Indignation and sadness

Congo women fight back, speak out about rape: Victims shatter local taboos around talking about violence against civilians

'I am not ashamed to show my face and publish my identity. The shame lies with those who broke me open and with the authorities who failed to protect me...If you don't hear me, see me, you will not understand why it is so important that we fight this together.'--Honorata Kizende

According to MSNBC, UNICEF reports that more than 1,000 women and girls are raped each MONTH in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Elsewhere in Africa...

Sudan wants all aid groups out within a year: Wanted for war crimes, defiant president says 'spies' must be cleared out

'We have ordered the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to completely Sudanese the voluntary work in Sudan within one year and after that we don't want international organizations to deal with Sudanese citizens with relief,' Bashir told the rally.

It's one more way to isolate the region already devastated by genocide from the outside world. For ways to help Darfur, visit SaveDarfur.org.

I admit it--Africa is an enigma to me. Is it that power is so intoxicating that many feel they must work to destroy so many other lives in looking out for themselves? The problems Africa faces are staggering, and although there are some who would rather blame the colonising forces of Europe and the actions of the United States, the mess seems mainly to be a product of power struggles amongst factions and tribes in Africa. The countries in Africa are perfectly able to find peace and prosperity so long as their governments are just. But the governments in many areas of Africa certainly are not doing their best to protect their citizens and provide stability. This is something that can be changed ultimately only from the inside, although of course the rest of the world can provide aid and help in the process. I hope to see peace in these areas and a healing of the deep scars left by murder, rape, and destruction.

Hey, I'm home before 3 am!

I did run into a snag in painting, though, so it looks like I'll be finishing the last room by the end of next week instead of Monday. I'm working Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but the schedule hasn't been made beyond that, so I might be able to get a lighter workweek so I can go ahead and finish. Remodeling is an adventure, I've certainly found. In the meantime there's plenty to help out with besides painting.

There's so much I want to blog about that I've starred in my news reader, but for now I've eaten and it's time for some rest. I've gotten four hours of sleep a night for four nights in a row and I'm very tired and have a headache. Tomorrow comes early for me, too, so it's just good sense to go ahead and turn in for the night. I'll try to get up a little early and write then.

PS At work we've got 20-ounce sodas on sale for 2/$2.22 (they're normally $1.49), but there are 75-cent-off coupons for Diet Cherry Dr Pepper, which I like, so if you get 2 and use the coupons, the grand total is 84 cents, with tax. Really. So I guess you know what I've been drinking of late. :)

Sick

South Africa gangs using rape to 'cure' lesbians: Gay support group cites 10 new cases of 'corrective rape' a week in one city

In the past decade, at least 31 lesbians have been reported raped and murdered, although that number is probably higher because the South African criminal justice system does not recognise hate crimes based on sexual orientation. Of those, only two cases went to court and only one conviction was obtained. Far more have survived rape, but at great cost, with the very real threats of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and the physical and emotional scars. The justification is that if a man has sex with a lesbian, it will 'cure' her of her homosexuality. The violence is especially bad in townships where homosexuality is taboo, despite the fact that South Africa was the first country in Africa to allow gays to marry back in 2006.

Let's hope there will be changes.

This sounds like an interesting book

Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky

From Bibliofuture at LISNews:

In 1980 an entire body of Jewish literature--the physical remnant of Yiddish culture--was on the verge of extinction. Precious volumes that had survived Hitler and Stalin were being passed down from older generations of Jewish immigrants to their non-Yiddish-speaking children only to be discarded or destroyed. So Aaron Lansky, just twenty-three, issued a worldwide appeal for unwanted Yiddish works.

Since 1980, Lansky and his compatriots have saved over 1.5 million books and collected them together. To some he is known as 'the Yiddish Indiana Jones' or 'the Otto Schindler of Yiddish literature'. Without his work a great deal of Yiddish-language materials might have been lost forever. It sounds like a remarkable story and a reminder that one person can make a difference with persistence and by bringing people together.

I am so very tired,but haven't managed to get to sleep yet

Last night I painted a home library that was about 18 x 12 feet, as well as a walk-in closet. Today I worked (between the two jobs) for twelve hours (10 am to 10 pm). Then I spent about four hours moving and dusting furniture for a friend.

Our manager at the store is on leave, and the woman who is filling in redid our schedule because one woman is out after surgery and another is on spring break from school next week. I gave her my general schedule between customers, forgetting to mention that 1) I have to paint tomorrow and 2) I have an optometrist appointment on Wednesday. But that was my fault. I still have to paint tomorrow, but it won't be until after 10 pm, so I'll be up late again tomorrow night. I need to call tomorrow to see if I can change days for my appointment to Monday.

I usually work between 15-23 hours at the store a week. The new woman scheduled me for 30, making for a 50-hour workweek. Now I know lots of people do that sort of schedule all the time, but I have all this project work to do as well, and although Sunday and Monday are the only days I really need off from the store, I never work every single other day until now. Thursday is 10-2:20 at the hospital, then an appointment at 3, followed by the store from 6-10. Then I have to paint a hallway. Friday it's 10-2:30 at the hospital, then errands with a friend and an appointment, followed by the store from 6-10. Saturday I work 9-5 at the gas station, and then go and prime a bathroom, followed by painting someday next week. Tuesday I work 10-2:30 and then 3-10, and I have the same schedule Wednesday. That's a pretty tight schedule, so I'm not sure if I'll really be able to stop and catch my breath. It depends on what I'm doing Sunday and Monday (although at least I get to watch 'Heroes'--it was so nice spending time doing that with a friend the other day for the first time in quite a while).

So now I'm finally home. I've fed the fish (The pregnant one is huge and looks like she could pop at any moment. I hope the little platies live!) I really should go out and do my monthly libation tonight but I'll just have to try tomorrow; I'm too tired.

Now that I have had a chance to wind down, I'm going to try to go to sleep. I have to get up in about 4 hours. Wish me luck.

PS During the time it took me to compose this post, my pay cheque was deposited from the hospital, and the raise was on it--it's about $25 higher than it was. Yipee!

Sorry I haven't posted much

I've been painting a project that includes a home library, hallway, bath, and closet, so that's quite a bit of work. I've finished the library and closet. I'm actually rather enjoying it, though, except for the paint on my hands and in my hair. But I'm getting so good at it I can paint and only get a very small amount of splatters anywhere on the floor.

Today I was taunted by two crows as I came out of work. It made me think of counting crows--one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, and four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, and seven for a secret never told.

The weather today was beautiful, in the mid-70s, mostly sunny, and breezy. I feel so alive on days like this. That, coupled with a beautiful full moon, made me feel very connected to nature today.

Tomorrow I work both jobs, then I paint more on Thursday. I work on Friday (the new truck night at the store) and on Saturday, and then I'm off from the store until Tuesday. Next Wednesday I have an eye appointment; I'm going to try to go ahead and get contacts, something I haven't had in awhile. I'm intrigued by the new extended, 30-day wear contacts made of breathable polymers I have a certificate for a month's supply, so I definitely want to ask the doctor about that. I'll also have him do a diabetes screen on my retinas.

I found out the other day that I'm getting a 4.5% raise at the hospital, which translates to about $30 a pay period after taxes. That's on top of the market raise I had in January, which was $1 an hour or about $40 per week. It offset the rise in deductions for my health flexible spending account to cover an increase in co-pays for my health insurance. My boss thinks this will go into effect on Thursday's deposit. That would be great, as this week I need to pay my rent and possibly my electric. I may also be getting a bonus at the store, if I've figured my time frame correctly.

Speaking of electricity, I called Kentucky Utilities today to make a payment arrangement just in case I can't pay until next Wednesday. They had a recording stating that as a result of the oeconomic hardships faced by their customers, they have suspended shut offs for non-payment, to be resumed some time in April. I thought that was nice.

Okay, it's late and I should go to bed. Goodnight.

A dog's life

Being an animal lover, these stories in the media got to me:

Martha Stewart's dog dies in kennel explosion: 17 dogs killed, truck driver injured after propane fire in Pennsylvania

Something managed to ignite a propane tank during a delivery. Although badly burnt, the truck driver managed to toss one of the dogs over a fence to safety. He's in critical condition.

Dogs cheat death after blast at animal hospital: Vet frees pets from blazing kennel by smashing door with cinder block

This one happened in Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. It is being investigated to see if it were a natural gas explosion.

My thoughts go out to the families of the pets who died, and thankfully at least some were saved. It's so weird that these two blasts would happen so close together.

Then there was the 'My Turn' from this week's Newsweek, The Dog That Made Us A Family. The author's adoptive daughter was devastated by the loss of their dog, who ran away the first day they had it. The child, who had been adopted as a baby by another woman who then died and then was shuffled around several homes before coming to them, had acted as if she were fine and didn't seem to grieve for her mother until the loss of the dog brought all those feelings to the forefront. Fortunately that one has a happy ending.

I really miss my dog, Cerys. She had a long and good life, but it is just a shame they live so few years compared to the human lifespan. At least I get to be an 'aunt'.

Too dark, too early

both in the day and the year to change to Daylight Savings Time. I don't like this losing an hour last night. Plus, now I'll have more trouble getting up without the sun up already. I just got A from his job and took him home. I'm going back to sleep for a little less than an hour for now, and then I'll get up and get ready for my day--when it's light outside. Thank goodness I don't normally work before 10 am (although I often work until 10 pm, so it balances out).

A productive and gorgeous Saturday

Listening to R.E.M., 'Orange Crush':

R.E.M. - New Music - More Music Videos

The weather was beautiful today (even now, at 1:30 in the morning, the temperature is in the mid-60s)--warm and sunny. Unfortunately I had to work from 8 am to 4 pm, and I realised I don't like working at the store in the early morning because both the customers and I are grumpy. But I survived and went over to a friend's to tape in preparation for a large painting project. Tomorrow I start priming and painting.

One thing of concern today is that one of my fellow cashiers is in the hospital. She was in terrible pain when we worked together on Thursday, kept getting sick, and could barely sit up. She was sent home. Apparently they had to do exploratory surgery and found an obstruction. She'll be out at least a week, barring complications. Here's hoping she gets better very soon!

Okay, I'm tired from work and taping. Tomorrow there will be lots of painting to be had, in two rooms, a closet, and a hallway. Whew!

Listening to:

Loreena McKennitt's 'Mummers' Dance'


I just added some songs to my playlist on MySpace, but didn't make the player play automatically, as that annoys the hell out of me. This is the first on the list. My MySpace page is: http://www.myspace.com/eilirion if you want to check it out. Feel free to do a friend request; just let me know you read this blog so I don't think you're a random stalker (as opposed to the type that really knows how to stalk someone by reading their blog). :)