These Crazy Times

All About Education?

2011-08-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

Please, Georgia schools are a MESS and then they bring in a Superintendent from a FAILING school system in Ohio to fix the problems in Dekalb County, GA? Yeah tell me it's still all about education and I'll tell you to have your head checked:

Dekalb County

Help Rachel Black

2011-08-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Rachel Black is 18 years old and from Leakesville, MS. She was diagnosed about two months ago with Stage 4 germ cell ovarian cancer, and has been in ICU for the last 5 weeks. Check out her story here: Rachel Black.

This young woman is a member of my family, and we'd like to help her out. To do that, we are asking for donations, via PayPal. It doesn't have to be big, it can be any amount, you know, like skipping that 5 dollar cup of Starbucks one day, but you can also leave a comment here to show your support.

Rachel's mom, has quit her job to be by her side 24/7, but insurance runs out folks and bills pile up. This is not a solicitation of pity but rather one of human support. This girl is 18 and cancer, at any age and in any form just SUCKS, but this girl hasn't even begun to live a life that is very vibrant and wonderful!

Let's all pitch in and see how the human condition can be passionate, uplifting and wonderful.

I thank you all!
J-

Separated at Birth?

2010-05-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Elena Kagan

Jon Lovitz

NYC Dream - By Request

2009-06-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

So, when I lived in NYC, Astoria, Queens actually, I had another dream sort of like the one I had a few night ago, only in this dream, there was one girl and I couldn't shake this for days. In fact, I thought for sure I would run into this girl on the subway, the bus or just walking around. It's been 9 years since this dream and I remember it like it was yesterday.

I was teaching and had gone to bed before my partner. I got up from the couch, brushed my teeth and said to her "don't forget to turn the light off when you come to bed" and then I went to bed.

In my dream I was sitting on the couch and sitting next to me was a girl, about 6, small, slight and with very very pale skin. So pale in fact that you could see her veins through her skin as if her skin was paper thin. Her hair was long, not very thick and hung just past her shoulders in that typical straight banged little girl haircut. She was wearing a blue dress, white tights and black mary janes and she was looking straight ahead, not saying anything. The light by the couch (the same one I asked my partner to turn off) was on.

In fact we were both looking straight ahead, out the window, which had a view of the street and neither one of us spoke. I was not afraid, I was very calm. Then, I remember we turned to each other at the same time, and smiled at each other. Very warm and sincere smiles. Then the girl went back to looking out the window.

I stood up from the couch and then woke up. But when I woke up, the light in the living room was on, and that scared me. I woke my partner and said "why didn't you turn the light off", she said "I did". I said "well it's on, I didn't turn it on" and she insisted that she turned it off. I became very upset (as things were rocky between us) and started insisting loudly that she left the light on, that she must have left the light on, because I didn't so why was it on?

We came to the conclusion that I slept walked and turned it on. I'm really not sure if I did, I don't know. But I know this...I remember that girl and I even now, I swear, I'm going to turn the corner and she'll be there.

Dreams - Open for Interpretation

2009-06-19T05:11:00.001-07:00

Last night I had the strangest dream. (sing it with me) In light of recent life events that have taken place, my sleep has been mediocre at best with me waking every few hours thinking that it's time to start my day only to see that it's 3:37 or 2:48 in the morning.

But last night, I had a dream that was so vivid, so clear that I woke up to make sure I was still in my bed. This is the second time that I've had a dream like this where I can remember every detail. The first time this happened I lived in NYC and to this day, I can remember that dream and that was 9 years ago.

It was a short dream, but very powerful and went like this:

I was walking through a house carrying a pink (yes pink) recliner type chair on my head, only the chair was upside down so that the cushion rested on my head and the arms came down to my ears. I was balancing it with my hands. It was sorta of dark in this house, more like hazy, just like it gets before the sun goes down for the evening. I saw a man and I said "can I use your door?" and the man's voice said "no". I remember in my dream walking toward the door anyway and saying "I work for the government" and kept walking slowly and methodically toward the door.

I went through the door, not remembering if I had opened it or not but it was a very easy transition and I still had the chair on my head. I ended up on a landing of sorts and on the landing were 3 young girls, very small, all dressed in blue, all with dark hair but their faces looked bloated and funny. Not grotesquely bloated but bloated and they had string wrapped tight around their necks, like shoelaces and I started to panic in my dream and kept saying "what are you doing, what are you doing over and over. The whole time the chair was still on my head.

And all at once, in unison the girls said "we're waiting, we're next".

My eyes popped open and I sat up, grabbed my cell phone for light from the screen and scanned my room to make sure I was in bed, in my bed, and I was.

I couldn't go back to sleep because my mind started racing.

And that was my night. Any comments, thoughts on the dream, anything would be helpful and if you're interested, I'll tell you about the NYC dream too. Just let me know.

Afghanistan Women’s and Children's Clinic

2009-04-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this for a friend. Make a donation, send it around to your friends, POST it on your blogs.

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Afghanistan Women’s and Children's Clinic in the Paktika province. The Clinic began when 3 female soldiers (myself included) became concerned about the plight of the local children and women to receive medical care. In the remote region of Afghanistan, where the clinic is located, there are was only one local Afghan female to treat all the women in the province. We began to go over to the local all female clinic 3 days a week and work for a few hours delivering free medical care and training to the mid-wife.

This effort is not funded by the military and we do this in our spare time. We get all of our medical supplies as well as medicines and humanitarian aid (shoes, clothes, etc) from donations. We rely solely on these donations to keep the clinic up and running. Everything that we get goes directly to the patients. With over 70% of the population living in poverty, they couldn't afford medical treatment even if they desperately needed it.

We treat both females and children and operate with an all female staff, as women and girls are not allowed to be seen by male doctors. Many of the children that come in are severely malnourished and are in need of baby formula and food. Most of the time, the mother is either dead or can't produce breast milk. The locals have no way in which to purchase baby formula and no where to buy it from.

I was hoping that your company would either be willing to donate some baby formula and other baby items or allow me to purchase them at a reduced cost.

Thank you in advance for your consideration into this matter and any help that you can offer. If you would like to see the hard work we have been doing and the children which will be receiving the baby formula, you can visit my website:
http://afghanwomensclinic.wordpress.com/

Thank you!
Sgt. Michelle Johnson
FOB Waza Khwa, Afghanistan

Florida Foliage

2009-04-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

Just some foliage right outside my front and back door. I don't know the proper names for any of them, aside from the Palm, but all grow wild.

Boca Photos

2009-04-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Looking out onto Deerfield Beach, which is literally 15 minutes from where I live.

Pelican on the Pier. I was close enough that I could have touched it.

Ocean from the Deerfield Pier

View from the boat of a sailboat on the Intracoastal in Ft. Lauderdale.

This home, on the Intracoastal was bought by a man from the Otis Elevator family. It was a gift to his fiance. He became very ill and lost his sight because of it and the fiance left him because of it. The home now sits for sale.

End of the day. One of the may yachts on the water. Ft. Lauderdale is the yacht capital of the world.

Life's "ruff" for a puppy in Boca!

In Boca

2009-03-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ok so I'm officially in Boca Raton and I've done a lot of cool things thus far and I will post pictures when I get my usb cord because I managed to leave THAT in Atlanta. But I've seen some cool stuff and let me just say this...cruise ships look big on TV, they are HUGE when you're on a boat that's maybe 100 feet away and the homes and yachts that SINGLE FAMILIES own, let's just say I can't fathom that much house, that much boat or that much money. Granted a lot of them were for sale, but still.

We rode by a house that was purchased by a man who is part of the Otis Elevator family. He bought it as a home that he and his soon to be wife could live in, it was a gift to her. The story goes that he became sick with a serious illness and it caused him to go blind. His soon to be wife, left him because of that and the home is now up for sale. (I'll post a photo of it soon).

At any rate, I've been having a good time, enjoying the local culture, wanting to go fishing, go to Miami, Key West, etc. The people have been friendly for the most part, but I know no matter where you go, you'll encounter jerks.

I'll post more later, just wanted to give y'all an update.

Moving

2009-02-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

To Boca Raton for a job. I hate to go, but the Atlanta job market is pretty poor right now and the contract position (after getting laid off a week before Thanksgiving) I'm on is about up. So....I'm off, but who knows I may be back in 6 months.

I'll pick back up when I'm settled.

Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Take a moment, won't you and feel blessed for everything you are able to do, say and read because of these men and women.

THE THINGS THAT MAKE A SOLDIER GREAT
Edgar Guest

The things that make a soldier great and send him out to die,
To face the flaming cannon's mouth nor ever question why,
Are lilacs by a little porch, the row of tulips red,
The peonies and pansies, too, the old petunia bed,
The grass plot where his children play, the roses on the wall:
'Tis these that make a soldier great.
He's fighting for them all.

'Tis not the pomp and pride of kings that make a soldier brave;
'Tis not allegiance to the flag that over him may wave;
For soldiers never fight so well on land or on the foam
As when behind the cause they see the little place called home.
Endanger but that humble street whereon his children run,
You make a soldier of the man who never bore a gun.
What is it through the battle smoke the valiant soldier sees?

The little garden far away, the budding apple trees,
The little patch of ground back there, the children at their play,
Perhaps a tiny mound behind the simple church of gray.
The golden thread of courage isn't linked to castle dome
But to the spot, where'er it be — the humblest spot called home.
And now the lilacs bud again and all is lovely there
And homesick soldiers far away know spring is in the air;
The tulips come to bloom again, the grass once more is green,
And every man can see the spot where all his joys have been.

He sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call,
And only death can stop him now — he's fighting for them all.

Something to Chew On

2008-11-06T09:32:00.001-08:00

Yeah yeah, I've not blogged in a bit but this is something that CHAPS MY ASS. Prop 8 - passed and here's an article on "Why Gay Marriage was Defeated in California".

Proposition 8

But this is my FAVORITE part:

"A symbolic low point for the gay side came on Oct. 13, when the Sacramento Bee ran a remarkable story about Rick and Pam Patterson, a Mormon couple of modest means - he drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic, she raises their five boys - who had withdrawn $50,000 from their savings account and given it to the pro-8 campaign. "It was a decision we made very prayerfully," Pam Patterson, 48, told the Bee's Jennifer Garza. "Was it an easy decision? No. But it was a clear decision, one that had so much potential to benefit our children and their children."

And one of my favorite blog comments from the "Bee" - Because if there's something Mormons support, it's marriage between one man and ONE woman. The other women they marry at the same time don't count."

They can eat a bag of dick! yes dick, because they'll tell you the rest doesn't count anyway.

Heidi Newfield

2008-08-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

I heard this singer about 2 weeks ago and I love it! And I'll add the words too.

Oh there's something 'bout a man in black,
Makes me want to buy a cadillac,
Throw the top back,
And roll down to Jackson town,
I wanna be there on the stage with you,
You and I could be the next rage too,
Hear the crowd roar,
Make 'em want more,
Kick the footlights out,

I wanna love like Johnny and June,
Rings of fire burnin' with you,
I wanna walk the line,
Walk the line,
'Till the end of time,
I wanna love,
Love ya that much,
Cash it all in,
Give it all up,
When you're gone,
I wanna go too,
Like Johnny and June,

I wanna hold you baby right or wrong,
Build a world around a country song,
Pray a sweet prayer,
Follow you there,
Down in history,

I wanna love like Johnny and June,
Rings of fire burnin' with you,
I wanna walk the line,
Walk the line,
'Till the end of time,
I wanna love,
Love ya that much,
Cash it all in,
Give it all up,
When you're gone,
I wanna go too,
Like Johnny and June,

Like Johnny and June,
More than life itself,
No-one else,
This endless promise,
They don't make love like that anymore,
Is that too much to be askin' for,

I wanna love like Johnny and June,
Rings of fire burnin' with you,
I wanna walk the line,
Walk the line,
'Till the end of time,
I wanna love,
Love ya that much,
Cash it all in,
Give it all up,
When you're gone,
I wanna go too,
Like Johnny and June,

Like Johnny and June,
And when we're gone,
There'll be no tears to cry,
Only memories of our lives,
They'll remember, remember,
A love like that.

This Man....

2008-08-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

Is a MACHINE!

Enough!

2008-07-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Of "the FACE" already. Damn Favre, you made your choice, you knew what might happen.

From the Mouths of Babes

2008-06-26T12:43:00.003-07:00

I found out that my nephew, who will be 3 in October had the chicken pox so I called to talk to my sister to see how he was feeling.

Apparently there's a shot they give kids now that lessens the severity of chicken pox in terms of itching and how many they get, but doesn't stop it from happening.

Caden, my nephew was out on the car port, "raking" the concrete, don't ask, I don't know, he's 3, and I wanted to talk to him.

My sister hands him the phone and the conversation goes like this:

Me: "Hi, Caden"
Caden: "HI"
Me: "Do you have the chicken pox?"
Caden: "Nooooooo (pause), I have a rake".

And what, really, can you say to that?

Can You Imagine?

2008-06-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Waiting 55 years to legally marry the person you've chosen to spend your life with? Check out this article. These 2 ladies are just AMAZING - simply for the fact that they've managed to make it 55 years!

55 Years Together

It's Here, It's Here!

2008-05-30T06:39:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship Finals:
8:00 to 10:00 p.m. EDT
Live on ABC: Independence Ballroom

YAY!!!

Yes I cheer these kids on, yes I feel bad for them when they mess up a word and get knocked out of the competition because these kids, in my opinion are the best and brightest and will someday run the world. They also work so very hard to get to this point and I think it's quite an accomplishment for them!

Check it out, cheer them on!

WTF!

2008-05-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

This is disgusting and quite frankly, that teacher should be admonished for her behavior and encouraging this behavior from the kids in her classroom.

Students vote autistic 5-year-old out of class

It sounds like somebody has been watching too many reality shows. Namely, Wendy Portillo, a teacher at Morningside Elementary in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She turned her kindergarten classroom into a cruel version of Survivor by allowing her students to vote a fellow student out of the class.

The banished child is 5-year-old Alex Barton, who is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning type of autism. Not uncommon to his condition, Alex has had some behavioral issues and as a result, spends a lot of time in the principal's office.

After returning to Ms. Portillo's classroom after a recent visit with the principal, his teacher decided to punish him with humiliation. She had Alex stand at the front of the class while his fellow students listed off what they didn't like about him. After informing him that they found him "disgusting" and "annoying", the class was instructed to vote on whether or not Alex should be allowed to stay in the class. By a 14 to 2 margin, they voted him out.

Alex hasn't been back to school since then, but his mother, Melissa Barton, says he is still reliving the incident. The night after it happened, she says she overheard him saying "I'm not special" over and over.

Incredibly, an investigation by the state attorney's office concluded that Alex's treatment did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse and no charges have been filed. I don't know what the criteria for emotional abuse is, but if this doesn't meet it, what does? My heart breaks for all the children involved in this incident.

I'd like to vote this teacher out...better yet, I'd like to break my foot off in her ass.

P.S. - for Girlcottboys - and for anyone else who can't and/or doesn't read carefully...this article was written by Sandy Maples. Then again I never said I wrote it and prefaced it as such! (Don't want to hurt any feelings now)

Time to Remember - Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Why Delta Sucks Ass or You Too Can Treat People Like Shit

2008-05-15T10:49:00.001-07:00

Dear Delta,
BLOW ME! You are the SUCK! And this is why.

A friend of mine borrowed my suitcase (which was a gift from my Aunt) to take a trip to Spain on your crap-tastic airline. Getting there went well. He arrived, the luggage arrived, everything was great.

But oh no...you couldn't just let it go from there and make the return trip just as pleasant, could you? Nope. Your baggage handlers, both human and automated destroyed my suitcase to the point where it looked like the plane ran it over, backed over it to see what it hit the first time, then ran back over and dragged it down the runway.

Your response? "We'll try to repair it and in the event we can't, we'll REPLACE IT!" REPLACE, for your pea brains means to give back (whether by purchasing a new item or some fucking form of magic), the same item or it's equivalent. Offering to fix that bag was like offering to unbend a hub cab that had been run over by 20 freight trains. Ain't happenin'.

So my friend kept following up for a status and got the big run around. He finally realized you weren't going to make good on your offer and now he has to replace the suitcase himself.

You've got to be buggin' out if you think for one moment that I believe that a) you're not responsible and b) you can't afford it. Your flight costs have gone up, well BEFORE the price of gas went up. Not to mention Jet Fuel and gas...not the same shit. Your customer service has gone to shit, your on flight service is laughable at best, if your hub wasn't Atlanta with the throngs of business people that fly in and out of here, you'd be more fucked than a hooker on Peachtree and 10th.

Can't afford to replace a suitcase? Yeah, guess that may have cut into that ridiculous million plus salary that you have to pay to your fat cats at the top, who apparently think they shit gold and don't have to be responsible for their actions, let alone the actions of a company.

Bottom Line - You're the SUCK! AirTran gets all my business from now on.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
Today is May 12th, 2008 – Mother’s Day and I am here in Tennessee spending it with you. While driving here and while here, as I do at all times really, I think about how much you’ve done for me, how much you mean to me and how much I couldn’t have accomplished without you.

You had me when you were 19 and now I am 36. I imagine that your life was put on hold for quite some time in order to raise me, then my brother and finally my sister. No having children of my own, I can’t imagine what that must have been like. I remember seeing the sacrifices you made, and can recognize them now, but I’ll never know what it’s really like to put my life on hold and be responsible for another human being.

With that said, I want to thank you for the following;

1. Helping me get myself dressed in the morning for school and combing my hair.
2. Making breakfast and letting me help, especially with pancakes and cake that Harold the cat, later jumped into.
3. Making 36 cupcakes the night before the class party AND delivering them.
4. Showing up with the class Christmas tree, even though I “forgot” to ask.
5. Keeping all the “ornaments” I’ve made. From paper chains to clothespin reindeer and still pulling them at, now that I’m 36 years old.
6. Little League, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Ice Hockey games, being there, even in the freezing cold and never complaining – and also buying all the equipment that went with it.
7. Money for school dances.
8. Money for the “Book Fair”
9. For instilling in me the joy of reading, the importance of patients and what working hard can really get you.
10. Staying on me about “did you get your homework done”? And pushing me to go to college
11. Warning me about people I shouldn’t hang out with, letting me do it anyway and not saying “I told you so.”
12. For giving me the LOVE that is BLACK LICORICE – damn that stuff is good.
13. For encouraging me, even to this day.
14. For not walking away from me when I told you I was gay.
15. For letting me make my own mistakes and still be able to say “I love you”.
16. For teaching me that life is hard, and sometimes you just have to get used to the fact and work through it.
17. For encouraging me in my successes and not lecturing me for my failures.
18. For calling just to say “I’ve not heard from you, are things okay?”
19. For teaching me that even the simple things, like popping bubble wrap can be a great stress reduction.
20. For all the numerous vacations you took me on when I was a kid
21. For making me realize that things can always be worse but they can always be better.
22. For teaching me to be nice and kind to everyone, because you never know what someone else is going through.
23. To not hit my brother. (I was far older than my sister when she came along, so this was not a question.)
24. To say please and thank you, always.
25. For always letting me know that I can ALWAYS come home.

My admiration, love and and adoration for you, knows no bounds and for that I am grateful.

I love you, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.

Jeri

Change

2008-05-06T19:09:00.001-07:00

If anything, you can see it in in my face.

AIDS Walk - 2006, I'm on the right.

Yellow River Game Ranch - Sept. 2007

Crawfish Boil - March 2008 - I'm on the left.

April 2008 - My brother's wedding and most recent picture.

A Little Faith

2008-05-03T10:38:00.001-07:00

Going to the Chapel.....

2008-04-13T12:55:00.001-07:00

And my brother FINALLY got married. This weekend to the girl he's been with for 12 years. I suppose if you don't know someone after 12 years, you never will.

The bride and her maid - of - honor before the ceremony.

My brother and his wife after the "I Do's".

Me, my brother, his wife.

My Dad and Me. This is the ONLY photo I have of my father and I together.

My brother dancing on the staircase to "Sexyback"

My nephew bustin' a MOVE on the dance floor. He gets his mad skillz from me!

Me and my little sister.

My mom and I. She never smiles and we have no idea why. Until now. I gave her such a hard time, she "smiled" like that on purpose.

My two aunts (my mom's sisters), Karis, my second cousin, my sister and my nephew on the dance floor.

And finally....the evening ends and a life together begins.

We Interrupt This Blog To Bring You...

2008-04-08T19:45:00.001-07:00

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VOLS - WOOT!

Bayou Bash 2008

2008-04-03T18:08:00.001-07:00

Ok, as promised, here are some photos from the Crawfish Boil!

That's me in the Tide shirt with the hostess of the party. We'll call her CRAWDADDY! And she is by far one of the most generous people I know.

That's me again. (Can you say Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?) with my friend from Mississippi.

This is the Jello Shot Menu...so you knew what you were getting.

And those are the shots. There were 200 of them when the party started at noon. At 5 p.m. they were gone!

That's my friend WHOLE-TEX eatin' a crawdad!

And last but not least....these are the CRAWFISH! Crawdaddy bought 200 pounds of these things and they were all gone by 5 p.m. when we started cleaning up and getting ready to head out to Big Mike's Bar.

P.S. - Those crawfish you see are alive in a big bucket. Yes, you throw them into the hot water alive and cook them that way.
There are way more pictures than this, so I'll post more tomorrow. Enjoy!

And I'm Back....

2008-04-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

I had a BLAST, then again I always do. I'll post more, with photos, later. Right now, I need to catch up on some work.

I'm Off...

2008-03-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

To a Louisiana Crawfish Boil....AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

If Only It Could Be

2008-03-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

I was reading about the Pope this morning, and had this mini conversation with my friend:

Obear29: I wish that when the Pope, raised his hand and called for Peace in Iraq, the Holy Land and in Tibet, that it would just happen

B: like bewitched?

Obear29: as if he were the Alan Greenspan of Peace, and people would say "well hell, if the Pope says let's have Peace, then let's have it"

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T05:13:00.000-07:00

The Crazy That Is My Life

2008-03-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

I belong to a user group called Fourth Tuesday. A professional women's group. I swear to you, had I not seen this is in my email box, I wouldn't have believed it. Last names have been abbreviated.

Hey Jeri, Shelly R. tells me you are dating Lorraine (sp). I met her when she came to our first few 4th Tuesday NW events. I've guess you've kept her busy as I have not seen her for several months. Just wanted you to know that she is absolutely one of my favorite people. Always kept us in stitches and was my only smoking buddy to boot. I'm moving to Tampa for a job on April 1. Shelly always knows how to find me and I'd love for ya'll to come visit. I'll miss seeing you around as our lives have crossed paths so many times at events.

I attached my photo cuz I realize you might not remember who I am by last name. Take care,

Carol C.

Uh... A), I don't know a Shelly R. B)I've never dated someone named Lorraine. C)I'd never date a smoker. D) I've been single for some time.

But YEE HAW DAMN it's nice to know I have a social life, even if it's not really mine.

How It Should Be

2008-03-19T08:01:00.001-07:00

I am so sick of reading how young punks prey on the elderly. I applaud this man, because I'd do the same exact thing. Unfortunately, my Investigator friend in Mississippi told me yesterday that a 92 year old man, who lives a few doors down from her grandmother was murdered for his car and the dumb ass kid who did it, was still driving the car 4 hours later. That old man would've given that kid the keys, I'm sure of it!

Elderly Tucker man kills intruder

By MIKE MORRIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/19/08

If a DeKalb County home invasion suspect thought an elderly Tucker couple would make an easy target Tuesday night, he thought wrong.

Now the suspect is dead, and DeKalb police say the 81-year-old homeowner will not face charges for shooting and killing the man.
• More DeKalb news

• More metro/state news

DeKalb police spokesman J.T. Ware said that about 11 p.m., the unidentified suspect, who appeared to be in his 20s, broke into the home on Zemory Drive, in a neighborhood off Lawrenceville Highway.

"The suspect, as he was entering the location, made enough noise to arouse the suspicions of the homeowner, and he was able to locate his weapon and load it," Ware said.

The homeowner confronted the suspect, and after a brief struggle, shot and killed the man, Ware said.

He said the homeowner, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized for treatment of wounds suffered during the struggle, but is expected to be okay. The man's 78-year-old wife was not injured.

Ware said police do not plan to charge the homeowner.

"He defended his home, defended his wife," Ware said. "He did what everybody would hope to do in a situation like that."

Atlanta Tornado

2008-03-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

In the entire history of Atlanta, a tornado has never touched down in the city.

Update

2008-02-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

Just real quick. Yes, I got the bat out of the house with 2 oven mitts and a net. No, I don't have pictures. Yes the bat is alive and well. I took it outside and let it go, it flew back at me. GO HOME BAT! (and home is not with me).

I've started back tutoring again, so that keeps me busy on the weekends and it's some pretty decent extra cash too.

Also....I've hired a personal trainer to help me get to the space I want to be in. I work out all the time, but clearly I was doing something wrong, so I hired someone. She's great and I feel like I'm eating all the frikken time. I also signed up to the do the Gold's Gym Challenge which is a 12 week fitness challenge, wish me luck.

I'll keep you posted.

In MY house!

2008-02-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

Yes this is a BAT! Yes, it is in MY HOUSE! Yes my roommates are flippin' out and I'm dying with laughter. Oh and yes it is ALIVE!

Super Bowl

2008-02-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all.

Reply All

2008-01-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

This is what I get for clicking on reply all. I don't want people to IM me, not the ones I don't know, especially not with this:

Firenfun (1:48:17 PM): O BEAR ...........GGGGGRRRRRRR....LMAO
Obear29 (1:49:26 PM): I don't get it
Firenfun (1:49:36 PM): LOL..ITS ALL GOD
Obear29 (1:49:37 PM): but then I'm looking for focus groups to run ads with so...
Firenfun (1:49:39 PM): GOOD
Obear29 (1:49:53 PM): are you on an email list that I hit reply all on?
Firenfun (1:50:17 PM): YOUR ON MY IM AND I HAVENT SEEN YOU IN A BIT
Firenfun (1:50:29 PM): JUST WAS SAYIN HI
Obear29 (1:51:00 PM): oh, I'm on every day
Obear29 (1:51:03 PM): work requires it
Obear29 (1:51:04 PM): Hi
Firenfun (1:51:07 PM): LOL.
Firenfun (1:51:15 PM): I MUST MISS YA
Firenfun (1:51:31 PM): ITS ALL GOOD
Firenfun (1:51:39 PM): JUST WANTED TO SAY HI

Soapbox

2008-01-24T17:43:00.000-08:00

"...your father's lung capacity is 35%, the doctor says that he has got to quit smoking."

This is what I heard during a conversation with my mom. An update on my father's health is nothing new, because I always ask how he's doing. I worry about him, maybe I shouldn't, I know he won't live forever, but I do.

Smoking is something my father has done for as long as I've been alive and then some. I'm 35. I clearly remember a carton of Marlboro Reds on the top of the refrigerator, put there, so the "kids can't get into them." But all you had to do was pull up a chair from the kitchen table and you could into anything on top of the refrigerator. We didn't. We (my brother and I) knew we'd get into serious trouble.

As I got older, a lot of my friends started smoking, to be cool, or whatever, it was the "thing" to do. So, I decided to try it too. Marlboro Lights, and I got caught and I got what was close to the worst spanking of my life, belt and all. And I'll never forget it. I never tried smoking again.

Ironically enough, my brother does smoke, so does my sister, so did my father's mother and father. And so does my father. You would think after all this, my sister, who's 21 and my brother who's soon to be 32, would catch a clue and quit, but no.

I know it's not easy to quit, to just walk away from it. If it was easy, we wouldn't need all these smoking cessation drugs, or anti-smoking programs, etc.

I have friends that smoke, I wish they'd stop. I won't date someone who smokes and I get a lot of flack for that. I've even gotten "what if the woman of your dreams is a smoker?". Then she's not the woman of my dreams. I can't and I won't watch someone that I love kill themselves from the inside out. I'm already doing that.

I'm watching my father die, slowly. And I've watched for years. I've watched a strong, invincible man become a shell of his former self. He gets winded now, has oxygen to sleep, whether for a nap or for the night and has portable oxygen, just in case and yet...he'll continue to smoke. I have a lot of respect for my mother, because they've been married for 36 years and she's stood by him, through thick and thin.

He's trying Chantix,(spelling?) so we shall see if that helps, but at this rate, I feel certain, he'll be lucky to see 70.

So now, I'm stepping off my soapbox, for now. And if this post gave anyone something to think about, it was well worth it.

Um....

2008-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

I was testing a site to make sure one of our ads was running and I saw this under the "reviews" column.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Cat Food and Tastes Good, March 2, 2005

And I'll leave it at that.

Perception

2008-01-22T05:40:00.000-08:00

There's a lot to be said about perception and I thought about that while I was at the gym last night and noticed an older woman taking a pretty fast paced aerobics class that was full of younger women (you know, in their mid 20's-30's). This woman, had to be late 40's, early 50's (no, that's not OLD, but it was older than the others), and although the rest of the class was able to keep up with the instructor, this woman was at best, one step behind, but kept at it and didn't give up and walk out.

And then, there's another instructor who teaches the Spin class. By "gym" standards, to look at her, you'd think, how can someone like THAT teach a Spin class. She's my height 5'6, no muscle tone that you can see, no definition, wears the stereotypical "big girl" gym clothes, you know, oversize t-shirt over her spandex and yet you can still tell she's "not in shape", again, by "gym" definition. But let me tell you this, this woman has an abundance of energy and has NO problems teaching that Spin class. I've watched women, that are slender, muscular, in "great shape", stop their bikes and walk out, EXHAUSTED! before the class ends. (I don't take this Spin Class because the bikes don't allow for a "coast", and my knee can't handle the sudden stop).

Then there's people like me. I'm 5'6, 190 pounds, I know many read, 190, wow, that's fat, and you're right, it is overweight, which is WHY I'm in the gym 5-6 days a week. Plus it gives me something to do and well softball is coming up. So, to look at me one might think I'm lazy and why would I be in a gym?

I'm so far from lazy it's silly. Not that I don't have my lazy days,but we all do. But I can say this and feel good about it. At 5'6, 190 pounds, I can bench press 75 pounds, 3 sets of 10, that's almost half, I've been away from the gym for awhile, of my body weight. So I can do that, among other things and ride my bicycle 30-40 miles no problem, and do other cardio as well. I have to ease back into running because I popped my kneecap recently, that was a new and miserable experience.

And yet, I see these huge, muscular guys who, at best can lift 200+ pounds 6-8 times and that's it, that's all they do. And these women, who have great bodies, but clearly are there to get in on the dating pool. They walk a little on the treadmill, do some crunches, then spend the rest of the time looking at themselves in the mirrors. (the men do the same thing) I do that too, but it ain't because I'm looking pretty and kissing my muscles. I do it to make sure I'm doing the exercise right, because I sweat like a pig in a pork factory. It's a GYM, you're SUPPOSED to SWEAT!

So you look around the gym and you see all types of people in there. All shapes, all sizes and you have to remind yourself....it's all about perception.

And We Got....

2008-01-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

More snow! I know it's just snow, but this IS Georgia and it IS kinda cool, so I took a couple more pictures of the backyard.

It's Snowing in Georgia

2008-01-16T16:56:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's snowing. See for yourself.

Myriad of Emotions

2008-01-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

As some of you may or may not know, a big news story here in Atlanta is that of Meredith Emerson, the hiker, who's body was found recently in one of our State parks in North Georgia. See this article if you're so inclined. Meredith Emerson

As a human being, this sickens me to the point of feeling empty, in that I want this man who killed her to face the same ending as she did. He agreed to show officials where her body was AFTER assuring he would not get the death penalty. And if I were in her parents shoes, I'd want the body if I couldn't have anything more.

As a woman (not that this can't happen to men), this makes me realize with an urgency that I must be more aware of my surroundings at all times, regardless of where I am or who I am with. I use to go cycling alone on the Silver Comet Trail that begins here in Georgia and ends at the Alabama border. I went alone, I went often (sometimes I went with my friend Rachel) and I never gave it a thought because at the beginning of the trail there's always a lot of hikers, walkers, runners and cyclists. However, after another woman was killed on that trail at the 17 mile marker, I began to notice that the plethora of people to readily available at the beginning of the trail begin to thin out around the 10 mile marker and were virtually non-existent at the 15 mile marker or further, save for the occasional cyclist that would go whizzing by.

It was then that Rachel and I promised never to cycle that trail alone and if one of us couldn't do, then we just didn't go, we went to the gym or found other things to do, with people around.

Rachel called me this morning to tell me she just heard Meredith Emerson's boyfriend on the Bert Show from Q100, a local radio station, and that it was the most heart wrenching thing to listen too and I believe it. Subsequently, Rachel's boyfriend has expressed his wishes for her not to go trail running by herself anymore, to which I and she agree. AND again, this morning we promised to never, ever go running, cycling, hiking, nothing of the sort without the other one or without someone with us and I know we'll both stick to it.

Because, as women our lives may depend on it.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Meredith Emerson. In time, may they find peace within their souls and find comfort in one another.

Borrowed from another blog - Where you come from

2008-01-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

This meme is from "What Privileges Do You Have?", based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold all things that apply to you.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.
16. Went to a private high school. (catholic all girls paid by my grandmother's death)
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels.
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them. (paid for by my grandfather's death)
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
25. You had your own room as a child.
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course. (but I paid for it myself)
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

In the spirit of the exercise, each item you bold represents one step forward, or you can think of it as a bit of a head start or leg up. It is obviously designed to make us aware of how much privilege we did or didn't enjoy growing up, and how our class background has affected our lives.

And let me just say this. I now know, as an adult, how much my parents gave up so that my brother, sister and myself could have and do these things.

My First Experience with 2008

2008-01-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

So, New Year's Day, I did what anyone would do, I cut the grass (yes CUT the grass), cleaned the patio, got paint on me, picked up larger limbs for fire wood, went to the Home Depot and the Publix (grocery store). You know, I relaxed! And yes, that really is relaxing for me.

The best part was the Publix. I go in, grab my groceries and get in a line where the cashier is waiting for the person to come back because he forgot something. I guess as collateral he decided to leave his 3 young children to hold his place in line. The kid closest to me couldn't have been more than 7 or 8 years old.

I also notice that on the belt is a 12 pack of Miller Light 16 ounce Tall Boys and nothing else.

The guy (father, baby daddy, whatever) finally comes back (yes I had stayed in line because believe it or not, that line was STILL the shortest), with a package of bacon. So now we got bacon and beer, breakfast of champions, BABY!

The cashier scans the bacon and at the same time, the 7 or 8 year old points to a National Enquirer and ASKS the guy (father, baby daddy), if he can HAVE it to read. He's a KID, what KID reads that crap? The guy (father, baby daddy) says no. (You know priorities, beer, bacon, I get it.) And they leave.

Here's the thing...I didn't know whether to be floored that the kid asked for that rag, the National Enquirer or to be elated that he knew how to read at all. I mean sure the NE (National Enquirer) is written at about 6th grade level which would be great for the kid to be reading about grade level, but seriously, National Enquirer? 7-8 years old?

I'm probably going straight to hell for posting this but...come on.

I tried to do this last night

2008-01-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

But we all know how blogger is. So....

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU! May 2008 bring you happiness, good health, prosperity and a wealth of fond memories.

I Cannot WAIT!

2007-11-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

For This.

I Attract The Freaks

2007-11-27T11:54:00.001-08:00

Honestly...I get this IM out of the blue because I had hit "reply all" in an email chain...WHY ME!

For the record, Atlanta isn't close to Florida, it's at least 6 hours away, I don't care that you're taking a shower and that you work in Healthcare, I don't even KNOW YOU.

CNAJAM57 (2:06:28 PM): where is the room:-(
CNAJAM57 (2:06:47 PM): now i have to go to work....booooo
Obear29 (2:07:03 PM): who are you?
CNAJAM57 (2:07:29 PM): janet
CNAJAM57 (2:07:38 PM): JAMtoit57
Obear29 (2:07:42 PM): OH
Obear29 (2:07:45 PM): sorry
CNAJAM57 (2:07:45 PM): HI
CNAJAM57 (2:07:49 PM): ok
Obear29 (2:08:14 PM): I'm at work, and can't access chat
CNAJAM57 (2:08:38 PM): ohh
CNAJAM57 (2:08:45 PM): unavailable anyway
CNAJAM57 (2:08:57 PM): unless ur a rocket scientist with lots a time
Obear29 (2:09:19 PM): I think the key is "lots of time"
CNAJAM57 (2:09:31 PM): lol tooo true
CNAJAM57 (2:09:36 PM): what's ur name
Obear29 (2:09:58 PM): J-
Obear29 (2:10:05 PM): that's what I go by
CNAJAM57 (2:10:09 PM): ok
CNAJAM57 (2:10:12 PM): HI J
CNAJAM57 (2:10:38 PM): u have forward me mail
CNAJAM57 (2:10:46 PM): so ur on my buddy list
Obear29 (2:10:48 PM): oh I probably hit reply all
CNAJAM57 (2:10:57 PM): I am glad
CNAJAM57 (2:11:20 PM): not a creep or a guy
CNAJAM57 (2:11:20 PM): lol
CNAJAM57 (2:11:24 PM): where are u working
Obear29 (2:11:47 PM): Atlanta
CNAJAM57 (2:11:54 PM): ohhh close
CNAJAM57 (2:11:59 PM): <<CNAJAM57 (2:12:03 PM): Healthcare
CNAJAM57 (2:12:25 PM): nice to see u
CNAJAM57 (2:12:28 PM): better go
CNAJAM57 (2:12:32 PM): :-)
CNAJAM57 (2:12:36 PM): HAGD
Obear29 (2:13:00 PM): you too
CNAJAM57 (2:13:08 PM): smile
CNAJAM57 (2:13:15 PM): I dare ya
CNAJAM57 (2:13:16 PM): lol
Obear29 (2:13:58 PM): as soon as I figure out why someone didn't get paid, I will
Auto Response from CNAJAM57 (2:13:59 PM): I wish U happiness
CNAJAM57 (2:14:17 PM): i have my ck early too
CNAJAM57 (2:14:21 PM): ;-)
CNAJAM57 (2:14:24 PM): XO
CNAJAM57 (2:14:31 PM): U shall figure it out
CNAJAM57 (2:14:50 PM): can i
CNAJAM57 (2:14:51 PM): lol
Obear29 (2:15:16 PM): can you what?
CNAJAM57 (2:15:26 PM): Have MY ck early
CNAJAM57 (2:15:28 PM): lol
CNAJAM57 (2:16:10 PM): 8-)
CNAJAM57 (2:16:20 PM): Jumpin in the shower now
CNAJAM57 (2:16:33 PM): byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Hard to believe, but not so much

2007-11-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

You know...it chaps my ass that some people I work with make far more than I do and can't do simple things like Power Point presentations, Excel sheets, etc, but I have to pick up their slack because I'm asked to do so? WTF? And I'll do it because I do like where I work, but come on.

Big bad ass Account Executive, with their own office hasn't worked for 2 hours this morning because the wireless mouse and keyboard went dead...actually no, it didn't, it was in sleep mode and they didn't know how to "wake" it up. So they had to wait for the IT person, to push.a.fucking.button.

How's THAT for job security!

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T10:39:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Y'All!

Manners, Party of One....

2007-11-20T11:01:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I just have to say this. A co-worker comes over to my desk to chat, yes we do that here, we chat and the first thing out of her mouth is "your nose looks shiny." I said "what? what do you mean it looks shiny?", thinking that maybe, just maybe I had not rubbed in all the lotion on put on my face.

She goes on to say, "when you looked up and the light hit it, your nose looked shiny, you know, oily." Insert my RCA Nipper look here. So, I trying to play it off, after all I am at work, say "oh, well yeah, I'm trying to perfect my impersonation as a spotlight, did it work?". She says "Oh I thought maybe you were going for Rudolph."

SOOOOOO now my nose is RED and Shiny? What am I, W.C. Fields? Then she goes on like nothing happened. In that moment I thought, well shit, now let me go make an appointment at the Clinique counter (see how GIRLY!) and see what they can do for me.

Shiny nose...bite my shiny ass.

Tales From the Deep South

2007-11-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

So...I get a call from my Sheriff friend, who resides in the deep south, again and she says, "guess what I have in the backseat of my patrol car?". Secretly I hoped it was the girl who stood me up, but no. Before I could answer she says "I mean, guess who I have in the backseat of my patrol car?", and I said "no idea". She says a 2 month old, baby boy.

Uh yeah...I paused too and then said "um....what can a 2 month old possibly"...and my voice trailed off, only to be replaced with me saying "um why?"

Here's why.

Seems like momma thinks the baby cries too much, he's colicky, she put him OUTSIDE in the yard and oh yeah...the BOYFRIEND doesn't like it either. "IT" being the baby, not the colic.

Apparently this is not the first time, so my friend was taking the boy to his grandmother's while DHS was on it's way to visit, what is typically known as a poor excuse for a mother.

I WISH I was making this up, but...no.

I Got Robbed

2007-11-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

All I have to say is SCREW YOU CAMPBELL'S SOUPS for giving me half, yes HALF a can of one of my favorite soups, Italian Wedding.

I open the can and lo and behold, HALF FULL! What? Someone get married at the canning plant and took half of every can? (that was a stupid thought, lol) And THEN I had to fish out the little pastas because they STUCK to the inside of the can?

So SCREW YOU...and don't go fuckin' with my tomato soup or it's ON!

Welcome to Georgia and....

2007-11-13T13:57:00.001-08:00

It's my 200th post. YAY ME!

Welcome to Georgia

This is for anyone who lives in Atlanta, has ever lived in Atlanta,
has ever visited Atlanta, ever plans to visit Atlanta, knows anyone who
already lives in Atlanta, or knows anyone who has ever heard of
Atlanta

Atlanta is composed mostly of one-way streets. The only way to get out
Of downtown Atlanta is to turnaround and start over when you reach
Greenville, South Carolina.

All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree" and include the phrase,
"When you see the Waffle House." Except that in Cobb County, where all
directions begin with, "From the Big Chicken."

Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused
with:
Peachtree Circle
Peachtree Place
Peachtree Lane
Peachtree Road
Peachtree Parkway
Peachtree Run
Peachtree Terrace
Peachtree Avenue
Peachtree Commons
Peachtree Battle
Peachtree Corners
New Peachtree
Old Peachtree
West Peachtree
Peachtree-Dunwoody
Peachtree-Chamblee, or
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard

Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask
anyone for directions, they will always send you down Peachtree.
And yes, they have a street named simply, "Boulevard."

Only a native can pronounce Ponce De Leon Avenue , so do not attempt
the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the
right and stare at you. The Atlanta pronunciation is " pawntz duh LEE-awn."

Atlanta is the home of Coca-Cola. Coke's all they drink there so don't
ask for any other soft drink unless it's made by Coca-Cola. Even if
you want something other than a Coca-Cola, it's still called Coke.

The gates at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are
about 32 miles away from the Main Concourse, so wear sneakers and pack
a lunch.

The 8 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The 5 p.m. rush
hour is from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 pm. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday
afternoon and lasts through 2 a.m. Saturday.

The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget
all traffic rules. If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for
three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15
minutes for a week. Overnight, all grocery stores will be sold out of milk ,
bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.

I-285, the loop that encircles Atlanta , which has a posted speed
limit of 55 mph (but you have to maintain 80 mph just to keep from getting
run over), is known to truckers as "The Watermelon 500."

Don't believe the directional markers on highways: I-285 is marked
"East" and "West" but you may be going North or South. The locals
identify the direction by referring to the "Inner Loop" and the "Outer
Loop."

If you travel on Hwy 92 North, you will actually be going southeast.

Never buy a ladder or mattress in Atlanta. Just go to one of the
interstates and you will soon find one in the middle of the road.

The last thing you want to do is give another driver the finger,
unless your car is armored, your trigger finger is itchy and your
AK-47 has a full clip.

Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.

There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Georgia

There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Georgia , plus
a couple no one has seen before.

If it grows, it sticks. If it crawls, it bites. If you notice a vine
trying to wrap itself around your leg, you have about 20 seconds to
escape, before you are completely captured and covered with Kudzu, and
never heard from again.

It's not a shopping cart, it's a buggy. "Fixinto" is one word (I'm
fixinto go to the store). Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals (even
breakfast) and you start drinking it when you're 2 years old.
"Jeet?" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
"Momma-nem" means: "How is your Mother and all of the other children
and other members of the family doing?"

If you understand these jokes, forward them to your friends from
Atlanta, and those who just wish they were.

Lordy, I love Jawja!

Hello, PETA....

2007-11-12T12:43:00.001-08:00

Isn't Angelina a member of your organization? So then what's UP with the leather pants? Let me guess, pleather? Yeah, no, not buying it.

You'll Blink On This - Trust Me

2007-11-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ok...I'd say something like what I'm about to tell you only happens in the Deep South, but I know it doesn't. However, this did happen in the Deep South, as relayed by my Sheriff Deputy friend.

She gets to work all the sexual assault cases because she's a woman, lucky her, I know. So she gets a call, sexual assault on a 5 year old girl, yes 5. She does what she needs to do, takes the kid to the hospital, stays with her, the nurse does and exam, sure enough, there's evidence and there's "blue stuff" on the child's genitals.

Signs point to the 11 year old cousin, so yes, they are cousins. He denies it of course, they examine him and there's "blue stuff" on his penis, so they know it's him. No, I don't know how it was that they got to examine the 11 year old too, but they did.

The 11 year old's mom, are you sitting down?, She doesn't see ANYTHING wrong with it, they're just kids, they're "curious". It's pretty much cut and dry until the mom gets a LAWYER to fight it, because she "doesn't want her child to be known as THAT!"

So today, my friend is sitting in court, wasting her time on what is CLEARLY a case of an 11 year old basically trying to fuck his 5 year old cousin.

Oh and the "blue stuff"...blue popsicle...he used it for "lube". But I suppose that's just curiosity too.

Help Me Out Here

2007-11-03T12:10:00.001-07:00

You think they could've found a better photo for this ad, no?

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T06:31:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah and my catching a blistering line drive last night means my team won the first game of our tournament.

My Tuesday Thus Far

2007-10-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

We NEED Rain

2007-10-17T06:44:00.001-07:00

Like you wouldn't believe. It's no joke and at the rate things are going, there might not be any water in 90-120 days, unless it's bottled.

Pray For Us - send some rain.

Rationing Water?

17th Annual AIDS Walk - Atlanta

2007-10-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yes I know I've posted about it before, but the deadline is quickly approaching (This Sunday, Oct 21 to be exact) and I'd really like to reach my goal of $1,000.

If anyone would like to donate or link me, I'd be very grateful for your donation. I'm not asking for a lot here, just whatever you can. And if you can't, that's cool too, just keep me in your thoughts as I walk down Peachtree St with hundreds of others.

Just go here to make a donation.

AIDS WALK

Thanks All!

Oh and P.S. - PIRATE, SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS!

Precious

2007-10-02T17:48:00.001-07:00

Still Here

2007-10-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Yeah, haven't been posting lately because something happened to my old template, I can't decide what I really want for a new one and....right now I don't have the patience to work with the ones I really like.

So for now, you get this background and I'm with that as it reminds me of Autumn in New England, near the water.

I'll work on it some more. Oh yeah and I'll add back my links when I get a chance.

Because Ya Gotta Have Heart

2007-08-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Before the million dollar salaries, before all the endorsements and perks...this is what baseball is ALL about.
Georgia Wins Little League World Series

Things You May Not Know

2007-08-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

. A shrimp's heart is in its head.
2. The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
3. Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.
4. Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
5. If the government has no k! nowledge of aliens, then why does Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations, implemented on July 16, 1969 make it illegal for U. S. citizens to have any contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles?
6. In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
7. A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
8. 23% of all photocopier faults worldwide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts.
9. Most lipstick contains fish scales
10. Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.
11. If you sneeze too hard you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force they can pop out.
12. In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.
13. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
14. A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
15. More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.
16. Horses can't vomit.
17. Butterflies taste with their feet.
&! nbsp;18. In 10 minutes, a catagory three hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.
19. On average 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.
20. On average people fear spiders more than they do death.
21. Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
22. Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
23. Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
24. Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
25. It's possible to lead a cow upstairs... but not downstairs.
26. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
27. It is physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.
28. The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.
29. A snail can sleep for three years.
30. No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH."
31. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
32. The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
33. All polar bears are left handed.
34. In ancient Egypt , priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
35. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
36. TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.
37. "Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
38. If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand 7 feet, 2 inches tall.
39. A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
40. The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
41. Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
42. Almost everyone who reads this will try to lick their elbow.

Closer

2007-08-16T18:18:00.001-07:00

Let's Talk About Hot

2007-08-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

It's HOT here, folks. In fact, in all the time I've lived in Georgia, I don't EVER remember the heat being like this.

Check it out. And it's been like this for days!

Yeah no, your eyes are not deceiving you, it says 101 at 7 p.m. And I know it's August and I know it's the south but when southern Mississippi is COLDER than Georgia, and I don't even live in South Georgia, something is very wrong.

Creepy Cool

2007-07-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

I just thought this was pretty cool. Check it out.

Cat Predictions

17th Annual AIDS Walk - Atlanta

2007-07-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

AIDS Walk - ATLANTA

I'm walking in the 17th annual AIDS Walk - Atlanta and thought that maybe some of my readers would sponser me. I'm not asking for a lot, just whatever you can give and my goal is 1000.00. If I go over that, great, if not and I just get a little bit, that's great too, because every little bit counts.

HIV and/or AIDS does not discriminate. It knows no color, age, race, gender or sexual orientation. It does not care who you are, what you did with your life, where you live, where you work, nor who you rub elbows with. In your lifetime, someone you know, whether personally or via a friend of a friend will contract HIV/AIDS. So far, there is no cure. There's alot of false hope in that there's super drugs out there that "cure" HIV and AIDS. Truth is, it just slows it down, it doesn't cure it and unfortuneatly many people (not just gay men), are buying into this now more than ever, in my opinion.

So, I'm walking. I'm walking for the many who can no longer walk, in hopes that one day, a cure will be found for this disease, a cure that starts with headstrong education, a cure that begins with you.

Whatever you can donate, it would be greatly appreciated. Visit the link below and if that doesn't work, please let me know. In return, I can't give you gifts, but I can link you on my site, if that's something you'd like for me to do. And I can also give you the thanks of millions who will great benefit from your donation.

AID Atlanta

The distance for the AIDS WALK in Atlanta is 6.2 miles. And it's October 21, 2007.

Thank you for your heartfelt donation.

J-

Unbelievable

2007-06-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

While reading Dirk this afternoon, I was floored by the article that was in his blog. He asked that we spread the word, and because it blows me away that people do this...I am. Let me preface it by saying...it is NOT OK to do what these boys did, and that's exactly what they are...boys.

Hate Crime

My Dad

2007-06-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

I don't talk about my family much on this blog, I'll make a reference now and then, but nothing significant, but today...is different, today is significant. And yes, I know I didn't write about Mother's Day because I just couldn't find the words, I do have a mom, she's married to my dad, I sent her Godiva on her day, so anyway....here goes.

My Dad will be 65 this year, the age that many people retire at, but my Dad is already retried, forced, early do to an on the job injury. This was not an easy pill for him to swallow. He went from being the Dad that went to work every morning, to the Dad that stayed home and did things around the house like cooking, laundry (my Dad can fold a mean fitted sheet, something that I have not mastered as of yet), a role reversal with my mom if you will. This of course, didn't make him any less of a Dad to me, but...when you come from a generation where the man goes out, works hard and helps support the family,(both of my parents work) I saw a change in my Dad.

The last time I saw my father, as I was leaving to come home, I hugged him goodbye and his thinness startled me. I suppose some of the medicine he takes causes this. He must have felt me flinch because he said "skinny Dad, huh?", and I said "yeah, skinny Dad." His arms however were just as strong as I remember them, but as I was pulling away, tears filled my eyes, as reality set in and I wondered what happened to my Dad.

You see...this is how I remember my Dad. Tall, broad shouldered, strong back and legs, calloused hands, perpetually dirty fingernails, rough, loving in his own way, the best way he knew and knows how. My Dad was an Ironworker, he and others like him built the type of buildings that many men and women went to work in daily. I don't know if he every built a skyscraper, I never asked, but I'm sure he did. My Dad did however, take part in building some things for the 1984 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY and he brought me home a stuffed raccoon, (not a real one), as it was the Mascot of the 1984 Winter Olympics.

My Dad was up at 4 every morning, to work by 6 and home by 6. Inbetween those hours he worked hard, doing physical labor and would come home dirty, stinky, at least one hole burned into his flannel work shirts (yes even summer) from welding and sometimes he'd come home with a pirate patch on his eye, because he'd gotten some metal in it. I never asked how, it just was what it was and life went on.

In the summertime, even after working all day, my mom, brother and I would get in the car and go to the beach after dinner. Dad would roll the windows down in his black Pontiac, turn on the radio and smoke his cigarette, my brother and I in the back seat, my mom in the passenger. My Dad would stand in the water, and let my brother and I crawl up his back, stand on his shoulders and jump into the water, long after I was really too big to stand on his shoulders. And then, usually we'd go get ice cream, Dad would often get the MONSTER CONE with twist ice cream, that's the chocolate and vanilla mixed together, soft serve.

My Dad was the man who, even knowing favors wouldn't get returned, would put new brakes on your car, just "go get your brakes, and bring your car down, I'll take care of it". And he would, in the driveway, on the street, crawled under the car, asking for this wrench or that wrench in muffled tones. Need your oil changed? My Dad would do that too, for his friends. Hell, need anything, my Dad would try to help you out with that too. But it's rare that I remember people helping him. Ironically, I often find myself saying, "I'll take care of it".

My Dad was a rough man and had no problems with enforcing discipline. I hated it then, but I'm sure there were some things that I deserved to get into trouble for. I think it was just understood that he loved us, though it was rarely if ever said. My father gave me a single rose for high school graduation and told me then that he loved me. My Dad also drove over the mountain when I put the car off the road into a ditch and the first thing I saw was his mouth moving, and I thought he was mad, which I learned later, he wasn't mad, he was scared.

My Dad and I had our rough patches, a falling out, a coming back together, through everything, my moving away to college, my coming out, knowing in his heart what I should do, but never telling me what to do as I got older, letting me make mistakes and then listening to me cry about it and never once saying to me "I told you so".

My Dad is a good father, a good man and a great Dad. I wouldn't want another one, nor would I accept anyone but him, for all his faults, strengths, weaknesses and imperfections.

He is human. He is my Dad. And I love him.

I love you Dad!

And....

2007-05-30T09:59:00.001-07:00

The Scripps National Spelling Bee starts tonight...I LOVE THIS!!!!! That is all.

Inspiration

2007-05-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

Pulled from a CNN Article....

LOS ANGELES, California -- A woman who lost both legs and an arm as a child is poised to become a doctor for children.

Kellie Lim, who became a triple amputee at age 8 because of bacterial meningitis, will graduate from UCLA's medical school on Friday, and she plans to focus on childhood allergies and infectious disease.

The Michigan native, 26, does not use a prosthetic arm and manages to perform most medical procedures -- including giving injections and taking blood -- with one arm. She walks on prosthetic legs.

"I think for any training physician it will be difficult to do any kind of medical procedure," she told CNN. "It's not an innate ability. I think I definitely need a lot more practice and anyone in my position as a medical student and as a starting intern needs more practice."

Lim said being sick as a child helps her be more empathetic.

Raised by a blind mother in suburban Detroit, Lim went through years of wheelchairs and painful therapy after toxic shock from the meningitis claimed her limbs and three fingertips on her remaining hand.

When she was fitted with a prosthetic right hand at 8 years old she didn't have much use for it after years of compensating by learning to use her left hand.

"I used it as a paper weight to hold down my papers instead," she said.

Lim recently saw her childhood medical file, and learned that doctors had given her a 15 percent chance of survival.

"I hate failing," she said. "It's one of those things that's so ingrained in me."

Lim's teachers and fellow students said she exudes a calm that makes them and her patients forget her physical circumstances.

"She has an aura of competence about her that you don't worry," said Dr. Elijah Wasson, one of Lim's supervisors. "At first you notice her hand is not there. But after about five minutes, she is so comfortable and so competent that you take her at face value."

Although no adult patient has ever expressed shock or concern when they realize she will be treating them, a few younger patients have been unable to restrain themselves.

"Younger patients - ages 3 or 4 - would see me and look frightfully at me and they would pull away from me," she said. "I usually describe myself [as if] it's like their hand, it just looks different."

Lim will begin a residency program at the UCLA Medical Center.

Weekend in Review

2007-05-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

YAY, it's Monday and I am excited about this Monday because it's Memorial Day weekend this weekend, which means a short work week following that. I decided to join a softball team. Actually I was asked to join because I've got mad SKILLZ, don't hate! In reality, I've played ball with a few of these women before, so I decided what the hell...I'll go back. My biggest concern is my knee, but I'll just watch what I'm doing and I know my limits. And the weather was gorgeous this Sunday, sunny, not a cloud in the sky, nice breeze, not blazingly hot, it was a perfect day for softball. I played right field and third base. Now people, third base, the HOT corner, is my HOME! I'm not afraid of the ball, I laugh in the face of line drives and while not perfect, I don't miss much. And when I got up to bat...2 doubles and an HR and let me tell you, nothing feels quite as good as that feeling of swining the bat, feeling the ball "smoosh" against the bat and watching it fly over centerfield to the fence. Softball players know what I mean about the "smoosh". No, our team didn't win, but we didn't get our asses kicked either. I'm okay with losing by one or two runs, but a slaughter chaps my hide. All in all it was a great day.

Then I got home and sat in the sun. I did that Saturday too after I got my new couch, sat in the sun and read Nineteen Minutes by Jody (Jodi?) Picoult. I highly recommend it, seriously.

Sunday night my mom called me, she's in Atlanta for a conference, to make plans for dinner one day this week and while talking to me, told me that someone had poisoned one of their (my mom and dad), white German Shepards. My dad was pissed. And knowing my father like I do, I can totally see him sitting out under the carport, at night, watching and waiting for the person to do it again and shooting at them. Maybe to miss, maybe to scare, who knows. Here's the thing...these dogs are in an enclosed dog run, so it's not like they were out terrorizing the neighborhood. Bunch of REDNECKS up there!

Anyway...the weekend went great and I pray this week goes by fast.

Solid Foundation

2007-05-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

I was having a conversation about going back to teaching with a friend of mine, when the topic moved to that of being an Administrator and/or Principal/AP. Granted it’s not an easy job, but neither is teaching in general. However, there’s not too much to complain about , when your salary is 85K to 100K+ compared to that of oh…26K to 30K for a beginning classroom teacher.

Now, I know many of you might think, “well, an Admin deserves that much, they have experience and more than likely a Master’s Degree” or “it’s hard work running a school”. I’ll give you this…it is hard work running a school, I mean essentially you are running a business, and yes, most Admins have Master’s or above…but the experience…I wish.

I use to be friends with someone who became a Principal here in Georgia and when I asked her how long she had to teach in order to get to that position she said “I’ve never taught”. THAT BLEW MY MIND!!! Never taught? How can this be possible? And then…one day she asked me how she could motivate her teachers and I gave her a slew of ideas, I got met with “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Well ok then, I mean YOU’RE the PRINCIPAL, YOU’RE making 85K a YEAR and yet you don’t know how to motivate your teachers but don’t want to hear advice from a former classroom teacher? Ok then.

Granted, there are some bad teachers, just flat out bad. Just like there are bad (insert your favorite profession here) everywhere. But don’t feed me that bullshit of “oh it’s because of BAD teachers that are schools are failing” or “it’s because of BAD teachers that our kids are failing” and yes, sometimes that is true. But does anyone ever look at the Principals and the Admins, rarely to never in my opinion.

It works like this…when you build a house, you want a strong foundation under that house. Your Principal and Admins are the foundation; your teachers, the supports and you better believe ALL of that, that teachers are the supports. When the foundation begins to break down or fails to do a good job upholding the supports, the weaker of the supports gives out and usually fairly quickly, eventually the remaining supports have to pick up the slack and we all know that NO ONE likes to do extra work if they don’t have too. So then, the grumbling begins, by the time the “non-classroom experienced” Principal realizes this, it’s too late and the infrastructure of the house falls apart.

I think that Principals that have zero classroom experience should not be allowed to be a Principal or an Admin of any sort until they have at least 5 years of classroom experience. I’m more qualified to be a Principal that my former friend is.

Furthermore, I think the Principal, AP or Admin should have to teach ONE class, of their choosing in addition to being a Principal. Then they can carry the workload a classroom teacher manages on a daily basis so that they can see what’s it’s like to TEACH. ANYONE can walk around with a clipboard and look important.

Let me just say that this is what I’ve had first hand knowledge of in GA. When I taught in the Bronx, yes I said the BRONX, 4200 kids, MINIMAL problems, an AP that taught AND did admin duties and a Principal who ran the school seamlessly. And why did that school run seamlessly? Because that Principal had 7-10 years of classroom teaching experience before they even considered him for a Principal position.

We NEED GOOD Principals, AP’s and Admins. We NEED GOOD teachers. Because so much depends on it.

Transformation

2007-05-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a little landscaping this weekend around the mailbox and took out what was once dead shrubs and replaced them with Pink Knockout Roses. Knockout Roses are perfect for the person who loves roses but needs or wants low maintenance. I love all roses and am more than capable of planting and growing them, but they all need different environments. Knockout Roses on the other hand, love 4-5 hours of full sun a day and well...if they can have afternoon shade, great, if not, these roses are perfectly fine with that. They are a hearty rose and bloom from Summer to Fall and that's a pretty long season for a rose.

With that said...I hope you enjoy the transformation.

After removing the shrubs.

Termite Repelling Weed Barrier with some red mulch to hold it down.

Knockout Roses planted.

Finished landscaping with iron sunflowers around edge.

Okay...so I'm messing around at work...

2007-05-11T10:36:00.001-07:00

I Got COOKIES!!!!! yum yum yum yum

2007-05-11T10:26:00.001-07:00

Now With More Photos...

2007-05-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

Because I got told "blog something I'm sick of reading about the DAMN PANTS", I'll give you some photos because, well...I just don't have any words to put down. Actually that's not true, I have MANY words to put down, I just don't know where to start. So...in the interim...here's a look into my life. Enjoy.

The back yard.

At one of the corners of the house, in the backyard.

The front of the house. This house is between 40-45 years old.

And finally...part of the front yard. You can see it, but there's an island in the middle that desperately needs some landscaping and I've got big ideas for it.

And people wonder why I have so many leaves to rake in the fall.

So Ridiculous, It's LUDICRIOUS

2007-05-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Check this out...Judge leaves his pants at a Dry Cleaner, Dry Cleaner loses them, Dry Cleaner FINDS them one week later...Judge sues for 65 million dollars. ONE PAIR OF PANTS...which was found. I don't know about you, but I don't think there's a 65 million dollar pair of pants out there.

Read for yourself and then you be the decider. Clearly, this is a case where someone's position in life has caused him to think he's better than the common man. Shame on him.

65 Million Dollar Pants

Reality Check

2007-04-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

Found on Yahoo Maps. I think it should apply to real life for so many people.

"When using any driving directions or map, it's a good idea to do a reality check and make sure the road still exists, watch out for construction, and follow all traffic safety precautions. This is only to be used as an aid in planning".

Welcome to 2007 - From Cnn.com

2007-04-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

First integrated prom for rural Georgia High School

First Integrated Prom

If I Had A Hammer...

2007-04-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Or a Compound Mitre Saw and some drills and some deck screws and a circular saw and a Sawzall....I'd do this....This is how I spent my weekend, helping my friend finish her deck by adding the railing. And yes, it was built by hand, and yes I helped with the whole thing.

This is the finished product, I'll post more photos later.

Insight

2007-04-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

Just a little more insight into who I am and if I repeat myself from an earlier post, forgive me, it's something I'm prone to do.

-I love burnt toast, but only if the bread it white bread. Black on the outside, white and smooshy in the middle.
-Hot wings - 2 words - LOVE THEM!
-I like to do yardwork, alot and I mean all of it, from grass cutting to landscaping, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
-I'm 50/50. 50% book smart, 50% common sense - so yeah I can build you a deck AND figure out what's wrong with your MySpace page.
-I am leery(leary?) of people who do not have laugh lines around their eyes.
-My father threw me out when I was 19, I've been on my own ever since. I don't hate him.
-Furthermore, I am not a man-hater either and it baffles me when I hear women bash men so severely.
-I don't hate anyone. I may strongly dislike some people, but I don't hate anyone.
-I LOVE MY DOG - MAX - even if he's not perfect.
-The car I have was given to me. No I am not spoiled.
-I put myself through college via scholarships, full-time work and student loans.
-I drank heavily in college - I do not do this anymore.
-I dye my hair.
-I drink a glass of Soy Light Chocolate Milk every morning - if I can't have this, my day doesn't feel right.
-I have a huge weakness for cheese. All kinds EXCEPT the orange kind. Ask if you want to know more.
-I am not a picky eater.
-I go to the gym on a regular basis.
-I cannot run as far as I use to because I pulled my MCL - well a drunk fell on me at a bar - ask if you're curious.
-I love the feel of soft grass.
-I have 2 kites. A dragon and a stunt kite, because I am that good. No, I cannot fly them simultaneously.
-I have a thing for toothpaste and toothbrushes and will buy them even if I don't need them.
-I have 23 pairs of shoes.
-I have no less than 32 Bath and Body shower gels and sugar scrubs in my bathroom.
-I have eaten a dog biscuit before just to see what they tasted like.
-My car is spotlessly clean.
-I can tell the differnce between Fescue, Bermuda and Kentucky Blue Grass - nerd, I know.
-Everytime I use Oil of Olay I think of my grandmother.
-I will have my first mammogram at the end of April 2007.
-I miss being a teaching so much that I am going back to it. Because there, I made a difference.
-I am anal when it comes to the cleanliness of my surroundings.
-If I could be any Super Hero, I would be Aquaman, because he could swim underwater for a long time and communicate with marine life.
-I like the smell of fresh cut grass and gasoline.
-The smell of burnt hair makes me gag.
-I love the way the sun feels on my back.
-I prefer earth tones and deep blue colors, but my car is red.
-I think I look better with my glasses on rather than off.

That's it for now, I'm sure I'll justify adding more quirks soon enough
-The smell of burnt hair makes me gag.

For VT

2007-04-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Because I so want to say something but I am at a loss for words.

Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff--they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

- Psalms 23: 1-6

Take Your Clothes Off....BABY!!!

2007-04-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

But before you do that, go here Dr. Krista and read and enjoy, that's an ORDER! heh. On with the show...

Last night some co-workers went to a strip club here in Atlanta, to take someone out as they are leaving the company. I didn't go. I've been there and to several others and I just didn't feel like going, no big deal.

I get into work this morning, and the others are slowly but surely coming in and I'm a firm believer that one of the true marks of adulthood is that you can go out all night and make it to work on time the next day, but not everyone is me. So everyone's talking about the night and how they had fun and I got asked why I didn't go. I told them, "I know someone who works there and I know it makes her uncomfortable to see me there (no I do not make a habit of going to strip clubs), so I didn't go." No, I do not know what makes her uncomfortable, I mean she takes her clothing off for strangers, but maybe that's why, because I'm not a stranger.

Anyway....and then I heard one co-worker say this..."you know when those girls dance, they're always drunk or high." I bit my lip, hard. Because NO not all of them are drunk or high, that's a gross misrepresentation. A college friend of mine stripped to put herself through school, paid for, cash, no loans, nothing. Smart girl, and never ever drunk nor high when dancing simply because "I have to be aware of what's going on all the time in that situation." And it's true, you have too because when you are unaware, that's when it becomes dangerous.

No, I didn't say anything, I was at work, but I thought "how sad that someone is so stuffed into a box, that they assume (yeah it was a man), all strippers are drunk and/or high, real smart guy."

But here's the smart part....while all those strippers are drunk and/or high...there you sit, stuffing your money in their G-strings, into their hands, etc, etc....who's the smart one now.

“Honesty is such a lonely word....”.

2007-04-09T16:19:00.001-07:00

Let’s talk about honesty and how we, in the general sense define it. And yes...please, please, please, feel free to leave comments, I want you too, I beg of you, your opinions. On with the show.

How do you define honesty, really? And is everyone really 100% honest? As far as I’m concerned, I won’t lie to someone but I also won’t mince words. I do however, take great care in how I approach a subject with another person as my goal is not to hurt that person in any way. Then again, I try like hell not to allow someone to get caught up in the moment as it were and if I do, or if I just don’t pick up on the clues that someone might be into me, then I man up and own up, pronto.

You know, I’ll just flat out give you the example, because it’s just easier that way. I liked someone, a lot, enough for me to open up, yet again, perhaps the timing was all wrong, I don’t know, that’s not the point here. The point is this....the other person, who “is honest”, began talking about spending a lot of time with someone else....I’m not dumb people, I put two and two together and got four. I figured out that she was seeing the other person. So I waited for her to come clean and just tell me, because in my opinion, an honest person would have just said “I have to tell you something”, or, “there’s something I need to tell you”.

Here’s the rub....I had to ask her if she was seeing the other person and only when asked was it confirmed, that yes, she was.

Is honesty selective? Do we, as humans use it when it benefits us? Are half-truths, honest? Is omitting part of the truth, honest? Are words that prove to be empty, honesty?

Seriously....what is it? I welcome your thoughts and opinions on this topic.

2007-04-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm here trying to sort out so many thoughts. When they stop being scattered and come together, I'll write more. But for now, I thought this "error" message on MySpace was SOOOOO appropriate for the entire nation.

"Schools are temporarily disabled. They will be back shortly! Thanks for your patience".

And a thank you to HDW for checking in on me. It was appreciated.

Because....

2007-03-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

You're human. You're not broken or ruined and I love you.

I'm finding my way back to sanity, again
Though I don't really know what
I am gonna do when I get there
Take a breath and hold on tight
Spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back in the arms of grace

I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to sit
Outside Heaven's door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be

I am looking past the shadows
Of my mind into the truth and
I'm trying to identify
The voices in my head
God, which one's you?
Let me feel one more time
What it feels like to feel
And break these calluses off me
One more time

'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to sit
Outside your door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be

I don't want a thing from you
Bet you're tired of me waiting
For the scraps to fall
Off your table to the ground
I just want to be here now

Donate If You Can....If Not, Pass It Along

2007-02-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Saving Shelter Pets is seeking your help to win a grant from Kevin Bacon's SixDegrees.org We have created a "Six Degrees Charity Badge" which will track our donations through the Six Degrees program. The top 6 groups with the most donations by the end of March will receive a matching grant from Kevin Bacon –– up to $10,000! A donation of only $10.00 will count towards this contest.$10,000 for our organization can potentially save over 60 cats & dogs –– or spay & neuter over 200 animals –– or sponsor 25+ litters in our Puppy Promises program –– the possibilities are endless! Please help us reach our goal by donating just $10 to our cause. Saving Shelter Pets, Inc is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the IRS and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To make your donation today, please click on the orange "Donate" button on our Charity Badge:

And...I'm back... I think

2007-02-25T09:29:00.000-08:00

Now that I've gotten into the swing of things with my new company....I can breathe a little. I've still been reading blogs and commenting here and there....so I've not disappeared completely. But now that I'm 35 as of 2-24-07, I've decided to practice these words.

Wait for the woman who calls you beautiful instead of hot
who calls you back when you hang up on her,
who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the woman who kisses your forehead,
who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats
who holds your hand in front of her friends.

Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of how much she cares about you
and how lucky she is to have you.

Wait for the one who turns to her friends and says ".........that’s her. "

Slacker

2007-02-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been a slacker, I know, I know. The first week at my new company went pretty well, but damn busy. I've never been to so many meetings in one week. A change of pace from my old company, that's for sure, but a welcome change.

Looking back at it, what I really got from my old company was a 2 week paid vacation plus a severance pay. THANKS FOR THAT! But truth be told, I was sweating bullets for 2 weeks and it sucked. Thank you all for your well wishes.

My next goal is to move out of Georgia. I'm done here, really, in so many ways. I need, yes need to move on.

As an aside, I want to share a story my friend from Mississippi told me. She's a Deputy Sheriff and tonight she went to call where and I quote "it's your typical Mississippi trailer park, we get there and the fight is over laundry because apparently this ain't wash day." Yes, you heard it right. It seems that this particular trailer, in this trailer park has ONE day for washing the laundry and if the person washing the laundry doesn't the like it then..."you can wash it in the bucket out side like I do."

And that is why...you have to love the south.

Friend

2007-02-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

By textbook definition, a friend is "a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard." Of course we can assume that the affection is that of caring, kindness, love of the non-romantic kind, as this is just a friend after all, but we all have our own personal definitions of what friends are to us. To me a friend is someone who calls just to see what's going on, how you're doing or how your day went. Or perhaps they send an email "just because" you're in their thoughts, or maybe you chat online, because let's face it, many of us spend alot of time on our computers and people aren't alway available by phone, although you can leave a message on just about any cell phone. I think a friend not only shares in your successes and accomplishments but also in your failures and shortcomings by offering words of encouragement, kindness and offerings of "things will get better". Friends are not fair weather, self-absorbed or in constant use of the word "I". These people are called acquaintences and in the end, whether it be the final "END" or just in passing, a friend will far outlast an acquaintence. An acquaintence lives for the moment of a lifetime, a friend lives for a lifetime of moments. What you may ask, is the reason for this post? Reflection, really. It's a wonderfully, cleansing moment of clairity when you can really see the difference between Friend and Acquaintence.

Listen UP!!!!

2007-02-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

I am employed as of today. I go into my new office on Monday, Feb. 5th. I'm making more than I was and the conditions are 100 times better. You could tell that people actually liked this place! So my old boss...can kiss my ASS!

Lock Bumping

2007-01-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

This is worth looking into. I saw it on the news. Lock Bumping

What do you do....

2007-01-26T20:47:00.000-08:00

When someone, who's involved with someone else says this to you...names have been removed to protect the innocent. the ones without a screen name is the other person.

I was listening to say it right
and thought of you
How is it, your well mannered self comsuming so many of my thoughts

and (this is in an IM conversation)

I need to think of something different when you come to mind.
rather than thinking of you and letting my mind drift on

Obear29: think of SOCK PUPPETS (that's me, Obear29)

am I in your thoughts often?

Obear29: every day

I have come to grow fond of you over time and do adore you.

SO.....what? What do you do?

Laid-Off

2007-01-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

For what they said was based on performance. BULLSHIT. You just gave me a raise based on performance...here's what I have to say to you.

I AM DOOMED

2007-01-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Just to give you all a little insight on the lesbian dating world here in the ATL, I went to match.com and copy and pasted some of the "finer" descriptions on how people present themselves to the world. In other words, this is how these people see themselves. I'll translate in paraenthesis.

1. First off i'm a very attractive stud female or aggressive female. Nice body, smooth sexy lips. Get alot of compliments on my eyes and my lips. (Translation: I'm a self-absorbed narcisist (sp?) who will just get on your nerves if it's not all about ME!)

2. If you think she's you, please re-read the above carefully, and, if you still think you qualify (seek confirmation from independent sources, if needed), then I hope you will contact me. (Translation: I'll make you doubt yourself EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, but I'm a lawyer, and that's what we do)

3. i am a college student that is very hard working on my career and my school i have a trucking business that is doing it own thang write about now and i have a partner we are getting a divorce soon. (Translation: she is a college student after all. Lord help us.)

4. i am impressed by people who can actually write good profiles. (Translation: -this one's also a PhD student who can't SEEM TO CAPITALIZE "I".)

So yes, you should "feel" for me, feel laughter, pain, sadness, but just FEEL PEOPLE. Pray for me, I think I'm going to need it.

Travis

2007-01-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

While watching Grey's Anatomy last night, I re-discovered one of my favorite bands, Travis. They're from Scotland and if it's not Scottish, it's CRAP! These are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs.

If I told you a secret
You won't tell a soul
Will you hold it and keep it alive
Cause it's burning a hole
And I can't get to sleep
And I can't live alone in this lie

So look up
Take it away
Don't look da-da-da- down the mountain

If the world isn't turning
Your heart won't return
Anyone, anything, anyhow

So take me don't leave me
Take me don't leave me
Baby, love will come through it's just waiting for you

Well I stand at the crossroads
Of highroads and lowroads
And I got a feeling it's right

If it's real what I'm feeling
There's no makebelieving
The sound of the wings of the flight of a dove

Take it away
Don't look da-da-da down the mountain
If the world isn't turning
Your heart won't return anyone anything anyhow...

So take me don't leave me
Take me don't leave me
Baby, love will come through it's just waiting for you

So look up
Take it away
Don't look da-da-da- down

If the world isn't turning
Your heart won't return anyone anything anyhow...

So take me don't leave me
Take me don't leave me
Baby, love will come through it's just waiting for you

Love will come through
Love will come through
Love will come through