100th Anniversary of Tragedy-A Small Part of Women and Labor Movement

March 25, 1911 was probably like any other work day for many women in New York's Garment District in Greenwich Village. At that time immigrant women worked nine hour days plus seven hours on Saturdays. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory produced women's blouses. The factory was located in the Asch Building, now known as the Brown Building and is now designated a National Historic Monument. Prior to the World Trade Center attacks in 2011, the Triangle Factory Fire was the greatest workplace tragedy in New York and changed the course of history by shedding light on workplace injustices that occurred throughout the country.

The fire killed 146 primarily young, immigrant Jewish and Italian women ranging in age from 16-23. Many jumped to their death from the 8-10 floors. Unable to exit the building due to managers having locked the stairwell and exits.The cause of the fire was thought to have been a match or cigarette butt thrown in a scrap basket.Although smoking was banned in the factory some were thought to sneak cigarettes and exhaling smoke in their lapels to avoid detection.

Many of the laws, unions and also what worker's compensation we now have today were established because of this event.

Frances Perkins, who was the first woman to hold a U.S. cabinet post as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin Roosevelt was witness to this fire and said her commitment to reforming labor laws was a top priority.

I have always been a little bit on the fence about union representation. Although I feel it is important, I also feel that the original purpose of unions has been forgotten. While as a civil service employee, I had the opportunity to be on both sides represented and non-represented. I have always wanted the choice. No one likes to be forced to do anything. Times have changed and unfortunately alot of the benefits unions provided in the past are unattainable in the world economy of today. I think while it is important that we have them I also think that worker's will have to depend less on what their employer can provide for them and do more for themselves. Compromise is the key to unions success.

As a woman I still struggle for a choice in everything I do on a daily basis. I appreciate what those before me have done and hope to help continue the fight on issues that effect women today.

For 17 year old Tillie who's tombstone is pictured, her life was cut short by an event that shouldn't have happened but because of it millions of women after her will continue to forge ahead to make the workplace and the world a better place for many women to come.

Earthquake Disaster in Japan Brings Back Memories

Toppled buildings, fires, power outages, wide cracks in roads that can swallow anything and everything in its path, silence, broken glass, these are but a few of the first things that come to my mind when I hear the word earthquake.

When I first heard about the earthquake in Japan before I even saw any pictures and videos of the carnage my first thought was how big was it? To later found out that a tsunami had happened it was like a one-two punch to the stomach.

I couldn't even wrap my mind around the fact that it is now the 5Th worst earthquake in recorded history and there are probably 100,000+ people that are possibly missing and feared dead. Most will probably never be located.

One terrific difference between the quake of 1994 and today..the internet technology available. I thought back in time, we didn't have a cell phone in 1994 and the only way I was able to communicate was to call my mother-in-law in Missouri because I couldn't get through locally.

We ate by candlelight, boiled water for days and days and lived like pioneers. We at least had our home, even in the slightest damage we had, we did have our house. Most in the quake of 2011 no longer have a home to go too.

I am not sure Japan will ever be able to get back to normal but as one reporter said, "They said after the bombing that ended World War II that Japan would never been the same and look how far they have come".

May Japan make it through this disaster and may it also remind people to be prepared in case of any emergency.

Sleepy Tales

People who blog have various ways of coming up with a topic to write about. Sometimes the ideas come at strange times. Mine for this post came as I was trying to go to sleep last night. I know for me personally it wasn't the best time. It's always hard to sleep in different surroundings and that was my problem in this case.

How many people through there life have heard, "Don't sleep your life away?". I know I heard it. Probably not as frequently as most. My parents were very regimented about sleep. As a little girl I faithfully went to bed at 8:30p.m. until I was in high school and then it was 9:00p.m. It was never fun going to sleep when it was still light out. But in my parents defense it did teach me to keep things on track and without fail I got at least eight hours of sleep every night. As I got older I went through staying up later but rarely did any all nighters like some of my friends.

While I was skating it wasn't uncommon to have ice time at odd hours. Sometimes it was 11:00 p.m. sometimes it was 4:00 a.m. back then the time didn't really make a difference because the frigid temperature would keep you awake and to reach our goal we took what time was available.

It seems as I get older getting quality sleep becomes a job in itself. Recently I saw statistics that said you should get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. I try to get about 6-7 hours but lately that has even become more difficult. Also women have a much harder time falling asleep. That was really no surprise to me. Women have far too much on their minds and can't turn that brain machine off just too sleep. Also another telling factor is what I like to call the Goldilocks Syndrome. At a certain point in my life I was able to sleep in the bed that was nice and soft, sometimes I can sleep in a bed that is really hard, but right now I just want to be able to take a warm blanket and comfortable pillow and find a bed that is just right.

When my kids were babies I prided myself to be able to wake up at a moments notice, now I would rather just be given the opportunity to say ok mind, shut off, its time for bed now go to sleep!

We all know we are in a sleep deprived world. People are working longer hours because they have too, we schedule ourselves in all aspects of activities far too much and really don't get a chance to experience the pleasures of life. We can't try and make up for the sleep we are deprived of it just doesn't work that way.

Somehow I hear that little voice in my head saying to me, "there is too much going on, you can wait to sleep when you are dead". A sobering fact or sleepy tale, you be the judge.

1961 Plane Crash a Part of Skating History

Although it was before I was born, the 1961 Flight 548 Crash of the Boeing 707 that carried most of the United States figure skating team was always a part of my skating life. That one moment changed the course of figure skating for many figure skaters around the world.

All 18 athletes of the 1961 team including Maribel Owen (9-time U.S. Ladies Champion) and her two daughters were just one of the significant skating families of that era. It was one of only a few times that the World Championships was cancelled.

Many of the now legendary champions of my time probably would not have went up the ranks of the skating world when they did. Peggy Fleming, Tim Wood, and coaches John Nicks and Carlo Fassi were just a fraction of skaters and coaches who along with the crash changed the course of the skating world.

The USFSA Memorial Fund was established only a few months later. This fund was started in honor of those that perished but the fund has helped to support the training of some of the most promising young skaters of the last 50 years.

I hope I am able to see the film that was made to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary. RISE was commissioned by the U.S. Figure Skating Association and is scheduled to be in select theatres for today only, February 17th.

Valentine's Day Sparks a Multitude of Memories

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone. The day itself was quiet this year. David and I did our celebrating on the weekend since he was leaving the day before the big day. One thing is true it is just not that day that we celebrate our love for each other, it should be done every day. There should be no holiday or excuse to bring a flower, card or anything special that tells your someone you love them and are happy to be with the person.

Over the course of the week leading up to the big day, stories sparked some memories for me. One such story was "Do you remember your first kiss?" When I first thought of it I thought of the first kiss I had gotten from a boy in school. Jimmy Crabtree was a boy in second grade. I remember he sat next to me and would sometimes sneak holding my hand occasionally and one day during an earthquake drill he gave me a peck on the check while we were under our desks in the assumed position for these drills.

Fast forward many, many years to when I met David. We had met while working and eventually had a real date after he came to one of my skating competitions. I was a pretty cheap date, we went to a chain restaurant and I remember I ordered a cup of soup and a sandwich. We spent some time talking during dinner getting to know each other and when he walked me to my car he asked me if he could kiss me (yes even in the early 80's the guy asked and didn't take it for granted). I remember thinking it was the most wonderful long kiss I had received to date; ok I admit the one from Jimmy and one other was the only kisses I had to compare but believe me I was impressed and I don't think my feet touched the ground the whole drive home.

Not only can a holiday or a kiss spark memories which forever stay etched in the heart. I admit sometimes earthquakes can spark some childhood memories.

Missouri Blizzard of 2011

As I posted on Facebook earlier, I am all for being a part of history making events, but this isn't what I had in mind.

For the past 36 hours all we have heard on the weather reports is that this could be the storm of our century. If you chat with people who are from where I live here in Missouri, some say they haven't seen anything like this since 1940's, 1969, 1982. Well those of us who are not born and raised here this is our first blizzard.

As I am posting this the snow is almost to the valves on the fire hydrant outside my window. My poor dogs are not real thrilled on having to suit up (yes they have little snow coats) and venture out to do their business. Earlier this morning they ventured to the base of the house where there wasn't any snow, but now with the wind blowing the snow every which way they will be lucky to make it two steps out the door.

I am wagering that I will be snowed until possibly until Friday. I know to those who live on the sunny west coast, you haven't a clue, those who live on the east coast think "hey this happens all the time to us, especially this year". I spoke with a client today from Toronto, Canada who really had an "oh well" attitude. But to be honest I think we are all sick of the wacky weather we have all been experiencing around the country.

Another one of my first thoughts today was "this must be what it is like to live in a snow globe". I have several in my skating memorabilia and I have a whole different perspective on them now.

My poor doggies want nothing to do with the outside world at this point. For one reason they are too small and might get lost in it.

Well I am sure this will be the storm that we will be talking about for years to come. I am seriously thinking about flying south for the winter in the future.

Homeless in America Hits Any Age Group

It is always nice to get away from home for a day and just have a little fun with friends. Today was just that day. With all the snow we have had and being cooped up in the house for days at a time, the sun was bright, almost blinding so it was a perfect day for a road trip and lunch.

After the great day I came home to a little television. I had heard earlier in the week a report about the staggering numbers of teen homeless in our country. There are roughly 2 million homeless teens in America today. That's a number that for me no real parent can fathom.

The segment told the story of four teens, ranging in age from 13-18. Another sad statistic is the large amount in the state of Oregon. I always had the thought that Oregon was the carefree, hippie state. Lots of people move there either to retire, or raise children because of the peace and tranquility.

Each story of these teens in itself was extremely heartbreaking. One young man who was 17 was sent on a one-way trip to see a relative. Later his mother confessed there was no relative--she just couldn't handle him. There stories differed greatly but after living in a tree for a short time in San Francisco Golden Gate Park, he managed to get his life back on track, graduate and briefly re-connect with some of his family.

Another young lady was tossed out by her mother after most of her life living in cars and shelters. Again her mother told a different version of the truth and the girl was eventually emancipated by the State of Oregon. She later received over $16,000 in scholarship and is attending the college of her dreams.

The other staggering figure on this is alot of these young people are those who feel uncomfortable in their own skin due to transgender. Another high occurrence is drug and alcohol use.

Each of these stories brought a different aspect of how this homeless teen epidemic is a truly sad situation.

Although I have never been homeless and am a parent myself, I am unable to understand these parents. It is possible that the whole story is really not told, as in any situation but we as a society can only hope these kids can turn things around and be productive citizens because they are the future.

Everyone has a story some like fairy tales and others like horror stories. They can stop the cycle and get off, or chose to continue peddling down a road to nowhere. The chose is their's some are on the right road and others are lost. I thank God everyday my two children are doing well.

The other thought on this is I complain about being cooped up in my home during bad weather, next time I will be thinking about those kids or anyone who doesn't have a home at all.