Monday, April 30, 2007
...was arrested for....
One4JC was arrested for:
..l.was arrested for public intoxication and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
...felony counts of endangering the welfare of children and false imprisonment for restraining the children by using duct tape.
...crystal meth possession.
...on first-degree murder charges .
...possession of a controlled drug and an electronic bench warrant.
...charges of theft and embezzlement
....arrested for allegedly practicing medicine without a license.
...Criminal Nuisance in the first degree.
...attempted murder.
....stealing $30000 by writing checks to herself
Wow! If this was me I would have a significant amount of jail time ahead of me...
What happens if you do it?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Smiles for all!
I did sneak in a few hours of scooter time. I actually got a little bit of a tan, but of course if it doesn't wash off tomorrow in the shower then it will surely be gone by Monday afternoon. I am full of happiness and looking forward to the last week of "training". I have a couple interviews scheduled so hopefully I will have someone hired to fill in some of her hours before she leaves...as I mentioned before the outgoing director has set up the schedule so that she HAS TO WORK 60+ hours a week. I will take over the director responsibilities but try to leave a little wiggle room in the schedule for sick staff etc. I figure if I hire someone part time and they are willing to work a little more I can bump them up when necessary.
A girl can dream for it to happen anyway.....
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Fair trial?
Good.
Well maybe...
After all the public outrage that followed the media onslaught he is a marked man. What are the chances he will EVER get a fair trial?
Let's for giggles assume he is innocent AND if he is acquitted I bet he doesn't make it a week on the streets before vigilante justice takes over. I am not advocating this! I am simply saying some nut job could get a hold of him. You might as well paint a bullseye on the man because of all the media coverage.
OK now the flip side...he's guilty, actually did the crime, and is convicted. How long will he make it in jail? Or even worse what if he didn't do it and is convicted before the trial even starts.
Granted he is no angel. He has a record and was arrested for drug charges and THEN questioned when they realized he looked like the sketch.
Now in the spirit of honesty here...I have had more than my fair share of relatives in jail/State prison and Federal prison. And well... by the grace of God... I have not been placed there myself. I currently have a relative in protective custody because he is sick...terminally ill...and he can't defend himself. Even in Prison there are certain individuals who are the lowest of the low...they quickly become "girlfriends" of others...prisoners have their own system of justice for some crimes.
I imagine beating up a 101 year old woman for $33.00 would put him in this category.
But what if he didn't do it?
Has the media gone to far in playing the video countless times and stirring up a feeding frenzy?
I firmly believe in righteous indignation. Sometimes anger is the right response. Certain things should make us angry.
Does this feed into the desensitization that we are experiencing with violence? I remember when Ultimate Fighting Championship could ONLY be seen on video and they were hard to come by because they were "too violent" for some stores to sell. (Yes Big Red liked them.) Now you can see them on Cable TV marathons on Saturday afternoons.
***Basically this is a modern day Roman Gladiator type event. They go into an Octagon and beat each other until one "submits/tap out", time is up or the referee stops the fight because someone is unconscious or "unable to defend themselves"***
Maybe I am just tired...I don't know? What do you think?
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Crazy?
I thought I would introduce you to a few of the people I have met since starting the new job.
I have a parent who threatens to pull her children out every other week when she pays the bill.
I have a staff member who thinks I am crazy because I tell her not to let her children out of her eyesight...meaning don't walk out of the room, down the hall to the copy machine and leave your children unattended.
I do however have a very dedicated staff who would bend over backwards to help out a child, parent or fellow coworker at any time.
I had to send a staff member home today because she was sick...she didn't argue too much but I was surprised she came in.
Next week I am "in charge" as the outgoing director puts it. She will be there but only to do the kid watching part not the director part???
I will have more to say soon...
Monday, April 23, 2007
The gang that almost took me out!
At the next light I suddenly hear a LOT OF LOUD motorcycle engines pull up behind me. Between the revving engines I hear that "cutsy girly" laughter that used to make my stomach turn in High school and some deep belly laughter.
I swallowed hard and took off when it turned green.
ZIP! ZIP! ZIP! ZIP!
Vroom! ZIP! ZIP! ZIP! ZIP!
No less than 8 sport motorcycles with tan college aged guys zip by with about 6 girls with the shortest shorts legal (at least I think they are legal).
Now picture this...I am a white almost transparent skinned lady on a scooter that tops out at 35 MPH with a helmet on...and the studly eight have just flown by me like I am standing still.
Here is the point....
Several years ago this would have made me cower inside and perhaps put away the scooter for a couple weeks...heck even last summer this might have happened.
Now it didn't really bug me. Of course I was bothered by the dust the bikes kicked up into my face as they were speeding past me but I chalked it up to them being immature youngsters with a case of spring fever.
Then it clicked. A light bulb went off. Big Red has one of these sport bikes. He says he has been borrowing it from a neighbor but.... the neighbor must never need it because Big Red is on it a lot. (I only know this because we only live a mile or so apart)
Big Red still has the immaturity that sometimes goes along with owning one of these motorcycles.
I have grown past this. Yes I am still a kid at heart but through the process of the divorce I have matured and grown past all this foolishness. I don't really care too much what people think.
I do have a few friends whose opinions mean a great deal to me. Some I have known only a year, 5 years and even one left over from before I was a Christian who I have known for over 11 years. Their opinions matter when it comes to issues of faith and friendship.
But a stranger or a gang of college aged motorcyclists have no effect on what they think of me. If they were to actually speak to me then I hope they would see that there is something different about me because of God. But to judge me, make fun of me or look down on me without speaking to me....ehhhhh what am I to do? Nothing. Doesn't phase me at all.
Not now anyway.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Oddities
Working in the field I am in I tend to come across odd children and parents. 'Nuff said.
But I have always been fascinated by odd names. So I have compiled a list of odd names either that I have known personally or that I have stumbled across on the internet.
JOHN BATH married ELIZABETH DUCKEM Launceston, 03/12/1650.
CHARLES SWINE married JANE HAM Perranzabuloe , 13/01/1711Crystal Toot, President, Kansas State PTA.
Jim James
2.4 year old triplets, 2 identical, 1 fraternal Charity, Faith, Hope, Kyler and Genesis
And there are 13 sets of twins floating around with the names of Mia and Mya...either of these by themselves are easily two of my favorite names but can you imagine standing at the back door yelling out into the yard for them? It reminds me of Mama Mia!
What about Dick Trickle?
John Senior, Jr., New York City.
Mrs. Screech, Singing Teacher, Victoria, British Columbia.
Dr. Zoltan Ovary, Gynecologist, New York Hospital, New York City.
And Nicholas Cage named his son Kal-el Note: Kal-el is Superman's birth name. Now even I am NOT that big of a fan!
Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) named his daughter Moxie CrimeFighter
And we can't forget Demi Moore and Bruce Willis with daughters Rumer Glenn, Scout Larue and Tallulah Belle
Oh and growing up I actually knew people named Jimmy James and Derk Dirk.
So do you know of any odd names?
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Armstrong flooring
I love the one with the dog because well I have had a dog like that in the past.
The leftover one could describe this one thing in my fridge right now. And can I just say that is such a typical male thing to do.
The magic one is just plain funny.
And for some reason the dancing one made me think of a family I know (well and my sister's husband) that just made this absolutely hilarious!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Oh I found a cool little game!
Ok this game has been driving me nuts! And since we all know what a Superman fan I am....I feel the need to share it with you.
Coolest game ever about Superman!
Go ahead...check it out...I'll wait....
So what is your highest score so far?
Mine is only 69 so far but I can see this will go up because this is addictive.
ok now 82...
Thursday, April 19, 2007
The new gig
I have been very busy at the new job. In fact this week I spent copious amounts of time preparing for a "Spring program" type event.
Now every place has their own little "gems" that make work interesting. These children always take the opportunity to make big special events even more entertaining to everyone BUT their own parents...some shrink with embarrassment and other join in the laughter.
I arrived home after 8pm and must be back by 7:30am tomorrow. Thank goodness it is Friday and an early day for me!
I promise to have more to say this weekend. AND tons more to say after I hire a couple part timers to fill in the gaps.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Crazy...
So I had a meeting with a friend today...we hold each other accountable for things. Just kind of a checks and balances type system to help keep me (and her) on the right track with our faith.
Well and.... we tend to keep each other out of trouble...
Today we discussed many things...her side I will always keep confidential. For my part we discussed how I am dealing with the divorce being final among other things. My Mom came up on several occasions. Well when you put together Big Red and my Mom in the same conversation with the two of us in a car at a baseball field watching her son practice in the falling snow the above song came up on several occasions.
It was a little tongue-in-cheek but then I remembered Cindy's Diner downtown. When we were dating and for the first couple years of marriage we would go downtown on Saturday mornings and have breakfast. If you are familiar with this little diner that "serves the whole world 12 people at a time" you know that they have little jukeboxes on the counter that you may pop a quarter in a pick a song. Big Red always picked this song along with "Splish Splash" and "The Monster Mash".
At the time he would sing it to me but in hind site I should have listened to the words a little closer. He always said he was afraid I would leave him when I "got tired of" him.
Well I guess I did leave him...but it had more to do with him sleeping with other women than me getting tired of him!
I'm just taking a trip down memory lane. It amazes me the things that trigger memories.
The smell of a musty smoke tinged garage reminds me of my Dad. Or fresh brewed coffee first thing in the morning. So does the smell of the perfume called "Millennium" that Avon used to sell. It is what I was wearing the summer I spent so much time at the hospital when he died.
The smell of fresh line dried laundry reminds me of my Grandma. She was the only person I ever knew that dried her clothes outside.
The smell of a freshly tarred road reminds me of where I grew up.
The smell of sawdust reminds me of Jamaica.
Seeing an old Simpson's t shirt reminds me of High school... well that and Salem cigarettes, Fuzzy Navels and a few other things.
Hearing the song Unskinny Bop will always remind me of my senior year. And this one reminds me of my "angry days"...no my Dad was not the guy.
This song reminds me of when I found out I was pregnant with the twins.
Agnus Dei reminds me of when I became a Christian. The line " Holy, holy are you Lord God almighty" suddenly was a statement to me instead of a question.
Magic Windows remind me of the innocent days of my childhood.
Wow what a trip..... does any smell or song remind you of anything?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Did they really say that?
This is really a lovely horse, I once rode her mother.
by Ted Walsh - Horse Racing Commentator
We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees.
by Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks
The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing.
by Dizzy Dean (explaining how he felt after being hit on the head by a ball in the 1934 World Series)
I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.
by Greg Norman
Any time Detroit scores more than 100 points and holds the other team below 100 points they almost always win.
Doug Collins, basketball commentator
Half this game is ninety percent mental.
by Danny Ozark Philadelphia Phillies manager
Moses Kiptanui - the 19 year old Kenyan, who turned 20 a few weeks ago.
by David Coleman
I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body.
by Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball
Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing - but none of them serious.
by Alan Minter
The racecourse is as level as a billiard ball.
by John Francombe
If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.
by Terry Venables
For those of you watching in black and white, Spurs are in the all- yellow strip.
by John Motson
There goes Juantorena down the back straight, opening his legs and showing his class.
by David Coleman at The Montreal Olympics
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Like the days of our lives....
Since Monday when I started the new job my mind has been racing full of ideas about things I want to do and ways to improve this program.
The current/outgoing director schedules herself for 60+ hours a week. While she over staffs some of the rooms?? She is the kitchen lady/float person/break person/receptionist/greeter/ director.
I will be implementing things slowly...very slowly. After I get the staffing issues fixed my next goal will be to get ALL the teacher to turn in Lesson plans. Most do but some have decided that's "just not for me". Well that will change. My first goal is to get enough staff in place to let the director be the director...then the program will improve.
Patience...patience...patience...
Monday, April 09, 2007
The Happy Dance!
I will have more to come soon but be assured that I did start the new job...Everyone is still on their best behavior so we will see what emerges in the weeks to come.
They all seem so happy and pleasant and willing to pitch in...so far.
I didn't have to be there until 9 am today so at least I got to sleep in!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Easter day...no shock there!
I am grateful that one of the new step siblings was present with her family if not it surely would have been a very quiet day. You see Beau made a choice to not speak to my sister or I today. He asked me a question at one point but never made eye contact. He spoke with others in the house but not us. Mom spoke but only in commands or questions...no conversations.
I am thankful that for the first time in my life I was not asked to help clean the house before dinner could be served. My Mom never cleans until all of the family has arrived and then we are sent on little errands to help her "straighten up a little". It is not like we take pictures, expect more company or anything like that. There have been times that we have been used on Easter Day to get the patio furniture out of the garage and clean it. We don't use it that day and I don't feel like using a hose when I am dressed for Easter. So we have all gotten in the habit of changing after church so that we don't ruin our clothes. Thankfully this year it was too cold for any of those items to be done.
I am frustrated by the way this "joining of the two families" is going thus far. Mom seems to be throwing out everything that was important to her to satisfy Beau. Even at the expense of her daughters...
I had a conversation with a friend yesterday about the whole Texas trip etc. She was shocked by some of the things Beau said to us. She asked me what I expected my Mom to do? I thought about it for a moment and said simply, "Defend me." I don't expect her to leave him or divorce him but simply defend me when he attacks or belittles the way that she and my Dad raised us.
That's all...
Support me and what she used to stand for....
Please remember this....
When I feel like a judgment should be made by me I reach in my pocket and remember.
But the end of this video is what today is about...He IS risen!
Friday, April 06, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Another chapter....
Today I closed a chapter in my life as it was the last day I worked at my job of the last 3 years. I have mixed emotions.
I am ready for a new challenge...a new pay scale and a new fresh start to go with the new name I have acquired. I did make some friends at this place. I have seen many faces come and go and no doubt I will miss the children greatly. I had one little boy (whose mom had told him about my upcoming move) stick so close to me today that I tripped over him several times. He is 2 so I wondered how much any of the children would understand but this little guy got it. I lost count of the number of hugs I got today from him...I was getting ready to leave today and 3 of the children bounded off their cots to run and give me hugs before I left...somehow they all knew today.
There was one little guy who has moved on to another class that I will particularly miss. I looked in his room on my way out of the building and he was still sleeping. That was probably for the best.
It was kind of fitting that one little girl hurt herself this morning. I picked her up for a hug to "make it better" and she promptly bled all over the back of my shirt because she had split her lip. So I had a moment to go home and change shirts...well and bra... because it soaked through. Working with two year olds one seems to always get some sort of bodily fluid on oneself by the end of the day. There have been days during flu season that I was thankful I was spritzed by a potty training boy instead of the projectile vomit flying around the room...I mean if you have to pick one.....
Regardless I will miss "my kids".
I had two different ladies approach me today and tell me things that made me want to tear up and yet realize that people are watching. They both said that they were impressed with how I have handled myself with the Big Red situation. When I began working there I had a solid marriage. Within the first year there I had another miscarriage and the cracks started showing in our marriage. These women I know as my friends hugged me when the affair happened. Encouraged me when I wanted to give up too early and were ready with a positive word when I needed it.
They both said that I handled myself with dignity and that my faith was amazing. I think my God is amazing not necessarily my faith. There were times that I wanted to head for the hills but God threw roadblocks in my way or would send someone to lift my spirits.
I also had some friends that avoided me today because saying goodbye would have been too hard. I saw the glances and the quick waves in the hallway. We all made promises to keep in touch but it will never be the same as spending most of our days together.
I will miss my friends as well.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
PMS...be warned now.
PMS is not fun when lots of change is occurring.
Mom and Beau were in town at the house today.
I managed to avoid them.
I had dinner with a friend today.
It was very nice to have a grown up conversation even if it was at McDonald's.
The battery in my watch died today. Yes I have clocks around me everywhere but I am VERY used to looking at my wrist for the information.
It was in the high 70's today. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow.
One day of scooter riding will not help me get over this case of Spring Fever I have.
I finally got the Kirby vacuum cleaner from Big Red.
I need to go shopping for the new job as new attire is needed. But until I go the first day and see what the current person wears (and what is generally acceptable) I don't want to buy too much.
It is Spring Break for most of the area schools.
Three of my closest friends are all out of town this week.
People I talk to a lot.
Cats make very good makeshift heating pads when you have cramps.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Stolen from Laura!
Answer the following questions, then using Google Image Search, choose one image from the first page that comes up from your search.
1. What comes up when you type your grandmother’s first name in:
2. What shows up when you type your name in:
3. The place you live now:
4. The place you grew up: Only it is upside down for some reason...
5. First car: Only mine was bright yellow...
6. Favorite smell: Clean sheets....oh I love that smell!
7. Favorite color:
8. Favorite book:
9. Favorite Drink:
10. Favorite food: Mashed Potatoes and Steak...
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Oh what a day....
His reason? He left it in his sister's truck????
What?? That makes no sense. Why would the vacuum cleaner I left in our house since the day I purchased it 5 years ago end up in his sister's truck? Maybe I don't really want to know.
On a positive note...
I got the scooter running all by myself today and managed to get in a quick ride!!
And then I realized why I had seen this before I left the house:
SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION INTO EARLY THIS EVENING.
So I only put 3 miles on the scooter before I became worried that I might be blown off the scooter. So I came home. BUT....
I know Spring is here and the scooter will be getting a bigger workout very soon...
A thought:
If you are buying this on eBay...How can you be sure it is new and then what happened to the original contents if it isn't?