COASTAL CLEAN UP!

From the Division of Environmental Quality:

Hundreds of volunteers throughout the CNMI are expected to clean their beaches next month as part of the world’s largest volunteer cleanup effort.The 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup is Saturday, September 19 – from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate. Saipan and Tinian are scheduled to participate on September 19, and Rota’s event is on Friday September 18.On Saipan, a number of groups have already adopted beaches, including South Lao Lao and Cow Town, according to the Division of Environmental Quality. However, dozens of other beaches still need volunteers.Several groups are working together to coordinate events on Saipan and Tinian, and the Coastal Resources Management Office is taking the lead on Rota.The International Coastal Cleanup is the world's largest volunteer effort to help protect the ocean, according to the Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to protecting ocean environments and marine life.Last year, nearly 400,000 volunteers hit their local beaches, lakes, and rivers with a common mission of improving the health of the ocean and waterways. On one day, they removed and tallied 6.8 million pounds of debris, from 6,485 sites in 100 countries and 42 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.DEQ will retrieve and properly dispose of the trash collected from the cleanup on Saipan.Cleanup supplies – garbage bags and gloves which were purchased with funds from a generous Bridge Capital donation – will be available at DEQ the week before the cleanup.Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for the event so that organizers may arrange for proper pick up and disposal of garbage.To request a signup sheet for Saipan or Tinian, contact Lisa Huynh Eller, Olivia Tebuteb or Carlos Ketebengang, DEQ, at 664-8500 or email - lisaeller@deq.gov.mp. For information about Rota’s event, contact William T. Pendergrass, ICC Coordinator, or MJ Taisacan, CRMO Administrative Clerk, at 532-0466 or fax 532-1000.

The Return of the Children

The kids are back!!! After spending almost the entire summer in the states with their father, they are back..and life is beautiful! I honestly missed the sound of them arguing, running through the house, throwing the ball at the wall, playing their uke at the wee hours of the morning, blasting their ASWAD all day long and most especially I missed the piercing yells of "MOMMA" every time they needed something.


and in somewhat related news..in approximately 36 days I will be the CNMI's latest GLAM-MA!Can't wait, can't wait..baby Zion on the way!

Good Times, Good Times!

Baby Bro Glen & I
Only @ The Flair's!
Ebony & Ivory always looking for adventure!
T, Isaac & Roy..Definitely a night to remember!
Another round at God's

Carefull now Kat!
Roy & Sarai
God's has got to be one of the best Frozen Margarita's on island!
CHEERS!

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you deal with it is what makes the difference."

~Virginia Satir

This too shall pass..

They say talking about your problems is good therapy..I'm not much of a talker. Not much of a writer either...

Today was a difficult day for me. I'm pretty sure most of you saw the local news paper. For those who didn't or haven't, Its been a pretty crazy last couple of months for me. Sometimes people have a strange way of dealing with their emotions. And sometimes, they can't deal with them at all. In *his* case, he chose to deal with them in the worst possible way by stalking me, harassing me and threatening to kill me. To the point of me having to obtain a restraining order and eventually having to have that order enforced. It's a difficult thing to do..living in fear, especially when the person putting you through it is someone you once shared a life with. It's exhausting to say the least. It's even more difficult taking the steps needed to end the fear and put that person behind bars. I have gone through every emotion in the book and then some over the past few month..

Today I had to face him in court at his arraignment. I didn't think I could do it. I even thought it was best if I didn't appear. He has had two weeks in jail now to get me out of his system..detox. Wouldn't seeing me just bring back all the emotions again? But they said it was best for me to appear, to put a face to the "victim". So I did as instructed. I unenthusiastically showed up to court. It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. The minute they called my case, my heart began to race and my legs shook like a leaf. The sheriff opened the side door and out he came in the orange jumpsuit with chains around his waist, legs and hands. He was so thin and his facial hair had grown out. He looked nothing like the person I use to know. It was very sad. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Even after everything he had put me through...I felt bad. How could someone let themselves get to that point in their life..how could someone throw away everything they had and end up shackled and locked up.. I couldn't understand..I kept questioning myself and wondering if I was somehow responsible for what this man had turned in to..Everyone says, don't blame yourself, you did nothing wrong...or it's not your fault, don't feel guilty...but truth is..as much as you know those words are true..you still question yourself and your previous actions..at least I did.

The judge then asked him how he pled (there were 7 counts against him)...to my shock..he plead NOT GUILTY to all 7 counts...How could he plead not guilty???? How could he sit there knowing that he was guilty of everything he was charged for and even more...How could he do it?? I just didn't understand!!! Feeling sorry for him soon turned into anger..after all this he still couldn't stop lying.

The judge then set a status conference date for 30 days from today..which means it's not over...how could it not be over...why? why couldn't he plead guilty and just take the punishment like a man. Put an end to all of this so we can both get on with our lives???? Why?? That would be too easy? Why do I have to go to another court date..to see him again..and possibly..most like a trial..why??

As he was about to leave the court room, the judge asked him if he had any family in the court he would like to talk to..He turned and glance at my mother and brother who were sitting in the back row for support...then he looked straight at me with this peircing look..as if he could kill me with his eyes..It was scary to say the least..he said "no" and walked out..I sat there and shook like a leaf...despite the handcuffs and leg restraints..despite the fact that he was going back to prison..I was scared...

Once he was out of sight, I broke down and cried...

30 days from now I will be back in court to go through this all over again..

as I left the court house I was reminded of something my mom had said to me many times before when I would find myself in troubling situations..."this too shall pass"

Yeah..it will..and I will we be ok...OK and much wiser..

Thanks for listening reading...~t

Change is a GOOD thing!

I have gone through some major changes lately..After a 5 year relationship, two of those years being engaged, I have decided my life was not going in the direction I wanted it to be going in and I called it off...I won't go into details, but suffice to say I believe I have made the right decision.

I took a break from blogging to get through that roller coaster ride..and for the most part I'm done with it...so I'm back!!!

I know you missed me..he he he :) I missed the blogger world too!!!

Single life has led me to some great discoveries...most of which you guys already knew about, like God Father's and their very addictive peanuts....I've also discovered your never to old to get your groove on as I'm always surrounded on the dance floor at Flair's by a bunch of 30 somethings getting down to "Apple Bottom Jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club is looking at her"...he he he

Needless to say, I am having fun...the purpose of life..to enjoy every minute of it!

Stay tuned for more updates...