(no subject)

I am still thirty-six.

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. I normally keep my birthday a state secret (like Alice from The Brady Bunch) and so was much cheered by kind words. The beautous Steven took me out to see PoA again which did no damage either.

*goes out playing Danse Macabre*

(no subject)

Fantastic report in the Sydney Morning Herald today which has Mr Bush saying there's no point in taxing the richest people because they're tax dodgers.

Natural History

Today's phylum is another I'd never heard of, the ORTHONECTIDA, about 20 species of marine parasites. Coming up, some animals we've actually heard of.

Another ANGIOSPERM (flowering plant). From a BBC radio report on the sequencing of the coffee genome: Suddenly, scientists know an awful lot about coffee in Brazil. Ack.

Genesis 31

We're heading into Lloyd Webber territory here. Here's the text, and here are my notes to myself.

- *quick rewind* OK, that "he" in verse 1 is Jacob, overhearing a spot of jealousy on the part of his employers' sons. Uh-oh. Has his breeding program been a bit *too* clever?

- I must have been right that "cattle" means "any hoofed, domesticated animal" - otherwise there are some very dodgy rams in this chapter.

- What are the "images" that Rachel makes off with in verse 19? Oh... verse 30, his gods. What does she want with them?

- Verse 35 (Rachel, you cunning girl!). Is "the custom of women" menstruation or pregnancy?

- Thoughy the Arbitration Commission was going to have to get involved. I get the impression the pillar is a boundary marker - a fence between good neighbours.

*deep breath*

I'm Kate, and I'm a survivor of child sexual abuse.

No pity. No shame. No silence.

My parents are absolute *legends*. When a neighbour began to abuse me at the age of six, they quickly worked out something was wrong, believed me when I told them, and called the police. I can only imagine the emotional hell they must have gone through, and yet they shielded me completely. Thanks to their quick intervention and their careful handling of the situation, as far as I and my various shrinks can tell, I've suffered no harmful effects at all. I'm extraordinarily lucky and I'll always be grateful to Mum and Dad. They're my heroes.

My abuser was found guilty largely on the basis of my testimony. He picked the wrong victim in that talkative, articulate, bright, and beloved little girl.

This meme has travelled all over the net. Other people who have put it in their blogs etc have suffered much more than I did and shown much greater bravery than I. If you're ready to join in, just borrow the first two lines above. If you're not ready, believe me, I understand.

Belatedly...

... here is a picture of me and Paul McGann.