Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Spirit Day Vigil



Tonight I attended a candlelight vigil held for young people who've committed suicide as a result of bullying.



I believe all people deserve respect.



GLADD suggested people wear purple today to show support for anti-bullying. This was spurred by the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, who killed himself after a roommate broadcast a sexual encounter Clementi had with another male student. I know from my years in the mental health field that the suicide rate for gay and lesbian teens is four times what it is for other teenagers.



This is not a gay issue as far as I'm concerned. I'll happily wear another color to show support for another group to raise awareness about bullying. Everyone deserves respect.



It was a good turnout tonight. I didn't count, but there were probably 30-40 people there. Considering it was just a couple of days notice, that's great.



I do not think people "choose" to be gay, any more than they choose to have blue eyes. I certainly don't remember a day when I woke up and chose to be straight. I just was. I can only assume it's much the same for everyone. We are attracted to who we are attracted to and there's not a lot of decision-making involved.

Obviously, not everyone feels the same way. And that's fine. But I want everyone to be free of bullying - gay or straight.

Hutchinson Happenings - Cosmosphere, Downtown, Underground Salt Museum and Hutchinson Theatre Guild

I often hear people say, "There's nothing to do here." Imagine a whining child, stamping a foot, while they say it, and you have a fair picture. Well, here are a couple of things to get on your calendar. Two things on Thursday, two on Saturday, with a day of rest inbetween. I can't arrange it any nicer than that for you. I'll be looking for you somewhere along the way...

Thursday
October 21 - Thursday morning at 9 a.m. - Coffee at the Cosmo - free presentation, free donuts and free coffee at the Cosmosphere - the topic will be about Lunar Rovers

October 21 - Thursday evening from 5-9 p.m. all of downtown will feature live music, artists and goodness knows what other fun during Third Thursday. It's all free, too. At 6 p.m. attend a free Ukelele workshop at Spark's Music. Where, I ask, are you going to find another offer like that?

Saturday
October 23 - Rocketober-Fest at the Cosmosphere from 1-4 p.m. Some free activities and some very reasonably priced fun as well. Kids will have a blast making buttons, solar system bracelets and setting off air rockets in addition to other things. $1 gets you seven tickets for different activities, including liquid oxygen ice cream. There's a costume contest for adults and kids in your space and alien-themed costumes.

October 23 - Hutch Haunts - perfect for the Halloween season, learn results of the paranormal investigations done at the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, as well as some downtown buildings. You get to go underground. You get to go to a cemetery. You get to even SPEND THE NIGHT UNDERGROUND if you want to. No one's gonna make you, but of course people might think you're a scaredy-cat if you don't. It all starts at 5:30 and goes until midnight - or the next morning - depending on your fortitude! Make reservations with the Salt Museum at 620-662-1425.

Good Timing

My new 2T external hard drive arrived today. I took a very late lunch so I happened to be home when the driver arrived. It is already engaged, backing up my files. Very happy I was home so it didn't sit on the porch all afternoon.