Maureen's Marchers - A Labor of Love

July 31, 2013 was the worst day of our lives. On that day, the Parker Police Department came to our home to tell us that our daughter Moe had taken her own life the night before.

The following year is basically a blur to me, hazy with the overwhelming intensity of my sadness and grief. I don't remember much about it, other than wishing my new reality away and waking each morning with a heaviness in my heart that I knew would never go away.

And I remember one other thing. The incredible way in which our family and friends lifted us up with love, provided a light at the end of the most horrifying tunnel in the world, and provided a solid point of emotional stability in a world that was dark and heavy on even the best of days. I am forever grateful to those who cared for us in that time, and they, along with the Smart Man, saved my sanity that year.

Two of the friends who made such a huge difference in our lives during that time are Sister Stacey and Brother J.R.. Sister Stacey was the first one on the scene (in spite of living over 1,500 miles away), and her compassionate, level-headed presence eased the most horrifying days of my life. The following year, they came to our home to help us recognize Christmas, and establish new traditions and remembrance. We were very good friends before Moe died, but now they're family, in every sense of that word.

And once again this year they're participating in the Annual "Out of the Darkness Walk," benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Westchester County, in our daughter's name. 

This is the third year they're walking in this event, and every year they choose to continue in my baby's honor makes me so very grateful that they're my brother and sister in this life and that they see fit to include us in their own family. 

So once again, I will ask my friends, family, and readers to consider a donation to the AFSP's important work in preventing suicide in my Moe-Moe's name. This tragedy can occur in any family, regardless of race, creed, orientation, or economic status, and I want so very much for no other parent to have to go through this most awful of circumstances.

You can pledge your donations at their Maureen's Marchers Fundraising Page. Thank you, Sister Stacey and Brother J.R.. Your continued support means more than you know.

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

Well, not really a chicken dinner. But we do have winners!

The Sixth Annual Maureen "AJ" Ramey Memorial Summer Reading Program brought to you by Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men is over, and here are the stats:

• Number of books read: 286
• Amount donated to the Douglas County Library Foundation to purchase the naming rights on the new Maureen "A.J." Ramey Memorial Garden at the new Parker, CO library (pictures forthcoming): $500.00
• Amount donated to other under-served libraries: $425.00

That's almost $1,000 to support local libraries across the country, and I'm going to call that a BIG FAT WIN. Go, us!

I used the following methodology to pick the WINNERS:

• Numbers 1-286: Page entries
• Numbers 287-336: Sister Stacey and Brother J.R., in recognition of their donation to the Brooklyn Library.
• Numbers 337-386: Sister Kathy and her darling husband Tim, in recognition of their donation to the Royce City Library.
• Numbers 387-436: The Mighty Nicole, in recognition of her donation to the Royce City Library.
• Numbers 437-511: Moe's Hot Grandma Jud, in recognition of her donation to the Wellington Public Library.
• Numbers 512-561: NeuronDoc, Neurologist to the UCF, in recognition of her donation to the District of Columbia Public Library.
• Numbers 562-661: Mistress Tania, in recognition of her donation to the The Imagination Library of Fairbanks.
• Numbers 662-711: John in memory of his beloved Alysia.

Then I used a random number generator to pick the WINNERS:

• Number 424, The Mighty Nicole
• Number 165, Mom in Northern, who read The Beach House by Jane Green
• Number 513, NeuronDoc, Neurologist to the UCF
• Number 76, Mechanicky Gal, who read English Tea Murder by Leslie Meier

Winners, please let me know which prize you desire - an Amazon Gift Card, or an assortment of Janiece's Homemade Jam. If you want the gift card, please provide the e:mail address where you want it sent. If you want the jam, please provide the address where you want it sent and let me know if there are any food allergies I should be aware of. 

Thanks to everyone who participated, And we'll see you next year!

Link Me Up, Scotty - A picture's worth a thousand words edition

Popehat author Ken White explains why he stands for the national anthem, and also why he supports those who don't. It's like the dude lives inside my head sometimes.
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I love this drawing about what to do if you see a Muslim being harassed and you want to help. I myself am much more inclined to punch the harasser in the throat, so this advice is welcome to me.
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This amazing mortician willingly takes on clients no one else will touch - AIDS patients, the Boston Marathon bomber, homeless people with no families - and provides burial services. Because, as he says, "We bury the dead. It's what we do." An amazing person, with a true vocation.
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A photographer captures homeless men and women as they dream to be seen. This project breaks my heart.
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Native Americans are photographed in the places that mean the most to them.
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The Wildlife Photographer of the Year short list is out. Yowsa! I love the shot of the Orca.
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Garrison Keillor on why the Trumpsicle will have nothing he wants once this election is done.
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6 myths about suicide that every teacher and parent should know. This also breaks my heart.
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My shippie Jim Wright speaks on the duty of veterans to defend the Constitution of the United States, and how doing so means we must defend Colin Kaepernick's right to sit during the national anthem. Just so. I took that oath not once, but several times, and each time I did so in support of the ideals enshrined in our Constitution; not to an individual, not to "America," not to our government. You cannot claim to love our Constitution and then simultaneously call for punishment if someone legally exercises their First Amendment rights but says something you disagree with. That's called hypocrisy. 
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Sexist questions put to female interviewees, and their AMAZING RESPONSES, proving that Dame Helen Mirren isn't just a badass in her 70's, that shit goes back 40 years or more.  My hero.
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28 Reasons I’m DONE Talking To Most Of My Conservative Friends And Family Members. Not entirely on the money (I'm not Christian), but there are enough on-point comments that this piece speaks to me on a fundamental level.
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When people eat other people, strange diseases pop up. This is a variation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a devastating brain disorder that is invariably fatal. This terrible disease has touched our adopted family, so to me, this isn't just an episode of the X-Files. 
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Video of my Heart: Steve Connell's poem "We are the Lions," recited by the author.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Teach your children well edition

10 things a mother wants her daughter to know when she grows up. This isn't just for little girls.

H/T Kimby
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From the Mighty Girl files: When Sibongile Sambo applied to be a flight attendant, she was rejected because she didn't meet the height requirements. So she created her own airlines.

H/T Debbie the Librarian
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The REAL reason the President didn't visit Louisiana immediately. Go home, Republicans. You're drunk. Of course, we've known that since early in the primary season...
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It's time to start thinking about your annual flu shot. So here's some epic ranting about anti-vaccine dumbasses - health care workers who refuse to get their flu shot - for your pleasure.

H/T Sister Paula
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In an amazing slight of hand, the Federal government has passed a "Defense Bill" that essentially hands Native American sacred sites over to...a mining company. WHAT THE HELL.

H/T Brother Juan
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My celebrity boyfriend Neill deGrasse Tyson disassembles a tasteless "science" joke on Twitter. HA HA.
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I love octopuses - their alien intelligence and emotional complexity speaks to me. This one is ESPECIALLY cute. So cute, in fact, that scientists might name it Opisthoteuthis adorabilis. 
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My old chum Chris Tomlinson takes on the EpiPen controversy, and how it's a symptom of a much larger problem.
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An explorer's ode to our National Parks. Since it's our National Park System's 100th anniversary, I find these photos especially enchanting. Plus, black and white photography is the bomb-diggity.
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A report on OTC painkillers confirms that acetaminophen is basically worthless for pain relief. Please observe my shocked face.
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49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick makes a political statement by not standing for the National Anthem, and people lose their collective shit, accusing him of being a traitor (and worse). Here's why he's not a traitor, but is using peaceful protest to express his dissatisfaction with our government. ClueBat: This behavior is at the HEART of what it means to be American. Being American is not about blind loyalty or obedience to the majority. It's about knowing you yourself are responsible for our government, and then using legal means to change things that need to be changed. As a professional athlete, Colin Kaepernick has a wider footprint than most, and so feels obligated to use it. Even though I would never use the tactic he used, as a veteran I support his right to do so.
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Surely you've seen that ridiculous "how to talk to a woman who is wearing headphones" article? No? You can find it here. Just make sure you haven't eaten first. Then read my friend Eric's HI-LARIOUS satire of this attitude over at Standing on the Shoulders of Giant Midgets. I love my friends.
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Video of my Heart: During the World Junior Soccer Championship, an "under 12" team from Barcelona called "Barca" won their match and were ecstatic. But their opponents were heartbroken, so they took time out of their celebration to comfort the other boys with handshakes, pats, and hugs. This impresses me far more than any athletic victory.

Well done, boys. Well done, indeed.

H/T Brother Juan

OMGOMGOMGOMG

I MUST GO SEE THIS MOVIE.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Give the kids a chance edition

For the first time, the Olympic Committee is fielding a "Refugee Olympic Team" comprised of refugee athletes who will still get an opportunity to compete in spite of their countries and communities being in turmoil. This makes my heart happy.
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Michael Barrett, who leads Missouri's Public Defender system, has assigned the job of defending one of his indigent clients to...the Governor of Missouri. Now I want to marry Michael Barrett and have his babies.
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An Army vet and Purple Heart recipient was really offended when the Trumpsicle accepted that Purple Heart during his fundraiser in Nantucket. So he created a GoFundMe page to raise money to send the Trumpscile to a combat zone so he could actually earn that medal. The success of the page (and where the money is really going) tickles me no end.
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The Guardian takes on the challenge of being a sportscaster reporting on female athletics. "NEWS REPORT: [Female Athlete] did [sports] today. [Describe sports.] THE END. Sportswriting accomplished!" Why can't some men keep their sexy-time feelings out of their jobs?

H/T Sister Jeri
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The late Captain Khan's combat brigade commander has a few words for those who would disrespect and dishonor his and his family's sacrifice. Here's the thing I don't understand about the Trumpsicle's remarks on this matter: Gold Star families are a sacred cow in this country. Only a bloody idiot would disrespect them while running for public office. But I don't believe the Trumpsicle is an idiot. He's a sociopathic reprobate, but not an idiot. So is he deliberately tanking his own candidacy so he can claim the election was "rigged" when he gets shellacked? Or is he so very thin-skinned that he's willing to tank his own candidacy because he just can't shut the fuck up when someone has the temerity to criticize him? It's probably both, but I find his psychopathy endlessly fascinating. And, apropos of everything:

This morning's tally from Nate Silver's 538 2016 Election Forecast

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I'm posting this one for the Smart Man - guitar players' minds are unique. Like THAT's news.
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An article on how "Makerspaces" can transform libraries. Our own library district is moving in this direction, too. But we need to get our three new libraries open, first.
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Your feel-good story of the day: Bride tracks down the recipient of her father's donated heart and asks him to walk her down the aisle in her father's stead. And of course he said "yes." THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY EYE.
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Humpback whales around the world on are duty against orcas who are trying to hunt a meal. Inter-species cooperation and protection. Tell me again how whales aren't sentient creatures.
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An article about communal narcissism. At first I thought this might apply to me (because everything pertains to me, dontchuno), but when I read on (and thought about the quiz), I decided no, not even a little. Hurray! A mental health problem I cannot claim as my own!
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You want to know what irritates Atheists? THIS.
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Humans of New York is doing a new series entitled "Invisible Wounds" which focuses on our returning veterans and their unique stories. Well worth your time, especially for civilians.
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A woman with ovarian cancer decided to stop treatment after thirteen years and prepares for her death. These conversations are so, so important.
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Video of my Heart: Coleman Sweeney is the world's biggest asshole.

H/T BrainDoc

Link Me Up, Scotty - Get Your Groove On Edition

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Consider joining the Harry Potter Alliance, a charitable group brought together by their love of the Potterverse and dedicated to making the world a better place.
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It appears that the AARP is funding ALEC, so now I'll have to dump my membership in a huff. If you don't know what ALEC is, check out this Bill Moyers report on the organization, and learn about how they bypass our democracy like the shitweasels they are.
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The Military Sealift Command (MSC) will name one of its new oilers after gay rights advocate and Navy veteran Harvey Milk. Those are MY shippies.
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John Scalzi on Hillary Clinton, and the ethos of service. Say what you want about Hillary Clinton (and I know you will), but she has lived a life largely defined by her dedication to service. Since service is a core value for me, I find this characteristic in her worthy of my admiration and respect.
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The indomitable Margaret and Helen provide their opinion on the Trumpsicle and how miracles can happen. I love these ladies.
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Shortly after we lost Moe, I commissioned a piece of art from some artists who were her friends. That piece is now available for purchase from the group's RedBubble page, as well as the piece depicting Moe as the "Champion of Stars."
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A retired Army General offers his opinion not on our presidential candidates, but on why retired Generals and Admirals should keep their opinion of our presidential candidates to themselves. Indeed. At least pretending to be impartial towards who sits in the Oval Office allows both parties to trust their senior military leadership when they have to make life-or-death decisions for our Armed Forces. This should be a no brainer, but of course it isn't, given today's extremely polarized political climate.
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From the What the Fuck Files: Malawi's "Hyena Men" are paid by parents to have sex with their daughters, some as young as 12 years old. Extra special fucked up bonus: The man featured in this story is HIV positive, and did not disclose that fact to the parents who hired him.
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Video of my Heart: Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen Army Captain, speaks at the DNC and tears my heart out. The look on his wife's face is one that I recognize from my own mirror, and together they give a powerful message.

So instead of doing the smart thing (never mind the RIGHT thing) and thanking their dead son for his service, or least just shutting the fuck up for a change, OF COURSE that ignorant tool who passes for a presidential candidate tried to criticize them, saying that HE, TOO, HAS MADE SACRIFICES. Like...having to pay off his first wife when she accused him of raping her? Eating his caviar Luke-warm and from a metal cup? 

Thus, he earned a well-deserved spanking from Gold Star Mother Ghazala Khan. How can anyone believe that this entitled bully is the best that America's Republicans have to offer? THE MIND BOGGLES.