Michele

Morning, all. Some good (and some interesting) advice. Dave, I've done some of the same work you have, long ago and far away. I hadn't thought of getting evidence, but I will now. The footprints are long gone, and the sills too dirty to get an effective print. But hey, it's worth a try...I'll tape lift them and see if I can ID anything; if so, I'll keep them. And I will photo the screen being down - I haven't touched it, because I was thinking to call the cops today. A log is a great idea...and one which I will start without delay (including photos). I know my local police pretty well, living in a relatively "small" community. The town I live in has a reputation of being incredibly proactive, and because I know quite a few of the cops (either from high school or from just living here), I am sure I can get someone to take me somewhat seriously. I'm not a caller; I've called exactly three times since I've lived here (well, four times if you include the movie that was shooting the street over and had explosions...didn't know that, called when I heard, and they informed me. Apparently, lots of people didn't know about the movie shoot...). They've always been very responsive, and very good, and because I have a working knowledge, I know what they can - and cannot - do, so my expectations are pretty accurate. Lastly, they know my Dad, and because my name is the same, it's tagged in their database, so the response is even "better". I will pm you later for some info, AggieDave. Thanks for the offer. As for getting a dog, I would in a heartbeat. I love them...but in my place, we are not allowed to have one, and I also don't have room for one (no yard). So that's not available for me at the moment, sadly. I will go looking for one of those "can't raise the window above this level" lock thingies today or tomorrow; and I'll make sure they get installed (I have a few neighbors who're handy, and who'd do it for me no problems) over the weekend. Great idea, and one I hadn't considered. The landlord will be called today, although I don't hold much hope for them...they've been tepid in their response to other problems, so I don't think that something preventative will be on their agenda. Having lived here for over 6 years, I am pretty familiar with their business mindset, and don't expect much from them. As for protective planting, that's why I planted the bouganvilla outside it...bougainvilla is pokey, with some serious thorns. The poison Ivy idea is interesting, but not viable...too many critters around, and since it's not my own place, putting something "poisonous" out there might not be looked on favorably. However, I will consider some sort of plantings under my bedroom windows (different place than the bougainvilla). That might be good. And I'll make sure that I have an "escape route" and keep mag lights next to my bed; they already are, considering I live in eq area, but I'll double check it and make them more handy. Thanks, guys. I appreciate all the tips; I don't want to make a post saying I was ripped off, nor hurt...I'd rather let you all know the steps I've taken to protect myself and/or post that I'm being paranoid... Thanks again, and I'll consider any ideas you all may have. Many heads are better than just one, and my poor brain is so tired from school I've missed some silly things lately. LOL! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I will call them tomorrow - both the landlords and the cops. I don't think either one of them will do much of anything, 'cause there isn't much they can do. But you're right - I need to make a record. Yes, I have renter's insurance. And I haven't got anything irreplaceable here other than my kitties. If they got out and got killed, I'd be devastated; the other stuff is just stuff - difficult to move things like the TV, and the computer is old. No cash, jewelry, or other valuables here at all. I can't leave for a few days; I'm in school full time, the cats wouldn't take to being somewhere else well at all, and I don't have the cash. Wish I could go on a mini vacation, but that's not happening any time soon. I don't tend to cower with stuff like this; I'm a feisty ol girl, and will protect myself readily. I just don't relish that thought, and don't want to have to do it. But I will call the landlord and the police tomorrow. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Sorry - I wasn't terribly clear. Footprints found in the soft dirt beneath my window sill to my bedroom windows (three windows, quite a few footprints, apparently similar shoes [I couldn't tell]) and the outside window sills had fingerprints on them (the sills can get really dirty as I face a large street; exhaust and stuff creates a film that holds them). A screen corner lifted on the front bedroom window, but that could've been anything from a nudge inside from one of the cats to someone trying to break in. Better now? Sorry about the confusion...you're right - the original sentence left much to be desired. I'm tired, stressed, and now concerned. A little bit distracted, one might say. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Over the last few years, I've noticed footprints and fingerprints on the outside of some of my windows that face the street. I've mostly just figured someone was working on the place, or the gardeners had come behind the hedges, and leaned on things. Worst case scenario, I had a peeper, but since those windows are always curtained, it didn't bother me in the least (can't peep if you can't see...and besides, I'm not much to peep at...). Well, about 4 weeks ago, I noticed the screen on a large window (floor to ceiling) in my dining area was dislodged. A friend pointed out that I had planted some honeysuckle and bouganvilla and that those vines had entwined into the screen, and likely had pulled the screen a little, when some wind came up or someone brushed by them. Not a bad bit of logic, and I agreed. I hadn't thought of it, but it makes sense. However. Tonight, as I came in from the garage, I passed my dining room window. The screen is fully dislodged, sitting sideways on the vines. Completely off the whole window...still entangled in the bushes. I can't imagine a person brushing against the bushes would do that; and we haven't had any significant wind, either. So I'm back to thinking that either my peeper is getting a bit more aggressive, or someone's trying to break in. If it's someone who's trying to break in, it will be an easy theft. I really don't want to get ripped off, and I want less to encounter a peeper who's gotten more aggressive. But there isn't too much I can do...I rent, and the place is old with illfitting and old windows. I can't afford to get this place alarmed, and certainly can't afford the monthly cost. I haven't called the cops, because I'm not sure exactly what's going on - it could've been a strange freak wind which did it, although it hasn't been windy... Any ideas? I'm about at the place where I stick a piece of wood on top of the window, to prevent the window from being elevated. However, I'm hesitant to do that because of the potential problems with emergencies... I'd appreciate any ideas or suggestions (sans getting a big dog...that will happen, but not at this place...). Thanks in advance. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, Mendel was amazing; to read some of his studies and see intense detail is amazing. The whole genetics field is amazing - what these little codes do, direct, and how they know what they are is fascinating to me. I agree with you that the knowledge of something is neutral, neither good nor bad. The difficulty arises when the proverbial pandora's box gets opened - the ethical dilemmas and the use of that knowledge is a concern, and one which, at least in this topic, needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. My understanding of early embryology is very limited; my understanding of genetics even more so. But from what I understand, the pluripotent cells are only viable (or pluripotent) until gastrulation, or thereabouts. Once the inner cell mass is created, the ecto/meso/endo derms are created, and start the whole differentiation thing starts, right? So, a woman won't even know she's pregnant until after that happens, because that happens within the first week of fertilization. (Please correct me if I'm wrong - as I said, my understanding is exceedingly limited.) So if that's the case, it's not abortion that is the source of stem/pluripotent cells; rather, it is the created conceptus/embryo that is involved. I understand the cell reduction aspect - the removal of a few cells from the 3-5 day old embryo - and that it doesn't appear to be a problem whatsoever; the inner cell mass just simply says "whoops, I need a few cells more over here" and make them because it still hasn't begun differentiating. Once the differentiating happens, however, this becomes impossible to use because now you only have liver cells, brain cells, bone cells, et cetera. If the above is true, then the only way stem cell research could happen is creation of an embryo in a petri dish, prior to implantation in a womb. And thus begins the ethical dilemma. Does one create the potential life, simply to harvest cells? Does one cell reduce and use those cells to study and research with? What happens to the reduced-cell embryo? And don't those studies show that only after a certain amount of time they become unviable (I think it's 4 generations of study, but I'm not sure how they count the generations...). So soon the stem cells we have on record will be useless to us for study. But what makes them useless? Does a woman give her eggs for this? Does a man give his sperm? Or do they sell them? Do couples give their unimplanted viable embryos for this, knowing that they won't want them in the future? Does one parent have the right to veto that donation? And then, if you're of a mind to believe that a soul is involved, are you depriving the soul of a body? Depriving that soul of a chance at life? Those are the questions I wrestle with, along with the other ones above. While it is true that there is a huge misunderstanding about funding for cell research, and the truth (as I understand it) is that stem cell research is continuing in private venues v. being publicly funded, what are the consequences of that? I'm not sure that I want private corporations being able to "patent" the procedure for, say, regrowth of limbs or organs, because then the knowledge is given only to a select few who can afford it, and it is not available to the public at large. Or they can decide to whom they provide the procedure, at their descretion only, because they own the information and thus can control it. This sort of knowledge in private hands is far more problematic than in public universities, hospitals, and research labs. Without oversight, there could easily be uses developed that are negative and horrific...and elitist. But then again, I don't know if I want my tax dollars to go towards something that I feel might be ethically and morally an issue...and I don't know that I trust the government with this information enough to be the sole proprietor, if you will, of it, either. Thanks for all the replies; I look forward to continuing the discussion, and learning more of what people believe and why they believe it. As you can see from the above, I have many questions still unanswered, and can't decide if I'm for or against stem cells until I understand the ramifications of the issue more fully. I don't know that we will ever know the full ramifications, honestly, until they happen...but for those we can foresee, that's the consideration I have. (And yes, Rush, we can discuss it without MJF and RL involved...and I'd appreciate it if you'd try. The issues go far beyond two entertainers at election time. Far beyond. Thanks!

This topic has come up several times in two of the classes I'm enrolled in (Anatomy and Bio). It's also come up in my Poli Sci class...and the conversations in each of the classes have got me wondering. What, exactly, does stem cell research mean to you? Without getting into the whole Michael J. Fox/Limbaugh debate (which is being beaten to death on a different thread), what do you think stem cell research is? I've heard conflicting information and opinions about it. It's this or it's that, it's valuable because of that or the other thing, it's against morals and ethics of some people (including the hippocratic oath and religions [some]), it's immoral to not research because of the good it will do...et cetera. So I was wondering what you all thought it was? I've got to go to class, but I'll be back later on. I'm looking forward to reading your opinions and your reasons for believing as you do about it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You guys have stuff? It's been years since I've had "stuff." I do have a closed china curio that I keep glasses and figurines in...it's magnetically closed, and while the cats jump on top of it, they haven't bothered to learn how to get it open...and I hope they never do. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Krisanne. That's a good comparison. And yes, women are pressured to not make that sort of decision until they've either had kids or are older...or at least justify it pretty thoroughly just like guys do. As to why the need to justify the procedure, it's because so many people (both men and women) have tried to get the procedure reversed; because young people tend to be less deliberative in their decision, and because the decision is a medical procedure that does invade the body, has consequences, and carries risks. It does have emotional/mental consequences, too, and those have to be considered as well. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

***Except that condoms can and do fail, so if he really doesn't ever want children and he's sure, a vasectomy is a safe option. [/quotpe] Agreed about the condom failure. My thoughts are more along the lines of as invincible and sure as you feel at 22, the world changes, and you change with it. Further, to get a vasectomy so as to not need to use condoms is a potentially lethal decision... Hey, it's not my body, and it's not my boyfriend. As I said, what he does with his body is his concern. But I have a different opinion, and I've been saying it... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

At 22? You best believe it would affect (in your words, end) your life. So don't get a girl pregnant right now. Use a condom, and have her find alternative methods of birth control (diaphragms, for example). But there may come a time where you want to be a father to your own offspring; it did with my brother, after 13 years of marriage and saying "we'll adopt if we want them". So things do change. As for your girlfriend, she's the one you don't see as being the one you're with for the rest of your life - according to your posts recently about love, the lack of it, and wanting to find it eventually. Wait until you are sure that the woman you're with is the one you want to marry and spend the rest of your life with before you decide to make a permanent decision based on her wants and needs. And also, realize things change. At 22, I had very clear and real opinions on things, as did my brother. I look back now, and realize that I am not the same person I was then, and the decisions I made then were right for the time, but not right for the rest of my life. Thankfully, I didn't make any decisions which were permanent and/or irrevocable, and have made changes since then to rectify/change that. What I'm trying to get at is simply this: wait. There's no harm in waiting, as long as you take the other precautions (which you should anyway...you can't ever know the other's history completely; they might not know their history completely, you know? And might not tell you if they did). Wait. Things look different at 25 from 22, and very different from 35 to 22. Just wait. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Lisa, you're right. It's bullshit...but it's the way it's working for me. I got the award letter, and it says I get the grant, but because it's administered by the school, I have to satisfy them first before they release the funds to me. I did the paperwork for the loans (Stafford and Perkins), and have a meeting with them on Thursday. I'll know more about things then...but I suspect they're just setting up an obstacle course of hoops for me to jump through. I did get the tuition waived, but all the other costs were not waived because of the Ws and might get refunded to me when that issue gets settled, but the Ws really are apparently holding the aid back. Chris, I figure I'm going to stay in the class. Couldn't hurt, and since it's the schedule I'm already committed to, it's what I'll follow through with. It's frustrating, but I'll get through it. Same thing with chemistry in winter intersession - I can get around that requirement, but it would take some doing, and I might as well refresh with that, as well. Besides, it will look good on the transcript, and that's what I'm trying to do - give people reasons to accept my applications for transfer and not reject it. So I'll stay in it... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

My brother went through that, too. He'd said all his life that he didn't want children, didn't ever plan on having kids, and wasn't ever going to want to. He went to the family Dr. and told him that, and told him that he wanted a vasectomy. My family Dr. told him to wait, to see if that really was his choice. The produndity of Dr.s comment was simply this: someday, you might meet a woman who wants children. And you want to give them to her. When that time comes, you will regret that you had a vasectomy. So wait for a while until you see how your life plays out. Use a condom instead, and have her use birth control. But wait. That statement, told to my brother when he was about your age and knowing the idential things you know, prevented my brother from having a vasectomy. I have two neices and a nephew now, thanks to my family Dr,s wisdom and foresight. I'd suggest you wait a while. You might indeed find the woman of your dreams. You might indeed want to create life with her. And if that's so, what a horrible thing to realize you can't - because of a decision made when you were single, young, and disillusioned. What you do with your body isn't my concern. But, as I see it, you've got some living to do before you really realize what you want, and what your life will be. 'Til then, don't do something which is nearly impossible to reverse *(and I say nearly because it can be done on occasion...not something to count on). So wait...it can't hurt. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

YAY Peanut, Sunny One, and Mike! A few things to remember when dealing with a drugged fuzzbutt. Give them a space that's theirs - so they don't have to worry about defense. When they're high it's not comfortable or fun for them; they get really confused really fast. So make some sort of bed for her in a favorite place of hers, and give her some of your dirty laundry (a used teeshirt works wonderfully). Your scent will comfort her. ~The incision needs to be stable. If she gets to fussing at it, call your vet for an elizabethan collar. ~Make sure she has fresh water, and can get into and out of the box. Don't worry if she doesn't eat today/tomorrow; as long as she remains hydrated and using the box, then she'll be fine. And no, vets don't say that to everyone. At least, my vet doesn't. They tell me when things are wrong, and if a kitty had trouble during surgery. They let me know the exact status, because that's the best way to make sure they get the care they need - when I know what to do. Congratulations, Sunny one. It's been rough, I know. And I am so thankful to Mike for stepping up and helping out - compassion and friendship are priceless. What a friend you are, Mike. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

The cats that own me have been living on the streets; one I'm pretty sure used up 8.5 lives (Penguin). The others have used many of their lives, too. So I don't experiment with my herd....(although I think they experiment on me; as in "what will that stupid human do next???!) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Chris. It's important to realize the whole person, and where the illness is. It's not the person who's ill; it's their body. And while that illness threatens - and takes life - to kill a person's soul cannot occur. And that is what the poem addresses... My prayers are for your sister-in-law...and for you and your family. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Nope, not the way it happened. I've never gotten financial aid before, not back in 83/84, and no where near the limit. No felony conviction either. The holdup has to do with a "review" of my units that I withdrew from, and a written plea from me to them about why I dropped out, and why I'm coming back, and how I've rectified the situation. Then it goes to a committee, then to another committee, and then gets approved or denied...if denied, I go to the appeals committee, which bumps it to another committee...et cetera. So I'm in the first set of committees now. Makes paying rent harder, too. What a stupid, long, involved, and needless process. LegalArt, you cultivated shrubs and trees; now, you cultivate lawyers. Same shit, different day. LOL...just pour fertilizer on them and see what happens. Karen and Jeff - you're right; the class can teach me something, and while it's a heavy schedule, I can manage it. I'm just frustrated; the class I would've taken instead was a psych course which is a requirement; so instead of getting a requirement done, I'm in a "refresher" class...but I can learn things, and goodness knows advancements in bio have been made since 1982 (like the whole DNA genome map), and while it's definitely a repeat, some interesting stuff has come from it. I will say that the text is far more interesting now than before, so *that* is a good thing, at least. I am just in from an Anatomy exam, so I'm frazzled right now...but I think that's the gist of it, right? (Good lord, what day is it? Who am I? Where is my home?? I'm lost in a maze of bones and cells and muscles and I can't find myself!!!).... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I wouldn't be so concerned except the holdup with my financial aid is because of W's I got back in 1984...and I was informed that it will be a concern to the heads of the fields I'll be applying to come summer. 'Course, I was told that by the same counselor who told me I needed bio, so I will have to double check it (very carefully). I figure I'm 1/2 way through it, and it's too late to add another class, so I might as well stick it out. OTOH, I'd love the extra time to catch up on laundry, dishes, and other class homework/study, but oh well... I will check it out and see what I find out; from there I'll make the decision whether to continue or to w/d. I'm just pissed I'm in this situation to begin with. Sigh... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Phree, I'm working on getting that familiar with my major course load and general ed understood...and then I won't be depending on them as much... And Squeak - I am looking forward to Microbiology; it seems interesting and intriguing...and hard. But I am looking forward to it, no doubt. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heya, Peggs. The only class I could've skipped the book in is Political Science. Anatomy, Math, and Bio make up the rest of the courseload, and I need those books quite desperately. But the Poli Sci book is helpful, as well. As for me, I take copious notes, do my reading, and do straight memorization. I pay intense attention in class, ask all the questions I want (during or after the class), and get the homework done on time. That's the way I learn - it might be because I'm older than the average student, or less quick on the uptake, but I find that my studying time is very, very important to solidify the subject. It's just finding adequate time to get the reading and studying done. My math class ends this week, and that will free up about 10 hours' classroom time, and about 10 hours' study time, so that will be a help. It just bothers me that the counselor didn't know - or didn't care - that I didn't need bio. I have done my planning, but I'm still working my way through the system. I'm not positive of what I need to transfer, and that's where the difficulty comes in; if I don't know, how can I plan? At least my new counselor seems to be willing to work with me; he's the "short track" counselor - you have to see him if you are going through the PACE schedule (10 week classes), and I had my meeting yesterday. He did an eval, and told me about the Bio thing. And he is going to sit with me in two weeks, and plan out the entire rest of the plan - winter intersession, and spring classes - so that I can transfer out as quickly as possible. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hrm. That I didn't know. I just might give them a call and see if I can't get an appointment...explain the situation and see what they have to say. Can't hurt... I am pretty darned sure that the schools I will (hopefully) be applying to in June are going to care about a W. They're uber competitive, and it's going to be hard to get in without something like that in my records; it will be hard enough with straight A's and no negative/neutral marks at all. So I'm worried about that. It will also affect my financial aid (hah! What financial aid? Still haven't gotten through the process...). So...unless it doesn't appear on my records at all, I have to stay put. Thanks, Kris. I'll look into that avenue. I appreciate the help. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Just found out that I am taking a class - Biology - which I don't need to take. Had I known this when my (expletive deleted) counselor and I sat down to plan out my course load from this semester through summer, I would NOT have elected to take it. I took it in high school - and while yes, that was a long time ago, I have found that I remember most (not all, but most) of the class from then. It certainly would have been good enough to get through the class it's a prerequisite to - which I am currently enrolled in (Anatomy). I bought books (expensive, too - like $150 worth), organzied a schedule from hell (including Saturday labs), and have been busting my hiney to keep grades up in all of my classes. And now, I find out I DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE DAMNED THING IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! I could've taken another class that I need, or not filled my plate so full in the first place... Add to that it's waaaaaaaaaaaay too late to drop the class, and while I can withdraw, it will show as an incomplete/withdrawl on my scholastic records; which will, of course, affect any scholarships I am trying for (as it will bring my overall GPA down) as well as affect any college transfer I am considering. Am I pissed? Oh fuck yeah. Why didn't the counselor counsel me? Isn't that his job? I'm far less mad about the money (although I sure could use the extra cash right now) than I am mad about the time I am, apparently, wasting. It's going to stick in my craw each time I place my fanny on the chair, you know? Each saturday afternoon I spend in there, I will be itching (more than usual) to get the heck outta there because I DIDN'T NEED to be there in the first place. I am considering sending a note to the Dr who was my counselor; needless to say, I've changed counselors (the new one is the one who informed me of this "error"), and cautioned me to not withdraw... My new counselor is, however, looking around to see which college I can get microbiology done at without having to repeat high school chemistry...because that's another thorn in my side. I've already taken it, and there might be a way to avoid having to take it again in college, so I can progress towards my transfer. Good grief, but I'm mad as hell. Nothing I can do about it, which makes me even more angry, and now I've got to get ready for an Anatomy Lecture exam first thing in the morning. Sigh. Whatever possessed me to go back to school I dunno...but I think they make movies about it (either a midlife crisis or the devil has taken over me...). I just don't know what the hell I was thinking... Thanks for listening to my rant. I just wish people knew what the hell they were doing when they're "guiding" others, you know? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I have also given up coke and pepsi, and only drink the occasional soda (usually root beer). I gave it up back in 1990, and haven't had any since. I did drink 1/2 a can of pepsi about 4 months after I had quit, and it gave me a headache which lasted for 3 days. That was enough to cement that decision...and no, I don't use it as mixers, either...no more rum cokes for me. Water, coffee, and milk are mostly what I drink (aside from the occasional liquor).. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Calvin, there's nothing wrong with balding men, nothing wrong whatsoever, even at 22. However, for me to be attracted to someone, I have to be attracted to their attitude. if you really believe some of the things you posted on this thread, you might - just might - look to see if that's the cause (and that's not a personal attack; it's simply an observation. if it is a personal attack and I'm not aware of it, mods forgive me and remove, 'cause it most certainly isn't intended as one...). And just for reference sake, I adore how some men stand there and state how shallow they are, and then wonder why there isn't someone "deep" in their life. Like attracts like, and that's just the way it is... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Good grief, but that is a lovely place - those shots are gorgeous; I'd love to be there!!!! I'm very, very jealous, as I sit in my little tiny one-bedroom house with my nose in an Anatomy book...just pea green with envy. Don't be spooked; and if you really want to know what that creaking sound is, aren't there some english ghost hunters who show up with all sorts of camera equipment (like infra red), use a ouija board and scare themselves silly? Invite them over for dinner!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~