Do I not hurt like you do
feel sad like you?
Bleed the same color you do?
Love like you do?

Do I not miss you late at night when you’re not lying beside me
and holding me tight?
Do I not cry when I hear your voice on the phone?
Cry when I see your smiling face looking back at me?
Feel heartache when I visit your grave to put fresh flowers there?

Do I not wish you was home every night holding me tight as we watch the kids play?
Hope that the outcome would have been different?
Feel the pain of missing you?
See the misery that your family is going through?

Baby I see all of these things, feel all of these things.
I hurt inside all the time because I know that you’re not coming back.
I love you my love and I know we will see each other again.

Hannah
Johnson

Spartan babies were exposed at birth, and there was no intention of caring for a baby who would not mature into a self-sufficient individual. Much was demanded of both men and women, boys and girls. Physicial fitness was a very high value in Spartan society.

Everything the Spartans did was practical, so the clothing of Spartan women was simple and notoriously “short”. Their thighs were usually exposed, which the other Greeks found to be quite scandalous. But Spartan women owned property and could read and write, and they controlled the government by controlling their husbands.

One of the essential functions of Spartan women was to bear children. Because of the traditional value that bringing children into the world was at the heart of every marriage, divorce and sharing of reproductive resources was not frowned upon. When reproduction is the real purpose of a marriage, then people understand that the best child bearers should be used by the best sperm donors to bring forth the healthiest children. But this does not mean that there was anything wanton or hedonistic in these arrangements. Modesty was one of the chief virtues of Spartan women, and the propriety with which they handled themselves under difficult circumstances would put modern women of today to shame.

Spartan women expected much from their men and their children, and they could afford to demand high standards, because of the very high standards that they also applied to themselves.

The names of women who died in childbirth were the only ones to be etched on gravestones, just as only the men who died in battle had their names preserved on a gravemarker. Motherhood was held in the highest esteem, because everybody understood that it was a serious matter and that everybody’s well being depended on it.

Are we better off today? Are mothers better respected now or were they more respected then? Isn’t respect something we have to earn? Do we earn it by granting unconditional love or by demanding much from both our men and our children?

If you want to read a book that features a mother in the Spartan mold, consider picking up a copy of Vacuum County. Then read about Anadora, a mother who rather than drying her son’s tears when he was beaten insisted that he had to learn to fight back.

When I was ten years old, my family  moved to the United States for good. I was very lonely, and I didn’t have any friends. (For a fictionalized account of what I was going through, read my story The Punky-Wunkies.) One of my greatest joys during that dark period was to come home after a rough day at school and watch Dark Shadows.

It was not that I was particularly interested in vampires or witchcraft, but that odd, peculiar show evoked an atmosphere that seemed to imply that life was dramatic, that what we as individuals did was important, and that romantic-heroic ideals were worth fighting for. True, it was a campy soap opera, and even then I recognized the humor in some of those overly dramatic scenes. Still, it was my only solace at the time, and I was a die-hard fan. When the show was canceled, I was devastated.

Later, we moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Grand Prairie, Texas, I dropped out of Junior Hight to be homeschooled, and as part of my required socialization, I joined the Girl Scouts. There I learned the song “On My Honor.”

The Girl Scout pledge was confusing to me. Like the Pledge of Allegiance, there were parts of it that I could not wholeheartedly agree to. There were things about the song “On My Honor” that I also found confusing. But the haunting melody stayed with me, and eventually I used it to write a filksong about Angelique from Dark Shadows.

Today, with the premier of the new Tim Burton movie starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, I remembered that filksong, and I sang it with Bow. No, I can’t sing. But when you are singing to a chimpanzee you become very brave. Notice how he seems to understand the meaning of the lyrics, and he doesn’t start displaying until the words get violent!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

ANGELIQUE’S LAMENT

I was born in the islands,
In sorcery skilled,
And though but a servant,
I did as I willed,
Till I cam with my mistress,
My fortune to claim.
In that calm Collinwood,
In the quaint state of Maine.

Barnabas Collins
Was the man of my dreams,
A handsome profile,
From a family of means,
But he fell in love
With my mistress Josette,
A porcelain doll,
Fit to fondle and pet.

Then I vowed in my mind,
My heart full of gall,
If he would not have me,
He’d have no one at all,
So I sent him by night
To hunt and to kill,
To quaff human blood,
And to drink to his fill.

I could have but killed him,
But loved him too well;
I wanted him living,
So damned him to hell.
I made him immortal,
To dark gods I said:
Make him one of your own,
Both living and dead.

Each day by his coffin
A vigil I keep.
Let no one disturb
His ungodly sleep!
And lonely I watch him,
And longing I pine.
I daydream and wonder
Why can’t he be mine!

Then I send him by night
To hunt and to kill,
To quaff human blood
And to drink to his fill,
And I vow in my mind,
My heart cold and chill,
If I cannot have him,
By the gods no one will!

If you are a real vocalist, please contact me about using these lyrics in a video of your own. Believe me, I would rather hear you sing it!

Copyright 2012 Aya Katz

The Marigold Drawing Flowerpot by Julia Hanna

I love to make tea and drink it in the morning, or late at night when I want herbal tea to help me rest.  The great thing about the tea pots

The Rose Teapot by Julia Hanna

The rose teapot is perfect for anyone who loves to gaze upon pink roses in the garden.

The White Roses Teapot by Julia Hanna

The white roses teapot is idea for the mom who adores roses of this shade. There are many cute floral teapots, so it is all about picking the right one for your mom.

The red tulip teapot is vibrant and ideal for the mom who loves bright colors. There is a teapot of match everyone’s personality and temperament, and different floral arrangements mean different things to different people. Have fun finding a teapot for your mom for Mother’s Day!

The rule simply states that the citizens living within the city limits can only have three canines or three felines on their property or any combination thereof, as long as they don’t exceed a total of three, regardless of whether the property has been fenced to contain the animals. They made no exemptions for Service Dogs either, a class of animals that are covered by Federal Law, which clearly states that Service Dogs are not classified as pets (http://www.mo.gov/disability/pdf/ServiceAnimalsAllowed.pdf) . Why only three? Why not two or four? No one understands the reasoning behind the law and the City of Licking, with its small, entrenched local government officials have offered no justification other than it feels that 3 is the right number for any household to have.

When they were pushed to explain why they were creating such a law, the city replied with the following reasons:
1) There are too many loose dogs & cats in the city;
2) There are too many dogs barking and making noise at night; and
3) Other cities are doing the same thing.

In response, a few city dwellers made the points that the city has leash laws and noise ordinances that should be enforced to help with complaints 1 and 2 and no further laws were needed. In response to #3, it just sounded plain dumb for a city administrator to make such a statement. The City Council informed the attendees that they did not have enough law officers to enforce the current laws on the books and this law would reduce the enforcement responsibilities.

The city leaders did not even bother to coordinate with the local animal shelter which is already full to the brim with abandoned and abused animals to take in the animals that would need to be surrendered when the law went into effect.

My friend in the city is fighting this ordinance. She has 4 dogs and has been to all the city meetings pleading with them not to enact this law. Ironically, the mayor lives right next door to my friend and the law has been in effect now for 6 months. The cops have yet to come to her door to fine her or take her dogs.
The law serves no useful purpose, and as many laws do, has resulted in the unintended consequences of many pet owners taking their pets to the already full-to-the-brim shelter, or worse, dumping them along the side roads outside the city. The mayor and the city council members have been in office so long that they have forgotten who they represent. We, The People won’t forget. They need to keep their noses out of our houses and our private lives. We’re going to help them do that.

The owl baby bedding theme is so cute!

Designing the perfect nursery with a cute theme, such as those found with owl baby bedding, and the perfect color of paint, can be fun and satisfying. But just as much or more consideration needs to be put into planning for the nursery to be a safe place for your baby now and as he/she grows. According to figures compiled by Safe Kids Worldwide, home accidents cause almost 2 million young children to be taken to the emergency room every single year!

Let’s look at some of the things you can do to make the nursery safe for your new baby.

Baby Crib Safety

Ensure that your baby’s crib meets the latest government safety standards. New federal requirements were set up in June 2011 for all cribs sold in the US. Five issues were specifically addressed:

• The traditional drop-side crib is no longer allowed to be manufactured or sold.
• Wooden slats must be stronger than they once were to prevent breakage.
• All hardware on the crib must contain anti-loosening devices. Hardware should be periodically checked to ensure that the crib continues to be safe.
• The supports for the mattress need to be more robust.
• More stringent safety testing was required.

Another thing to seriously consider is the spacing between the slats which should not be more than 2-3/8 inches (6 cm) apart. Cut-outs in the end panels of the crib should also follow this rule.

There should be no decorative knobs on top of the corner posts as these can catch on the baby’s baby’s clothing and cause strangulation.

Decorative items that can suffocate a baby can still be used with older children's rooms

Mobiles, if used in your baby’s crib, should not be used much beyond 5 months of age. If your baby starts using it to pull themselves up, they can pull the mobile down possibly getting tangled up in its strings or ribbons. Again you would run the risk of strangulation or some other injury.

The Home Safety Council recommends that the only thing you place in your baby’s crib is a firm mattress with a crib sheet. All those other cute cuddly items, the pillows, blankets, and the stuffed animals, have caused suffocation in children under one year of age.

Save these items for use outside the crib or for when your child gets older.

Electrical Safety Tips

As your child get older and more curious of their surroundings, it becomes very important to protect them from the possibility of electrical shock. It is best to take care of this task now when you are setting up the nursery rather than waiting until later. You want to make sure that all outlets are covered, and since toddlers are known to remove individual socket protectors, it is best to go with a protector that covers the entire outlet plate. Different types are available, and some also come with cord shorteners eliminating another hazard for both you and your child.

Keep Windows Safe

Window Guard

Do not place any furniture in front of or too near windows. You do not want to run the risk of your child crawling up on the furniture, including the crib, and then falling into and possibly through the window. Window guards can be installed over your windows to keep your child safe at floor level.

Window treatments with cords pose another potential threat to your child – strangulation. It is important to tie the cords up so that your child cannot reach them, or even better, install window treatments that are cordless.

Baby Safety Gate

If you will be installing a baby safety gate, make sure to purchase a gate that screws directly into the doorjamb or wall. Pressure mounted gates have been known to fall or be pushed over by a strong-willed child. Also avoid the gates that open and close with accordion-type movements as these can injure a child by pinching or strangulation.

Baby Diaper Changing Table

Baby care products would need to be stored elsewhere if using a diaper changing table such as this one.

The diaper changing table can be a very scary place! You should not store your baby care products in the changing table or any other location that they have access to. The best place to store these products is high on a shelf that the baby or toddler cannot reach. This could be on a shelf mounted on a wall near or above the changing table, or in a taller cabinet with shelves beside the changing table.

If you find that you must store these baby care products in the bottom of the changing table, insure that you have properly mounted child protection locks on the doors or drawers.

When you need to change your baby, make sure that you have everything you need before you begin the process of changing your baby. Although the changing table’s safety strap should keep a child held securely, accidents do happen. By having all of the things you need easily accessible, you will be able to keep a hand and your eyes on your baby at all times.

Anti-tip furniture straps can prevent serious accidents!

Secure Tall or Heavy Furniture to a Wall

Use anti-tip furniture brackets to stabilize taller furniture, such as changing tables, cribs, cabinets and dressers, to prevent them from tipping over on your child. Children like to crawl on things making taller pieces of furniture a deadly hazard. Be sure to install safety latches on the bottom drawers of furniture so that your child cannot pull them out and use them as a ladder to get to the top.

Kids Toy Storage

Use toy boxes or bins without lids!

As parents, we go through a lot of effort to make sure the toys we provide for our children are safe. We need to put as much thought into the storage of their toys as well. It is recommended that toys be stored in bins or boxes that do not have lids. This then prevents your child from getting head, hands or some other body part pinched or smashed as would happen if the traditional toy box lid were to come down on your child. It also prevents your child from becoming trapped inside the toy box.

If you do have a traditional wooden toy box, you can install hydraulic hinges on the lid to prevent the lid from falling on your child.

Another safe option for toy storage!

By taking these baby safety items into consideration for the nursery before you bring your baby home, you are bringing your child into a much safer environment. This means you have one less thing to worry about enabling you can focus all your energy on welcoming your new baby into your home and your heart.

Amazon Product Images used to illustrate this page:

RoomMates RMK1439SLM Scroll Tree Peel & Stick Wall Decal MegaPack

SoHo Owl Tree Party Baby Crib Nursery Bedding Set with Gray Baby Carrier 8 pcs set

Automatic Specialties Child Safety Window Guard by Guardian Angel REGULAR (23″-35″)

Munchkin Extending Extra Tall and Wide Metal Gate, White

DaVinci Emily Baby Changing Table, Espresso

Tee-Zed Anti-Tip Furniture Anchor Strap

Badger Basket Two Bin Storage Cubby, Espresso

Teddy Hammock JUMBO Toy Storage Net – White

Virginia Cantrell was driving down interstate 530, but she didn’t know where she was going. All she knew was that she had to leave the town of Evander. She was leaving behind everything and starting over. She also had to leave behind some precious family heirlooms too. She was only taking the things that she could pack in a small U-Haul that she could pull behind her car. She was just 26 years old but she looked much older than that.

She hoped that there was a hotel nearby because she had been driving all day and she was getting tired and hungry. She also hoped that the hotel took cash because she didn’t have any bank accounts or credit cards because she did not want to be traced. She could never go back to the town because of what caused the death of her husband. If she went back there she knew that she would not be welcomed there.

She found a hotel and pulled in. She saw that there were vacancies so she found a parking place and pulled in. She grabbed her things, locked the doors and went inside to get her a room. This hotel was kind of run down and smelled moldy but it would do for one night. The clerk behind the counter looked up from the television show he was watching. “May I help you?” he asked her as he got up and walked to the counter. ” I need a room for the night.” she told him. “Ok 39.99.” he said as he handed her the key. She gave the guy 40 bucks and took the key from him. “Thanks.” she said to him as she turned and walked away.

She found the room and unlocked the door and when she did the room had a musty smell. She flicked on the overhead light and seen that the room was run down but she already paid and since it was only for one night she dealt with it. She walked over to the bed and set her purse and overnight bag down. She needed a shower and hoped that the water was usable.

She went into the bathroom and turned on the light and the bathroom looked just as bad as the room. She walked over to the shower and turned on the water and at first the pipes sputtered but the water came out. She got her things and went back into the bathroom and climbed in the shower. The water wasn’t hot but it would do. She then finished her shower and towed off. She then went back into the room and put her stuff in her overnight bag. She took out the food she had bought earlier along with the bottle of water and laid on the bed. The TV didn’t work all that great so she ate her food and called it an early night.

Do I not breath the same air you breath
Do I not feel the same pain that you do,
Do I not cry the same tears you do,

Do I not hurt like you do.
Do I not feel sad like you do.
Do I not love like you do.
Do I not bleed the same color you do.

Do I not miss you late at night when your not laying beside me.
Do I not cry when I hear your voice on the phone.
Do I not cry when I see your smiling face looking back at me.
Do i not feel heartache when I visit your grave and put freash flowers on it.

Do I not wish you was home every night holding me watching the kids play
Do I not hope that the outcome would have been different
Do I not feel the pain of missing you
Do I not see the misery that your family is going through

Baby I see all of theses things. I feel all of these things. I hurt inside all the time cause your not coming back. I love you my love and we will see each other again

Aware the mask man riding on

Driving another person’s car

Peel out, it’s just a game

Rise dust, gain a privilege.

Is your lover out too far?

Ask her not to swim.

Please yell her name

Please yell her name!

A shell for hiding in dim darkness casting spells.

Pretend I wasn’t your enemy

I want you.

Forever in two days

past by us.

They saw it lasting.

Heavy breathing.

In and out.

All I wanted was your gaze

To kiss my cheek.

I would have thought it

was only teasing.

Do I or did I?

Do I or did I have too much makeup on?

Now or before.

I know it is because I’m too plain.

An old boyfriend told me.

An aching bone.

chests beating

Rhythms dying.

I want to keep trying

So hard to be sick of people I knew.

Bang beating crimes

Minnesota under construction

Mask wearing.

Print a paper

So many forests growing prairie field unmoved.

Worship blowing air

Stare into the drain awhile.

Baseball a sport

Months ago it seemed fun.

Trying not to laugh

Wise rewarding bitten

Painting my covers

Grandma making one more mitten.

The old cedars and elms gigantic

Sledding with our dogs

When morning came we heard

Grandma always singing the song.

Great Grandma Mildred tamed

Drew our best pictures.

Corn fields erase

Where we played with a few burs.

Snowboard in and on

My boots against the heels of my feet.

I remember falling

Ass in bounced shredding.

Forbidden to go again

Knees too weak now.

Took one last run

Doesn’t it ever want to end?

Keep my place in line.

Folders keep a secret

I hated secrets when I was a teen.

Graduated without smiling.

Fax my diploma next round

Great experience.

My tongue sticks

My shoes too.

Hearing a better tune

A story I’ll tell boundry waters and the loon.

Feet balancing a stone

Wrinkled toe a fig in my hand.

Flying in Sessions

Environment charming

Places in our lives

Forward not back

Harmonies wished upon

Humming somewhere

Tranquil surroundings

Walk in so far.

Peek at yourself in a mirror.

Let’s get together freedom.

Lift children off the ground

Was a friend coming over?

Bidding on money rights

I love being in my cover.

Lick the frosting edges

Call on children at the house.

A cherry tree looks at the field

Hoping we’ll plant her a nice garden.

Alfalfa rising

If only we were men

Many lovely princes

We shoot the bark of a boxelder tree.

Type a figurine

Dress it up as war

The maple tree from Norway.

Can make from her bows

Or logs of wood picking up new pieces.

Tasted perfume as we lit a candle.

Sensing shut doors

Sensitive to moments wisely walk by us.

Follow dramatic touching of my shoulders.

Polite isn’t a touchdown placed on our back window.

Taken my clothes off if heat turned on radios.

Raining in an afternoon’s playtime

Two legs walking over dead grass and drops of tears.

Like people with answers

Would it ever matter?

Quiet lakes

Women understand that a common thread wouldn’t work

Round fingers sensing shut eyes.

Someday start saying Na Na

Beautiful emerge the shut out

I see worries dismiss

Yellow gracing Tuesdays.

Love trauma out of bound

Hollowed out feelings

Sick and bored

Summer sat on my knee.

Take my hand need your willing heart

My dear sent in a note

Did you hear the news?

Kept from believing I won’t get that back

Home for mediation settle on a wish

My mouth uttering cries

Clouds full and possible to recognize.

cornerstone of a gold razor

Put me back where a careful day brought the train passing

Blow on daffodil seeds

Last promise he made to a speed limit sign

Grant his wishes

Maui heating the water with gorgeous lava pooled

Where are we going?

Snakes coiling beside my ankle.

Kiss the bunny who is ten years old now.

Red eyes staying under the corn crib with all those frogs and snakes.

Plant right away

Ripe plums sweetness wrap your nose in the fruit.

Dark wood and a light heart leaves something talking to other plum trees

What is a banana tree doing in my poetry?

Am I hoping?

Many times lost in the eyes hold me soon step aside trust a promised kiss

Let us be smiling

friends again but maybe more

Will you know me?

Friend to my humanity

Sank past into my soul.

Fast was always my wrong way

Is a patient effort going to make it last?

A year goes by my door.

Pictures taken that I won’t even miss.

Songs playing through my head

Spirit’s blood and tears

Hearing the favorite song again.

I see inside you the song is free.

Growing up to witness eating purple grapes.

The green ones always taste better to me.

Today we’ll travel oblivious to our families wish.

Understand me I wanted you the best

Was I ever going to fight?

Crying only to regret a fallen drop coming from my eyes.

Growing up and wishing you were nearer to me.

Hasn’t it gotten behind our friends?

Don’t answer my one wish now.

Raining fast and rightfully it pours on the roof of my car.

I still need you.

A wolf walked past the tent I slept in alone.

You weren’t there but I heard a car drive by me.

WE

energy protrudes only pretending foggy carpets

Wherever you want to put them

If all our cars looked the same she asked for the road to turn her face

Hats are on sir

Do we feel happy?

Plenty pretty girls many handsome boys

Putting airs on. Growing chances

I loved you at first sight.

Except you weren’t you.

My eyes danced

feet tapping to forbidden beats.

Shine your brights on a lake edge.

Will I ever leave this awful place?

Join me will you?

Won’t a soldier follow the troop?

Divide my enemies power.

Flag blowing in the wind.

Torn or tattered

Take with you a nice belonging

Cold hands wipe tears away the same

I hate computers.

But still we ask for warmth.

Gold rimmed maples

Turning your escape tainted

Roll down your  window

Now we shake and soft lips usually kiss more than twice.

A hard hand doesn’t give once. Hang onto my words or throw them away. I could have scratched your back though and you may have liked the way

Cut your hand on sharp sticks.

A blister in the small space between your fingers

I got a puppy today she smiles nicer than a dove would if she got a puppy today.