Discussing Graphic and Comic Books for Disabled People

When I was a young girl, I read comic books that made me to understand. I didn't understand what texts in there are all about but pictures almost helped me to understand. I didn't care about those texts. That's probably why I ended up getting screwed up with my English skills before I entered a college. I realized that. I figured it out when I read a blog about comic and graphic books in a different website minutes ago. This is interesting subject for disabled children and adults. Without reading comic and graphic novels, disabled kids and adults could be confusing and don't understand what books are all about. They would also be lost forever. See blogger's discussion of the topic, "Comic for Galluadet Students" below:

Berke Outspoken: Comic Books for Gallaudet Students:

There are questions and answers about addressing reading disabilities on another website, Suite101.com below:

Addressing Reading Disabilities Using Graphic Novels to Build Reading Skills Author: Lynn Moore Published: April 9, 2007

Many kids with disabilities enjoy reading graphic novels. Here are some of the top reasons why. Are you looking for books to boost your child’s interest in reading? Of course, many kinds, or genres, are on the book shelves. Some people love to read mysteries; some love to read history. Many children and teens with disabilities love graphic novels. Graphic novels provide lots of picture prompts. The pictures show step by step what is happening. The text in graphic novels is short and sweet. It is clear from the dialog balloons exactly who is speaking. The slap stick humor in many graphic novels appeals to the sense of humor. Graphic novels look cool. What kind of graphic novels are available? Beginning readers (such as those published in the Phonics Comics series by Innovative Kids) Picture storybooks in graphic novel format True comic books Classics and other books rewritten into graphic novel format What other kinds of books are good reads for children with reading disabilities? Any of the numerous learn-to-read series that are on the market Books with repeating text Books with a strong connection between the pictures and the words Beginning chapter books Hi/lo books (high interest level/low reading skill required) Activities to Encourage Disabled Children to Read Listen to parents read Read with a parent (taking turns for every other page) Joining a library book club Reading books for prizes at school (theme park tickets, free fast food, school prizes) Reading to a younger sibling, a doll, a pet, etc. And . . . the number one way to encourage children with disabilities to read is to let them see YOU reading!

Space Shuttle Challenger Tribute

Do u know what today (January 28, 2008) is? Today is 22nd anniversary of Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion. I was 17 yrs old student at a deaf school as in St. Augustine when it happened that terrible day. This video shows in the memory of 7 astronauts with soft music. I will never forget those 7 famous astonants and Space Shuttle Challenger.

Entry for January 28, 2008

I took this picture of Granada Bridge to the Beachfront and Halifax River, across the street from the public library and the City Hall 2 weeks ago on Tuesday.

I had a fun morning last Saturday. I went to the library and stayed there for 2 hours. When I arrived there, I returned DVD movies and then looked at selves of several alphabetical titles of DVD movies around. I borrowed 5 of them and a book, "Possession", by A.S. Byatt. After that, I went to the magazines section and read 3 different magazines. The library seems so quiet as I was reading a section about Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin, and their tips for us in the Good Housekeeping magazine and looked up at partons reading books and magazines and newspapers few times. I laughed at the picture of Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa's cute Latino hubby. He looks so funny. LOL! He just looks alike an Mexican to me. I saw his TV movie 2 weekends ago on Oxygen Channel. In that TV movie, Mark played a poor Mexican cowboy who was hired by the wealthy man's daughter but I forgot what's the name of this TV movie. After I read them all, I had to leave immediately and checked out those stuff. As I was checking out those items I decided to borrow, I notice the library is changing. There are no more due date cards. Instead, the library had an idea. Their idea was to print out a sheet of list of items, like numbers of them and due dates. Cool. I save that sheet in case I can remember when due dates are until I am done watching and reading. Then I went outside the white building and waited for Dad to pick me up. The weather was cold. I wore a San Francisco sweatshirt and purple velvet jogging pants that day. That outfit kept me warming. I think it was about between 60 degrees and 67 degrees. I went home when Dad arrived to pick me up but he was late little bit.
This early afternoon, I personally e-mailed a letter to Todd, my separated hubby, about how I feel but this is a private and I can't give u some emotional details. I am upset at him for many reasons.
Do u remember I was telling about the big yellow building across the street from where I live? That place is about changing. I guess the church, the next door to day care center, bought the lease from an owner of day care center but I don't know. I noticed today that there are new pavements or sidewalks on the backyard and the front yard.
That's it for now.

glitter-graphics.com

Greetings from Florida!

January 25, 2008: TODAY Show Interview With Former Child Star Ricky Schroder

Do u remember watching Silver Spoons on NBC in the early 198os? I did when I was teenager but some of episodes I watched but the closed-caption wasn't ready to be invented yet. Ricky Schroder was in it for playing a son of a wealthy man. He also was a former child star. I saw some of his childhood movies, not much, before Ricky went on to become a TV star. I didn't think he looked cute back then but now, I do recall how cute Ricky was. After Ricky left TV series, I hadn't heard about him in several years until he showed up to do more acting on 2 different TV series when he got older but I didn't watching them. When Ricky reappeared on TV, I was shocked to see how changing he looks. Wow! Ricky is still looking handsome. And I found out he's married and have 4 beautiful children. I watched an interview with Ricky by TODAY Show reporter on TV with a closed-caption this morning. Ricky was discussing another movie on TV. That TV movie will be aired on Sunday night, January 27th on ION channel at 9 pm Eastern Time. It's called "Journey to the Center of the Earth". Don't forget if u wants to watch it. I will probably watch it. See a link of video of an interview below:
An Interview with Ricky Schroder
See a bio about this actor: Ricky Schroder
Have a great weekend!
(Update at 5:51 pm): I tried to embed this video three times but unsuccessfully, it didn't work out. I was disappointed so I changed my mind about it.

An Interview With Tuya, the Mongolian Hard of Hearing Young Woman By Karina Chupina

I have heard of a foregin country named Mongolia little bit. That's where Chinese people living in. It's a small and poor country. It's also the land of Genghis Kahn. The situation there is having a hardship and trying to build up improvements. Otherwise, I learned what happened to the disability culture there. It sounds sad. This i711 online article writer had an interesting interview with a hard of hearing Mongolian woman named Tuya Mijiddorj for discussing disability culture there. She works for organizations as being an officer. See an online article about her below:

December 12, 2007

Let's admit it, for many of us Mongolia is a byword for all things remote. What do you think of when you hear the name of this world's second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan? Of the Gobi Desert, steppes, and dinosaurs? Ghengis-Khan's heritage? Its nomadic past and present? Or its communist regime under the Soviet Union and the fall of communism in 1990? I think first of all about the book that I was given in my childhood: it told about adventures of archaeologists in Gobi desert who headed there in search of dinosaur traces. This book was one of my favourites.

Last week, a friend of mine introduced me to Tuya Mijiddorj from Mongolia, young woman with a hearing loss who is active in the country's disability movement. I could not resist my professional and personal curiosity to ask her a few questions - answers to which will provide us with a small window into the world Tuya lives in.

And, let me tell you, after the interview I started looking for more information about Mongolia to connect the pieces of all information I had. Hope you will do the same!
Karina:Please tell us about yourself, your education, age?

Tuya: I am thirty three years old. Since the time that I lost my hearing, I didn't want to study in my high school anymore because I was ashamed of my peers. That's why I entered the Vocational Training Centre and majored as a technologist-tailor. After that, I worked for about 10 years in a sewing factory and its heavy noise worsened my hearing even more. When I quit my job, my chief wanted me to stay there as a designer, but I refused due to my health condition.
Karina:What made you become involved in the disability movement?
Tuya:When I worked in sewing factories I used to think: "What are other people with disabilities like? How do they struggle for living? How can I contact them?" and so on.
After quitting my job I went to learn Chinese because I used to work with Chinese technologists and I can read Chinese a bit. You know that the people like us can receive important information only through text. My Chinese teacher worked in the training centre of the Mongolian National Federation of the Disabled Persons' Organizations and he advised me to get a lesson together with other people with disabilities. Since then, I knew where it was and how it worked, and I was also introduced to its staff while participating in the training.
At that time, the universities used to reject students with disabilities in their curriculum, so I learned English myself. I've always had a strong desire to learn IT and foreign languages, but it was hard because of my hearing loss. Since August 2007, I have been working as an officer of Foreign Relation Division of the Mongolian National Federation of Disabled Persons' Organizations.
And I'm also studying in high school in order to fulfill my old dreams. After I quit my secondary school, I have always dreamed of completing my school education. I really know what the Mongolian hard of hearing youth dream about. That's why I want to help other people with disabilities to achieve their dreams and goals.
Karina:How many people with disabilities are there in Mongolia?
Tuya:There are about 115,000 people with disabilities in Mongolia and it is 4.8% of total population while 80 % of people with disabilities are living below the poverty line. It's sad to say this, but it's true. It shows that there is still a lot of work in front of us.
Karina:What's the attitude of the society to people with disabilities in Mongolia?
Tuya:You know that since ancient times people with disabilities were treated negatively. Most Mongolians used to live with their family members and take care of the elderly and disabled. But the transition from socialism to a market economy has opened up new opportunities in terms of economic, social and cultural rights; on the other hand, it brought hardships for people with disabilities and many families. They have been facing difficulties such as low income and unemployment.
Karina:What state structures are responsible for people with disabilities in Mongolia? How do they work and what do you think of their work?
Tuya:The ministry of Social Welfare & Labor is responsible for persons with disabilities. The National federation collaborated with them on the basis of contract. But I think our future depends only on ourselves. In recent years, we had a lot of success and we have been also facing some difficulties.
Karina:How many organizations are there for disabled people in Mongolia? Are there organizations for the deaf?
Tuya:There are over 60 organizations of disabled people that were registered in the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in Mongolia. For the deaf, there is the Mongolian Deaf Association and the Mongolian Association of Deaf Youth. But I think there is still no organization to train hard of hearing youth who have difficulties in accessing information adequately and are behind the times. This was the main reason for me to get involved with the disability movement.
Karina: Are there any deaf people who are popular in Mongolia?
Tuya: Yes, there are many popular deaf people, especially women in Mongolia. For example: Mrs. Saranchimeg has a hearing loss and works as sign language translator for Mongolian National Television. She also works as a teacher in the Mongolian National Rehabilitation Centre. Mrs. Otgonbayar is deaf woman and is a good dancer. She graduated from the College of Art and Culture. She is now working as a chairwoman of Mongolian Federation Deaf Culture & Art.
Karina:Does the disability movement have role models with disabilities who they want to follow?
Tuya:I think I surely know him. He's a doctor of technical science and works as the president of Mongolian National Federation of Disabled Persons' Organizations. He had a car accident 15 years ago and injured his back. After the accident, he had not been able to recover fully till now; sometimes he wouldn't sleep because of his illness. I heard this from his daughter who works as a head of our foreign relation division as a volunteer. 44 organizations related to disabled persons joined the Federation and it is the umbrella organization which can influence the government.
Karina:Are deaf/ hard of hearing and disabled people provided benefits by the government? What are the benefits, exactly? How do you get hearing aids? Do you have a hearing aid manufacturer in Mongolia?
Tuya:All types of people with disabilities are provided by benefits from the government. They receive pension from the Social Welfare Agency and it is approx. 30,000-50,000 tug in a month, this is a minimum (US$1.00 is about 1,100tug). It's possible to study in a university free of charge if people with disabilities can pass the entrance exams. Some of us received hearing aids for free from Social Welfare Agency. Mongolia is a developing country and there are no hearing aid or cochlear implant manufacturers in Mongolia. If they want these, they need go to foreign country. As for me, I bought hearing aids on my own. They are Widex brand.
Karina: What would you want to tell people in the US about people with disabilities and deaf people in Mongolia?
Tuya:I always thought that US is symbol of freedom and equality. I never was in the US, so it's kind of a hard question for me. Maybe, I'd participate on behalf of Mongolian hard of hearing youth in Hawaii Pacific Rim Conference in April, 2008. So I'd like to reply to your question then (smiles).

SOME FACTS ABOUT MONGOLIA:
Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Area: 1,564,116 square km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Population: 2,9 mln
Ethnic groups: Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1%
Religion: Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40%
See a link of an info about this foreign country below:

Mongolia

January 21, 2008: Dr. Phil's Statement About His Visit With Britney Spears

Last Monday night, I watched Dr. Phil Show on TV. As I was watching his show, Dr. Phil made a statement about visiting Britney Spears at the hospital before she was discharged from there few weeks ago if u missed watching it that Monday evening. The mother, Lynn, asked Dr. Phil to come over for discussing mental problems with Britney Spears. Lynn had been friends with his wife, Robin for almost 2 years but now, not anymore. Dr. Phil is not apologizing the Spears Family for trying to help them or Britney in trouble. See a link of his truth statement below:

Dr. Phil's Statement About His Visit With Britney Spears

IMO, Lynn Spears is not doing enough to work on personal issues with her daughter much cuz she ignored warning signs. Working on these issues with them comes first but these are too late. I heard Lynn is planned to write a book about parental tips but cancelled it right away when she learned her teenage daughter is pregnant. The Spears Family is screwing up their life real bad. Terrible. Lynn Spears should learn the hard lessons if she forgot them.

Oliver!

Have any of you seen the 1968 musical movie, "Oliver!"? That was a year before I was born. I didn't know this movie was a success. I also didn't know an Oscar went to this successful movie, "Oliver!", for Best Picture at 1969 Academy Award show. I was a baby girl at that time. This movie is referring to a book title, "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, adults' and children's book author. It is the story about a little boy named Oliver Twist played by Mark Lester. Oliver was an orphan since his birth and his mother's death in childbirth. There are more details to tell a story about this angel boy but I can't tell you, bloggers. You will find out about this movie when you rent it from either library or Blockbuster. I love listening to this excellent musical movie.

Great Expectations Movie

This song, "If God Could Talk", is by Meat Loaf and film was made in 1998. Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert De Niro starred in this wonderful movie. I love it very much. Awwww. It's one of my favorite movies all the time. It's a story about a boy and a girl who were almost childhood sweethearts introduced by the richest lady. I wish there would be more discussing this movie here but I can't give you a lengthy detail. You will find out about it interestingly. I am recommending that you should see this great love story movie.

Charles Dickens

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Biographies & Memoirs
Author:	Jane Smiley

I just finished reading this book this early afternoon. As I was reading this book, I figured deaf people don't understand this information if they are not educated themselves fully because they could be very confusing and an educated author who lives in California had probably experienced an excellent English skills in her college background. However, I did not read Dickens' books as a young girl but I saw movies by 3 of his several books, "Oliver!", "Great Expectations", and "A Christmas Carol", on TV. I wanted to know who Charles Dickens was. I have heard about him. Charles Dickens, according from this book, had a double secret life in his personal life and his sad childhood years but I can't give you more details about his personal background. You will be astonishing to find out about Dickens in there. The other thing is that Dickens' behavior during his writing career sounds medium. I thought he was friendly to people he knew. This book sounds excellent professionally. If you don't know who Charles Dickens is and haven't reading his famous books, I am recommending that you should read this bio book.

There are more informations about Charle Dickens and is a list of novels, short stories, and poetries and plays from the website of Wikipedia.

January 20, 2008: A Memorial Service for Agnes

This is Agnes and her daughter, Joan Ocean, at the nursing home. I probably took a picture of them at around the time of Halloween after Hurricane Wilma left Florida quickly in 2005.

Do u remember I was telling u about the mother, Agnes, of Joan Ocean in my blog a month ago? Yesterday I went to the memorial service at the church, St. Mary's in Daytona Beach for an old lady named Agnes whom my mother took care of. Agnes passed away on an evening of Dec 8, 2007. St. Mary is probably oldest church in Daytona Beach, over 130 years. It's a small and clean. That's not my church cuz I have a religious background. Agnes was a member there for years since she moved to Daytona Beach in 1999. Thank God, I got an interpreter named Ed at the church yesterday. Last Friday, I thought about having an interpreter at the memorial service for Agnes but it's too late. I forgot to ask Mother about it. But until that Sunday afternoon when Mom, Dad, and I arrived at the parking lot outside the church before the service, I overheard little bit Mom telling Dad or a friend that Ed coming over to interpret me. Ed? I was confused. She was supposed to inform me about him coming over there but she probably forgot. I tried to ask her about him clearly but Mom was busy chatting. LOL! Inside the church, it looks beautiful and candlelights are everywhere. Floor looks like an old wood but polished. As the memorial service begans, the family of Agnes came to sit in front following Agnes' priest and Chalice Bearer. About Chalice Bearer who is employed by her boss, her name is Nedra. I ran into her again. Nedra recognized me first before the service began. She's from a deaf club. I guessed it's her that I know from a deaf club. I didn't know she's working at the church as a Chalice Bearer. I was surprised to see her there. Anyways, Nedra and I talked little bit. When Nedra saw me again at the reception afterwards, she told me she have to work right away. It was nice to see her again. I noticed she was having a stress but I don't know. She sounds panting. Nedra is also a mother of 2 or 3 kids. However, I listened to a music few times. The priest, 2 daughters, 2 granddaugthers, and my mother shared a personal story about Agnes with us during the memorial service. I learned Agnes loves to travel, paint, and craft. Agnes had a swimming pool in the backyard of her house in New Jeresy where she came from and when her hubby, Cyril, was alive. After the service, we went to the reception but Ed doesn't want going there. He went home. I ate a salad with sliced pears, chicken with cransberry sauce, vegetables, and rice. I had a drink, a coffee and a glass of water with ices. I had enough cuz it looks too much but I ate all of vegetables. And at last, I ate a very delicious dessert, a chocolate with chips! Yummy! I can't wait to eat that cake! LOL! But I ate it halfway cuz I have had enough of it. LOL! I went to look up at a video, a family album, and scrapbook of letters from Agnes' relatives on the table. I saw a video of my mother in the laptop computer during working with Agnes at the nursing home. Mom looked so pretty in it. Then Mom informed me that Dad wanted to go home cuz he was not feeling well but I told her I don't have time to look up photos. Someone took a picture of Mom, Joan Ocean, with me with Joan's own digital camera after discovering my own digital camera went dead. I didn't have time to change batteries. I have them in my purse. I always carry them in case old batteries went dead in my digital camera. I thought it's batteries. I was wrong when I came home to check it out. Anyways, I went home with a small glass vase of beautiful tropical flowers. Smelling them is good. I had a wonderful time there.
See a website of St. Mary's Church below:

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

LOL! A Photo of Lamp Made in the Shape of Woman's Stocking Leg

Uncle Jack on the left. Aunt Joan on the right. Cute lamp. LOL! This picture was taken at the home of Uncle Richard's daughter on Christmas night 2007.

Are u familiar with the movie called "A Christmas Story"? I do. I saw it few times. I was informed that my San Francisco (S F) uncle, Richard, and other CA relatives gave my other uncle, Jack, a big Christmas surprise gift in an e-mail a month ago. Richard ordered this lamp from a website. Both Richard and Jack are my father's brothers. They live in S F area for many years since 1960s but Jack was first came to S F in the 1950s. However, I received a picture of this lamp made in the shape of a woman's stocking leg from my S F uncle in an e-mail this evening. I laughed and laughed when I saw that picture. Cute! I love it! LOL! LOL! I noticed Joan, my S F uncle's wife, staring at the lamp and laughing at it. LOL!

Have a great weekend!

Had An Appt at The Hospital. At Parents' House. Discussing My Wedding Anniversary.

As u are seeing a photo above, this is our wedding day, January 17, 1998. Todd and Me. That picture was taken on January 17, 1998 outside the reception at The Conklin Building in Daytona Beach. The weather on that day looked improving 2 days later after a terrible storm. Sunny and 68 degrees.

I skipped a breakfast yesterday morning cuz I went to the hospital nearby for taking a breathing test. No breakfast was allowed until after the test. Drinking the water is okay. I felt starving. I did drinking it before I left my place. My gas doctor ordered me to do a breathing test. I had an appt there. When I arrived at the hospital, the valet took care of my mother's car. I didn't know an idea of having valet was developed there until now. Sounds cool so we can have getting in there in time for my appt. The valet is free. Before arriving outside the main lobby of hospital, my mother was having trouble to find a parking space. There are so many vehicles everywhere! My goodness! I noticed that, wow. We should come in early if I have an early morning appt there. Inside the hospital, I went to the laboratory department after an female employee checked my record. I swallowed a yellow medicated pill that a nurse gave me but she won't allowing me to touch it with my hand so a nurse was holding a cup of pill and swallowing the pill inside my mouth without my hand. Then I waited for about 10 minutes until a nurse wanted me to blow 2 special silver balloons that a gas doctor requested. I did it twice and then I am done. When I returned to the main lobby room, I went to get a cup of coffee myself that hospital is served for patients and guests only. It's free. Finally, I felt better when I was drinking a coffee. I was relieved. I waited in the lobby for several minutes while my mother went out to get her car so the valet have had to pick it up for her. Afterwards, I went over to my parents' house for a visit.


At my parents' house yesterday, I stayed there all day until that evening. Mother made me a breakfast. Very delicious. I had a waffle, a boiled egg, sausage, and a coffee. Yummy! This was a late breakfast. I felt refreshing. I ate them all expect a halfway of coffee. That afternoon, I fixed to set up a cord from a VCR box to a big TV set. My mother asked me to do it cuz I know my parents are an old-fashioned. LOL! When I arrived there that late morning, I noticed there is no big flat TV plasma set anymore. I was surprised to see that. It had been taken back cuz it's too expensive that I already know. No more movie cables cuz the cost of my parents' TV cable bill, I figured, was so high. The black box was gone. That was owned by TV cable company. So my parents are using standard channels again instead on their a different, big, regular, black TV set. I guess the size of their TV set is between 27 inches and 30 inches and the brand new is Sony. Anyways, back to working on the VCR and DVD players, the cord of VCR is plugged successfully but I don't know which the cord of DVD is going to. I was confused and can't figured it out. So my mother called David on his cell phone for a help but she sent a voice mail to him instead. That night, I had a dinner with my parents. I had a salad, 1 wheat bread, and lasagna. Lasagna was so delicious! I ate it all. Wow! After dinner, I had an lemon ice cream Popsicle. Yummy again! LOL! Then I went home. I had a fun that day. Spending time with parents is enjoyable.

Yesterday would be my 10th wedding anniversary if my separated hubby, Todd, is still here. If Todd is still here, he would like to take me out to dinner for our wedding anniversary. I felt sad and lonely that day while Todd is living in southern California. I am disappointing at him. We don't talking each other much thru TTY, or IM, or video phone, but the last e-mail from him was about a month ago. It's a forwarding email, u know. I am bringing up this subject about Todd now when I am feeling a relief as thing gets my chest off to tell the world about him. I looked up our wedding and honeymoon photos in a beautiful, thick album yesterday morning before I left. It brought me smiling to remember our wedding day. And then I did it again that night before I went to bed. As I was thinking about that wedding album, I am wondering if Todd doesn't remembering those great photos, did he? I think he's probably forgetting them if he is still being very busy working at a major hotel in downtown.

That's it for now.

Diana: Her True Story

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Biographies & Memoirs
Author:	Andrew Morton

That 1992 biography book is telling you the truth. Morton did have a wonderful job by doing a research on Princess Diana. My reaction to that book is startled. Diana had so much suffering with her metal and health issues during her marriage to Prince Charles. Charles was supposed to be loving her but otherwise, she divorced him 4 years later. Sadly, 5 years after this book came out, Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris.

If Princess Diana is still alive today, I would like to meet her if she comes to America on her official trip and can teach her how to use a sign language. Also, I would like to be taken a picture of Diana and me together. But it's too late.

American Sign Language

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

I am showing u how to sign, "heart". See it below. But my sign language is a different from this. I use to both of my hands putting letter "H" on my chest, by saying a heart.

Wesley Snipes on the Tax Evasion Trial in Ocala, Florida

Have u heard of a movie star named Wesley Snipes? Well, Wesley Snipes got in a trouble for not paying taxes. He's going to a court now in Ocala, an hour drive west of my hometown, Ormond Beach. Snipes grew up in Florida and has a home there. Attorneys for Snipes were tried to move the trail cuz Snipes thinks residents in Ocala are a racist but later on the judge ordered the Snipes Trail to stay at the court there. Raciats? No, I don't think so. Snipes must be very confusing by law of Florida cuz it changed several kinds of law alot since the Civil War. Otherwise, I do recall I heard the police was looking for him but can't find him almost 2 years ago. Finally, the police found where Snipes is located. They were informed that Snipes was doing a movie in Africa. Police thought he went hiding. Here is a link that a local TV news discussing the Snipes Trial below:

The Snipes Trial
If u don't know who Wesley Snipes is, here is an info about this movie star below: Wesley Snipes
That it for now.

See Ya!

My Opinion On An Excerpt of "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography" By Andrew Morton

This is an author, Andrew Morton.

Believe in it or not. I don't know about an author, Andrew Morton, is telling us readers the truth on his new book. I've read 9 pages of an exclusive excerpt from a book by Andrew Morton about Tom Cruise in the website of "TODAY Show" this morning and afternoon. Whoa, I kept reading and reading with my jaw dropping and mouth opening and wide eyes until I decided to take a break from this computer few times. Few hours before I read the first page of an excerpt, I watched Meredith Vieira's interview with Andrew Morton. An interview between Meredith and Andrew confused me. Andrew sounds like he's speaking out about Tom Cruise. Have Tom Cruise been brainwashing by his famous church? I am somewhat guessing so. I wish someone will pull Tom and his family out of that strict church immediately cuz that church is so weird and dangerous. I have heard about this big place on the news. I will put up a link an excerpt from the website of "TODAY Show" below for u bloggers to read. U can come back to finish it up if u wants to. Here is a link:

An Excerpt of “Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography”

My Weekend.

Last Saturday morning, I went to Starbucks for my breakfast. Starbucks is located at the small shopping center and few doors west of Blockbusters. That small shopping center is east of Supercenter Wal-Mart and Highway I-95. I ordered Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake and a hot coffee, Cappuccino with 2 flavors altogether, Hazel and Vanilla. Yummy! The cake is a really good delicious. While I was eating my breakfast, I recognized a hearing woman from my high school when she came in to get a coffee herself. She was wearing a sport outfit. Her name is Tara. We said "Hi!" and were hugged each other. I was so glad to see her again. Tara went to a Miss Seabreeze Contest with me in our junior year at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach and was a in Homecoming Court. I already know she's married but learned currently that Tara has a child and is pregnant with her 2nd child. We talked little bit but she have no idea that I was so sick due to an infection last year. I was trying to tell Tara that. Tara was lined up for ordering her coffee after we chatted. Then a slim mother came in with 3 little kids. Whoa! She carried 2 babies and walked with a little boy. I looked at how thin she is. She's so skinny! Tara said the same thing to me. I agreed with her. I guess the slim mother is doing an exericse very well. And then Tara left Starbucks for going to somewhere. I noticed Tara has a nice gold car. It's big but I can't see what name of her car is. OOPS, I saw Tara almost hit the 1960s van, VW camper that elder female is driving. I think Tara can't see VW camper coming through the parking lot. An elder female's VW van looks very colorful but I can't remember now what colors her van looks like. But thank goodness, Tara didn't hit the big van. The female driver who owns a van halted before hitting Tara's pretty gold car and moved her van slowly before Tara pulled her car backward as she was leaving the shopping center. Anyways, the slim mother was very busy taking care of her 3 kids. Wow! She kept an eye on them seriously. She put her 3 kids into a big jeep when they left Starbucks.
After I left Starbucks, I went over to Blockbusters for renting 2 DVD movies that Sat morning. I rented "Stardust" and "The Tiger and the Snow", Roberto Benigni's movie. Have u heard about Roberto Benigni? He won an Oscar for Best Actor in "Life is Beautiful" in 1999, remember that movie? LOL, I do remember I watched Benigni is so funny during an Oscar time that night in 1999. He was EXCITED AND CHEERING when Benigni jumped out of the seat in the audience. LOL! Anyways, I went home when I was done.
I hid my rental Blockbuster DVD movies from my mother when she came over unexpectedly that Saturday afternoon. I hid them cuz I knew Mom always wants to know what those are and late taking them back if she have no idea when they will be due back. I always know when these DVD movies will be due back. I am a different from my mom. I am always be on a time than my mother.
That's it for now.

January 14, 2008: A Trip to Wal-Mart Today

I went to Wal-Mart this morning. It was cold outside. The weather is changing again. I am currently wearing a winter outfit. When I arrived at Wal-Mart, I went straight to the customer Service for asking an exchange of new superbook, "The Chronicles of Narnia" cuz that new superbook had been damaged by my Dad. So I got a new gift card for another book. I did picking it up when I went to the book department. Afterwards, I went on to do continuing shopping until I had to stop by at McDonald's for ordering my breakfast. I ordered Breakfast Burrito and a regular coffee. I went back to do more shopping when I finished eating breakfast. During shopping, I noticed the computer was not ready to open up in the photo department so I can wait and I went back to do shopping. I came back to the photo department several minutes later. A couple of Mexican or Philippines ladies is doing some prints of their digital photos on the computer. I was working on another computer but the program in it doesn't have USB device so an employee told me it have in another computer where a couple of ladies is still working on their personal digital photos. Okay, I waited for my turn to do it. I noticed a lady has so many photos in there and fixed each of them to be cleared up. I waited and waited patiently. I realized I am late. OOPS. Because I know Dad doen't like to be kept waiting longer. I am supposed to be picked up by my father at 10 am. About 25 minutes late later, Dad showed up. He looked impatient due to his age. I told him I am waiting for my turn to do printing my own photos but I don't think he's listening to me. And then he left. He would be waiting for me until I am done. Finally, 2 ladies were ready to leave. Thank God. I went to do printing those great photos myself. I had few more shopping to do when I was done printing. Then I went home.

Erin Brockovich trailer

Have u heard about a lady who was uneducated and a former beauty pageant went on to become a successful lawyer in L.A. and won in the court against power company in California for damaging residents' health? I saw a biography movie about her on DVD and TV movie several times. She was played by Julia Roberts. Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her performance in that bio-movie. When this movie came out 7 years ago, a true story of Erin got me interesting. Wow, I am so inspired by her situation. I am recommending this movie to u. U will like it.

Inside: Behind the Cinderella Castle Suite!

Someday u will like and enjoy staying in a very fanciful suite with ur family but it's very expensive if u are not signing a contest to win this place. This place LOOKS so cool! I am daydreaming I would like to be staying there in the Magic Kingdom if I feel like I am on a vacation. A room service would be serving me a delicious food better than I microwave TV Dinners almost every night and cook some breakfast meals almost every morning at my place. I also would feel like a relax.

Joan Baliker's Sculptor

http://www.joanbaliker.com/index.html
Check out this wonderful sculptor's website.

Baliker Gallery

http://www.paulbaliker.com/
Check out this website of Joan Baliker's son, Paul. He's a terrific artist.

Baliker Artworks

I took those several great pictures at the library last Tuesday. I was having a fun. Those artworks look so beautiful and are in a good shape and were made by my mother's friend, Joan Baliker. Mom have known Joan for about 20 plus years since we moved to Florida. She also was one of my wedding guests almost 10 years ago. When u get to look at the picture #11 of 15, a display of religious leader and Gandhi, I have a strange feeling when I saw a picture of it after I uploaded several digital photos into the Folder today. Gandhi is staring at me. Whoa, spooky! I know about who Gandhi is. I saw a biographical movie about him very few times. He was a very a good leader.  See an album of those photos in the front homepage, "Baliker Artworks", and click it.  Also, I have links of Baliker's artworks in this Multiply page.  Check them out.

Big Headline News: I-4 Highway Accident Causes by A Heavy Fog

U are probaby heard about a terrible accident on I-4 highway, between Orlando and Tampa, on the national TV news yesterday and this morning. The breaking news on a local TV news cut off my favorite TV talk show when it came on and discussed I-4 highway accident. I was upset. I missed watching it for one hour. That TV news station was doing it again and should not be cutting off the program anymore. Anyways, an accident happened on I-4 highway yesterday early morning, before 6:30 am, due to a heavy fog. Drivers were having time to see anything clearly when there is a visionary zero in warning advance and traveling too fast. There were about 70 vehicles piling up everywhere. 4 killed. 38 injured people were sent to some hospitals nearby. Other drivers stuck in there for several hours since the accident. I-4 between Orlando and Tampa remains closed since yesterday. I don't know when it will be reopening. I-4 is where Todd and I were on the way to our honeymoon destination, Tampa, almost 10 years ago. Here is a link from a local TV news station about I-4 highway accident below:

Pileup on I-4

Review of 2007 Part 3

July:
I can’t go to swimming and on a travel. I felt trapped staying home due to bathroom emergencies. Those were awful. I felt so sick!
On July 10^th, I heard small plane crushed into 2 Sanford homes on the breaking news. It was trying to land at an airport. 5 people were killed. One of the victims aboard the plane was identified as Dr. Bruce Kennedy, a plastic surgeon and son-in-law of Bill France Jr., the former head of NASCAR.
I got a new bed mattress on July 11^th. It was set up in my bedroom by Joe and Mom on the 13^th.
I heard Lady Bird Johnson is passed away at age 94 on July 11^th news. Lady Bird was a widow of former U.S. President Johnson.
Got first e-mail from Todd since April 2006 on July 15^th.
Children and adults flocked to buy year 7 book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, seriously and excitedly on July 21^st.
I finally went to see my doctor this late July. I was in a shock when I found out how much weight I have when a nurse asked me to do a scale for her in Doctor’s office. That’s why I got sick and I am doing exercises. Got new medications.

August:
Still taking medications. I got better.
Heard on the news about the bridge collapse in Minnesota on Aug 1^st. I learned that bridge was about under construction due to an old one. Vehicles including a school bus were crashed everywhere. That was a big news.
I went to Barnes & Noble on Aug 11^th. I had a fun there. I bought "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Shakespeare" and DVD documentary, "The Secret".
September:
Luciano Pavarotti, opera's biggest superstar of the late 20th century, died on September 6^th. Personally, my father met him in New York City many years ago. I can't remember what year Dad met famous Pavarotti in a person but I guess I was a young girl at that time and didn't have a chance meeting him. Dad was very lucky meeting him in NYC for the first time. Dad has a professional photo of Pavarotti at home.
Got new Ojo phone by SNAP!VRS on the 11^th.
October:
I went to ER at the hospital in late afternoon of October 7^th. I can't stand being illness. I stayed there for 4 hours. A female nurse and a male doctor were nice to me. They discovered how sick I was. I had a fever little bit. What? I didn't know that. That's what the male nurse told me about 20 minutes later after I arrived at the ER with my mother. A doctor disnosed me hypokalemia, which is a condition of a low level of potassium in the blood. I vomitted once while I was in the exam room. And a stomach flu. I drank a special juice that tastes bitter. Yuck! And then the hospital discharged me from there that night.
Prevacid works. Thank God. I was about getting better.
I went to see a new, different doctor, at his office in Deland with my parents. He's a gastroenterologist on October 12^th. We were discussed my belly problems. At the end of our discussion, the doctor suggests I will be sent to the hospital for a test next month, right before Thanksgiving.
I was sent to meet an ultrasound specialist and ordered to get a blood test at a hospital in my hometown by my gas doctor on October 17^th.
I joined Multiply site on October 28^th.
November:
I went to the hospital for a test in Deland 2 days before Thanksgiving. After surgery, I was in a shock when I just found out I have 2 polyps inside. A gas doctor took them out successfully. I can’t believe it. I didn’t know those 2 polyps were stuck inside me. I wonder how long they stay inside. I couldn't understand. How they got in there? They made me having heartburns for years.how long they stayed. Before I found out about them, I felt weird something inside me but I didn’t know what they are. I guess I felt they probably are at top of my stomach. Anyways, a week later, I found out my stomach has an infection called H.pylori. A benign. A positive. It’s very serious. I might die from this. I was told by my mom. A gas doctor took a biopsy out of my stomach for a test with his medical team. Mother thinks I may have a food poison from Wal-Mart.
Katrina, my niece, and her family flew in to visit us from Texas for Thanksgiving Dinner.
Joe stayed at my place during Thanksgiving week, for 4 days.
December:
GDBAD Christmas Party was held at Piggotte Community Center (<----click this link, please, for an info) in South Daytona Beach for a Christmas party and playing a game in Port Orange.
Took off medications on Dec 10^th.
Got new walker with 3 rollers and a basket as an early Christmas present on Dec 15^th. Mom had a surprise for me. It looks cool! Wow! I started walking again since I got it. Very comfortable to move around.
Benazir Bhutto, a former prime minister of Pakistan, was assassed on Dec 27^th. Whoa, I can’t believe it. Without Bhutto, I believe an election will be in a big trouble and a ruin.

This is the end. Goodbye 2007.

Welcome 2008. We will find out what will happen in the new 2008 in this world.

Review of 2007 Part 1

Like I promised u this blog recently, the subject of this blog is a review of 2007. I will never forget that year I had been through. Whoa! The most journal is that I had an unexpected illness for 8 months. It was terrible. Here is a review of 2007:
January:

On Kitty’s Birthday: It was okay. I stayed home. That morning, I got a beautiful sweater with sequins on it and a little book called, "Different Roads" by Kathy Troccoli from my parents. And a Wal-Mart gift card from Uncle Frank and Aunt Honey who lives in Pennsylvania. I felt boring at home all day but out of blue that afternoon, Dad took me to Blockbuster for renting 2 DVD movies, "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Superman Returns". Dad paid them for me . That's his treat . And then I went home. When Dad dropped me off at my place, I asked him if he wants a slice of pie. He replied yes. Dad LOVES Key Lime pie very much when he ate it! Very delicious! I bought it at Wal-Mart last Friday. Key Lime is Florida's favorite pie. And then Dad went home.

That Birthday night, Mom and Joe returned home safely from a trip to Chicago. The next night Mother came over to see me. She bought a new pair of white jeans as birthday present for me. Wow, that jeans look so cool! I will try them on later. Then Mom announced unexpectedly she and Joe are going to Wyoming soon. They'll be staying there for 5 days . I can't believe what I am hearing that!

Mom and Joe flew to Texas for visiting Katrina on Jan. 5^th and then to Wyoming. Katrina was pregnant with her first baby girl at that time. Mom and Joe would be returning next week.

I bought a new gift wrapper storage bag on Jan. 5^th.

I got a new digital camera as birthday present from my youngest brother.

I got sick on the 11^th of January.
Found out my Mom was in Missouri on January 14th. I spoke with Dad thru a relay service in my computer about Mom. I also learned she and Joe went separating their way. Joe is in Illinois. Mom is driving on the way back to home. I can't believe they went separating! I don't know what happened. I thought Mom and Joe are coming home together. Last week my Dad asked me to look for an email from an airline company for a confirmation of their scheduled trip but I don't see it yet. Dad was supposed to tell me whose is from. I was confused. Maybe Mom and Joe screwed up my e-mail address but I don't know. Too late. I know Missouri is having a bad weather since the weekend. I heard there's an ice storm going on in midwest on TV news. I hope Mom is driving safely and gets out of the line of cold front. Florida is still warming up, 82 degrees again! Sunny and partly cloudy today. 2 of windows in the living room of my apt are opening. I also heard Florida will be getting cold again on this weekend when the cold front moves back in again. I'll probably wear one of my favorite sweaters when I go out on this Saturday. I don't wear a sweater much cuz Florida gets warmer sometimes during Winter . This is so weird winter. All of my sweaters are in the storage box but others are top of it in my bedroom closet. While grew up in Pennsylvania, I wore alot of sweaters everyday.
Mom and Joe came home from their trip on January 16^th.
On the 17^th of that month, Dad brought a Christmas gift bag of some brochures Mom got in Wyoming, 2 postcards from Wyoming where Mom and Joe spent in, a plastic bag of candies , a local newspaper article, and an artwork that Katrina, my niece, made for me. Katrina is living in Texas where Mom and Joe visited her before going to Wyoming. About the artwork my niece made for me, it looks painted wood of cat, a shape of heart, a box, and the message says, "Forget- Me- Not". It's so beautiful, huh? Wow! I was surprised to see it.
I got a fax message from Mom that day. It said, "We are still recovering from our long dive, honey. It was pretty serious work driving thru blizzards and ice for over 2,300 miles, then we even went thru bad smoke (couldn't see in front of us) from a fire when we drove thru some woods in Florida. Joe got 'bushed'. He did most of the driving. He's good at it." Wow, a what trip! I already heard about ice storm in midwest last week when the front kept pushing eastward on the TV news. I can't believe it. I told Mom in the fax message that California oranges are in trouble due to a freezing weather and they are already dead. And avocados, too. She had no idea of what's going on in CA cuz Mom and Joe were too busy with their drive, etc when she faxed me back. Anyways, I heard CA Governor Schwarzenegger declared a federal disaster aids on the TV news this morning. Citrus crop has been destoryed 75% in there. This sounds bad . I can't believe it.
That night, I heard on the news that humpback whale was trapped on the beach in my hometown. That whale was dead.
The next day, I finally saw Mom that late afternoon. We hugged and talked each other.
Went to GDBAD at the hotel on the beach on the 20^th of that month for play The Price is Right.
On the 29^th, Lou Pearlman, Backstreet Boys’ boss, got in trouble with law cuz he didn’t paying bills on time. Lou used to live in Orlando.

February:
On Groundhog Day, a tornado touchdowned in Deland and New Smyrna Beach. Homes and trailers were destroyed. Scene there looked terrible. Tree toppled everywhere. Some hundreds of residents lost a power. Some schools and a college were closed due to damaged trees. Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency in the areas hit by the storms.
On the 8^th of that month, I can't believe it when I heard about Anna Nicole Smith this late afternoon on a 5 o'clock local TV news. Have u heard about Anna? So sad! She left her new baby girl behind. I know about Anna's trouble pasts on Media. She's crazy but sweet. What's wrong with Anna? She faced too many problems! Anna needs to slow down but it's too late.
I kept hearing about spacewoman, Lisa Nowak, on a local TV news since February 5th. Did u know about Lisa Nowak? On the afternoon of 8^th, I learned Dan Billow, our local TV news space reporter, is going to have an interview with Lisa in Houston soon.
I got a surprised news from my PA cousin, Tiffany, in an e-mail on Feb. 12^th. Tiffany informed us that Kate, my 1st cousin's wife, gave birth to a new baby boy named Finnigan Will. Finnigan Will? I never heard the name like that before. It sounds cool! Finnigan was born last Sat, February 10th. Maribeth, my 1st cousin's wife, is pregnant again with a 2nd child. She's in her 1st trimester right now and back in PA with her family. Her hubby and my 1st cousin, Jared, is going to Iraq in Sept. I was surprised to learn that when I found out Jared is going to Iraq. I can't believe it ! I am hoping God will keep Jared alive when Jared is being sent there by a military service. I know his Dad went to a Vietnam War but his Dad came home alive before he married Jared's mother. Jared is one of 7 children of Uncle John and Aunt Nancy. He's a number 6 of 7.
Heard about the recall of peanut butter on the news on the morning of Feb. 15^th.
Britany Spears’ hair went bald! It was on the news on the 19^th of February. I was startled to find out about Britany. She’s out of control.
The Academy Awards show aired on the night of February 25^th. An award went to “The Departed” for Best Picture. Lead Actor went to Forest Whitaker of "The Last King of Scotland" and Lead Actress went to Helen Mirren of "The Queen". March:
I went to Gainesville with Amy for attending University of Florida Signing Gators’ Silent Banquet on March 5^th.
Started doing exercises.
I first became very sick during lunch hour and ran to the bathroom few times. My belly was in terrible pains that were started developing in the middle of March. Pains continued worst everyday since then.
5 days before St. Patrick’s Day, I heard Regis Philbin of "Live With Regis and Kelly" that Monday morning announcing he’s going to have a heart surgery that week. I said, "What?" when I heard about it. I didn't understand it at first but I immediately figured out what Regis said. Oh, I get it. Wish him a good luck. See Yahoo News here.
On March 22^nd, Dad went to the hospital for having plagues in his arteries to be cleaned out that Thursday morning a week later after Regis Philbin of “Live With Regis and Kelly” announced he’s going to have a heart surgery. Dad’s arteries has been repaired successfully.
UPDATE on Dad: I've got more details about him. I learned that Dad had a blockage in main artery of his heart, but doctors put a stent in the main artery to open it up on Thursday March 22^nd.
To be continued.... Will BBL.