Tag Archives: CCHR

A Couple of Things…

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CCHR Dinner1a.  We had the best time at the black-tie event on Saturday at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. My date was beautiful, the food delicious, and the topic inspired us to do more to help clean up the mental health field as it was the annual Citizens Commission on Human Rights awards banquet.

CCHR of Ventura

CCHR of Ventura, Me, Mrs. Vest, Amy and Carol

1b.  I’ve been working with Carol, Amy and Mrs. Vest (who recently replaced Sydney when she moved) on our local chapter of CCHR for many years.  CCHR (Citizens Commission on Human Rights) is an international mental health watchdog and human rights organization. It is a non-religious, non-political, non-profit organization and works alongside hundreds of CCHR Commissioners (advisors) including doctors, psychologists, educators, health care experts, human and civil rights activists, artists and others dedicating to reforming the field of mental health and is responsible for helping enact more than 150 laws internationally that protect individuals from abusive or coercive practices committed under the guise of mental health.


1c.  I sent Sydney Rose a “selfie” I took in the In-N-Out drive-thru line after I had my hair and make up done.  Her response, “Aw ma!  You’re all grown up!”

1d.  Did you see the back of my dress.  Sexy Momma.

Different2.  That awkward moment in high school when you’re out partying with your best buds and you all pile into your friend’s car and she can’t start the car because she is laughing so hard but finally stammers out, “This isn’t my car!”

3.   There is a blog out there called “Confessions of a Funeral Director”.  It caught my attention because my mother use to work at Rose Hills Mortuary, and well she had odd stories about the joint.  This particular posting was called Ten Things About Embalming  (replacing blood with embalming fluid).  A couple of interesting points:

  • It guarantees you won’t be buried alive.
  • It helps make the symbol of death look pretty.
  • Embalming fluid is not environmentally friendly.
  • It is rarely required.
  • Embalming fluid shouldn’t be smoked.

Really?  Who would try to smoke embalming fluid?  Baffles the mind.
Me? Cremation all the way.   I don’t want my dead body on display.

french fries4.  Sydney Rose insists eating cold french fries is the same as eating cold popcorn.  I ask, could she be more wrong???

5.  I like to share my motto from time to time:   “Work Hard – Play Harder”

6. From my favorite quotes file:  “Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” – John Wayne
The Sands of Iwo Jima

Thanks for listening

A Couple of Things…

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1.  Summer is officially over.  Fall is here, but the time change isn’t until 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 3.  It’s always been a bit of a challenge to get through the shorter days of the year, but I find if I keep super busy with my evening website work, then time seems to fly.  Working on adding a store to VenturaRocks.com website as well as banner ads.

Halloween_2012

NEEDED: long blonde wig, blue contact lens, five years out of the sun, and a dress. HELP!!!

2.  The crew I work with at City Hall traditionally dresses up for Halloween as a group.  Last year we dressed up to look like one of our co-workers, Derek Towers. (see photo above, he’s the one wearing the bird head).  It has been suggested for this year that we dress up as characters from The Princess Bride.  I’m very grateful they want me to be the Princess Bride and not Valerie (the ogre woman).

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Suntan Vending Machine 1949

Suntan Vending Machine 1949

syd-tan

Evidence of my very white daughter

3.  Speaking of the sun.  I love the Sydmeister, but honestly, she could spend more time outdoors.  I immediately thought of her when I saw this photo of an old vintage suntan vending machine ad (see above).  When she was much younger, she would spend all kinds of time outdoors, especially at the beach and she would get a lovely tan.  Now, not so much.

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4.  Talking about making a difference and working on making a difference are absolutely two different things.  Talk is cheap.  Contributing back to society, and helping to improve conditions on this planet are amongst the worthiest things one can do. And you don’t have to start on a big giant scale.  Offer a smile to someone who is struggling.  Be a mentor.  Set a good example.   Give up your seat to the elderly, pregnant women and anyone having a hard time standing. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

5.  This is just plain flat out brilliant marketing:  There is a place in New York City called Dominique Ansel Bakery where they sell cronuts (for all intents and purposes, a doughnut made with croissant dough).  They sell them for $5 per cronut, with – get this – a limit of two per person.  That creates an instant buzz following the rules of Supply and Demand!  Actually, now that I think of it, they actually may be just a little evil!

baby-deer6.  If the fawn in the hands doesn’t make you warm and fuzzy, I suggest you check for a pulse.  I was going to call it a “doe” at first, but then the Sound of Music lyrics came to mind and I remembered, “Doe, a deer, a female deer…”  So I guess watching all those musicals growing up finally paid off!

7.  Some friends are harder to keep than others.  Some relationships are easier to nurture than others.  Some people perhaps are better left acquaintances.

8.  Have you ever come across a Tuperware container in your refridgerator and the contents were so disgusting that you just threw away the whole thing?  Yeah, me neither.

CCHR at Home and Garden Show Fall 2013

CCHR at Home and Garden Show Fall 2013

9.  Twice a year we have a booth at the Home and Garden Show here in Ventura for CCHR of Ventura (Citizens Commission on Human Rights).  We help to educate about the potential dangers of psychiatric drugs.  We encourage parents do their own due diligence if it has been suggested that their child be put on these drugs.  We ask that they do research on the side effects, long-term and short-term, as well as all the possible alternatives to drugs.  But more importantly, we ask them to seek help to discover if possible, the real why the behavior is occuring in the first place.
Every year 120 million people world wide are prescribed psychotropic drugs which includes nearly 9 million children in America.   (If you or your child is currently on psych drugs, please DO NOT go cold turkey.  Work with a doctor on how best to wean off medication).

10.  There is an element in society who thrive on spreading fear and bad  news.  So to counteract that, it’s imperative good folks spread goodwill and good news.  What have you done today?

11.  I recently had a man compliment me when he found out I have a 19-year-old daughter.  He said, and I quote, “I can’t believe you have a 19 yr old. You’re looking young, healthy and happy! Well done.”  I then wondered if I had to tell him how old I was when I had her.

12.  Seen on Facebook:  “I’m so glad I never jumped on the Muse band wagon.”  Liking a band is jumping on a band wagon?  What an idiot.  The music speaks to you, or it doesn’t.
977965_465793420169978_895115283_o13. Governor Jerry Brown just passed a law here in California (to go into effect Sept. 2014) that mandates a 3 foot buffer between cars and bicyclists.  I’ve seen way too many motorists come dangerously close to riders.  On the other hand, us riders need to take responsibility and do our best to follow the rules of the road as well.

14.  From my Favorite Facebook Posts file:  “It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.”  L.R. Knost

Thanks for listening!