Sifting Thoughts... Thanksgiving and more...

So, I know I've been scarce around these parts of late, but I've been taking part in the annual bout of madness known as The National Novel Writing Month. For those who might not know, it's a challenge to all writers to write 50,000 words starting November 1st and ending November 30th. This year's challenge went very well and I met the goal on the 19th... the earliest I've managed in the seven years I've taken part. The story, of course, goes on but the competition has been met and conquered.

The photo above was taken by my friend Brenda. Not sure where it is but it is significant. Summer has flown, the birds are right behind, and snow is here. Currently, it's 27F, with a windchill of 20F. Yesterday, it was in the 40's with a thunderstorm...

My reading this year has been slow, to say the least. Last year I managed to read over 100 books. This year, I doubt I'll hit 60. I haven't read anything deep or earth shatteringly important but I've enjoyed what I've read for the most part. And for me, that's the main thing.

The dog has learned a new trick, though I have no idea where or how. She can now kick her ball to me when I ask her to. It's the cutest thing. She'll drop it on the floor when she wants to play, just out of my reach and when I tell her I can't reach it, she pushes it with her foot towards me.

The cats are the cats. I swear at times they're planning a revolt...

Work has been strange this semester. We started the semester out under something of a jinx, with the death of a student due to natural causes (heart problems) and things haven't straightened out yet. We've had four seizures in one dorm, the normal alcohol issues, and far too many reports of students talking about suicide. We've also had at least two major power outages and a bunch of the sort of situation where you're left thinking "What the heck was that about?"

Thanksgiving break started tonight, so the dorms should be empty when I go to work for 11:00. They're not due back until Sunday, the students I mean, so I'm looking forward to a bit of quiet. After that, the semester will flash to an end and then it'll be three weeks of quiet.

After years of being in pain to one degree or another almost constantly, I finally am beginning to get some answers, one that is so easy and obvious now that I can't help but wonder what took so long.

I have gout. It's an arthritis disease and is the most painful form of the disease. Still working on treatment and I'm still trying to get a grip on the diet, which at first glance is this: NO MEAT EVER. Also, no beans, no asparagus, no mushrooms...

I'm working on something realistic.

So, that's it. We're battening down the hatches in preparation for what is supposed to be a long, snowy winter.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with family, friends, and plenty of all that you need.

Veteran's Day 2010

To all of you who have served and those of you who are serving now, along with your families whose sacrifices are not given enough merit, thank you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Without you, none of us would be what we are today.

She could be...

She could be your friend. Your sister. Your daughter. Your classmate.

She could be any young woman you see at any given time during your day.

For me this morning, she is a young woman I know at the university where I work.

She is bright. She is smart. She is funny. She has plans for her life. She is open, caring, loving...

And two weekends ago she became a statistic.

A night out, away from school, with someone she thought she knew and could trust... and his friends.

Something in her drink.

A blackout... and then awareness as she was running, terrified, down a dark street.

Listening to her talk about it broke my heart. Not her, not someone I care about so much.

I don't let myself get close to many of the students. They're temporary - here and then gone. This one is different. She got through and I do care. A lot.

Listening to her talk also left me feeling... helpless and discouraged.

You see, according to her, 'nothing happened'.

She was given what was probably a date rape drug and chased through the streets but 'nothing happened'.

She meant, of course, that she got away and wasn't sexually assaulted.

How does she not understand that something huge happened?

She knows all the 'rules' about drinking. She knows to be careful. She's heard the lectures and the stories.

And she still doesn't understand that something huge has happened to her.

It breaks my heart.

It breaks my heart that 1 in every 6 women, according to RAINN, in this country will be the victim of a sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault in their lifetime.

It breaks my heart that college age women are 4 times more likely to be assaulted.

It breaks my heart that after decades of awareness our young women still don't get it. I don't know what else we can do, short of making those young women, while they are girls and still apt to listen, afraid of every man they meet.

That isn't the answer, of course. But I wish to God I knew what was.

As for this young woman...

She was lucky, yes.

But, she doesn't understand what might lie ahead. 'Nothing happened' and 'running terrified in the dark' tell me the road that lies ahead may be a great deal harder than she thinks at the moment.

I will be watching her. And, if need be, I will be the biggest nuisance I can be to make sure she takes care of herself.

To make sure she understands this was not her fault.

To make sure she doesn't become another statistic.

If you have young women around you that you love, talk to them and don't stop.

They need to hear us now more than ever.