weebaby

The holidays bring stress, and stress can make bad things worse for certain relationships.

I don't have anyone specific in mind that promotes me to post this, but perhaps there is someone suffering in silence that is embarrassed because they are "too smart" to choose an abusive partner. Please take care of yourself - you are worth it!

Source: The National Domestic Violence Hotline

AM I BEING ABUSED?

How is your relationship?

Does your partner:
* Embarrass you with put-downs?
* Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
* Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go?
* Stop you from seeing your friends or family members?
* Take your money or Social Security check, make you ask for money or refuse to give you money?
* Make all of the decisions?
* Tell you that you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
* Prevent you from working or attending school?
* Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it?
* Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
* Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons?
* Shove you, slap you, choke you, or hit you?
* Force you to try and drop charges?
* Threaten to commit suicide?
* Threaten to kill you?

If you answered ‘yes’ to even one of these questions,you may be in an abusive relationship.

For support and more information please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or at TTY 1-800-787-3224.

EDIT: Due to the large number of spam comments this post has received, I am now screening comments. All non-spam comments, even negative ones, will be posted.

I like Grace Jones' cover of "Demolition Man" better than the original by The Police. I think I read once the Sting likes her version better, too.

I rent two rooms in a house owned by an elderly Bolivian couple. I have one cupboard in the kitchen which holds almost all of 1/16th of my groceries/cookware/bakeware/gadgets, etc. Although I have access to the common area, the 80-year-old retired "father" is always there watching Spanish television. So Ben and I basically spend all of our time up in our rooms (where at least I have tv, cable, and occasionally, internet access.)

So since nearly all my of earthly possessions are in these two rooms, space is very very tight.

And so I have come to the heart-breaking conclusion that I have to get rid of most of my books. Just the thought of it feels like trying to breathe with only one lung.

NOTE: My collection makes more sense to the average onlooker when you hear this story: When I was young my parents would take me to visit my grandparents in either Maine or Louisiana, depending on the year. And I would get bored. B. o. r. e. d. On one very rare occasion, we went to visit friend's of my parents for a weekend. And they had books! I felt like Burgess Meredith in The Twilight Zone (only my glasses weren't broken.) And even though their children were grown and gone, they had lots of kid's books around for when their grandchildren would visit. I decided then and there that I would also keep a lot of young books around for if a poor kid got trapped in my house with nothing else to do.

The first box of books I opened was all cookbooks. Since I got Living Cookbook several years ago, I have already gotten rid of all the cookbooks I can bear to part with. So that box stays intact.

Then I opened the box that had The Chronicles of Narnia on top. I actually have two sets, one from my own childhood and one I bought when Jacob was a child. I can only get rid of one set, Jacob's, because my set has the books numbered in the CORRECT order, with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as number one instead of The Magician's Nephew. (In other words, in order of when they were written, which is the way I prefer my books.)

Then there was Ursula LeGuin's Catwings series. I can't get rid of those!

Harriet's Hare by Dick King-Smith. Nope, can't get rid of that. That was my dad's favorite book to read to Jacob when he was little.

Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series, plus the entire collection of everything else L.M. Montgomery wrote. I need to keep those, too. I spent years collecting everything.

Dean Koontz hardcovers. I spent too long saving money to buy his hardcovers to get rid of those. Lightening in paperback. I re-read that one a lot. I must keep it

This is going to be tough.

Three of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series. But Ben would love these when he gets older. I suppose I can release these.

Oh wait! Here's Twilight! This can go.

European History Interactive Map

Who's in power where?
What events happened during the selected time frame?

Fascinating. Utterly fascinating