tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17876416846651562062024-03-05T00:24:01.253-08:00The Greatly Abridged Life of Miss Helena SueHelena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-71151217947618118442016-07-14T11:48:00.002-07:002016-07-14T12:13:15.461-07:00Finding Gerald: The Saddest Short Story in Finding Dory<div class="p1">
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The first thing I’ll say about Finding Dory is that I otherwise loved the film. In fact, I thought it mostly delivered a great message about disability inclusion. A big part of the story centers on how, despite her cognitive disability, Dory is able to successfully manage the world and find love and acceptance. Unfortunately, this beautiful message of inclusion and empowerment gets muddied while it stands in stark contrast to the included ‘Gerald’ plot line, which is mean-spirited, heartbreaking, and completely tactless.</div>
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<span class="s1">In case you missed Finding Dory or blocked the sea lion scenes out of your memory as I wish I could, Gerald is a sea lion who appears pretty clearly to have some sort of developmental disability. His goal in life, as it seems, is to join Fluke and Rudder, two seemingly neurotypical sea lions, on the warm sunny rock that they bask on throughout the day. With his wide-set eyes, prominent overbite, exaggerated brow, friendly-but-naive disposition, and non-verbal role in an otherwise very talkative ocean, it’s fairly obvious that this character was intended to represent someone with a developmental disability. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">There are various scenes in the movie that include this trio, all of them with the “punchline” being that Fluke and Rudder harshly yell at him to get off of their rock until he sadly sinks into the sea. At one point, Gerald has finally found a spot of joy; he’s got a bucket that he’s happily playing with. Fluke and Rudder call him over and offer him a trade — if he lets them have his new bucket, he can join them up on the rock. Eager to finally be included, he happily hands over his bucket to his ‘friends’ who now seem to accept him. Fluke and Rudder allow Gerald a microsecond on the rock, then laugh and pull their trademark “OFF OFF OFF OFF!” move, again shoving him sadly into the sea. His expression as he falls is the saddest thing I’ve seen in a Pixar movie — and I watched Toy Story 3. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The really depressing part of this plot line is that Gerald never really gets his day. Fluke and Rudder never accept him or change their behavior toward him, but are still generally represented as ‘good guys’ in the movie. There’s no lesson learned, no apology, no moment of realization. The story doesn’t address the way that they bully Gerald and exploit his disability as a bad thing. It’s just a bitter punchline that they hammer home over and over again. Gerald naively and grudgelessly hopes for inclusion, and Fluke and Rudder repeatedly crush that dream by being cruel to him. That’s the whole joke. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Call me a party-pooper, but I’m not laughing. There are a few things that this joke relies on for its humor. The first is that Gerald is funny looking and different. If they had animated Gerald as super cute with big oversized eyes and chubby cheeks à la baby Dory, no one would have laughed at the bullies picking on him. Everyone would have said, “What was with that?? That was horrible!”. But hey, picking on people who are funny looking and different is hilarious, right? The second thing the joke relies on is how funny it is when Fluke and Rudder team up to loudly shoo him away. It’s a familiar motif — a spin-off of the famous “MINE? MINE? MINE” from ‘Finding Nemo’, which was irresistibly imitatable. Sadly, so is this - and it builds a perfect stencil for kids to use when teaming up to exclude kids from the jungle gym at the playground.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">With this film having disability empowerment as a major theme, why on Earth would the editors let this plot line happen? Who approved these storyboards? It’s a moot point, really. At this point, the damage is done. The film is out there. The most we can hope for is that parents pick up where Disney left off to follow up with their kids and use the scene as a teachable moment. If you took your kids to see Finding Dory, talk to them. Ask them how they felt about Fluke and Rudder. Ask them how they thought Gerald felt. Ask them what Fluke and Rudder should have done instead. Disney and Pixar made a big misstep here, but let’s turn it into something positive by talking to our kids about bullying — especially when someone is a little bit different from us. </span></div>
Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-7259398458932170072015-08-31T08:48:00.003-07:002015-08-31T15:07:22.317-07:00Helena and the Google Wallet Customer Support that Wasn'tIn my life, I've had some pretty bad customer support. I'm also known in my circle of friends for being able to make customer support happen in the toughest of circumstances through diligence, well-worded emails, and well-directed phone calls.<br />
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Bravo, Google. Bravo. You have managed to weave an impenetrable wall of complete support refusal. I've honestly never seen anything like it. I'm a mix of furious, confused, disappointed, and frustrated - and for the first time ever, I've considered crazy, irrational things like buying an iPhone instead of a Nexus and changing my homepage to Bing, sheerly out of hatred for what you've put me through trying to reactive my Google Wallet account. In case you're wondering why my account was deactivated, it's because I used it as it was intended to be used: I attempted to send a relatively small sum of money to a wedding photographer to book my date.<br />
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Allow me to walk you through the seven layers of hell that I've experienced thus far.<br />
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It started off somewhat innocently enough. I attempted to send the money over, and I received two emails: one email telling me that Google had decided not to send my money, and another informing me that not only were they not sending my money, but in fact, they'd locked my account instead.<br />
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Okay. I get it. It's for my own protection. I figured that I would verify my identity with a quick phone call or a few security questions and be on my way. But no. Oh, no. I had no idea what fresh hell was to be unleashed upon me. At this point, I clicked the link inside Google Wallet's verification page to find this nightmare:</div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Account Verification</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Your Google Payments is currently suspended so we can protect it from fraud. Submit this form and the requested documents below for us to verify so you can regain access.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">If you're having trouble completing the form or need more information, call 855-492-5538 (+1-404-978-9254 from outside the US, international call charges may apply).</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">You're currently signed in as helenaxxxxx@gmail.com. This email address will be recorded when you submit this form. If this isn't the account associated with your issue please switch accounts.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">First name *</span></span></h2>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Driver's license</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Passport information page</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">National identification card</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">State-issued identification</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Permanent residence card</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">A different form of government-issued identification</span></li>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Your government-issued identification can't be expired. File size must be under 10MB.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Submit an attachment *</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Billing address verification *</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Important note:</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Only the last 4 digits of your credit card, debit card, or account number should be visible in the documents you submit.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">If you submit a photo of a card or paper statement, cover the first 12 numbers of the account with your finger or a piece of paper.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">If you submit an electronic statement, use an image editing program on your computer to block the first 12 numbers of the account, or print the statement first and submit a picture of it where you cover the first 12 numbers.</span></span></h2>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Credit/debit card statement</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Picture of Credit/Debit card</span></li>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">The address or card on this document must match the billing information in your Wallet. This document must be dated within the last four months. File size must be under 10MB.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Submit an attachment *</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">Contact number *</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px;">This number will only be used for verification purposes.</span></span></h2>
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....You're kidding, right? I'm supposed to put all of my most sensitive data into an online form and ship it off over the internet to be looked at by a stranger with nothing but their word that it will be erased? I'm not loving this. Surely there must be a more secure way that I can verify my identity, like having a text sent to my phone (which is registered on Google), an email sent to my backup email address (which is registered on Google), or answering some security questions. I called the phone number. </div>
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After holding on the line for an eternity, I am put on the line with a nice young lady from India who cannot help me at all. She put me on hold for about 25 minutes to wait for her manager, who in an offensively badly attempted 'American Accent' could also not help me at all. As a note to any Google CSRs abroad - please don't try to fake a southern accent to fool me into thinking I must be speaking to someone in Texas. It's insulting. It tells me that a) you think I'm racist and b) you think I'm stupid. I'm neither. </div>
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I asked to be escalated to the next tier, and he informed me that the actual 'Account Specialists' don't have phones and can't be reached via phone at all. He suggested that I use the 'Chat' button on the form to speak with one of the 'Account Specialists', who might actually be able to help.</div>
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At no point during this now 8-day-long adventure has chat ever been 'Available'. When I pointed this out, he assured me that he would have someone email me to follow up.</div>
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Sure enough, I am soon sent a form email from 'Angelo', the most useless person I've had the displeasure of dealing with through this entire saga. Despite what I had actually asked, Angelo went ahead and instead sent over the identical instructions again without addressing my question. I replied by asking the question I'd actually initially asked again, and Angelo replied by .....not replying. Ever. I proceeded to attempt to follow up with him for a few days before I just gave up.</div>
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Angelo had clearly decided that since I wanted my case escalated to a Manager Specialist, I was no longer his problem. However, he also did not escalate me. He just decided to be done.</div>
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At this point, I took to Twitter. Google Wallet's Twitter team assured me via DM that they would send someone to help. Maine was kind enough to take the time to refer me to my old friend ....Angelo. In the words of Ron Swanson, 'Best friend I never had. We still never talk sometimes'.</div>
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Angelo continued to ignore me, even once I gave up and sent over the documentation that I hadn't wanted to send in the first place - both via the form and directly to Angelo's email, as their phone support had instructed so that the process could be 'expedited'. Reluctantly, I sent over a photo of my driver's license and a photo of the credit card linked to my account with all but the last four numbers hidden as directed. Andddd.... nothing. I updated Maine and pleaded with him for some help.</div>
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At this point, I also sent a copy of the documentation to Maine, since Angelo clearly had decided that I was dead to his world and would receive no support. I tried to use the 'let my team call you' link, but it was just a link back to the same f$%ing documentation form that I'd already sent. I explained via email to Maine that I had never received a response from Angelo since the first time we spoke, and asked if he could help me instead. In response, I received an email from ...Sam.</div>
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Sam kindly informed me that his team had deleted my documentation, because it needed to go to Angelo. He advised that I follow the instructions in Angelo's email, disregarding totally the part where I already had done so. My email had included the information that Angelo was no longer responding, but I was still referred back to Angelo nonetheless.</div>
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Finally, something! An auto-responder! This was progress. At this point, even at automated response was an exciting development. And Alka was now here to help. She assured me that my documentation was being forwarded to new, special specialists. Specialists that could probably maybe actually help. I was filled with hope and joy.</div>
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This morning when I opened Google Wallet, I was ready to re-send my deposit to my photographer. I'd done everything they'd asked, and Alka sounded like she was on it. I was sure my account would be active again. </div>
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Of course, this hope was to be immediately crushed under the stomping boot of aggravation that is Google Wallet's F-Team of customer support. The next email I received was from 'San,'.</div>
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'San,' informed me that suspicious activity on my account had prompted them to temporarily suspend its use. You know, for my security. Thank you, San,. I HAD NO IDEA.</div>
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Despite my having sent everything they'd asked for exactly as it was asked for and waiting three days for the 'expedited service' on my account, they wanted more documentation. I sent it via the form and alerted both 'San,' and Sam that it had been sent over as requested - as well as a hearty amount of grumbling that I was being placed back into the queue.</div>
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I also begged for help via Twitter DM.</div>
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Would you be shocked if I told you that my Google Wallet account is <b>STILL </b>locked, and that no one ever answered me?</div>
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No. Probably not. For a company with more money than God and the ability to create so many incredible technological advances, WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU MASTER CUSTOMER SUPPORT?!</div>
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I get it. We're not your customer. These services are free. We're the product. I work in tech, I understand these things. But guess what? If you piss off your product enough, you'll have nothing left to sell. Get it together, Google.</div>
<span id="goog_1873863375"></span><span id="goog_1873863376"></span><br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-19904106144265009822014-04-20T18:21:00.000-07:002014-04-20T18:21:02.519-07:00Long time, no see!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So it's been a while since I wrote... anything... Sorry about that. I have an upcoming plan to split off from this blog into two new blogs - one about my work in Web Accessibility, and one about cooking. This blog will remain more about my personal life and opinions; which likely will still involve a lot of the above mentioned topics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To catch everyone up, since I haven't updated in FOREVER - I'm now working at a web development firm in Orlando. For a while, I was working as a Drupal developer, specializing in Web Accessibility (the art of making websites easily accessible for individuals with varying levels of ability). I even got to present a session on it at DrupalCamp, which was really cool. Now that I'm a PM, I don't really get to do much on the dev side of things anymore at work, so I've been tinkering in WA in my own time at home. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyone
in the special needs community that would be willing to give me some
feedback or an interview on this topic will have my undivided attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The other thing I like to tinker around with is new recipes. Alex has been gently nudging me forever that I should really be writing my culinary experiments down somewhere, since they're (usually) good and fairly original. So eventually there should also be some new recipes floating around the internet, too. </span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-73431446990893256392012-07-24T13:15:00.003-07:002012-11-07T08:19:20.889-08:00Beauty<a href="http://thelook.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/24/12930506-baby-with-down-syndrome-lands-a-swimsuit-campaign?lite" target="_blank">MSNBC - Baby with Down Syndrome Lands Swimsuit Campaign</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Breaking news! ...but should it be? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am not at all averse to the idea of a child with Down syndrome getting a modeling job. By all means, I am a huge fan of inclusion. Hooray, inclusion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">My gripe is with the fact that this is news at all. All children are beautiful - so why is Valentina the first child with Down syndrome that a major designer has signed? Why is inclusion so rare in the fashion industry that the simple act of it is worthy of its own headline? Shouldn't advertisements represent the populous, rather than an unrealistic 'ideal' of what every man, woman, and child should look like?</span><br />
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Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-57415155339431816112012-06-21T11:19:00.000-07:002012-06-21T11:19:09.579-07:00Shortest update ever.Yes, I'm still alive. I'm still reading. I'm still working. I'm just... overwhelmed.<br />
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Senior year. Full load of 400 level summer classes. Word of advice? Don't do that.<br />
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In the middle of this, major life upheaval.<br />
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Art for app has been commissioned and is being drawn. Hooray for upcoming release.Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-58534929123070647102012-04-30T11:13:00.001-07:002012-04-30T11:32:46.149-07:00The Power of Love<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
If you're not local, you may not have heard what happened nearby last night. </div>
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To summarize, a 23 year old man got into an argument with his grandmother and aunt, resulting in him stabbing his 69 year old grandmother 'so many times he lost count' while she bathed in the tub.</div>
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It's truly a heartbreaking story, but woven into this sad tale is a thread of beauty. As he was brutally murdering his grandmother by thrusting duel-wielded kitchen knives into her body, she uttered the last phrase that would ever leave her lips to her killer- "I love you". </div>
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Her ultimate act of forgiveness was an act that would save lives. Unbeknownst to her, he had intended to go kill the entire rest of his family next, just a few doors down. Upon hearing her final words, he was filled with remorse for his actions. The young man fell to his knees over her body, weeping. He then called the police and turned himself in, leaving the remainder of his intended victims unharmed. </div>
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The power of love is so strong that it can overcome any anger or hatred that exists. It may have been too late for her to save her own life, but even in the throes of the death, her selfless love calmed the sea of anger that this young man was drowning in, ultimately saving the lives of the rest of her family. </div>
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I think the moral of this story is that even when our rage is justified, even when the unforgivable takes place, the path from which peace blooms is still forgiveness. Feeding into the rage just gives the negativity strength; no amount of flames will quell a fire.<br />
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Sometimes our forgiveness will be taken for granted, and some people will abuse forgiveness... but this story felt to me like a lesson about Luke 11:4. I know that God forgives my many mistakes graciously, eager to continue to love me with an unmarred view; and in receiving such divine, perfect forgiveness, who am I to rightfully hold a grudge against another of His creations? His grandmother showed faith in action - and because of that faith, her family was spared her terrible fate. <br />
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"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive
them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior
motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false
friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and
frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend
years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. If you
find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway. The
good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the
world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is
between you and God- it was never between you and them anyway." </blockquote>
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-Mother Teresa</blockquote>
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R.I.P. Barbara Denmark</div>
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<br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-66852263222608758062012-04-28T05:41:00.003-07:002012-11-07T08:15:54.134-08:00For the love of cheese...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday evening, I was at work waiting tables when a little family sat down in my station. The mother was middle-aged; she was so friendly, so polite and outgoing- but I could see the weariness in her eyes. I've read too many of your blogs to miss that look. Her daughter was about my age, the mirror of her mother, with long brown hair responsibly tied into a pretty braid. Her younger brother caught my attention. He was probably about 12, a handsome young man. "Hummm-mum-mum"... his crystal blue eyes evaded mine as I asked them each what they would like to drink. "Hummm mum mum..." His mother answered for him: "nothing for him, thanks". He stimmed softly along as his eyes stayed trained on his Gameboy, locked in a world all his own as a busy restaurant whirled around him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I came back to take their order for dinner, and they politely ordered two meals: one for the mother, one for the daughter. I asked if the boy would like anything. Sheepishly, the mother blushed at me as she asked, "I don't suppose there's <i>any</i> chance you have a cheese stick back there...? It's all he really eats..." her voice trailed off as if she caught herself asking something insane. She shook her head, embarrassed, and chuckled. After all, it's a beautiful upscale waterfront restaurant... why on Earth would we have a cheese stick?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Years ago, I would have rolled my eyes about these nutty people asking me for a cheese stick in the middle of dinner rush... but because of Jess, and Jeneil, and the other people who share their stories, I knew that this wasn't just about a bratty kid or a cheap mom who only wanted a cheese stick. I was so busy; all of my tables were seated, but I'd be damned if that boy wasn't going to get a cheese stick. I asked my manager, who explained patiently what I already knew- we don't have any cheese sticks. Unfazed, I turned to a dear friend, who is also a line cook at the restaurant where I work. He was a trooper. Despite being plenty busy on the grill, he took a moment. Delicately, he took a big slice of Fontina and started rolling it. It was paper thin, and he rolled it so carefully. When he was finished, he passed me the plate - a perfect cheese stick laying in the center. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I brought it out with the other meals, unexpectedly. When she saw the cheese stick, the mother's face lit up. Her smile was like a warm hug; it was as if some of the heaviness of the day had been lifted from her. The boy made no acknowledgment, aside from his slender, pale hand floating up from the Gameboy to snatch the cheese. By the time I returned with another water for his sister, all that remained was the small plate that it had ridden to the table on. I wanted to give the mom some little nod, some signal that I 'got it', at least in a small way, indirectly; that I understood what had transpired and that she wasn't the bother that I could tell she felt like she was... but I didn't. Instead, I gave them a cheese stick... and that felt like enough said. </span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-71446756016799550562012-04-25T06:35:00.001-07:002012-04-25T06:35:19.745-07:00Run for the Cure<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Today is the day!!!</div>
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If you're in the area, please come out! We'll be at Tarpon Springs High School, on the track, at 1:00 pm.</div>
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It's for a good cause, it's going to be a lot of fun, and there are free popsicles for participants. :)</div>
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Pictures to come soon! </div>
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<br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-4043823394205521062012-04-19T07:57:00.003-07:002012-04-19T07:58:14.833-07:00:)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-35496045970356122602012-04-11T07:27:00.001-07:002012-04-11T07:27:04.673-07:00Back on Track<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
After a harrowing few weeks, it feels like things are returning to normal.</div>
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I finally received the good news I'd been hoping for from Tarpon High - the run is back on, and scheduled for 4/25, with the promise of that date being rock solid. </div>
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I contacted the sources that be, and updated the date in the publications - so now we should be doing well. </div>
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Aside from directing the SMA 5k, life has been busy. After the three weeks left in this current semester and the 4 classes I'm taking over the summer, I should be ready to begin my capstone course and graduate. Yikes. To tell you a little secret, I still feel completely unprepared for the real world, degree or no degree. Fortunately, I plan to work for myself, which has pretty good job security. That is, unless I decide to work as a sales rep for a company like DynaVox... but honestly, I don't see anything like that happening. I don't want to harness my creativity to appease the big company that owns me, and I'm suspicious that any corporate profession would be a lot of me doing just that. I also don't have any interest in pushing a user towards a device that isn't necessarily the best fit from him or her to make it line up with the logo embroidered on my shirt. I might not be built for corporate life in the AT field. </div>
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I'm also lightly contemplating getting a Master's degree. My gut tells me that I want more higher education, but my fear of getting deep into debt on student loans is whispering that maybe something like that should wait. But if I wait, will I ever do it? Once I have a full-time job and (hopefully) kids, will I be willing or able to go back to school for another two years? I don't know. I'm tempted to apply and see if I get in, as food for thought. If I know which doors are open, I might explore which ones I want to walk through. </div>
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I apologize for the rambling nature of this post. I'm trying to keep myself from falling into the absentee-blogger abyss, and mostly school has been most of my thoughts. Busy, busy, busy.</div>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-76447539222862022902012-03-30T06:39:00.002-07:002012-03-30T06:39:58.351-07:00Frustration<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
When I got the date for my run officially approved and cleared by the school, I was super excited: so I got busy. I called news stations, posted flyers, made a website, gathered volunteers, booked a band, the whole sha-bang. </div>
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The other day, I got an email from Ms. AwesomeTeacher - administration did not check the athletic calendar before they approved the date, and SURPRISE! There's a track meet on April 11th.</div>
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So not only do I have lots of advertisements, volunteers, public knowledge of the event, and a band - but now I also have no venue.</div>
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My feelings are a huge melting pot. I'm angry with the school for approving an event that can't take place, but at the same time, I feel like I have no right to be angry because they were extending their generosity in the first place by offering the track free for this event's use. I know that I should be thankful that they agreed to this at all, thankful that they are searching for a new date that they are POSITIVE the track is free. They wanted to help - I can't fault them for that. I can't justly be angry that they need the track for what it was intended for - the track team - but I'm ticked off that now I'm in this situation. I'm upset that no one thought to check and make sure the track was actually available before promising it away. Some part of me, unfairly, feels that they should move either the track meet location or date, now that they've already booked it for an event... but I know they can't (or won't). The purpose of the track is to be there for the track meets, and I'm not even paying them... but it's frustrating. Extremely frustrating.</div>
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I'm going to be honest - I have no idea what to do. I'm trying to run damage control, but it feels like a new fire springs up as soon as I put one out. </div>
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I told her it would probably be okay to move the date, so long as we moved it by the 1st to give stations a chance to correct the ad. She told me the 25th looked like a probability, but she wanted to 100% clear it this time so we don't have another mishap. This was a little over a week ago, and no word since... I'm getting nervous. If I didn't trust Ms. AwesomeTeacher so completely, I'd be crapping my pants. I'll update when I hear back... please cross your fingers for me. </div>
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<br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-73063965064952582982012-03-18T06:32:00.001-07:002012-03-18T06:32:37.078-07:00Words of Wisdom"Pray not for a lighter load, but for stronger shoulders" <br /> -St. AugustineHelena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-15893975222485012072012-03-08T18:12:00.002-08:002012-03-08T18:12:37.320-08:00And then there was a website...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wix.com/helenasue/runforthecure#%21" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lwy_3FLeiQOaTJ2XsXdJba3zjlSUKgMpOOrhV8rcpxy7AcdADUZs3xrg1AIpvaKo2Ztik8soriuaLCPd5x29QWEMvVCoCKtSAT_yJ-k5akp7QfIb-ijDAvW2tjmQJeYCkzRS10Ts8EcG/s640/rfac.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click on the image to go!</span></div>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-79289278140311384582012-03-08T11:23:00.004-08:002012-03-08T11:23:50.610-08:00Confetti, etc.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So excited! As of today, there is OFFICIALLY a DATE for the GSF's SMA run. Sorry about all the capital letters - that's me yelling with excitement. It has been such a journey to find a venue and pin down a date, and now I'm so excited to have something solid down that I could run through the streets with confetti to celebrate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The run will be taking place on April 11th - which means now I have lots and lots to do quickly. It's time for a website, a Facebook page, gently nudging my friends to participate, and much more. And since I have so much to do, I'm out of blogging time. </span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-37109779634483233272012-03-08T08:49:00.002-08:002012-03-08T08:49:47.979-08:00Damnit<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
So I came down with the flu this week. Not just your regular flu- the 'I wonder if I'm going to live through this' sort of flu. I went to the doctor, and he laughingly assured me that I will, physical symptoms of impending death aside. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the flu's timing was terrible. I missed Spring Break entirely- senior year of college, living in one of the country's top tourist destinations. So fuck me, that sucked. I'll also be missing work this week, so this flu is costing me about $300. Awesomeee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's my excuse for slacking in blogland... and I'm sticking to it. Back to re-runs of The Middle.</span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-55504337223868390602012-03-03T06:50:00.001-08:002012-03-05T12:31:48.447-08:00FL SB2106<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today I'd like to take just a second to write about SB 2106, a bill that senate is attempting to pass here in good ol' sunny Florida. Essentially, it's a bill designed to cut my paychecks in half- and if you're a tipped employee in the service industry, yours too. Full disclosure: last year, I made just shy of $8,000. I don't live with my parents, so out of that $8,000 came my rent, electricity, water, clothes, food, gas... and not a whole heck of a lot else. I'm not sitting around crying about being impoverished; I'm a busy full-time-and-a-half student, and all that school does chew into a lot of the time I could be working. I'm not embarrassed that things are hard now so that they can be good later; that's how people get ahead. However, waiting tables is a physically and emotionally demanding profession, and the last thing anyone scraping by in the service industry needs is a PAY CUT.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a server in an upscale restaurant in tourist town, I make a base rate of $4.65/hr, plus tips. Since taxes on my tips are automatically deducted from my paychecks, my checks are usually for between $40-$50. I get two a month: one pays my share of the electric bill, and one hacks away at the debt that I've accumulated with Discover. SB2106, if passed, will allow the change of my base rate of pay to only $2.13. In case you don't have a calculator handy, that cuts out about 15% of my already pretty meager yearly income. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Corporations like Outback are shoving this bill along so that their CEO's can buy new yachts this summer, and frankly, I'm worried. I know that money talks, and the lobbyists for the Florida Restaurants and Lodging Association are jabbering on and on with this one. They argue that it will create jobs, since restaurants will be able to hire us for a wage barely above slave labor. What they neglect to mention is that it will financially devastate the people who are already working hard just to make ends meet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For those of you who have never worked in a restaurant before, let me tell you a dirty little secret about the low base wage: it already gets exploited. For instance, my best friend spent a stint of time at a corporate chain that rhymes with "Crapplebee's". Rather than hiring someone to "prep" in the kitchen (pre-bag portions of items, scoop sauces, etc.) at the normal minimum wage that a non-tipped kitchen employee is paid, they had a system of having the servers do it, as part of their 'running side work'. Each Wednesday, my friend was scheduled for a double shift "serving". Her section of tables and assigned side work in the morning were always the same - a small neglected spot in the corner where no one ever wanted to sit, and prep. A coincidence, I'm sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Conveniently for 'Crapplebee's', this freed her up to do all of the prep work each morning, at only $4.65 an hour. Whether or not she took any tables, she was still paid server pay for this time spent- and since only your <i>weekly</i> average between tips and base pay need to hit $7.50 to satisfy the minimum wage requirement, they were able to rotate this 'bum shift' among the staff throughout the week, where each person essentially works a kitchen prep shift for $4.65 an hour: saving the restaurant a hefty amount of cash. In 2 months, she never took a table on a Wednesday; it was invariably a prep shift. Sure, it's clearly deliberate, and ethically wrong- but it's cheap, and technically legal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This isn't an isolated situation - more restaurants than not find ways to exploit servers into doing a lot of restaurant work for a low base rate of pay through schemes like this one. It's a relatively common move by restaurants to 'overstaff' by one or two servers, knowing full-well that they will be making little or nothing in tips that evening, in order to keep a cheap extra few pairs of hands around the restaurant to bus tables and run food. By lowering the base rate of pay further, this is only going to become a more attractive option to restaurant owners. Exploitation aside, we can't afford a pay cut. We're already one of the most underpaid and overworked workforces in the country; why is money being taken out of our pockets to keep it in the pockets of the rich?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you find yourself concerned about those of us working hard in the service industry, please take just a moment to sign the petition against FL SB 2106 <a href="http://www.tip20.com/sb-2106-spb-7210-petition-florida-legislature-do-not-slash-pay-for-tipped-workers/1758">here</a>. </span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-7593837132239394802012-02-27T06:55:00.003-08:002012-02-27T07:01:55.998-08:00Transabled<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I saw this thing on National Geographic today... and I'm a little confused. Actually, I'm very confused. Then I found her <a href="http://transabled.org/category/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts">blog</a>, and now I'm filled with a million questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Apparently there is a quiet sub-culture called the 'transabled' - people who are not naturally amputees or paraplegics, but they wish to become so. Chloe is a woman who desires to become a paraplegic, and lives life in a wheelchair with leg braces- when she isn't out hiking or skiing. She is looking for a surgeon that will perform "ability reassignment surgery" on her, with the intention being to sever her spinal chord. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My initial thought was that this was wrong; why act out a charade of disability if you're not disabled? Why on Earth would you want to pay to have your healthy body damaged when so many people would give anything to be healthy? However, that argument rests on the assumption that it is 'better' not to be disabled, which, from the scattered and wide spectrum of opinions I've read, lies more in shades of grey than black and white. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Additionally, if she has a true psychiatric condition as she claims, called BIID, then perhaps that really is just as much of a disability as a physical one. After all, it is keeping her from using her body, despite that she physically could if she chose to. I have seen a lot of discussion among the blogs I follow about how disability can add quality to life in different shades, instead of the presumed automatic life of misery that some people seem to imagine. Maybe living life as a 'transabled' individual gives her life more meaning, but her farce seems like it may be a slap in the face to those with natural disabilities that were not elective. If she has BIID, is she pragmatically just as disabled as anyone with a physical difference? I wouldn't know, although I'd love to hear that side of the story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I feel that there are a lot of arguments both for and against this, and that's why I'm writing about it. I myself have a lot of strong feelings in both directions about the issue, but not enough information to pin them to anything.. so I'm asking questions. I like getting outside of my comfort zone and wrapping my head around the completely unfamiliar - it's how we grow, and I think it's a healthy part of the learning process. And now, it's time for coffee.</span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-49335736583563632012012-02-24T08:29:00.000-08:002012-02-24T05:53:52.403-08:00Speed Bump<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I hit a teensy-weensy little snag with the SMA run for the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation happening on March 18th. It's still on, but probably not on March 18th like we requested. Although Ms. AwesomeTeacher was able to get the event approved by the school board and the date approved by the principal, she informed me yesterday that the true struggle was to get a plant operations manager down there with his nifty set of keys on a Sunday, one of his two prized days off of the week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Long story short: he really, <b>really</b>, <span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>really</b></u></span> doesn't want to (which I 100% understand), and rather than try to cajole and coerce someone out of a day off that they aren't willing to sacrifice, we're moving the date to after school on a school day. Hooray for simple solutions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although it's discouraging to postpone this further with more bureaucracy, this honestly may be a blessing in disguise. It stands to reason that, like the POM with the gate keys, the students may also be more likely to participate in an event like this after school when they are already there, rather than waking up on a weekend to go do it. If they see their friends on the field taking part, chances are good that they will join in. So I'm hoping that God is steering this event in the most successful direction it can take, and that's why we hit a bump. So far, that's all the new information I have. We've cast our net into the pond of "available dates for after-school activities involving the monopolization the track", and we're waiting to see what we pull out. Fingers crossed, please! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PS. While we're finger-crossing, can I be totally selfish for a second and ask that we cross fingers for the speedy processing of my FAFSA paperwork as well? Some Financial Aid would really be handy right about now, since my tuition is due on the 6th of next month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *Update*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looks like that finger-crossing worked! About 30 seconds after I wrote this, I got an email saying my FAFSA went through and my aid for school is coming in 3-5 days. Praise be to the Lord. :) </span></blockquote>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-67817761596676126672012-02-18T10:27:00.000-08:002012-02-18T20:15:02.237-08:00Breed Specific Legislation: Protecting Public Safety, or Demonizing Good Dogs?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am so glad that we have (mostly) evolved to a place as a society where we recognize racism and stereotypes about people as what they are: fallacies (unless you've eaten with my family- the stereotype about how Italians eat dinner is pretty much dead-on). So if most people can agree that an individual's actions and behaviors aren't tied to the race to which they belong, why can't people see that each dog in a breed is an individual as well? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where I live, almost no homeowner's insurance will cover Pit Bulls because they are a "dangerous breed". As a result, very few homeowners adopt them. Additionally, it is almost impossible to find anywhere to rent that allows them. Since no pound will adopt out to a renter without the landlord's consent, they stay at the pound. The pound is literally FILLED with what seems to be almost exclusively pit bulls: sadly, in my opinion, one of the greatest, most loving breeds of dog in the world with the worst reputation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What dog fighters and the media have done to the American Pit Bull is a crying shame. When I walk my friendly, happy dog, people often cross to the other side of the street with fervent glances. I see the sideways fish-eyed glances at the park when she's gently playing with the other dogs. Some owners quietly relocate to another area of the park when they see her. It makes me so mad, because she is incredibly well-trained and good-tempered, but they don't see that. They look at her and see a liability, not my best friend. Would they do that for a Labrador Retriever? I want to yell at them: "MY DOG'S BEST FRIEND IS A FIVE POUND HOUSE CAT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"... but I can't be angry. I can't be angry because those people aren't being spiteful, they're afraid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The media has turned one of our nation's most beloved breeds into a monster- and for what? For ratings? To spice up headlines? Shame on the media. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nobody was nervous when the Little Rascals were cuddling up to Pete the Pup in the 1920's. According to StubbyDog.org (<a href="http://stubbydog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/PitBullDiscrimination.pdf">read all about it here</a>), the ASPCA has issued a statement that media outlets have repeatedly told them that they have no interest whatsoever in reporting dog attacks that do not involve Pit Bulls. A study done over five years in Denver showed that Pit Bulls accounted for only 8% of the dog bites in Colorado, with the top billing for biters going to the Labrador Retriever. However, in that same 5-year period, out of the nine newspaper articles about dog bites with the breed in the title, eight of them named Pit Bulls. <b><i>Why are they taking 89% of the blame for 8% of the problem?</i></b> It's easy for a breed to catch a bad rap with discriminatory reporting happening, and it's costing thousands of good dogs their lives every day. Pit Bulls achieved an average canine temperament rating of 86.6% - three points <i>above</i> the passing percentage of the beloved Golden Retriever. Why are they being demonized?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before this rant grows any longer (because trust me, I could go alllllllll day), I will end the tirade and leave you with a <a href="http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/HeroicPitties/HeroicPitties.htm">link</a> to some wonderful stories of hero Pitties saving lives, and a photo of my lovely girls. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs67ZNotALYka8QJy581PGrnWgZF0nK4bQZXdvmgTIa1g-8oAsQJMT6haDKQeHY9WUxz48U-yozes8iqKaS9wERH68rGo41MJ8K0xdeGHTDchZXjdCJxlkncKjmgvEfTcAvMMHW1r7gGy7/s1600/dup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs67ZNotALYka8QJy581PGrnWgZF0nK4bQZXdvmgTIa1g-8oAsQJMT6haDKQeHY9WUxz48U-yozes8iqKaS9wERH68rGo41MJ8K0xdeGHTDchZXjdCJxlkncKjmgvEfTcAvMMHW1r7gGy7/s320/dup.png" width="320" /></a></div>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-86710319437116830112012-02-16T17:47:00.000-08:002012-02-16T17:50:51.403-08:00Pounding the Pavement<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thud, thud. Thud, thud. Thud, thud. Thud, thud. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The gentle
constant rhythm of my sneakers slapping the sidewalk as the moonlit
world slides by isn't something I hear; my padded headphones make sure
that I don't hear anything but </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Begin to Hope</i><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. </i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The irresistible rhythm pounding up my legs is something I feel - the shock waves let me sense the unyielding resistance of the sidewalk. My heart pounds in my chest. A fine mist builds along the bridge of my nose. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I start to feel a little dizzy, which delights me. The power to run hard enough to feel dizzy makes me feel strong.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Against my better judgement, I allow discipline to fall to the weigh-side - I
give the 'lead' command. My dog knows that our pace is now at her discretion, not mine. Commanding about half the body weight I do and
significantly more muscle mass, she calls my bluff for what it's worth and sets off in front of me at an ambitious sprint. We become a cinnamon and dayglo blur,
bolting as fast as our legs will carry us through my quiet suburban neighborhood below the stars. The blinding pace she's chosen is demanding, and I suppress the urge to satisfy the stitch in my chest with a pause. I feel as if we will lift off at any moment as we hurdle over countless blocks of sidewalk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, as we reach the mouth of my subdivision, I give the command for her to stop. Even with a big dog, I won't run past the edge of the woods with no street lamps at night. We turn around and go to cool down walk in the grassy stretch behind my house. The grass is misty and the stars are out. The Little Miss periodically stops to sniff miscellaneous items that meet her criteria for interesting. My pulse falls as the balmy evening air sticks to my skin, and I silently thank God for the millionth time for the Florida weather that permits a hearty run in shorts and a tank top in the middle of February. The 79 degree weather is much more forgiving than the cold air that creates the illusion of a lung full of fire most everywhere else this time of year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the beads of exclusively cold water join up with each other on my skin for the voyage down my shower drain, I contemplate the gift it is to be able to change into exercise gear and go run. To be young enough, strong enough, and to have the political freedom to go do so. I question my own perception of exercise as a chore. Sometimes it's uncomfortable. Sometimes it's excruciating. Sometimes, yes, as Jess's husband Luau aptly wrote <a href="http://runluaurun.com/2012/01/31/the-toughest-ten-minutes-of-the-day/">here</a>, getting going is indeed the 'toughest ten minutes of the day'. But somehow, all of those hard feelings melt away when the sneakers are on. When I'm hauling ass, the pain can't catch me. The only feeling that is fast enough to keep pace is the exhilaration of freedom. Wouldn't it be thankless to miss the opportunity to feel that way?</span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-6591923349253497972012-02-14T11:42:00.000-08:002012-02-15T12:03:28.304-08:00Sticky Note<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know, I know. I already updated today. I also know that my current project is still in the works, so there's no way I should be thinking about another one yet, right? But this idea came and smacked me in the face today, and I want to write it down before it falls out of my head and gets swirled away by the day-to-day. It feels like putting ideas to pen seems to be the best way to make sure they eventually happen, so here we go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was scouring the web for information about the next Fallout game after New Vegas, because as you know, us techies love our video games. I didn't find out a confirmed date for the particular game I'm jonesing for, but I did find <i>the greatest idea ever</i> on No Mutants Allowed <a href="http://www.nma-fallout.com/">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you don't want to click over, the idea is essentially that a group of teens have decided to band together for a 60 hour Fallout 3 marathon in which they will beat the entire game (which is quite an undertaking), with the profits going to purchase entertainment systems in children's hospitals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I went on the website, and it looks like they aren't quite finished putting it together yet, but it looks like a really cool idea. And because it looks like <i>such</i> a cool idea, it started a chain of thought in my head that brought me to an idea I liked for a future event (full nod to these gentlemen included): </span> </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">'Kill for the Kids'</span></i></div>
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Since I have a feeling that there's a large target pool of participators who are willing to sit down and play their choice video game for a few hours for charity rather than get up and run, I want to next put together a more 'passive' marathon. The edgy name begs a question and immediately inserts a plug, coined by my very clever love. Sales is a career that will serve him well. But, I digress, the idea is this:</div>
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Rather than playing through an entire game, my idea is to put together a Call of Duty ‘race’ where ‘runners’ are sponsored by how
many points they are able to accumulate in a certain period of time. There would be some sort of fun prize for the winner, and since people are competing and are sponsored by score, chances are a lot of funds would be raised.</div>
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I'm not sure what the political back-and-forth on playing a violent game for a children's charity will be, so I've decided to withhold the name of the charity for which I want to do this until I'm sure it's alright to do so. But for now - there's an idea with a paperweight on it. I won't have time to work on it until the SMA run is over and done, because that needs my full attention at the moment, but it's under that paperweight waiting... and at the moment, that's enough for me. :)</div>
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</div>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-83109741599733318082012-02-14T09:39:00.000-08:002012-02-15T04:54:52.322-08:00The Waiting Game<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just to touch base, right now we're playing the waiting game. Tarpon Springs High School has approved the GSF 5k run (see why I'm such an enthusiastic alumni??), and we've politely requested the track for March 18th. The date is pending approval, since we can't conflict with a football game or anything like that. As long as the day is free, we're good to go! I'm very anxious to learn if we got the date, since I'd like to start making a website and Facebook page for the event. If March 18th is booked, we're back to the waiting game to get a different day approved. Let's keep our fingers crossed for that big rubber 'approved' stamp!</span><br />
<br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-69515431061192304802012-02-07T12:35:00.000-08:002012-02-07T13:17:37.509-08:00Venue Secured!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just a short little blurb of an update today, but that's okay because this teeny post has some big news: we have a venue! I got the email this morning, which sent me into a little celebratory dance all around my living room. Ms. AwesomeTeacher dropped me a line saying that she had gotten the approval for the event, which means the SMA 5k now officially has a wheelchair-accessible venue - Tarpon Springs High School. I'm so outrageously thrilled about things coming together so well, and so thankful for the good fortune of finding a wonderful setting for the event at no cost, and getting to work on this project with someone whom I admire and enjoy the company of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also exchanged a few words via email with Victoria Strong of the <a href="http://thegsf.org/home/">Gwendolyn Strong Foundation</a>. She was so kind, and she was more than generous with her time and image files. I'm looking forward to contributing what can be raised to the work that they are doing. </span>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-76206181915227166532012-02-05T12:13:00.000-08:002012-02-05T12:47:15.947-08:00Randall Terry, Abortion, and... Superbowl Sunday?<br />
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If you know me, you know that one of my pet peeves is
pro-lifers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a pro-choice advocate, either. I don’t
really agree with abortion except in extreme cases, but the only thing that
gets my goat more than abortion being used as a form of birth control is the
methods by which its opponents try to push their agenda. Harassing vulnerable
young girls at health clinics and waving pictures of dead fetuses at passing
cars on the highway? Not the way to get my vote. </div>
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While I’d personally probably never consider having an
abortion, I certainly don’t hold any feelings of animosity for someone that
would – it’s a complicated, major life decision, and I don’t think it’s one
that public policy should have a hand in, except in maintaining the safety of
the public (which, as we've seen from the past, probably involves keeping it legal. Girls desperate for an abortion aren't going to keep a baby because doctors aren't doing them anymore- the practice will just move to back alleys, killing all-too-often both mother and child). </div>
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But this post isn’t really a post for or against abortion- we’ve all heard the rehash between Roe v. Wade a thousand times and it’s been
done to death. My personal feelings on the topic are simply a preface for what
I’m about to rant about: Randall Terry, and shock advertising.<br />
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I am about to share something about myself that many of my dear friends already know: I suffer from some sort of unexplained sensory issue where graphic, violent material onscreen results in either an immediate panic attack or a blackout. I'm not afraid of it: in fact, I love horror books and often read the scary movies that my friends eagerly watch. My brain simply won't accept the visual input. Graphic imagery? Off my brain goes. Let's hope I don't clunk my head on the way down.</div>
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At 23 years old, Macaulay Culkin's 'Home Alone' is still graphic enough to be completely out of the question for me. As a child, even a scene as tame as the hyenas in the Lion King falling into thorny brambles was too much to handle. As an adult, I can handle cartoons (usually), but live action is still another story. In order to watch Grey's Anatomy, I have to watch it with the sound off, a folder or my hand covering most of the screen for the gory parts, and only subtitles to avoid an attack, and even then it's dodgy. With this background information, you can see why Randall Terry and his criminal gang of goons' shock advertising campaign is making my life worse for the wear. </div>
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In case you're not aware of this creeper, he runs a pro-life campaign that employs 'shock advertising'. 'Shock advertising' is a nice way to phrase 'springing horrible graphic images on the unwilling and unsuspecting viewer'. For someone like me, it's not just an awful experience- on the highway, it's a very real safety concern. A bloody billboard of a baby is a likely blackout trigger- and while driving 55mph on the highway is not a good time to lose consciousness.The idea behind this cruel advertising method is to disgust and upset the target into agreement with one's point of view. Fortunately, no TV station would ever willingly pick up such an advertisement. Unfortunately, Mr. Terry recently came across a manipulative move that would extort a loophole in media law that allows any presidential candidate to run any content in an advertisement they choose, so long as they pay for the ad space. He just has to make a phony 'run' for President. </div>
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So where better to run a disgusting, gory, horrible national ad showing dismembered fetuses than the Superbowl, a time-honored family tradition? I can't imagine broadcasting this at a time when families want to spend time with their children. No child wants to be traumatized by a view of a dead, chopped up baby's body, and I'd reckon there are very few adults that are pleased about having their appetite for wings and sliders ruined by the imagery. It all begs the question: when does freedom of speech end, and where do the rights of others begin? Where does the line get drawn between 'peaceful protest' and assaulting the senses of others?</div>
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Thankfully, some states are denying his claim based on the lack of legitimacy of his 'running for President'. Since he hasn't technically qualified as a Democratic party candidate, some stations are simply telling him no. It remains to be seen how many states will air his propaganda, but consider yourselves fairly warned: there may be bloody babies on your screen this Superbowl Sunday.</div>Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787641684665156206.post-24133625047858693892012-02-03T08:14:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:23:56.651-08:00Hoping and Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The day before yesterday, I
sent this to Ms. AwesomeTeacher, who was one of my favorite people at TSHS.</span><br />
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Hi Ms. AwesomeTeacher,<br />
I left you a message earlier today, but I figured I'd drop you a line via
email in case it's a more convenient contact for you. I don't know if you
remember me (I'm sure you've had a zillion students in the last six years), but
I hope you do, because you're the one who got me totally obsessed with genetic
conditions in the first place, lol. <br />
Anyway, now that I'm getting into the Assistive Technology field, I got some
ants in my pants to put together a charity project for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
to raise some money for the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, and I was hoping that
you might want to help. Don't worry - I'm not shaking you down for cash. I want
to get into motion a wheelchair-accessible 5k run to raise money for SMA, but the
problem is that most public park trails aren't so wheelchair friendly, and the
county has these awesome $2,500 road closure fees if I want to use a street.
What I was really, really hoping is that maybe this was a project that could
come to Tarpon High School, because the track there is perfect, and the large
student body probably has some volunteers and runners swimming around in it.
It's good for medical science, it's good for the students- it's really a win-win.
I called the PCSB and they said essentially that I need a staff member (like
yourself) to agree to sponsor the project and submit a request to do it to the
principal as a school activity. I thought since you're into Biology and
genetics (and so beautiful) that you might want to team up with me on this. Is
that something you would have any interest in, or do you know anyone that might
be interested? I thought it sounded like it was kind of right up your alley, so
I thought I'd drop you a line and see. You can get a hold of me here via email
or call me anytime it's convenient for you- my phone number is (not
included).<br />
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Talk to you soon,<br />
<br />
Helena Sue</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ms. AwesomeTeacher (who will
remain anonymous until I have her permission otherwise) emailed me back this
morning with what seemed like a hasty but warm and interested response, so now
I'm cautiously allowing myself to be considerably more excited about the venue
being TSHS than I was. To sum up, she essentially said that she is busy busy
busy at the current moment, but she is interested and will email me soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What I'm looking at now is
the WBS I've put together to ascertain exactly what needs to be done and who is
doing it. I am Human Resource A, and my WONDERFUL best friend has agreed to
play the role of Human Resource B. So basically, all we need now is a venue,
and Human Resources C, D, E, F, G, H, and I. Of course, I'm posting my
not-so-exciting WBS here in case someone with more experience doing this sort
of thing notices some large flaw or action that I have missed completely and
would like to point it out. I love criticism, so please don't be shy! I also
love volunteers. ;) </span><br />
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<br />Helena Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324836209311141465noreply@blogger.com0