Sail On, Sailor

Ron did the lawn today and laundry as well.

I sat in on Ellen’s class to give them an update and paid a brief visit to Edgewater to clean up from yesterday.  James and I managed to get the fence back in place.

Got some good feedback from Jim on Leads.

Grass Garden

We spent 3+ hours yesterday working with James and Joe on mulching, weeding, pruning and fence repair.

Ron, James and I were able to take down the fence leading to the back yard.

We used a full truckload (one yard) of premium mulch I’d picked up from Blacksmith Farm the day before.

We didn’t have to move the posts to install some usable crossbeams the boys uncovered the other day.  James and Joe salvaged some pickets as well.  We ended up spending only about $2 for a box of nails.

94 Degrees

Ron and Peter moved three big pieces of furniture, including an exercise machine, to the transfer station.

I worked in the grass garden, but it was too hot, so we finished after bringing Robert home.  Planted Rudbeckia from Laura’s front garden and transplanted a little hosta.

I made a mess of the hosta.  I always feel bad for the inevitable damage from planting, and bare root transplanting, such as I had to do with the Rudbeckia, isn’t my favorite.  I hope they all survive.

Tried baking cookies on the grill.  Didn’t work; maybe next time.

Feels like I may be almost done with the Leads project.

Open Records Advocates

The adoptee rights legislation in Connecticut, bill 977, made it to the Senate floor on Friday night. It was then tabled for discussion. It did not make it back to the floor after Friday night. As a result when the legislature ended last night, it did not proceed.

I thank Suzanne Bachner, the producer, author, playwright of the Good Adoptee, Kathleen Aghajanian, the Northeast Director of Concerned United Birthparents, Irene Clements, the Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Associations, Kathy Jones, author, Assistant Director of Foster Leaders, Karen Caffrey, Carolyn Goodrich, Eileen Eileen Woebse McQuade, Carol Goodyear, and others including:

• Adoptions from the Heart
• Clifford Beers Clinic
• Community Health Center, Inc.
• Connecticut Adoption Services
• Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Families
• Connecticut Bar Association, Human Rights and Responsibilities Section
• Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ
• Connecticut Council on Adoption
• Connecticut District, The New York Conference, The United Methodist Church
• Connecticut Voices for Children
• Ms. Deb Kelleher, Co-Founder, Annie C. Courtney Foundation, Inc.
• Family and Children’s Agency, Inc.
• Family Affirmation Center for Treatment
• Family Orchard LLC
• Heart For Open Adoption
• Independent Adoption Center
• Jewish Family Services of Bridgeport
• Jewish Family Services of New Haven
• Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
• Lutheran Social Services of New England
• National Association of Social Workers/Connecticut Chapter
• ‘r Kids
• Rainbow Adoptions International, Inc.
• Thames Council Valley Community Action, Inc.
• The Multicultural Leadership Institute, Inc.
• The Village for Children and Families
• Touched By Adoption
(*Access Connecticut seeks to re-establish the right of access for adult adoptees only. However, adoption and child welfare organizations are in a position of trust in regard to minor adoptees, and have an obligation to preserve their rights until they reach the age of majority.)
National & International Endorsements
FULL STATEMENT
Concerned United Birthparents (CUB)
“CUB supports adult adoptees’ right to access their records, without restrictions or qualifications.”
FULL STATEMENT
National Foster Parent Association
“Be it Resolved that the [we] support open access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees…”
FULL STATEMENT
American Adoption Congress
“We advocate legislation that will grant every individual access to information about his or her family and heritage.”
FULL STATEMENT
American Academy of Pediatrics
In March 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the National Adoption Center: Open Records’ policy stating they ‘believe[s] that it is an inalienable right of all citizens, including adopted adults, to have unencumbered access to their original birth certificates.”
FULL STATEMENT
Holt International
“Holt International Children’s Services supports access by adoptees and birth parents to identifying information about each other.”
SEE STATEMENT
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
“The need and right of adoptees to know their birth origin should be recognized and respected. This right extends to requests from adult adoptees for identifying information.”
FULL STATEMENT
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
“NACAC supports their right to this information and supports access to original birth certificates to any adult adoptee at age of majority.” (Statement for NJCARE linked.)
SEE RESEARCH
Donaldson Adoption Institute
“Every state should restore unrestricted access to original birth certificates for all adult adoptees, retroactively and prospectively.”
FULL STATEMENT
National Adoption Center
“The National Adoption Center believes that it is an inalienable right of all citizens, including adopted adults, to have unencumbered access to their original birth certificates.”
SEE STATEMENT
Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (PEAR)
“PEAR supports unrestricted access to birth records for all adults adopted as minors.”
Many more national experts and influencers support adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates including:
• Abrazo Adoption Associates
• Access Massachusetts
• Adam Pertman, Executive Director of NCAP, Journalist
• Addison Cooper, MSW, LCSW, Adoption at the Movies
• Adoptee Rights Civil Resource Center
• Adoptees Without Liberty (AWOL)
• Adoption ALARM Network
• Adoption Rights Now
• ALMA – Adoptees Liberty Movement Association
• Americans For Open Records
• Ann Fessler, Visual Artist, Filmmaker, Author
• Brooke Randolph, LMHC
• Caring Adoptive Parents
• Carol Schaefer, Author, Editor, Ghostwriter, Speaker
• Catholic Conference of Ohio
• Corie Skolnick, Author, Speaker, Educator, Therapist
• Deanna Doss Shrodes, Author, Adoptee Restoration Blogger
• Deborah Siegel, Ph.D., LICSW, ACSW, DCSW
• Dr. John DeGarmo,PhD, Foster Care Expert, Author, Speaker, Trainer
• Episcopal Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in American New England Synod
• Foster Care Film Community Engagement Project
• Foster Leaders Movement
• Heather Waters, Film Producer
• Jennifer Dyan, Author
• Jo Swanson, Adoption Reform Advocate
• JoAnn Bennett, Author, Adoptee Rights Advocate
• Jodi Haywood, Author
• Joe Soll, Adoption Healing
• Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LSCW, LMFT
• Judith Land, Author, Adoptee Rights Advocate
• Julie Stromberg, Author, Lost Daughters Blogger, Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights Advocate
• Katherine Jones, Author, Radio Host
• Kelley Maize, Singer, Rapper, Songwriter
• Kristi Lado, Author
• Lifetime Adoption
• Lifetime Adoption Foundation
• Liz Semons, Author
• Lori Holden, Author & Writer
• Lorraine Dusky, [Birth Mother] First Mother Forum
• Lucy Sheen, Actor, Writer, Filmmaker
• Lynn Grubb, Author, Editor
• Khmer Health Advocates
• Mardie Caldwell, Author, Speaker, Educator
• Marci Axness, PhD., Early Development Specialize, Speaker, Author
• Mary Payne, Author
• Mei-Mei Ellerman, Ph.D., Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center
• Melinda Warshaw, Author
• Mirah Riben, Author, Journalist
• National Center on Adoption and Permanency
• New York Statewide Adoption Reform Unsealed Initiative
• Ohio Right To Life
• Oklahoma for Open Records & Adoption Honesty
• PACER – Post Adoption Center for Education & Resources
• PACT, An Adoption Alliance
• Peter Dodds, Author, Speaker, Screenwriter
• Priscilla Stone Sharp, Professional Geneaologist and Adoption Search Angel
• Suzanne Bachner, Playwright
• Terri Salvatore Vanech, Blogger, Author
• Viorica Culea – Adoptee, Author
• Yvonne Curri, Author
• Zara Phillips, Author, Singer, Songwriter, Presenter

I wish to thank all the cosponsors who advocated for the rights of adoptees. They sent out the message to the nation, there are many legislators who believe in equality for all individuals. I thank them for their hard work.

Co-sponsors of SB-977
Rep. Daniel S. Rovero, 51st Dist.
Rep. Kim Rose, 118th Dist.
Rep. Kelly J. Luxenberg, 12th Dist.
Sen. Steve Cassano, 4th Dist.
Rep. Mike Demicco, 21st Dist.
Rep. Gregory Haddad, 54th Dist.
Rep. Michael Winkler, 56th Dist.
Rep. John K. Hampton, 16th Dist.
Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, 133rd Dist.
Rep. Henry J. Genga, 10th Dist.
Rep. Jeff Currey, 11th Dist.
Rep. Jeffrey J. Berger, 73rd Dist.
Rep. Fred Camillo, 151st Dist.
Rep. Mark Tweedie, 13th Dist.
Sen. George S. Logan, 17th Dist.
Rep. Josh Elliott, 88th Dist.
Rep. Dorinda Borer, 115th Dist.
Sen. Gary A. Winfield, 10th Dist.
Rep. Linda M. Gentile, 104th Dist.
Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, 85th Dist.
Rep. Adam Dunsby, 135th Dist.
Rep. Brandon L. McGee, 5th Dist.
Rep. Chris Perone, 137th Dist.
Rep. Tom Delnicki, 14th Dist.
Rep. Caroline Simmons, 144th Dist.
Sen. Bob Duff, 25th Dist.
Sen. Beth Bye, 5th Dist.
Rep. Pam Staneski, 119th Dist.
Rep. Lonnie Reed, 102nd Dist.
Rep. Susan M. Johnson, 49th Dist.
Rep. Jason Rojas, 9th Dist.
Rep. Derek Slap, 19th Dist.
Rep. David Arconti, 109th Dist.
Rep. Bill Simanski, 62nd Dist.
Rep. Mike Bocchino, 150th Dist.
Sen. Martin M. Looney, 11th Dist.

To see the path the bill took please go to http://cga.ct.gov.
While the bill did not succeed this year, the fight for equality and justice for all adopted individuals will continue. I will not stop advocating for equality and justice. This year more people become informed of the issue and called their legislators. I thank all of you who were took action on behalf of the bill. I also thank those who asked questions about the bill. You took time and effort to consider the issue.

I ask you to please consider putting your advocacy skills towards helping other states advance the adoptee rights movement. There is an adoptee rights bill in Massachusetts. Advocates across the country helped Connecticut. I hope if you know family, friends, or contacts in other states which have pending adoptee rights bills you will lend your support to those states. I also ask you to become involved in advocating for causes you hold dear. If I can help in any way, I hope you will let me know. When I was sitting in the Senate gallery, I realized how fortunate I am to live in a country were debates can go on without having to worry about my personal safety. I realize in some countries people’s input is not welcome and violence erupts. We live in a great country where we can share our views openly without worry. Thanks again for your support.

James and Joe

For the last two days, they’ve been cleaning up the side of the yard with the grass garden.  Did a fine job, too.  Six hours worth that I didn’t have to do.  Peter thanked us for employing them.

James has done a great job cleaning up his room.  I asked if he was sure he’s in the right family, haha.

I had a terrible night.  Ate a bunch of cashews and was in misery for hours: chills, hot flashes, nausea, pain.  Feel like a zombie today.

Drove Robert to work and did a transfer station run this morning with yesterday’s output.  Ron and I had lunch at Subway and did another run this afternoon.  He’s off for a third time with detritus from our yard.

Noise, Etc.

We’ve been listening to loud, whining noise next door for the past several days: they cut down trees and a bobcat has been spreading loam and grading.

It’s really starting to irritate me. Enough is enough, too much in fact.

Ron’s been doing some great work today at the top of the “U”, clearing and cutting. I’ve helped a little, although have spent most of the last two days on the infamous “Leads” project.

Test results are negative.  HR director and I were cheering!

Yesterday I removed a Malware detection program that had been devouring memory on my old fellow.  Not sure why I even installed it.

Ron and I finished the perennial planting, gorgeous violet penstemons, at Edgewater yesterday. I sprayed Captain Jack’s on the clematis.

I inadvertently left a wreath on Smokey’s chair, but it didn’t seem to bother him much.

Done By Four

Another day that felt like a treadmill. Made breakfast, cleaned the driveway, watered two gardens and the new plants at Edgewater. Ron finished the mowing. We did the transfer station run. I talked with James about a task he and two friends would like to take on. Put away laundry, changed the sheets. Took out a 4-month trial subscription to The Globe.

A Very Good Friday

Wes and Susan came for the day. We had lunch and dinner here: cold cuts and homemade pasta salad and in the evening, grilled salmon with Wes’s spice mix (dill, oregano, paprika, fish grill spices and who knows what else) and Susan put together a green salad and shucked corn. I prepped asparagus and overcooked it in the confusion of too many people in the kitchen at the same time. Perfect weather for a late afternoon visit to South Cape and Popponesset.

I lost it with Ron and Wes last night over their second, superfluous “medication” session. Susan has infinite patience.

The LaMotte offer came through; I am thrilled!

Mike Looney and his colleagues did a bang-up presentation at the Tech Council breakfast and were kind enough to mention James’ work on the robotics team and the Class of 2017 mugs. My little sponsor talk was well received.

We were scheduled to transport Robert and Alpha to work but Peter let us off the hook. Just as well, I’ve destroyed myself with guest prep over the last two days and am hurting all over.

Ron has been busy this morning with fixing soaker hoses. He’s mowing right now.

Beans and Corn Are Up!

We came home with nasturtiums, blue cheese and greens at the Falmouth Farmers Market today.  Ron splurged on an apple cider donut.  Stopped at Walmart to pick up a second wireless thermometer and Job Lot for internet specials.

I did laundry, potted up the nasturtiums for Laura and planted five Angelonia in our new border garden.