Of Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs

Yesterday two officers from the Tampa Police Department were killed on a traffic stop. The killer, who had a warrant for his arrest, shot both officers in the head. Neither officer had time to draw his weapon or call on the radio. Citizens who witnessed the shooting called to report it. Both officers were 31 years old; one had a child due next week and the other had 4 boys.

The killer had a long criminal history. He was acquitted on charges of attempted murder at one point. I have already heard the question, and it will be asked a lot in the coming days; "why was a person with a history like this out on the street?"

The easy answer it this....this is how our justice system work. He either served his time or was acquitted. But its not really an easy answer is it? Unfortunately, our system of justice is not equipped to handle people like this. If this killer doesn't get shot during apprehension, he will be tried for two counts of capital murder and will most likely get the death penalty. But it took the lives of two good cops to get this far. Unless the citizens become willing give up certain rights and live in a police state where justice is dispensed immediately and without fail then tragedies like this will continue to happen. The great things is that, knowing this, the sheepdogs still go into battle.

Two sheepdogs were killed yesterday and despite that today, sheepdogs all over this country got up and went out like they do everyday and protected their sheep from the wolves.

Grossman, D., & Christensen, L., “Of Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs.” Published in:
-South Carolina Trooper, Winter 2006.
-Arkansas Lawman, June 2005.
-Oklahoma Chief to Chief: The Official Publication of the Oklahoma Chiefs of Police, -Spring/Summer 2005.
-The Coalition: The Official Publication of the National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition, Spring 2005.
-The Police Marksman, Nov/Dec 2005.

Law Enforcement Week

Right now there's a law enforcement officer helping someone. A police officer is working the streets {day or night} to keep you safe. A sheriff's deputy is missing their family while caring for yours. In the minute it took you to read this, police officers all over the world are saving lives.♥ It's Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.

Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36981179?GT1=43001

The following is just my humble opinion, so don't yell at me or threaten to sue me for insinuating that your kid might be an asshole.

"On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population."

I suspect that on any other typical day these five students wouldn't be noticed with a Flag shirt because they are probably not wearing one. I could be wrong, maybe these 5 boys are true patriots, but I doubt it.

"....the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal's office. 'They said we could wear it on any other day,'Daniel Galli said, 'but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today.' boys said the administrators called their T-shirts "incendiary" that would lead to fights on campus."

Again, I suspect that the idea was to be "incendiary" and cause a fight.

That being said, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. The only reason that it has been Americanized, much like St. Patrick's Day, is so the we can have an excuse to drink copious amounts of alcohol in the middle of the week. If you a Mexican-American or a Mexican citizen living in this country, I don't begrudge you your right to celebrate your holiday. It does not give anyone the right to tell me as an American citizen what I can and cannot do just because it might offend someone. As long as I am not breaking any laws, I have the right to say anything I want. As long as these kids were not breaking any pre-established rules, they had the right to wear the clothing they were wearing and should not have been threatened with suspension.

As for me I'm celebrating Mungo Day.... and if your offended you can bite me

Random Stuff

1. Husband and I got a new puppy. His name is Lucky, he is the anti-Christ. Nala, the older one, was never this bad at 4mos. Lucky is psychotic and is a bad influence on Nala. I should have just said yes to the cat.

2. It was reported yesterday the Lindsey Lohan is suing E-trade over their Superbowl "mil-a-holic" commercial. Apparently the milk-a-holic baby in the commercial named Lindsey is a parody of Ms. Lohan. Ms. Loahn is deluded into thinking that she has one name status on par with Oprah or Cher. Honestly when I saw the commercial, a) didn't realize the baby had a name and b) didn't think of Lindsey Lohan. In fact I rarely think of Lindsey Lohan.

3. Actor and 80's teen idol (their words not mine) Corey Haim died today of an apparent drug overdose. Some news outlets have reported this as a "shocking" death. Really??? Shocking??? He's been a drug addict since he was 12 years old. How is this shocking? As a friend of mine so poignantly said..

Officer James Bonneau of Jackson PD died yesterday responding to a Domestic Disturbance call. Today a self-indulgent asshole named Cory Haim died of a drug overdose. Guess which one got the most press?

Well that's all for now. Soon there will be news on the work front, but I can't comment until things are official. Also I had to implement the security word on my comment page, I hate it and I'm sorry, but my little blog was getting spammed.

TTFN...I have to go see what demon puppy is up to.

New Background

In honor of a holiday the I traditional care nothing for (except the chocolate) I have found and downloaded this really fun girly background. I actually love it. Which is so weird..sometime during the past year I have found my inner girl. I'm not sure how long this will last.

Suddenly pink is my favorite color (have you seen my pink blackberry), I have more than two purses and lord don't get me started on shoes.

I still don't own a skirt and husband and I are going to Monster Jam tomorrow...so there is hope.

Help my cause

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My charity is the Critical Incident Stress Management of West Central Florida. I have been a member of this orgainzation for over 10 years.



CISM of West Central Florida is a 501(c)3 non-profit, emergency services organization dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of disabling stress through the provision of:

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We do good work to provide crisis/stress management to public saftey first responders. iGive is quick and easy, so why not donate money while you search.

WTH?????

When I was unemployed for a year and a half we ran up quite a bit of credit card debt. Unfortunately even though money wasn't coming in, people still wanted to be paid. (Bastards) With the generous help of my mother, we (she) were able to pay off most of it. There is still one card with a hefty balance.

Husband called today to try to get the interest rate lowered so we could get out from under it. He was told the if we were delinquent on the account they would be happy to help, otherwise not so much.

So let me get this straight...I actually pay my bills on time like a good productive citizen and I get squat. I don't pay my bills and you bend over backward to help me?

Sometimes being a good citizen does not make any sense at all.

Winter Thoughts

I live in Florida so you will never hear me complain when it get cold here. I hate the hot, miserable, sweaty summers. When it gets cold you can pull out the sweaters, the down comforter, and the snuggie.

That being said here's some not so random thoughts about this week's cold snap.....

• What the hell am I supposed to do with ice on my windshield at 7 am? I don't own an ice scraper, nor would I know where to buy one. It was almost and excuse to call in sick and go back to bed
• When you have the heat on in the car high enough to keep your toes from getting frostbite, you have a tendency to want to fall asleep.
• I'm pretty sure my office, inside a building, should not be as cold or colder than it is outside

Ok, I have to set my desk on fire now, the polar bear who lives in my office want to make smores.

No news is good...

My mom asked me tonight if I watch the new every night. I said I didn't because its depressing and usually just pisses me off. I was told I should watch it anyway. So to make my point..here's why I don't watch the news.

Had I not watched the new tonight I would have been blissfully ignorant to the fact the Michael Vick was given the Ed Block Courage Award today. This award "honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage." It is usually given "for things like coming back from injury, doing good work in the community or long, dedicated service to a franchise"

I am fairly sure that starting your football career over after doing prison time for running a dog fighting ring is not what the award founders had in mind. Sure Vick did his time and deserves to have a second chance. The same second chance most convicted felons get to have. He does not deserve to walk back into a multi-million dollar career and he certainly does not deserve to get and award that is supposed to exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.

If you want to honor someone, honor somebody like Warrick Dunn, whose mother, a police officer, was killed in the line of duty when he was just 18. He went to college and made a career. He gives back to his community and has never been convicted of a crime. (and yes I know he's a free agent..not the point)

And while I'm on my little rant...yes it is sad that Chris Henry died so young. Its always tragic when someone does. But please spare me the platitudes about how he was "turning he life around". He died while attempting to assault he fiance and the mother of his children. That is not someone who is turning his life around.

So do you see why I don't watch the news...

Ok back to your regularly scheduled Christmas Eve.

Mom says I need to blog. I don't have much to say. So...

Merry Christmas...Happy Hanukkah...Happy Kwanzza

Have a great New Year too.

Halloween Meme

I stole this from WAYSM who stole it from Chatty. Seems a good thing to post. Sorry I've been wrapped up in face book.

1. What is your favorite written work of horror fiction?

I don't really like Horror per se, but I always like Robert R. McCammon especially The Wolf's Hour

2. What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy?

Currently I'm a big fan of several series, Jaz Parks by Jennifer Rardin, anything with vampires

3. Who is your favorite monster?

Gossamer the Big Red Monster from Bugs Bunny

4. What is your favorite Horror movie?

I am not a fan of gore, I like Dracula 2000. Also the original Manhunter

5. What horror movie gives you the most chills?

The gory ones I don't watch

6. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?

The Bride of Darcula

7. Freddy or Jason?

They both scare the shit out of me. But I liked Freddy better.

8. What is your favorite Halloween treat?

Candy corn

9. Ghosts or goblins?

Ghosts

10. Friendly-faced jack-o’-lantern or scary one?

Friendly

11. What is your scariest encounter with the paranormal?

I don't think I have ever had one..

12. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

I do....but I don't know why

13. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho?

I think an alien because I hate to eat brains.

14. Favorite Halloween costume?

My Puss in Boots I did once in college.

15. Best thing about Halloween?

The cute kids at the door

16. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)?

Husband, although he may be faking it to make me happy

17. Are you superstitious?

Not really

18. Share an unusual Halloween story.

Don’t have one.

19. What did you do for Halloween as a kid?

Trick or treated in the neighborhood

20. What’s the best Halloween party that you’ve attended?

Guavaween.

An open letter to Best Buy

Dear Best Buy,

If I was a manager at your store I would institute a policy that is there were two or more customers standing in the return line, I would have one of the employees who seems to be meandering around with nothing to do, open a second register. I think this policy would be more efficient and would provide better customer service.

It seem that this would be a better policy than the one you currently have which apparently is that another register will be open if 4 or more people are in line and the idiot currently at the register needs two employees and a manager to assist him because he he wrote a check and now want to return something but doesn't have a receipt.

Or maybe don't let people write checks at Best Buy.

Thank you,
Sonja

More randomness

26

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So Random....

128,274 People

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When did you two meet?

The Associated Press reports that neighbors of a suspected North Carolina terrorist are finding it hard to believe that the man is a terrorist. Here's a quote from one of the neighbors, Charles Casale..."if he's a terrorist, he's the nicest terrorist I've ever met in my life......"

Now I don't claim to know anything about this suspect, his neighbors or really this situation. (Yea like that surprises you, no I haven't actually read any background info on this)

It begs the question though as to how many terrorists Mr. Casale has actually met in his life and if it's more than one, why isn't somebody investigating him.

R.I.P Kady

Kady Bowman (AKA:Kitten) passed away at Bluffs Animal Hospital today. She was 15. She had had a short battle with cancer.

Kady ws very different from her brother Kody. Kady was shyer, more standoffish. She however loved husband from the day she met him. I figured I had to marry him since he was the only person she really liked.

Kady loved to chase and catch lizards on the porch with her borther.

She enjoined eating also. Her favorites were meat, and chicken and fish...the staples. She also liked pasta.

Kady is survived by her mom, Sonja and Husband, and her sister Nala and many, many friends and family.

Much thanks to the doctor's and staff at Bluffs Animal Hospital for all their great care of Kady right to the end.

Billy Mays

Of the all the celebrity deaths in the last couple weeks, Billy Mays is the one I am most sad about. I never met the man even though he lived in the Tampa Bay area, but he seemed like a classy guy. By all accounts, he took a talent, turned it into a career he loved and was able to support his family. He never pitched a product he didn't believe in. Most of all he didn't take himself or his celebrity status too seriously. Whether you laughed at him or with him, he seemed to know the he wasn't curing cancer or exploring the universe, but he made people happy. I think in the end most of us laughed with him. The world will be a dirtier place without him.

Yes or No

1. You can ONLY answer Yes or No.

2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks -- and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming nothing is exactly as it seems.

Now, here's what you're supposed to do...copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag as many of your friends as you'd like to.

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? --- Yes
Been arrested? --- No
Kissed someone you didn't like? ---Yes
Slept in until 5 PM? --- Yes
Fallen asleep at work/school? --- Yes
Held a snake? --- Yes
Ran a red light? --- Yes
Been suspended from school? --- No
Experienced love at first sight? --- No
Totaled your car in an accident? --- No
Been fired from a job? --- No
Fired somebody? --- No
Sang karaoke? --- Yes
Pointed a gun at someone? ---Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? ---Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? ---No
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? --- No
Kissed in the rain? --- No
Had a close brush with death (your own)? --- No
Seen someone die? ---No
Played spin-the-bottle? --- No
Sang in the shower? --- Yes
Smoked a cigar? --- Yes
Sat on a rooftop? --- Yes
Taken pictures of yourself naked? --- No
Smuggled something into another country? --- No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? --- Yes
Broken a bone? --- No
Eaten a bug? --- No
Sleepwalked? --- No
Rode a motorcycle? --- Yes
Dumped someone? --- No
Forgotten your anniversary? --- No
Lied to avoid a ticket? --- No
Ridden in a helicopter? --- Yes
Shaved your head? --- No
Played a prank on someone? --- Yes
Hit a home run? --- No
Felt like killing someone? --- Yes
Cross-dressed? --- Yes
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? --- No
Eaten snake? --- No
Marched/Protested? ---No
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? --- No
Puked on amusement ride? --- Yes
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? --- Yes
Been in a band? ---No
Knitted? ---No
Been on TV? --- Yes
Shot a gun? --- Yes
Skinny-dipped? --- Yes
Gave someone stitches? ---No
Eaten a whole habenero pepper? --- No
Ridden a surfboard? --- No
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? --- Yes
Had surgery? --- Yes
Streaked? --- No
Taken by ambulance to hospital? --- No
Passed out when not drinking? --- No
Peed on a bush? --- Yes
Donated Blood? --- Yes
Grabbed electric fence? --- No
Eaten alligator meat? --- No
Eaten cheesecake? --- Yes
Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? --- No
Killed an animal when not hunting? --- Yes
Peed your pants in public? --- No
Sneaked into a movie without paying? --- No
Written graffiti? ---Yes
Still love someone you shouldn't? --- No
Think about the future? --- Yes
Been in handcuffs? --- Yes
Believe in love? --- Yes

Spelling Bee

So here I sit watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Holy Crap! How I obtained a Doctorate is beyond me. I have never heard any of these words, ever. Granted I'm a crappy speller anyway, (thank Bill Gates for spell check)but what the hell. Ok none of these are real words.

50 Lbs of Crazy -- Updated

This is what 50 lbs of pit bull looks like when she snuggles with her daddy. Right now she is laying in front of the garage door waiting for him to come back in from working out. She's a big daddy's girl.

Anybody who says that pit bulls are naturally aggressive or mean needs to come spend the day with our puppygirl.