Input Please

This is all conditional:
-IF you were still a child (that being defined as under the age of 10)
AND
-IF your parents would let you freely decide, without their clever parent input,

1). How would you dress (for everyday)?
2). What would you wear for extra special occasions?
3). What would you dress up as for Halloween?
4). Would you give valentines?
AND if so, to whom.

I can tell you now that I would not give valentines, but would expect at least 12. I was a child who learned to give valentines as insurance to receive them - telling i know

Finally!
now maybe things will be less corrupt!
probably not...

the day that my world stopped spinning

is today - i am crushed
since Monday the Hardees ad on Pagesix.com has promised me free fries. I admit, I placed a heavy responsibility on the free fries from Hardees, they were to be the highlight of my week. As many of you know - If it's free, its for me.

At 2:05pm the blow was dealt. While checking Hardees.com for the hours of my local Hardees I crumbled at the discovery that the Hardees that was once at the corner of Broadway and E.28TH is no longer. closed - my free fries evaporated from my clutches!!!

And the closest Hardees is in Willoughby - close to an hour away!!!!
Ye Gods!!!!! WHY?!

untitled

This is by no means to trumpet myself or to boost. It has been a good ten years since I was in the Lorain International Princess Pageant. It has been at least 9 years since that this has been the front page of the City of Lorain website - and it is really embarrassing to come to that page at work with a shit ton of people/colleagues around my computer, when researching

"oh, gracias senorita. esta muy amibale!"

so one day down and an unknown amount to go.


Returning to Lorain has been an unexpected experience. Essentially, after I graduated high school, I moved out of Lorain. Seven years later, Lorain has changed significantly. South Lorain has been swallowed up by gangs and unchecked violence. the 2006 calendar year reaped seven homicides. By July 2007, seven homicides had been committed. The latest one committed on the owner of Granny D's pizza - right across from my little brothers school and in a "safe" neighborhood.

The school system laid off close to 3oo, I repeat, 300 teachers. South Lorain, my neighborhood, has bore the brunt of the violence and educational set backs. Gangs are back in South Lorain, so many homes and businesses are boarded up. I am honestly shocked at the rate of deterioration that has occurred.

The community center I work in is actually an old elementary school and the community center leases the school from the Lorain school system. Structurally speaking, the building stands, it protects from the elements better than, say, a tin shack, but by no means is a building that suits the centers financial requirements and the communal demands. Since April the center has spent over $22, 000 on utilities due to the lack of structural integrity. The building leaks heats, water, the roof leaks, the sewer system need to be replaced. It's rough. The plan was to request a different building from the city so that when the centers' lease came up in Jan. 2008, the center could re-locate. No such luck. Yesterday the school system evicted the center. If the school system does not demolish the building the center is located within 90 days, then the center has a long life-span. If the city decides to demolish then we have to relocate. The uncertainty is unnerving but my director seems completely at ease with this ridiculous situation.

I am primed to find a new building, but my director seems to think that we have nothing to worry about. what is that?!!!!