March 3, 2010
Almost killed by an elderly driver today. Seriously.
I had my regularly monthly appointment with my pain doc today, it went well, and then I talked to him about my swollen feet issue that I've had for the last 5 days.
On Saturday night around 6pm or so, I noticed that on my left calf, there was this weird red patch, it was hot and painful to the touch.
By later that night, around 9pm, the red and painful patch had grown, started to swell, and moved down into my left foot, and my foot had also swollen up.
I went to bed and when I woke up Sunday morning, my right foot was swollen as well, and my right calf was also swollen, red, and hot to the touch just like my left.
By Monday morning, both feet, calves, and all of the way up to my knees, were swollen, red, hot, and extremely painful to the touch, just trying to walk to the bathroom was agonizing.
My ankles and feet were the worst, they just kept getting bigger and bigger, but they were not soft, the skin was rock hard when I touched it, which I tried to avoid doing because the slightest touch sent waves of pain through my feet and legs.
My toes were huge, they looked like if they got any more swollen, that they would just explode, and the toe ring I wear on my right foot, had to be taken off on Tuesday night because it was starting to cut off circulation.
I took this picture of my feet right before that, and in it, you can see how swollen up my feet, ankles, and toes were, and you can see the red areas too.
Click the pic for biggie size.
So I showed the doc my feet, he touched them which hurt so bad I thought that I was going to cry, and just walking from my house to the car, the car to the elevator at the doc office building, basically, everywhere I have walked has made it hurt so much that I have had to use my cane which I haven't used since my last surgery.
My doc told me that I absolutely needed to go see my primary care doc tomorrow, or go to the ER if I can't get in to see her, or he's going to call and send an ambulance to take me and have me admitted to the hospital.
The reason is that he believes that it may be a blood clot problem, and even though I have a Vena Cava filter, a blood clot filter, the filter may not be stopping all of the blood clots.
He said that the Vena Cava stops large blood clots, and breaks them up, but if a small blood clot passes through, it will get to my heart and lungs and possibly cause a pulmonary embolism.
He said that I absolutely need to get to either my primary care doc or the ER, tomorrow, and if I don't go tomorrow, he will call an ambulance and have me admitted even if I don't want to, he can order it and there will be nothing I can do, the hospital will not release me until he says so, so I will be seeing my primary care doc tomorrow, no problem, I do not want to be forced to stay in the hospital against my will.
Now this is when I was almost killed by an elderly driver.
After I left his office, I went to the pharmacy that I always go to, it's just a couple of blocks away from his office, they are really quick, and there's other stores in the plaza so that I can go get a soda to wash down my meds after I get them.
I made a very crude drawing of the pharmacy and stuff so that you can sorta see the layout and what happened a bit better.
But what happened was that I was almost in one of those videos where a car goes crashing through the front windows of a store.
This is my very badly drawn picture of the pharmacy, and I had dropped off my script at the drop off window and was sitting in 1 of the 8 chairs that are lined up against the windows.
The windows are very large, they go almost floor to ceiling, and my friend Nic had just left to go back out the the truck to have a smoke and call back her friend who had called while we were in the doc's office.
Just 10 seconds after she walked out, a young man about age 20 or so, who was sitting next to me, grabbed his girlfriend and threw her toward the pick up window, then grabbed my left arm shirt sleeve and yelled at me, "GET UP AND MOVE!! NOW!!!"
I got up as quickly as I could and ran toward the drop off and pick up windows where the young couple had moved to, I turned around just in time to see 1 car coming at us sorta sideways, and it was being pushed by a silver SUV that was being driven by an elderly man who we found out after the cops came, was age 87.
He had tried to park in a space in the parking lot directly across from our windows, and instead of hitting the break, he hit the gas.
His SUV went up over the median and cement curb, and hit a car that was illegally parked along the side of the road, but if that car hadn't been illegally parked there, the old man's SUV would have definitely come straight through those windows, no doubt about it, he was going very, very fast.
The illegally parked car was pushed sideways up onto the sidewalk bending the passenger side wheel almost down flat, and it was pushed up against this huge rubber trash can that squished completely up against the pharmacy glass windows.
The windows cracked, all of the chairs where we had just been sitting, were pushed about 3 feet into the pharmacy lobby, 1 of them was pushed up against the legs of the young man who yelled at me to move, his girlfriend was screaming and trying to squeeze herself up against the wall and pick up window as much as she could.
I was standing there up against the wall in complete shock, I don't know if I screamed, spoke, or if I even made any sound at all, but I do know that when I saw those cars coming at us, I saw the smiling faces of my sons flash before my eyes.
Lucky for us, both cars stopped before coming through the windows.
We are so damn lucky that they stopped, there was absolutely no where for us to go, no door to run through, no counters to jump up on, and the drop off and pick up windows are very small, only big enough to pass through the prescription bags, payments, hands, and the rest of the area of those drop off/pick up windows are covered in thick Plexiglas so that no one can try to jump over the counters and steal medicine.
We were trapped basically, if those cars had come through, we would have been totally trapped with nowhere to go, nowhere to move to, and we absolutely would have been and probably killed by one or both of those cars.
My picture makes the lobby look kind of big, but it's not at all, there's probably a total of 8 feet from the row of chairs to the drop off and pick up windows, that's it, the lobby isn't even big enough to fit 1 car to park it, never mind 2 cars coming fast into it.
After the cars stopped moving, the old man got out of his SUV and looked at the other car and said, "Everybody looks ok", and he got back in his car and tried to drive off.
3 or 4 people started yelling for people to dial 911 and for him to not leave, 1 guy reached through the old man's window and yanked the keys out, he was just going to leave!!
The pharmacy clerk called 911, said there was an accident, a bad one, we needed and ambulance too, and fire and rescue was there within minutes, less than 7 minutes, they were very fast.
The passenger in the car that had been hit and pushed, in the front passenger seat, was trapped inside the car, the dashboard and steering wheel was squished into him.
The driver of that car was using the ATM next door, she saw the whole thing.
She watched as her car was 100% totaled and her 2 passengers, her own elderly father in the front seat, and her son in the back seat, were both injured.
Her son was wearing his seat belt, but the car had been hit so violently from the left side, that he was whipped side to side and his head hit the window on the right passenger side, and his head was bleeding.
Her elderly father was trapped as I said, and he was bleeding from his head also, and he was yelling out in pain about his left leg and he said that his ribs hurt too.
Fire and rescue got the son out first and then worked on the elderly father while the woman was frantically going back and forth between her son and her father, face as white as a sheet, crying, screaming, and the old man who caused all of this, was out of his car and looking at the damage he caused to her car, he picked up part of the radiator grill off of the sidewalk and placed it on what was left of the hood.
There was glass and pieces of the car all over the sidewalk.
Nic came running, from where the truck was parked, she saw the accident but couldn't see if the car had gone through the pharmacy windows or not because of a cement pillar, she didn't know if the car came through and I was hurt or not.
She had to tell the police that she had a friend inside the store, she needed to get in and make sure that I was ok, I heard her yell at the cop who was trying to stop her, "MY friend is in there! She is a disabled single mother! I need to make sure she's ok! Her sons! OMG her sons! You HAVE to let me in there!! NOW!!"
I'm not big on people touching me, I very rarely hug anyone except my own kids and very close relatives like my parents, my sisters, my best friend Shell, etc, but when Nic came in and threw her arms around me, I was never so happy to have someone to hug as when she did that moment.
I was so scared, I was shaking, I felt nauseous, my whole body was shaking uncontrollably, and I started to cry a little bit.
The young couple were hugging each other, the girl was crying very loudly, the pharmacist was also very upset and she just kept asking us if we were all ok, it was like a broken record, she just kept repeating it over and over, "Are you all ok? Are you all ok?"
We were, thankfully both cars had stopped coming, if they had come in, we would probably not even be able to answer her, heck, she might not have even been able to ask that question.
It was a very terrible, absolutely horrifying, experience.
I have never been in a car accident, I have never come close to being hurt or dying from an accident like that.
I have had my heart stop twice during my last surgery, so I have been close to death before, but I have never been that close to almost being seriously hurt or killed in a car accident.
The medics and police did everything they needed to do out there, the pharmacist hurried and filled the scripts of the young couple and myself so that we could get out of there.
We asked the police if they needed statements from us, they didn't, but they did get our names and phone numbers in case they need to talk to us later, and after I finished giving the cop my info, I yelled very loudly that allowing the elderly to renew their license by mail is so fucking wrong because of shit like this.
There are so many accidents in Sarasota that are caused by the elderly, I've posted about it many times before, about all of the accidents that happen every year during season because of how the elderly drive, or should I say, because of how the elderly CAN'T fucking drive, and it pisses me the hell off that they are allowed to renew their drivers licenses by mail every year, that they don't have to be road tested, it's not right.
The elderly should have to be road tested every year after a certain age, they should have to be road tested every single year after the age of retirement, if they take the road test and fail, their license gets revoked.
If this was made into a law, there would be far less accidents every year because a lot of the elderly would have their licenses revoked, I just know it, I see so many elderly people driving around who clearly shouldn't be.
There are so many of them who should not be driving for so many reasons.
Their vision is horribly bad, their reflexes are bad, the medications that they take, they drink and drive all of the time, but the medical reasons alone would probably cause a good majority of them to have their licenses revoked.
I know that this subject gets brought up every couple of years in the state senate, but it needs to come up every year until they actually do something about it.
The elderly absolutely should have to be road tested every single year past the age of retirement.
I'm sick and tired of watching the news and seeing about another accident, watching them cause or nearly cause accidents while I'm out on the road myself, or like today, almost being killed by 1 of them.
Something has to be done, a couple of people, me included, almost died today because another elderly person hit the gas instead of the brake, again.
January 4, 2010
Why hire the same company again Florida?!
A road construction project, a HUGE one, down in Fort Myers has been halted due to a possible asbestos issue.
The $25 million dollar Summerlin road project has been stopped, roped off with caution tape, while state inspectors check for asbestos, a cause of cancer, most specifically, mesothelioma.
While county leaders are reserving their comments until after results are announced, on Monday state inspectors shared more information about what they're finding and how much asbestos may be out there. "If you look in close, you can see the fibers up in here and that's usually an indication of asbestos," said Sherrill Culliver of FDEP.
Posen Construction, the contractor for the flyover, has had asbestos issues before. They were forced to clean up asbestos chunks on a site near Alico Road a few years ago. The company, which has not returned our repeated calls, has several other high price contracts in the county.
The state does allow up to 260 feet of asbestos laden material to be at a construction site. If the tests come back positive and exceed that amount, those responsible will face environmental fines and, possibly, action by the county.
If the state of Florida knew that Posen Construction has had issues with asbestos before, if they knew that they had gotten in trouble for using it before, why did they hire them again?!
This is a huge project, a $25 million dollar project that has now been halted while state investigators search for the asbestos.
If it's found, all of the work that has been done so far on the flyover will have to be taken down and the whole thing started again, costing the state of Florida, the taxpayers, to have to hand over even more money to get it done correctly.
I just don't understand this kind of stuff.
I don't understand why it took so long for them to start investigating this construction site when they knew that this construction company, Posen Construction, has used more asbestos than the state allowable amount on past construction projects.
When I know that someone has messed up something in the past, I don't wait for the project they are doing for me to be more than halfway completed before I start looking at it, I usually try to find somebody else before using them again.
Isn't that what most people do when they get bad customer service somewhere?
You go somewhere else or try to find someone else, before ever going back to the place that gave you bad customer service, or did a bad job, you don't go back to them again, and if you do, you keep a very close eye on them.
Does the state like wasting taxpayer money?
Apparently they do because now not only will it cost the state more money to get the flyover done correctly, but now we're paying for the investigation.
The investigators who do the work, the lab tests, the lab workers, and so on, it's just even more money that's being spent on an already very expensive road project.
July 25, 2009
Sidewalks?! Finally!!
After 11 years of living on this street and begging the city for sidewalks, they finally agreed to put them in.
When I went out to get the mail yesterday, I found a door tag hanging on the doorknob that said construction of sidewalks begins on Monday 7/27/2009, and will end on 8/28/2009.
Legally, there should have been sidewalks here many years ago.
If a students live within 2 miles of their school, they cannot take the bus to school, so they have to walk or ride their bikes.
There are 2 elementary schools within 2 miles of this street, and there are a ton of kids in this neighborhood who have to walk, so they've had to walk on the sides of the road for years and years to get to school.
So many kids have been driven off the road by cars going up and down the street speeding, honking, scaring kids, and just people walking to the store or whatever.
After awhile it gets pretty tiring hearing the alarms of fire trucks or police cars going after the speeders racing down the street, or going to rescue people from a car accident.
Last year, 3 kids were hit by cars while riding their bikes to school, and countless pedestrians have been run off the road or hit by cars as well, so it's about time the city listened to our complaints and agreed to put in the sidewalks.
All of the construction is going to suck, but at least we're finally going to be safe walking up the street.
February 19, 2009
And green can be big like an ocean, or important, Like a mountain, or tall like a tree.
I remember when being "green" was considered un-cool, people who recycled and cared about the trees were called tree huggers and hippies, but now everyone is going green, now it's cool to do.
People are really starting to become more earth conscious, care about their local environment and the planet, but if you're just starting out, how do you find the best ways to get started?
I found a great site full of going green tips to help you get started on saving the planet, recycling, and saving money as well as the trees.
At Green Hangout, you can find all kinds of tips to help you go green at home, at work, you can get green lifestyle news to help you get started.
They have product reviews of the best green products out there, companies that are helping you go green for less but still get great quality products.
You can even report "Green Violators", companies that are ignoring the green initiative.
And if you're really new to all of this green stuff, they even have a green terms page to help you figure out what all of the words mean.
They also have forums where you can just read along to find new ways of saving money and the planet, you can post to share ideas, find resources, and even vent frustrations about green issues in your community.
I know I have some issues with recycling in my community, they no longer allow us to recycle a whole lot of stuff.
They will only take corrugated cardboard, for example, they refuse to take other forms of cardboard like soda boxes or beer boxes, magazines, phone books, and much much more that we used to be able to recycle.
They have a huge list of items they will no longer let us put in the recycle bins, and if we violate the recycle rules, we get fined.
Heck, we get fined if we accidentally swap the red and blue bins one week.
Red is for cans and glass bottles, no plastics, and blue is for corrugated cardboard only.
Everything that is on the list of do not put in the recycle bins, has to go in the trash.
They are forcing us to put recyclable items in the trash instead of recycling them.
To me, that is totally wrong.
If it's an item that can be recycled, we should be able to put it in the bins, not in a trash bag, and they shouldn't fine us for doing that.
It's kind of crazy that they are keeping us from doing as much recycling as we possibly can.
This city prides itself on having the cleanest and whitest sand beaches in all of the world, yet they are forcing us to put more and more stuff in the landfills than we should be.
If it has a recycle logo on it, if it's a box or plastic with a logo, then they should, instead of forcing us to put it in the trash, force us us to recycle it.
This city is so pretty, we get thousands of tourists every year, we even have new hybrid school and local transportation buses, so what's the deal on recycling Sarasota?
Seeing as my city won't let me be green with my trash and recyclables, I have to find ways to be as green as I can in other ways.
Changing to all CFL bulbs, using my cloth grocery bags, using less chemicals to clean my home, washing in cold water, using less, wasting less, and whatever other ways I can find and do.
That's why this site is so great, it is helping me find other ways of being green.
June 11, 2008
Truck driver's family need your help.
The family of the truck driver, Raymond Neumann, who was killed last week in that crash on the interstate, needs your help.
Raymond was a loving and devoted father of three children, he worked as hard as he did to provide for his family that he loved so much.
His oldest son David, has built a website in remembrance of his father, and they are in need of any sized donation that you can give them.
Donations can be made at any Suntrust ATM or Banking center, and must be made out to David or Karen Neumann, account #1000076140832.
You can go to the site and read about Raymond, his life and his family, and see pictures of him and his children.
When David contacted me about the site, I could tell this was a young man grieving for the loss of a man who meant the world to him, and by the way David spoke, I could tell that Raymond was the devoted and loving father that they say he was.
David is a well spoken and articulate young man, his words touched me and brought me to tears, as I read about this so very tragic and unexpected loss.
I think Raymond would be very proud of his son David, for stepping up and trying to do everything he can to help take care of his mother, and his younger siblings in this very sad time.
Instead of just being able to grieve the loss of his father, he's trying now to help take care of his family in his father's absence.
If you are able to help out, any sized donation, or even help by spreading the word on your blog, please help spread the word local Florida bloggers , please give or do what you can to help.
June 7, 2008
Truck driver of the crash on 301, has died.
MANATEE COUNTY - Raymond A. Neumann, the tanker truck driver critically injured when his rig plunged from a bridge and exploded on U.S. 301, died this afternoon at Tampa General Hospital, a family member said.Neumann, 54, was driving south on Interstate 75 on Wednesday when he swerved to avoid a pickup truck that authorities say spun out after merging onto the highway from U.S. 301. Neumann's truck, carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel, struck the vehicle before plunging over a bridge and exploding in a fireball that damaged the bridge.
Construction crews are working to rebuild the section of the bridge that was damaged in the crash and fire.
Southbound traffic on Interstate 75 is expected to be diverted Monday onto the northbound lanes of the highway.
Zep Construction of Fort Myers, was the lowest bidder for the reconstruction of the damaged bridge, and the state Saturday awarded a six-week contract for $1.7 million.
75 and 301 is pretty much the way I need to go on Friday to get to Tampa to see my surgeon, Doc M.
I'm sure we could take US41, but even that will be packed.
In order to make sure I get to his office by 11:15am, we will need to leave no later than 9am, possibly even earlier depending on how the traffic reports say things are going all week.
I'll be paying close attention to it all week, that's for sure.
75 is the fastest way to get from anywhere north, to anywhere south in this state, so having an entire section of the southbound lanes closed off and rerouted to merge with the northbound lanes, is really an awful huge mess.
But my thoughts are with Mr. Neumann's family and friends, he was just trying to avoid hitting the other driver.
May 4, 2008
Beating the horse.
Some of the many awesome people I've had the chance to get to know thanks to the local forums, is a woman named Stephanie and her husband Aharon.
They live in a historic part of Tampa, and their home is like seriously the most awesome little home I've ever been in.
It's super old looking, (well duh, it's historic) and they've spent so much time restoring the home to make it a truly beautiful place to live.
They have the most awesome red painted dining room with this most kick ass antique chandelier hanging above the table.
It has the original floor vents for heat and cooling, the bathrooms have the original homes fixtures like claw foot tubs, the old glass doorknobs etc.
I love their house, I fell in love with it the second I walked in the front door.
I covet it.
Yes, I'm extremely jealous of the awesomeness of their home.
Anyway, Stephanie started blogging, her blog is called The Beaten Horse, and it's full of these funny little drawings from inside her head.
Stephanie is seriously funny.
Every time I have been out with them or at their home, I nearly pee listening to her tell stories of her job, or do impersonations.
She does this wicked funny Irish impersonation involving a discussion of haggis.
I swear, everyone in the room had rolling laughter tears coming down.
She's truly a treat.
I haven't been able to get up that way to get out and play with everyone for quite some time now, so it's nice to be able to read her blog and get a few laughs.
You'll have to stop by and check her out, and if you find the funny, subscribe to her blog feed, leave her some comments too.
She's new to the blogging world and it can be really lonely in the beginning when no one is reading you or leaving comments.
So stop by, look at her funnies, and leave a hello in the comments.
May 3, 2008
It shook the pictures off my walls!
It's just Mark and I at home tonight, Sebastian decided to go back to my sister's house for the night and will be home in the morning.
When it's just Mark and I, the house is super quiet.
I'm doing my thing on my computer, and he's doing his thing on the Xbox playing PSU
We stopped for awhile earlier, ate enchiladas while we watched the movie I reviewed below, and then we both went back to our thing.
Anyway, we were both just doing our thing a few minutes ago when we hear this loud boom boom thud, boom boom thud, coming from the sub woofers of a car coming down the street.
It started getting louder and louder, and then the windows and walls started shaking, 3 pictures fell of the wall from behind the couch which is not by the window I might add, it's an interior wall.
I thought for sure this car was in my driveway, that's how loud and how bad the windows and walls were shaking, so I got up and opened the front door, about to seriously bitch someone out.
There was no car in the driveway, not in front of my mailbox or my neighbors, or even the next duplex over to my left.
The car was 4 houses down and driving super slow like maybe he was looking for an address or something.
It was that far away but it still sounded like he was right in my driveway!
Sarasota has some pretty tough noise ordinances.
If it can be heard by a police officer 25 feet away, it's too loud.
My driveway is about 25 feet long, and this car was 4 houses away and we could still hear it and feel the bass.
Sarasota has an impound law now as well as fines associated with loud noise.
On April 22nd, the city commission approved a version of the new city laws that would result in a warning for the first offense, the second time, violators are required to pay a $25 fine, plus more than $150 in fees, and the vehicle is impounded. The fine jumps to $250 for the second offense and $500 the third time.
If a cop had been on my street, this guy would have been so totally busted.
Why the hell do they need to have the music that freaking loud?
I love music, I love loud music, I fall asleep at night with my headphones in and the volume all the way up, but when driving in a car, that loud is not only annoying, but dangerous.
If someone honks at them, they can't hear the car horn, if an emergency vehicle is coming with sirens blasting, they can't hear it.
I mean, it was 11pm and he's driving through a residential neighborhood that fucking loud.
There's just no need for it.
April 20, 2008
They're gone! They're all gone!
For the first time since November, the roads were clear and easy, and Publix was not full of crazy old blue hairs ramming me with shopping carts.
It was lovely I tell you!
Just absolutely lovely!
The aisles were a breeze to walk through, no one was anywhere near my ass with a cart, no old ladies stealing my bread outta my cart, no snatching a can of spaghettios outta Sebastian's hands, no clogged lines at the deli, no long lines at checkout.
It was beautiful.
I almost shed a tear.
Nothing but year round locals as far as the eye could see, and NONE of the senior variety.
But there was an incident which almost made me go mom crazy.
We were in the cookie and snack aisle, and this 10 year old girl (looked to be that age) asked her mom for a package of Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies.
The mother snapped back, "How much will you work out if I let you have a cookie?!"
Yes, she did stress the 'a', as in a single cookie.
The girl pleaded back, "I will workout for 2 hours mom, please! I just want one cookie mom, please!?"
The mother looked at her and said she didn't believe her, and asked her again how much she would workout for the cookie because it's all fat, nothing good can come of a cookie, and she will not let her have a single solitary one if the daughter was not going to work it off.
The daughter said, "Fine mom, I'll workout for 3 hours. I'll do laps around the neighborhood, I'll do laps in the pool, and do 100 sit-ups. Please mom, I really just want one cookie. Please. I swear mom, I'll workout till you tell me I can stop, please mom!"
The mother said no, final answer, was not going to allow her daughter to become "fat".
I thought the girl was going to cry.
She put her head down, said please one more time, and the mother gave her the look of death.
It was only then that the girl dropped it, but I swear she looked like she was going to cry.
Now, I'm not one to get in other people's business with their kids at the store, but this girl was about 10 years old, was nothing but skin and bones, and the mother was the same.
I could see her breast bone through her shirt type of skinny.
I have no idea if the girl is a sports player or is studying to become an actress or something like that, but clearly this mother was imposing her weight issues onto her daughter who was way too skinny anyway.
The both of them looked like little skeletons walking through the store.
Everything they had in their cart was labeled organic, soy milk, fruits, veggies, no meat or cheese, no cereals, and no breads.
Nothing but ultra healthy, and all this girl wanted was a single cookie.
I felt bad, really bad.
I said to Sebastian after they left the aisle that the mother clearly has issues with food and she's pushing her eating disorder onto her daughter.
Its gonna blow up in her face someday.
Either the girl becomes seriously anorexic and dies, or becomes a bullemic and starts binging and purging as a way to get a cookie, or she goes the total opposite and becomes food obsessed and becomes an overeater and puts on 200 pounds.
But it really just made me angry.
I wanted to say something ya know?
Like what the freaking hell woman, your daughter is wasting away right in front of your super skinny eyeballs, let her have a freaking cookie every now and then. It won't kill her, but starving her and denying her, and forcing extreme workouts on her just might.
This girl was really just a twig. I could see every bone in her arms, her legs, her neck and back.
It's truly disgusting when you can see the ribcage on both the front and back.
I felt like opening up the package of Chips Ahoy cookies (buy 1 get 1 free!) and just handing one to her, tell her to eat it, enjoy it, and not to worry about it.
I never tell the boys what they can or can't eat.
I don't push my emotional over eating issues on them.
I buy a lot of healthy foods, I make well balanced meals, but I also buy snacks like cookies.
They usually just eat 2 or 3, and that's all they want.
Those 2 packages of cookies will last a month or longer.
Mark isn't big on sweets anyway, he's more of a meat and potatoes kinda kid, hot wings, chicken, steak, stuff like that.
Sebastian knows his limits too, they know when to stop eating on their own, and I do not ever discuss my food problems with them.
I know I have issues, I always have had issues with food, but those belong to me and it's not right for a parent to push our issues, especially with food, onto our kids.
Anyway, it just made me mad.
Then we came home, we put everything away, and Sebastian started playing Rock Band
Now I don't know who did it, but when the game started it sounded like we had a Bose home theater system hooked up in here.
It was like super loud, OMG loud, and everyone was scrambling trying to find the remote to turn the tv down.
I love the game and the music in it, but holy crap that was loud!
The boys were of course, laughing at me freaking out trying to find the remote or the right button on the front of the tv to turn it down, but dammit man, there's good loud and then just holy hell I think the tv is gonna explode loud.
February 27, 2008
Ooooh, it's gonna be cold!
I get such a kick out of the weather reporters here when they say a cold front is coming through.
Just look at this graphic for our 7-day forecast.
Hee hee, the 'cold' graphic is made to look like ice.
38 is cold?
Ha!
The people here really do think it's cold too.
I went for a walk this morning, and on my way back, a woman in a car stopped me to offer me a ride.
I was less than 3 houses away from my own, and it was very nice of her, but I was not cold, it was a beautiful day in my opinion.
I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and flip flops.
She was in her car wearing jeans, a shirt, and a jersey pull over.
She asked me if I was cold, did I need a ride, she just felt bad that I was walking in "such harsh weather".
I started laughing, didn't mean to, but seriously, it was about 52 degrees, and not cold.
Tomorrow, it's supposed to be about 38 degrees, I'll be wearing shorts and t-shirt, and my flip flops, and I'm sure everyone at the doctors office will ask me if I'm cold.
"Aren't you cold? It's so cold out there. I can't believe you're wearing shorts! Aren't your feet cold? I'm cold just looking at you!"
It's amusing to me how people react when someone isn't dressed how they think you should be dressed for the weather.
I'm actually looking forward to a chilly day.
It got hot here again, so a couple days of chilly will be nice.
February 27, 2008
Mark Lunsford to sue Florida sheriff's office over handling of daughters case.
Jessica Lunsford, the cute little 9 year old girl pictured here, was kidnapped, raped and murdered 3 years ago, by John Couey who lived just across from her home. Couey admitted that he kept her alive for 4 days before finally killing her, and that is part of the reason that Mark Lunsford is suing the Citrus County Sheriff's office.
The proposed lawsuit, which has not yet been filed, claims that if law enforcement officers had searched the mobile home of John Couey, the registered sex offender convicted of Jessica's rape and murder, instead of just searching the home's yard the night the 9 year-old girl disappeared, she would have been discovered.Evidence revealed during Couey's trial showed that Jessica was kept alive for as many as four days before being buried alive. Couey was sentenced to death in August for the crimes.
During the search for Jessica, the mobile home's property and yard were searched several times, there are reports that neighbors told the officers to search inside the home, that something was going on in there, but the officers never searched inside the home.
The intent to sue also states that if the neighbors had been told about Couey's status as a sex offender when he moved in just 2 weeks before her disappearance, she might have been saved.
Lunsford says the sheriff's office wasted valuable time investigating his own father, questioning him about Jessica, instead of searching the home of the sex offender who lived just 100 yards from their front door.
But there are many critics of Lunsford, many calling him a liar and shady, and only suing for his own financial gain.
Lunsford has been given a brand new H2, (Hummer) "living high on the hog", he has a checkered past some are saying, others want to know where all the money raised from the charity rides has gone. They want an audit of all the monies raised and given to Lunsford.
Local radio personality, Bubba the love sponge, has been doing his own investigation into Lunsford.
It has been said that Bubba is about to expose Lunsford, and has had private investigators digging deep into his past and financial records.
Many people are questioning Lunsford's activities.
On the night Jessica was abducted, Lunsford was out partying at a bar with his 18 year old girlfriend. He and Jessica lived with his parents, and they left the door unlocked for him for whenever he came home.
The sheriffs confiscated Lunsford's computer and found some disturbing images on it, yet because his daughter was missing, they halted any investigation into those photographs.
This topic is high on many local Florida forums, a lot of people have some very strong opinions of Mark Lunsford, some calling him a meth head, a junkie, and having some dealings which are shady and possibly illegal.
I don't know where I stand on this.
I am now questioning his finances myself. He went from living with his parents, into a brand new home, driving an H2 that was given to him, and there have been many charity rides to raise money for the Lunsford foundation, but where is the money?
There is no accounting of those monies raised, and what about those pictures on his computer?
What were they of, and why did the police not investigate any further?
This will be an interesting story to follow, and if the suit does go forward, I am hoping that an audit of all the charity monies raised is done before letting this go any further.
I think people deserve to know what happened to that money, and if this suit is really about changing the policy on sex offenders, or if it's just for Lunsford's own gains.
February 26, 2008
It feels like I ate a sock.
I always wonder how much information is too much information, to put on my blog, and then I think to myself, if my experiences can somehow help someone else who may do a Google search for the same stuff, then it's just enough information and may help someone else.
Ok, so let's recap the last few drugs and therapies I've now tried.
First, we've been cutting back on Lortab 10/500 mg, from 12 per day, down to 4 per day.
This is a HUGE improvement, getting down to just 4 per day is awesome.
We're attempting to find a non-narcotic pain relief alternative, and that's why we're testing all these different drugs.
For the last 2 and a half weeks, we have not been using the Lortabs, and trying just the non-narcotic alternatives.
I've been doing my regular physical therapy, working the lower back and hip areas.
It feels extremely sore for a full day after therapy, then goes back to it's regular achy pain.
I am officially done with regular PT now.
I am still fighting this cold/virus/whatever it is thing the teens gave me too.
At least the fever broke this afternoon. I laid on the couch and covered myself in Sebastian's huge comforter, and just sweat it out.
Well I hope it's broke and gone now.
There's much more below the cut. (opens in same page, not a new window)
Continue Reading �
February 26, 2008
Major power outages in Florida.
Obviously not at my house, but this is a widespread issue.
It's a major story on CNN, something is up with the power grids.
About 4.4 million customers across South Florida were affected, Florida Power and Light officials said.
The outage struck shortly after 1 p.m., as scattered thunderstorms passed through the region. But the cause of the outage was not immediately known.
In Washington, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said there was no immediate concern that terrorism was behind the outage.
January 28, 2008
Vote No on 1 tomorrow.
Floridians, please vote NO on amendment 1 tomorrow.
I've blogged this before, but here we are on the eve of the vote, and you people who are thinking yee haw on the homestead exemption, really need to sit back and think more about this.
The exemption will give you as a homeowner, a max exemption of just barely $300.
That money has to come from somewhere or other services will get cut.
Like what?
How about emergency services like police, fire and rescue?
The schools statewide, stand to lose about $3 billion in funding.
All you parents who have kids in the Florida public schools, and complain now about the lack of education monies, need to think about the loss of $3 billion additional dollars in school funding.
The money for emergency services and schools, comes from property taxes.
By voting yes, you will gain barely a $300 property tax relief, but you will have major cuts in those other services.
Plus, our governor can do better by us.
Much better.
This exemption is simply a band-aid on a much bigger problem.
This exemption needs 60% to pass.
Think about this and then vote NO tomorrow.
January 14, 2008
Florida, vote no on #1, save our homes exemption amendment.
The Florida homestead exemption amendment is not good for Florida homeowners no matter how they market it to you.
It says you will save on your taxes, but do you know how much?
The average Florida homeowner will only get a tax savings of $240.00.
Peanuts.
"The four-part tax package would:
# Increase the $25,000 homestead exemption to $50,000.
Proponents have framed this measure as a doubling of the current $25,000 homestead break, but that's misleading, as the new exemption won't apply to school taxes, which make up roughly 40 percent of property tax bills.
# Make accrued benefits from Save Our Homes -- which caps annual assessment increases at 3 percent -- transferable to new homesteads.
# Cap assessment increases on commercial and non-homestead property to 10 percent annually.
# Create a $25,000 exemption on tangible property for businesses, usually for things such as machinery and equipment.
What benefit would those changes provide?
The average Florida homeowner would get a tax savings of $240 from the added homestead break.
The commission's report offers a unique chance for the start of a major tax system overhaul this year, whereas Amendment 1 offers a piecemeal approach to tax relief at best.
Voters should turn it down.
Florida needs, and must get, something significantly better."
January 11, 2008
The crash on I-4 was carrying USPS mail.
There was a huge crash on I-4 in Polk County the other day, 4 people have died in the early morning 70 car pile up that was caused by early morning smoke and fog.
One of the trucks involved and destroyed by fire in that crash, was carrying USPS mail.
It was mostly priority mail packages, and they have all been destroyed by the fire.
That mail was coming from southwest Florida, some of if from the Suncoast, and was headed to central Florida. Officials say all those packages were destroyed.
Destroyed packages may have come from zip codes starting with the numbers: 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 341, 342 and 346.
To check the tracking of a priority mail package mailed on Tuesday to the central Florida or Miami area, visit the USPS website.
November 3, 2007
More robberies in Ybor.
Last night, another local girl from the forums was robbed in Ybor.
They got her purse, cell phone, all her jewelry including her D&G watch, her digital camera, her boyfriends wallet and pretty much anything they had on them.
This is the second time someone local to me has been robbed out there.
It's not the same place it used to be at all.
You could go there and walk around and not really be bothered except by staggering drunks falling down or bums asking for change. The religious freaks would usually yell at you that you're going to hell, but now it's become a major center of crime.
Police presence has even stepped up dramatically, and it still happens.
They pull up, ask for directions, or even just walk up to you and say hello, then the next thing you know, they have a gun pulled on you telling you to hand over everything you have.
By 6am, all her and her boyfriend's debit cards had been used to get gas at 13 different gas stations, and their cell phones had been used to make hundreds of calls.
She was able to watch it all happen from her home computer. One browser on her bank page, one on her cell service page.
Just watching as things get racked up before the companies could close the services down.
Sad.
They will probably get everything reimbursed by the bank and cell providers because they reported it, but man, how crappy.
This is why when I go out anywhere, I get cash from an atm before I even go, I leave all valuables at home, keep my cash, my id, and my cell phone in a pocket, leave my purse locked in the trunk of the car.
I don't have much but what I do have, I can't afford for anyone to just take from me.
October 10, 2007
Age is not an excuse to be rude.
This old lady right here, is a total fucking bitch.
Like I said this morning, I had to run to the drug and grocery store, and when I was getting in line to check out, I knocked over one of those stupid hanging end caps.
I had my cart in the line, my ass was in the line, and this old bitty, slammed her cart into my ass, shoved my cart over, and moved in front of me in the line.
I said; "Excuse me? I was in line."
Old bitty: No you weren't, your items were not on the belt.
Me: What? That mans items were filling the belt, I was in line, my cart was here, you rammed me with your cart, pushed mine out of the way, and moved in. That was extremely rude.
Old Bitty: Your items were not on the belt, those are the rules of shopping deary, you should learn them. Also, learn some respect for your elders.
Me: Excuse me?! What did you just say? I need to respect my elders? How about you need to learn that age is no excuse for rudeness. What you did was extremely rude, and hitting me with your cart? What gives you the right to hit someone with a grocery cart?!
Old bitty: I hit you to move you out of my way, you were picking up things from the floor, therefore, not in line as you should have been, so I moved you. Now shut up.
Me: You are a total bitch you know that? You just admitted to hitting me with your cart to move me so you could get in. By the way, take a shower once in awhile. You smell like Ben Gay and rotting flesh you old hag.
Old bitty: Apologize!
Me: No.
Old bitty: Apologize or I'll call for a manager!!
Me: Go right ahead and call for one. You slammed your cart into me, you admitted you did, these 3 people heard you, and guess what? I'm disabled. You just slammed and admitted you slammed, your cart into a disabled person, which is a crime in Sarasota County, assault on the disabled. So go right ahead, call that manager over.
Old bitty: *look of horror on her face, then turns to finish checking out as quick as she could*
Me: I'm taking your picture too, just in case I end up hurting later on from you slamming your cart into me. If I end up sore, I'll be sure to call the manager later to get your name from your credit card receipt. I'm making a note of the time and register number, and the cashiers name, and the baggers name. My lawyer may need the information.
Old bitty: I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Me: Too late for that.
The guy in front of us was cracking up, the cashier had this horrified look on her face, the bagger was slack jawed, but ya know what?
I'm sick of this shit.
I'm sick of the old people in this fucking town thinking that just because they are old, they have the right to do this kind of crap to people.
The majority of them do this shit. They will cut you in line, they will hit you with their carts, they will grab the loaf of bread you have your hand on to take from the shelf, they will demand to be waited on before you at the deli, even though they didn't take a number.
The old people in this city fucking suck ass, and I'm sick of it!
I do not feel guilty at all throwing my disability at her.
If they can throw their age around as a right to be douchebags, I can throw my disability at them when they are.
October 5, 2007
How could I have let this happen?
You all know I'm volunteering for the boobiethon right?
I edit the pics that come in for size, remove people's blog urls, etc.
Ladies, it is not a good idea to write your blog url on the pics you submit. We're going to remove them anyway, but think about it, if we published your pic like that, then everyone would know which set of breasts were yours, and um, yeah, you could gain a whole new set of "fans" you may not want.
But anyway, I usually have myself set up pretty good for the long day, snacks and soda to get me through the day.
Well, I thought I had another 12 pack of diet pepsi stacked in the corner, so when I grabbed the last can from the fridge and went to move the new pack in, imagine my surprise when I picked up a very light box.
Dammit.
I have a half a can of soda left, that's it, and I have 3 and a half hours to go, before I can go to the store.
Crap!
Anybody in the Sarasota area wanna swing by with a 12 pack of diet pepsi?
I'll paypal you the money...LOL
I don't even have any cash on me, just my paypal debit card.
This sucks!
September 28, 2007
2 jumpers, 1 lives.
This is the famous Sunshine Skyway bridge.
This morning, two different women attempted to take their lives from the top of the span.
Published: September 28, 2007TAMPA - One of two women who jumped from the Sunshine Skyway bridge this morning survived the fall, according to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on the separate incidents.
The woman, in her 80s, was found alive in the water by the Coast Guard after she jumped at 8:38 a.m. She was taken to Anna Maria Island.
The octogenarian parked at the south end of a span and left a suicide note in her car.
Another woman jumped over the rail at 7:22 and hit the rocks below, Carter said. The woman, in her 40s, parked her car in the center of the span and left a note inside.
Deputies are on scene. It's unknown if the two jumps were related.
I was just surprised to see an 80 year old woman try to end her life from the bride this morning.
I can only imagine why she felt like that was her only way out. She's lived a long life, and one has to wonder, what would bring her to the span this morning.
September 24, 2007
Youth center arrest
That church youth center arrest I told you about on Friday, is finally on the local news site.
42 year old youth group leader, Martin Moore, had a sexual relationship for 4 years with a teen girl starting when she was just 13 years old.
Reports say the center's director Martin Moore met the victim at his home, at the center, his mother's house, the beach, even a car. When he was confronted, he felt bad. "He said he's made a mistake and was really feeling bad about it."Riiiight. If he knew it was a mistake, he shouldn't have done it. He's a church youth group leader for crying out loud. Fucking child molesters make me sick, and this was right around the corner from me. Ugh.
September 21, 2007
It's a gorgeous morning.
I plan to go on my walk shortly, after days of not being able to go for my daily walk, I need to get out and just stroll up the street and back.
Doc B never called me back, so I called Doc F this morning and talked to the nurse abut what happened.
She said it's not likely that the injection caused me to be sick, but because my immune system is so low, it's possible that just taking the injection caused me to get run down and have another run of gastroenteritis.
She said the blood tests from Doc B's office showed a super low white cell count again, which means I was already sick by the time I saw him.
Locally, there are some big news stories happening here.
Like this guy, Joseph Arsenault, I sorta know him.
No, not like that! But I used to go to the Beach Club downtown years ago, before the big remodel, and he was always there, buying rounds of drinks for people and stuff. He also used to shop at Pier 1 a lot.
Kinda freaky he was arrested for rape, and possibly being a serial rapist.
And there's no link to this one yet, but right around the corner from me, on the corner of Ashton and Swift, is a church youth group building, like literally a 7 minute walk from my front door, across from the post office.
Anyway, the youth group leader was arrested for having sex with a bunch of the teens that went there.
One girl claims it was a relationship, but he apparently he had sex with a LOT of the teens that went there.
As soon as there's a link, I'll update this post with it.
At the beginning of summer, they (the youth group) were going around leaving fliers for teens to join the group for the summer.
Stay off the streets! Come hang out in a safe environment!
Uh-huh.
And of course, there's $780 million, but none of it for the teachers.
Will we be repaving another parking lot?
How about planting a few more trees?
Are we ever going to finish building RHS? I mean, all that asbestos our kids are breathing in every day, can't be good ya know.
Maybe the school board will authorize a statue downtown for the cost of like $2 million or something.
Just give the teachers a raise please.
Ok, I am going to get ready for my walk now. I can't wait to get outside.
September 14, 2007
Military dad can't save his children from abuse.
This is a story with local ties, the children are here in Florida, and the military dad is stationed in Alaska.
*WARNING* This video contains a graphic description of what the 5 year old daughter said during a medical examination.
Please use headphones if you have young children in the room.
Please, watch the video, digg the article, this is a call to action!
The story;
Your kids live nearly 5,000 miles away and experts are telling you they're being sexually and physically abused. This Father and all the officials in Alaska know what is going on. Judge J. Kevin Carey in Florida needs to take action to protect the helpless victims and punish the aggressor.
After hearing the child welfare agents state what the 5 year old daughter said during her medical exam, I have no doubt in my mind that this child has been either sexually abused, or been exposed to pornographic movies, or possibly even made to watch her mother have sex with the boyfriend.
No matter how she knows the language she spoke, I consider it abuse.
Not to mention the bruises and other statements the children have made.
This is the contact information for the judge.
I've already made a call to his office to ask that he thoroughly investigate this case.
The Honorable J. Kevin Carey
800 E. Twiggs St., Room 422
Tampa, Florida 33602
(813) 272-6999
Courtroom #402
Judicial Assistant: Carmen Jones
Unified Family Court:
Domestic Relations/Family Law, Division F
August 24, 2007
John Couey gets death penalty.
John Couey, the animal that murdered 9 year old Jessica Lunsford in 2005, gets the death penalty.
The only other sentence Couey could have received was life in prison. The Miami jury that convicted Couey of Lunsford's murder also recommended death by lethal injection, but under Florida law, judges make the final decision as to what the sentence should be.Couey is a monster, he kept that girl, tortured her, and murdered her. He deserves the death penalty. It's a shame we don't use old sparky anymore, lethal injection is far too peaceful of a way for this nasty pedophile to go out.
August 4, 2007
Tax free school shopping has begun Florida residents.
Today, August 4th 2007, marks the start of tax free week for school shopping.
Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature have approved Senate Bill 1456, which provides that the 2007 Tax Free Days for Sales Tax will begin at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, August 4, 2007, through midnight, Monday, August 13, 2007.
Senate Bill 1456 provides for a sales tax holiday on:
* Clothing and related items with a sales price of $50 or less
* Books with a sales price of $50 or less
* School supplies with a sales price of $10 or less
_________________
I won't be going shopping till next Saturday the 11th, but just letting the rest of you know that it started today.
June 20, 2007
Roller Derby Tailgate Party!
This Sunday the 24th in Tampa, the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins, will be having an awesome match.
The Switchblade Sisters vs The Black Widows, and The Cigar City Mafia vs The Vice Grip Vixens!
It will be held at United Skates at 5121 N. Armenia Ave in Tampa.
$10 advance and $12 at the door.
Doors open at 5p, bout at 6pm.
Live music by Crooked Edge.
You can find out more about the event by checking out the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins website.
Not only is there a bout, but at 10pm, you can party with all the Derby Darlins at Bilmar Station on Hillsborough Ave.
These chicks are tough, they roll hard, play hard, and party hard after.
If you go, check out Punkins ass.
They use it for all their promotional posters and tag cards.
It's hot!
As she says, lots of skating = a healthy ass!
June 19, 2007
Sarasota Greenpeace efforts.
This is for any locals who are interested in the Greenpeace efforts on global warming.
Here in Sarasota Greenpeace is working to educate and mobilize the
citizens to pressure Congressman Buchanan to become a leader on global
warming. We want him to co-sponsor the Safe Climate Act which increases
fuel economy standards and reduces global warming emissions by 80% by
2050. I have been out on the street getting postcards signed to mail to
the Congressman, holding meetings with environmental groups, giving
presentations and making alliances with business owners to show the
overwhelming support for global warming solutions. On July 1st we will
be having a rally outside the Congressman's office at 2pm to show him
how much the citizens of Sarasota care. The address is 235 N. Orange
Street and we'll have free organic Stop Global Warming T-shirts for all.
It will be a great, fun-filled, positive event for all to enjoy.
www.floridahotseat.org is my website will all the information.
June 17, 2007
Why's his name Spyder?
Last night was super fun as always. The Tampa crew certainly knows how to have a blast.
We went to the Crowbar in Ybor City, which is slowly degrading into a mess.
I'm glad the TPD was out in force letting these hood rats know they don't own Ybor.
But anyway, Crowbar is actually pretty cool.
It was dead as a doornail when we arrived, but very quickly picked up.
It was karaoke night, and a few local celebs made some appearances, as well as a comedian from Corpus Christi Texas.
Spyder from Psykill, sang several songs. He's an amazingly good singer, many people didn't know who he was, and I just laughed every time one of the drunks I was with said, "Wow, he sings really good. Why's his name Spyder?"
Hahahah
You poor things. You need to get out of the dance clubs, and hit a few local shows once in awhile. *wink*
Fisher from 97x came along with pretty much the entire morning crew, and brought comedian Steve Trevino from Corpus Christi Texas, up on stage to sing a song too.
That of course then turned crazy as Steve picked a girl from the bar goers, to sit on a stool and get a lap dance by Mongo, whom I think came with 97x or Steve Trevino.
Mongo had a sweet bod ladies, and one of our very own drunken cohorts was the lucky gal pulled to the stage for this dance.
There are incriminating photos of the event, but I shall spare her and not post them here.
Steve also talked a few drunken women from the bar crowd to do a body shot off of Mongo.
Some chick named Michelle was uh, I guess, the best body licker, if that's how you determine a winner.
Good job Michelle, you showed Tampa how well you can lick. What an honor. *heh*
Several people from our group did some singing.
Francis has a great voice, sang some country song, "Picture", the duet with Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow, but did really good at it.
Then the group of young girls pretty much yelled through their songs.
Push it, by Salt n' Pepa, and some other one I didn't pay attention to, and then a whole bunch of the druken cohorts, slaughtered Bohemian Rhapsody.
Killed it. And when I say killed, I don't mean the slang for killed which means good, I mean actually killed the song.
Damn.
There's this thing called singing that you do with songs. You should never be screaming into a microphone.
It's vomit inducing, ear bleeding, pain to the death.
Thanks for the headache ladies.
Much appreciated.
Then we all headed for pizza after closing crowbar down, with Spyder and Mike singing Steel Dragons just for Jerm.
I'm glad the DJ got around to that one finally. I thought Jerm was gonna cry if nobody sang it.
Great song.
We all die young.
Jimmy and I headed back to his place and crashed out till about 10:30 or so.
Sat around and talked, drove to McD's for some food, and came home where I slept from about 1:30 to 5:30.
I was super tired, but it was a massively fun night with the crowd.
June 8, 2007
Suspect is being sought after a murder this morning.
http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/article.cfm?artID=1651
SARASOTA - Sarasota Sheriff's deputies are searching for a suspect involved in a deadly shooting at a Sarasota doctor's office.
The shooting happened at a doctor's office at 3050 Bee Ridge Road.
The suspect is Jacquelin "Jackie" Ferguson. Deputies say the 51 year old was an employee at the office. Ferguson is 5'7" with blonde hair.
An office manager was killed in the shooting. The Sheriff's office has not identified her until deputies can notify family members.
The sheriff's office got a call about a shooting at the doctor's office about 8:45 a.m. Friday. When they arrived they found the victim, but did not locate the suspect.
The doctor's office was evacuated. Bee Ridge Road was closed from Tuttle Avenue east to Lockwood Ridge Road, but has been reopened.
________________
The location the cops are at right now is in the Lakewood Ranch neighborhood, just opposite the other end of my road.
My street goes north and south, I am on the south end, this house where a woman's body has been found, is at the north end of my street, on Lakewood Ranch property.
They do not know if the body they found in the house, is the shooter, Jacquelin "Jackie" Ferguson.
They are saying that she was a disgruntled employee. She killed her boss.
Yikes!
This is a developing story.
_____________
EDIT* 12:26pm
The coroner has confirmed that the body is that of the suspect, she committed suicide.
May 27, 2007
Got any spare parts?
Spare golf cart parts that is.
Around here, and several other towns, golf carts are a form of transportation for seniors.
I remember when Shell and I came down here years ago before I moved here, to visit with her gram and my sis. When we stayed with her gram for a few days, all the people in her town drove golf carts every where.
When I first saw this sign, 
I thought it was a joke. Golf cart crossing? What?
But they had specially designed roads just for golf carts, their own street lights, parking spaces etc.
It was totally amusing.
They even had golf cart parades where people turned their carts into mini parade floats and drove up and down the strip, waving at people.
I have a bunch of pics of it somewhere.
I was just reminded of this because I was looking at one of the forums I belong to, and someone was searching for golf cart parts.
It totally made me giggle.
May 8, 2007
I-75 closed to brush fire.
If you are in Sarasota and need to take I-75 north to get home, think again.
I-75 northbound from Fruitville Road north to University Parkway, is closed due to a brush fire which is spreading and jumping.
Many homes are in danger in that area.
Local news and police are urging people to find another way to get home if you have to travel north or near Fruitville road.
April 16, 2007
Moving.
I was talking with one of my neighbors yesterday afternoon when I went out to get the mail. They are moving away to be closer to her husband's relatives and for a job offer he got.
They got a really good deal on a nice chunk of Raleigh North Carolina real estate, she was telling me.
She doesn't want to move, her kids don't want to move, but she said the money her husband was offered is too good to pass up.
Her kids are almost done with high school, and they're not moving until after graduation, but she said it's still going to be hard to just up and move. They've lived here all their lives.
They are a nice family, quiet, mind their own business. Always polite and friendly though, waving hello, smiling.
The perfect kind of neighbors. You know they're there, but they stay to themselves.
March 16, 2007
I would think this a better idea.
This coming June, there is a blogger convention going on in Orlando, not very far from me, but far enough that I'd have to stay there in town if I wanted to go.
Hotel rooms are pricey all year long so I was thinking, it would be cool if a bunch of the bloggers going went in on a Orlando Pool Home rental for that weekend.
It would financially make better sense.
We could all get a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, sleeps 10, full house to share, instead of every one paying for individual hotel rooms.
It would be much more comfortable, more laid back, cost less money. 10 people paying the rent on a house is better than $200-300 for a room.
February 25, 2007
Updated information on the abduction of Clay Moore.
The name of his kidnapper has been discovered.
Fox news reports the latest.
"PARRISH, Fla. — Florida police on Sunday issued a warrant for a man suspected of kidnapping a 13-year-old boy at gunpoint in an apparent ransom attempt, police said.
The man, whom authorities identified as Vicente Ignacio Beltran-Moreno, 22, is Mexican. He is wanted in connection with the Friday morning kidnapping of Clay Moore from a school bus stop in Parrish, Fla. Moore was able to escape several hours later.
"This was an absolute kidnapping for ransom," Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells said at a press conference Sunday morning.
"We have been able to positively conclude that this was an out-and-out kidnapping and that the person wanted money in exchange for Clay Moore."
The rest of the story is at the link for Fox news above.
The original post is here,
follow up when he was found, here,
the last details we learned, here.
February 23, 2007
Details on Clay Moore's abduction.
He has been found and is safe, but the suspect is still at large.
He only has minor cuts and bruises, and is at the local hospital where he's just being observed and answering questions.
From TBO.com: "A massive manhunt by air and ground for Clay ended when the 13-year-old was located in the rural Kibler Ranch area, as many as 20 miles from his bus stop. The boy told authorities he managed to break free from his bounds and escape from his captor into the woods, Wells said. He ran to a farm, where he borrowed a cell phone and called his mother.
Wells decline to go into specifics about the kidnapper’s possible motives.
“It all seems evil to me, no matter what he was plotting,’’ Wells said.
Wells urged the public to keep on look out for an older model red pickup the kidnapper was last seen driving and to report any suspicious activities.
“My best guess tells me we are dealing with somebody who is familiar with this area,’’ he said.
The man who allegedly abducted Clay may have tried to go after children in his neighborhood before, says a witness to this morning’s incident.
Rabah Jaffal, a 14-year-old seventh grader at Lincoln Middle School who shares a bus stop with Clay, says he’s seen this truck before in the neighborhood and believes it is the same truck that chased his sister a month or two ago.
He says his sister and friends were playing a game called “manhunt” when this man came up in the truck and chased them."
The suspect is an older man with a tan or dark complexion, driving a red or maroon older model Ford Ranger pickup. People in the area are asked to continue looking for it and reporting anything matching the descriptions of either the man or the truck, to police.
February 23, 2007
Clay Moore has been found.
Details are coming as soon as the police and FBI get done questioning him.
The suspect has not been found.
I'll post more as I know more.
At least he has been found and is ok.
Something smells slightly fishy here though.
February 23, 2007
Missing boy from Manatee county.
From TBO.com.
A teenager has been abducted at gunpoint from a bus stop in what may have been a frightening random “crime of opportunity,” according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. An AMBER Alert has been issued for the boy, an indication that investigators believe he is in danger.
According to sheriff’s spokesperson Dave Bristow, 13-year-old Clay Moore was kidnapped at 8:51 a.m. near the entrance to the Kingfield Estates subdivision in Parrish.
Moore is described as 5 ft. tall, 100 pounds, with long light brown or blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a green polo shirt and a black jacket, both of which have a Manatee School of the Arts emblem, and khaki pants. He was carrying a red backpack, according to the AMBER Alert.
The Sarasota Herald Tribune reports Moore has a birthmark on his forehead that turns dark red when he is scared or angry.
Bristow said a man armed with a gun approached several students at the bus stop, located at the intersection of Old Tampa Road and Douglas Hill Place, and was able to abduct Moore from the crowd.
The suspect is described as a 5 ft. 7 in. tall Hispanic man in his 30s with short dark hair and a dark, bushy mustache. He was last seen in black glasses and blue jeans.
Other youngsters at the bus stop told authorities that the man was driving a small red or maroon truck, said to be an older model pickup with an extended cab. It may be a Ford Ranger, according to a Sarasota Herald Tribune report.
The Herald Tribune also says Manatee district officials issued a “soft” lockdown for three elementary schools in the area of the abduction—Blackburn, Mills and Tillman Elementary schools.
The AMBER Alert says the suspect “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
Moore’s classmates are being questioned about details of the kidnapping. “We’re continuing to interview them to see if they can remember additional information,” said Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells.
Eagle 8 Pilot Judd Chapin says deputies from several counties are stopping trucks of all shapes and sizes as they search for Moore and his kidnapper. “It’s spread all over the state,” Chapin said.
Sheriff Wells says Moore’s mother and father have been notified of their son’s disappearance, and have access to a counselor.
Anyone with information about Moore or the suspect is urged to immediately call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office or 911.
______________
This is right at the end of my sisters current subdivision. On the news, I could see her house. Her and her husband are both freaked out, they have seen this kid playing where they live almost daily.
Please, if you see this boy or the truck, call 911.
AmberAlert missing ManateeCountyschools gunpoint schoolbus
February 22, 2007
He's what? Sick. Ugh.
The high school just called, Mark is sick and he will be on his way home if you say he can walk home.
Yes, send him home.
They said he had a temp of 100.9, was pale and clammy, lethargic, coughing, sneezing etc.
*sigh*
So he's on his way home.
I don't know why he didn't tell me was sick this morning, I was up.
He has been having to walk back and forth to school the last couple of days because sometime during school on Monday, someone slashed his bike tires.
I called the school and they said they can't have someone guarding the bike rack all day long.
Well excuse me, but this was a $200 bike that I now have to go have two tires replaced on so he can ride back and forth to school.
Last year, someone stole the seat off of his bike. So we ended up getting him a new bike for Christmas and now they did this.
This is b.s. I'm sick of stupid thugs ruining other peoples property at the school.
If you can't have someone watching the bike rack all day, fence it in like the elementary school does, and then padlock the gate.
When students needs to leave, send someone out to the gate with the key and let them get their bike and go home.
______________________
I have a bunch of stuff to do today.
I need to go to the store, fix some of my categories on here, check my bank info so I can fix my paypal stuff, and a bunch of other daily house stuff, dishes, floors, bathroom etc.
I better get started huh?
Later days.
February 17, 2007
M-I-C, see ya real soon!
When Shell and her son Micheal came down two years ago to visit and go to Disney, I should have remembered to tell her how to get discount Disney World Tickets.
I can't remember what she ended up paying, but I know she could have gotten a better deal through DWtickets.com.
Not only do they have discount tickets for Disney, but for other theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, Pleasure Island, Cypress Gardens and Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space center and many more.
They have one of the biggest welcome centers in the area, have been around for many years, have a huge client base, and earned a very respectable reputation in the industry.
They have tickets to pretty much every major attraction in the whole state, so when Shell decides to come down again, I can't recall which park she said she wanted to go to, but now I will tell her to check out DWtickets first, so she gets a good deal.
January 25, 2007
She's wearing a blue shirt and pants.
That is the description a grandmother gave the cops and ambulance about her now missing 14 year old granddaughter.
I was walking to 7-11 to get some quart sized freezer bags and got pulled over twice.
A cop, coming from the opposite direction, swerves over into my lane. I'm thinking time to go into the speech about I know there aren't any sidewalks officer, but where am I supposed to walk?
He asked me if I just ran away from home.
I'm all what?
How old are you?
36.
Oh, you're not her.
Who?
There's a missing 14 year old girl, she's hurt, have you seen her?
No, what is she wearing?
A blue shirt and pants.
Uh? hair color, pants color?
That's all I know.
Oh, uh, well if I see her, I'll call you.
Ok thanks.
I keep walking and up behind me, pulls an ambulance.
Miss? Miss? We need to talk to you.
Hi.
Did you just run away from your grandmothers house on Olympia street? Are you hurt?
I'm 36. I'm wearing a black shirt and black jeans and a flannel mens jacket. Do I fit the description of the 14 year old that is missing?
Oh, uh, yeah, we are just asking everybody.
I got pulled over by a cop a few minutes ago, he told me. I haven't seen her but if I do, I'll call. We really could use a better description of this girl. Doesn't the grandmother have any pictures of her?
No. All we know is she's bleeding and ran out of the house.
Wow.
So I'm walking back from 7-11 after spending way too much on quart sized freezer bags, and a firetruck is driving behind me really, really slow.
I turned around and they said, ok, not her and drove off.
What the hell?
There's a bleeding 14 year old girl wearing a blue shirt and pants, somewhere in Sarasota right now, but nobody knows what she looks like or where she may be headed, and nobody has any pictures of her.
That is entirely messed up.
January 19, 2007
Mind your manners.
One of the things a lot of people in the Southern-Fried Carnival talked about, was manners of people in the south.
Maybe other parts of the south people have manners, but they do not here, and it's not just the young people here who don't have any, it's the old people, the ones who should know better and actually demand respect.
Take for example the other day when the boys and I were walking to the grocery store.
We were on the sidewalk waking in a line, just the three of us. These two old ladies, ok older, mid to late 50's, maybe 60's, were behind us.
They sped up and were right on our heels huffing and puffing.
They were literally one pace behind Sebastian's steps.
They did not say excuse me so they could pass, oh no, they started to shove my son out of the way.
I grabbed him and pulled him out of their path, and they just kept going. No excuse me, no thank you for moving, no apology for shoving my son.
I yelled really loud after they had passed us but were just a few paces ahead of me; "Excuse you!"
They didn't flinch.
In the store, we are often shoved out of the way by grocery carts commandeered by oldies. They need that loaf of bread or gallon of milk. Now.
It always amazes me that people say manners are a thing of the past and it's the fault of young people today.
No it's not.
I have raised my sons to be polite, say please and thank you, hold doors open, let ladies go first, to say excuse me etc. It's the old people, the ones who know better, the ones who demand it, who have taken manners away.
They demand that people respect them and be polite to them.
You get what you put out.
If you're a disrespectful old codger with no manners, don't be shocked if people aren't being polite to you. You kind of deserve it.
My sons have held open doors for people, gotten them carts at the store, helped them get things off top shelves that their shortened old bodies can't reach, and not a one of them says thank you.
It baffles me.
Someone is being a genuinely nice human being and they can't even say thanks.
There's a reason the youth of today says screw you and gets on the bus before the old people, or doesn't say excuse me or thanks, it's because the people who demand that kind of respect and treatment, aren't giving it themselves.
They just think everyone owes them something simply because they are old.
I'm disabled myself, I have a right to sit in the front seats of the bus, use the motorized cart at the grocery store, park in the handicap spot. But I don't demand it. I don't think I'm entitled to be treated any differently than anyone else, but I do use my manners, I taught my sons manners, and it would be so nice if the old folks who demand it from us, could brush up on their manners themselves.
January 15, 2007
Now on to other things.
I was blog of the day on Fuel My Blog. Thanks Kevin!
Stop by and say hello to Doris. She lives in new Zealand and does a bit of traveling, business, and cute baby posts. I love cute babies!
And for my Florida readers, please go sign this petition.
Ban Sex Offenders Who Are Parents From Coming To Florida Schools.
I completely agree with the petition starter.
I don't care if they are a parent, if they are a registered sex offender, they have absolutely no business inside, or near a school.
I need to go chill now.
Later days.
January 10, 2007
I just reached Florida redneck status.
I couldn't fix my mailbox. I didn't have any nails or screws long enough, no new wood piece big enough, and the mailbox itself is quite fux0red.
I called the land man a few days ago, Sunday I believe, he said he'd be over to take care of it.
Well he hasn't been here.
This means that I have not gotten any mail since Friday's delivery.
Not that I get a ton of really important mail, but hey, I like my mail.
So I just went outside with my handy dandy roll of duct tape and duct taped that sucker back onto the post.
Yes I did.
I am not taking a pic of it unless people insist on seeing how much living in Florida has changed this Mainer into a complete redneck.
Trust me, I really did duct tape it to the post. Three times around, front end and back end.
Damn thuggers even knocked off my little red "I have mail for you mail man" flag.
They will be injured if I catch them in the act.
December 22, 2006
Glad I didn't want to pick up tomorrow.
We just got back from Publix where we picked up our food and I'm so glad I didn't request tomorrow as the pick up date.
The place was packed and they said they had over 300 orders to be picked up tomorrow.
It was nuts in there!
As we were waiting for our cab ride home, these young punks were harassing the Salvation Army bell ringer.
Asking him if he had any change, could they borrow some from the kettle. Throwing water bottles around and spraying it everywhere.
I turned to them and told them to get the hell outta there and quit being a bunch of useless thugs.
The bell ringer was obviously being pestered by them for awhile, he looked flustered and upset.
Stupid punks.
Just really glad to be home right now. It was just so busy in there and large crowds where people are pushing and being rude, get to me.
December 21, 2006
I'm definitely feeling better.
The boys and I went out this afternoon to pick up my script and go buy some more food stuffs for the house at Sweetbay.
They can change the name but it's still Kash n' Karry to me. Still icky smell when you walk in the door.
I only went there because I had to go to CVS to get my script and didn't feel like walking a mile back to Publix and then back home again.
I never buy any meats at Sweetbay. I just can't get over the smell in the store. It smells like death.
Also, the employees are not friendly. None of them ever say hello or offer to help find anything.
It's an odd store.
Tomorrow though I do have to go to Publix and pick up our holiday meal and cake.
No scratch for me, just reheat and relax.
Ok off to try and reply to emails. They backed up on me again.
Oops.
December 19, 2006
Door to door magazine sales.
I just got my first one of the season. I'm sure there'll be more.
They comes in waves like that.
The deal is they start off sweet talking you then roll into the pitch.
Trying to raise money for college, enter contests etc.
The scam is that you never get the magazines you ordered.
Pricey ones at that too.
They go door to door and hit parking lots as well.
The young guy admitted he has done it in walmarts parking lot.
He tried to bless me and then I cut him off mid-pitch.
No thanks, it's a scam. Have a nice day.
He left pissed off.
December 7, 2006
Time doesn't make you forget, but you can move past things.
Today I received a comment from someone I hadn't web spoken to in about a year or more.
It was a huge mess of deceit and scheming plots and just general dysfunction between two feuding women's message boards.
I was quite taken back to get that comment and responded in wonderment, why are you even bothering talking to me after all you and your acquaintances tried to put me through? What good could possibly come from this I wondered.
I sent a reply back full of feelings, what they had put me through, and I wasn't expecting another reply back but I did get one, and I replied back again.
Time didn't make me forget what had happened, but through communication and seeing that the both of us had been put through hell by one seriously demented woman, we realized we both had been duped, taken in by her and used, and her issues had absorbed everyone and caused all of us issues.
It feels good to finally have that small segment of my life resolved.
It took courage for her to come here and post that comment and open up the lines of communication again and I can respect that.
November 26, 2006
Miss me?
The boys and I spent Thanksgiving at my sisters house babysitting the girls so sis and hubby could get away for a few days.
They loved the turkey and cranberry sauce and were so much fun to be around.
But I forgot how tiring toddlers are.
My boys are all grown up now so I must have forgotten all the energy that toddlers have.
I will not ever forget that again.
I'm not complaining, I had a great time with them, I love being around them and having all that fun, but boy oh boy, did they wear me out.
Mark and Sebastian were exhausted too.
In and out of the ball pit, up and down off my lap, I have poop, I need to go potty, I want to brush my teeth, I don't want to go to bed.
Tons of energy.
We took them to the playground and let them play on the slides that oops, were wet, but they didn't care, they had a blast.
They played on the swings and climbed the "castle".
They wanted to go swimming in the pool but it was freezing water. They tried anyway and giggled like crazy touching their toes in the ice cold water.
They played on their own slide and drove their little car around the back porch.
We all had a really good time, the boys playing World of Warcraft while they napped or slept, me zoning out in front of the cable tv.
I don't have cable at my house and I'm actually really glad about that right now.
I spent more time clicking through 98 channels than I did watching any one show. I can't handle that many choices...lol
Sis and hubby came home a day early and we were in our own house last night.
Continue Reading �
November 17, 2006
Poopah.
It's a very quiet day, still no call back though.
Like I was actually expecting one./sarcasm>
Pshaw!
I'm just hanging out, bored, waiting for deposits to go through so I can be un-broke.
It takes too long in my opinion. And another thing I don't understand, why do they wait till the middle of the night to initiate direct deposits? Why not do them during normal banking hours? It would make much more sense.
Right?
The teens will be leaving me tonight to go babysit for my sister. I'll probably go find a movie to watch and chill out by myself all night unless something comes up which it probably won't.
Everyone has plans for tomorrow night.
Either some country bar or a retro/altern/punk club.
Guess which one I'm shooting for?
I would go to the country bar if that's where everyone wanted to go. I'd buy some earplugs and sit as far away from the speakers and dance floor as possible.
Line dancing kills me. Same dance, every song, with only a slight variation in steps. An extra hand clap here, or toe step there, a heel kick here. Highly amusing to watch cuz they all think they are like stars on Solid Gold or American Bandstand ya know?
"Woo hoo! We're all in perfect sync y'all! We rock!"
I have to sit far away or else I start laughing uncontrollably and inevitably, end up getting very loud. I have also jumped up from my chair in the past, and just started dancing all crazy and fucking up the beauty of the line dance. I can't help it. I think country music plus line dancing, makes my brain do something funky and I have to either yell or do something stupid to make the bad pains stop.
I physically cringe when I hear country music.
It's not just that I hate it, I physically hurt from it. Like my stomach gets all knotted and upset, painful.
Maybe it's psychosomatic, the physical pains, but I swear it happens.
I have learned to tune it out when riding in cars with people, I can focus on the passing scenery, but in a club, I'm trapped and with the line dancing visuals, I feel myself getting sick and pained.
Ya think if I explain this to the few people that want to go there, they'll take pity on me and go to the other place? ;)
Later days
November 11, 2006
I'm sooo excited!
Going out tonight for some fun, I have a reliable ride this time...
My friend Tina is coming down and my boys are gonna babysit her son so we can go out tonight and play with other grown ups. 
The boys and I have been cleaning the house like we do every Saturday morning, I love the smell of a clean house.
Dryer is going on the last load of clothes, need to take a shower and stuff. They will be here by 2pm to hang out and stuff before we leave tonight. It's better this way with younger kids rather than just run in, drop them off and run.
This will give them all a chance to warm up to each other again. Last time we all saw each other was the BBQ about a month ago I think it was.
I need to go buy something for dinner too. I don't know what yet, don't know what her son likes to eat. My boys will eat anything I put in front of them so they don't really care.
I hope you're all having a great weekend!
September 15, 2006
Need an excuse to eat some candy?
M&M's supports the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.
M&M'S® Brand will donate $.35 on 14-ounce packages and $.50 on 21.3 ounce specially marked packages.
When I went shopping, I picked up a bag.
I get my chocolate fix and help support the cause.
And, guess what's coming up people?!
It's almost time for the annual boobiethon!
The fifth annual blogger "Boobie-Thon" launches on Sunday, October 1, 2006. It will run through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, October 7, 2006.
They have raised over $26,000 since 2002.
That's an awesome accomplishment for a bunch of bloggers huh?
As usual, I plan on submitting a photo for the cause. I just have to come up with an idea for this years pic.
You're all going to submit and donate right?
You better!
September 11, 2006
Before any locals ask me,
Yes, that is my name is the local paper tied to an article about blogging and 9/11.
What I thought were going to be questions about how the internet, how blogging, has changed or been affected by 9/11, turned out to be about 10 questions on who I was, how long I have been doing this, how many hits etc.
There were no questions about 9/11 posed to me by reporter Caryn Goebel.
When she contacted me, she asked if I would be willing to comment on a story, I agreed when she told me what the story was about but then none of the questions I thought were going to be asked, were asked.
I mean, I guess the way she posed this to me was vague, and maybe I did fill the need she had, but according to a few people who have read the article this morning and already called me, my whole part of the story seems completely out of context.
This is what she posed to me;
The story is for the features section and is about how a lot really hasn't changed in popular culture five years after 9/11. If anything, people look for more escapism through reality tv, movies and Internet. I have analysts speaking to this and talk of the increase of blogging in the past few years.So, I need a local blogger who can tell my why they do it, what they blog about and who reads. Also, how much time they spend blogging daily.
My sister is going to bring me the article so I can see just how out of context my part in this article seems, but according to her, it doesn't make much sense at all. Like here's this article about 9/11 and blogging and then bam, here's my name, how long I have been doing it etc and then bam, back to 9/11. Like it doesn't fit.
Oh well, not my article right?
So yeah, if any of you are coming here after reading that in today's paper, there's my side of why it sounds so weird and out of context.
Later days.
July 26, 2006
Grinning ear to ear.
You know the rules of karma right? You get back what you put out eventually?
Well it came back around and I can't fucking stop smiling. I think I actually laughed the hardest I've ever laughed last night.
I can't go into details here, but that "owner" of a local message board I used to frequent, got handed his ass and walking papers.
He didn't own it. He didn't own the rights to it.
He lied about all that shit. Said he sunk thousands of dollars into, was a fucking hypocrite to the nth degree.
Was a fucking nazi-ish little dictator. If you weren't a good little christian who drank and partied and then went to church on Sunday, you were shit to him.
If you cursed or spoke your mind, he banned you even though he had this huge front page post up about freedom of speech.
The real owners of the franchise got sick of his shit and him ruining the name and idea they created and kicked his fucking ass to the curb.
karma's a bitch man. You will always get back what you put out.
Oh happy day, oh happy day!
July 17, 2006
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present,
The Senator.
*You are viewing this image at your own risk.
If you have an aversion to half naked seniors, red silk banana hammocks, or men who shave their armpits, please do not view.
Oh yeah, you can click it for super size....lol
Continue Reading �
January 9, 2006
As someone who walks everywhere,
this really pisses me off and Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » safety zone for no one said it best but it won't stop me from saying it my own way.
The guy fucking ran a red light.
In a school zone.
I'm sure he's sorry, anybody would be but a ticket for running a red light is all he gets?
How wrong is that?
It was a school zone!!
She was in the crosswalk.
Something is seriously wrong if all this guy gets is a ticket for running a red light.
November 17, 2005
Guilty.
Joseph Smith, the man accused of kidnapping and killing Carlie Bruscia last February, has been found guilty of kidnapping, sexual battery and murder.
He will be sentenced on November 28th at 9:30 am.
July 30, 2005
Heading out tonight with the local Tampa crew.
Gonna go play up in Ybor. Actually, I'm not drinking or anything like that, just going to go and get out of here.
Gonna go burn a cd in a few to listen to on the ride up.
Introduce my ride to some stuff I like.
All I've been doing for days is chilling out to music and stuff.
Life is just the same old same old here.
Comments will be off here but you know where you can say hi. Also I loaded a couple of tunes up over there too. Stuff that I just really like.
If it's not up in the next minute, it will be in a few.
Grab 'em if you want 'em.
Have a great night everyone.
Later days.
June 4, 2005
Late to bed, early to rise.
The boys slept over next door last night and are still there but I always get up early just in case they come back early in the morning.
They had so much fun last night playing outside which is good cuz all the rain has kept them inside and I was going a little cross eyed from all the video games.
Have some projects to do today, need to get to Michaels as I never made it there yesterday and I need 2 small things to complete some projects I have and then if my supply orders show up, I can complete my other 2 orders and get those all out on Monday. That would be really great because I want to make something really cool and have a contest of sorts with it.
Last night was kinda crazy around here for me. I wanted to just chill and catch up with people but the phone kept ringing and then when I was heavy into a conversation, the phone battery died. Ugh. That's the second time this week. Time for a new battery but hey, at least this phones batteries are cheaper than the last cordless phone I had. Those were like $20-$30 bucks each. This one I can get from marketplace sellers for about $5 bucks so I'm quite happy about that.
And then there's all kinds of stupid people that I have to deal with cuz some peoples lives are not full enough unless they have some web drama in them.
What is the point of having any type of argument on line?
You don't know these people really at all, you will probably never meet them because they are all talk and no action and would never have the balls to say that shit to your face or by phone.
Me, I say exactly what I think when I think it and to who it's intended for and yeah, I've even had the balls to say it over the phone to one woman whom I had a disagreement with.
But the situation with her was different in the fact that we had the issue, talked about the issue and set aside our differences like adults do. Then when we spoke on the phone, we really talked about it all and realized how stupid both of us had been during all of that and ended up laughing and became friends.
I have zero respect for people who keep bringing up old crap, get themselves involved in things they have no real clue about and think it's so cool to talk all big out of their ass because hey, so and so said I should.
Follower much?
There comes a time when you need to sit back and look at the whole picture and not just your little corner of it and try to look ahead at what will/can happen if you keep that kind of shit up. How do you look forward? Look at the past history of the ones who think what they are doing is cool. Look how long they are dragging an issue out instead of letting it go like adults do. This isn't high school here folks. You should be grown up by now and able to think for yourselves and really look at what has been said in the very recent past and learn from it. You aren't learning. You keep doing the same shit because they claim to be your friends.
At least I'm honest with ya when I say I don't like you. I don't back peddle at all and kiss your ass because I need you for my silly web vendetta.
So write what you want, think it's fun, cool or what have you. I'm not playing any of you gals silly games as much as you'd like to drag me into it. You did that to me once and I learned from it exactly what type of people I was dealing with and moved on.
Move on. Life is far too short to argue over the internet with people you have never even met.
Later days.
March 18, 2005
Alright, alright, I'm up.
I did not want to get up this morning.
So tired from rain and plunging and weather and just everything.
The kids are off to school and I need to take a shower and be ready to go. Tiffany and her hubby are gonna give me a ride so I don't have to walk and ride buses for half a day.
Sebastian has school lock in tonight. He will be coming home and eating dinner and taking his stuff back around 7:30 and then coming home around 8am tomorrow.
It'll just be me and Mark home tonight.
I have a free rental for movie gallery so maybe I'll go get us something to watch tonight. I'm so sick of repeats on tv.
In local news, the fight continues in the Schiavo case. It is supposed to be removed at 1pm today but the legislature is going to subpoena the people (health care workers) who are supposed to do that so that it can't be removed.
Aren't they over stepping their bounds? A court order is in place to remove it and they are going against a court order to prevent that.
Jeb is acting a little like Gov. George Wallace. Refusing to follow a court order and creating new laws to stop any court order that doesn't fit in with his views.
He says he's doing it because this is the will of the people of the state of Florida. But TBO.com did a survey and 58% of the people of this state say her tube should be removed, 32% say it shouldn't and the remaining people don't have an opinion either way.
How is that the will of the people of this state Jeb? More than half say to let her die with dignity. He and the state legislature have crossed the line with their faith based initiatives and stepping over families legal rights to which repeatedly has been said by judges who heard this case, that the husband provided clear and convincing evidence that this is what she wanted.
Don't like the way courts handle things in this state? Start a faith based initiative to get a new bill created that takes away the rights of everyone to save the life of one person who has been proved did not want to live this way.
It's a sad day here cuz any minute now, good ol' Jeb is gonna sign that bill and subpoena health care workers preventing them from doing their job so that the state can investigate this case again, and again, and again, dragging it through the court system for more and more time and what if another judge or even federal court upholds the rulings of the judges here that have already heard the case and they order the tube removed? Will Jeb and his band of merry right to lifers, create more new bills to over ride those rulings as well?
How far is this going to go?
So we sit and wait and wait and hope that they do the right thing and let her go. Terry died 15 years ago and nothing short of an act of a God can re-create her brain.
Later days.
February 25, 2005
I'll believe it when I see it.
Judge allows Schiavo's feeding tube removed in three weeks.
On March 18th, Terrys feeding tube can be removed. That is if her parents don't get the appeal that they are surely going to place again.
One thing which I'm quite glad about is the the U.S. Supreme Court had declined to become involved in any aspect of the case which means this won't have to become a national waste of time like it is a statewide waste of time.
This battle has been going on for 7 years.
Today is the 15 year anniversary of her collapse when a chemical imbalance caused her heart to stop beating.
"If Mr. Schiavo legally succeeded in provoking the death of his wife, this would not only be tragic in itself, but it would be a serious step toward legally approving euthanasia in the United States," Cardinal Renato Martino, the head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, told Vatican Radio on Thursday.
And just what would be so wrong with that?
February 25, 2005
This cold is kicking this houses ass.
The boys are semi-better. Mark said he really wasn't feeling well this morning but I didn't detect a fever so I sent him and gave him money to get home if the school sends him home.
I'm starting to feel that tickle in the back of my throat and I'm all stuffy.
I just sorta got rid of this didn't I?
Damn.
This little girl is missing.
The circumstances are odd.
It says she went to bed at 10pm but for some reason, her father was out until about 5:30 am. Was she home alone????
Why was she home alone if that's the case.
If you see her, call (352) 726-1121 or 911.
An amber alert has been issued.
February 22, 2005
Stop it. Just fucking stop the bullshit.
Emergency stay in Schiavo case.
They need to just stop this bullshit.
These last minute stays are just fucking bullshit.
I really don't care what either side has to say anymore.
Decisions have been made and many judges have said it's the husbands decision and then whammo bammo! Another judge issues a last minute stay and decides to drag this out for how many more years?
I swear to fucking god, if any of member of my family decides to keep me alive after an injury leaves my quality of life as shit, when I finally do die, I will come back and haunt all your asses in the worst possible ways!
Ya hear that family, unplug me. If I can't wipe my own ass or feed myself or speak or even know who the fuck is in the room, let me go.
It's not your life you're trying to save, it would be mine and I don't want that.
December 16, 2004
Hey Florida moms!!
There's a new message board/forum just for moms in Florida! Go check it out and join if interested. Sunshine State Moms - Index
December 8, 2004
Stick a fork in me, I am so done.
I over did it today.
I know, I know, I know, I shouldn't have but she really needed our help and we got it all done and then I came back here and just did my rugs and they looks smashing by the way, but yeah, I really cooked myself a good one this time.
Holding that damn button down for the soap thingy has flared up my fingers on my right hand and the dragging of the cleaner did in my back.
Crappers.
Good thing I go back to the doctors tomorrow eh?
We got a lot done though and I got some mail today.
Christine, you rock more than a simple thank you could suffice. My gift to you pales in comparison but it came from the heart and because I know how much you love that one thing so much. It isn't enough but it will have to do for now. I just have so much to do before Christmas with other jewelery orders that making special presents will have to be new year gifts...lol
I didn't get any of my bead supplies today but I did get a pretty card and gorgeous picture of Nathan from Robyn and Todd.
Thanks hun. I love it! I'm going to put it with my other picture of him. He's such a doll and have I got the girl for him...lol His big blues and her big blues and those gorgeous smiles they both have, man I see a future...lol
I am so frigging tired but I have some work to do still. Luckily, it's all online stuff and I can sit down for a bit with my back massager running easing out some kinks.
Later days.
November 30, 2004
Ring a ling, hear them ring.
It's that time of year again.
Time for the Salvation Army bell ringers with the red kettles to be outside your favorite stores ringing their bells.
I was on a forum last night and I admit that I got very mad at one of the posters because the poster was absolutely giddy with glee that Target stores will no longer allow the SA to stand outside of their stores which is fine, but her reasons for being so giddy were downright pathetic.
No amount of explaining the rules of a charitable organization helped.
She was convinced that the SA were nothing but a bunch of crooks and thieves.
All because they failed to help her one year.
Continue Reading �
November 29, 2004
Muuuurder.
I'm so frigging close to killing those dogs.
I had to call the cops again last night about the dogs. They barked for 45 minutes straight starting at 10:30. I screamed out the back window to shut those little yapping things up and nobody did a damned thing so I called the cops and begged him to help me. It's excessive noise, they have to help right?
Well, the owners must have seen the cop car pull in or coming down the street and so they brought the dogs in.
Excessive noise only applies if the cop hears it.
ARRRRRGGGGHH!!
So very very close to dogicide.
Mark went off to school in a huff again this morning.
Sucks being healthy when you're a kid I guess.
Sebastian has to go get his glasses today and I think Mark just assumed he was going to get to stay home on account of you know, like moral support or something. Who knows what kids think.
He sat on the couch grumpily waiting for time to pass to go catch the bus answering my questions with quick and short answers and then didn't take his coat. Probably thinks that not wearing his coat is somehow going to hurt my feelings but uh, I don't care, I'm not the one standing at the bus stop freezing my arms off in a short sleeve shirt.
Kids don't think their guilt trips through enough.
The bus comes and I'm sitting out there watching and this jack ass in a black car comes right up on the buses ass and starts honking the horn.
Hello? Bus. Flashing red and yellow lights, little stop sign protruding from the side, rules and laws about buses? Any of this ring a bell with some drivers?
I guess not cuz this loony stayed behind the bus at the next two stops doing the exact same thing.
Ding ding. Give the idiot a prize for being this mornings road ass.
I'm sure they'll be more, it's going into season here. I've already seen a huge caddy do a u-turn right in the middle of a no u-turn street with a meridian causing the caddy to go bumpity bumpity over the thing and almost ramming two other cars in the process.
Had a huge wheelchair attached to the back of it too. One of those big electric ones like a hover round.
Dangerous on the road and probably run you over in the store too.
I live close enough to the fire station to hear when they go for accidents etc. It was non-stop all weekend.
Our accident rates are way low all summer and then you hit season and they skyrocket because seniors, some seniors, who come down here, 1) think they own the road and 2) think they can still see like a hawk and have the reflexes of a teen.
Crazy.
Later days.
November 21, 2004
I got this invitation sorta.
To write something anecdotal about motherhood and kids about once a month for a website and a FLA newspaper.
I don't do anecdotal.
Not that my kids haven't done or said some funny things as they've grown up but I dunno, I just don't write fluff very well.
I am a much better writer when pissed off. I can write like there's no tomorrow about stupid teachers and school violence. I can write about how teachers fear a students artwork because it doesn't reflect their own values and morals or how bullies are free to bully and victims should seek counseling.
I can write about how my now 13 year old son is feeling his way through life and starting to mouth off and how my 11 year old stomps and complains about a single chore to do.
I do write fluff about the house, the lawn, the cats but I don't think I could honestly come up with some fluffy filler feel good story on command.
So much for fame eh? It's not a great loss either because no one was getting paid. Sure, the hits would be nice but with more visitors comes more responsibility to well, say things that are responsible and also more people possibly telling me just how wrong I am on a whole slew of subjects.
I get enough of that as it is.
October 25, 2004
Fla. Politics has returned.
Florida Politics: "Well, I'm back." (With apologies to JRR Tolkien.)
October 14, 2004
Quite possibly, the coolest compliment ever.
I was digging through my stats when I came across a single link to Dave at spacecoastweb from Truth Laid Bear. This is what he had to say:
"Okay, if you feel like gouging out your eyes every time you read a curseword, skip to the next post...
What the fuck kind of math is this shit - My Single Mom Life
Kat is too bleeping much! When she squashes a bug, she walks right past the flyswatter, choosing instead to pull the release cord on a suspended 20-ton weight of ridiculously large,Looney Tunes proportions! Splat!
I appreciated that on so many levels.
I might be a math geek, (with a circular sliderule, scientific calculator and a copy of the CRC Standard Mathematical Tables close at hand), but I am a word geek as well.
I have read others who have noted the historical fact that Kat shared, but no other had so eloquently told the story.
Great stuff."
Thanks Dave. That was like the coolest compliment ever. I just laughed when I read it and had to share. You made me smile.
You are a math geek, I'm a word and useless trivia geek. I know more about weird subjects than anyone really should but I get fascinated with the bizarre.
October 12, 2004
The flu shot shortage.
The shot shortage has created a panic here in this state. We have like buttloads of old people and as I'm sure you all have heard, the old people can have it first. Not us moms who should get it because we are the frigging caregivers of kids and the old people.
Oh wait, that's not what I was going to talk about.
Ok, so Publix does flu shots every year and because of the new little mini-law that says only old people can have it or the disabled or the really sick etc etc, a line of hundreds of seniors were gathered outside one Publix for more than 4 hours yesterday.
One senior said that when she got to the store at 8am and got her number, she was number 187. At 8am.
They waited in line half the day in the pouring rain, outside in the parking lot to get their shots.
Leaning on walkers, canes and sitting in wheelchairs.
One old man fell down from weakness after waiting nearly 3 hours for the shot and had to be taken away by ambulance.
Never got his shot.
One old man said he was having trouble standing for that many hours but had managed to listen to an entire audiobook on his Ipod (how cool is that grampa?) while he was waiting.
One old woman said that there needs to be a better way to get these shots out to the people who need them.
I agree with her.
Why are these seniors being forced to go stand in parking lots for hours to get a shot instead of say, oh I dunno, the hospital? Wouldn't it make more sense to give flu shots in a medical facility covered parking lot rather than a grocery store parking lot?
How do we know that the people dispensing the shots are doing them right? Are they taping their medical certifications to the little fold up card tables at which they do these shots?
Something is seriously wrong when seniors can't go to their doctors for a simple shot.
I understand about the shortage, I do, but I do not understand why this isn't done at a more suitable place. If you're only giving them to seniors who have health issues already, give them to them at a medically safe place.
August 17, 2004
A call out to FLA bloggers.
I know that there are quite a few FLA bloggers out there but I only know a handful of them and I'd like to make an updated list of local people.
Rather than attempt to follow links from other peoples blogs, I'm asking for you to help me out.
Please post your blog if you are a FLA blog and also the urls of FLA blogs that you know.
I'd rather end up with duplicates in the comments than not have everyone in the final list.
So please leave them in the comments.
HTML is allowed if you know how to write it and if not, just paste them in there and I'll link them in my final Fla blogroll.
Thanks.
