Fresh Foods, Farmers Market, and Hair Hair Everywhere

My friend, Dustin had a status update that reads, "The other day I explained how one stereotype about French women is anything BUT true; in fact, it's the exact opposite. Today, I'll be glad to tell you ladies why they have such healthy looking hair after an article I read online. It's because they only shampoo and condition it maybe once or twice a week. It never said anything about them not rinsing it or not bathing. It just says they don't shampoo it as often as American women do. That makes sense as to why their hair looks healthier because all those chemicals can actually damage your hair.

It's true! Whenever you dye, highlight, color, shampoo, condition, blow dry your hair or get perms, you're ruining it because of all the stress you're causing it. Believe me when I say nature knows best. We actually bathe and use soap way too much in our culture, and it weakens our immune systems sometimes. That's why they say now one of the worst places to go if you're sick is the hospital. All you have to do really is take a salt bath maybe every other night and use soap, shampoo, and conditioner maybe once or twice a week, and you should be good to go."

Anyway, this reminded me, that I had gotten turned onto this natural and organic stuff, called Godrej Nupur, a natural blend of 9 organic material, from my friend Ping.  Because this stuff uses 9 ingredients, it's more like a stain, rather than chemically coloring your hair, and it's good for your hair and scalp, from root to tip.  Here are the ingredients list, and what it does for your head -
Brahmi - a perennial plant that grows in India, and is high in antioxidants.  It promotes hair growth.
Shikakai - it means fruit for hair, and is made from acacia concinna bark contains sapoins, a natural soap/cleanser, helps gently cleans the hair as well as  makes the hair shine.
Aloe Vera - we all know what that is, and yes, it moisturizes hair, just as well as it does skin, and makes your hair silky.
Methi - a vegetable sprout, it conditions, nourishes, and revitalizes hair.
Bhringaraj - the oil from a false daisy plant, makes hair luxuriant.
Amla - is the Indian gooseberry plant, (it is a natural hair conditioner that can help fight dandruff as well) that darkens hair and adds shine and luster.
Neem - comes from a type of mahogany tree, is good for a lot of things:  antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial.  It fights scalp infection and prevents dandruff.
Hibiscus - a bushy flowering plant, rejuvenates hair, making it shiny and silky.
Jatamansi - an Indian spikenard or muskroot, that has been used in medicine for centuries.  It prevents the graying of hair.
This is all combined with henna, to help your hair darken and also keep the depths of natural hair, for low and high lights that your hair comes with.

At some point in my young adulthood, I decided that no matter how flat or tired my hair looks, I wasn't going to use chemicals any more in my hair.  No perms nor coloring.  I've never been the type to use a blow dryer, just because I didn't see the point.  My hair is thick, and it's going to dry in it's own time, and as busy as I like to keep myself, I have better things to do.  Sure, I like to look good, but, I opt for the wash, comb, and go styles, that are easy to maintain.  I also hate using hair spray, because of the smell, and the fact that I couldn't get my hair to hold for more than two hours...  Consequently, my hair is still healthy.

But I really do need to thank my friend, Ping, because she is the one who gave me my first package of this organic color for my hair, and it also promotes having a "me" day, to just relax.  My son, Chad likes to use this stuff too, and his hair comes off slightly burgundy with his brown hair, and mine gets darker in some spots, and then copper colored highlights in other spots.

Now, speaking of organic stuff, I absolutely love farmers markets.  I can't 100% guaranty that they don't use chemicals, but...  because it's about as local as you can get, unless you have a back yard garden, the chemicals are bare minimum, because it's not in need of preservation.  They pick it, load the truck, and come out to the market, for all us city folk, to enjoy.  It is as fresh as fresh can be, and it's awesome!

I'd updated my status recently, stating that I'd bought a bag of spinach, eggs from range chickens, strawberries, popcorn on the cob, and my son got honey sticks.  Anyway, the strawberries were absolutely delicious!  I love strawberries, and I'm usually picky.  These berries were on the small side, but my son talked me into it, and I'm glad I got them.  My poor husband, Mike, did not get any, because I gave my son 1/3, I ate 1/3, and then when Mike left his, I proceeded to eat his, too...  I know, I'm bad.  Last night and tonight, we had home made sushi for supper.  Last night's was the sushi rolls, and tonight was a scattered sushi bowl, where the rice is on the bottom, and you top it with different things.  I used dried shiitake mushrooms that I reconstituted and seasoned, the spinach (blanched in seasoning), the eggs, Japanese pickled radish, and chopped seaweed.  The spinach was super good, as well as the eggs this way.  Tomorrow morning, I will do scrambled eggs for breakfast, probably.  What was neat, is the popcorn on the cob.  You stick the whole cob, shucked, into a brownbag lunch sack, close the end, and cook it for about 2-3 minutes, depending on your microwave.  You get practically perfect pop corn, and you can season it yourself.  I used olive oil and low sodium salt.  Because olive oil has the creamy, buttery flavor, you won't miss the flavor much in your popcorn.  And it's a healthier fat.  Chad actually likes this better than the microwave popcorn many of us have come to like, and this is straight off the cob, so it's super fresh, too!  :)

I just wish I could buy ALL of my produce this way...  There are more things I want to try, and now that fresh food is in season, farmer direct, will be a good way to try new things, or at least the fresh things.  Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings are the West Racine dates for the farmers market, across the street from the DeRango's on Washington Ave.  My favorite place for corn on the cob, when it's ready, is at Matt's Produce out on Braun Rd.

Say It Isn't So! Blogophilia 17.7

https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-177-please-say-it-isnt-so/751227174898502

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 points) Use a line from Tennyson's Morte D'Arthur
(Easy, 1 point) Mention one of the 7 deadly sins

Hear, hear, I hope...  I need to be able to get more involvement.  I am a busy gal, and I suppose that is good, because busy people usually don't cause or get into trouble...  I am, though, one of these that naturally is geared toward the troubles, though, it is for a good cause, so, I'm not sure if it could be good trouble, because it's a good cause, or if it's bad trouble, because this should not HAVE to be a cause...

I know, I know, I speak of my cause regularly...  But, as we all know, all too often, children are abused by those who are closest to them, trusted to them some how, and it's not the stranger danger theories that keep coming out.  Yet, it seems as if the closer the relationship to the child, the more it is minimized and situations call for the children to be right back into the very abusive atmosphere they came from, because no one wants to break up a family, or what have you...  Yet it is this very most hurtful, because the closer the relations, the bigger heart break of why these kids are being abused...

YVI's official website:  https://sites.google.com/site/youthvoiceinitiative/home
Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-Voice-Initiative/128824388322
Statistics about abuse:  https://www.rainn.org/statistics

The worst kind of abuse, is sex abuse.  It is what leaves the biggest and longest lasting scars...  This type of Lust is out of line, and I can't wrap my head around it.  Of course, the pedophiles will look at me as if I banished them out of this life, say, "Ah, miserable and unkind, untrue, Unknightly, traitor-hearted! Woe is me!"  Ah, poppycock!  Children are not sex toys, and should not be groomed for perverted activities, and they say, "please, say it isn't so"!  Yet these people have an inordinate cravings for the pleasures of the flesh with children, no less!  And they don't seem to get it, that this is ill behavior.  These sickos, these psychos...  need at least 3 years in prison for treatment, and the more they try to justify their own behavior, the longer therapy they need.  Leaving these people out in the general public doesn't work.  They will justify why they won't go to therapy.  Even with the therapy, they may just learn how to say what the authorities want to hear, and then get let out. 


Oh, holy crap...


Our children are our future.  We cannot, again, can-not, abuse their dreams out of them, without making the future of our own planet a shattered dream with a bleak outlook for our kids.  No worries, the concept of can't or give up are not in my vocabulary.  I've made it over so many hurdles, I will continue to make it over, or under or around hurdles.  I will always do what I can do.  Some day, I will be successful.

Title:  (in blog) - Stormy Gail
Bonus points - "ah, miserable and unkind....." (in blog)  lust & definition (in blog)  Trevor and Bettie
Picture:  Barbara
Word/Phrase- 1)  Shattered dream (in blog)  2) bleak outlook (in blog) 3) Oh, holy crap!  (picture caption)  4)  stranded  5) abandoned  6) there's no place like home  7)  if only...  8)  whispering in the wind  9)  hang on to your hat  10) 7 year itch  11) deserted in the desert  12) If Marilyn Monroe were a country girl...  13)  Why me?

What can YOU do, to prevent child abuse? More than you think!

In the past few months, there have been many articles in my local paper about how some of these offenders are getting sentenced for their sex abuse committed on children.  As a parent, I am afraid for my child, if he were to ever be assaulted.  As a survivor of sex abuse, it enrages me at how little these people are getting.  As an advocate for social change leading to stiffer laws on perpetrators, I know that I have a very, very,very LONG and lonely road ahead of me.  I will get to that later, but, to prove my point, here are some articles about different perpetrators getting off easy on their sentencing.

Here is the most recent one, where this offender is reported as a repeat offender, and is only getting 1 year, and isn't required to register as an offender, even though this is his 2nd time being caught, and this offense includes 3 victims.
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mount-pleasant-man-gets-year-in-jail-for-child-sexual/article_e6d2aa50-f093-11e3-b5ad-001a4bcf887a.html

This one is about the heir to a multibillion dollar company is only getting four months in jail, a $6,000 fine, and no registry.  Even though the judge lectures him about how the abuse is never the child's fault, the child he assaulted for 3 years was supposed to release her medical records for purposes of the court.  That is absurd.  And for being part of such a huge company, $6000 is not going to break his piggy bank.
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/johnson-to-serve-four-months-jail-pay-k/article_8c504e8a-eda9-11e3-88aa-0019bb2963f4.html

Another example here, of a guy in his mid 20's, who may be playing the game of mentally incapacitated to stand trial, for having assaulted a child he was babysitting, and making child porn with that same child as well as up to 5 children.  The excuses these people get...  So he has the where-withal to get these boys acting in a sexual manner to record and post, but is incompetent to stand trial?
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/racine-man-arrested-for-child-sex-crimes/article_0db3bf1e-9b09-11e3-a09e-001a4bcf887a.html

This offender won't have to stand trial.  I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but, because there won't be all of this about stating each crime he has committed, he won't be put on the spot as he ought to be.
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/no-trial-in-child-sex-assault-case/article_9962ae20-3a21-11e2-a27a-0019bb2963f4.html

Here is a case where the charges were dropped because the victim "was uncooperative".  What, so this relative can keep assaulting the same kids?
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/sexual-assault-charge-against-waterford-man-dismissed/article_6778bbe6-a9da-11e3-8da6-001a4bcf887a.html

There is another case where the charges were dropped, because the victim committed suicide.  Since the victim is dead, they let the perpetrator go.  Which is absurd, because those who get sexually abused during their life has a greater risk for suicide than those who are never abused.  Sad world that it's okay to be a child rapist, if the victim takes their own life from not being able to deal with the abuse.  What kind of crap is this?

I just know that something has to be done, and so far, I'm fighting an up hill battle, by myself, because even with my desperate pleas to get people involved in getting something done, I can't seem to get any bodies here at the meetings, and if I get a couple, it's only a couple of times...  It's not that I mind being the lonely wolf.  I know that the rogue wolf often has to go it alone, because people don't want to get overly involved, or just has more important issues to take care of.  I get it.  That's fine.  I realize people have their own lives.  But, to sit back and say the police can be called, is too late.  The abuse already happened.  You CAN help prevent child sex abuse, and please read here to find out more.
http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pages/tell_others_the_facts.html



Those who bully the victim are cowardly abusers themselves that can do a lot of damage


98% of the abuse allegations are true.


if you condone the abuser, you're it's okay.


Most of the time, disclosing the abuse is the most difficult thing to do.


Stranger-danger is the rarest form of sex abuse.


We must stop thinking of children as property of their parents, or the sex abuse will continue


Pedophile supporters are part of the problem, not the solution.


Yes, pedophiles are manipulators. That's how the groom the victims and their families, because then, it's more difficult to believe that they are abusers.


Please don't shun the victim. They need your support more than ever.


Doing the right thing is still the right thing, if you're the only one doing it. Doing the wrong thing is still wrong, even if everyone is doing it.


Stand for something, or fall for anything.



I hope these stickers help to inspire you to do something.  I only ask for about an hour a month for meetings, to discuss our course of action.  With this, I will do all of the work to set it up for the next meeting so we can make progress on it.  After we have things to work with, we will invite legislators to speak with us so we can make it clear what we are going for.  The more people we have, the more of an impact we can make.  I am even offering refreshments out of my own funds and stash, to make it appealing to you.  No money needed, not right now.  Just a little bit of your time, and we can get this going.  I am only one voice, as you are, also.  together, we can make the push we need.

Your silence is permission for the pedophiles and their supporters to win.  Please be a voice, even if you need it behind my organization - Youth Voice Initiative -
Official website - https://sites.google.com/site/youthvoiceinitiative/home
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-Voice-Initiative/128824388322?hc_location=timeline
Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/youthvoiceinitiative
Blogger/Blogspot - http://likaslaments.blogspot.com/
Word Press - http://likamarie.wordpress.com/
I try to cross post as much as possible, so anyone who can access a computer may read and participate without having to have special accounts.  Just use the one most convenient for you, and hope to see you at one of our meetings.

For even more information, with loving support from:
Blog Talk Radio - SCAN - with Bill Murray, radio host and leader of NASCAA - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bill-murray/2013/07/05/stop-child-abuse-now-scan
Peer Support/Music Therapy - Mike Skinner Music - http://www.mskinnermusic.com/home/
Male Abuse Awareness - Elizabeth Herd - Founder of Sean's Voice - https://www.linkedin.com/pub/elizabeth-herd-sean-s-voice/18/b64/86a

Please share, and share widely...  Those of us who want to help curb child abuse in any form have to stick together and go viral, not just online, but in our own communities.  Peace out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PigupJKlOk

Don't Answer When Duty Calls: Blogophilia 16.7

Marvin Martian's blog link for the parameters of participating in this blog -
https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-167-dont-answer-when-duty-calls/748379381849948

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 points) Include an inappropriate use for shared Leather Jacket
(Easy, 1 point)  Incorporate the phrase 'a pyramid of cheerleaders' 
Well, during my high school years, not only was I a nomad, because I knew a couple of people from just about every group of people you could think of, so I kind of took turns hanging out with different people, I was also a people watcher.  My favorite part of high school was playing in the band, and loved when I could do the pep band thing for school assemblies and the sports games.  It was mostly football, but, we would occasionally do the basket ball games and then wrestling, if our school was going through the gamut to get to the state finals.  Of course the cheer leaders would often try to cheer up to the band, because if we could lead the crowd to do the participation portion, the crowd would get even rowdier.  Don't get me wrong, I had a couple of friends who were cheerleaders, and they weren't the dizzy type as you might believe they are, but, I used to secretly pick on them, especially when they formed into a pyramid of cheerleaders and I would try to heckle them so they would fall into a pile rather than to gracefully dismount.

Another thing that was crazy...  the normal letter jacket was one of those that was made from that fuzzy type material, but, of course the rich people sometimes had the leather type, and you know, then they would share the leather jacket for purposes of coupling, literally...  and it just made me wonder how they cleaned it afterward after getting private juices all over it...  I'm glad I never had to share one of those.  This was one of the instances that I don't answer when duty calls.

double negative

I always thought it was disgustingly cute, when couples would try to dress like each other or do their hair similar together, as if they were mirror images of each other, or maybe trying to be the same yet polar opposite...  What cracked me up, is when some of the couples actually looked alike in the first place, and was trying to be the good twin/bad twin instead of a couple.  And don't even get me started on the guys who wore make up and large hoop earrings...  ugh...


Title:  Irene
Bonus Points:  Dave Raider and Nina
Picture:  Bettie
Word/Phrase:  1)  mirror images (in blog)
2) polar opposite (in blog)
3) good twin/bad twin (in blog)
4) double negative (picture caption)
5) alternate universe
6) alternate plane
7) different point of view
8) copy cat
9) two dimensions
10) dark side/light side (like Star Wars)

Fire and Ice: Blogophilia 15.7

Marvin Martian's Blog link for the parameters of participation - https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-157-fire-and-ice/745234688831084

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 points) Incorporate the opposite meaning of "equanimity"
(Easy, 1 point)  Include Dark Demons 

Fire and ice...  It is interesting that often, we consider these as opposite forces, even though they often meet end to end, as they're both elements in some form.  Ice is frozen water.  You'd think water can put out fires.  But, have you touched something so freezing cold, that it burns?  I also remember the public bath house I visited as a child in Japan...  One of the tubs was SO hot, it almost felt like liquid ice!

Anyway, I have been a survivor of a multitude of abuses.  It took a very very long time, to come to the place where I am now, to be able to face the dark demons and to push for social change and to press our legislators to make stricter laws to further protect abused children with equanimity.  It hasn't always been easy to actually talk about the abuse that happens currently, to our youth.  It used to scare me to death, and put me into discomposure, to have to walk past that part of my soul, because it would trip a switch.  Fortunately, with accepting the fact that these demons will always lurk in the dark corners will always be there, along with some of the rage and anger, has it been that I can control that aspect, and keep it in it's proper place.  When children are in need, I will use the fire and ice within me, to do what ever it is in my very own power to be able to protect our children.

Sometimes, I wish I had a hand of fire when dealing with people...  Kind of like Ghost Rider...

Grip of fire

It would seriously help, if I had some kind of power like this, just when I need it.

I'm not sure if it made national news or not, but, in a Wisconsin county not far away from me, two 12 year old girls had gotten into some fictional character, and to try to appease the mythological dark powers of evil, they were going to sacrifice another girl, a supposed friend.  The two were planning this for months, invited the unsuspecting 12 year old for a slumber party...  Went to play hide and seek in the woods, where the sacrifice was supposed to happen, and stabbed the third 12 year old girl, and abandoned her in the woods, probably for dead.  Miraculously, the girl crawled out of the woods, and up onto a sidewalk where someone found her, and got her medical help.

My heart goes out to the stabbing victim, as well as for her family.  They trusted the other girls, and this is what they get.  What I'm wondering, as a parent, is, where were the parents of the two who got sucked into this cult like thinking?  It is said that especially the stabber is mentally ill.  And the parents of this girl had no idea what so ever?  As an advocate, it makes me wonder why these girls went so much past bullying, to making a human sacrifice to a creepy character that isn't even real...  I urge all parents to know their kids, and know where they go online, what they are taking part in, who their friends are, etc...  This is one of the grossest abuse on a peer that I have heard of.  As long as it exists, I will always be.


Topic:  DJ Myke
Bonus Points:  Dave Raider and Christine W.
Picture:  Nissemech
Word/Phrase: Hand of Fire (in blog), Ghost Rider (in blog), grip of fire (picture title), hell's hand, Johnnie Blaze, Daniel Ketch, phantom rider

Bedtime Stories: Blogophilia 14.7

Marvin Martian's Blog, for the updated rules.  https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-147-bedtime-stories/739347179419835

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 points) Include a black cat crossing your path
(Easy, 1 point)  Incorporate a Bee Gee's lyric

I don't remember too much about my early childhood, but, at 9 years old, reading bedtime stories to my 6 year old little sister.  When my son was a baby, I would read books in between play times, settling down for meals, and more.  As he progressed into grade school, he would pick a cat to put on his bed, pet them until they were calm, and he'd read books out loud to the cat until they fell asleep.  Sometimes he'd have 2 cats.  It was very precious, since he was not always good at reading aloud, unless it was to read to his cats.

Speaking of cats, I never thought I'd be a cat lady, since growing up, I'd been severely allergic to them.  All of a sudden, in my mid/late 20's, I no longer got a reaction.  I'd had 2 black cats...  You know about the myth about bad luck when a black cat crosses your path?  So...  if you have 2, and they both cross your path, does the second cancel the first, or is it double?  I have no idea....  But seriously, to those who actually believes it, I think it's so absurd, that so I laugh in your face.

Meadow rows to the windmill

This is a nice flower meadow in the country.  But, Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.  I bet Dorothy wished that Aunt Em's farm looked more like this, after visiting the Emerald City...

Topic:  Linda Miller Thurman
Picture:  Nissmech
Bonus Points:  Nina and Tyler
Word Phrase:  flower meadow in the country (in blog), I don't think we're in Kansas anymore (in blog), all rows lead to the windmill, country side garden, tulip farm, landscape in the horizon.
Bee Gees lyrics:  so I laugh in your face
Black cat crossing your path point and title both included in the blog.


p.s. those tagged but not currently participating are encouraged to submit their writing.  This creative writing for fun, with points that are for bragging rights only, is good for your mental health.

Gifts, Good Prices and more...

Not too long ago in the past, I joined a Rely Local group here on facebook.  The premise on relying locally, is that when we support businesses that are privately or locally owned and operated, as much as 86% of the money you spend there stays here in our own city, therefore, promoting more business here in Racine.  Most of us know of the high unemployment here in our proud town, where many are still suffering the blows from being under or unemployed.  I like this idea.

So, here is what is kind of cool...  Graduation and Father's day are coming up, and getting pictures is a great thing, where you can get prints if you want, or if you'd prefer a disc, that is okay too...  Pictures of your loved ones make awesome gifts, and my friend, Amanda, is an up and coming photographer.  Please check out her page here:  https://www.facebook.com/pjmphotos

Need help with some make up?  My other friend, Laura, is a make up artist as well as a Mary Kay distributor.  https://www.facebook.com/laura.fogelson?fref=ufi

Both of these are well priced, and the photography is helping everyone, because you get a great price as well.  With the make up, you get the pampering as well, and as moms, we need that, too.

So, here's to hoping that these very locally based businesses can be supported, especially in this hard economy.  I assure you, that these people are NOT going to steal your money, but, just wanting to give you above and beyond customer service, at the fairest prices available.

If you don't have a need for their services, please share this info with others, in case they are interested.