Recently the Order Granting Part Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Francis Hernandez case was posted online. This is the order in which United States District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew vacated Francis' death sentence due to cumulative error during the penalty phase.
I read this long, legal document with the hope of finding answers about why Francis Hernandez -- a man with whom I was briefly acquainted when I was a teen -- murdered Edna Bristol and Kathy Ryan in 1981. While reading it answered many of my questions, I found myself asking even more questions after I read it.
Chiefly, why wasn't anything done about Fran until after he committed the murders?
Francis was adopted. I didn't think the courts would open sealed adoption records. But if a defendant is facing the death penalty, I suppose defense attorneys should be allowed to look at adoption records to find mitigating evidence.
Francis Hernandez was born in 1962. Beginning in utero, he had a horrific childhood. He was the product of a relationship between a 14 year old girl and an 18 year old man incarcerated for burglary. Both of his biological parents had histories of severe mental illness. While pregnant, his biological mother drank alcohol and used drugs. His biological parents' relationship was sometimes violent. Under the circumstances, it is easy to understand why his biological mother might have thought she was doing the best thing for her son when she gave him up for adoption.
Unfortunately, Francis' adoptive parents also suffered from severe mental illness. When he was five, his adoptive mother attempted suicide, was hospitalized for three months and diagnosed as having schizophrenia, paranoid type. This was the first of several hospitalizations. According to this legal document, relatives did not want their children around her because her medications made her behave like a zombie. Why didn't anybody try to help young Fran then?
I do not blame Fran for his adoptive mother's nervous breakdown. Having worked as a psych nurse for four years, I know that schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. However, I do not believe that children should be raised by a paranoid schizophrenic because the disease is so incapacitating. Why didn't the physicians and nurses who treated Fran's adoptive mother alert social services that she was the primary caregiver of a small child?
Francis' adoptive father had mental issues himself. He was frequently absent from the home and in denial about his wife's illness. Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez tried to adopt a second child. The adoption agency turned them down. Why didn't the adoption agency notify social services about the problems they found in the Hernandez home? Why did an adoption agency allow Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez to adopt Francis in the first place?
When he was in preschool, Fran's behavior was abnormal. His preschool teacher suggested that his parents take him to a counselor. His adoptive father refused. Why didn't the preschool teacher notify social services?
Francis' adoptive parents punished him by forcefully administering enemas to him and making them hold them for 10 to 15 minutes. It's difficult to believe that nobody knew about the abuse.
Perhaps if young Francis had been removed from his adoptive parents' home and placed with a more stable family, Edna Bristol and Kathy Ryan might be alive today.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
The Barefoot Bandit in Prison in Aberdeen
When I last wrote about the Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore was in solitary confinement at Walla Walla State Penitentiary. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections stated that this was for Colton's own protection. After all, the Barefoot Bandit is a celebrity.
His attorney, John Henry Browne, argued that Colton did not or need this protection. Mr. Browne was concerned that solitary confinement would have a negative effect on Colton's mental health. Colton was housed in the intensive management unit, where those on death row are normally housed. Mr. Browne said that it would be better for Colton if he was with the general prison population.
I discussed this with a man I met in Seattle. He felt that keeping Colton out of the general prison population was a good idea because Colton did not commit violent crimes. He compared Colton to Clyde Barrow of the infamous Barrow outlaw gang. Clyde Barrow did not commit violent crimes until after he was imprisoned in Texas for car theft. The first time Clyde Barrow ever killed anyone was when he beat a fellow inmate -- a man who had repeatedly sexually assaulted him -- to death. After he was paroled, Clyde was a bitter, hardened man. He met and fell in love with Bonnie Parker. With the Barrow gang, Bonnie and Clyde robbed grocery stores and gas stations, robbed about 15 banks and killed 9 police officers and several civilians. It has been said that Clyde Barrow committed these crimes to get revenge on the Texas judicial system for the abuses he suffered in prison.
No, I don't want Colton Harris-Moore to become another Clyde Barrow.
In late April 2012, Colton was transferred to a medium-security unit at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen.
I know that many people dislike Colton. His crimes may not have been violent, but he hurt many people financially. Some people lost their livelihoods because of him. Nevertheless, I care about Colton because I feel that he was a neglected, disadvantaged child who fell threw social services' cracks.
Colton is still a young man. I believe that he can be rehabilitated. I hope he reads lots of good books and tries to get an education. I hope he finds Jesus. The best thing that Colton can do for himself is to use his time in prison to turn his life around.
His attorney, John Henry Browne, argued that Colton did not or need this protection. Mr. Browne was concerned that solitary confinement would have a negative effect on Colton's mental health. Colton was housed in the intensive management unit, where those on death row are normally housed. Mr. Browne said that it would be better for Colton if he was with the general prison population.
I discussed this with a man I met in Seattle. He felt that keeping Colton out of the general prison population was a good idea because Colton did not commit violent crimes. He compared Colton to Clyde Barrow of the infamous Barrow outlaw gang. Clyde Barrow did not commit violent crimes until after he was imprisoned in Texas for car theft. The first time Clyde Barrow ever killed anyone was when he beat a fellow inmate -- a man who had repeatedly sexually assaulted him -- to death. After he was paroled, Clyde was a bitter, hardened man. He met and fell in love with Bonnie Parker. With the Barrow gang, Bonnie and Clyde robbed grocery stores and gas stations, robbed about 15 banks and killed 9 police officers and several civilians. It has been said that Clyde Barrow committed these crimes to get revenge on the Texas judicial system for the abuses he suffered in prison.
No, I don't want Colton Harris-Moore to become another Clyde Barrow.
In late April 2012, Colton was transferred to a medium-security unit at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen.
I know that many people dislike Colton. His crimes may not have been violent, but he hurt many people financially. Some people lost their livelihoods because of him. Nevertheless, I care about Colton because I feel that he was a neglected, disadvantaged child who fell threw social services' cracks.
Colton is still a young man. I believe that he can be rehabilitated. I hope he reads lots of good books and tries to get an education. I hope he finds Jesus. The best thing that Colton can do for himself is to use his time in prison to turn his life around.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Debra Brown Gets Her Comeuppance
I've been a registered Republican for most of my life, but something has occurred in Texas that has caused me to think about switching parties.
While I was following the stories about the FLDS trials, I learned that Debra Brown, the executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Tom Green County, took a trip to Colorado City, Utah with several ladies from CASA. Photos of Debra and her girl friends with a private detective named Sam Brower were displayed on Bill Medvecky's blog. It is my understanding that Mr. Brower was teaching the women about Warren Jeffs and the FLDS. The Yearning for Zion Ranch is located near San Angelo, but I don't think any of the FLDS children were in protective custody at that time.
But Debra Brown's affiliation with the antipolygamy movement is not what caused me to consider changing political parties.
The Children's Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that provides services to abused and neglected children in Tom Green County. Four programs -- Court Appointed Special Advocates, Hope House, Family Enrichment Services and Child Fatality Review Team -- are run by the CAC.
The CAC first placed its former executive director on administrative in February 2011 after Mrs. Brown was unable to explain several expenditures. She resigned shortly thereafter. The CAC hired an independent accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit. The FBI and the Texas Rangers conducted a fraud investigation. In September 2011, the veteran child advocate was indicted on six counts of theft from programs that receive federal funds in a Lubbock federal court. According to the federal indictment, Mrs. Brown “embezzled, stole or obtained by fraud” approximately $237,013 from January 2005 through Dec. 31, 2010.
The public does not know how much money Mrs. Brown actually misappropriated because the forensic audit and investigation only covered the last four years she worked at the CAC. Debra Brown served as the CAC's executive director for 17 years.
On January 26, 2012, Mrs. Brown pled guilty to one count of theft.
On June 19, 2012, Mrs. Brown was sentenced to four years in federal prison. She was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and nearly $325,000 to the CAC.
What has caused me to think about changing political parties is the fact Mrs. Brown was married to County Judge Mike Brown for 29 years. Mike Brown was the Republican candidate for County Judge and has been the County Judge since 1995. He has indicated that he plans to complete his term.
Judge Brown filed for divorce the day after Debra was indicted. Their divorce became final in December 2012. I think Judge Brown had a valid reason to divorce his wife, but I'm troubled by his claims that he was unaware of an increase in his household's income as a result of his former wife's crimes. I'm also concerned that monies his former wife embezzled may have been comingled with their community property.
This case has caused me to question if Republican candidates and their spouses are as honest, moral and trustworthy as they should be. Especially those from Texas. I'm not sure I will be able to continue to support the Republican party if its candidates and their spouses don't clean up their acts.
I'm also in favor of reducing federal funds for CASA, CPS and organizations like the Children's Advocacy Center because this case proves that those monies are not going to help abused and/or neglected children.
*Information for this article was taken from the San Angelo Standard Times.
.
While I was following the stories about the FLDS trials, I learned that Debra Brown, the executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Tom Green County, took a trip to Colorado City, Utah with several ladies from CASA. Photos of Debra and her girl friends with a private detective named Sam Brower were displayed on Bill Medvecky's blog. It is my understanding that Mr. Brower was teaching the women about Warren Jeffs and the FLDS. The Yearning for Zion Ranch is located near San Angelo, but I don't think any of the FLDS children were in protective custody at that time.
But Debra Brown's affiliation with the antipolygamy movement is not what caused me to consider changing political parties.
The Children's Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that provides services to abused and neglected children in Tom Green County. Four programs -- Court Appointed Special Advocates, Hope House, Family Enrichment Services and Child Fatality Review Team -- are run by the CAC.
The CAC first placed its former executive director on administrative in February 2011 after Mrs. Brown was unable to explain several expenditures. She resigned shortly thereafter. The CAC hired an independent accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit. The FBI and the Texas Rangers conducted a fraud investigation. In September 2011, the veteran child advocate was indicted on six counts of theft from programs that receive federal funds in a Lubbock federal court. According to the federal indictment, Mrs. Brown “embezzled, stole or obtained by fraud” approximately $237,013 from January 2005 through Dec. 31, 2010.
The public does not know how much money Mrs. Brown actually misappropriated because the forensic audit and investigation only covered the last four years she worked at the CAC. Debra Brown served as the CAC's executive director for 17 years.
On January 26, 2012, Mrs. Brown pled guilty to one count of theft.
On June 19, 2012, Mrs. Brown was sentenced to four years in federal prison. She was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and nearly $325,000 to the CAC.
What has caused me to think about changing political parties is the fact Mrs. Brown was married to County Judge Mike Brown for 29 years. Mike Brown was the Republican candidate for County Judge and has been the County Judge since 1995. He has indicated that he plans to complete his term.
Judge Brown filed for divorce the day after Debra was indicted. Their divorce became final in December 2012. I think Judge Brown had a valid reason to divorce his wife, but I'm troubled by his claims that he was unaware of an increase in his household's income as a result of his former wife's crimes. I'm also concerned that monies his former wife embezzled may have been comingled with their community property.
This case has caused me to question if Republican candidates and their spouses are as honest, moral and trustworthy as they should be. Especially those from Texas. I'm not sure I will be able to continue to support the Republican party if its candidates and their spouses don't clean up their acts.
I'm also in favor of reducing federal funds for CASA, CPS and organizations like the Children's Advocacy Center because this case proves that those monies are not going to help abused and/or neglected children.
*Information for this article was taken from the San Angelo Standard Times.
.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Why I Defended the FLDS
Call me crazy. Call me weird. But I'm an FLDS defender.
That's right. After the raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch on April 3, 2008, I followed the story of Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During online discussions, I voiced my disapproval about how the raid was carried out. I also defended the women and children who lived on the YFZ Ranch.
Why? I'm the daughter of a WWII veteran. From the time I was a young girl, my parents taught me that it is morally wrong to mistreat a religious, racial or ethnic group. My parents were disgusted by the way that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis mistreated Jews, Gypsies, gays, the mentally ill, the disabled, etc. during WWII. Their generation worked together to stop Hitler and end the Holocaust. My parents, who were of German descent, said that Hitler had brought shame to Germany. Dad was quick to point out that Adolf Hitler was not a German -- he was an Austrian. My parents also taught me that we must work together to prevent genocide in the future.
I'm not advocating polygamy -- I'm advocating tolerance!
I'm following my parents' good example by speaking up for Mormon Fundamentalists, the Roma (Gypsies), and other oppressed minorities. It's wrong to discriminate against people because of their religion or traditional lifestyle. We should be embracing diversity, not promoting hatred or intolerance.
The United Nations considers transferring children from one group (i.e. Mormon Fundamentalist) to another group (i.e. Baptist) to be a form of genocide. Genocide is against the rules of the Geneva Convention. Genocide is against international law. How can we teach other countries that genocide is morally wrong if we allow it to take place within our own boundaries?
I also believe that women should help women. I don't believe that a woman should lose custody of her children because of her religion. Yes, I know that the LDS church and the FLDS sect are two separate and distinct churches. Yes, I know that the FLDS is a Mormon Fundamentalist sect that still practices polygamy. Yes, I know that many people believe that polygamy is harmful to women and children. However, if an adult woman wants to be a plural wife for religious purposes, I feel that is her personal, private business. I don't feel compelled to "rescue" her. Our government should butt out.
If a person wants to leave the FLDS sect, I certainly wouldn't try to stop him/her. I'm acquainted with several former members of the FLDS sect. I like them. They are good people. But I don't think our government should force people to leave a religion, a church, or a sect against their will. I don't have an issue with people leaving the FLDS, but I think they should do so on their own volition. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion to all Americans.
Finally, I think it is wrong to say that "Everyone who belongs to a certain religious, racial, or ethnic group is a ________." (Fill in the blank with derogatory word of your choice.) That's stereotyping. I was taught in junior high that stereotyping is wrong. People are individuals. I believe that there are good and bad in every race, religion and ethnic group. If you're lumping people into groups and saying that everyone who belongs to a certain group is "a bad person," maybe the problem isn't them. Maybe it's you.
That's right. After the raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch on April 3, 2008, I followed the story of Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During online discussions, I voiced my disapproval about how the raid was carried out. I also defended the women and children who lived on the YFZ Ranch.
Why? I'm the daughter of a WWII veteran. From the time I was a young girl, my parents taught me that it is morally wrong to mistreat a religious, racial or ethnic group. My parents were disgusted by the way that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis mistreated Jews, Gypsies, gays, the mentally ill, the disabled, etc. during WWII. Their generation worked together to stop Hitler and end the Holocaust. My parents, who were of German descent, said that Hitler had brought shame to Germany. Dad was quick to point out that Adolf Hitler was not a German -- he was an Austrian. My parents also taught me that we must work together to prevent genocide in the future.
I'm not advocating polygamy -- I'm advocating tolerance!
I'm following my parents' good example by speaking up for Mormon Fundamentalists, the Roma (Gypsies), and other oppressed minorities. It's wrong to discriminate against people because of their religion or traditional lifestyle. We should be embracing diversity, not promoting hatred or intolerance.
The United Nations considers transferring children from one group (i.e. Mormon Fundamentalist) to another group (i.e. Baptist) to be a form of genocide. Genocide is against the rules of the Geneva Convention. Genocide is against international law. How can we teach other countries that genocide is morally wrong if we allow it to take place within our own boundaries?
I also believe that women should help women. I don't believe that a woman should lose custody of her children because of her religion. Yes, I know that the LDS church and the FLDS sect are two separate and distinct churches. Yes, I know that the FLDS is a Mormon Fundamentalist sect that still practices polygamy. Yes, I know that many people believe that polygamy is harmful to women and children. However, if an adult woman wants to be a plural wife for religious purposes, I feel that is her personal, private business. I don't feel compelled to "rescue" her. Our government should butt out.
If a person wants to leave the FLDS sect, I certainly wouldn't try to stop him/her. I'm acquainted with several former members of the FLDS sect. I like them. They are good people. But I don't think our government should force people to leave a religion, a church, or a sect against their will. I don't have an issue with people leaving the FLDS, but I think they should do so on their own volition. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion to all Americans.
Finally, I think it is wrong to say that "Everyone who belongs to a certain religious, racial, or ethnic group is a ________." (Fill in the blank with derogatory word of your choice.) That's stereotyping. I was taught in junior high that stereotyping is wrong. People are individuals. I believe that there are good and bad in every race, religion and ethnic group. If you're lumping people into groups and saying that everyone who belongs to a certain group is "a bad person," maybe the problem isn't them. Maybe it's you.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Baby Boomers Beware! Hepatitis C can be a Death Sentence
On May 18, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 should be tested for hepatitis C.
Baby boomers are the generation most likely to be infected with hepatitis C., but only about 25% of us have been tested for it. Many people do not know they are infected because they do not look or feel sick. The CDC believes that hundreds of thousands of hepatitis C infections occurred in the 1970's and 1980's among baby boomers.
Hepatitis A, B and C are contagious diseases caused by different viruses. First identified in 1989, the hepatitis C virus is a blood borne pathogen normally spread by contact with an infected person's blood. The disease is most common among current or past injection drug abusers. Before 1992, hepatitis C was sometimes transmitted by blood transfusions. Having sex with an infected person is a less common mode of transmission. The virus may be spread by sharing razors, toothbrushes, getting tattoos, body piercings or manicures with contaminated instruments.
A spokesperson for the CDC warned that baby boomers might not remember their risky behavior. A dollar bill rolled up to snort coke and passed from one person to the next might contain enough blood to transmit the virus.
The virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, coughing or sneezing, or through food or water.
Acute hepatitis C occurs within the first six months of exposure. Most people with acute hepatitis C develop the serious, lifelong chronic form of this disease.
Chronic hepatitis C can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver or liver cancer. This infection is the leading cause of liver transplant today. The virus may damage other parts of the body as well. The number of people who died of hepatitis C related illnesses nearly doubled between 1999 and 2007. The CDC estimates that more than 15,000 Americans die of hepatitis C related illnesses every year.
My interest in hepatitis C is personal. About two years ago, I located my former roommate's adult daughter. She told me that her mother had died of liver cancer in 2006. She said her mother had hepatitis C for about 30 years before she developed liver cancer. This was surprising to me because we lived together for several years, but her mother never told me that she was infected with hepatitis C.
The CDC has announced that living with a person who has hepatitis C slightly increases your risk of contracting the virus.
The CDC is hoping to save more lives by encouraging baby boomers to take the one time blood test for hepatitis C. There are medications that can be taken to fight the infection. So please call your doctor and schedule an appointment to be tested. The life saved might be your own.
Baby boomers are the generation most likely to be infected with hepatitis C., but only about 25% of us have been tested for it. Many people do not know they are infected because they do not look or feel sick. The CDC believes that hundreds of thousands of hepatitis C infections occurred in the 1970's and 1980's among baby boomers.
Hepatitis A, B and C are contagious diseases caused by different viruses. First identified in 1989, the hepatitis C virus is a blood borne pathogen normally spread by contact with an infected person's blood. The disease is most common among current or past injection drug abusers. Before 1992, hepatitis C was sometimes transmitted by blood transfusions. Having sex with an infected person is a less common mode of transmission. The virus may be spread by sharing razors, toothbrushes, getting tattoos, body piercings or manicures with contaminated instruments.
A spokesperson for the CDC warned that baby boomers might not remember their risky behavior. A dollar bill rolled up to snort coke and passed from one person to the next might contain enough blood to transmit the virus.
The virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, coughing or sneezing, or through food or water.
Acute hepatitis C occurs within the first six months of exposure. Most people with acute hepatitis C develop the serious, lifelong chronic form of this disease.
Chronic hepatitis C can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver or liver cancer. This infection is the leading cause of liver transplant today. The virus may damage other parts of the body as well. The number of people who died of hepatitis C related illnesses nearly doubled between 1999 and 2007. The CDC estimates that more than 15,000 Americans die of hepatitis C related illnesses every year.
My interest in hepatitis C is personal. About two years ago, I located my former roommate's adult daughter. She told me that her mother had died of liver cancer in 2006. She said her mother had hepatitis C for about 30 years before she developed liver cancer. This was surprising to me because we lived together for several years, but her mother never told me that she was infected with hepatitis C.
The CDC has announced that living with a person who has hepatitis C slightly increases your risk of contracting the virus.
The CDC is hoping to save more lives by encouraging baby boomers to take the one time blood test for hepatitis C. There are medications that can be taken to fight the infection. So please call your doctor and schedule an appointment to be tested. The life saved might be your own.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Lifting the Ban
When I started this blog, I decided to avoid discussing religion and politics because those subjects often lead to arguments. Mormon Fundamentalism, Mormon polygamy, the FLDS, and the anti-polygamy movement are so controversial that discussions about them tend to bring out the worst in people. My decision to avoid these topics was influenced by a lawsuit between Gregory Prickett (who may use the screen name "TexasBluesMan") and Hugh McBryde, Bill Medvecky, Scott Ledbetter and others. I was not part of the lawsuit. I don't want to go into the details or take sides. I'll simply say that the lawsuit stemmed from an online argument about the FLDS that got out of hand.
Yes, I am Mormon. I don't claim to be a good Mormon, but I'm Mormon. I don't want to argue with anybody. I don't want anyone's feelings to get hurt. I don't want to "out" anyone either. I won't try to convince you to change your religion if you don't try to convince me to change mine.
I have friends who are LDS, ex LDS, FLDS, and/or ex FLDS. I like them all. Some of my friends are Protestants; others are Catholic. I daresay that some of my friends are Atheists. My favorite co-worker is a gay Asian-American who was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. If I like you, I like you. Your skin color, ethnic origin, religion or sexual preference aren't important to me. I want everyone to feel welcome and safe here.
That being said, I have found that deliberately avoiding one issue is rather stifling.
So I'm lifting the ban. We can talk about Mormon Fundamentalism, polygamy, the FLDS and the anti-polygamy movement, provided that we behave as mature, responsible adults. No fighting. No arguing. No lawsuits.
One more thing. There are different types of Mormons. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The LDS Church and the FLDS sect are two separate and distinct churches. The LDS Church abandoned the practice of polygamy in 1890 and excommunicates anyone who practices or advocates polygamy.
Yes, I am Mormon. I don't claim to be a good Mormon, but I'm Mormon. I don't want to argue with anybody. I don't want anyone's feelings to get hurt. I don't want to "out" anyone either. I won't try to convince you to change your religion if you don't try to convince me to change mine.
I have friends who are LDS, ex LDS, FLDS, and/or ex FLDS. I like them all. Some of my friends are Protestants; others are Catholic. I daresay that some of my friends are Atheists. My favorite co-worker is a gay Asian-American who was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. If I like you, I like you. Your skin color, ethnic origin, religion or sexual preference aren't important to me. I want everyone to feel welcome and safe here.
That being said, I have found that deliberately avoiding one issue is rather stifling.
So I'm lifting the ban. We can talk about Mormon Fundamentalism, polygamy, the FLDS and the anti-polygamy movement, provided that we behave as mature, responsible adults. No fighting. No arguing. No lawsuits.
One more thing. There are different types of Mormons. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The LDS Church and the FLDS sect are two separate and distinct churches. The LDS Church abandoned the practice of polygamy in 1890 and excommunicates anyone who practices or advocates polygamy.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Meet Julie Andrews: Actress, Singer, and Author
On Saturday, April 28, 2012, my girls and I had the honor and privilege of meeting stage and screen legend, Julie Andrews, at Costco in Seattle, Washington.
Julie Andrews was the guest of honor at four book signings in the Seattle area on April 28 and 29. She came to the Pacific Northwest to promote the new children's book that she and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, have written. This book is entitled "The Very Fairy Princess Here Comes the Flower Girl." It is the third of their bestselling "The Very Fairy Princess" series. This delightful series is about a little girl named Geraldine who believes she is a fairy princess because she feels a certain sparkle inside. The latest book tells about how Geraldine prepares to be the flower girl in her Aunt Sue's wedding.
Born in Surrey, England in 1935, Julie Andrews has appeared in more than 40 movies. Her first film appearance was in "The Singing Princess" in 1949. At age 19, she first performed on Broadway in "The Boyfriend." She received an Oscar for her role as the practically perfect nanny in "Mary Poppins" in 1964. She was also nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Maria Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" in 1965. Her roles in "Hawaii," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," and "Victor/Victoria" were among her other noteworthy performances. She is probably best known to the younger generation as the reigning queen of Genovia in "The Princess Diaries."
At age 76, Julie Andrews is still as beautiful, elegant and refined as she was ten years ago in "The Princess Diaries." Her second husband, director Blake Edwards, passed away in 2010. But don't worry about Julie. Her life is very active. She and her daughter have written two other books that will be released this year. She will also be the director of the stage adaption of another children's book that she and her daughter wrote called "The Great Mousical."
Costco's manager told us that at midnight people began lining outside their store for the chance to meet the actress. Costco gave 200 tickets to the book signing to its members. My girls and I were lucky to receive Ticket 196. Not only did she autograph the copies of her books we purchased, Ms. Andrews spoke briefly with us. Tears welled in my eyes when I told her I had loved her since I was five years old when she was in Mary Poppins. She smiled and said, "Well, that dates both of us."
Julie Andrews was very kind to children. Korinna proudly told her that she and Alyson are dancers. Ms. Andrews told them that she started her career as a dancer. Ms. Andrews explained that dance teaches girls to sit up straight and to be graceful.
P.S. Information about Julie Andrew's acting career was taken from Wikipedia.
Julie Andrews was the guest of honor at four book signings in the Seattle area on April 28 and 29. She came to the Pacific Northwest to promote the new children's book that she and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, have written. This book is entitled "The Very Fairy Princess Here Comes the Flower Girl." It is the third of their bestselling "The Very Fairy Princess" series. This delightful series is about a little girl named Geraldine who believes she is a fairy princess because she feels a certain sparkle inside. The latest book tells about how Geraldine prepares to be the flower girl in her Aunt Sue's wedding.
Born in Surrey, England in 1935, Julie Andrews has appeared in more than 40 movies. Her first film appearance was in "The Singing Princess" in 1949. At age 19, she first performed on Broadway in "The Boyfriend." She received an Oscar for her role as the practically perfect nanny in "Mary Poppins" in 1964. She was also nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Maria Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" in 1965. Her roles in "Hawaii," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," and "Victor/Victoria" were among her other noteworthy performances. She is probably best known to the younger generation as the reigning queen of Genovia in "The Princess Diaries."
At age 76, Julie Andrews is still as beautiful, elegant and refined as she was ten years ago in "The Princess Diaries." Her second husband, director Blake Edwards, passed away in 2010. But don't worry about Julie. Her life is very active. She and her daughter have written two other books that will be released this year. She will also be the director of the stage adaption of another children's book that she and her daughter wrote called "The Great Mousical."
Costco's manager told us that at midnight people began lining outside their store for the chance to meet the actress. Costco gave 200 tickets to the book signing to its members. My girls and I were lucky to receive Ticket 196. Not only did she autograph the copies of her books we purchased, Ms. Andrews spoke briefly with us. Tears welled in my eyes when I told her I had loved her since I was five years old when she was in Mary Poppins. She smiled and said, "Well, that dates both of us."
Julie Andrews was very kind to children. Korinna proudly told her that she and Alyson are dancers. Ms. Andrews told them that she started her career as a dancer. Ms. Andrews explained that dance teaches girls to sit up straight and to be graceful.
P.S. Information about Julie Andrew's acting career was taken from Wikipedia.
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