for all the Moms out there ....................... ;-)
Subject: Prettiest Moms
Prettiest Moms on my Friends list! Once you have been hit, you have to hit
15 pretty Moms. If you get hit again, You will know you are REALLY pretty!
So hit 15 pretty moms on your friends list to let them know they are pretty
Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do
tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want
to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the
hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my
body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and
happy.
Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every
10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the
wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.
Send this to
someone who you think is a special Mom. I just did!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
'The time has come,' the Walrus said,
'To talk of many things: Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing wax -- Of cabbages -- and kings -- And why the sea is boiling hot -- And whether pigs have wings.'
H/T Lewis Carroll
No, this isn’t the post on culture – still cogitatin’ ……………………………..
The neighbors, D. & W., are dealing with W.’s granddaughter – 16 years old, thinks SHE knows everything, is using drugs {mostly presumptive pharmaceuticals from “friends”} ………………………………. Is going to the beach overnight with her 19 year old BF, then accompanying him to Tennessee? Kentucky? {couldn’t this develop into a Mann Act violation?}, to his parents’ house for his personal belongings – {he’s going to be starting college in the area soon} ……………………………. C., the GD, is driving her parents & grandparents to distraction – she wants to “get a job”, etc., etc. ………………………… all while her GM is working herself to exhaustion, and her step-GF is battling a recurrence of CLL – from my admittedly more objective viewpoint, C. needs a swift kick in the keister {or six} – she has NO concept of respect for herself or anyone else ……………………………. I recommended having her declared incorrigible ………………………………….. D. says no, she’ll just run away ……………………………….. I must have been damn near a saint as a teen ………………………………… b’cause I NEVER put my folks through this kind of garbage ………………………………….. hey, mebbe this is my version of Holly’s experiences @ “Going Postal” & SpeakerTweaker’s “What’d He Just Say?” ……………………………………
It seems as though the time has truly come for me to get my Doc & Dentist to refer me to an ‘oral & maxillofacial surgeon’ – I’ve been dealing with TMJ for years, have recently attempted using night bite guards again, and they ain’t workin’ – I’m hoping it the surgery would also alleviate some on-again-off-again pain in my inner ear {straighten everything out, doncha know? ;-)} – for my way of thinking, a MAJOR benefit is that my jaw would be wired shut for a few weeks ……………………………….. weight loss, anyone?
On the local law enforcement front – HPD {for whom I harbor very few ‘warm-fuzzies’, primarily due to the sanctuary policy, and their chief is an idiot who couldn’t pass the necessary law enforcement tests for quite a long time} is being pilloried because a critter was fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle with illegal drugs in the vehicle, and said critter crashed into a young mother of two, killing her, then the critter took off on foot – the young mother’s family is blaming HPD ………………………………….. sorry, Folks, but HPD was doing their job - it is the critter’s fault the young mother is dead …………………………………….
H/T Lewis Carroll
No, this isn’t the post on culture – still cogitatin’ ……………………………..
The neighbors, D. & W., are dealing with W.’s granddaughter – 16 years old, thinks SHE knows everything, is using drugs {mostly presumptive pharmaceuticals from “friends”} ………………………………. Is going to the beach overnight with her 19 year old BF, then accompanying him to Tennessee? Kentucky? {couldn’t this develop into a Mann Act violation?}, to his parents’ house for his personal belongings – {he’s going to be starting college in the area soon} ……………………………. C., the GD, is driving her parents & grandparents to distraction – she wants to “get a job”, etc., etc. ………………………… all while her GM is working herself to exhaustion, and her step-GF is battling a recurrence of CLL – from my admittedly more objective viewpoint, C. needs a swift kick in the keister {or six} – she has NO concept of respect for herself or anyone else ……………………………. I recommended having her declared incorrigible ………………………………….. D. says no, she’ll just run away ……………………………….. I must have been damn near a saint as a teen ………………………………… b’cause I NEVER put my folks through this kind of garbage ………………………………….. hey, mebbe this is my version of Holly’s experiences @ “Going Postal” & SpeakerTweaker’s “What’d He Just Say?” ……………………………………
It seems as though the time has truly come for me to get my Doc & Dentist to refer me to an ‘oral & maxillofacial surgeon’ – I’ve been dealing with TMJ for years, have recently attempted using night bite guards again, and they ain’t workin’ – I’m hoping it the surgery would also alleviate some on-again-off-again pain in my inner ear {straighten everything out, doncha know? ;-)} – for my way of thinking, a MAJOR benefit is that my jaw would be wired shut for a few weeks ……………………………….. weight loss, anyone?
On the local law enforcement front – HPD {for whom I harbor very few ‘warm-fuzzies’, primarily due to the sanctuary policy, and their chief is an idiot who couldn’t pass the necessary law enforcement tests for quite a long time} is being pilloried because a critter was fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle with illegal drugs in the vehicle, and said critter crashed into a young mother of two, killing her, then the critter took off on foot – the young mother’s family is blaming HPD ………………………………….. sorry, Folks, but HPD was doing their job - it is the critter’s fault the young mother is dead …………………………………….
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Well, Ambulance Driver has certainly ....................................
left me feeling the need to be "pharmaceutically-enhanced" - ya fly into Houston, probably to Bush Intercontinental {less than 30 miles from me} and what do I get? Do I get an eMail, or a phone call, 'hey, whatcha doin', wanna stop down for a cuppa coffee?' Not only no, but HE77 NO! I get bupkis!!
Just a fast post tonight - I'm cogitatin' some commentary on our culture, but it's still roiling in my ......................... mind? ....................... ;-)
For the spousal unit's recent birthday, I stopped @ Spec's {the "if-they-ain't-got-it-NOBODY'S-got-it" liquor store here} for a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrel - he likes it, and it isn't an all-the-time choice for him - {but dammit, the bottles aren't a WHOLE lot bigger than airplane liquor bottles} - and decided to get 4 splits of champagne for me - I like champagne {prefer Moet Demi} - but I got splits 'cause I'm the only champagne person in the family - sorry, military background notwithstanding, I can't polish off an entire bottle alone anymore ..................... anyhoo, there were no Moet splits of course, so I got Champagne POP, from the Pommery vineyards .......................... I'm not well-versed enough re: liquor, but there's an extra "taste"? "flavor"? SOMETHING with the POP that I don't recall from Moet {granted, it's been about 20 years since I had Moet .......................... ;-) } If anyone has tried POP, and has experience of Moet, and can 'SPLAIN it to me, I'd appreciate it ...........................
Just a fast post tonight - I'm cogitatin' some commentary on our culture, but it's still roiling in my ......................... mind? ....................... ;-)
For the spousal unit's recent birthday, I stopped @ Spec's {the "if-they-ain't-got-it-NOBODY'S-got-it" liquor store here} for a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrel - he likes it, and it isn't an all-the-time choice for him - {but dammit, the bottles aren't a WHOLE lot bigger than airplane liquor bottles} - and decided to get 4 splits of champagne for me - I like champagne {prefer Moet Demi} - but I got splits 'cause I'm the only champagne person in the family - sorry, military background notwithstanding, I can't polish off an entire bottle alone anymore ..................... anyhoo, there were no Moet splits of course, so I got Champagne POP, from the Pommery vineyards .......................... I'm not well-versed enough re: liquor, but there's an extra "taste"? "flavor"? SOMETHING with the POP that I don't recall from Moet {granted, it's been about 20 years since I had Moet .......................... ;-) } If anyone has tried POP, and has experience of Moet, and can 'SPLAIN it to me, I'd appreciate it ...........................
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thanks to Holly the Goddess' reminding us
today is the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, I'm watching the new version of The Alamo - while not a big fan of Billy Bob Thornton, his portrayal of Davy Crockett is excellent {"I gotta warn ya - I'm a screamer"} - any Texas historian who could point me to a good biography of Juan Seguin, I'd appreciate it - I know his life after Texas independance was less than pleasant ....................
Friday, April 20, 2007
For those familiar with Houston, or the Johnson
Space Center - Bldg. 44 {Communications} has been evacuated & swarmed by SWAT & others - "white male, 50-60 years old, armed with a pistol, possible shots fired" - as of right now, they're saying he's a contract employee, with a firm based in TN .................................. we're kicking off this stupid season in a record manner {see: Waco; Alfred P. Murrah federal bldg., OKC; Columbine, etc., etc., ......................... }
UPDATE - Ambulance personnel went in with a gurney & equipment - gurney's still in there, but some equipment was returned to ambo - HPD Homicide AND IAD are enroute - there were snipers with SWAT - WHY is IAD a part of this equation? If you deploy snipers, why then hobble them with the paperwork a 'regular cop' has to undergo when s/he discharges their weapon????
UPDATE II - the suspect is dead, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot, 1 male hostage dead {killed by the suspect}, 1 female hostage was taped up but apparently OK, other than dehydration & anxiety ........................
UPDATE - Ambulance personnel went in with a gurney & equipment - gurney's still in there, but some equipment was returned to ambo - HPD Homicide AND IAD are enroute - there were snipers with SWAT - WHY is IAD a part of this equation? If you deploy snipers, why then hobble them with the paperwork a 'regular cop' has to undergo when s/he discharges their weapon????
UPDATE II - the suspect is dead, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot, 1 male hostage dead {killed by the suspect}, 1 female hostage was taped up but apparently OK, other than dehydration & anxiety ........................
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Please welcome Michael Earley ...........................
a Kiwi blogger ............................ ;-)
D'jever have one of those days where you KNOW you did 'stuff', and are tuckered out, yet have da^# little to SHOW for it? I'm hoping, in the next few weeks, to have an announcement of GOOD news ...................... if "it" works, I'll be tellin' ALL Y'ALL!! ;-)
I'm left feeling rather betwixt & between, re: NBC News' release of the multi-media manifesto of Cho - I can be clinical enough in my thought processes that it's an interesting intellectual exercise, to try & figure out the whys & wherefores - but if someone I loved was one of his victims, I believe clinical thought processes would have gone out the window, and I would be focused on the anger & rage ........................ I believe there should have been some kind of disclaimer before it was broadcast, so that those whose pain is still so raw could have avoided it entirely ...........................
D'jever have one of those days where you KNOW you did 'stuff', and are tuckered out, yet have da^# little to SHOW for it? I'm hoping, in the next few weeks, to have an announcement of GOOD news ...................... if "it" works, I'll be tellin' ALL Y'ALL!! ;-)
I'm left feeling rather betwixt & between, re: NBC News' release of the multi-media manifesto of Cho - I can be clinical enough in my thought processes that it's an interesting intellectual exercise, to try & figure out the whys & wherefores - but if someone I loved was one of his victims, I believe clinical thought processes would have gone out the window, and I would be focused on the anger & rage ........................ I believe there should have been some kind of disclaimer before it was broadcast, so that those whose pain is still so raw could have avoided it entirely ...........................
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Reading a couple of blogs .................................
Crusader Rabbit is from Australia; they kindly provided the link to
Mike E., who's in New Zealand - seems the habitues of both blogs would fit in nicely in Texas & other areas of the U.S.
Mike E. has a poster that won't upload :( ........................ I have the sense, via his writings, that it is not intended as a denigration of the victims at VT - rather, it's a wake-up call for the denizens of the Nanny States ........................
Mike E., who's in New Zealand - seems the habitues of both blogs would fit in nicely in Texas & other areas of the U.S.
Mike E. has a poster that won't upload :( ........................ I have the sense, via his writings, that it is not intended as a denigration of the victims at VT - rather, it's a wake-up call for the denizens of the Nanny States ........................
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Ok, as promised, the story of Precious …………………………
{BTW, Flo, yes, I do feel better – Midrin is a very effective medication – I was just hesitant, since it’s a mild narcotic – Imitrex is a “never-again-in-THIS-lifetime” ;-) }
It was New Year’s Eve, ’86 or ’87 – I was the evening bartender/assistant manager of a veterans’ social club, in Hellertown, PA {near Bethlehem}. “We” put on a great evening, with 80 Proof as the band in the ballroom, with a DJ downstairs, in the room next to the main bar. There was a full course dinner with chicken cordon bleu as the entrée. Of course, being 31 December in SE Pennsylvania, it was cold {upper 20’s-low 30’s during the day}. It had been drizzling all day; by the time the sun had gone down, it had become sleet/freezing rain.
I was circulating, making sure “things” were OK, and that folks weren’t getting too stupid with the drinking {we had the best prices in town – Bud on tap for about $0.50, Johnny Walker Black Label $1.25/shot}. Midnight came, “Happy NEW YEAR” was shouted, and it started winding down. I needed some fresh air, so I stepped out on the loading dock – and this collie walked up to me. She’d been trying to shelter behind some of the ‘stuff’ on the dock. She was shivering, so I brought her inside {before any Health Inspectors get bent out of shape, the food serving was DONE, the clean-up crew would be doing their thing on 2 January, before we opened for business, etc., etc.}. I scrounged some leftover chicken, made sure there were no bones & gave it to her, along with some water. She followed me willingly down to the main bar, where we “worker bees” were decompressing. A friend was to give me a ride home, but she didn’t want the dog in her car – I said OK, I’ll walk {it was less than a half mile home, I had a GREAT down-filled coat}, in stiletto heels, with the dog – my friend decided it wasn’t that far to carry a dog – another friend of ours carried the old girl out to the car, held her on his lap and then carried her to my back door {the walkway was icy}. I put her in the basement, with food & water, left a note for my folks {Happy New Year – by the way, there’s a strange dog in the basement} – and went to bed.
My folks, of course, were up LONG before I was – when I got up, my Dad just kind of grunted, but my Mom’s & daughter’s eyes were SHINING – I’d been calling the old girl “Princess”, but my Mom changed it to “Precious” – and she was ……………………… sweet-natured, let us know when she had to go out, just generally the kind of dog you hope you’re getting when you get one ……………………………. She’d stand in the middle of the kitchen and do a weird sort of howl when she was in a playful mood, with such effort that her forepaws left the floor. She was older & arthritic, but it never affected her disposition. We did the checking with shelters/pounds/vet’s offices, to see if she’d been reported missing …………………………. No responses. SIX MONTHS LATER, we get a call from a student @ Lehigh University – he’d gone home for the holidays, and left Precious on her own …………………………………. Now, bear in mind that the campus was over 4 miles from the club where she wound up – traveling through all kinds of weather, dodging traffic, etc., since at least a few days before Christmas …………………………. He didn’t want her back ……………………….. a couple months later, we had to have her euthanized, as she’d developed a multitude of problems, including respiratory issues. My folks took her in the Cavalier wagon, the vet came out to the car, and administered the drugs right there, to alleviate as much of the anxiety for her as possible – she went peacefully, being petted by people she knew had loved and appreciated her …………………….. and she took a piece of each of our hearts ………………………. And I just hope that she’ll be there with St. Francis of Assissi when my time is done – ‘cause it won’t be Heaven ‘less my critters are there, too ………………………….
It was New Year’s Eve, ’86 or ’87 – I was the evening bartender/assistant manager of a veterans’ social club, in Hellertown, PA {near Bethlehem}. “We” put on a great evening, with 80 Proof as the band in the ballroom, with a DJ downstairs, in the room next to the main bar. There was a full course dinner with chicken cordon bleu as the entrée. Of course, being 31 December in SE Pennsylvania, it was cold {upper 20’s-low 30’s during the day}. It had been drizzling all day; by the time the sun had gone down, it had become sleet/freezing rain.
I was circulating, making sure “things” were OK, and that folks weren’t getting too stupid with the drinking {we had the best prices in town – Bud on tap for about $0.50, Johnny Walker Black Label $1.25/shot}. Midnight came, “Happy NEW YEAR” was shouted, and it started winding down. I needed some fresh air, so I stepped out on the loading dock – and this collie walked up to me. She’d been trying to shelter behind some of the ‘stuff’ on the dock. She was shivering, so I brought her inside {before any Health Inspectors get bent out of shape, the food serving was DONE, the clean-up crew would be doing their thing on 2 January, before we opened for business, etc., etc.}. I scrounged some leftover chicken, made sure there were no bones & gave it to her, along with some water. She followed me willingly down to the main bar, where we “worker bees” were decompressing. A friend was to give me a ride home, but she didn’t want the dog in her car – I said OK, I’ll walk {it was less than a half mile home, I had a GREAT down-filled coat}, in stiletto heels, with the dog – my friend decided it wasn’t that far to carry a dog – another friend of ours carried the old girl out to the car, held her on his lap and then carried her to my back door {the walkway was icy}. I put her in the basement, with food & water, left a note for my folks {Happy New Year – by the way, there’s a strange dog in the basement} – and went to bed.
My folks, of course, were up LONG before I was – when I got up, my Dad just kind of grunted, but my Mom’s & daughter’s eyes were SHINING – I’d been calling the old girl “Princess”, but my Mom changed it to “Precious” – and she was ……………………… sweet-natured, let us know when she had to go out, just generally the kind of dog you hope you’re getting when you get one ……………………………. She’d stand in the middle of the kitchen and do a weird sort of howl when she was in a playful mood, with such effort that her forepaws left the floor. She was older & arthritic, but it never affected her disposition. We did the checking with shelters/pounds/vet’s offices, to see if she’d been reported missing …………………………. No responses. SIX MONTHS LATER, we get a call from a student @ Lehigh University – he’d gone home for the holidays, and left Precious on her own …………………………………. Now, bear in mind that the campus was over 4 miles from the club where she wound up – traveling through all kinds of weather, dodging traffic, etc., since at least a few days before Christmas …………………………. He didn’t want her back ……………………….. a couple months later, we had to have her euthanized, as she’d developed a multitude of problems, including respiratory issues. My folks took her in the Cavalier wagon, the vet came out to the car, and administered the drugs right there, to alleviate as much of the anxiety for her as possible – she went peacefully, being petted by people she knew had loved and appreciated her …………………….. and she took a piece of each of our hearts ………………………. And I just hope that she’ll be there with St. Francis of Assissi when my time is done – ‘cause it won’t be Heaven ‘less my critters are there, too ………………………….
Monday, April 16, 2007
I borrowed from LawDog .............................
{with attribution} in a post on my Marine message board, re: the abysmal state of people when it comes to protecting themselves as individuals, and protecting others {ie, Virginia Tech} ......................... maybe, because of my reading of true crime, crime novels & watching crime shows, I've been aware of my surroundings, for YEARS - and had a pretty good idea of "what" was available if needed for protection ....................... maybe it's paranoia, I don't know - as a survivor of childhood physical abuse, I tend to be 'hypervigilant' - this doesn't mean I was never a "victim" of a random crime, but the examples of PPP {Pi$$ Poor Protoplasm - it's a medical term, just ask Ambulance Driver! ;-)} by-God knew they had tangled with this partic'lar blonde ......................
I want to do a tribute to a dog that touched my heart, as the MPD Saint has recently done, but I'm afraid it will have to wait 'til later, as I've a migraine tonight, and won't take the meds 'til the spousal unit is home - the truck WAS running sans leaks today, but 'til it's in the driveway, I'll just wait ....................... ;-)
I want to do a tribute to a dog that touched my heart, as the MPD Saint has recently done, but I'm afraid it will have to wait 'til later, as I've a migraine tonight, and won't take the meds 'til the spousal unit is home - the truck WAS running sans leaks today, but 'til it's in the driveway, I'll just wait ....................... ;-)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Welcome to Loren, aka BaldEagle!
Today was FUN - spousal unit took yesterday off, for his birthday {which actually is today} - he went out to go to work today, and his battery was dead {he's got electrical issues}, so I chickie-trotted out to bring my Jeep around so it could jump his truck - got the Dodge going, and he's in the driver's seat, getting ready to leave & our CLL neighbor wandered over - LUCKILY, D. noticed that the radiator was leaking, rather profusely. So, D. loaned the spousal unit HIS Dodge, and I headed to the little auto parts place we have here - got a can of K&W Permanent Metallic Block Seal - our other neighbor came over & helped me drain the radiator, flush it, put the K&W stuff in {it LOOKS like liquefied rust - I figure they're copper particles}, ran it for 30 minutes, drained the K&W - you're supposed to be let it set for 24 hours - not gonna happen - SU will be flushing it ~ 1000, then putting antifreeze in & heading to work by 1200 tomorrow ..............................
Loren, I will be giving your site info to our neighbor & his wife - thank you! ;-)
Loren, I will be giving your site info to our neighbor & his wife - thank you! ;-)
Friday, April 13, 2007
OK, I've GOT to put my $.02 worth in .............................
Tamara, at View From the Porch, takes on the state of Illinois, and their "advice" for women's defense ......................... first question - Are the Illinois State Police smoking the stuff they're getting off the streets?
Illinois' Ideas for Women's Safety
When we returned from living in Mexico, my spousal unit almost immediately left for the assignment in the Czech Republic - I hied my {then} skinny butt to Academy, and found a moderately-priced pump-action Mossberg. I filled out the paperwork, and within 30 minutes, the background check was done, and I was on my way home with 'Ms.' Mossberg ....................... located a nearby range, and took the progeny out for a familiarization with it - she didn't care for the rather loud "boom", and asserted that, should the need arise, she preferred to use it as a club ..................... local news reports {home invasions are a common crime here} altered her resolve ........................
At one time, I was admittedly one of "those" people who didn't think I had need of a firearm ........................ then the progeny was born - and I began thinking in terms of protecting not only myself, but HER ......................... several law enforcement officers, in Pennsylvania and Virginia both, advised me against getting a weapon .................... I took their advice at the time .................... but now, I have Ms. Mossberg for home defense, and am looking to purchase a handgun and get my concealed-carry permit ..................... a friend up in Dallas has a NICE 9m semi-auto that fit my hand nicely - ideally, I would be able to try out several different pistols, and make my final choice on that basis .......................
A gentleman I am honored to call friend is a retired Lt. Colonel of Marines - one of his favorite sayings is : An unarmed populace are subjects; an armed populace are citizens ........................
Illinois' Ideas for Women's Safety
When we returned from living in Mexico, my spousal unit almost immediately left for the assignment in the Czech Republic - I hied my {then} skinny butt to Academy, and found a moderately-priced pump-action Mossberg. I filled out the paperwork, and within 30 minutes, the background check was done, and I was on my way home with 'Ms.' Mossberg ....................... located a nearby range, and took the progeny out for a familiarization with it - she didn't care for the rather loud "boom", and asserted that, should the need arise, she preferred to use it as a club ..................... local news reports {home invasions are a common crime here} altered her resolve ........................
At one time, I was admittedly one of "those" people who didn't think I had need of a firearm ........................ then the progeny was born - and I began thinking in terms of protecting not only myself, but HER ......................... several law enforcement officers, in Pennsylvania and Virginia both, advised me against getting a weapon .................... I took their advice at the time .................... but now, I have Ms. Mossberg for home defense, and am looking to purchase a handgun and get my concealed-carry permit ..................... a friend up in Dallas has a NICE 9m semi-auto that fit my hand nicely - ideally, I would be able to try out several different pistols, and make my final choice on that basis .......................
A gentleman I am honored to call friend is a retired Lt. Colonel of Marines - one of his favorite sayings is : An unarmed populace are subjects; an armed populace are citizens ........................
Thursday, April 12, 2007
'Specially for America ......................... ;-)
It's About Time!
L.A. Police Sued Over Immigrant Policy
By PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer
12:28 AM PDT, April 12, 2007
LOS ANGELES -- Illegal immigration opponents have sued the Los Angeles Police Department, taking aim at its long-standing policy of ignoring most suspects' immigration status.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Superior Court seeks to force officers to inform federal immigration officials when illegal immigrants are arrested on drug charges.
The department prohibits officers from inquiring about the immigration status of suspects, a policy strongly supported by Police Chief William Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of unidentified police officers who are afraid to speak out but argue the policy creates a situation where the same illegal immigrants are repeatedly arrested when they could have been deported, lawyer David Klehm said.
"Everyone I spoke to told me their hands were tied with this policy," Klehm said.
The lawsuit relies on a section of the state's Health and Safety Code that states that in drug cases involving a non-citizen, "the arresting agency shall notify the appropriate agency of the United States having charge of deportation."
Los Angeles police officers do not ask about immigration status while interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects, and do not arrest people based on immigration status.
Officers do involve immigration officials if a suspect is a gang member who has been previously deported or if a suspect is arrested for a felony or multiple misdemeanors.
Bratton has argued that the police department does not have the resources to work as immigration agents.
Klehm, an anti-illegal immigration activist based in Orange County, filed a similar lawsuit against the San Jose Police Department a few weeks ago.
L.A. Police Sued Over Immigrant Policy
By PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer
12:28 AM PDT, April 12, 2007
LOS ANGELES -- Illegal immigration opponents have sued the Los Angeles Police Department, taking aim at its long-standing policy of ignoring most suspects' immigration status.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Superior Court seeks to force officers to inform federal immigration officials when illegal immigrants are arrested on drug charges.
The department prohibits officers from inquiring about the immigration status of suspects, a policy strongly supported by Police Chief William Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of unidentified police officers who are afraid to speak out but argue the policy creates a situation where the same illegal immigrants are repeatedly arrested when they could have been deported, lawyer David Klehm said.
"Everyone I spoke to told me their hands were tied with this policy," Klehm said.
The lawsuit relies on a section of the state's Health and Safety Code that states that in drug cases involving a non-citizen, "the arresting agency shall notify the appropriate agency of the United States having charge of deportation."
Los Angeles police officers do not ask about immigration status while interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects, and do not arrest people based on immigration status.
Officers do involve immigration officials if a suspect is a gang member who has been previously deported or if a suspect is arrested for a felony or multiple misdemeanors.
Bratton has argued that the police department does not have the resources to work as immigration agents.
Klehm, an anti-illegal immigration activist based in Orange County, filed a similar lawsuit against the San Jose Police Department a few weeks ago.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Watching "Desperation" ..............................
I have to say, I much prefer Ron Perlman's law enforcement character in Happy, Texas to his character in Desperation ...................... don't hate me, LawDog & Matt G.!! ;-)
Gonna be baking the spousal unit's birthday cake today - he's a carrot cake aficionado, so that's what I'm doing - would you believe, he had the temerity to ask if I was making it from scratch! Like there's any other way to do it ...................... his birthday is actually Sunday, but he'll be able to take it in & share it with his co-workers ....................... way back when, right before & after we were married {Fall-Winter 1999}, I'd make 'stuff' for him to take in to work - he'd have to hide it if he wanted HIS folks to get any goodies, as he would go in early, and the metallurgical engineers would 'follow their noses' and raid the cinnamon rolls or homemade kolaches, or whatever else I'd made ..................... ;-)
Gonna be baking the spousal unit's birthday cake today - he's a carrot cake aficionado, so that's what I'm doing - would you believe, he had the temerity to ask if I was making it from scratch! Like there's any other way to do it ...................... his birthday is actually Sunday, but he'll be able to take it in & share it with his co-workers ....................... way back when, right before & after we were married {Fall-Winter 1999}, I'd make 'stuff' for him to take in to work - he'd have to hide it if he wanted HIS folks to get any goodies, as he would go in early, and the metallurgical engineers would 'follow their noses' and raid the cinnamon rolls or homemade kolaches, or whatever else I'd made ..................... ;-)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Chumley-Bumley is back!!!
He'd disappeared for 10-14 days. My sweet cross-eyed Tom has lost about 25% of his weight ................... gave him fresh dry food, water, & about 1/4 can of wet food - he wanted more wet food, but I didn't want to overload his stomach ....................... his toe looks OK, and the scratch/bite behind his ear is starting to grow fur again - but more than any food, I think he was looking for some petting & some kind words, to know that someone values him {yes, I've a habit of anthropomorphizing my 'critters'} ........................ ;-)
I truly hope ................................
that this year's protests exceed last year's ........................ the President and the congressional members of the Treason Lobby could then kiss any amnesty goodbye ......................
Immigration Activists Call for Boycott
Precisely WHAT part of the term "illegal alien" do these people not comprehend? I don't care if you were born in a boil on the buttocks of the world, you do NOT have an "inalienable right" to come to the USA ......................
I think my plan for getting American citizens involved in a class-action RICO lawsuit against the federal government might have been a little too ambitious - maybe what's needed are true grass-roots efforts, beginning at the level of village/township/borough levels, progressing to city levels, to county, to state, and THEN to the federal government - hear me out, here - RICO covers conspiracies - the feds have used RICO to go after Mafia, gangs, etc - "regular citizens" CAN utilize RICO statutes ...................... we could also use them against the businesses that HIRE illegals ........................
Immigration Activists Call for Boycott
Precisely WHAT part of the term "illegal alien" do these people not comprehend? I don't care if you were born in a boil on the buttocks of the world, you do NOT have an "inalienable right" to come to the USA ......................
I think my plan for getting American citizens involved in a class-action RICO lawsuit against the federal government might have been a little too ambitious - maybe what's needed are true grass-roots efforts, beginning at the level of village/township/borough levels, progressing to city levels, to county, to state, and THEN to the federal government - hear me out, here - RICO covers conspiracies - the feds have used RICO to go after Mafia, gangs, etc - "regular citizens" CAN utilize RICO statutes ...................... we could also use them against the businesses that HIRE illegals ........................
Wonders never cease ................................
I'm able to access TWO days in a row ......................... !!!!
Welcome to Shooter - I take it from your comments that you're 'kind of' a neighbor ........................ of course, for those of you unfamiliar with Houston, you may live 20-30 miles' distance & still consider yourselves neighbors ...................... ;-) Houston is nothing if not urban sprawl ......................
Welcome to Shooter - I take it from your comments that you're 'kind of' a neighbor ........................ of course, for those of you unfamiliar with Houston, you may live 20-30 miles' distance & still consider yourselves neighbors ...................... ;-) Houston is nothing if not urban sprawl ......................
Monday, April 9, 2007
Oh, yeah, and I'm feeling .........................
kinda good about myself - our neighbor with the health issues is going through his second bout with leukemia {CLL} ........................ he has an oncologist affiliated with M. D. Anderson - but there's an internist he was seeing while he was in remission - D. had been feeling rather 'bleah', so he called the internist to get an appointment - s/he told D. to come in for a testosterone shot - D.'s telling me this the evening before he's to get the shot - I told him that wasn't a good idea - from what I recall, NO additional, "therapeutic" hormones are 'safe'/good for you when battling cancer of any kind - did some research on the Web, took it over to him - the next day, as the spousal unit is preparing to leave, D. comes over & thanks me for being such a 'noodge' - he'd called his oncologist, who absolutely backed me up as to the dangers of hormone therapy ....................... I used to do medical literature searches for an anesthesiology department, so it's just a matter of knowing where to look ......................... but at least I kept D. from making a mistake that could've hindered his recovery/remission ........................
HUMPH!!
It MUST be a matter of holding one's mouth just right - or the intercession via eMail from Ambulance Driver - b'cause I DO NOT understand how my access to/through Blogger is so hit-&-miss .......................
Here in the wilds NNE of Houston, folks are up in arms about Mayor Witless {my UNaffectionate term for Bill White}:
Home for mentally retarded stands to lose prime location
By MELANIE MARKLEY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
For more than 40 years, it has occupied a prime chunk of public real estate near River Oaks caring for, employing and housing the mentally retarded.
But now the city of Houston is planning to sell the land to the highest bidder, meaning the nonprofit Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation has to find a new home.
The center's directors do not intend to go quietly. They have a 99-year lease signed with the city in the 1960s that required them to construct buildings and provide services for one of the city's neediest populations.
"I'm trying not to be real combative about it, but, doggone it, at the end of the day, if it comes to it, we'll fight," said Jack Manning, a member of the center's board. "We are not going to knuckle down and just move out."
But the city says the center may have no option.
The 99-year lease, signed in 1963 by then-Mayor Lewis Cutrer, is not valid, city lawyers argue, because the city charter limits such agreements to no more than 30 years.
And though the center has been paying the city $1 a year to lease the land, real estate investors say that particular tract, which sits on six acres between West Dallas and Allen Parkway near Shepherd, has become extremely valuable.
By real estate broker Stan Creech's estimate, it's worth about $26 million.
"That's Class A. It doesn't get any better," said Creech, who thinks the land would be choice for high-rise condominiums, in large part because of the unobstructed view of downtown to the east and River Oaks to the west.
Duty to taxpayers?
Citing their fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers, city officials say that selling the property would benefit more people in the long run.
And City Attorney Arturo Michel said it's not fair to give such a sweetheart deal to one nonprofit. In fact, the city has begun reviewing similar deals with other nonprofits housed on public property. The Lighthouse for the Blind nearby leases part of its property from the city, but officials say that lease, for 30 years, is valid. It's set to expire in 2030.
Mayor Bill White said he offered the center for those with mental retardation an opportunity to lease the property at a rate closer to market value, but he got no response.
"We are trying to make sure that we use the resources that we have to help the most number of people that are most in need," White said, adding that the city has offered to help the center find another location.
Manning said the market value of the property is too steep for his nonprofit, a United Way agency that has a budget of about $11 million a year. And, if center officials have to buy new land and spend tens of millions of dollars to replace the buildings left behind, the cost could get prohibitive.
Center officials also worry that the move seriously will jeopardize the centrally located services they provide for roughly 600 Houstonians.
Most at risk, they say, are the nearly 200 adults living in a dormitory on the property. The center faces the task of building new living quarters or finding other facilities and homes that can take them.
The center built the six-story Cullen Residence Hall after signing a 30-year lease with the city in 1972 to acquire an additional acre to go with the original five included in the 99-year lease.
Former Mayor Lee Brown's administration started to renew the lease when it expired in 2002, but, after White took office, it was never finalized. The center has been on a year-to-year lease ever since.
Executive Director Eva Aguirre said the center has more than held up its end of the lease, which required at least $17,200 in annual social services in trade for using the property. Aguirre said the center has provided more than $1 million in yearly services to people who can't afford to pay.
Array of services
Aside from a residence hall, the center runs a sheltered work site, vocational training, an adult day care for adults with severe mental and physical disabilities, and support services for clients living in apartments in the neighborhood.
The center also offers a life plan for mentally disabled people who are expected to outlive their parents and have no one else to take care of them.
Officials say they still hope to work something out with the city. But in a March 22 letter to the center's board, Real Estate Director Bob Christy made the city's plans clear.
The bid process, he said, likely would take place in the next six to nine months, and the center would have about three years to relocate. Any sale must be approved by the City Council.
Aguirre said the past few months have been very unsettling.
"It's difficult to plan for the future without knowing what the future is," Aguirre said.
Center officials have not yet told the people living in the Cullen Residence Hall that they may have to move. For many who live there, Aguirre said, "we are their support network, we are their family."
Residents are charged a flat rate to live there, and for those with no means, the center relies on donations and federal dollars to cover their care.
Many of the residents are middle-age or older. In fact, when the facility opened in the mid-1970s, Aguirre said, the average age of the residents was 23. Now it's closer to 53.
'I'm really, really worried'
Gwen Seammen said her 64-year-old son, Max, has lived in the residence hall since the day it opened.
"I'm really, really worried," said Seammen, 84. "They have a lot of freedom there, and yet they have a lot of supervision. ... It's his home, and I don't know what's going to happen if they close it."
Board President Wayne Johnson said there are no easy answers.
"The mayor has not put us in a good position," said Johnson, who has a 47-year-old daughter living in the residence hall. "And I'm not a happy camper."
Councilwoman Ada Edwards, whose district includes the center, said the city is in a difficult spot.
On the one hand, it's taxpayer money, and the city has a financial responsibility.
On the other hand, the city also has a moral and social responsibility, and there is no question the center provides valuable services to a vulnerable community.
"I think there is a larger issue that needs to be raised, and I hope the community will help us look at this issue," she said. "Because, if we do remove them, where will they go? And who will be responsible for their care?"
melanie.markley@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4678194.html
This is SO wrong, on SO many levels - I've yet to see anyone mention "eminent domain", but that's what this amounts to.
Mark my words, if the developers win, within 6 months at least 30% of the residents of the Home will be on the streets ........................
Witless is a liar & hypocrite - his own daughter was stopped for drunk driving, but was adjudicated 'not guilty' - wouldn't you have loved to be a fly on the wall when THAT deal went down?
He claims that Houston isn't a 'sanctuary city', but the policies of the police & others give lie to THAT assertion - and people wonder why I don't want to live within Houston city limits ......................
Here in the wilds NNE of Houston, folks are up in arms about Mayor Witless {my UNaffectionate term for Bill White}:
Home for mentally retarded stands to lose prime location
By MELANIE MARKLEY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
For more than 40 years, it has occupied a prime chunk of public real estate near River Oaks caring for, employing and housing the mentally retarded.
But now the city of Houston is planning to sell the land to the highest bidder, meaning the nonprofit Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation has to find a new home.
The center's directors do not intend to go quietly. They have a 99-year lease signed with the city in the 1960s that required them to construct buildings and provide services for one of the city's neediest populations.
"I'm trying not to be real combative about it, but, doggone it, at the end of the day, if it comes to it, we'll fight," said Jack Manning, a member of the center's board. "We are not going to knuckle down and just move out."
But the city says the center may have no option.
The 99-year lease, signed in 1963 by then-Mayor Lewis Cutrer, is not valid, city lawyers argue, because the city charter limits such agreements to no more than 30 years.
And though the center has been paying the city $1 a year to lease the land, real estate investors say that particular tract, which sits on six acres between West Dallas and Allen Parkway near Shepherd, has become extremely valuable.
By real estate broker Stan Creech's estimate, it's worth about $26 million.
"That's Class A. It doesn't get any better," said Creech, who thinks the land would be choice for high-rise condominiums, in large part because of the unobstructed view of downtown to the east and River Oaks to the west.
Duty to taxpayers?
Citing their fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers, city officials say that selling the property would benefit more people in the long run.
And City Attorney Arturo Michel said it's not fair to give such a sweetheart deal to one nonprofit. In fact, the city has begun reviewing similar deals with other nonprofits housed on public property. The Lighthouse for the Blind nearby leases part of its property from the city, but officials say that lease, for 30 years, is valid. It's set to expire in 2030.
Mayor Bill White said he offered the center for those with mental retardation an opportunity to lease the property at a rate closer to market value, but he got no response.
"We are trying to make sure that we use the resources that we have to help the most number of people that are most in need," White said, adding that the city has offered to help the center find another location.
Manning said the market value of the property is too steep for his nonprofit, a United Way agency that has a budget of about $11 million a year. And, if center officials have to buy new land and spend tens of millions of dollars to replace the buildings left behind, the cost could get prohibitive.
Center officials also worry that the move seriously will jeopardize the centrally located services they provide for roughly 600 Houstonians.
Most at risk, they say, are the nearly 200 adults living in a dormitory on the property. The center faces the task of building new living quarters or finding other facilities and homes that can take them.
The center built the six-story Cullen Residence Hall after signing a 30-year lease with the city in 1972 to acquire an additional acre to go with the original five included in the 99-year lease.
Former Mayor Lee Brown's administration started to renew the lease when it expired in 2002, but, after White took office, it was never finalized. The center has been on a year-to-year lease ever since.
Executive Director Eva Aguirre said the center has more than held up its end of the lease, which required at least $17,200 in annual social services in trade for using the property. Aguirre said the center has provided more than $1 million in yearly services to people who can't afford to pay.
Array of services
Aside from a residence hall, the center runs a sheltered work site, vocational training, an adult day care for adults with severe mental and physical disabilities, and support services for clients living in apartments in the neighborhood.
The center also offers a life plan for mentally disabled people who are expected to outlive their parents and have no one else to take care of them.
Officials say they still hope to work something out with the city. But in a March 22 letter to the center's board, Real Estate Director Bob Christy made the city's plans clear.
The bid process, he said, likely would take place in the next six to nine months, and the center would have about three years to relocate. Any sale must be approved by the City Council.
Aguirre said the past few months have been very unsettling.
"It's difficult to plan for the future without knowing what the future is," Aguirre said.
Center officials have not yet told the people living in the Cullen Residence Hall that they may have to move. For many who live there, Aguirre said, "we are their support network, we are their family."
Residents are charged a flat rate to live there, and for those with no means, the center relies on donations and federal dollars to cover their care.
Many of the residents are middle-age or older. In fact, when the facility opened in the mid-1970s, Aguirre said, the average age of the residents was 23. Now it's closer to 53.
'I'm really, really worried'
Gwen Seammen said her 64-year-old son, Max, has lived in the residence hall since the day it opened.
"I'm really, really worried," said Seammen, 84. "They have a lot of freedom there, and yet they have a lot of supervision. ... It's his home, and I don't know what's going to happen if they close it."
Board President Wayne Johnson said there are no easy answers.
"The mayor has not put us in a good position," said Johnson, who has a 47-year-old daughter living in the residence hall. "And I'm not a happy camper."
Councilwoman Ada Edwards, whose district includes the center, said the city is in a difficult spot.
On the one hand, it's taxpayer money, and the city has a financial responsibility.
On the other hand, the city also has a moral and social responsibility, and there is no question the center provides valuable services to a vulnerable community.
"I think there is a larger issue that needs to be raised, and I hope the community will help us look at this issue," she said. "Because, if we do remove them, where will they go? And who will be responsible for their care?"
melanie.markley@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4678194.html
This is SO wrong, on SO many levels - I've yet to see anyone mention "eminent domain", but that's what this amounts to.
Mark my words, if the developers win, within 6 months at least 30% of the residents of the Home will be on the streets ........................
Witless is a liar & hypocrite - his own daughter was stopped for drunk driving, but was adjudicated 'not guilty' - wouldn't you have loved to be a fly on the wall when THAT deal went down?
He claims that Houston isn't a 'sanctuary city', but the policies of the police & others give lie to THAT assertion - and people wonder why I don't want to live within Houston city limits ......................
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