his true love. NOT. I’m the girl who don’t like to watch movies I know are sad and that are going to make me cry. I will watch till the sad part and Off goes the tv.

I am the girl who will bust out laughing in the middle of dead silence at something funny that was said or that  happened yesterday. ( That i just now got… ha ha)

I’m the girl who would rather spend a Friday night playing pogo or designing a web page than to hang out at the bar with a bunch of drunk people.  I am what I am. I am Amanda. I am weird. I don’t mind.

After going back through and re-reading what I have wrote I have to say I believe myself to be a bit strange. Yes, I am a normal person with kids and a life! I never realized before how much I have changed over the years. “Back in the day” I would have beaten myself up! I would kick someones ass for being this nerdy! And I wouldn’t have been friends with me “back in the day”.  With age comes wisdom, or maybe it should be “with age comes nerdiness” I embrace my inner nerd. I am what I am.

I am a democrat, I am Pro Choice, I am for stronger sex offender laws, I am a mexican, I am a wife, I am a mother, I am a daughter, I am a sister, I am woman, hear me roar. I am what I am. I am me.

Illegal Immigration – No vacancies

I have sat and watched people in my life make comments and voice their opinions on Illegal Immigration and the debate on building the fences and keeping “them” out of our country.

I am a Latina Woman. My ancestors were immigrants. As was everyone elses. Hell, Christopher Columbus WAS an illegal immigrant.  So yes this topic hits close to home for me.

Yeah, they are here illegally, but they are doing the jobs noone else will do. Are you going to go out there and pick fruits and vegetables in 110 degree weather for pennies? Don’t think so. Are you going to live in a house with a dirt floor and no running water and no electricity? Nope.  Work in a sweatshop for 18 hours a day only to make enough to buy your baby formula for one meal? Yeah, I don’t see that happening.

I have been down into the heart of “illegal” Texas, and seen how these illegal immigrants live. It wasnt pretty. It was like something out of a movie. I couldnt believe it. I live a good life and feel myself to be spoiled, I couldn’t do it.  And id bet that 99% of you wouldnt be able to live a day in their shoes. I was there for one day and was so thankful to hop into my car, go back to my hotel take a hot shower and eat a hot meal. So don’t think they arent suffering in one way or another. They are sacrificing alot to be here. Imagine a child with no toys, no fun, no friends.

Image what they have to be leaving behind to live a life like that. If this is better…imagine what life was like back home.

Yes, my subject has been mostly about mexicans, since its a close subject to my heart. But its not only the “Mexicans”

In Texas, California and I am sure a few other states have “coyotes” that go to other countries such as Thailand, El Salvador, Africa, China (and tons of other countries) and promise these girls a better life. Education, a job, a future. A way to support the family and kids they are leaving behind in their native land.  The Cost? (the price they don’t learn about until they are here and its too late) Sex Slave. Yes.  They have to make $1000 a day. Know how many guys they have to sleep with at $65 a pop? Having their children’s lives, families and their lives threatened if they run? If they try to leave? One woman was “employed” as a sex slave for 12 years.  Don’t think that is what they had in mind for their “American Dream”

I would love to live in a world where everyone was here legally. Where everyone could get along and live in harmony.  However I dont live with my head in the clouds and I know life is not like that, and never will be.

So before anyone starts running their mouth and voicing their opinions on illegal immigrants and building the fence to block mexico… think with your brain before running your mouth.

Everyones ancestors came here. Most illegally looking for a better life for their families. For you. What if America built a fence and put up a sign that said “no vacancies”, and put a “return to sender” note on their forehead, Called you a degenerate and said you were ruining the economy? Rallied and pushed you out.

Yeah yeah yeah… they come, they get free health care and everything handed to em. shut up. As I said in the begining…. are you going to wrok for pennies a day? Think they can afford health care on that?

Everyone is entitled to have their opinion that is your right. Its also everyones right to have a future. And if their future or dream is here in America, I say Welcome. America was BUILT that way.