auria “Hussein” cortes

CORONA, Calif. (AP) — California’s director of adult prisons is recommending that former Charles Manson follower and convicted murderer Susan Atkins be denied a compassionate release on the basis of terminal illness.

A prison spokeswoman says director Suzan Hubbard made the decision Wednesday.

Officials at the California Institution for Women had recommended that she be released to die in the care of her family.

The 60-year-old Atkins was held at the facility for decades before a move to a hospital to treat her brain cancer.

Hubbard’s recommendation is advisory. The Board of Parole Hearings must decide whether to take up Atkins’ case, and her original sentencing court in Los Angeles County would make the final decision.

Atkins confessed to killing pregnant actress Sharon Tate during a murderous rampage with other Manson followers in 1969. (Source)

It’s interesting to note that Atkins married twice while in prison. Her current husband graduated from Harvard law in ‘97. She has found God (yawn).

In a recent interview, Vincent Bugliosi, the Manson murders prosecutor, stated:  ”Under these unique circumstances, told she has only about six months to live . . . . I don’t have any objection to her being released,” he said. “She has paid substantially, though not completely, for her horrendous crimes. Paying completely would mean imposing the death penalty.”

Bugliosi said his decision to support Atkins’ release wasn’t easy.

“She told me out of her own mouth that Sharon Tate begged for her life, ‘Please let me live, so I can have my baby,’ ” Bugliosi recalled. “And she said, ‘I don’t have mercy for you. . . . You’re going to die.’ And now, she wants mercy?”

“Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you’re a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.”

As I stated in a previous post, Spittin’ (out words) Like a Llama kicked off the blog chain with the topic of sex. Through the magic of the chain, the topic evolved into something completely different. Thank goodness for that because I doubt anyone wants to hear my celibate stories. I mean, how boring can one get?

Polenth’s Quill saved the day by writing about questions she asked her mother as a child. To piggyback on her post, today I’ll discuss one aspect of growing up Puerto Rican in the USA.

Also, today I’m posting under my real name Linda. Not my pen name, Auria Cortes.

My parents were the first generation in the US. That means that in our house, we lived just like Puerto Ricans from the Island. We hosted illegal cock fights, we raised chickens to sell and eat, we spoke Spanish, and we stocked our cubbards with Goya products.

Though there were signs growing up that I didn’t fit the mold of a stereotypical American, it didn’t it home until Kindergarten.

Mami introduced me by my name Linda (pronounced Leen-da). Mrs. Jones, my teacher, welcomed me with Linda (pronounced, well, Linda). In one split second, the public pronunciation of my name changed. All through school and for the majority of my adult life I was called ‘Linda’. I always resented that.

It bothered me even more when friends would overhear my parents pronounce my name correctly, and their immediate response was: why don’t your parents know how to pronounce your name?

As an adult, I seriously considered changing my name. Then one day I realized that I don’t dislike my name ‘Leen-da’. After all, ’Leen-da’ means pretty. Who wouldn’t want to be called pretty every day of their life?

What I didn’t like was the name ‘Linda’. That is not my name. And after years of being called ‘Linda’, I never took ownership of the pronunciation that was assigned to me.

For years I debated on whether or not I should introduce myself as ‘Leen-da.’ I decided against it several times because I didn’t want to be seen as prentenious. I didn’t want my fellow Americans to think that I’m not proud to be an American. I didn’t want to be discriminated against. Been there. Done that. And the feeling is just plain awful.

I fall nicely under the radar. My skin is light enough that hardly anyone suspects I’m Puerto Rican (hmm…I wrote the word suspect. I was going to delete it, but decided to keep the post organic). But I knew once I introduced myself as ‘Leen-da’ that people would know. And I was afraid of their reaction.

When I received an offer for my first book, I made the decision to go by my given name. Though I’ve been interviewed by the press before, I knew the book would garner more media attention and I didn’t want the name ‘Linda’ to stick.

The reaction from people that know me varied. Some had no reaction. Others thought I was weird. Others got mad. Asking “why?” in a tone that immediately put an invisiable wall between us.

So now I go by my given name. It’s not to offend you. It’s not to separate myself from my American citizenship status. It’s not an effort to make me stand out. It’s simply my name. And I took ownership of it.

Next up is Blog In a Suitcase. Give her a day or two to piggyback on my post.

A couple of weeks ago I chose the movie Jane Eyre as my Friday night choice. Since then I learned that a prequel was written in 1966 called Wide Sargasso Sea. The author, Jean Rhys, wrote about the relationship between Mr. Rochester and Antoinette. Wide Sargasso Sea was made into a movie. I must say that it is lovely. I fell in love with Antoinette as I did Jane.

I won’t go into too much detail for those who are discovering Jane Eyre for the first time. But my recommendation is that you read Jane Eyre and then Wide Sargasso Sea. Great writing at work. Bravo!

For the last three weeks I didn’t post the Feast because the organizers were away on vacation. But we’re back on track.

Appetizer
Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
Both. I’m optimistic that anyone can fullfill their goals, but I’m pessimistic that everyone has the will.

Soup
What is your favorite color of ink to write in?
Black, for sure.

Salad
How often to you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?
I don’t do manicures or pedicures. Yeah, my hands and feet are neglected. What about it?

Main Course
Have you ever own anything online? If so, what was it?
I’ve never won anything online.

Dessert
In which room in your house do you have your computer?
One in my bedroom and one in my artroom. And then of course my laptop for every other room.

i’m trying to find out how to include pics in My Pictures section. i’m sure i’ll find out soon enough. for now, please be patient.

JT = six year old nephew

JT gets bit on the balls by a small dog. Nothing serious but Tata takes JT to the doctor just in case. While in the waiting room…

JT: Mom, can you ask the doctor if I’ll be able to have children.

For those interested, the doctor said yes.