Email exchange at work:
To: Dist. List
From: Dist. List Colleague
Subject: Holiday Decorations around the office
Have you guys noticed that a lot of the open space cubicles contain a heavy amount of holiday decoration this year?
I guess you could call me the grinch because I think too much decoration becomes tacky very fast and not festive or fun.
I stayed late one night recently and at around 7pm while walking from the men's bathroom to my office I passed a motion sensor snowman that noticed my presence and started to play a song, move its arms, and it started to talk. It scared the crap out of me as I thought I was alone. My late at work silence was suddenly broken by a snowman robot out to disturb my peace and solitude. Not festive or fun for me.
The company fire department guys seem to agree with me. Below is their article on how too much decoration can create a fire hazard because cotton balls (used to be fake snow) are very flammable. Decorations with lots of paper or lots of electrical connections also can increase the likelihood of a fire.
Did you notice that in front of YFA's office is a whole cubicle wall done up entirely in wrapping paper with a bow?
What do you all think about the increase in decoration this year?
Good thing? Bad thing?
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My reply:
I am sick of the neocons. I am sick of getting a partially meets expectations To give blog readers a reference to what that meant by this. We recently had our yearly performance reviews....but of course I didn't get that low of a review, I got an exceeds expectations! Cream of the crop!). I am sick of working so hard! I am sick of being sick! But most of all I am sick of the religious zealots trying to impose their beliefs on me. If it was me putting up decorations HR would be all over me!!! Let's go around and take them all down!! And that snowman, I put a candle under him…he's long gone! I ruined a brand new pair of pants because of him!
Yep, the snowman got me too! Late at night, no one in the office and that darn thing starts to inflate and sing. *@#&. No I didn't ruin a pair of pants...but my Glock was staring him in the face. Yes a snowman got me to unholster!
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The follow up from the sender of the first email:
I like how you tell it like it is YFA.
No mixed messages. No spin.
More power to you.
You may be right too about what are proper and not proper decorations.
If we do winter decorations with gift wrapping paper, then can we do this again for Diwali?
Can we go crazy and decorate for Diwali? Or what about for Kwanzaa?
Or what about for Hannukah? Or Eid al Adha?
Who decides which decorations can go up and during which holidays? Does HR know?
Is it writing down in an HR policy anywhere which holidays we can decorate the hallways for?
I say allow office decorations for all of them or none of them.
- Colleague R
P.S. Down with snowmen that talk or move around and scare me.
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Got to give him props...this R is well cultured. He knew about Eid al Adha....but then again he tries to get off of work by claiming to be a diciple of every single religion.
1.12.08
Before the Boy Bands....
of the 90's, there were the boy bands of the 80's...which I grew up listening to! I got to attend the New Edition concert...one of my first ones. I won the tickets from a radio station. I was the 96th caller!!! I went crazy on the radio. 4 tickets! They were in such high demand I could have made a nice profit from them...but no way was I going to let them go!
Yeah, make fun of me all you want..but back in the day this was got you a dance with the pretty girls at the school dances! I was in 6th grade and the radio stations were blasting out these tunes....ahhhhhh the memories.....how fast life moves. What I would do to go back in time and relive a few days from that era of my life!
New Edition
And I wanted this played at my wedding...but my wife would have for sure vetoed this request.
Like I told you, no laughing at them or at me!
Yeah, make fun of me all you want..but back in the day this was got you a dance with the pretty girls at the school dances! I was in 6th grade and the radio stations were blasting out these tunes....ahhhhhh the memories.....how fast life moves. What I would do to go back in time and relive a few days from that era of my life!
New Edition
And I wanted this played at my wedding...but my wife would have for sure vetoed this request.
Like I told you, no laughing at them or at me!
26.11.08
Bravo Ladies!
As much as I hate just regurgitating news stories.....I felt it important to spotlight the major accomplishment of these ladies. Not only are they providing a great service to their communities, but they are breaking down walls that in the past have prevented them from such occupations. I know that USAID provides millions of dollars for other projects, but I was saddened to not see their name as part of their initiative. Maybe in the future they will look to fund this endeavor.
From the article: "The women take home JD50 each per week during the training period, but will be paid JD540 per month, as well as social security and health insurance, for the duration of their employment in the project." Not too bad for a extremely poor community. Many of the selfless women, plan on using that money to support their families. But it's not only the money. These ladies have definitely raised their self-esteem and proven to themselves as well as others how capable they are of doing this job. They have made me proud and earned my respect and admiration.
Hopefully these heroes will help rid our country of mines and then take these skills to other countries.
From the article: "The women take home JD50 each per week during the training period, but will be paid JD540 per month, as well as social security and health insurance, for the duration of their employment in the project." Not too bad for a extremely poor community. Many of the selfless women, plan on using that money to support their families. But it's not only the money. These ladies have definitely raised their self-esteem and proven to themselves as well as others how capable they are of doing this job. They have made me proud and earned my respect and admiration.
Hopefully these heroes will help rid our country of mines and then take these skills to other countries.
25.11.08
21.11.08
Work....
I swear I have the coolest job ever!
My schedule today……
9:16a.m. Arrived at work
9:21am while computer loads, I head downstairs to get a latte
9:22am – 11:03 Read blogs, jordantimes.com, other news media websites
11:03am-11:45 IM with my sister
11:45am Lunch time. We walk to local biker bar across the street. It’s 26F outside and we turn into icicles on the way. The only time it’s safe to go is during the workday…but you’d think that who would hire those scary bikers, so they should be there all times of the day. Enjoy my turkey ruben and sweet potato fries
2:00 return from lunch
2:00-2:45 Read newspaper I brought back with me
2:45 leave the office and drive to café for coffee break with three colleagues
3:30 Return to office…and run into some coworkers who snidely remark after seeing us in our coats, “oh, you guys just coming back from lunch”. On the way up on the elevators, I press our floor, floor 5 and then press the button for every single floor. One guy gets out on floor 2 to take another elevator because he’s in a hurry to get back to his desk on the 5th floor. When his elevator stops on floor three, the doors open and he finds yours truly waiting to hop in! LOL. Of course I hop in and hit the buttons for floors 4, 5 and 6!
3:35 Get back to my desk only to find an IM sent at 2:55 from my boss…..”Where are you, bro?”…I’m like, OH $#!^….“I’m right here bro, need me to come upstairs?”….. “No, you can do it from your computer”…..he just wanted me to check a document.
3:36 reply to some email
4:00 IM from boss….”Where are you, bro?”… “I’m in my office, what’s up?”…..”Go home”...”OK boss”
My schedule today……
9:16a.m. Arrived at work
9:21am while computer loads, I head downstairs to get a latte
9:22am – 11:03 Read blogs, jordantimes.com, other news media websites
11:03am-11:45 IM with my sister
11:45am Lunch time. We walk to local biker bar across the street. It’s 26F outside and we turn into icicles on the way. The only time it’s safe to go is during the workday…but you’d think that who would hire those scary bikers, so they should be there all times of the day. Enjoy my turkey ruben and sweet potato fries
2:00 return from lunch
2:00-2:45 Read newspaper I brought back with me
2:45 leave the office and drive to café for coffee break with three colleagues
3:30 Return to office…and run into some coworkers who snidely remark after seeing us in our coats, “oh, you guys just coming back from lunch”. On the way up on the elevators, I press our floor, floor 5 and then press the button for every single floor. One guy gets out on floor 2 to take another elevator because he’s in a hurry to get back to his desk on the 5th floor. When his elevator stops on floor three, the doors open and he finds yours truly waiting to hop in! LOL. Of course I hop in and hit the buttons for floors 4, 5 and 6!
3:35 Get back to my desk only to find an IM sent at 2:55 from my boss…..”Where are you, bro?”…I’m like, OH $#!^….“I’m right here bro, need me to come upstairs?”….. “No, you can do it from your computer”…..he just wanted me to check a document.
3:36 reply to some email
4:00 IM from boss….”Where are you, bro?”… “I’m in my office, what’s up?”…..”Go home”...”OK boss”
20.11.08
Wrong Number.....
Wow.....been a very long time since I was here...
Somehow my work phone number is linked to some telemarketing company's phone. I don’t know how this can happen since 1. I am behind a switchboard at my company, 2. the number is unpublished, 3. the number when I call an outside number doesn't show my individual number, but some abscure number like xxx-777-7777.
Ever since I started my job I've been getting random calls. We’re talking 3 to 5 “return” calls per week. The people on the other side of the phone, think that I called them a left a message, when in reality I hardly every use my work phone to call anyone. I try to explain to these callers that I am the only one who uses this phone and that I didn’t call them or that this is a reputable company that doesn't have/need that sort of marketing. They don’t want to hear any of it…they only say, ”why does my caller ID show your number”. And with that sort of proof, how can I convince them that I didn’t call them or that no one has used my phone to call them. Unfortunately it's not that easy.
I’d rather not have to change my number, as all my business contacts have this number, the massive amout of paperwork required to change it and then the actual task of having to order new cards and stationary is more than I want to burden my admin with. So I put up with it and more likely than not, if a number in the area code where I work shows up on my display when my phone rings, I just don’t answer and let the voicemail system take over. Once they hear my voice and name, they realize they probably made a mistake and don’t leave a message. But today it went to an entirely new level…..
I went to lunch, came back and had this message on my voicemail….
Said with a heavy Hispanic accent……”Listen bro, I don’t know who the heck you are, but you gotta…you better ssstttop F****** calling here, M****F*****! Alright!! If you F****** call here again meh (man), I am going to come to F****** New Jersey, pay you a visit and beat your F****** A**!! If you don’t believe me try again M*****F*****!!!!!
I don't even live or work in NJ. I don't have any phone number connections to the state of NJ. Even though my sister lives there, she use a phone number with an area code from a different state altogheter. I have the dude’s phone number on my display. I am thinking about calling this tough guy and giving him some of his own medicine. I’m thinking of telling him, yeah this is Mike Smith (but will use my co-workers real name) and here’s my address (again using my colleagues home address)! LOL. I will then proceed to tell him you think your so tough, I am waiting for your sorry A** to get here so we can settle this like men!
Somehow my work phone number is linked to some telemarketing company's phone. I don’t know how this can happen since 1. I am behind a switchboard at my company, 2. the number is unpublished, 3. the number when I call an outside number doesn't show my individual number, but some abscure number like xxx-777-7777.
Ever since I started my job I've been getting random calls. We’re talking 3 to 5 “return” calls per week. The people on the other side of the phone, think that I called them a left a message, when in reality I hardly every use my work phone to call anyone. I try to explain to these callers that I am the only one who uses this phone and that I didn’t call them or that this is a reputable company that doesn't have/need that sort of marketing. They don’t want to hear any of it…they only say, ”why does my caller ID show your number”. And with that sort of proof, how can I convince them that I didn’t call them or that no one has used my phone to call them. Unfortunately it's not that easy.
I’d rather not have to change my number, as all my business contacts have this number, the massive amout of paperwork required to change it and then the actual task of having to order new cards and stationary is more than I want to burden my admin with. So I put up with it and more likely than not, if a number in the area code where I work shows up on my display when my phone rings, I just don’t answer and let the voicemail system take over. Once they hear my voice and name, they realize they probably made a mistake and don’t leave a message. But today it went to an entirely new level…..
I went to lunch, came back and had this message on my voicemail….
Said with a heavy Hispanic accent……”Listen bro, I don’t know who the heck you are, but you gotta…you better ssstttop F****** calling here, M****F*****! Alright!! If you F****** call here again meh (man), I am going to come to F****** New Jersey, pay you a visit and beat your F****** A**!! If you don’t believe me try again M*****F*****!!!!!
I don't even live or work in NJ. I don't have any phone number connections to the state of NJ. Even though my sister lives there, she use a phone number with an area code from a different state altogheter. I have the dude’s phone number on my display. I am thinking about calling this tough guy and giving him some of his own medicine. I’m thinking of telling him, yeah this is Mike Smith (but will use my co-workers real name) and here’s my address (again using my colleagues home address)! LOL. I will then proceed to tell him you think your so tough, I am waiting for your sorry A** to get here so we can settle this like men!
26.9.08
13.9.08
9.9.08
Is it haram....
...to skip fasting so that you can donate blood? In a personal plea from the governor to the president of my company, the governor has asked him to send out similar plea to get as many people to donate as possible at our regular onsite blood drives scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday.
There is currently a blood emergency, where supplies of blood for tranfusions are at dangerously low levels at most a few hours. I am O- which is in high demand as it can be given to anyone. With over 6000 units of blood collected in the past 3 years at my company's blood drives, helping well over 20,000 people, you can see where every donor counts and how being the largest employer in the state, huge amounts of blood can be collected. I donate every 8 weeks and unfortunately Thursday is my next scheduled one.
So you can see my problem. What do you think? Skip a day fasting so that I can donate.
There is currently a blood emergency, where supplies of blood for tranfusions are at dangerously low levels at most a few hours. I am O- which is in high demand as it can be given to anyone. With over 6000 units of blood collected in the past 3 years at my company's blood drives, helping well over 20,000 people, you can see where every donor counts and how being the largest employer in the state, huge amounts of blood can be collected. I donate every 8 weeks and unfortunately Thursday is my next scheduled one.
So you can see my problem. What do you think? Skip a day fasting so that I can donate.
8.9.08
Congrats Serena!
Simply one of the greatest tennis players of our generation! Congrats 2008 US Open Champion! Match Score, 6-4, 7-5!
I have always been a fan of Serena Williams and her older sister Venus. They have really made the sport fun to watch over the past 10 years. Yes, I admit I watch tennis, on TV nonetheless. Ha ha, laugh all you want. It is very exciting!
It's the Williams sisters have really made it exciting to watch. They have won many major championships in their long storied tennis careers. They have come a long way from their humble beginnings, Serena being born in Flint, Michigan and raised in Compton, CA (aka, most dangerous inner city/inner suburban are in the United States). You are lucky to make it out of there alive, so you can imagine what it means to sit on top of the world as the number one seeded womens tennis player!
Her tennis ability is second to none and I never tire from watching her play. The grunts I can do without though...but that seems to be so popular now, even the men are starting to do it ;-)
21.8.08
$11,582 per Month Car Payment
You read the title right, you can own this car for a paltry $11,582.00 per month:
Or if you prefer Maybach’s, this one is ONLY $7,075.00 every 30 days:
That is double my mortgage payment. What the heck! But hey it’s all about being seen on the road. With the Mayback, I would have to hire someone to drive it... I mean find someone to pay ME to drive ME around. My brother’s would definitely do it.
If you read the post about the M3 game my bro’s and I play, http://yourfavoriteanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/03/oh-no.html
I got another text message just a little while ago from somewhere in the dairyland of Wisconsin and Chicago..but no picture was attached....so no points were awarded. R claimed it was zipping past him weaving in and out of traffic. If I know my brother, he would have been right behind him doing the exactly same thing, first because he enjoys that type of driving and second to snap a picture to send to us. I think he’s pulling our legs. I'll have see who has the gold, sliver and bronze (and also the coal) medal positions in our lil' game. I'll probably be the one wearing the lump of coal around my neck.
Or if you prefer Maybach’s, this one is ONLY $7,075.00 every 30 days:
That is double my mortgage payment. What the heck! But hey it’s all about being seen on the road. With the Mayback, I would have to hire someone to drive it... I mean find someone to pay ME to drive ME around. My brother’s would definitely do it.
If you read the post about the M3 game my bro’s and I play, http://yourfavoriteanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/03/oh-no.html
I got another text message just a little while ago from somewhere in the dairyland of Wisconsin and Chicago..but no picture was attached....so no points were awarded. R claimed it was zipping past him weaving in and out of traffic. If I know my brother, he would have been right behind him doing the exactly same thing, first because he enjoys that type of driving and second to snap a picture to send to us. I think he’s pulling our legs. I'll have see who has the gold, sliver and bronze (and also the coal) medal positions in our lil' game. I'll probably be the one wearing the lump of coal around my neck.
18.8.08
Hard life for Arab Americans
Wow, I knew things were tough, but not this tough. How these guys just don't pack up and head back home, I don't know. I could never do what they do, especially being that far from my family......masakeeen, indeed.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/METRO08/808180351
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/METRO08/808180351
15.8.08
N.Y.C.
"......i'm getting pages out of new jersey from courtney b
tellin me about a party up in n y c
and can i make it damn right
i'll be on the next flight
payin cash first class sittin next to vanna white......" Ride with Me lyrics. Nelly.
I could never, ever live in NYC, but LOVE to visit. Will go to Times Square and maybe visit Lady Liberty. It rained the entire drive until it was time to cross over the Tappan Zee and the sun comes out to welcome me! The traffic was crazy....took 1.5 hours to move 1 mile. OUCH! Good thing NJ has cheap gas. I think it's 3.53 or so per gallon.
tellin me about a party up in n y c
and can i make it damn right
i'll be on the next flight
payin cash first class sittin next to vanna white......" Ride with Me lyrics. Nelly.
I could never, ever live in NYC, but LOVE to visit. Will go to Times Square and maybe visit Lady Liberty. It rained the entire drive until it was time to cross over the Tappan Zee and the sun comes out to welcome me! The traffic was crazy....took 1.5 hours to move 1 mile. OUCH! Good thing NJ has cheap gas. I think it's 3.53 or so per gallon.
14.8.08
Traffic Deaths
Traffic deaths in Jordan, 9xx per year while in the US they are 41,xxx per year.
Number of cars in Jordan are probably <1,000,000> 100,000,000 and I would bet > 150M.
Number of cars in Jordan are probably <1,000,000> 100,000,000 and I would bet > 150M.
7.8.08
Help Give Free Mammograms
Hope none of you or you loved ones ever have to suffer from this horrible ailment. Over the past few years breast cancer has touched me too close to home....mothers and sisters of good friends and several women I work with have been diagnoised. They are lucky because it was discovered early on, but for many, the yearly mammograms are too cost prohibitive.
The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on ¡donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com How about bookmarking and clicking it everyday?
On behalf of the the many, thank you!
The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on ¡donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com How about bookmarking and clicking it everyday?
On behalf of the the many, thank you!
1.8.08
I found $1000!!
As I was walking into my office this moring, I saw an envelope on the ground that I picked up. Everyone who works in the office buildings where my office is located parks in the same parking structure (or multi-level car park for those of you that are Brits) and it's behind the secuity fence, so not just anyone can park there. I figured I would be able to find the rightful owner.
I glance down at the envelope and discover there's no name! Now what?!?!?! The envelope was already opened so I lift the flap and what do I find...two checks already endorsed. For a quick second I thought of laundering the checks and going shopping in New York City this weekend! New suit, a few tickets to a show, and a nice dinner....all on someone else's dime! Yeah, sounds fantastic!! But there are cameras all over the place and definitely at every turn in the structure. Quickly back to my senses...if they pull the security tapes they would see me picking up the envelope and my fingerprints are all over the checks. Scratch that idea.
I get to my office and search on the online address book and there are no matches. I read who the check was from and realized it's payable to someone from the housekeeping crew. And as those people don't make too much money to begin with (or what I thought, hell $1000 per month...that is a lot!!) and it being the beginning of the month, I am sure they had bills to pay THIS weekend. So I really needed to get these checks to them before noon as our company works 1/2 day on Friday. So I go around asking the other cleaning people if they know such and such a person. No such luck. After roaming the halls aimlessly for two hours and many of my colleagues giving me dirty looks, as if to say get your lazy @$$ to work, I can't locate the rightful owner anywhere. My mind wanders back to New York....it's daring me to go to the onsite credit union and cash them. Come on, you know you want too! New York, THIS WEEKEND! I am fighting the urge...fighting with all my will. I can't go through with it...I've see what the inside of a jail looks like. For $1000, no way. Not even for $100,000,000,000.00 Well for that much maybe, but no way in hell for a measly $1000.
So in the end, I resorted to giving the envelope to the security guards in hopes they could find the rightful owner. Hope the owner got his checks back. But I should have left my name wth the guards...there might have been a reward. Might have been at least enough to buy a coffee come Monday.
I glance down at the envelope and discover there's no name! Now what?!?!?! The envelope was already opened so I lift the flap and what do I find...two checks already endorsed. For a quick second I thought of laundering the checks and going shopping in New York City this weekend! New suit, a few tickets to a show, and a nice dinner....all on someone else's dime! Yeah, sounds fantastic!! But there are cameras all over the place and definitely at every turn in the structure. Quickly back to my senses...if they pull the security tapes they would see me picking up the envelope and my fingerprints are all over the checks. Scratch that idea.
I get to my office and search on the online address book and there are no matches. I read who the check was from and realized it's payable to someone from the housekeeping crew. And as those people don't make too much money to begin with (or what I thought, hell $1000 per month...that is a lot!!) and it being the beginning of the month, I am sure they had bills to pay THIS weekend. So I really needed to get these checks to them before noon as our company works 1/2 day on Friday. So I go around asking the other cleaning people if they know such and such a person. No such luck. After roaming the halls aimlessly for two hours and many of my colleagues giving me dirty looks, as if to say get your lazy @$$ to work, I can't locate the rightful owner anywhere. My mind wanders back to New York....it's daring me to go to the onsite credit union and cash them. Come on, you know you want too! New York, THIS WEEKEND! I am fighting the urge...fighting with all my will. I can't go through with it...I've see what the inside of a jail looks like. For $1000, no way. Not even for $100,000,000,000.00 Well for that much maybe, but no way in hell for a measly $1000.
So in the end, I resorted to giving the envelope to the security guards in hopes they could find the rightful owner. Hope the owner got his checks back. But I should have left my name wth the guards...there might have been a reward. Might have been at least enough to buy a coffee come Monday.
29.7.08
Clever Inventions
Lock Cup - Anti-Theft Coffee Cup. Are you tired of others stealing your coffee cup? Well now there’s a solution. The Lock - Cup has a hole which prevents most people from using it. Only the owner of the cup can use his/hers shaped key to close the hole.
TRAVELER’S PHRASE BOOK T-SHIRTIf you are traveling a lot and don’t always know the language of the country you are visiting, then this T-shirt is for you. It has a phrase book printed on it so just point a finger at the pictogram you need and then point it twice at the question mark, which means, “Where is it?” and in no time you have found what you were looking for… or not.
27.7.08
Noor Makes News in America
I don't watch the the show Noor at all....and I definitely don't understand all the craze. It seems that it is more that that of Friends in the 1990's in the US. It has started to make the newspapers in the US. Can some explain why is it so popular?
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/ENT10/807270321/1020
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/ENT10/807270321/1020
22.7.08
Not Giving a Rats @$$
We are in the home stretch of the softball season and we are in dead last place. One win and we're in double digits for the number of losses. Last night's game was entirely way too much fun. We had so much fun and the entire team hung out in the ballpark parking lot afterwards well into the night....so late in fact that the police patrol changed shifts while we were out enjoying some laughs and drinks. We even ordered pizza to the parking lot!
So you might want to know the score....we stopping giving a $#!T....we played all 7 innings though, taking the #1 ranked team in our league the whole way. We didn't lose by the mercy rule. The final score was I think 13-7, them. :-( But the antics were in full effect. We were throwing wild balls, swinging at pitches that were so far out of the strike zone they practically landed on the grass (we were taking no walks), yelling at our own players and arguing with the umpires just for the sake of arguing. Even yours truely got to pitch. And let me just say, my earned run average (ERA) went off the charts! Let me fill you in on a secret, having a high ERA, is NOT a good thing. That means the other teams is kicking your butts, BAD!!!!!!! So next week we have many crazy things planned...it's not like we are going to win the league title or any trophies, so we might as well have even more fun. I didn't think we could top last night....but the idea box is in full swing (pun intended) and it is going to be wild. Last night my stomach hurt from laughing so much, and I lost my voice from yelling from deep center field...next week we'll go down in the history books for the stuff we are going to pull off.
So you might want to know the score....we stopping giving a $#!T....we played all 7 innings though, taking the #1 ranked team in our league the whole way. We didn't lose by the mercy rule. The final score was I think 13-7, them. :-( But the antics were in full effect. We were throwing wild balls, swinging at pitches that were so far out of the strike zone they practically landed on the grass (we were taking no walks), yelling at our own players and arguing with the umpires just for the sake of arguing. Even yours truely got to pitch. And let me just say, my earned run average (ERA) went off the charts! Let me fill you in on a secret, having a high ERA, is NOT a good thing. That means the other teams is kicking your butts, BAD!!!!!!! So next week we have many crazy things planned...it's not like we are going to win the league title or any trophies, so we might as well have even more fun. I didn't think we could top last night....but the idea box is in full swing (pun intended) and it is going to be wild. Last night my stomach hurt from laughing so much, and I lost my voice from yelling from deep center field...next week we'll go down in the history books for the stuff we are going to pull off.
19.7.08
Losing by way of D/Q
I've always had a strong dislike for Michelle Wie. I think she is arrogant and I really hate the way she carries herself. Might be due to her age, might be to her just being herself. I might come across as a jackass, but I take pleasure in seeing hightlight of her disasterous play on ESPN Sportscenter...quite the opposite of when I see the Pistons win basketball games. This week Miss Wie played in the State Farm Class, a golf tournament, and she had a few disappointments during the week. But none was bigger than being disqualified for being forgetful. Her mistake was that she did not sign her scorecard after her round of golf. Yes something as simple as that. The LPGA, Ladies Professional Golf Association, runs a tight ship don't they? Sorry Michelle, I hope you never win a tournament in your career and I will be there taking pleasure in that.
I think that I decide on who I cheer and who I jeer based on how they carry themselves. I don't like the hard asses, thugs, murderers or wife beaters so prevalent in professional sports. These guys can rot in hell for all I care. I like seeing them go down in defeat and get shunned by everyone. I take great pleasure in seeing them embarrassed, dunked on, scored on, or getting injured. In my opinion they deserve worse.
But for those who are just think they are better than everyone else, I just settle for seeing them lose and lose alot! Sorry Michelle, I think you should find another profession or a new attitude.
I think that I decide on who I cheer and who I jeer based on how they carry themselves. I don't like the hard asses, thugs, murderers or wife beaters so prevalent in professional sports. These guys can rot in hell for all I care. I like seeing them go down in defeat and get shunned by everyone. I take great pleasure in seeing them embarrassed, dunked on, scored on, or getting injured. In my opinion they deserve worse.
But for those who are just think they are better than everyone else, I just settle for seeing them lose and lose alot! Sorry Michelle, I think you should find another profession or a new attitude.
14.7.08
13.7.08
Following up my last post on on gas prices, you won't even guess how poor fuel economy you'd get when travelling at this speed...probably 3 mpg?
What can I say we were in a hurry!! The speedometer has a top speed of 140, but the car computer wouldn't let us go above 107. I was teaching my brother to drive :-)
This is no where near to my top speed driving/sitting in an automobile. What is the fastest you've ever gone in a car? Don't worry I won't be handing out tickets.
11.7.08
Miles Per Gallon (mpg)
With the price of gasoline going up 40% in the last year in the US, I am now paying $4.49 for 87 octane gasoline. I drive a Jeep and get 14.8 miles per gallon in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. When I drive the speed limit (which fluctuates between 55 to 65 in my state and let me add which I do 300% of the time, ha ha) I can get the fuel efficiency to spike to 22.1 mpg. For you Jordan based readers: for each litre I get 6.29 kilometers of city driving and can travel 8.08 km per litre on the highway. That type fuel efficiency would make anyone mad, but I see a darker shade of red when my friends who run their cars on veggie oil or get 30+ miles per gallon, rub it in knowing that I can actually see the gauge head towards the "E" when I turn on the A/C.
A few weeks ago I started to feel a little better about having to dish out $85.73 to fill up my tank. As I was driving with my friend he all of sudden starts to yell and points at the dashboard gauges...I asked him what was up thinking some service light illuminated and we would be stuck in the middle of nowhere. His reply, "I am getting 12 miles per gallon on the HIGHWAY!". Everyone knows that Hummer's are fuel hogs, but I guess I never realized they were that bad. Poor guy, he's probably getting 8 or 9 miles per gallon in the city....half of what I was complaining about. YIKES. Glad I couldn't afford to buy a Hummer...cause if I bought one then there is now way I could afford to drive it.
A few weeks ago I started to feel a little better about having to dish out $85.73 to fill up my tank. As I was driving with my friend he all of sudden starts to yell and points at the dashboard gauges...I asked him what was up thinking some service light illuminated and we would be stuck in the middle of nowhere. His reply, "I am getting 12 miles per gallon on the HIGHWAY!". Everyone knows that Hummer's are fuel hogs, but I guess I never realized they were that bad. Poor guy, he's probably getting 8 or 9 miles per gallon in the city....half of what I was complaining about. YIKES. Glad I couldn't afford to buy a Hummer...cause if I bought one then there is now way I could afford to drive it.
9.7.08
On 15 Day DL
Two weeks ago I placed myself on the 15 day disabled list for softball....not that my shoulder injury had anything to do with it....I was busy moving to a new place, so I skipped one game to get settled in.
But this past Monday I was back in action and I don't know what was more painful, throwing with a torn rotator cuff or watching my team self destruct before my eyes. I think the pain of the loss was greater then the throbbing coming from my throwing arm's shoulder. I batted 1 for 3 (my trademark single, and two first pitch swings the the shortstop had to make amazing plays on for the out). That coming after batting 8 for 8 over the last few games....I was on fire and hit the fence a few weeks ago just a few feet from putting it out of the park. I played third base for the first time in my career for the first few innings and had some great stops on hard hit balls. We turned a double play....but the second basewoman just didn't have her head in the game and it frustrated me that I was getting the ball to her but she couldn't find the base for the many out that slipped away from us. For me throwing became extremely painful as the game wore on. Then they moved me to short centerfield to back up the shortstop who was not doing much to STOP any balls hit to him....and also the second basewomen who did a fine job towards the end of the game (so maybe it was my throwing that was taking her off her game early on). But we shot ourselves in the foot as we dropped balls, had plenty of errors and our pitcher walked 5 straight batters for a few runs for the opposing team. Very frustrating and even moreso that the opposing team was not swinging the bat and settling for walks (in my mind pathetic given the league is for fun and recreation and they should worry about hitting the ball and putting it into play). On a hot humid night, the colorful language came out and the body language was even louder.
What a shame this season is becoming....our team was making a push for the league crown only to see our efforts come up short with injuries and travel schedules taking the best players out of the line up. So we again find ourselves at the bottom in the standings going into the last 3 games. Unfortunately we won't make the playoffs in August, so that will give me time to recover before our annual company intra-departmental soccer match which will be held in September..not that I will use my shoulder much...but I was really wanting to compete in the triathalon in August as part of a three person team...I would would have been the swimer, but I've had to back out. Oh well, maybe next year.
But this past Monday I was back in action and I don't know what was more painful, throwing with a torn rotator cuff or watching my team self destruct before my eyes. I think the pain of the loss was greater then the throbbing coming from my throwing arm's shoulder. I batted 1 for 3 (my trademark single, and two first pitch swings the the shortstop had to make amazing plays on for the out). That coming after batting 8 for 8 over the last few games....I was on fire and hit the fence a few weeks ago just a few feet from putting it out of the park. I played third base for the first time in my career for the first few innings and had some great stops on hard hit balls. We turned a double play....but the second basewoman just didn't have her head in the game and it frustrated me that I was getting the ball to her but she couldn't find the base for the many out that slipped away from us. For me throwing became extremely painful as the game wore on. Then they moved me to short centerfield to back up the shortstop who was not doing much to STOP any balls hit to him....and also the second basewomen who did a fine job towards the end of the game (so maybe it was my throwing that was taking her off her game early on). But we shot ourselves in the foot as we dropped balls, had plenty of errors and our pitcher walked 5 straight batters for a few runs for the opposing team. Very frustrating and even moreso that the opposing team was not swinging the bat and settling for walks (in my mind pathetic given the league is for fun and recreation and they should worry about hitting the ball and putting it into play). On a hot humid night, the colorful language came out and the body language was even louder.
What a shame this season is becoming....our team was making a push for the league crown only to see our efforts come up short with injuries and travel schedules taking the best players out of the line up. So we again find ourselves at the bottom in the standings going into the last 3 games. Unfortunately we won't make the playoffs in August, so that will give me time to recover before our annual company intra-departmental soccer match which will be held in September..not that I will use my shoulder much...but I was really wanting to compete in the triathalon in August as part of a three person team...I would would have been the swimer, but I've had to back out. Oh well, maybe next year.
30.6.08
abc Primetime - How Muslims Are Treated In USA
I think this is a few months old...but still eye opening.
19.6.08
Chalk one up for the good guys
Bad guys beware. You just never know who's standing next to you. And for the good guys, it's sorta like an American Express Card, you shouldn't leave home with out it. LOL.
Hot off the presses:
Robber gets a surprise
Customer draws handgun to stop theft at Canton bank
It took a day of congratulatory calls from friends, customers and complete strangers before Nabil Fawzi realized the risk he took by pulling a gun on the would-be bank robber standing just feet away, claiming to have a bomb.
But the Ypsilanti Township gas station owner and father of three said he wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
"In my situation, I felt like I could do it, and I just did it because it felt like it was the right thing to do,'' said Fawzi, 39.
Fawzi was the first customer at the Comerica Bank branch on Michigan Avenue in Canton Township at 9 a.m. Monday when police say would-be bank robber Joseph Webster, 53, of Ypsilanti walked in.
Webster allegedly handed a teller a note demanding money and claiming to have bomb strapped to his chest.
Fawzi, who frequently visits the branch on his daily commute from his home in Dearborn to his Sunoco station on Ecorse Road, noticed his own teller was acting strangely. When he asked what was wrong and she indicated a robbery was under way, Fawzi took action.
He said the robber at the adjacent teller station kept one hand behind his back at all times until the teller began doling out dollar bills. The robber demanded a stack of larger bills instead and moved both hands to the window to collect the cash.
Within seconds, Fawzi drew his handgun, racked a round in the chamber and told the man that he wasn't robbing the bank.
"But I have a bomb,'' the robber told Fawzi.
"I don't care,'' Fawzi replied. "You are not robbing this bank today.''
Fawzi said he searched Webster and found no bomb or any other weapons. Webster sat in a chair at gunpoint until police arrived.
Webster, 53, was arraigned on single counts of bank robbery, armed robbery and third offense habitual offender due to prior convictions for a sex offense and robbery. He was jailed on $100,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 27.
After the incident, Fawzi showed police his concealed weapons permit and was released.
Canton Police Detective Sgt. Rick Pomorski credited the customer for his quick actions - but noted that police prefer citizens to serve as witnesses instead of taking matters into their own hands in dangerous situations.
"We never condone that civilians take action when there's a propensity for violence and what could happen,'' Pomorski said. "We prefer they maintain their distance. That said, we're thankful for the way it turned out. He did a wonderful job securing the scene until we got there.''
Fawzi, who is expecting his fourth child this fall, said he would probably would have acted differently if Webster had a gun, but he just did not believe the bomb threat. The Lebanese native said he was reacting on instincts he learned during five years of service in that country's army.
"When I saw his hands were empty I thought this was the right time to act, that if I could stop him, I would stop him.''
If convicted, Webster faces up to 25 years in prison.
Fawzi said he and his business partner will celebrate by discounting gas by 5 cents and giving away hot dogs at the station located at 1024 Ecorse Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Hot off the presses:
Robber gets a surprise
Customer draws handgun to stop theft at Canton bank
It took a day of congratulatory calls from friends, customers and complete strangers before Nabil Fawzi realized the risk he took by pulling a gun on the would-be bank robber standing just feet away, claiming to have a bomb.
But the Ypsilanti Township gas station owner and father of three said he wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
"In my situation, I felt like I could do it, and I just did it because it felt like it was the right thing to do,'' said Fawzi, 39.
Fawzi was the first customer at the Comerica Bank branch on Michigan Avenue in Canton Township at 9 a.m. Monday when police say would-be bank robber Joseph Webster, 53, of Ypsilanti walked in.
Webster allegedly handed a teller a note demanding money and claiming to have bomb strapped to his chest.
Fawzi, who frequently visits the branch on his daily commute from his home in Dearborn to his Sunoco station on Ecorse Road, noticed his own teller was acting strangely. When he asked what was wrong and she indicated a robbery was under way, Fawzi took action.
He said the robber at the adjacent teller station kept one hand behind his back at all times until the teller began doling out dollar bills. The robber demanded a stack of larger bills instead and moved both hands to the window to collect the cash.
Within seconds, Fawzi drew his handgun, racked a round in the chamber and told the man that he wasn't robbing the bank.
"But I have a bomb,'' the robber told Fawzi.
"I don't care,'' Fawzi replied. "You are not robbing this bank today.''
Fawzi said he searched Webster and found no bomb or any other weapons. Webster sat in a chair at gunpoint until police arrived.
Webster, 53, was arraigned on single counts of bank robbery, armed robbery and third offense habitual offender due to prior convictions for a sex offense and robbery. He was jailed on $100,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 27.
After the incident, Fawzi showed police his concealed weapons permit and was released.
Canton Police Detective Sgt. Rick Pomorski credited the customer for his quick actions - but noted that police prefer citizens to serve as witnesses instead of taking matters into their own hands in dangerous situations.
"We never condone that civilians take action when there's a propensity for violence and what could happen,'' Pomorski said. "We prefer they maintain their distance. That said, we're thankful for the way it turned out. He did a wonderful job securing the scene until we got there.''
Fawzi, who is expecting his fourth child this fall, said he would probably would have acted differently if Webster had a gun, but he just did not believe the bomb threat. The Lebanese native said he was reacting on instincts he learned during five years of service in that country's army.
"When I saw his hands were empty I thought this was the right time to act, that if I could stop him, I would stop him.''
If convicted, Webster faces up to 25 years in prison.
Fawzi said he and his business partner will celebrate by discounting gas by 5 cents and giving away hot dogs at the station located at 1024 Ecorse Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
18.6.08
R.I.P Dawn
God has called to heaven one of the most wonderful people I had to pleasure of knowing. OMG, this is a total shock to me and I am breaking down at work. I just heard the news this morning as I opened my email that she passed away.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-i55-fatal-web-jun18,0,3125101.story
Rest among the angels Dawn, you will be sorely missed and the world is a little darker today as you radiant smile no longer is among us. You've been there for many others as you have for me and I will never forget you. You and Hatem had a few wonderful years together and I cannot imagine what he is going through right now. But I know you two will see one another one day. R.I.P my friend.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-i55-fatal-web-jun18,0,3125101.story
Rest among the angels Dawn, you will be sorely missed and the world is a little darker today as you radiant smile no longer is among us. You've been there for many others as you have for me and I will never forget you. You and Hatem had a few wonderful years together and I cannot imagine what he is going through right now. But I know you two will see one another one day. R.I.P my friend.
10.6.08
7.6.08
10 years later....
This event comes back to haunt me from time to time and I was surprised that it was 10 years ago. It seems like just yesterday that it happened. OMG. What senselessness and craziness. I am still speachless and am disgusted that humans can do things like this to one another. So on the day that a black man becomes the democratic party nominee for president of the United States, we are reminded that we still have a long way to go...not just in America but around the globe. I hope Obama can set in motion a wave that sweeps the world in which we can see the dream of MLK Jr. become reality.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25008925
JASPER, Texas - Ten years after James Byrd Jr. was dragged to death down a three-mile stretch of country road simply because he was black, some things have changed in Jasper.
Black and white teenagers can be seen playing basketball together at James Byrd Jr. Memorial Park. Blacks now make up a majority on the City Council. And an iron fence no longer separates the graves of whites and blacks in the 171-year-old cemetery where Byrd is buried.
But Byrd's murder, which jolted the nation with its utter brutality and unvarnished racism, still casts a shadow over this timber town in deep East Texas. And many folks here think it always will.
"It is something we have to live with the rest of our lives," said Walter Diggles, a black civic leader and executive director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments. "It is similar to Dallas, when people think of the JFK assassination, or Memphis, when people think of Martin Luther King's murder."
Ever since three white men beat the 49-year-old Byrd, chained him by the ankles to the bumper of a Ford pickup, then pulled him down Huff Creek Road in the early hours of June 7, 1998, Jasper has been almost synonymous with the horrors of racism.
Byrd's remains were found scattered in 75 places along the twisting path that cuts through a pine forest. His head and right arm were discovered about a mile from his mangled torso.
'Tragedy can have a deep impact'A decade later, according to Diggles, some people are still afraid to visit Jasper, a town of 8,000 where the main intersection is a cluster of fast-food places and restaurants offering chicken fried steak specials. Some businesses have been reluctant to come to town, which is badly in need of industry.
However, Diggles and many others say there is a hopeful part of the story too often overlooked: The murder forced the people of Jasper, a town whose population is almost evenly divided between black and white, to confront their prejudices.
"Afterward, people came together, worked together and healed together," said R.C. Horn, who was mayor at the time and is black. "Some people were not even aware of what was going on inside themselves. But after it happened, everyone took a look at themselves to see what was inside."
Byrd's murderers were quickly arrested and convicted, offering some comfort that justice was served. John William King and Lawrence Russell Brewer are now on death row. Shawn Allen Berry is serving a life sentence.
Clergy — both black and white — called on the people of Jasper to stay calm and stay home when the Black Panthers and the Ku Klux Klan came to march. And the residents did. Many also saw the response of the Byrd family ("We are not hating; we are hurting," James Byrd Sr. said after his son's murder) as inspiring, ennobling.
"This was a mother who lost her son in the most cruel way, yet she showed and taught her family by her example that she is able to forgive," said the Rev. Ronald Foshage, a white priest at St. Michael's Parish. "If people can forgive, and if I can learn to forgive in that fashion, then this tragedy can have a deep impact on our lives."
Changed attitudesAfter Byrd's death, the family created the James Byrd Jr. Foundation for Racial Healing, which conducts diversity workshops, awards scholarships to minorities and helped win passage of a hate crime bill in Texas. The foundation also runs an oral history project on racism; more than 2,600 people have described their experiences.
Foshage and other townspeople said that before the killing, blacks and whites sat separately at football games and in other public settings. But now, they say, they see less of that, with blacks and whites mingling more, and they attribute that to the Byrd family's efforts to fight bigotry.
Similarly, townspeople are attributing the black majority on the City Council to changed attitudes.
Betty Byrd Boatner, Byrd's younger sister, said that before the killing, she didn't see whites and blacks playing basketball together. As for the segregated graveyard, the iron fence came down a few years ago.
On Saturday, as they have every year on the anniversary of Byrd's death, the Byrds will hold a service — not just as a memorial, but also as a challenge to those still shackled by prejudice.
"When you do things that hurt someone else, you need to remember that that person is someone's child," Boatner said. "My brother was someone's child. If it was your family, your brother, your sister, how would you handle it?"
There is still work to do. A few years back, Byrd's gravesite was vandalized and defaced with slurs.
"We're getting there," Boatner said, "but it just takes time."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25008925
JASPER, Texas - Ten years after James Byrd Jr. was dragged to death down a three-mile stretch of country road simply because he was black, some things have changed in Jasper.
Black and white teenagers can be seen playing basketball together at James Byrd Jr. Memorial Park. Blacks now make up a majority on the City Council. And an iron fence no longer separates the graves of whites and blacks in the 171-year-old cemetery where Byrd is buried.
But Byrd's murder, which jolted the nation with its utter brutality and unvarnished racism, still casts a shadow over this timber town in deep East Texas. And many folks here think it always will.
"It is something we have to live with the rest of our lives," said Walter Diggles, a black civic leader and executive director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments. "It is similar to Dallas, when people think of the JFK assassination, or Memphis, when people think of Martin Luther King's murder."
Ever since three white men beat the 49-year-old Byrd, chained him by the ankles to the bumper of a Ford pickup, then pulled him down Huff Creek Road in the early hours of June 7, 1998, Jasper has been almost synonymous with the horrors of racism.
Byrd's remains were found scattered in 75 places along the twisting path that cuts through a pine forest. His head and right arm were discovered about a mile from his mangled torso.
'Tragedy can have a deep impact'A decade later, according to Diggles, some people are still afraid to visit Jasper, a town of 8,000 where the main intersection is a cluster of fast-food places and restaurants offering chicken fried steak specials. Some businesses have been reluctant to come to town, which is badly in need of industry.
However, Diggles and many others say there is a hopeful part of the story too often overlooked: The murder forced the people of Jasper, a town whose population is almost evenly divided between black and white, to confront their prejudices.
"Afterward, people came together, worked together and healed together," said R.C. Horn, who was mayor at the time and is black. "Some people were not even aware of what was going on inside themselves. But after it happened, everyone took a look at themselves to see what was inside."
Byrd's murderers were quickly arrested and convicted, offering some comfort that justice was served. John William King and Lawrence Russell Brewer are now on death row. Shawn Allen Berry is serving a life sentence.
Clergy — both black and white — called on the people of Jasper to stay calm and stay home when the Black Panthers and the Ku Klux Klan came to march. And the residents did. Many also saw the response of the Byrd family ("We are not hating; we are hurting," James Byrd Sr. said after his son's murder) as inspiring, ennobling.
"This was a mother who lost her son in the most cruel way, yet she showed and taught her family by her example that she is able to forgive," said the Rev. Ronald Foshage, a white priest at St. Michael's Parish. "If people can forgive, and if I can learn to forgive in that fashion, then this tragedy can have a deep impact on our lives."
Changed attitudesAfter Byrd's death, the family created the James Byrd Jr. Foundation for Racial Healing, which conducts diversity workshops, awards scholarships to minorities and helped win passage of a hate crime bill in Texas. The foundation also runs an oral history project on racism; more than 2,600 people have described their experiences.
Foshage and other townspeople said that before the killing, blacks and whites sat separately at football games and in other public settings. But now, they say, they see less of that, with blacks and whites mingling more, and they attribute that to the Byrd family's efforts to fight bigotry.
Similarly, townspeople are attributing the black majority on the City Council to changed attitudes.
Betty Byrd Boatner, Byrd's younger sister, said that before the killing, she didn't see whites and blacks playing basketball together. As for the segregated graveyard, the iron fence came down a few years ago.
On Saturday, as they have every year on the anniversary of Byrd's death, the Byrds will hold a service — not just as a memorial, but also as a challenge to those still shackled by prejudice.
"When you do things that hurt someone else, you need to remember that that person is someone's child," Boatner said. "My brother was someone's child. If it was your family, your brother, your sister, how would you handle it?"
There is still work to do. A few years back, Byrd's gravesite was vandalized and defaced with slurs.
"We're getting there," Boatner said, "but it just takes time."
31.5.08
What loves means........
'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'Rebecca- age 8
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'Billy - age
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'Karl - age 5
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'Chrissy - age 6
'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'Terri - age 4
'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'Danny - age 7
'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'Emily - age 8'
Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'Nikka - age 6(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'Tommy - age 6
'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'Cindy - age 8
'My mommy loves me more than anybodyYou don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'Clare - age 6
'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'Elaine-age 5'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'Chris - age 7'
Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'Mary Ann - age 4
'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'Lauren - age 4
'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)Karen - age 7
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'Mark - age 6
'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'Jessica - age 8
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,'Nothing, I just helped him cry'
WOW.
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'Billy - age
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'Karl - age 5
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'Chrissy - age 6
'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'Terri - age 4
'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'Danny - age 7
'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'Emily - age 8'
Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'Nikka - age 6(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'Tommy - age 6
'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'Cindy - age 8
'My mommy loves me more than anybodyYou don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'Clare - age 6
'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'Elaine-age 5'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'Chris - age 7'
Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'Mary Ann - age 4
'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'Lauren - age 4
'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)Karen - age 7
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'Mark - age 6
'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'Jessica - age 8
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,'Nothing, I just helped him cry'
WOW.
21.5.08
Amazing....
Hope it brings as big of a smile to your face as it did mine....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_parrot_returns
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_parrot_returns
20.5.08
Don't call it a comeback.....
I went 2 for 2 yesterday...not a bad game for me considering how pathetic I've played last two times on the softball diamond. BUT........ the mercy rule went into effect after the fifth inning...we were down by more than 10 runs and well that was all she wrote!
Both my hits were singles and I didn't get any support from the hitters behind me and was LOB (left on base) as each inning ended.
The other team cranked two HR (home runs) over the fence. 285 yards was posted on the fence in dead center but this one dude hit it over by a mile...well it seemed like a mile. I couldn't tell where it landed as the thick brush obstructed my view for the first HR. For the second, as soon as it left his bat I didn't even move....I watched as it travelled 20 feet above my head....not even worth looking to see where it landed. And that look on my face said it all.
Man do I hate losing. I A-B-S-O-L-T-E-L-Y H-A-T-E I-T
Next week we are off for Memorial Day, but come June 2 I will be ready for a new beginning!
Both my hits were singles and I didn't get any support from the hitters behind me and was LOB (left on base) as each inning ended.
The other team cranked two HR (home runs) over the fence. 285 yards was posted on the fence in dead center but this one dude hit it over by a mile...well it seemed like a mile. I couldn't tell where it landed as the thick brush obstructed my view for the first HR. For the second, as soon as it left his bat I didn't even move....I watched as it travelled 20 feet above my head....not even worth looking to see where it landed. And that look on my face said it all.
Man do I hate losing. I A-B-S-O-L-T-E-L-Y H-A-T-E I-T
Next week we are off for Memorial Day, but come June 2 I will be ready for a new beginning!
14.5.08
I bat 0 for 3 and we're 0 and 2
We lost again Monday night....and of course I did nothing to help my team. We'll I can't say nothing....I have a great catch that the circling wind took on a journey before it found the bottom of my glove! I had to show off my 15" vertical leaping ability by jumping to catch it before it quicly floated over my head. But my hitting, I continue to lead my team in strike outs, with two that night. One on a foul ball after the second strike and one swinging wildly before the ball even made it home plate....there was one strike I watched float by thinking I won't see another perfect pitch to hit like that one tonight. RATS!!! What is going on with me??!?!? I am officially in a hitting slump. Two strike outs in one game, I can go whole season without striking out. I guess I will be hitting the batting cages this weekend. On by second at bat, I took 3 straight balls and got the BB. Yeah it's three because in this league everyone starts with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike before they even get up to the plate. And also in this league, there is an additional outfielder allowed. That makes for 11 players in the field...they say the game moves faster....but I don't like either of these modifications one bit! I grew up playing baseball and moved to softball as I starting playing against other adults...and am used to their rules and flow of the game. My strong points include being able to place the ball anywhere on the field when I hit and track the ball down when playing the outfield. Lately though, my hitting confidence has been shaken and I let the pitcher shake me after I get behind in the count....it doesn't help that the opposing bench tends to get under my skin rather quickly. I actually invited one of their dugout teammates to join me in the batter's box on Monday so I could hear clearly the trash he was spewing from his mouth....he "politely" declined. ;-) I have to play it cool and let my playing do all my talking. We'll see on Monday if I come out swinging and can take one over the fence! I will let you know.....
7.5.08
Happy 18th, J!!!
The "baby" of the family is 18 today! WOW! I wonder what he and his crazy friends have planned for tonight. Yeah, tonight Wednesday. That kid never misses an opportunity to party! And he deserves it. He studies hard (well as hard a spoiled rotten teenager does) and works even harder. He has a great head on his shoulders and luckily doesn't get into any trouble....he knows I would take him to jail for even the most minor thing! Lucky for him I won't be on police duty tonight and hopefully he won't have to start dropping names and get me called into the captain's office! ;-)
I remember the night he was born...it seems just like yesterday! The next day I had a 35 page term paper due in American History. I was in the 11th grade...wow it sure has been a long time. In the weeks prior to the paper being due, the teacher repeatedly stated that under no circumstances would late papers be accepted. But the night before it was due, my whole family was at the hospital with Mom, welcoming the latest addition to our family into the world! I didn't have time to finish the paper....yes I waited until the last second to wrap it up...I just had a few pages and the bibliography left to complete....Shoot me! At class the next day we had to go up one at a time to turn in our paper...when my name was called I told her I didn't have it finished. It was if the Earth had came to a screeching halt! I was told to see her after class. I was in BIG TROUBLE! She started off by telling me I received a zero and the paper was worth 35% of the class grade. That meant that my A- was automatically an "E"...failure. I was terrified as in the US the 11th grade grades are the most important set of grades universities look at when they decide whether to accept an applicant. I saw my future quickly evaporate. After I explained to her what had happened and showed her the 33 pages I had completed, she was ok with me turning in the remainder the next day. I lucked out big time!
So J-lo(as I like to call him), as you turn 18, I don't want to give you any wise advice...you'd probably give me that glaring stare or probably just ignore me anyways. I think though some of my words get through to you...or at least I hope so! Of course we have our discussions as I like to call them, we sometimes cheer for opposing sport teams, sometimes I kick your @$$ at H-O-R-S-E and sometimes we get upset with one another and play that silly silent treatment game for a few days, but deep down we both know that we can pick up the phone at any time and know that someone who genuinely cares will pick up the other end. I know that no matter what and wherever we are, we will always be there for one another. And I know that although many years separate us, we are great friends and will always be. Happy Birthday Bro!
I remember the night he was born...it seems just like yesterday! The next day I had a 35 page term paper due in American History. I was in the 11th grade...wow it sure has been a long time. In the weeks prior to the paper being due, the teacher repeatedly stated that under no circumstances would late papers be accepted. But the night before it was due, my whole family was at the hospital with Mom, welcoming the latest addition to our family into the world! I didn't have time to finish the paper....yes I waited until the last second to wrap it up...I just had a few pages and the bibliography left to complete....Shoot me! At class the next day we had to go up one at a time to turn in our paper...when my name was called I told her I didn't have it finished. It was if the Earth had came to a screeching halt! I was told to see her after class. I was in BIG TROUBLE! She started off by telling me I received a zero and the paper was worth 35% of the class grade. That meant that my A- was automatically an "E"...failure. I was terrified as in the US the 11th grade grades are the most important set of grades universities look at when they decide whether to accept an applicant. I saw my future quickly evaporate. After I explained to her what had happened and showed her the 33 pages I had completed, she was ok with me turning in the remainder the next day. I lucked out big time!
So J-lo(as I like to call him), as you turn 18, I don't want to give you any wise advice...you'd probably give me that glaring stare or probably just ignore me anyways. I think though some of my words get through to you...or at least I hope so! Of course we have our discussions as I like to call them, we sometimes cheer for opposing sport teams, sometimes I kick your @$$ at H-O-R-S-E and sometimes we get upset with one another and play that silly silent treatment game for a few days, but deep down we both know that we can pick up the phone at any time and know that someone who genuinely cares will pick up the other end. I know that no matter what and wherever we are, we will always be there for one another. And I know that although many years separate us, we are great friends and will always be. Happy Birthday Bro!
6.5.08
0 for 3 and We're 0-1
Our first softball game was last night...went into extra innings...well, just one extra inning, but the sun was coming down quickly.
I batted horrible, and so unlike me. I guess I must go to the batting cages this week. I had 1 SO (strike out), 1 FO (Fly Out), and 1 FC (fielder's choice) to end the 5th inning. Pathetic. But I did have a MARVELOUS catch that I tracked down like a cheetah running down it's prey. It was simply, amazing. The other team even congratulated me on it! But my efforts with the glove were not enough to push our team to victory as we fell to a record of 0-1, with the score ending up 11-10. We just didn't capitalize on our MANY opportunities. Bone-headed base running, and walking 3 straight batters.
Next Monday we'll come out and redeem ourselves. I am wearing eye-black for extra toughness!
I batted horrible, and so unlike me. I guess I must go to the batting cages this week. I had 1 SO (strike out), 1 FO (Fly Out), and 1 FC (fielder's choice) to end the 5th inning. Pathetic. But I did have a MARVELOUS catch that I tracked down like a cheetah running down it's prey. It was simply, amazing. The other team even congratulated me on it! But my efforts with the glove were not enough to push our team to victory as we fell to a record of 0-1, with the score ending up 11-10. We just didn't capitalize on our MANY opportunities. Bone-headed base running, and walking 3 straight batters.
Next Monday we'll come out and redeem ourselves. I am wearing eye-black for extra toughness!
5.5.08
HE ASKED, SHE SAID.............
YES
---------------------------------------
J.R. figured his prom proposal had to be one-of-a-kind if it would have any chance of being accepted.
But the high school senior never imagined it would result in a suspension for himself and 12 of his varsity lacrosse teammates, whom he recruited to help spell out the message at a school soccer match via their derrieres.
The players displayed the question, "Will You Go To The Prom With Me? Yes or No?" on their posteriors while mooning the senior gal at her game.
She said yes. If I were her parents, there is no way I would let her go with him. I don't care how nice of kid he is.
---------------------------------------
My little brother, although not as, shall I say, dumb...kindly requested that the athletic director ask his potential date via the the stadium public address system if she'd like to go to the prom with him....in the middle of her lacrosse match. He was standing behind her with flowers. Talk about confidence! And he's just 17! (Note to self, I need him to give me a few pointers). I am happy to state that his proposal didn't make the front page of the newspaper (like the other kid's story) or result in a suspension. BTW, she said yes, but he knew that all along. I mean imagine the fallout that would have come from that had she said, "Um...I am already going with *****" or "NO!". When you got it, you got it! You go with your bad self, J.
---------------------------------------
Now comes the more scary part. My brother has been asking me about helicopter rentals and if I knew any one. Yeah, a helicopter!!! He states that concocted the crazy idea a few months ago. He was thinking that if he was going to the prom, he wanted to make it memorable and he didn't want to just rent a limousine or borrow a friends convertible....he wanted to arrive at the country club in a helicopter! Yes, he is nuts. But you have to admit that is classic. No one will ever forget that.
---------------------------------------
Now I've been critical of those weddings in Amman that seem SO over the top, but these HIGH SCHOOL proms are getting to be just like those. What ever happened to getting her a corsage, going out to dinner, and dancing the night away!
---------------------------------------
J.R. figured his prom proposal had to be one-of-a-kind if it would have any chance of being accepted.
But the high school senior never imagined it would result in a suspension for himself and 12 of his varsity lacrosse teammates, whom he recruited to help spell out the message at a school soccer match via their derrieres.
The players displayed the question, "Will You Go To The Prom With Me? Yes or No?" on their posteriors while mooning the senior gal at her game.
She said yes. If I were her parents, there is no way I would let her go with him. I don't care how nice of kid he is.
---------------------------------------
My little brother, although not as, shall I say, dumb...kindly requested that the athletic director ask his potential date via the the stadium public address system if she'd like to go to the prom with him....in the middle of her lacrosse match. He was standing behind her with flowers. Talk about confidence! And he's just 17! (Note to self, I need him to give me a few pointers). I am happy to state that his proposal didn't make the front page of the newspaper (like the other kid's story) or result in a suspension. BTW, she said yes, but he knew that all along. I mean imagine the fallout that would have come from that had she said, "Um...I am already going with *****" or "NO!". When you got it, you got it! You go with your bad self, J.
---------------------------------------
Now comes the more scary part. My brother has been asking me about helicopter rentals and if I knew any one. Yeah, a helicopter!!! He states that concocted the crazy idea a few months ago. He was thinking that if he was going to the prom, he wanted to make it memorable and he didn't want to just rent a limousine or borrow a friends convertible....he wanted to arrive at the country club in a helicopter! Yes, he is nuts. But you have to admit that is classic. No one will ever forget that.
---------------------------------------
Now I've been critical of those weddings in Amman that seem SO over the top, but these HIGH SCHOOL proms are getting to be just like those. What ever happened to getting her a corsage, going out to dinner, and dancing the night away!
2.5.08
1.5.08
I Bleed Maize and Blue!
Great Job Coach J. Me and Jlo are proud of you. You went out and got us two great QB's for the 2008 recruiting class and Sam McGuffie wouldn't have come without you staying on to coach him. Hopefully I will see you in a few weeks and we'll get to chat about these new developments! Do I smell National Championships!?!?!?!
30.4.08
But, If Not, by Dr. MLK Jr.
You may be 38 years old, as I happen to be.
And one day, some great opportunity stands before you
and calls upon you to stand up for some great principle,
some great issue, some great cause.
And you refuse to do it because you are afraid.
You refuse to do it because you want to live longer.
You’re afraid that you will lose your job,
or you’re afraid that you will be criticized
or that you will lose your popularity,
or you’re afraid that somebody will stab you,
or shoot at you or bomb your house;
so you refuse to take the stand.
Well you may go on and live until you are 90,
but you’re just as dead at 38 as you would be at 90.
And the cessation of breathing in your life is but the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit. You died when you refused to stand up for right. You died when you refused to stand up for truth. You refused to stand up for justice.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the sermon “But, If Not”
delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church November 5, 1967.
He was assassinated five months later on April 4, 1968.
And one day, some great opportunity stands before you
and calls upon you to stand up for some great principle,
some great issue, some great cause.
And you refuse to do it because you are afraid.
You refuse to do it because you want to live longer.
You’re afraid that you will lose your job,
or you’re afraid that you will be criticized
or that you will lose your popularity,
or you’re afraid that somebody will stab you,
or shoot at you or bomb your house;
so you refuse to take the stand.
Well you may go on and live until you are 90,
but you’re just as dead at 38 as you would be at 90.
And the cessation of breathing in your life is but the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit. You died when you refused to stand up for right. You died when you refused to stand up for truth. You refused to stand up for justice.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the sermon “But, If Not”
delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church November 5, 1967.
He was assassinated five months later on April 4, 1968.
27.3.08
WHAT THE %#@ IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE......
This is utterly diguesting and completely repulsive. How do such animals exist?
Torture Death Shocks Illinois Town
By JIM SUHR, Associated Press Writer
Posted on Mar 22, 1:16 AM EDT
ALTON, Ill. (AP) -- Banished to the basement, the 29-year-old mother with a childlike mind and another baby on the way had little more than a thin rug and a mattress to call her own on the chilly concrete floor.
Dorothy Dixon ate what she could forage from the refrigerator upstairs, where prosecutors say housemates used her for target practice with BBs, burned her with a glue gun and doused her with scalding liquid that peeled away her skin.
They torched what few clothes she had, authorities say, so she walked around naked. They often pummeled her with an aluminum bat or metal handle.
Dixon - six months pregnant - died after weeks of abuse. Police have charged two adults, three teenagers and a 12-year-old boy with murder in the case that has repulsed many in this Mississippi River town.
"This is heartbreaking," police Lt. David Hayes said. "It was almost as though they were making fun of the abuse they were administering. This woman was almost like living in a prison."
Investigators put much of the blame on Michelle Riley, 35, who they said befriended Dixon but pocketed monthly Social Security checks she got because of her developmental delays.
Dixon saw little, if any, of the money, Hayes said. For months she weathered the torment to keep a roof over her head and that of her year-old son, who weighed just 15 pounds when taken into state custody after his mom's death.
"I've never seen an almost conspiratorial effort by a group of people to continuously torture someone until she finally died, then not really show any remorse," Hayes said. "It was just a slow, torturous, tragic way to die. I highly doubt Dorothy Dixon even knew she was dying."
Riley, 43-year-old Judy Woods and three teenagers, including Riley's 15-year-old daughter, LeShelle McBride, are charged with first-degree murder, aggravated and heinous battery, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and unlawful restraint. Riley's 12-year-old son is charged as a juvenile.
Riley, her daughter, Woods and 16-year-old Benny Wilson have public defenders who did not immediately return messages for comment. An 18-year-old defendant, Michael Elliott, planned to get his own attorney, court records show.
All remain in jail on $1 million bond.
Messages left with a Chicago-area sister of Dixon went unreturned, but neighbors, Hayes and newspaper accounts offer a mosaic of the months leading to Dixon's demise inside the small, white, blue-shuttered house.
Riley and Dixon, police said, had lived in Quincy, a Mississippi River town about 100 miles north of St. Louis, Mo. Quincy is where Riley worked as a coordinator for a regional center that helps the developmentally disabled with housing and other services. Dixon was a client.
For years, an impoverished Riley struggled raising her children. Her use of methamphetamine and cocaine brought drug convictions in 2002 and 2004. But with treatment and housing help from the Quincy YWCA, Riley put her life in order - so much that in February of last year, the Quincy Herald-Whig did a story on her comeback.
Last summer, Dixon and Riley moved into the $800-a-month, three-bedroom rental in Alton about 15 miles north of St. Louis. From the start, neighbors Chad Hudson and Terri Brandt considered Riley trouble.
"Michelle was evil, vindictive. Manipulative," said Hudson, convinced the teenagers were Riley's powerless minions.
"She was angry, vicious," added Brandt.
Riley considered Dixon her slave, making her rub Riley's feet until Riley fell asleep and forcing her to run naked around the house when she got in trouble, the neighbors said.
"Being in their house was like being in a prison day room," Hudson said. "They just sat around the kitchen table and fought."
There was little question that Riley ruled the roost.
While doing fix-ups on the home last fall, landlord Steve Atkins saw Riley "barking orders" at the children and everyone else. Atkins joked to her whether he needed to call the Army and see if they wanted their drill sergeant back.
"She didn't laugh about it at all," Atkins said. "Obviously, I hit a nerve."
Atkins said Dixon generally kept to herself "but was always nice when she spoke to you." He saw no hints she'd been suffering or tortured.
"I would have never, ever suspected something like this," he said. "It's definitely shocking."
Police said Dixon was allowed out of the house but didn't say under what conditions. Hayes didn't know who the father of Dixon's fetus is.
Hayes said things apparently came to a head Jan. 30, when investigators believe that Woods, during a dispute, beat Dixon on the head with an object Hayes wouldn't identify. The next day Woods found her dead.
Hayes watched the autopsy and found her injuries disturbing. X-rays revealed roughly 30 BBs lodged in her. Deep-tissue burns covered about one-third of her body - her face, her chest, her arms and feet - and left her severely dehydrated. Her face and body showed signs of prolonged abuse. Many of her wounds were infected.
None of the injuries, Hayes said, proved singly fatal to Dixon. Her system already was taxed by her unborn baby.
"The autopsy sort of indicates her immune system just shut down," he said. "It was not capable of fending off any more."
In the rental home's basement, Atkins said, he found spots of blood in a shower and tiny smears on the concrete floor, washer and dryer.
"It's disgraceful the way this girl died, as kind and as sweet as this girl was," he said. "She didn't deserve to die the way she did. It's just terrible, senseless. It's just a total shame."
Torture Death Shocks Illinois Town
By JIM SUHR, Associated Press Writer
Posted on Mar 22, 1:16 AM EDT
ALTON, Ill. (AP) -- Banished to the basement, the 29-year-old mother with a childlike mind and another baby on the way had little more than a thin rug and a mattress to call her own on the chilly concrete floor.
Dorothy Dixon ate what she could forage from the refrigerator upstairs, where prosecutors say housemates used her for target practice with BBs, burned her with a glue gun and doused her with scalding liquid that peeled away her skin.
They torched what few clothes she had, authorities say, so she walked around naked. They often pummeled her with an aluminum bat or metal handle.
Dixon - six months pregnant - died after weeks of abuse. Police have charged two adults, three teenagers and a 12-year-old boy with murder in the case that has repulsed many in this Mississippi River town.
"This is heartbreaking," police Lt. David Hayes said. "It was almost as though they were making fun of the abuse they were administering. This woman was almost like living in a prison."
Investigators put much of the blame on Michelle Riley, 35, who they said befriended Dixon but pocketed monthly Social Security checks she got because of her developmental delays.
Dixon saw little, if any, of the money, Hayes said. For months she weathered the torment to keep a roof over her head and that of her year-old son, who weighed just 15 pounds when taken into state custody after his mom's death.
"I've never seen an almost conspiratorial effort by a group of people to continuously torture someone until she finally died, then not really show any remorse," Hayes said. "It was just a slow, torturous, tragic way to die. I highly doubt Dorothy Dixon even knew she was dying."
Riley, 43-year-old Judy Woods and three teenagers, including Riley's 15-year-old daughter, LeShelle McBride, are charged with first-degree murder, aggravated and heinous battery, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and unlawful restraint. Riley's 12-year-old son is charged as a juvenile.
Riley, her daughter, Woods and 16-year-old Benny Wilson have public defenders who did not immediately return messages for comment. An 18-year-old defendant, Michael Elliott, planned to get his own attorney, court records show.
All remain in jail on $1 million bond.
Messages left with a Chicago-area sister of Dixon went unreturned, but neighbors, Hayes and newspaper accounts offer a mosaic of the months leading to Dixon's demise inside the small, white, blue-shuttered house.
Riley and Dixon, police said, had lived in Quincy, a Mississippi River town about 100 miles north of St. Louis, Mo. Quincy is where Riley worked as a coordinator for a regional center that helps the developmentally disabled with housing and other services. Dixon was a client.
For years, an impoverished Riley struggled raising her children. Her use of methamphetamine and cocaine brought drug convictions in 2002 and 2004. But with treatment and housing help from the Quincy YWCA, Riley put her life in order - so much that in February of last year, the Quincy Herald-Whig did a story on her comeback.
Last summer, Dixon and Riley moved into the $800-a-month, three-bedroom rental in Alton about 15 miles north of St. Louis. From the start, neighbors Chad Hudson and Terri Brandt considered Riley trouble.
"Michelle was evil, vindictive. Manipulative," said Hudson, convinced the teenagers were Riley's powerless minions.
"She was angry, vicious," added Brandt.
Riley considered Dixon her slave, making her rub Riley's feet until Riley fell asleep and forcing her to run naked around the house when she got in trouble, the neighbors said.
"Being in their house was like being in a prison day room," Hudson said. "They just sat around the kitchen table and fought."
There was little question that Riley ruled the roost.
While doing fix-ups on the home last fall, landlord Steve Atkins saw Riley "barking orders" at the children and everyone else. Atkins joked to her whether he needed to call the Army and see if they wanted their drill sergeant back.
"She didn't laugh about it at all," Atkins said. "Obviously, I hit a nerve."
Atkins said Dixon generally kept to herself "but was always nice when she spoke to you." He saw no hints she'd been suffering or tortured.
"I would have never, ever suspected something like this," he said. "It's definitely shocking."
Police said Dixon was allowed out of the house but didn't say under what conditions. Hayes didn't know who the father of Dixon's fetus is.
Hayes said things apparently came to a head Jan. 30, when investigators believe that Woods, during a dispute, beat Dixon on the head with an object Hayes wouldn't identify. The next day Woods found her dead.
Hayes watched the autopsy and found her injuries disturbing. X-rays revealed roughly 30 BBs lodged in her. Deep-tissue burns covered about one-third of her body - her face, her chest, her arms and feet - and left her severely dehydrated. Her face and body showed signs of prolonged abuse. Many of her wounds were infected.
None of the injuries, Hayes said, proved singly fatal to Dixon. Her system already was taxed by her unborn baby.
"The autopsy sort of indicates her immune system just shut down," he said. "It was not capable of fending off any more."
In the rental home's basement, Atkins said, he found spots of blood in a shower and tiny smears on the concrete floor, washer and dryer.
"It's disgraceful the way this girl died, as kind and as sweet as this girl was," he said. "She didn't deserve to die the way she did. It's just terrible, senseless. It's just a total shame."
25.3.08
Highway Robbery
For those of you stateside or those that have credit cards based out of US Banks, how close do you look at your statements? For those with US based bank accounts, how closely do you review your statements? In the past 3 months, I have been charged fees of $20.00, $20.00, $39.00, $39.00, $3.78, $15.00, $2.54, $39.00, $5.46, $50.00, $25.00, and $25.00 through no fault of my own. These charges have been assessed onto my accounts that have been open for many, many years. What gives? They say the accounts that prevent these service fees were not linked or the payment was received after 5:00 pm.
In the case of my bank, in order to for them to waive fees you must maintain minimum monthly balances. They said I was assessed the fees for the past few months because the accounts were unlinked. I was like let’s get this right, these accounts in the past 3 years have not changed….the direct deposit is the same, the withdrawal methods the same, the type of account the same…but all of a sudden I did something to cause the fees to begin being assessed. Give me a break! A 10 minute phone call and they credited me back the fees. “Oops”, was all I got. What if I haven’t noticed? A few days work goes to Chase for no reason. Then my other bank, on my loan, for the past year there has been no service fee…all of a sudden this year they charge me one. I didn’t notice for the first 2 months of the year as I just shred the envelope without even opening it! But I “accidentally” opened the March statement and there was a balance of $100.00, for a loan service fee and late fees. They refuse to help over the phone and I was unable to make it to the branch in person until a few days ago. “Oops” was all I got there as well. And to make it worse, they charged me $25.00 late fee for each January and February. If I didn’t open the envelope, then I would have paid $350.00 extra this year without even realizing it.
Now on to the credit cards….. I pay all my bills online either through electronic transfer or online bill pay. But if I forget until the day before or the day they are due, then even though I pay the minimum amount due, they don’t process it until after 5:00pm. By that time they have already assessed a late fee because it wasn’t received by 5:00pm on the due date. I mean for a few hours they are charging me $39.00 or $15.00 late fee as well as finance charges. This is pure highway robbery! I try to fight the charges usually or make a note to remind myself to pay earlier. Worse case I yell and *(#&$ and threaten to take my business elsewhere. In the past they relented, but they don’t care anymore…they are making so much money off late fees, finance charges, service fees, loan refinancing on their old customers that they don’t need new ones.
So if you are like me and don’t always have time to read every line of your statement, let this serve as a warning to start. We are getting fleeced by these banks….and if you don’t catch it, you’re giving them free money and if you do, well all you’ll get is an “oops”. I hate banks!
In the case of my bank, in order to for them to waive fees you must maintain minimum monthly balances. They said I was assessed the fees for the past few months because the accounts were unlinked. I was like let’s get this right, these accounts in the past 3 years have not changed….the direct deposit is the same, the withdrawal methods the same, the type of account the same…but all of a sudden I did something to cause the fees to begin being assessed. Give me a break! A 10 minute phone call and they credited me back the fees. “Oops”, was all I got. What if I haven’t noticed? A few days work goes to Chase for no reason. Then my other bank, on my loan, for the past year there has been no service fee…all of a sudden this year they charge me one. I didn’t notice for the first 2 months of the year as I just shred the envelope without even opening it! But I “accidentally” opened the March statement and there was a balance of $100.00, for a loan service fee and late fees. They refuse to help over the phone and I was unable to make it to the branch in person until a few days ago. “Oops” was all I got there as well. And to make it worse, they charged me $25.00 late fee for each January and February. If I didn’t open the envelope, then I would have paid $350.00 extra this year without even realizing it.
Now on to the credit cards….. I pay all my bills online either through electronic transfer or online bill pay. But if I forget until the day before or the day they are due, then even though I pay the minimum amount due, they don’t process it until after 5:00pm. By that time they have already assessed a late fee because it wasn’t received by 5:00pm on the due date. I mean for a few hours they are charging me $39.00 or $15.00 late fee as well as finance charges. This is pure highway robbery! I try to fight the charges usually or make a note to remind myself to pay earlier. Worse case I yell and *(#&$ and threaten to take my business elsewhere. In the past they relented, but they don’t care anymore…they are making so much money off late fees, finance charges, service fees, loan refinancing on their old customers that they don’t need new ones.
So if you are like me and don’t always have time to read every line of your statement, let this serve as a warning to start. We are getting fleeced by these banks….and if you don’t catch it, you’re giving them free money and if you do, well all you’ll get is an “oops”. I hate banks!
23.3.08
Rock Band
My mom signed me up to play the clarinet in 4th and 5th grade. I was really, really pathetic. No rhythm, no beat and definitely no soul. I just sucked at it. Whenever there was a concert performance for the parents, the instructor asked that my parents keep me home. I am glad he did, as I would have ruined the whole concert, not by just playing of beat, but I probably would have clumsily knocked over all the music stands and taken a few my fellow musicians down with me. But I never let that bad experience sway me away from wanting to become a musician...and I always imagined being in heavy metal band rocking and rolling while the mosh pit in front of me went crazy with lunatics. I was definitely born to rock and roll! Don't tell me you you've never played the air guitar or imagined your pencils as drum sticks and hit a few beats on you desk!
I never picked up another instrument since my beloved clarinet, that is until this past weekend. I got to play both the drums and guitar....and hot damn I was playing with the best of the best, rocking and rolling and even becoming the lead singer for Nirvana!! Can you imagine?!?!?! Too bad it was in my basement...and the only one enjoying it was me. My band mates booed me and XBOX threatened to self destruct, if I didn't stop right then and there.
If you haven't played RockBand, you seriously have been missing out. What a swwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttt game. Here are some pictures of last Saturday night when we "Rocked da house"! "We" is used here to me everyone else except me...they told me I could be the manager and promoter, a role I happily accepted after seeing myself on camera.
I never picked up another instrument since my beloved clarinet, that is until this past weekend. I got to play both the drums and guitar....and hot damn I was playing with the best of the best, rocking and rolling and even becoming the lead singer for Nirvana!! Can you imagine?!?!?! Too bad it was in my basement...and the only one enjoying it was me. My band mates booed me and XBOX threatened to self destruct, if I didn't stop right then and there.
If you haven't played RockBand, you seriously have been missing out. What a swwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttt game. Here are some pictures of last Saturday night when we "Rocked da house"! "We" is used here to me everyone else except me...they told me I could be the manager and promoter, a role I happily accepted after seeing myself on camera.
Mensaf
Call me what you like but I really don't care for mensaf too much. Sometimes I refuse to eat it, other times I will just have a little. Of course my favorite part of it are the toasted nuts on it, snobar (pine nuts) and almonds! I always request my own little bowl be toasted...even when invited to dinner at others homes...yep, I'm not too shy to have my own requests. There were only a few of us this evening for mensaf so we didn't go all out with the serving tray overflowing. There was just enough, so that we wouldn't have left overs. Enjoy the pictures...
21.3.08
RIP Officer Morelli
Today as I was working out at the gym enjoying the NCAA Tournament, I saw the breaking news ticker at the bottom of the screen..Officer Shot....and my heart sank. We run this risk every time we dress in our blues and put on that shiny badge. But unfortunately he didn't make it. DOA. I didn't find out until later that he had sadly passed away, or else the fitness center would have seen my embarrasig reaction. He was only 38 years old and had spent the last 11 years as an officer and has survive a brush with death in December.
Today his name will forever be etched into a memorial for fallen heroes so that generations will come to know about his love for serving and protecting. And his name will be among those of fallen heroes read in Washington D.C. in few months.
Today we lost one of the good guys, one of our own, and one of my brothers. I have never heard his name prior today and may I, those who served alongside him and especially those who he served, never forget his name after today.
Officer Morelli, End of Watch, March 21, 2008.
Today his name will forever be etched into a memorial for fallen heroes so that generations will come to know about his love for serving and protecting. And his name will be among those of fallen heroes read in Washington D.C. in few months.
Today we lost one of the good guys, one of our own, and one of my brothers. I have never heard his name prior today and may I, those who served alongside him and especially those who he served, never forget his name after today.
Officer Morelli, End of Watch, March 21, 2008.
The Main Course
Is Spring going to make an early debut? Not by the look of those skies:
But the real reason for this post is the food we cooked. I can still smell it cooking......
Plenty of Veggies:
Ready to go in the oven:
Four Hours later:
It's Time:
Rice to go along with it:
My Plate:
Sorry there's none left for you....maybe next time!
But the real reason for this post is the food we cooked. I can still smell it cooking......
Plenty of Veggies:
Ready to go in the oven:
Four Hours later:
It's Time:
Rice to go along with it:
My Plate:
Sorry there's none left for you....maybe next time!
20.3.08
Can’t Prepare For This...
A few weeks back, we were out on patrol. Contrary to what the newspapers say, the areas we patrol for the most part are safe. Our primary function on the midnight shift is doing property checks, mostly between 3am and 6am when there are very few cars on the road. If we’re unlucky enough to be assigned patrol in the area of multi million dollars homes it sure is deadly……..boring. (Gotcha!) So usually there’s not much to do except drive around and make sure our taxpayers and their property are safe. So on this night we are patrolling the parking lots, where many GPS devices are being stolen from cars as people shop, checking things out and maintaining a visible presence. (Here’s a public service announcement for my readers: if you have own a portable GPS and store it in your car, 1. don’t leave it in plain sight, 2. don’t leave the mounting bracket on the dashboard or stuck on the windshield, and 3. don’t leave the cord out in plain sight or worse leave it plugged in and the cord leading into the center console...the burglar doesn’t need to have more than a third grade education to find it by following the path of the cord). There have been upwards of 2 calls per day of these GPS devices being stolen…in our quiet neck of the woods in daylight and in jammed packed parking lots, so it’s much worse other places you can be sure of that!
So anyways, we’re driving around and just checking things out. We see a car with its lights on and being the helpful police officers that we are, go to see how we can assist. Of course we always follow protocol: on the radio we broadcast our location, description of the vehicle and license plate number….just in case the stuff hits the fan. It comes back valid. We were just going to take the license number down and just go into the store to make an announcement. I then noticed that the trunk was not shut completely and that sparked my interest…so I get out and take a look. And you would never believe what I saw. It was an older car, from the 1970 and had one of those seats that go from one side of the car to the other, you know, so that three people can sit side by side in the front...we call em bench seats. Well, it was a cold 27°F night and this guy was sleeping in his car. I wouldn’t be alarmed by this, maybe he was on a long trip…but he was using cardboard to cover himself from the cold. The back seat was filled with a bunch of junk. I had no doubt he was homeless. So as I felt my heart sink, I start thinking out loud. Do we wake him up and tell him to turn his lights off, thereby saving him the panic of staring his car in the morning or worse having to buy a new battery, which probably he couldn’t afford. Do we open the car door and turn the lights off without waking him and risk getting into trouble for that…remember we are cops and we could be wrongly accused of doing improper things, even if we had the welfare of the person in mind when we did it. In the end, we just left him. There were no laws being broken, but my heart sure was breaking, thinking of this poor guy in the morning, cursing himself for leaving the lights on.
So anyways, we’re driving around and just checking things out. We see a car with its lights on and being the helpful police officers that we are, go to see how we can assist. Of course we always follow protocol: on the radio we broadcast our location, description of the vehicle and license plate number….just in case the stuff hits the fan. It comes back valid. We were just going to take the license number down and just go into the store to make an announcement. I then noticed that the trunk was not shut completely and that sparked my interest…so I get out and take a look. And you would never believe what I saw. It was an older car, from the 1970 and had one of those seats that go from one side of the car to the other, you know, so that three people can sit side by side in the front...we call em bench seats. Well, it was a cold 27°F night and this guy was sleeping in his car. I wouldn’t be alarmed by this, maybe he was on a long trip…but he was using cardboard to cover himself from the cold. The back seat was filled with a bunch of junk. I had no doubt he was homeless. So as I felt my heart sink, I start thinking out loud. Do we wake him up and tell him to turn his lights off, thereby saving him the panic of staring his car in the morning or worse having to buy a new battery, which probably he couldn’t afford. Do we open the car door and turn the lights off without waking him and risk getting into trouble for that…remember we are cops and we could be wrongly accused of doing improper things, even if we had the welfare of the person in mind when we did it. In the end, we just left him. There were no laws being broken, but my heart sure was breaking, thinking of this poor guy in the morning, cursing himself for leaving the lights on.
19.3.08
Gifts
I will be traveling to Jordan in less than 10 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I’m so excited? I am just pumped and really don’t have much planned when I am there except long nights spent playing shaddeh (card games) munching on bizzer (mixed nuts and squash seeds). Can you tell me, how come people eat bizzer along with drinking tea? Or is it just my weird family that does that? Wouldn’t an icy cold Coke or Pepsi be more fitting to accompany the salty snacks?
But I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I usually tell a few of my cousins that I am coming, and they spread the word. From the old to the young, everyone is just as excited as me. The kids wait up for my arrival since the plane lands late in the evening and we usually make a stop at Burger King or Popeye’s on the way home from the airport. I never thought I would be witness to spending a typical Jordanian’s biweekly salary at either of those places, but 6 hungry mouths will easily spend that and more. I don’t eat at either of those places in the US, and only eat BK in Jordan; I don’t eat chicken too often and of course I don’t trust that the oil is changed regularly…another reason I don’t eat falafel sandwiches.
But just after I purchase my ticket, the phone calls come and along with them, requests for things. I don’t mind picking up the face and eye cream for Aunt S, but when I tell her that Lancôme is $130 she swears her neighbor got it for only $40. I still buy it for her, and come on, take money from her...out of the question. Cousins R and A are like crack addicts for Twizzler’s, so I’m in big trouble if I don’t bring them each a few bags...but man four bags are so heavy. Some sort of outdoor survival gear like a Swiss Army knife, Leatherman, or tent for Uncle E. And my cousins, A, A, M, and E always had Fun-Dip and Milk Duds when they lived in the US, but can’t seem to find them in Jordan, so each of them gets a few packs of each. Both their mom and dad call me a few times to ask me to bring "the usual" and they are willing to pay the excess baggage charge in order to get their supply. But usually I don’t have much room for all the things I want to take for me or I’m not able to stay below the 50lb weight limit. But you can’t say no, I mean you can, but I just can’t. Although when my cheapo uncle, asks for things easily found in Jordan, I baulk at getting it for him. He just doesn’t want to spend HIS money on it. And what about those who don’t call...it’s only fair that I take things for them. And with the notoriously large Jordanian family, do I get things for only the grown ups or the little ones too? UGH!!
I still haven’t mastered the art of packing...but I swear this trip will be different...I will start packing early....like tonight. I talk big game, how about some action instead of empty words. Tell you the truth I will probably still be packing on the way to the airport!
But I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I usually tell a few of my cousins that I am coming, and they spread the word. From the old to the young, everyone is just as excited as me. The kids wait up for my arrival since the plane lands late in the evening and we usually make a stop at Burger King or Popeye’s on the way home from the airport. I never thought I would be witness to spending a typical Jordanian’s biweekly salary at either of those places, but 6 hungry mouths will easily spend that and more. I don’t eat at either of those places in the US, and only eat BK in Jordan; I don’t eat chicken too often and of course I don’t trust that the oil is changed regularly…another reason I don’t eat falafel sandwiches.
But just after I purchase my ticket, the phone calls come and along with them, requests for things. I don’t mind picking up the face and eye cream for Aunt S, but when I tell her that Lancôme is $130 she swears her neighbor got it for only $40. I still buy it for her, and come on, take money from her...out of the question. Cousins R and A are like crack addicts for Twizzler’s, so I’m in big trouble if I don’t bring them each a few bags...but man four bags are so heavy. Some sort of outdoor survival gear like a Swiss Army knife, Leatherman, or tent for Uncle E. And my cousins, A, A, M, and E always had Fun-Dip and Milk Duds when they lived in the US, but can’t seem to find them in Jordan, so each of them gets a few packs of each. Both their mom and dad call me a few times to ask me to bring "the usual" and they are willing to pay the excess baggage charge in order to get their supply. But usually I don’t have much room for all the things I want to take for me or I’m not able to stay below the 50lb weight limit. But you can’t say no, I mean you can, but I just can’t. Although when my cheapo uncle, asks for things easily found in Jordan, I baulk at getting it for him. He just doesn’t want to spend HIS money on it. And what about those who don’t call...it’s only fair that I take things for them. And with the notoriously large Jordanian family, do I get things for only the grown ups or the little ones too? UGH!!
I still haven’t mastered the art of packing...but I swear this trip will be different...I will start packing early....like tonight. I talk big game, how about some action instead of empty words. Tell you the truth I will probably still be packing on the way to the airport!
18.3.08
Test for Dementia
I am so pathetic...got none of them correct.....what about you?
Below are four (4) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately. OK?
Let's find out just how clever you really are....
Ready? GO!!! (scroll down)
First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are
absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!
Try not to screw up next time.
Now answer the second question,
but don't take as much time as you took for the first question, OK?
Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
(scroll down)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?
You're not very good at this, are you?
Third Question:
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000 . Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000
Now add 10. What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator!
Today is definitely not your day, is it?
Maybe you'll get the last question right....
Maybe.
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini,
4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you Answer Nunu?
NO! Of course it isn't.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again!
Okay, now the bonus round:
A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By
imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully
expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is
done.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of
sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He just has to open his mouth and ask...
It's really very simple.... Like you!
Below are four (4) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately. OK?
Let's find out just how clever you really are....
Ready? GO!!! (scroll down)
First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are
absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!
Try not to screw up next time.
Now answer the second question,
but don't take as much time as you took for the first question, OK?
Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
(scroll down)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?
You're not very good at this, are you?
Third Question:
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000 . Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000
Now add 10. What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator!
Today is definitely not your day, is it?
Maybe you'll get the last question right....
Maybe.
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini,
4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you Answer Nunu?
NO! Of course it isn't.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again!
Okay, now the bonus round:
A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By
imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully
expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is
done.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of
sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He just has to open his mouth and ask...
It's really very simple.... Like you!
BOLF
BOLF is “Be on the Lookout For”, but it commonly just stated as BOL. As my readership is growing, I appeal to every one of you for help. The call has come through, BOLF a 4 foot 6 inch tall, white male, last seen wearing baggy blue jeans, a t-shirt with the American flag on the back of it, white athletic shoes, carrying a metallic blue gun. He has a voice described as “you know, how Mike Tyson sounds”. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. The gun appears to be a little too big for him and he has trouble keeping it concealed as it sticks out of his waistband. If you come into contact with him, do your best to remain calm and remove yourself from the situation. I doubt he will make it far, but you just never know where these guys run and hide.
I don’t know how he hit up the restaurant. I mean if a 4’6” dude come into my place and tried to rob me, I wouldn’t be able to control my laughter! I would think it was a comedy show. All I have to say, it that his lucky I wasn’t there.
I don’t know how he hit up the restaurant. I mean if a 4’6” dude come into my place and tried to rob me, I wouldn’t be able to control my laughter! I would think it was a comedy show. All I have to say, it that his lucky I wasn’t there.
17.3.08
Bad Boyz, (and Girlz) Watcha Gonna Do… (con’t)
So we wait for the dispatcher to reply to us….on the midnight shift we only have one dispatcher and they handle both fire and police 911 calls….but we listen to traffic on our police radio for our department, the fire department, the country police and the state police. When the “stuff” hits the fan, we all support one another. But there was nothing really happing on the radio. We are also able to switch channels to our dedicated frequency that only our car and the dispatcher use. This frequency band is used for keeping the main channel free and really other officers don’t need to hear about specific individuals and if they do then the dispatcher can alert them. On the main channel, we always state our location before every stop, just in case the cavalry needs to come save us. So we get the code back on the driver of the Jeep. Police talk in “10” codes, but since none of you would understand, she basically said that our Jeep driver has an outstanding warrant for her arrest.
So my partner and I plan our next move….and what we will do to place her into custody. We go up to the car and ask her to get out. This lady is 6foot 4 inches tall, and upwards of 280 lbs. Good thing she was cooperating. We explain to her that she is being detained as a judge has issued a warrant for her arrest. Of course she objects but we tell her we need hold her until we figure out what is going on. So we get the cuffs on her and in the back of the car she goes. She says she has to call her boss or she will lose her job. So I go up to her car and get her phone for her and she tells her boss she will not be into work. Things are going smooth so far. Let me emphasize at this point, that our duty is ONLY to ENFORCE THE LAW. We don’t decide guilt, make the laws, or hand out punishment. That is for the politicians and for the courts. We have been ordered by judge to arrest the person.
So we start investigating to find out why she has a warrant. Apparently a while back she got a traffic ticket and due to that and for whatever reason her license was suspended. Could have been for a number of things, she didn’t pay the fine, the judge ordered her to do something (a number of hours of community service, attend a driving improvement school, talk to teens about the dangers of drunk driving, etc.). It seems that she didn’t follow the judge’s orders so her license was subsequently suspended. But she continued to drive without a valid license, but she might have not known it was suspended. She was then again pulled over, and the officer discovered her license was suspended. Although I am not sure what that officer did, the driver probably caught a number of breaks. With a suspended driver, we have the authority to arrest the driver, ticket them, and impound the vehicle, but like I said everything is officer discretion on what they want to do. So based on this lady continuing to drive and giving her the benefit of the doubt, she didn’t know her license was suspended and it seems that the officer probably gave just gave her a ticket, summons for court and verbal warning to get her license suspension take care of. As we now as we told her all of this, she disclosed to us, that she couldn’t make the original court date and had called the courthouse to reschedule. She claims they never sent her a new date. That now brings us up to the current traffic stop and the reason for the warrant. She most likely didn’t show at the rescheduled court date, and the judge issued a warrant for her arrest and that is what the dispatcher was reading to us. As there is no one else in the car with her and well it’s not safe to just leave it at the side of the road, we allow her to call her mom to come pick up/move the car. So we wait for her mom to come. We could have easily had the car towed and that along with the impound fees would have amounted to several hundred dollars. So we’re not big mean police men.
Oh, before I go on. With the warrant, when one is issued and for “small” things like a suspended license, the driver can pay a bond “a promise/guarantee to show up at the court at a future date”. This lady’s bond was $250. If she had that on her, then we would take the money and issue her a receipt and release her on the spot. At times, officers are willing to follow someone to the bank machine so that they can withdraw the money. Sometimes the warrants have $0 bond and sometimes it is several hundred dollars, all depends on what the judge says. This lady didn’t have the money to pay the bond. Me personally, after seeing and smelling the jailhouse, no amount of money would be too great to keep me out of there. But I would never be place myself in that situation from the get go.
This lady her luck was really bad that night. Usually the jail is so overcrowded they don’t have room for these low risk prisoners so they just tell us to “advise and release” (tell them about the warrant and that they should contact to court to have it taken care of). But unfortunately for her they had room. So it’s off to the jail we go. We pull up to the barbed wire fence and identify ourselves and the electric gate opens. There no weapons allowed, so we have to unarm ourselves by locking up our guns, Taser, pepper spray, knives, and magazines in the trunk of the car before we enter the holding cell area. This part is just like the movies: remote control electronic doors open and close behind you, and then the one in front opens, you walk through. The prisoner is processed, searched, personal effects taken, shoes off, and a nurse/mental health practitioner speaks with them. They are then sent into the holding cell with other prisoners until they are bonded out or a sent to see a judge. We left before they led her away. I thought about what to say to her…”do I say have a good night”…I never imagined saying that some anyone would be so wrong, until I caught myself about to say it the first time after taking a drunk driver to jail? I usually say “good luck”, but I didn’t say anything this particular time. I felt really bad at the hand she was dealt, but she should have been more responsible of taking care of her stuff. So I blame her really.
But it still doesn’t mean you heartless….truly I felt bad of this lady….but she didn’t seem afraid at all. She said this was her first time going to jail, but I truly doubt that. If it was me, I would have been crying and begging not to go…but like I said I wouldn’t be in that position to begin with. It might seem like a misunderstanding between her and the courts on the original suspension, but she should have taken care of it, followed up on it. If I hadn’t heard from the courts after a while, I would have called them. These types of things just don’t disappear and when officers are ordered by the courts to detain someone, well that is what we have to do.
So my partner and I plan our next move….and what we will do to place her into custody. We go up to the car and ask her to get out. This lady is 6foot 4 inches tall, and upwards of 280 lbs. Good thing she was cooperating. We explain to her that she is being detained as a judge has issued a warrant for her arrest. Of course she objects but we tell her we need hold her until we figure out what is going on. So we get the cuffs on her and in the back of the car she goes. She says she has to call her boss or she will lose her job. So I go up to her car and get her phone for her and she tells her boss she will not be into work. Things are going smooth so far. Let me emphasize at this point, that our duty is ONLY to ENFORCE THE LAW. We don’t decide guilt, make the laws, or hand out punishment. That is for the politicians and for the courts. We have been ordered by judge to arrest the person.
So we start investigating to find out why she has a warrant. Apparently a while back she got a traffic ticket and due to that and for whatever reason her license was suspended. Could have been for a number of things, she didn’t pay the fine, the judge ordered her to do something (a number of hours of community service, attend a driving improvement school, talk to teens about the dangers of drunk driving, etc.). It seems that she didn’t follow the judge’s orders so her license was subsequently suspended. But she continued to drive without a valid license, but she might have not known it was suspended. She was then again pulled over, and the officer discovered her license was suspended. Although I am not sure what that officer did, the driver probably caught a number of breaks. With a suspended driver, we have the authority to arrest the driver, ticket them, and impound the vehicle, but like I said everything is officer discretion on what they want to do. So based on this lady continuing to drive and giving her the benefit of the doubt, she didn’t know her license was suspended and it seems that the officer probably gave just gave her a ticket, summons for court and verbal warning to get her license suspension take care of. As we now as we told her all of this, she disclosed to us, that she couldn’t make the original court date and had called the courthouse to reschedule. She claims they never sent her a new date. That now brings us up to the current traffic stop and the reason for the warrant. She most likely didn’t show at the rescheduled court date, and the judge issued a warrant for her arrest and that is what the dispatcher was reading to us. As there is no one else in the car with her and well it’s not safe to just leave it at the side of the road, we allow her to call her mom to come pick up/move the car. So we wait for her mom to come. We could have easily had the car towed and that along with the impound fees would have amounted to several hundred dollars. So we’re not big mean police men.
Oh, before I go on. With the warrant, when one is issued and for “small” things like a suspended license, the driver can pay a bond “a promise/guarantee to show up at the court at a future date”. This lady’s bond was $250. If she had that on her, then we would take the money and issue her a receipt and release her on the spot. At times, officers are willing to follow someone to the bank machine so that they can withdraw the money. Sometimes the warrants have $0 bond and sometimes it is several hundred dollars, all depends on what the judge says. This lady didn’t have the money to pay the bond. Me personally, after seeing and smelling the jailhouse, no amount of money would be too great to keep me out of there. But I would never be place myself in that situation from the get go.
This lady her luck was really bad that night. Usually the jail is so overcrowded they don’t have room for these low risk prisoners so they just tell us to “advise and release” (tell them about the warrant and that they should contact to court to have it taken care of). But unfortunately for her they had room. So it’s off to the jail we go. We pull up to the barbed wire fence and identify ourselves and the electric gate opens. There no weapons allowed, so we have to unarm ourselves by locking up our guns, Taser, pepper spray, knives, and magazines in the trunk of the car before we enter the holding cell area. This part is just like the movies: remote control electronic doors open and close behind you, and then the one in front opens, you walk through. The prisoner is processed, searched, personal effects taken, shoes off, and a nurse/mental health practitioner speaks with them. They are then sent into the holding cell with other prisoners until they are bonded out or a sent to see a judge. We left before they led her away. I thought about what to say to her…”do I say have a good night”…I never imagined saying that some anyone would be so wrong, until I caught myself about to say it the first time after taking a drunk driver to jail? I usually say “good luck”, but I didn’t say anything this particular time. I felt really bad at the hand she was dealt, but she should have been more responsible of taking care of her stuff. So I blame her really.
But it still doesn’t mean you heartless….truly I felt bad of this lady….but she didn’t seem afraid at all. She said this was her first time going to jail, but I truly doubt that. If it was me, I would have been crying and begging not to go…but like I said I wouldn’t be in that position to begin with. It might seem like a misunderstanding between her and the courts on the original suspension, but she should have taken care of it, followed up on it. If I hadn’t heard from the courts after a while, I would have called them. These types of things just don’t disappear and when officers are ordered by the courts to detain someone, well that is what we have to do.
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