More Doughnut Crime

Wow. It's a spree.

52 cent doughnut may cost man 30 years to life By Todd C. Frankel — ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 10/07/2007 FARMINGTON, MO. — Shoplifters at Country Mart tend to favor cold medicines and packaged meats. They used to steal cigarettes, too, until tobacco was moved behind the counter. But the doughnuts were never a target for thieves. Country Mart's doughnuts — fried fresh daily in the store — sell for just 52 cents each. That is why the "shoplifters will be prosecuted" signs are displayed in aisle 4 with the pricey pain and allergy pills, and not in aisle 5 beside the glass doughnut case with its tiger tails, jelly-filleds and eclairs. Then one man's sweet tooth got the better of him. He stole a doughnut. A single doughnut. Authorities called it strong-arm robbery. The "doughnut man," as the suspect is now known, faces five to 15 years in prison for his crime. And Farmington, a town of 14,000 people about 70 miles south of St. Louis, has been buzzing about it ever since. Scott A. Masters, 41, is accused of shoplifting the pastry and pushing a store worker who tried to stop him. The worker was unhurt. But with that shove, his shoplifting turned into a strong-arm robbery. In fact, because Masters has a prior record, he could get a sentence of 30 years to life. It was about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The store was in a lull. Gibbs, who could see the doughnut case from her station, said she saw Masters slip the doughnut into the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt. They watched Masters as he strolled past the seven green checkout lanes and out a side door between the customer service desk and the pharmacy, passing under a giant "Country Mart Thanks You" sign. Gibbs' co-worker followed Masters into the parking lot. The co-worker, a 54-year-old woman, demanded that Masters come inside, according to the police report. He offered to give the doughnut back. She declined and grabbed his arm. That is when Masters allegedly delivered "a backhanded punch to the chest" and took off running, police said. The woman, who was uninjured, jumped in her car and called police as she chased Masters. He was arrested minutes later. Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said the two incidents taken separately equaled two misdemeanors: shoplifting and minor third-degree assault. Together, they make for second-degree robbery, a class B felony, defined in state law as forcibly stealing property. The amount of force and the amount of property does not matter. "It's not the doughnut," Baker said. "It's the assault." Masters is a small man, wiry, about 5-foot-6, with short-cropped hair, a graying goatee and hound-dog eyes. He is a "frequent flier" at the St. Francois County detention center. Masters, who lives in the nearby town of Park Hills, has been arrested more than a dozen times: for being drunk, for shoplifting, for missed court dates, for marijuana possession. He spent most of the 1990s and a stretch from 2000 to 2004 in state prison for the felonies of torching a car to collect insurance and possessing methamphetamine ingredients. In a jailhouse interview last week, Masters admitted he had taken the doughnut. He fled the scene, but he said he did not lay a hand on the woman. "Strong-arm robbery? Over a doughnut? That's impossible," Masters said, exasperated. "I've never had a violent crime in my life. And there's no way I would've pushed a woman over a doughnut." After his arrest, he forgot all about the case. He assumed it had been dismissed. He spent the summer in jail on outstanding warrants. Just before he was to get out, he was indicted Sept. 14 in the doughnut case. His bail was set at $25,000 — well beyond his means. Masters briefly appeared in court Friday. His case was continued until next month. He is shaken by the possibility of a third felony conviction. A prosecutor could pursue an enhanced sentence. As a persistent offender, Masters could face a murderer's term. "I can't believe this crap," Masters said. A grand jury agreed with police on the strong-arm robbery charge. County Prosecutor Wendy Wexler Horn said that it was "way too early to know how it is going to play out" but that the charge seemed appropriate given the allegations. She was aware that some people seemed shocked by the case. "People are missing the point," Horn said. "It is not about the doughnut." But to many people here, it is all about the doughnut.

Idiot.

Best News Story of the Year So Far

This story puts my faith back in law enforcement:

Alleged doughnut-snatcher jailed
By BRETT HAMBRIGHT, Staff
Intelligencer Journal

Published: Oct 04, 2007 1:48 AM EST

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - A 39-year-old woman was arrested outside an East Lampeter Township grocery store Wednesday and charged with having a stolen doughnut in the back of her pants, investigators said.

Police allege Lynn K. Dailey, of 244 W. Lemon St., stole a single 44-cent doughnut and walked out of Weis Market at 1603 Lincoln Highway East.

Police were tipped off to the theft by witnesses at the store, and within minutes they found the woman hiding across the street at a nearby business, they said.

Dailey was wanted for an outstanding bench warrant and spent the night in Lancaster County Prison Wednesday, East Lampeter Township police Sgt. James McElheny said.

"A 44-cent doughnut resulted in her being turned over to (the) Lancaster city prison, where she is waiting to see a county judge," McElheny said.

Dailey's warrant was issued for a parole violation.

Police said Dailey walked into the store about 2:30 p.m. and concealed the doughnut in the back of her pants.

Dailey then ran out of the store and crossed Pitney Road while witnesses called 911, police said. Police arrested her outside Gilbert's Automotive, 32 Pitney Road.

She was charged with retail theft for allegedly taking the doughnut, McElheny said.

Asked what type of doughnut police recovered from the woman, McElheny said, "smushed."

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com

"Smushed".

Things Are Getting Back to Normal

Much to my surprise, things are getting back to normal around here. Longer and longer between tears. The house doesn't seems as empty or quiet. Life does go on, even if we don't want it to.

I still miss the hell out of her.

Suspended Animation

Friday has come; three days after. It's funny, I'm thinking of things in terms of "before putting Roxanne to sleep" and "after putting Roxanne to sleep". Each day is getting easier, as my logical mind knew. More time between tears. Return to more normalcy.

I got a whole lot of sweet emails regarding my last posting; they made me feel so comforted, as people could understand my pain and sadness. I think that the world is made up of three types of people; ANIMAL people (which is what I am), animal people (people who like animals but don't consider them members of their families), and then there's people who don't like animals/think of animals as property, possessions or investments/hate animals. (I have no understanding of the third group). Thank you to everyone for your kind words and for your understanding of my silence and my reluctance to answer my phone. I just needed some time.

I picked up Roxanne's ashes yesterday at the funeral home, and she's sitting downstairs on the entertainment center. They are surprisingly heavy. I found a celtic cross marker that we'll use to mark her burial site; we'll probably do that this weekend. I think then that it will really seem over. Which is a good thing. It's been a very long week for all of us.

Heartwarming moment alert: I got an email back from my sister-in-law Diane on Wednesday morning; Roxanne has a namesake now! A woman that Diane knows named Jen has a little mini-farm about 20 minutes from here (this woman is supposedly my doppelganger, although I've yet to meet her); unbeknownst to Jen, her donkey was pregnant, and delivered a baby very soon after 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25th. As Roxanne was leaving this world, this little baby was coming into it.

Jen named her Roxanne.

I'll post pictures when I meet her. I can't wait.

I laugh when I think of it being a donkey; Roxanne was almost as stubborn as me, so a donkey is very appropriate!

Roxanne

We lost a really wonderful member of our family today.



Last Thursday, Roxanne was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. It's a particularly nasty, painful, quick moving cancer; it's hereditary, and fairly common in certain breeds.


By yesterday, she could hardly get up and down stairs to go out and go to the bathroom. She was taking painkillers, but they weren't taking away her pain. We made the decision to let her go today.



She had a hell of a couple of days; cheese and crackers, pig ears, marrow bones, oatmeal raisin cookies, scrambled eggs and bacon, spaghetti with Richard's meat sauce, a freezer-burned t-bone steak I found when I defrosted the freezer. Probably lots more that I didn't see. I sat and brushed her; as usual, she fell asleep and snored. She went for a ride in the car to get ice cream at Rita's. We think that she might have put on about 10 pounds in about three days.



We haven't stopped crying since Thursday afternoon.


We know that we made the right decision, but it hurts so much. I didn't know that a human could produce so many tears. In the last hour before we went to the vet today, I started thinking that maybe we shouldn't rush into this, maybe we should just put her on stronger painkillers. I watched the clock, knowing that at 2 pm we had to go. I felt so horrible.


The doctor gave us a few minutes with her beforehand; and brought a blanket in for her to lay on. We all said our goodbyes. We had to roll her over on her other side, and the doctor said something about it being like steering a cargo ship, which made us laugh. Poor Roxanne, our "petit fleur", always the brunt of the chubby dog jokes. They hooked up the IV, and were ready. Richard and I were holding her; I laid down on the floor and took her face in my hands, and talked to her, and told her that I loved her, and that I wanted to thank her for being such a great dog. And she was gone. No more pain for her. She looked like she was sleeping. I felt an odd sense of relief for her, and for us. Watching her deteriorate over the past few days has been so hard.


We've spent the rest of the day just going through motions; thinking of things and crying anew, just trying to get through this new feeling of something missing. We got pizza because nobody wanted to cook and nobody was really feeling much like eating; Richard always gave his pizza crusts to Roxanne. She connected with just about everything we do in this house (especially if there was food involved), and we will feel the void for a long, long time. We are all feeling it; we are very quiet at times, just holding each other, other times we cry out loud, and wish we could have done more. Richard said that he believed that she knew how much we loved her, and there's some comfort in that.


Roxanne had some really funny habits, some really strange ones too. When Richard and I would hug, she would immediately come between us, so she could be part of it. She would sometimes lay on her side, or on her belly, and dig to china with her front paws. She did that ever since she was a puppy; we never knew what she was digging for. All bread had to be buried in the back yard; bagels, crusts, Italian bread. For some reason, it had to go in the ground. When she was little, any pile of leaves was her playground, much to the chagrin of the people who just raked them. She had an amazing memory, remembering people that she met for only a few minutes years later. She took a dislike to a boy who was dating Maggie, chasing him up the stairs, him yelling like a girl. We were proud of her for that.



She defended us against all the neighbors, and the terrible UPS man, who would come almost every day. She defended us against Jeff, our neighbor, who, for seven years has tried hard to make friends. She would bark at him, take the cheese he was offering, run away, eat the cheese, and start barking again.



She was the queen of drool, managing to get it everywhere, even on the ceiling sometimes.



Her hair has been keeping the birds warm for years. I vacuumed copious amounts of it everyday, and put it outside for the birds to use for their nests.



I yelled at her too much. I wish that I hadn't.



I miss her so much already. It's 1:30 a.m., and I'm so tired, but I can't sleep.

RFK Jr. : Inbreeding or Idiot?

Here's the quote from the bff of Hugo Chavez:

"Get rid of all these rotten politicians that we have in Washington, who are nothing more than corporate toadies," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmentalist author, president of Waterkeeper Alliance and Robert F. Kennedy's son, who grew hoarse from shouting. "This is treason. And we need to start treating them as traitors."

Treason? Traitors? Is he smoking crack? Or is he just a victim democrat-inbreeding? Corporate toadies? I'm sorry, but when I see a commercial starring the above-mentioned RFK Jr. and his bff Hugo, telling me that Hugo is my friend, that Hugo can help me to heat my home for a lower cost, that Hugo loves the downtrodden and Bush-administration-oppressed American.
I'm all for cleaner air, cleaner roads and parks, cleaner environment. I'm totally for alternatives that will end our addiction to oil, I'm an animal lover who swerves to avoid anything and everything that is in the path of my car, even butterflies. I can't help it.
But I refuse to go along with this global warming crap. Twenty five years ago, we were warned about global cooling. What happened to that? Sheryl Crow and Laurie David can go ahead and use one square of toilet paper to wipe (remind me if I ever get to meet either one, don't shake hands!)...but I'm going to go on as I always have.

I'm not a traitor. I'm just not convinced.

A New View...House Republicans Show Us Their Own Immigration Bill

I read this at MVRWC; it's not perfect, but it seems to address some of the issues that irk us conservatives regarding the amnesty bill.

Although I like to ask people who criticize ideas or programs "How would you solve this problem?", I can honestly say that I haven't a clue. Millions and millions of illegals in this country is a huge problem in my opinion, and saying "ok, well, you guys get to stay here because we can't figure out what else to do with you" shouldn't be an option.

But, before anything else, seal the borders. "Where's the fence?", it says on the back of my truck. Richard likes to tell me that when you've dug yourself into a hole, the first thing that you must do is stop digging. By not securing our own borders of our country, we are continuing to dig ourselves deeper.

Following is from the L.A. Times <<>>:

The new bill addresses major issues in immigration but it also turns a microscope on smaller issues that particularly frustrate conservatives. It would ban the use of matricula consular cards, identification cards issued by Mexican consulates and used by immigrants to open bank accounts or buy homes. It would make three convictions for drunk driving grounds for deportation.

The bill would require the deployment of at least 18,000 more border patrol agents by Dec. 31, 2008. It would also require the full implementation of US-VISIT, a long-troubled program that is meant to track entries and exits by land, sea and air.

American citizens would be affected by many of the changes proposed for workplace enforcement, including the mandatory database checks of employee eligibility, the creation of tamper-proof birth certificates and a nationwide electronic system for tracking birth and death records.

Smith said the bill would also allow for greater information sharing among the Homeland Security Department, the Social Security Administration and the Treasury Department to identify illegal immigrants. “One of the problems we have is that databases don’t mix,” Smith said. “We have to correct that … if you’re going to have any kind of worker verification program.”

Another section would modify an existing guest worker program for agriculture alone, lowering current pay requirements and no longer obligating farmers to provide housing for foreign workers. “There’s a consensus that foreign workers are needed in the agriculture sector,” said Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

Workers would not be able to bring their family and would not be able to gain citizenship, and one-quarter of their wages would be held in escrow to be picked up at the border when they returned home. They could stay for up to 22 months at a time and could participate repeatedly in the program but would have to return home between work periods for a duration of one-fifth the length of their stay in the U.S.

The bill would require the detention and deportation of all gang members. Currently, gang members are not deportable unless they have committed a crime. Those from some countries can hold special immigration status, while others can stay in the U.S. as asylum seekers. The bill would close those harbors and enable tougher sanctions against gang members by adopting State Department procedures used against terrorist groups.

It beats a blank.

Ziggy

I sent Ziggy back today. I'm really sad about it right now, even though I know that it wasn't working out. He's a great dog, but he really needs a home without other animals.

I did give him a good cleaning and finish up getting out all of the mats that were all over him. He had some terrible ones. Becky said that I could come over anytime and see him, and I just might do that. I'll bring my scissors.

I'm sorry Zig man.

Why I'm With Fred

Read what Fred Thompson had to say about Harry Reid on 6/18; this is why I think he should be the nominee for president in 2008....

Fred Thompson on Harry Reid Posted on June 18th, 2007
By Michael in Commentaries
Excerpts from commentary aired on ABCRadio.com on June 18, 2007: First, Harry Reid voted for the war, like a majority of our legislators. America decided as a nation to free Iraq and the region from Saddam Hussein’s tyranny.

Harry Reid, though, has taken a different route. He made his statement about General Pace on a conference call with fringe elements of the blogosphere who think we’re the bad guys. This is a place where even those who think the 9/11 attacks were an inside job find a home.

And why shouldn’t they think that? Reid has led the attack on the administration, with Nancy Pelosi, charging it lied and tricked America into supporting the war. Ignoring multiple hearings and investigations into pre-war intelligence findings that have debunked this paranoid myth, they accuse an entire administration of conspiracy to trick us into a war.

I suppose that’s easier for some than admitting that they’ve flip flopped — but the fact that Reid says this sinister Republican plot is going to help him elect more Democrats ought to be raising a few flags. Saying General Pace is incompetent doesn’t even rank near the top of his bizarre statements.

The problem is that every one of Reid’s comments I’ve noted here has also been reported gleefully by Al Jazeera and other anti-American media.

I like what Fred says.

Remembering 9/11

A day of memorials. A moment of silence. A time for reflection.

“The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat.

But they have failed; our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
– President George W. Bush, September 11, 2001 Address to the Nation

My heart feels heavy; and my tears come as fast as they did on that day five years ago. Godspeed to the victims, and to their families.

We Will Never Forget

2,996 Tribute
Peter K. Ortale
May 19, 1964 - September 11, 2001
37 years old
Murdered at WTC, 84th floor, South Tower

I have the honor of remembering Peter K. Ortale today. Five years ago he was murdered in the World Trade Center.

Peter seemed to be one of those people that everybody wants to be around. He accomplished so much, and seemed to live to make others happy.

Peter graduated from the William Penn Charter School in 1983; while there he was the quintencenial schollar-athlete. He was inducted into the Penn Charter Hall of Fame in 1999.

In 1996, Peter met the love of his life in Mary Duff. Their courtship was a passionate one involving world travel and lots of connections with family and friends. They married on May 13, 2000 in Philadelphia, and made their home in the SoHo section of Manhattan. Together, they would entertain friends with gourmet food, great wine and most important, laughter. On the weekends, Peter enjoyed relaxing in Sag Harbor.

Peter Ortale worked hard and played hard, his family said. He worked at Eurobrokers, a brokerage firm, also was a diehard lacrosse player - captain of his college team at Duke, a sometime member of the U.S. lacrosse team and a player for the New York Athletic Club. He had moved to New York from Philadelphia in 1988, his sisters said, and loved it here. He and his wife lived in SoHo and spent Labor Day at their home in Sag Harbor. After the first jet crashed into the World Trade Center last week, he called his mother, his wife and a friend in California from his office on the 82nd floor to say that he'd survived. "He thought it was an accident," Mary Ortale, one of his three sisters, said. "He was last seen heading for the staircase." He was with three co-workers and friends, Ortale said, none of whom has been found. The sisters and their mother, also named Mary, drove to New York from Pennsylvania last week to console Peter's grieving wife. Since then, they have made the rounds of area hospitals and information centers. "He's very generous, very strong," his sister Mary said, holding back tears. "Just a fun-loving guy."

Peter Ortale did not need occasions to send people presents. He just sent them when the desire percolated in him. That was often.

One of five siblings, he regularly liked to pick out something that caught his fancy and mail it to each of the others, as well as his mother. In the spring, the relatives got a book, "A Short Guide to a Happy Life," by Anna Quindlen. Just before the summer, he sent them a box of chocolates with a note, "Have a happy summer." His mother was constantly getting flowers.

"He did things without provocation, because he liked to," said his sister Mary Malitas.

When not working or sending presents, Mr. Ortale, 37, a bond broker at Euro Brokers, was often playing lacrosse. He was one of the best players on his high school team in Philadelphia, and again at Duke University. After he graduated, he played in Australia, and once he began his career, he continued to play for various leagues on weekends.

A few years ago, he took up cooking. He found it therapeutic. When friends and relatives visited him and his wife in SoHo, he would often turn out an elaborate meal, sometimes trying things not everyone might. Once he steamed a fish in the dishwasher. He thought it came out great.

Peter is remembered by most as a very different kind of guy. He was blessed with striking good looks, incredible athletic ability and an inner confidence that was unflappable. He commanded respect from all who encountered him.

Without question, he influenced many lives. Peter was a traveler both physically and intellectually. One of his favorite books was "The Magic of Believing". Peter was a visualizer long before it became popular. His life's philosophy was "if you can see it, you can be it." Peter lived life to the fullest. A friend of Peter's from high school remembered the quote that Peter had written upon graduation from Penn Charter: “Remember what we learned, ‘the softest thing: water, eventually wears away the hardest thing: rock’. Be both.”

Peter was a very generous person and valued family and friendship more than anything. In his words, friends are a priceless gift from God. Peter is loved so much by all of us and love never dies. What was once felt can never be unfelt. "The love we give always is the only love we keep."

Posthumously, in February 2003, Peter was inducted into the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Association’s Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the lacrosse field at Penn Charter, Duke University and as a post collegiate club participant.

Duke University has dedicated six magnolia trees located at the West Edens Link Quadrangle on Duke’s West Campus to honor Peter and the other five alumni who were lost on September 11. Their hope is that these trees will connect future generations of Duke students with past generations.

Peter was honored on September 19, 2003 with a benefit from William Penn Charter High School; he graduated from OPC in 1983. He attended this school via a scholarship and talked about his days there as a special time for tremendous personal, intellectual and athletic growth. His family and friends have raised over $130,000 to create a scholarship in his name for future Penn students to have the same chance he did.

His wife, Mary Duff, mother, older brother and three sisters, four nephews and two nieces survive Peter.

Peter, rest in peace, and know that I will always remember and honor your memory.

Always remember. Never Forget.

Thank you to google and The New York Times for providing the information.

The Hezbollah / Hollywood Connection

I think that I've uncovered the Hezbollah/Hollywood/Liberal Weenie connection. Just look at these two pictures.

Hollywood obviously has a better dental plan.

We can only hope that these kids will run the country someday......

A Meditation On the Speed Limit:

BRILLIANT film. BRILLIANT kids.



Rise up people. Do it! Civil obedience!!!!!

"24" My Weekly Addiction

Favorite comment from the live-blog of 24 on Dave Barry's site:

How many would die if this were called "365"?

Posted by: Stevo | 09:57 PM on March 13, 2006

I am so hooked on this show.

Muffin Tops, Valium and Cindy Sheehan

Looks like CindyLooWho was feeling neglected by the media.

These pictures, and statements by the UN, really show what this woman is all about. Publicity.

Nice muffin top Cindy. (Yes, I know that's mean.)

Allegedly, she and her cohorts were asked inside to talk about their complaints. But that's not what Cindy wanted.






This is what Cindy wanted. There's too many press cameras to count.















V IS FOR.....VALIUM!








I hate publicity whores.

Thanks to the brilliant wisdom of Michelle Malkin.

Thursday's Joke

Here's todays laugh:

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome
with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
"Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"
"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"
"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"
"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."
"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks t's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?"
"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."
"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this ousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."
A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.
"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"
"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."
"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet
some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."
" Oh really! What'd he say?"
He said: "Where'd you get the shitty hairdo?"

Submitted by Ron Scher
Thursday, March 2, 2006

Once again, thank you Bob and Tom.

Calling Mary Kay! Calling Mary Kay!

This is the second story I've seen in two days about men who have had sex change operations. Pictures have been included with both stories. One of the men was going back to being a teacher in an elementary school; this man (left) is a fireman...firewoman....fireperson....firetrainwreck.

I'm sure that the surgery must be very, very expensive...but both of these men look like my Great Uncle Walter in a wig.

The following article and picture were supplied via Drudge, who got it from WATE Channel 6 in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A Knoxville firefighter claims she's being discriminated against because she used to be a man. Fire Capt. Jamie Faucon has filed a grievance against Knoxville Fire Chief Carlos Perez and her supervisor, Mark Foulkes. She accuses them of depriving her of a take-home car, of reassigning her and cutting out her overtime because she is a transgendered firefighter.

Faucon also says in her grievance Foulkes used incorrect gender terms when referring to her in conversations. She says she never thought she would wind up in a situation like this but the actions that allegedly took place earlier this week left her with no other choice.

Faucon had surgery to change from male to female in March 2005.

Since she has legally changed gender from male to female, she wants the misuse of pronouns to stop. "The proper terminology should be she, her or ma'am. Not he, sir, or his." She's asking to be returned to Fire Station 10 with a take-home car and to be referred to correctly by others in the fire department.

Things You probably didn't know...

I'm on a roll today.

Just A Few Things You Probably Didn't Know
You spend about 3 years of your life in the toilet.
Every day, the average person swallows about a
quart of snot.
The slowest growing finger nail is on the thumb nail and the fastest growing is the finger nail on the middle finger.
Scientists say that babies that are breastfed are more likely to be slimmer as adults than those that are not breastfed.
There are more chickens in the world than people.
Pinocchio was made of pine.
One out of 20 people have an extra rib.
Manicuring the nails has been done by people for more than 4,000 years.
People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose.

Via Dave's Daily

A New Feature...

Today I would like to add a new feature to my oft-ignored blog.

It's a joke that made me laugh.

This made me laugh yesterday, and it was hard to make me laugh yesterday; therefore, it's funny joke.

Here goes:

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under
a tree when one turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and
I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Slim says, "I feel just like a newborn baby."
"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"
"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."

This joke via www.bobandtom.com
Submitted by Ken G.
Thursday, February 23, 2006

cartoon via http://www.drdudd.co.uk/homelife/HomeMain.htm

Jack Bauer...Why We Need Him to Run The Country

You know, if Jack Bauer were indeed a real person, I believe that the right-minded thinkers of this nation would elect him to a very powerful position in our government. We need Jack to teach our leaders how to deal with terrorists, whiners, liberals, child abusers, sexual abusers, animal abusers, and other people who, for whatever reason, annoy us.

Neal Boortz, in his Boortz Blast newsletter, shared the following facts about Jack Bauer. These facts suggest, no, confirm, this nation's need for leaders who will just get the job done.

Basic Truths About 24's Jack Bauer
Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.

If Jack Bauer was in a room with Hitler, Stalin, and Nina Meyers, and he had a gun with 2 bullets, he'd shoot Nina twice.

If you wake up in the morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.

Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.

If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken, but Jack Bauer says its beef. Then you better believe it's beef.

Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the keys.

1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.

Let's get one thing straight: the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.

Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.

Jack Bauer played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won.

When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists. Jack Bauer hates lemonade.

Jack Bauer once won a game of Connect 4 in 3 moves.

Osama bin Laden's recent proposal for truce is a direct result of him finding out that Jack Bauer is, in fact, still alive.

Jack Bauer is the leading cause of death in Middle Eastern men.

Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you it's because he was shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.

When Jack Bauer was a child, he made his mother finish his vegetables.

Jack Bauer killed 93 people in just 4 days time. Wait, that is a real fact.

Simon Says should be renamed to Jack Bauer Says because if Jack Bauer says something then you better do it.

Jack Bauer won the Tour de France on a unicycle to prove to Lance Armstrong it wasn't a big deal. He thinks yellow wristbands are gay.

When Jack Bauer pissses into the wind, the wind changes direction.

Jack Bauer's favorite color is severe terror alert red. His second favorite color is violet, but just because it sounds like violent.

When you open a can of whoop-ass, Jack Bauer jumps out.

When Google can't find something, it asks Jack Bauer for help.

You can lead a horse to water. Jack Bauer can make him drink.

Jack Bauer can get McDonald's breakfast after 10:30.

When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Jack Bauer.

Enough said.

If you would like to subscribe to the wit and wizdom of Mr. Boortz, go to his website here.

It'll make you a better American.

Also, make sure to check out Blogs4Bauer, a great place for any and every Jack Bauer fan.

Now go out and have a good day.

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Happy New Year (a little late)

One of my resolutions was to update a few times a week on this blog. As you can see, it's not one that I've kept up with. (Sigh)

It's going to be 60 someodd degrees here in Salisbury, Maryland today. It's almost the middle of January. I'm loving this weather, but I'm now afraid of what February will hold. You know, you always pay for great times with trying times. It's what makes you appreciate the great times.

Here's my resolution list, as of January 12, 2006:

Update blog
Start diet
Exercise
Learn to deal better with my two incurable, chronic illnesses.

That last one is the most important one. I'm a 45 year old woman who's less than responsible with my health, my diet and my attitude.

Now I'm going to go and watch the Alito hearings. I think that today Teddy K may explode.


Now, that's entertainment!

letter-verification thingy

Sorry guys, I'm getting too much spam. I've got to add the letter-verification thingy.

It's Whats for Dinner

One of my first stops this morning was a wonderful website by Wendy which celebrates old Weight Watcher meals. Got there via Dave Barry's blog, where there's a link to other great food pictures.

Here's the text that goes with the Frankfurter Spectacular picture:

I had no idea frankfurters could be so spectacular. Wow!

I would almost be willing to upholster a whole damn pineapple with pork product just to be able to say I was serving Frankfurter Spectacular. Say it with me: Frankfurter! Spectacular!

Why would you even want to eat this? Why, when you could keep your mouth busy for hours just by repeating the life-affirming phrase that is "Frankfurter Spectacular."

FRANKFURTER SPECTACULAR!

I remember looking through my grandmother's cookbooks as a child and seeing photos like these...to my young mind they seemed so elegant...

I believe if this was the only food offered, nobody would have a weight problem.

You really need to look at these, and these.

Fifth Anniversary of the U.S.S. Cole Bombing....hello? Is this thing on?

Today is the fifth anniversary of the murder of 17 American Sailors on the U.S.S. Cole. I remember seeing the images of the ship, a huge hole in the side. I remember seeing Yemenis clapping and dancing; celebrating the attack. I remember that it didn't stay in the news for long. It was a sucker punch to America, and unfortunately, the most powerful country in the world did nothing about it. It was part of what was to be the beginning of the war on terror; a war ignored for far too long.

I remember. And thanks to the blogosphere, others do too.

Alan Gray, a police officer in Gainesville, Florida, wrote a wonderful tribute to our fellow patriots who gave their lives on the U.S.S. Cole. Here's a link to his blog. Here's a link to his tribute. Thank you to Michelle Malkin, who led me there.

As expected, the MSM has ignored this day. That really pisses me off, but it doesn't surprise me. I can only imagine how that makes the families of the murdered soldiers feel.

Remember the U.S.S. Cole (DDG-67)
On October 12, 2000 at 1118 hrs a small boat approached the USS Cole, moored in Aden, Yemen for refueling, and detonated a bomb, killing 17 of our shipmates and wounding 39 others. Built in Pascagoula, MS and commissioned in 1996, the Cole is named for a Marine Corps machine-gunner killed on “Iwo Jima” in 1945. Fifty-five years after that epic battle, 17 young sailors, male and female, serving their nation would be killed by suicide bombers intent on bringing their Islamo-Facist global jihad against the West.

On this 5th anniversary, let us remember those who gave their all:

Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Clodfelter
Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Francis
Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna
Signalman Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels
Engineman 2nd Class Marc Ian Nieto
Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Ronald Owens
Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett
Fireman Patrick Howard Roy
Electronics Warfare Technician 1st Class Kevin Shawn Rux
Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Santiago
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr.
Ensign Andrew Triplett
Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley

True patriots are like those on the USS Cole that gave of themselves for our freedom, for our way of life. For our children’s safety tomorrow, they gave their lives. Each night we sleep in safety underneath a "blanket of freedom" only because those who wear our nation's uniform are standing ever vigilant ready to give their lives in defense of our liberty just as these sailors did on October 12, 2000. And everyone that enjoys the freedom that we have in America, should stop and say a prayer for the families of the sons and daughters that were taken from us and for those who were wounded. We also give thanks to those sailors who brought that terrible situation under control and praise them for their courage and selfless devotion to duty in such a tragic event.

At the Memorial Service for the USS Cole in Norfolk, Va. on October 18, 2000, speaking to the families of those killed, their fellow shipmates, and President Clinton, Admiral Robert J. Natter CINCLANTFLT stated, "Today we gather and pause as a nation, as a Navy, and as a family to remember and honor our shipmates on the Cole. We remember and honor their courage, and we remember and honor their service. But most of all, we remember and honor their answering of that highest call, and we remember and honor their ultimate sacrifice. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, when it comes time for our response, remember the Cole."

The sailors of the USS Cole live in our hearts; they live in our souls. Never forget those who died, never forget those who killed them...remember the Cole.

Remember the Cole.

Please Read and re-post on all available sources

Update: Jordan's home with the family who loves him!


Please, pass this along. This is serious. This is from Kim, a fellow blogger.

God Help Us

I have a very serious post.

This is Jordan. He is 6 years old. He is missing. He is our child.




Jordan is a child in my family. He was abducted Tuesday evening by his mother. I know that sounds strange but allow me to explain.

My ex husband fathered this child. He was not aware of his existence until the boy was a little over a year old. The mother, Nancy, approached our family with the news claiming she just wanted him to know about it and to give him the opportunity to get to know all of us.

Shortly after we met Jordan, we began to notice things that didn't make sense. Marks on the child's body, bruises in strange places, odd behavior. Once Jordan was able to talk, we learned that he had been suffering unspeakable abuse at the hands of his mother.

Physical abuse. Psychological abuse. Sexual abuse.

Told to us by this child in his own words.

My ex and my family began a legal battle that has been going on in the court system for more than 3 years. The courts had allowed my daughter Kimmy emergency custody of Jordan and his mother had been kept away from him because there was evidence that she has serious mental health issues and is a danger to herself and others. Jordan has undergone intense psychological therapy to correct the wrongs that were perpetrated against him and his life had just begun to take on a more normal existence including attending school.

Then the court system decided that it would be a good idea for the mother to have strictly supervised visitation with Jordan 4 hours a week.

During her last visit, Tuesday night (9-27-05), she took the child and ran. We have not been able to find her or Jordan since.

The FBI is searching. The police are searching. We are searching.

Yet Jordan still remains unfound.

Please look at this picture. Please read the information I'm about to tell you about him. Please ask your friends and family to learn the same. Contact your local police department if you have any information.

Jordan Rolfe (birth name) or Jordan Barry (name he chooses to use, our name)
Born: March 10, 1999

Height: 4 feet

Weight: 50 pounds

Hair : Dark Brown, straight, medium-short length

Marks: Scar on middle back, rash (exzema) on right arm and wrist, wart on right thumb.

Last seen wearing a grey shirt with a navy blue collar and blue shorts with orange flames on the sides.

Taken from the city of Strongsville, Ohio. Last seen in Lakewood, Ohio on Clifton Blvd. 9-28-05 at 10:00 a.m. We suspect that she will be trying to make her way either towards Mexico, or Florida.

Nancy Rolfe may be driving a White Chevy conversion van with light blue or green pin stripes. She may also be with a friend who drives a white Honda with black trim. Nancy may be going by the name "Flora" and may have altered her appearance to look like an older woman. Nancy is in her 40's, thin, dark hair and approx. 5'6" tall.




Jordan is at risk. He is in danger. We cannot get an Amber Alert issued because there is a custody case before the court, even though the judge, two different psychologists and a Guardian Ad Litum have all demanded that one be issued. There are cracks in the system, please help us to fill them and get the word out.

Please help. He calls me Grandma.

The contact info is:

Detective Sgt. Colegrove
Strongsville Police Dept.
(440) 238-7373

and

Special Agent Timothy J. Kolonick
FBI
(216) 662-6637

If anyone has anything at all to report, please do.

Also, we are offering a $10,000.00 cash reward to anyone offering any information that leads to his safe return.

I am also happy to report that the local news stations have finally aired this report! Keep your fingers crossed!

I Am Pro-Victory : Shout it Out Loud

Here's a link to a script for a wonderful graphic for us anti-anti-war people. The ones who actually support the troops.

Put it where everybody can see it.

Thanks to Jay-Tea at Wizbang, and also to the North American Patriot.

Nagin and Blanco...Both Against the Ropes

In the post-Katrina NOLA world, Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco seemed to be on two very different pages. The finger-pointing began before the storm even started. They screwed up. Everybody screwed up. Local, state and federal governments should have learned a whole lot from this disaster. They probably won't, but we can always hope.

My husband told me an interesting fact last night; Nagin never supported Blanco. Hmmmm, that's interesting.

Nagin was a registered Republican, but switched over to the Democratic Party a few days before filing to become a candiate for New Orleans Mayor in 2002.

Nagin didn't like/support Blanco when she was running for governor. He supported her opponent, Republican Bobby Jindal in 2003.

Nagin also made a controversial endorsement of current Republican U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Runoff over current Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, and only reluctantly endorsed U.S. Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race. (thanks to wikipedia.org)

His less than shining endorsement of Kerry sounds like he did it begrudgingly.

Could some of this be payback? I hope not. For the sake of those people down there, I really hope not.

Been a While

A few weeks ago, I went for a liver biopsy. Got the results. They weren't good.

While my doctor and I were concentrating on getting my Crohn's Disease under control, my Hepatitis C has been slowly damaging my liver. I have fibroids in 3/4 of my liver. Dr. R. is going to put me on Interfeuron for 48 weeks; it is successful in 45% of patients. I really hope that I'm in that 45 percentile group!

Richard and I spent the last weekend just being together...we seemed to be in a kind of mourning. We just sat quietly, and tried to put our heads together to see how we can handle this financially.

We've got a hurdle to cross, and it's a fairly big one. I have no prescription coverage from Medicare right now, and Richard's company dropped us as a family last January; when we went to get new, individual coverage (not as part of a group) we came to a wall that we couldn't get over...nobody will insure me due to the fact that I'm so sick.

This Pegasys drug that I'm supposed to start costs $750 per week. We're already laying out almost $500 per month for my crohn's meds.

Richard is going to be going on a service call with the CEO of his company, and is planning on leveling with him about our situation. Supposedly he is moving to Delaware, and maybe he's going to move the whole company closer, therefore maybe we could get group coverage again. Or something. Poor Richard, he's got so much on his shoulders right now. I feel so awful putting more of a burden on him.

I've sent in my resume for two jobs, one with Salisbury County and the other with Salisbury City. They have great benefits.

I've worked when I've been sick before, I can do it again. (I did it as a single mom for years!)

Please say a prayer for us if you're inclined to. We need all the grace we can get right now.

Sorry for bitching.....


Sorry, I'm venting.

Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home

With all the finger-pointing and politicizing, I bet people aren't going to hear too much about this guy. Rep. William Jefferson, (D-La.) had the gall to use National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings, ABC News reports. He tied up two heavy trucks, and one helicopter. No clue as to how many personnel he used. He did this while people were still waiting to be rescued.

How come nobody is pointing the finger at him, and accusing him of "killing" people?

How come he's not "responsible"?

I'm so sick of the blame game.

h/t: fark.com

Patriot Day

Silence and respect.

Resolve.

Way too many people have forgotten already. Maybe because I'm a born and bred New Yorker, maybe because my husband was on a plane that morning.

But I haven't forgotten.

One image will bring back all of the emotions of that day; the tears come easily, the pain still there.

When he finally called me and told me he was ok, I laughed and I cried. But the surreal images on the television stay in my mind.

They don't play the scenes on television anymore. They say it's too "painful".

I think that they should show them every hour on the hour. They should be broadcast on billboards in every town.

Maybe then people would remember. Remember how they felt that day. Remember how it didn't matter whether you were Republican or Democrat. Liberal or Concervative. Catholic, Baptist, Hindi, Athiest.

We were one as a nation. We had been ambushed and sucker punched, and we circled the wagons.

But it didn't last long.

Please remember how you felt that day. Remember for every single person who died. Remember for every single person who had a friend or family member die. Remember for yourself.

I'll never forget.

Watch this video. Look at the faces of 9/11. Remember how you felt that day.

Thank you Beth at MVRWC. Thank you www.gunstuff.com for the video.

"A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."
George W. Bush
September 11, 2001

My House is a Money Pit

Richard and I bought our house in the year 2000; we fell in love with it on the internet, traveled to Maryland from New York to see it, and bought it on the spot.

They say that love makes you blind. Stupid, rash and impulsive. It's so very true. There were so many things about this house that we didn't notice. And we've been paying out the nose ever since. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my house. It's beautiful. My gardens are wonderful. It's our first home; it's the first real home that our kids ever had.

The realtor, George, who resembled Col. Sanders without a beard, repeated several times that a neurosurgeon was the seller; he was obviously just trading up. We were (as George had hoped) duly impressed. After living here five years, I truly think that the neurosurgeon had the brains to get out just before things started breaking down.

My sister- and brother-in-law lived here for a year before we moved in; they were building their own house. We stayed in New York and let Maggie finish middle school, so that she would start high school here. It started fairly soon after Diane and Joe moved in. Hmmm, funny smell. Septic system needs pumping. No problem. Must just be full.

Approximately four weeks later, the septic system had to be pumped again. Uh oh, must be something more. It was. It was something MORE. A new leachfield had to be dug. Hello, Mr. Leon Johnson? Can you dig a really big hole in my backyard? You can? $5,000? OK. (Several days pass....) Hello, Mrs. Demers? We need to dig down more...you've got clay. That's going to be another $1,000. OK. " The Big Hole project gets done. Then comes the repair work....topsoil, wheelbarrels, shovels. Grass seed. We're grateful, because at least we'll never have to worry about the septic system again.

Cut to year 2005....mid-August. I've been meaning to call Roto-Rooter and get the septic tank drained (they recommend that you do it every three years). It's a routine thing...we've had a ton of rain. The nice Roto-Rooter man comes (his name is Dwayne, and I'm so sure that this man is horribly underpaid). He gets his big hoses, and he opens everything up. He sets about working on our system. About 45 minutes later, he's at the front door. "Mrs. Demers, uh, can I show you something in the back?" I have a feeling that this is NOT going to be good news.

Our leachfield is backing up into the third distribution box. For those of you who aren't familiar with these things (as I wasn't until Dwayne schooled me)...all the shit is going from the leachfield to the well, instead of vice versa. We need a leachfield rejuvination. Also, there's a cracked cover on one of the boxes.

This is going to cost $1,000.

So now I'm trying to find Mr. Leon Johnson who dug our leachfield. I've got a phone number, but I haven't seen any of his trucks around in a long time. Maybe he took everybody's money and ran. If I can find him, and it is indeed his fault, we're going to try and get him to right his wrongs. Otherwise, we're stuck again.

This is so shitty. (ha ha, a pun....)

Thanks for letting me vent.

NY slTimes Maintains Status Quo...Continues to "Shark Jump"

I just read on Drudge that the NY Times has opened an "exhausive investigative report" into the adoption records of John and Jane Roberts' children, Josie (5 years old) and Jack (4 years old). Both children were adopted from Latin America as infants.

HOW DARE THEY DO THIS.

They can't find anything on Roberts, so they look at his children? This is utterly unbelieveable.

The records are sealed, as they should be. I'm sure that the Times will cry to the ACLU, somehow feeling as though their civil rights are being violated because these files are sealed.

This makes me sick.

Poetic Justice

Once there was a teenaged boy, who was liked by a teenaged girl. The boy toyed with the girl's heart for a while...and then decided to date the girl's very good friend.

The girl was very hurt for awhile, but time has helped heal the wounds.

The girl was kind enough to invite the boy and the very good friend over tonight to swim.

They accepted.

One thing about this boy though...he's really afraid of dogs.

It's nice to see the girl be so forgiving.

However, the girl's mother is not so forgiving. Boys who toy with her daughter's heart are on the list forever.

So when Roxanne, the 204 lb St. Bernard (who has never liked this boy), and Mookie, the 65 pound Lab/Chesapeake mix (who loves to swim in the pool) went running outside, the mother smiled, ever so slightly.

When Mookie jumped into the pool and started to swim after the boy, the mother laughed out loud.

The mother went back into the house, knowing if she heard the boy scream like a girl, as much as she would enjoy it, she would be no more good for the day.

Poetic Justice.

WOOF WOOF

Fear the Stache, U.N.

Shamelessly cut and pasted from Preston at Six Meat Buffet, who says that the stache will be the new red ribbon, the "BOLTON AWARENESS STACHE!"

I think that we should all wear them.

Oh, so true...

Being Bobby Brown's Toilet

Have any of you seen the new "reality" show starring (and I use the term starring very loosely) Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston?

While laying in bed the other night, I was looking on my 100 channels for something to watch, which meant I was just holding the channel up button down, and going around and around and around. There's nothing good on tv.

Until I landed on Bravo's show Being Bobby Brown.

I watched it, not unlike one would watch a train wreck or a car accident. Morbid curiousity, horrific facination, sheer disbelief.

I discovered that I wouldn't want to "be" Bobby Brown. Nor would I want to "be" Whitney Houston. Nor would I want to "be" anywhere around these people.

They are awful. They appear to have a lack of social and parenting skills. (The way the younger daughter looks at her parents...it seems to be a cross between disbelief and hatred.) There seems to be a substance abuse problem.

Words I thought of while I was watching this show:

Self-centered, self-important, blowhard, egocentric, egomaniacal, egotistic, egotistical, grandstanding, hot-dogging, know-it-all, narcissistic, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, self-interested, self-involved, self-seeking, self-serving, selfish, swelled head, egoistic, egoistical, egomaniacal, egotistic, egotistical, megalomaniac, narcissistic, pompous, self-indulgent, self-interested, self-loving, self-serving, selfish, stuck-up.

There seems to be a serious "lack of class" problem here.

Matt Drudge had a link to a story the other day. Seems ole' Bob and Whit were having a romantic moment, Bob just having proposed again to Whit. Unfortunately, the moment was spoiled by Mr. Dumpy coming to call. But wait! Want to know the best part of all of this? It's all on tv! We can share these special moments with Bob and Whit!

But immediately after Houston accepted Brown's proposal, bodily functions became the dominant topic of discussion for the night, with the former NEW EDITION frontman dashing from the table to the bathroom while his wife explained to viewers of reality show BEING BOBBY BROWN, "He's had the runs since yesterday."

But wait! Picture in your head the glamarous Whitney Houston, blessed with one of the most beautiful voices in my lifetime...star of My Bodyguard with Kevin Costner...

Whitney then opened her mouth:

Houston's imminent need to defecate soon followed, after she complained about the cramps she was experiencing.

Before bolting from the table, she showed off her bloated stomach and affectionately told her husband, "I'm about to do the doo. I'm about to drop it on the one - a boat lad."

These are the role models that are on television? Give me a good book instead.

My Zen Moment of the Day

Raising teenagers is like trying to nail jello to a tree.

Truer words were never said.

Lid Blown On Women's Toilet Habits

OK, now here's a story worth blogging about.

Women's toilet habits. Specifically, women's public toilet habits.

It's a pet peeve of mine...ladies, how can you be such pigs when you are going to the bathroom? I have had to wait my turn in the ladies room many times, and many times an impeccibly dressed woman has exited the stall...you know the kind. Beautiful clothes, shoes; hair and makeup just right. Sometimes young, sometimes old. Race doesn't seem to be a factor. They nod to me as they hold the stall door open...I go in...and there's pee all over the seat.

Lid blown on women's toilet habits

July 28, 2005
From: AAP

IT'S enough to make you wonder why they insist on putting the seat down.
A new survey shows 22 per cent of professional Australian women crouch or squat over the toilets in their workplaces rather than risk contact with the seats.

And another 14 per cent - making more than a third of women overall - wipe the seat first, then crouch over the seat just to be safe.

Forty-six per cent of respondents wiped down the seat with toilet paper if they thought the seat appeared dirty, while 18 per cent simply refused to use their work toilets if they felt they were unclean.

I can't tell you how many times I've gone in to use the bathroom, and there is pee all over the seat, all over the floor, the toilet is left unflushed, etc. Do these women live like this at home?

What's worse, though, is the thought of some little minimum-wager earner having to go in there at the end of the day, and clean up after everybody.

I have Crohn's Disease and not using the bathroom at that time is usually not an option for me. Not sure if you know about Crohn's, but our bathroom trips are immediate, urgent and without warning.

Sometimes I wonder what happened to common courtesey and common sense. Use seat covers. Buy Clorox Wipes and carry them with you. There are ways around these nasty little germs that live on toilet seats.

If you feel you just can't make contact with that toilet seat, go ahead and hover over it. But use the muscles your maker gave you, stand still and AIM. And for God's sake, if you pee on the toilet seat, wipe it up.

I think that Dave Barry was making fun of the study (who thinks of these things??), but it touched a nerve in me.

Thanks to Dave Barry's blog, who has a link to what seems to be the Austrailian News Service.

PLEASE HELP Missing Girl in Marin County, CA

Cheryl Ann Magner

From ChristmasGhost, via Jay at Stop the ACLU; this girl is the niece of ChristmasGhost.

This is a photo of Cheryl Ann Magner.

She has been missing since the beginning of June. She was last seen in Marin County, Ca.

Please, anyone who has seen this 17 year-old girl please call 415-472-2994. This is her mother’s phone number…please do not call unless you have information that would be helpful.

Or call the San Rafael police dept. @ 415-485-3000 or www.srpd.org.
Any information or help would be greatly appreciated by the family.

UPDATE: The phone number for the Marin County Sheriff’s department is (415) 479-1601; you can contact that number too. (Thanks to Mill Valley Mom.)

ALSO: Anonymous tips can be called in to the Bay Area Crimestoppers at 1-800-2 GIVE INFO (1-800-244-8346).

:!: Please help spread the word :!:

Out of the Mouths of Babes

This was sent to me in an email, and I thought this was so funny...but also so true.

'Moses came down with the Ten Amendments, which were God's Bill of Wrongs.'
- Susie F., age 7