My companion, friend and partner in crime of ten years has fallen very ill during the past few days. My orange, fluffy cat, Uuter, became very lethargic a few days after Christmas. She was taken to the vet on Saturday and currently I'm awaiting results on blood, urine and thyroid tests. The wait is excruciating - I have to keep myself from dialing the vet every 15 minutes to see if the results are back. I've made a huge pot of chicken soup to keep myself busy even though I can't even eat myself, I'm so upset by this. I was planning on leaving work early today, but I felt that I couldn't leave her alone in her condition so I took the day off. I hope my employer understands...
She's always been there for me, standing or running to greet me when I come home from work. Wrestling with the new kitten... Protective (to a fault perhaps) and loyal in every way possible... Snuggling on my shoulder when I fall alseep... Accepting Billy into her inner circle of trust...
Uuter is such a strong little thing, I hope she pulls through this. She's made impressions on everyone she's met, they may not be all good, but at least she's a spirited little furball. This strong will and bitchiness is what I'm counting on to help her push through this illness, whatever it may be.
I'm lost right now... I just need the vet to call so we know what we're facing.
Like now, would be nice...
About Me
Monday, January 4, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Deviantart
I finally started a Deviant Art page, but I have yet to have enough time to dig through all of my files... I've uploaded what I was able to find easily, but there will be plenty more to come.
http://jlhcrawford.deviantart.com/
http://jlhcrawford.deviantart.com/
Friday, December 11, 2009
Hello Kitty Rims
These rims are the coolest things ever. If I had an extra $900, I would most definitely be purchasing these Hello Kitty rims for my little Versa. So adorably understated (not neon pink) and awesome! They would have to be accompanied with the Hello Kitty tailpipe I keep seeing around too!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Uuter and Rogie Perogie
A favorite picture of the new kitten trying
to get on Uuter's good side (the older cat).
Head on the tail... So precious!!!
to get on Uuter's good side (the older cat).
Head on the tail... So precious!!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
R...r...r....
I was at the restaurant (owned by very sweet and nice Koreans)
that's next door to my workplace and I found this sign.
If you say the word "tortirinni" out loud, you will most definitely giggle...
I guarantee it!
The employees at the place are so adorable and kind to me every time I'm over there. This sign just makes me smile even more when I think of the place!
that's next door to my workplace and I found this sign.
If you say the word "tortirinni" out loud, you will most definitely giggle...
I guarantee it!
The employees at the place are so adorable and kind to me every time I'm over there. This sign just makes me smile even more when I think of the place!
Bored... need some cuteness
What a blah Tuesday... Needed some cute little fuzzies to brighten my day!!!
A pug, kangaroo, and some hamsters to bring some "oooohs" and "ahhhhs".
A pug, kangaroo, and some hamsters to bring some "oooohs" and "ahhhhs".
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Dear Sir,
Dear Mr. Unitas,
I am a 28-year-old, professional, Korean-American woman who feels she has been discriminated against by a traffic safety officer. T his is after 12 years of working/commuting in Baltimore City, without incident.
I regret to inform you that I had a very unpleasant experience with Officer Wilkens, a crossing guard/traffic enforcement officer on the afternoon of December 2, 2009 at 12:45PM at the intersection of Baltimore Street and Calvert Street. I was told that you would be able to help me and address my concerns regarding this matter.
I was walking westbound on Baltimore Street (on the right side) and was crossing over Calvert Street to continue walking westbound on Baltimore Street. While I was in the middle of the intersection, the crosswalk light changed from the white "WALK" icon to the flashing red “STOP” icon. As this happened and while I was in the middle of the intersection, the traffic officer at that intersection pointed directly at me and yelled "Don't you understand?! That means stop walking!!!" I believed that she was telling me to hasten my pace to get out of the intersection, but as I continued to walk, she again yelled and whistled at me, telling me to stop where I was. Other people walking within the same walkway continued on while I was stopped by Officer Wilkens. She ordered me stop (alone) in the middle of the intersection, in the street, while the traffic facing me (moving eastbound on Baltimore Street) made left turns on red, and crossed my path (some cars swerved to avoid hitting me). As I stood in the middle of the street, the flashing red "STOP" hand changed to a solid red "STOP" hand. She motioned for the traffic on Calvert Street to proceed and I scrambled to get out of the intersection and out of the way of traffic approaching from Calvert Street.
I left the intersection feeling that being made to stand in the middle of the intersection was not only very dangerous but extremely humiliating as the whistling/yelling caught attention of people passing by. I finished my quick dash to the bank and when I crossed through that intersection again, I politely asked the officer (verbatim), “Excuse me Officer, Doesn’t a flashing red signal, while a person is in the middle of a crosswalk, serve as warning sign to finish crossing? I didn’t think it meant for that person to stop in the middle of the intersection. Please let me know if I’m wrong.” The traffic guard told me very rudely, “Don’t you tell me how to do my job!” I told her that I was asking for future reference – maybe my knowledge was wrong and she could clarify/correct me. She again said I was "telling her how to do her job" and that I "didn’t know what I was talking about". I reiterate the fact that I was polite and calm the entire time I spoke with her – no accusations, no pointing fingers. I, myself was willing to accept the blame for any traffic signal ignorance! (I cross the same intersection every day usually en route to my company’s bank and I did not want to commit this type of faux pas again.)
Matters were aggravated when she muttered a racial slur under her breath while I stood there (something along the lines of ‘chink.’) This gave me no choice but to ask for her name, which she readily declared as "Officer Wilkens". She then started joking with a passerby about me “not understanding things” while I was standing right next to her.
I was adopted from Korea when I was 11 months old by a Caucasian couple. While I (sadly) do not speak my native language, Korean, I have excelled in subjects such as English and Literature throughout my elementary, middle, high school and college "career". It is very offensive to me that Officer Wilkens felt that she could be so rude and disrespectful to me today. I'm not sure if she believed that I did not understand what she was saying or if she was under the impression that what she was saying was acceptable. While I am used to the occasional joke, chuckle or inappropriate comment regarding my race, this is the most blatant act of racism I have ever witnessed towards me!
I have been in and around Baltimore City all of my life and this situation changed how I view this great city. As we struggle to control crime and attract tourism, I worry about how situations like mine may affect people visiting from other towns, states, and countries. I am saddened very much by these events. On a daily basis, I work with the Baltimore City Police Department, the Department of General Services, the Planning Department and other factions of the city without incident. I have had very good experiences with all of Baltimore City’s personnel, but this situation has very much soured my view of the city.
Police officers are trained "To Protect and To Serve," but I don't feel like I was protected while standing in the middle of a busy intersection in lunch-hour traffic. I don't feel that anything positive was accomplished by me being publicly ridiculed in front of others while trying to cross the street.
I apologize for the lengthy complaint, but I do not want anyone else to have to experience such a negative event. I am incredibly hurt and angry about this situation. I would appreciate immediate feedback from you.
Thank you very much for your time and you assistance with this matter.
I am a 28-year-old, professional, Korean-American woman who feels she has been discriminated against by a traffic safety officer. T his is after 12 years of working/commuting in Baltimore City, without incident.
I regret to inform you that I had a very unpleasant experience with Officer Wilkens, a crossing guard/traffic enforcement officer on the afternoon of December 2, 2009 at 12:45PM at the intersection of Baltimore Street and Calvert Street. I was told that you would be able to help me and address my concerns regarding this matter.
I was walking westbound on Baltimore Street (on the right side) and was crossing over Calvert Street to continue walking westbound on Baltimore Street. While I was in the middle of the intersection, the crosswalk light changed from the white "WALK" icon to the flashing red “STOP” icon. As this happened and while I was in the middle of the intersection, the traffic officer at that intersection pointed directly at me and yelled "Don't you understand?! That means stop walking!!!" I believed that she was telling me to hasten my pace to get out of the intersection, but as I continued to walk, she again yelled and whistled at me, telling me to stop where I was. Other people walking within the same walkway continued on while I was stopped by Officer Wilkens. She ordered me stop (alone) in the middle of the intersection, in the street, while the traffic facing me (moving eastbound on Baltimore Street) made left turns on red, and crossed my path (some cars swerved to avoid hitting me). As I stood in the middle of the street, the flashing red "STOP" hand changed to a solid red "STOP" hand. She motioned for the traffic on Calvert Street to proceed and I scrambled to get out of the intersection and out of the way of traffic approaching from Calvert Street.
I left the intersection feeling that being made to stand in the middle of the intersection was not only very dangerous but extremely humiliating as the whistling/yelling caught attention of people passing by. I finished my quick dash to the bank and when I crossed through that intersection again, I politely asked the officer (verbatim), “Excuse me Officer, Doesn’t a flashing red signal, while a person is in the middle of a crosswalk, serve as warning sign to finish crossing? I didn’t think it meant for that person to stop in the middle of the intersection. Please let me know if I’m wrong.” The traffic guard told me very rudely, “Don’t you tell me how to do my job!” I told her that I was asking for future reference – maybe my knowledge was wrong and she could clarify/correct me. She again said I was "telling her how to do her job" and that I "didn’t know what I was talking about". I reiterate the fact that I was polite and calm the entire time I spoke with her – no accusations, no pointing fingers. I, myself was willing to accept the blame for any traffic signal ignorance! (I cross the same intersection every day usually en route to my company’s bank and I did not want to commit this type of faux pas again.)
Matters were aggravated when she muttered a racial slur under her breath while I stood there (something along the lines of ‘chink.’) This gave me no choice but to ask for her name, which she readily declared as "Officer Wilkens". She then started joking with a passerby about me “not understanding things” while I was standing right next to her.
I was adopted from Korea when I was 11 months old by a Caucasian couple. While I (sadly) do not speak my native language, Korean, I have excelled in subjects such as English and Literature throughout my elementary, middle, high school and college "career". It is very offensive to me that Officer Wilkens felt that she could be so rude and disrespectful to me today. I'm not sure if she believed that I did not understand what she was saying or if she was under the impression that what she was saying was acceptable. While I am used to the occasional joke, chuckle or inappropriate comment regarding my race, this is the most blatant act of racism I have ever witnessed towards me!
I have been in and around Baltimore City all of my life and this situation changed how I view this great city. As we struggle to control crime and attract tourism, I worry about how situations like mine may affect people visiting from other towns, states, and countries. I am saddened very much by these events. On a daily basis, I work with the Baltimore City Police Department, the Department of General Services, the Planning Department and other factions of the city without incident. I have had very good experiences with all of Baltimore City’s personnel, but this situation has very much soured my view of the city.
Police officers are trained "To Protect and To Serve," but I don't feel like I was protected while standing in the middle of a busy intersection in lunch-hour traffic. I don't feel that anything positive was accomplished by me being publicly ridiculed in front of others while trying to cross the street.
I apologize for the lengthy complaint, but I do not want anyone else to have to experience such a negative event. I am incredibly hurt and angry about this situation. I would appreciate immediate feedback from you.
Thank you very much for your time and you assistance with this matter.
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