Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

October 26, 2007

Today’s Announcement

Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Stories

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A FRESH START

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I was able to make a fresh start recently. It felt so good to be able to put all of those past mistakes behind me. It felt so wonderful to be able to look towards the future with clear eyes and a clean heart. It felt so glorious to greet the new day with a peaceful mind and a joyful soul.

     I didn’t get my fresh start by moving to another town, however. I didn’t get it by starting a new job. I didn’t get it by going on vacation. I didn’t get it by buying something either. I didn’t get it by changing the world around me at all. Those types of changes never work anyway. You can’t clean your house by sweeping the sidewalk, after all.

     How did I get my fresh start then? Why, I simply opened my eyes this morning. You see, everyday of our lives can be a fresh start if we wish. Each new morning is another gift from God when we can begin again to clean our house within and to live our lives better than we did before. Each new day is a fresh beginning to choose love, create joy, spread laughter, help others, and give something back to the world. Each new moment is another chance to share a hug, a smile, a compliment, or an act of kindness. It doesn’t matter how many mistakes we have made, wrong turns we have taken, or days we have wasted. We all can begin again this morning, this day, and right now. God is there waiting to help us to live and love as we were meant to.

     There is an old saying that goes, "If you wake up breathing, you have another chance." Don’t waste your chance today. Make your fresh start now. Wake up this morning and say, "Good morning God! Thank you for my life!" Then go out and live it in joy, love, and oneness with Him. Open your heart, soul, and mind to the love, goodness, and delight that is all around you. Share all the wonder, talent, compassion, and uniqueness that is within you. Help to build a better world with the life you live in it. And seize each new day as a fresh start to live and love.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

~**~**~
 

Run Around and Deja – Vu

Bonnie Carriles

I am beginning to hate my living situation every passing day. Everything was fine for the first three years until the lot was bought and the new landlord put a sex offender manager on the premises and I have been fighting that since then but, it got worse when his German Shepherd who was 9 months old and 73lbs (at the time) bit my daughter Shelby in October 2004. When that happened, I took her to the closest ER (Bayside Hospital) where they cleaned the open wound on her leg, dressed it and I was not allowed to leave without speaking with an officer because the nurse stated "It is the law that we have to contact them when a dog bite occurs".

In Virginia we have a one bite rule. The first time the dog bites is a misdemeanor and the owner pays fines but cannot be held liable civilly. However, being as resourceful as I am I found that the dog had bitten the lot owne’rs daughter previous to mine.

I settled out of court where he had to pay medical bills and I got to keep 1,000 in an account for when Shelby turns 21. I settled because I know the man doesn’t have any real money and I just wanted to teach him a lesson about the dog.

After the incident, my landlord allowed the sex offender manager to put up camera's on his house claiming that since he took the dog off the property and he is in charge of money, he had to have some security ( on-going battle) and I have told my kids not to play anywhere near the boogeyman's house.

Well a few weeks ago I noticed that the dog was "back in town" and thought it was B.S. and told the landlord that the dog should not be on the property because it has already bitten twice. Not to mention the rules of the park state "No pets over 25lbs".

This evening my youngest daughter Melody asked if she could ride her bike around the circle and I told her to put long pants on just in case there are mosquito's and she did. The next thing I know she comes screaming in the house that the dog who bit her sister had bit her.

Witnesses state that my daughter was riding her bike and stopped because she saw the manager with the dog. They indicated that he grabbed the dog by the collar and gave her a nod as if to say go ahead. So, she started riding by when the dog bit her leg pulling her off the bike.

I grabbed all the information on the dog that I had via the previous lawsuit thinking that when the officers came to the ER they would see that this dog falls under the new vicious dog law. But, this time was different. They asked if I knew the dog. I said yes. Then they asked if I knew the owner. I said yes but...and told them that the dog has now assaulted two of my family members. I requested that they call police and animal control and instead told me to go home and call them.

I thought it was odd but then again things can change so I proceeded to call non emergency Norfolk Police Department who told me that the ER has the responsibility of reporting this to the police and health department. I said well they told me to call you. I then got a "well you need to go back and tell them to do their jobs!"

So I did and the ER doctor said that the officer was full of it and didn’t know what he was talking about. My reply was "yeah, what do police know about the law anyways?

I went to the car and cried because I just felt like I was slipping through the cracks and he would again go unpunished. I talked to a few friends and then decided I was not gonna sit here and do nothing so I went downtown to talk to the Magistrate Troy of Norfolk.

He saw me in near tears and listened to my situation sighting that I had a choice of putting out a misdemeanor warrant which would mean a ticket again but he agreed with me that he needed to be punished to the full extent of the law.

With a hallway full of bondsman, he took a look at the photos of my older daughters bites, and the little ones bites which were still on my digital and called and got the on call animal control agent on the phone (11 pm). We made a report through him and he stated that the dog and the man would both be jailed tomorrow on felony charges.

Now that’s what I am talking about! However, what’s another felony charge to a violent sex offender who has several already? No matter, I was appeased by him being off the property because of the fact that I am an animal lover. However, this is bite 4 and the dog is only two and a half. I believe he was trained to be this way.

I could be wrong but learning all I have and wanting to be a profiler, my first thought was that he was convicted for violently hurting a child. So, i am beginning to think that his dog is a way for him to "get off" on seeing children hurt. I could be wrong because I am on the inside of it all but I just cannot for the life of me understand how he can look my husband in the face as my husband is telling him "I oughta beat your f%^$## @SS!!" he had a smirk on his on his face.

He is my arch enemy and I vow to rid him of any normal existence and will not leave until I did so. I cannot take it anymore and it has only just begun. He needs to be dealt with and I am going to use my degree to make sure that Virginia takes care of him...with legal fists.

Just so you know, my husband showed a lot of emotion but I am proud of the fact that he held back. Violence is never the answer. And while I am mad at the dog I don’t wish for him to be put to sleep. I will request that he be rehabilitated through a licensed facility. He is young and i have seen rehabilitated dogs live normal lives again.

Right now I am mad. I am hurt, angry, sad, and mad. When I called the lot owner today and informed her that his dog struck again all I got was "it is unfortunate" and that’s who got the brunt of the ugliness that came out of my mouth this evening. I know one thing though....it has only just begun. *sigh

I will survive, I always do. Lets just pray that I can keep my physical strength and mental capabilities at is peak...god forbid if I get "blonde" (as my daughter says) now. I felt so bad that I could not carry her into the hospital myself. But, my 13 year old daughter elected to do it for me, thank God! I am physically drained and hurt so bad for her hurting right now. The wounds clearly show an imprint of the dog’s mouth that goes around her whole right calf. The two bigger puncture wounds are the fans and one puncture on the bottom in the process the dog literally squished her muscle and the bruising is becoming very clear now.

She missed "meet the teacher night" and is really upset that she chose a skirt to wear for the first day of school Tuesday now she has to wear pants.  

Bonnie Carilles

Krazyb73@aol.com

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Poetry Corner

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Aspartame Pop

Abram Friedland

I fuel my life

I fly so high

I sink so low

But I still know

Why I can still run

Why I can still see the sun

And why the wolves here

Can't even get near

It's aspartame pop

Straight from the shop

It's good cheap gas

It'll always last

I made my  shot

At the limelight spot

The crowd left me behind

I wasn't their kind

But I've got my job

My teeth eat corn on the cob

My eyes still see

Right through the powers that be

But aspartame pop

Is why I don't need to stop

It's good cheap wine

And it leaves my head still mine

I made my way through downtown slums

And lived my days picking through the city dumps

But I know after all this time that I'm not made of trash

And that's just fine by me as I pray not to crash

For aspartame pop

Is the only way I'll stop

It's why I go on

Through the night until dawn

In the city's high rise

I hear so many lies

So many stories so sad

So many people so mad

But the world needs more

Than just fuel for war

And I'm just one

With work to get done

So I'll need aspartame pop

After that I can't stop

The city needs more than crops

Even more than jobs

Wish me good luck as I go

Before the sun turns to snow

Because I still know

That I'll need more to show

Than aspartame pop.

by Abram Friedland

abramfriedland@videotron.ca

Readers Feedback

 Sharon Bryant’s poem, In Memory, is a beautiful, heart-rending tribute and very, very touching. Joan S.

Dear Sharon Bryant,

my prayers and thoughts are with you dear one.  Love Leona

Thank you for publishing Cheryl Williams' story about the "perfect" body.  It is so important to be happy with whatever you look like, skinny or fat, muscular or weak.  I am lucky to have a girlfriend who accepts me for the size that I am, even though I don't look like a "perfect" man, the kind you may see in men's fitness magazines.  If you are happy with yourself, do not let another's jealousy get in the way.  Love yourself for you.  Thanks so much.

Your friend, - David Fox

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Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller