Trailer park fight became a poopy situation

Once again I found myself strolling through tons of news articles looking for one that was unusual and just right for my blog. I came across an article about two trailer park residents who are suing each other. According to the article, trailer park resident and tattoo artist Ryan Fitzjerald is being sued for $100,000.00 by his ex-girlfriend, Rossie Broven, who had originally attempted to have him charged with assault but was unable to do so because she signed a consent form prior to having the art work done. She claims that he had disregarded her request that he tattoo a scene from the movie Narnia, and instead had tattooed a picture of a pile of feces with flies buzzing around it. When I first read this article , I thought to myself that the ex-girlfriend got exactly what she deserved, but on further reflection, I redirected my negative energy toward the tattoo artist.

Now, I have two tattoos of my own. I have a deep appreciation for tattoos. I enjoy getting them. I think that when they are done correctly, tattoos can be beautiful pieces of artwork. However, because tattoos are forever, one has to have complete faith and trust in the tattoo artist.

According the article, Fitzjerald had found out that his girlfriend had cheated on him with an old friend. Broven states in her complaint that Fitzjerald had tricked her by getting her drunk of a bottle of cheap whine and tequila shots and then gotten her to sign the consent form. My first thought was that she should have known better than to get drunk with an ex-boyfriend. I don’t care how much alcohol I have in me, I certainly wouldn’t let my ex-boyfriend tattoo on me, even if he knew how.

I found it horribly disappointing that this tattoo artist had violated that trust. To me, it doesn’t matter if she cheated on him or not. He should have used his professionalism and not agreed to give her a tattoo when she was drunk or when he was having anger issues with her infidelity. As I said, tattoos are forever, and she has been marked for life, or until she goes through the pain and expense of having her tattoo removed or covered. Hence, the lawsuit for $100,000.00.

Tattoo artists already have to go against predisposed stereotypes and this guy does not help. If I had found out that my tattoo artist took out his revenge on his ex-girlfriends by marking her for life with a damning tattoo, I wouldn’t go to him. It would make me wonder what he would do to me if I angered him. I believe what he did was a shameful act and I hope the court awards the ex-girlfriend.

Save the Fairy!

InSt. Charles, Missouri residents and business owners are banding together to save a fairy’s job. Since it is the Christmas season and I enjoy off beat articles, when I found this article, I was pleased with the human outcry to “Save The Fairy.”

As you probably already know, one of the most known ballets is Peter Tchaikovsky's famous Nutcracker Suite. This wonderful ballet is usually preformed during the holiday season. One of the characters and one of the most sought-after roles is that of the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy who welcomes young Clara to the Kingdom of Sweets and dances the famous "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy." 

According to the article, Laura Coppinger, who made this role "larger than life," had played the Sugar Plum Fairy for five years before she was fired for violation of her professional code of conduct. Apparently, Coppinger had uttered a curse word when she accidentally flushed the toilet after a drug test that was required for her job. Before she was able to retake the test, she was informed that she had been fired for cursing. As word spread about the termination, a movement grew to “Save the Sugar Plum Fairy.” A Facebook page was started and hundreds of people have clicked on the "Like" button in order to show their support.  A like-minded group has also decided to take this issue to the St. Charles City Hall.

 

The article led the reader to assume that she was dedicated to her job. She never denied saying a curse word out of frustration with herself and she is willing to apologize for cursing. This shows integrity and character.  I can’t believe that the public official who was performing the drug test was hateful turn Copinger in for violating the “Christmas traditions code of conduct” which states that “Christmas characters don’t know naughty words”. Now, I am pretty sure that Copinger wasn’t in character when she was taking the drug test. If she curses in the privacy of her home, is she still in violation?  

 

Unfortunately, it was wise of the officials who oversee the Christmas Traditions hiring to state that “they’re unable to comment about personnel matters.” If they had commented on it. Coppinger would be able to have a case on her hands. If the city officials had stated anything, then this would probably have been a privacy issue and Coppinger would have been able to sue the city for violating her privacy.  

 

As it is, Coppinger is very grateful for all the support that she has received and would like the city to reverse their decision. It is hard to find a job right now and I hope they do rehire her.

Non traditional student non traditional Thanksgiving

Judging from the articles that I have read about “normal” Thanksgiving dinners, my family's Thankgiving dinners are very unusual. I have been very lucky so far, because my kids get along, so they usually don’t fight, not even on non-holidays, and none of us are big drinkers.  In fact, the only time that my family gets rowdy is when my kids drink too much soda and get hyper, which means that nobody is screaming and fighting with each other and airing long-dormant grievances.  

We have small and relatively quiet family gatherings that consist of my mother, my sister, my husband, my two kids and me.  I don’t have a grandmother in town who comes and pinches anyone’s cheeks, and thank goodness for that too. I wouldn’t know what to do if some crazed elderly lady came at my children trying to rip their cheeks off.  Everybody else who is genetically-connected to me lives in New Jersey, Mississippi and Florida, and they don't come out to Missouri to visit, which is a good thing because, between my mom’s house and mine, we have a limited amount of space  and it’s bad manners to put your family up in a hotel. Because of this lack of extended family, my kids are the only kids so far, so there aren’t tons of young ones running around, screaming, fighting and knocking things over, which my mother definitely considers a blessings, since we usually gather at her house.  And since no one in my family likes watching football, we aren't distracted by a bunch of men yelling at the television.  

Even though my family consists of only six people, we make enough food to feed a small army, and we all contribute something to the feast.  Because of my busy schedule, my husband and children usually prepare and provide the hors d'oerves, a few side dishes, and the sodas, and my mother and sister make the entrees and the desserts.  We usually eat at my mother's house, where we eat, discuss current events, what is relevant in our lives and talk about the Thankgivings of the past, like the time our '67 Chevy Nova wagon died at the bottom of a steep hill and we had to walk all the way up the hill and halfway through town in order to get to our house.  There is usually a movie on in the background, which nobody really pays attention to, and after about four hours, my family and I drive the whole two blocks back to our home. 

When my children get older and begin to have their own families, it is going to be interesting  to see how our family dynamics will change. I wonder if I will become that crazed grandmother who gets thrilled at the idea of pinching her grandchildren’s cheeks. Once my children have their own families, will our quiet little family Thanksgiving dinners become "normal" and therefore full of football, screaming kids, rowdiness, drunkenness and aired long-dormant grievances, or will they be the quiet, cooperative and friendly little family gatherings that I have come to know so well? Only time will tell, but one can only hope.

My Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was going to be an exceptional one. Even outside of the holidays, I enjoy spending time with my children, my mom and my sister. We have a close family.  After 14 years of talking on the phone, the plan was that my father was going to join us for our festivities. He was going to drive from New Jersey and spend this Thanks Giving with me. To most of you this may not sound like a big deal. But to me, this was going to be a monumental.

I only have two memories of my birth father. When I was five, the only thing I remember was his legs and that he and my grandmother gave me a doll that wore a blue pock-a-dotted bikini.  Then several years past, when I was eight he came around a couple of times. He brought over my step brother once, but they didn’t stay very long. That year he did give me a couple of good Christmas gifts.

My father has always had a problem with fallow through. He makes empty promises. To me the promises of money or gifts are different. I never really expected those things from anyone, anyways. This time, he promised he was coming out. The past 14 years he has never promised to visit. I was trying very hard not to get my hopes up that he would actually show up, but I had a glimpse of weakness and I believed him.

 Now I haven’t heard from him in several days. He isn’t answering my texts. My hope is that maybe he will show up at my door tomorrow. But the chances are very slim. I know what’s going to happen. We have done this dance before when he thinks he has disappointed me. In a couple of month I will hear from him again. He will act like nothing happened. No apology no nothing. So what do I do? Do I confront him? Or do I just blow it off, because it is my fault for letting my guard down anyways. I know how he is and know this is what he does and I should know better.

No matter what happens, I am still going to enjoy my thanksgiving with the people who truly love me. And I know that I can always depend on them. I am very thankful to have a wonderful mother, sister and children.

My friend and HPV

Couple years ago, when I was working at Freeman Hospital one of the other Tech’s and I really hit it off and we have been good friends ever since. We never run out of things to talk about. We laugh and joke a lot. I would consider her one of my best friends. Last week she called me crying. She found out that she has cervical cancer from HPV and they wanted to do a biopsy and see how bad the cancer really is. I tried my hardest to keep my composure as I told her I would go with her to this appointment.

Almost every day this week, she has called me asking several different questions. Normally I am very up front and honest with her. But now I find myself having to sugar coat everything I say and I try very hard to make everything into a joke. This may sound cruel. But as I see, she needs someone to help her with the depression that comes along with being diagnosed with a deadly cancer. I have found that laughter is the best medicine. She asked me if her bladder was going to fall out if she got a hysterectomy. Without hesitation I replied with a “no and if it does we will just shove it back in”. Some how this made her feel better. I love sarcasm. She asked me if she was still going to be beautiful if her hair falls out. She knows that I do have a somewhat twisted sence of humor when I stated simply “yes and we will buy you the best wig money can buy and supper glues it to her head”.  She rolled in laughter and told me I always know just what to say to make her feel better.

After the biopsy, the hansom doctor informed us that the results won’t be back for another 5 days. That’s a long time to wait when you think your going to die. One thing I have to say to any woman reading this blog is please protect your self. HPV is nothing to mess around with. My friend now has to deal with the possibility of dying at a young age all because one guy told her that he didn’t have any diseases. Life is precious, so please take care of yourself and use a rubber.

Breat feeding in the court room

A Michigan judge considered breast feeding in court as an inappropriate behavior. Natalie Hegedus Natalie Hededuswas breast feeding her sick 5-month old baby in the back of the courtroom completely covered when a bailiff noticed what she was doing. He then passed a not to the judge informing him on what was happening in his court room. The judge then called the woman to the bench and asked her if she believed it was appropriate to be breastfeeding in court. Natalie’s response was that her son was hungry and it’s not illegal so therefore her behavior was fine.

Being a mother of two this article stuck a special interest in me. I breastfed both of them for over a year and I found myself in similar situations as Ms. Natalie Hegedus. I found that this article has some holes in the story and left me curious.

The article never states why she had to go to court in the first place. After fallowing the BabyCenter link, I found out that this article was partly based on a post that Ms. Hegedus wrote on a parenting web site. On her post she never mentioned why she had to go to court. It did state that she was filing a complaint against the judge and possible file suit against him. When clicking on the WoodTV link, I found that they talked to the Chief Judge of that district. He stated that it is difficult to deal with possible lawbreakers.

To reiterate my earlier statement, I breast fed my children. I am not against breast feeding at all. I believe that not only is it cost effective, it is natural and the best form of nutrition that a mother can give to her child. A bond is created between mother and child that is not the same as it is with a bottle fed child. But there is a time and place for breast feeding. When you do breastfeed, be discreet and modest. If you know your going to court have enough respect for yourself and the situation and bottle feed. Would you breastfeed during a funeral or a church service?

55 at risk of AIDS

The article that I was reading in order to fulfill the requirements for this blog quickly got my attention when I noticed that on the same page, there was a smaller article entitled Bungle puts 55 at risk of AIDS. This article states that 53 patients and two staff members of one of Australia’s largest private radiology companies were all stuck with the same needle when they received a Pet Scan, which checks blood sugar, and it was recommended that they all be tested for HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The Accu-check Multicix, which is used for Pet Scans, contains several needles in a replaceable drum and the needles are switched manually. In this incident, the needle wasn’t switched from November to January of the following year.

At first, this article seemed surreal. After all the checks and double checks that we have in the United States, it is hard to imagine that something like this could even happen. This was clearly a case of miscommunication and lack of training. Unfortunately, everyone in the nursing field knows that miscommunication happens more often than a non-medical person would really like to know.

PET scans are used to determine the severity of cancers, neurological conditions and heart disease. Even with an apology letter, this kind of accident does not make up for the fact that these patients could now have AIDS because a nurse did not know proper procedures when operating the equipment. Because of her lack of training, these people, who have possibly lowered resistance anyway, have now been potentially exposed to even worse diseases. It is horrifying to think that this nurse didn’t even realize that what she was doing was incorrect until a staff member with diabetes told her. According to the article, the risk to the people stuck with a used needle is very small because, as it turned out, none of them had any communicable diseases like AIDS or Hepatitis.

Unfortunately, something like this can and does happen here in the United States. The article didn’t state how much training the nurse had, but to me, it sounded like she had a poor orientation. How can anyone be expected to do their job accurately without the proper training? Nonetheless, the nurse was probably fired and may have lost her license because she did not educate herself on something as simple as an accu-check machine by, say, reading the instruction manual or the side of the machine before she began to administer tests. We are all working so hard for our degrees but few of us realize how easily our licenses can be taken away because of bad training, miscommunication or simple negligence.