Happy New Years!

Happy New Years!

May everyone have a wonderful evening and grand January 1. 

Just think 2013 is here...I never imagined that.

Merry Christmas!

I pray everyone is having a Merry Christmas!  We are having fun here.  Just take a look at Maggie enjoying her chew toy.

Blessing and joy to all.

Vinegar, a Natural Weed Killer

My husband unearthed a wonderful way to kill weeds that is non-toxic.  Since I wouldn't let him use chemicals in our yard, he did a little research and experimentation.  Vinegar is a perfect weed killer.

You pour white vinegar on a weed, blackberry bramble, or whatever you need to rid your yard of.  Within hours the vinegar will shrivel up and kill whatever it was poured on. Safe, clean, non-toxic and cheap.

Give it a try . . .

My story poem, "The King's Ring" is now published!

I'm delighted to announce my children's story poem "The King's Ring" has been published!  This playful piece is available in Spellbound Magazine, which is a fantasy e-magazine for kids.

If you are interested in this children's magazine and reading my poem, you can reach the publisher at her website: http://eggplantproductions.com/spellbound-magazine/spellbound-winter-2012 .
She also plans to make the magazine available for purchase through Amazon.com and B&N.com.

Publisher is offering deal on book: Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna

 My publisher, Lulu.com, is offering a discount on my book, and other books between November 23 and November 27. They are offering 30%. The coupon code is DELIRITAS.

So, if you haven't bought my book yet and are interested, this would be good time to purchase it.  Also, Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna would make a good gift for anyone who enjoys science fiction/fantasy.

My friend Echo Ryan also has a book on Lulu.com.  Her book is adult humor (very different than mine). It's entitled A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch. The whole book is told from a couches point of view.

Just some thoughts for anyone doing book shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Movie Viewing: Cloud Atlas

Tonight I saw the movie "Cloud Atlas."  I really can't say if I liked or disliked this movie. The film fell into a strange category. During the nearly three hours of film, I felt like I was watching a hybrid of "Solyent Green," "Tron," and "Brave Heart."  I often wished I had a remote so I could pause the footage to process what I had just seen, or catch a detail that I was certain was important to connect the various stories.

The actors played their multiple parts well, and not until I viewed the credits did I recognize some of the actors in the other rolls they played in the film. I certainly didn't recognize Hugh Grant as one of the cannibals.

This movie was a thinker, not in depth so much, but in trying to connect all the puzzle pieces. I do hope though, I don't end up with nightmares.  This is absolutely not a film to take children too.

Rex has a forever home!

I am delighted to write today and tell the world that Rex has a forever home.  He has relocated and is now living in a wonderful place with a fellow puppy that has become his best friend. He also has some children to play with as well, and is happy as can be.  He has a glorious life ahead of him.

I thank everyone that has made his recovery and blissful future happen.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and safe Halloween tonight.

I've been watching a 1974 version of Frankenstein with Jane Seymour in it.  It's long, 3 hours. I have an hour left to go. 

On the writing front, I had a poem accepted for publication.  I'll reveal more of when and were it is coming out once the contract is signed.  I'm even receiving a bit of coin for it. That's always a wonderful plus as a writer.

Also, Rex is still doing well.  Again, I like to thank everyone for helping to support this wonderful dog through his recovery and search for a forever home.

More later. Enjoy your night.

Rex, Dog shot by Hoopa Police, made the paper again!

Rex was in the Time-Standard again with a lovely picture taken just this week.  I just wish the Time-Standard would do their research more accurately and actually double check what they write. I found three errors, and in addition, they've still failed to interview the long list of names they have associated with Rex. This time the only names mentioned were Jean Durbin (and I'm not even sure who she is), and Karin Glinden.

There are many more people in Hoopa who care about Rex. Though, I'm going to point out here, those who have been standing up for Rex, and had their names printed in the paper over what happened in Hoopa, are receiving either "reprimands" or "memos" from the Superintendent of KTJUSD.  Apparently he feels he now has to mend the district relationship with Tribal Police and is fearful that the insurance company may drop the district.  With as bad as our insurance coverage is, I personally, don't think would be a bad thing.

I, personally, received a memo because I didn't personally tell my principal the dog was on campus, though my principal and vice-principal already knew and had seen the dog themselves (as well as about 50 other adults, who didn't receive memos). I was singled out because my name was in the paper. As you can see, that isn't going to stop me from spreading the word and doing what is right.

I know many people want to know what they can do to help, so here you go.

1) If you feel that Hoopa needs to have its contracts renewed with the county so it receives support services from the county sheriff and animal control, contact the following board of supervisors:
rsundberg@co.humboldt.ca.us

vbass@co.humboldt.ca.us

mlovelace@co.humboldt.ca.us

cclendenen@co.humboldt.ca.us

rbohn@co.humboldt.ca.us

kthompson@co.humboldt.ca.us

If you are a tribal member, you may want to also contact your Tribal Leadership.

2) If you are concerned about Tribal Police issues, the people to contact are at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, feedback@bia.gov. Again, if you are a tribal member, contact Tribal Leadership as well.

3) If you want to help pay Rex's medical bill, contact the Sunny Brae Animal Clinic at 707-822-5124. The bill is under Karin Glinden's name, but if you remember Rex's name, they will find it.

4) If you are interested in being Rex's forever home, contact me through here, via my e-mail link.

5) If you want to help another dog on the reservation find a forever home, contact the Greater Rural Rescue (number listed in an earlier blog)

I thank you all for your support. 

Rex needs a good home now

Now that Rex has healed up enough, we are looking for a forever home for this wonderful dog.

His injuries are not proving to be a hindrance, though his remaining teeth will need to be brushed and such to make sure he keeps them.  His tongue works, though it is now a little shorter than it was before. He can eat normally.

Karin has discovered that he likes to chase cats, so he wouldn't be good in a home with cats.  He is house broken. He would need some basic obedience training, since he has never had any.  He also would need a yard with a good fence, since he was an abandoned dog and is used to wandering.

So if you are interested, send me an e-mail through my blog. I'll put you in touch with Karin and you can arrange a visit and meet Rex yourself.

If Rex isn't the dog for you, but you still want to save a dog from the horrors of the reservation, please contact Greater Rural Rescue, GRRS. Their phone number is listed two or three posts before this one.

Rex photo update

Rex recuperating at Karin's home

Karin took a couple of photos of Rex over the weekend. As you can see, he is improving.

His medical bills are still coming in though and he still needs more medical procedures. We haven't had a response from the Hoopa Tribal Council about stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing. So far Karin has paid $1300 out of her own budget. I've thrown in what I could, and so have a few others.

If you wish to help pay Rex's bill, you can contact the Sunny Brae Animal Hospital.

If you want to read more about Rex in the papers, please contact the Time-Standard and The Two Rivers Tribune and let them now you want a follow-up story.

Karin wants to get Rex on Channel 3 news in Eureka.  Anyone know how do proceed with this wish?

The more people who know and act for the benefit of Rex, the less likely Rex's story will be repeated on the Hoopa Valley Reservation.

Rex at the Beach

Two River's Article on Rex, dog shot by Hoopa Police

The Two Rivers Tribune has put their article on-line now.  Here is the link. Though, if you are local, they are a small paper and I do encourage financially supporting them by buying a copy if you can.

http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2012/09/police-say-dog-escaped-during-shooting/


Karin reported Rex is doing fine and is starting to  look quite "debonair".

Another Update on Rex and how to adopt an animal like him

Rex is mending well today after his tooth extraction.

The Two Rivers Tribune came out today with an in depth article about Rex.  I encourage people to read it to get a bigger picture.

I did find it disheartening that the Tribal Police confessed to shooting at least one dog a month. That just shows how severe the issue is. The police state they don't have enough resources. Perhaps the Hoopa Tribe needs to consider setting aside some of their $49 million settlement to provide for the animals the Creator has entrusted them with.  Just a thought.

Also, if you are in the place to adopt a dog or a cat, you might want to consider rescuing a Hoopa animal like Rex.  You can contact the Greater Rural Rescue in Hoopa at 530-625-1078. They have lots of animals in need of a loving home. They also aren't financially supported by the Hoopa Tribe. They are just a bunch of animal caring people trying to fix a desperate situation and using their own personal resources. They are the Hoopa Valley's equivalent to Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna (only smaller).

Thank you Allie for a wonderful article. I thank all of your for your support for Rex and other animals like him.

Update on Rex, black lab puppy shot by tribal police

Rex went in to have his teeth worked on because they were in danger of being infected from the gun shot wound to his jaw. The good news is he only had to lose 5 teeth.  He is back in his safe foster home recovering.

The treating vet has cleared me to share photos of the tongue injury.  It is graphic, but is also proof that this dog was not found 4-5 days after being shot. He was found probably within an hour of being shot at.  I now have a witness that stated the dog arrived back at the school before the Tribal Police dispatcher who did the shooting made it back down the hill.

Today Karin Glinden shared the letters the students of the elementary school wrote with the Tribal Council. I'm not sure what their response was.

We are hoping the Tribal Council will step up and pay Rex's medical bills. Currently they are being paid by donations from individuals, with the rest being put on Karin's vet tap.

Tomorrow The Two Rivers paper releases their article. It should be well researched, and I do hope all the other individuals who were upset by Rex are mentioned. Many other people at are site want to stand up for him, but every article I read only mentions Karin and me.

I also want to thank the Humboldt Sentinel for picking up the story and passing it on.

The Story of Rex hit the paper today!

I am glad people are hearing about Rex and the abuse to animals by Tribal Police.

Alas, the reporter got some details in his article wrong. Rex was found hours after he was shot, not days.

The link to the Time Standards Article is

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_21607858/hoopa-dog-shooting-upsets-teachers-tribal-police-animal

The Two Rivers paper will have another article out on Tuesday. That should have more details for all who are interested.

Rex is still mending. He is going in to have his infected teeth removed on Monday, since the rest of his wounds are stable now. 

I told my students on Friday part of what happened (they are too young for full details) because I felt it better they heard it from me and to give them a chance to talk and share feelings before it hit the paper. One of my students claimed the dog as his and cried for the last 45 minutes of class. Four other students wrote about Rex and how he would lick their faces and play with them.

Rex is a very loved dog.

Rex, Black Lab shot by Tribal Police in Hoopa, continuation

I just received the photos and the vet report from Rex's treating vet.  I want to cry again.  I'll include the pertinent part of the report.  The bet prefers the photos aren't shared.

The treating vet is Malcolm Richardson at Sunny Brae Animal Hospital.

"Brief summary:  2 bullet wounds, one to the head, one to pelvic region, no
bullets remained in dog.
Head: penetration from the lower mandible, fractured teeth lower mandible,
lacerated tongue, maxillary canine and first premolar fractured, exit upper
right lip.
Pelvic: penetration near right anus, exit through left hip."

Rex, Black Lab Puppy shot by Hoopa Tribal Police

Exit wound on face

Rex's story is getting out there. People are learning the truth. I thank all of you for what you have done and will be doing. Here are some more photos of Rex.

I will keep you posted on Rex's story.

Bullet wound

Exit wound

Black Lab Puppy Escapes from Torture by Hoopa Tribal Police Dispatcher on September 11!

 I write a monthly church article for the St. Alban's Newsletter "Tidings." This is the article for October. I have to share this story here too, because what happened is so cruel and unjust.  People need to know what is really going on, and that this abuse doesn't stop with just the animals.

The Other Side of the Mountain

by Heather Hobson Lewis

            I had a church article all written for this month, but an incident occurred this week that demands attention and has absorbed my thoughts and heart. This article shall run longer then my others and may disturb some.

            Most of you know I teach on the Hoopa Valley Indian reservation. The reservation has its own set of laws and is not under the jurisdiction of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.  The reservation is not bound by most of California’s state laws. They follow their own created Tribal Law that as I have observed tends to favor those in power. That is why state taxes are not charged at reservation gas stations, and that is why we have been told by the Sheriff’s Office can’t assist in the following case.

            On the Hoopa reservation live many stray dogs.  Dogs there are rarely fixed and allowed to roam.  Other dogs are dumped along the river when owners from the city decide they no longer want them. This adds to the population. Rex is one of these dogs.

            Rex is about one year old and a black lab.  About three weeks ago he started visiting the elementary school. Rex would arrive about the same time as the students and make his rounds.  He greeted everyone with a dog grin and a tail wag. He allowed the kids to play roughly, even kick him, and he never harmed anyone.

facial bullet wound on muzzle

            Then on September 11 that all changed. Someone called the Hoopa Tribal Police. According to the police the caller said the dog had bit someone, but that someone can’t be found, and there is no verification of this happening.  The dispatcher was sent to pick Rex up.  Later Rex returned to the school, his safe place. He had two gun shot wounds through his jaw.  His lower jaw was shattered and most of his lower teeth knocked out.  His tongue had almost been completely severed.  He had a shot near his anus that exited out his side leg.  Bullet graze wounds ran along his back and his legs.

            As a teacher rushed Rex to Sunny Brae Medical Center the story began to unfold. Rex had been taken off by the dispatcher to a wooded area.  There had been shot at with a hand gun in what appears to be a target practice torture session. This is a break away from past practices where dogs that bit someone were to be quarantined for ten days observation.

bullet entry

            How Rex managed to escape we will never know, but he did.

            This is not the first incident of dog torture on the reservation.  Several people have confided to me stories of animal torture by the Tribal Police going back as far as twenty years.

            What makes this even more disturbing is there is an animal rescue group on the reservation only about a mile from the school. They are called the Greater Rural Rescue or GRR. They would have taken Rex.

bullet exit

            I also find it amazing that a tribe that has received a Federal settlement of over $20 million dollars, with $16,000 ear marked for each tribal member, can’t afford $50 to drive a dog 10 miles to Willow Creek to a veterinarian to have a dog euthanized properly.

            I and many others who work and/or live in Hoopa are disturbed by this. I have been left filled with anger, disgust, and rage. I want justice for Rex and for all that have suffered before him.

graze wound from bullet

            At this point, as I know some of you must have felt at some point in your life too, I question if I want to be Christian. I don’t want to forgive this injustice, though I know that is what is expected of me as a Christian.  I don’t want to love “my neighbors as myself” if these are the type of neighbors I have.  All I want is justice and safety for the animals.

            Pray for Rex. Pray for me.  Pray for the Hoopa people. We all need it.

P.S. The doctor was able to reattach Rex’s tongue.  He is now healing in a safe foster home.

How to read barcodes

My husband just sent me a wonderful e-mail that includes the list of which barcode indicates which country. I didn't know the codes were set up that way until now.

The very first digits on the far left indicate the country.

This is perfect when a country of origin isn't listed or only a distributor is listed.

 Happy shopping!

---

 00 – 019 U.S. and Canada
020 – 029 Restricted distribution
030 – 039 U.S. drugs (see U.S. National Drug Code)
040 – 049 Restricted distribution (MO defined)
050 – 059 coupons
060 – 099 U.S. and Canada
100 – 139 U.S.

200 – 299 Restricted distribution
300 – 379 France and Monaco
380 Bulgaria
383 Slovenia
385 Croatia
387 Bosnia and Herzegovina
389 Montenegro
400 – 440 Germany (440 code inherited from old East Germany on reunification, 1990)
450 – 459 Japan
460 – 469 Russia
470 Kyrgyzstan
471 Taiwan
474 Estonia
475 Latvia
476 Azerbaijan
477 Lithuania
478 Uzbekistan
479 Sri Lanka
480 Philippines
481 Belarus
482 Ukraine
484 Moldova
485 Armenia
486 Georgia
487 Kazakhstan
488 Tajikistan
489 Hong Kong SAR
490 – 499 Japan
500 – 509 United Kingdom
520 – 521 Greece
528 Lebanon
529 Cyprus
530 Albania
531 Macedonia
535 Malta
539 Ireland
540 – 549 Belgium and Luxembourg
560 Portugal
569 Iceland
570 – 579 Denmark, Faroe Islands and Greenland
590 Poland
594 Romania
599 Hungary
600 – 601 South Africa
603 Ghana
604 Senegal
608 Bahrain
609 Mauritius
611 Morocco
613 Algeria
615 Nigeria
616 Kenya
618 Côte d’Ivoire
619 Tunisia
621 Syria
622 Egypt
624 Libya
625 Jordan
626 Iran
627 Kuwait
628 Saudi Arabia
629 United Arab Emirates
640 – 649 Finland690 – 695 China, The People’s Republic700 – 709 Norway
729 Israel
730 – 739 Sweden : EAN/GS1 Sweden
740 Guatemala
741 El Salvador
742 Honduras
743 Nicaragua
744 Costa Rica
745 Panama
746 Dominican Republic
750 Mexico
754 – 755 Canada
759 Venezuela
760 – 769 Switzerland and Liechtenstein
770 – 771 Colombia
773 Uruguay
775 Peru
777 Bolivia
779 Argentina
780 Chile
784 Paraguay
785 Peru
786 Ecuador
789 – 790 Brazil
800 – 839 Italy, San Marino and Vatican City
840 – 849 Spain and Andorra
850 Cuba
858 Slovakia
859 Czech Republic
860 Serbia
865 Mongolia
867 North Korea
868 – 869 Turkey
870 – 879 Netherlands
880 South Korea
884 Cambodia
885 Thailand
888 Singapore
890 India
893 Vietnam
896 Pakistan
899 Indonesia
900 – 919 Austria
930 – 939 Australia
940 – 949 New Zealand
950 GS1 Global Office: Special applications
951 EPCglobal: Special applications
955 Malaysia
958 Macau
960 – 969 GS1 Global Office: GTIN-8 allocations
977 Serial publications (ISSN)
978 – 979 Bookland (ISBN) – 979 formerly used for sheet music
980 Refund receipts
981 – 983 Common Currency Coupons
990 – 999 Coupons

Disneyland tip

Quick Tip:  If you are going to Disneyland in Southern California and go on Star Tours, be aware that there are more than one video scenarios to go through. I discovered this when I went this past week. I went on Star Tours early in the day with my family and enjoyed a hectic ride through Naboo and other places. Then at the end of the day I caught a last ride on Star Tours and this time I was taken through the interior of an asteroid. 

I don't know how to guarantee you catch the different scenarios, but they do exist.

Enjoy.

Reinvention

As I ponder the reinvention of this blog, I have been submitting manuscripts: short stories, novels, and poetry. The later triggered a thought.

Over the years I have written lots of poetry, mostly for person reflection, and most I wouldn't ever bother submitting to a publisher. Yet, it might be fun to share it here. So enjoy the reading.

"Brain Sculpture"
by Heather Hobson


The brain is like a sculpture
in need of careful carving.
Each new experience
is another chiseled line.
Every learned fact,
be it names of planets
or simple math equations,
creates a painstakingly planned detail,
forever engraved upon the sculpture of the mind,
which is only finished
when the sculptor no longer breathes.
The question then remains,
will it be an artistic masterpiece
or the feeble doings of a lunatic?

Contests and Submissions

Another afternoon has been spent researching publishers accepting work and contests. This research is almost a full-time job in itself. I remember when one only had the Writer's Market Guide in hand and that was your guide to the publishing world.

For those interested I have entered a flash fiction story titled "Ancestor Fish" with authorstand.com.  If you sign up, you can read my story and vote on it. This is a new venture for my writing, and I must confess, that "Ancestor Fish" is one of my older stories and I have done nothing with it in more than a decade.  I felt it fair to give it a little fresh air, while at the same time not "risking" my more valuable stories.

Also, this website is free to enter stories and there is a cash prize, so those of you with stories might want to consider it.

I am trying hard in my research to find contests with out fees and paying publishers.  Right now it appears most contests want money and most publishers aren't paying.  At least submitting through the internet means I don't have to pay for stamps and envelopes any more.

P.S. Thank you commenter of my last blog!  I really appreciate some else struggling with blogging too.

Worst Blogger ever and great writing website

I think I'm coming close to being the worst blogger ever. Besides only remembering to blog every three months or so, I don't think I'm blogging about anything terribly interesting, especially since I don't have a fan base yet.

Thus, I'm considering how to reinvent this blog.

Meanwhile, anyone who does stumble on to this page might want to check out www.duotrope.com. This is a free website with great listings of places that are currently accepting submissions in all genres, including fiction, children's, nonfiction, and poetry.  I've started submitting a few manuscripts to the publishers they have listed.  I will let you know what happens.

Blogging and Wedding

My best intentions for being faithful to a blog have not pained out. I'm certainly not one who will be every able to make money writing blogs. I'm just not that attached to blogging, though I love writing.

I survived all the wedding plan.  I'm relieved all the grand event is over, yet I would love to plan a wedding again without all the pressure.

One advice to anyone planning a wedding, do not ask bitter, single friends to do anything at all! That was my husband's and my biggest mistake.  Our saboteur took off with the bridal and bridesmaid's bouquets and we didn't have the flower for our formal shots. We ended up making due with the flowers off the pews.  The person was only supposed to take the tossing bouquet.

This same person also tried to end our wedding early by passing out the bubbles more than 30 minutes before she was supposed to. All of a sudden I found people blowing bubbles at me. I was aghast. They weren't suppose to be doing that until we were actually leaving.

To stop people from leaving and thinking things were over (after all we had the place for the party for 45 for minutes and had paid for an additional hour afterward for clean up), I grabbed my brother on to the dance floor to dance. As I past the Man of Honor, I told him he was next. That halted everyone. 

Other little hiccups happened, such as the groom stepped on the hum of my dress and popped the bustle button off. Of course that is why you pack the sewing kit.

Looking back, I really wish I had been a guest at my own wedding. That photos turned out great and everyone looked happy.

Again, my big advice, don't have single bitter friends (especially those who have any reason to be jealous) to do anything.

I do hope to write more sooner than later.