Project Blue Light Reminder

Now that the holiday season is under way, I want to remind every one to remember those who have lost their lives protecting the home front. The Officer Down Memorial Page reports that 122 law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty so far this year. Please remember their sacrifice this season by placing a single blue light in your window.

Project Blue Light

This information is provided courtesy of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS), a national grief support organization comprised of over 15,000 surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, is asking concerned citizens and law enforcement agencies nationwide to again support Project Blue Light.

During the holiday season you are asked to put blue lights in your holiday decorations and your windows and tie blue ribbons on car antennas to show support for law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty for the citizens they have served. Additionally, this will be a show of support for those who continue to work the streets 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Several years ago, Mrs. Dolly Craig, the surviving mother-in-law of Daniel Gleason, a Philadelphia (PA) police officer killed in the line of duty in 1986, sent her Christmas message to the COPS National office. Her daughter Pam, the surviving widow of Officer Gleason, had been killed in a car accident in August, 1989, before the holiday season. Dolly wrote, “This holiday I’m putting two blue lights in my living room window. One is for Dan and the other is for Pam, who believed so much in the COPS organization.”

Dolly Craig is now deceased as well, but her idea of Project Blue Light burns bright in the hearts of the over 15,000 families in the COPS organization.

For more information about Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., or to support COPS’ programs for survivors and law enforcement agencies, contact COPS at PO Box 3199, Camdenton, MO 65020, (573)346-4911, or visit www.nationalcops.org.

Meet Nala.....

Sonja, every challenge is a stepping stone to a happier place than you even knew existed.

Oh, the magic,
The Universe

Oh how the Universe knows.......

My Dead Body

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North Carolina Day 2

Husband and I drove up to NC yesterday and the vacation in on. Today we slept in (not really, we were up by 9am). I just finished my massage and husband is getting his now. Tomorrow we will have dinner at my brother's house and Thursday we will go over to Asheville for horseback ridding. All in all it's going to be a great week. Cold and rainy on a couple day, just the way we like it.

I'll post pictures when we get home. See ya.

Grocery Bagging

Why do I get the big reusable bags if the baggers keep putting my groceries in the plastic ones? Then they get mad at you when you question their bagging ability.

Let me try to be more clear. I took my big reusable bags to the grocery store, and instead of putting my food in them, the bagger put my food in the plastic, non-recyclable bags. When I questioned her about it, she seemed to be a bit miffed that I dared to question her.

Seriously, just put my food in my bags.

And Dave, I do use the plastic one I do have for garbage bags in the bathroom and cat litter room.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.......Ok so I'm a day late, but I had alot to do yesterday.


The Celtic tombstone is one of our newest additions. We love them.
Apparently we did not learn our lesson last year about putting spider web in the bushes. Hopefully we can get it out this year.
This is the full grave yard. It is always a work in progress, but it gets better every year. We had a kid this year tell us that ours was his favorite house last year so he made it a point to come back this year. He got extra candy.
In this picture you can see the fog floating through the grave yard. It was awsome!

I got a job

We had just about given up hope, but I finally got a full-time job. I start Monday.

The job is a research assistant with Operation PAR. PAR is a local drug/alcohol rehab. I will be assigned a federal research grant to gather data for study. I'll be working "in the field", which means my office will be in the jail. I do intake interview and then 6 & 12 month follow-ups. The rehab program is 3 months.

The pay is not what I wanted, but at this point beggars (literally) can't be choosers. Plus there are a lot of great opportunities for advancement after 12 months. In fact they don't want you to be a RA for more than a year, and help facility and train you to move on to other things within the agency. Maybe I can actually put this Counseling Doctorate to use. I will also get some opportunities to teach.

All in all I think it will be good. Wish me luck.

Really????

The fact that this actually got in front of a judge appalls me. This State Senator filed a lawsuit against God saying that, "God has made terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents in Omaha, inspired fear and caused 'widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".

He wanted to make the point that should have access to the courts no matter how rich or poor. How exactly does this suit make that point?

I think the point he actually made is that he's a complete asshat who likes to waste taxpayers time and money.

Greatest clip ever...

I took this from Ginger and have to agree, it's the greatest clip ever....

Halloween has begun

I know it's only the 3rd, but I've started the Halloween decorations.

While husband was at work tonight, I broke out the candles. These are my Halloween Party Lite pieces that I love.

This is my Haunted House. It light up from inside. Very cool.

Mr. Bones and his dog.

Mr. & Mrs Jack O' Lantern...

Oh Halloween happiness.

This is our Sheriff...

So work with me here. Take this picture and blow it up to billboard size in your mind. Why as a candidate would you allow a giant picture of yourself that makes you look like the devil himself to be you campaign picture. Of course his website isn't better. You would think his campaign manager would have said something.

Her sleep number is a 5

The black ball of fluff there in the bed is Kady, her sleep number is a 5. Since getting the Sleep Number bed a few weeks ago, Kady has decided she loves the bed even more. She gets in a hole and crashes. Last night I went into the bedroom to get ready for bed and there she was blissfully comatose. I was able to close the closet door, got back to the living room and get the camera, take two pictures (the first with a flash), and was getting ready to take the third when she finally work up.
Most people who know Kady, know she's kind of skiddy, most things don't get by her, and nothing usually sneaks up on her. What a compliment to the sleep number technology.

Career path

This is so apropos. Of course the yellow would be "Why I should drink", but still.....

Note from the Universe

Wow I haven't posted in a while. Not much to report, so here's today's Note from the Universe......

Appreciating what you have little of is easy, Sonja.

Appreciating what you have lots and lots of takes a spiritual master.

And you so have lots,
The Universe

Crazy people do not like change

I called my neighborhood pharmacy on Thursday to get a refill on my prescriptions. On the phone I received a message say "Welcome to CVS pharmacy, formally Bayside Drugs....blah, blah, blah"

Ummm WTF? Not really believing what I was hearing, I drove to my neighborhood pharmacy (as the pharmacist said, "some people need to be hit with a brick") to find my pharmacist & his wife and a bunch of CVS executives cleaning out the store.

According to Sue (the wife), its become too stressful to continue to run the business. Gary (the pharmacist) will continue to work for CVS, as will his staff (two pharmacists and a couple delivery drivers). I'm glad it was their decision and that they weren't run out of business due to the economy. They have been there for over 35 years.

Here's where it becomes all about me. I don't like change. The people at CVS were very nice, but I like being billed monthly, not paying for my prescriptions at the time of pick up. I like that my pharmacist knows my name and my family and that I can order my prescription refills by name, (like "i need my birth control, and my allergy spary, etc") since I never have the Rx number available. As much as CVS tries, it will not be the same.

It's a special kind of crazy and I don't like change.

XXIX Olympics

I love the Olympics, I love everything about the Olympics. I don't pay attention to the politics around the Olympics. I know I should, but during the Olympics I really don't care about human rights violations or protests or the invasion of Georgia.

During the Olympics I will watch sports I would never watch any other time, like rowing or swimming or even badminton (ok I only watch 5 minutes of badminton).

The part I love is the human interest stuff. Like the 9 year old Chinese boy who walked with Yao Ming in the opening ceremony. I cried when they told his story. Or the African swimmer last Olympics who could barely swim, but swam his guts out for his country.

I watched the opening ceremonies last night. Because I had to work, I started watching at 10pm EST in the middle of the parade of nations. Again Love IT! I love watching these kids come in so proud of that moment and so excited to be there, many knowing that this will be the extent of their Olympic moment.

I DVR'd the "artistic" part of the ceremony and watched it after. I was blown away. I agree with my mom, that this was one of the best in a long time. It was so simple, but so dramatic. The torch lighting was also so dramatic.

I'm hooked, I gotta go watch some sport I've never heard of now.

Graduation

As Wendy said in her blog, Saturday was my graduation. I had bitched about going for about a month, but it was actually pretty cool. It was an incredibility long day, starting at 7am, but my family was there and my BFF Wendy. Here's a picture from the event. That's me in the costume and Wendy.

Vh1 Countdowns

Vh1 countdown shows are my dirty little TV secret. I love, love, love them! Right now I'm watching the 40 Greatest Internet Superstars. I feel so dirty.

Anyway, I came in to it in the middle of the show and saw this little "Gem". Pun intended. I lasted through 1.44 minutes of the 3 minute video. Let me know how long you can go.

Law enforcement lay offs

Late last month the sheriff's office that husband works for laid off a newly graduated class of detention deputies (probably 30) whose 20 week education had been paid for along with salaries by the county (this will be important in a minute). Those deputies were for the most part hired by an adjacent county sheriff's office. This week husband's office laid off another 25 road deputies and bailiffs who again were trained with county money and whose salaries had been paid for a year or more with county money. These deputies are also being hired by the agencies in adjacent counties.

Now you may ask, why is it that husband's office has to lay these people off while other counties seem to have the budget money to hire them? Good question. It seems that unlike the other county commissions who cut their budget according to service needs (5% for law enforcement, 13% for parks, etc) our county commission was lazy and just cut everybody 10% across the board.

So the recreation department lost the same money as police and fire. Maybe the guys who maintain the parks can double fighting crime and fires now.

Meanwhile, the other county also gets 60 new deputies trained by my tax dollars. Who was the genius who thought this was a good plan.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time (one year ago), there was a beautiful princess who had a great job that she loved. Unfortunately this great job was at a place called the Evil Empire. The Empire was ruled by the Evil Emperor Dungbettle and his henchman Prince Dillweed.

One day the the princess decided that she had had enough of Prince Dillweed's flagrant violation of the rules of the greater Kingdom, so she went to talk to the good witch from the East. The good witch also was tired of the Prince and the Emperor, so she used the information provided to her by the princess to discipline Prince Dillweed. This made the Emperor very mad, and although the good witch would never tell the Emperor the source of her information, he knew it was the princess. He knew because the princess had been mentored by the Wizard of Limburger, who had been driven out of the kingdom by the Emperor many years before.

The Emperor and the Prince conspired with the princess's supervisor Lord Jelly Fish to lie about the princess and she to was driven out of the Empire.

The End

So far there is no happy ending and the moral of the story is "No good deed goes unpunished"

Mom stop crying

More of my scraps

Here are some more card I recently did.....

This was for husband's birthday.......

This was a congratulation card for a friend who just got a new job....

This was a wedding card for one of husband's co-workers....

Comcast search

Apparently if you do search for "nude sonya boo" you will find my blog. And pron.

Dumbest thing I heard today

From the barista at the Borders Bookstore coffee shop...

"I don't understand how you can get a high caffeine drink that is low calorie"

Huh?????

Wednesday Moment of Weird

I give to you the Snuggle Song....

When good things happen to bad people

Nick Bollea wants out of jail citing unfair conditions...

This is the headline on Bay News 9 tonight. For those of you who don't know, Nick Bollea is the son of Hulk Hogan and he is serving 8 months for a felony charge of reckless driving which resulted in serious bodily injury. Basically he was racing down the road, hit a tree and put his friend John Graziano in a vegetative state.

It seems that Nick wants out of jail now because, well, he just doesn't like it there. Well Boo-frigging-hoo. Nick Bollea is a punk ass spoiled rich kid who doesn't give a shit about anybody but himself. Most people in jail don't like it, that's the frigging point.

In other jail house phone calls released to the media he is telling his father to make sure that his reality series is lined up so he can walk right into it when he is released. Here is his mother's quote, talking about John Graziano's mother.

"She has no other recourse but to be nasty and vindictive now. If she really knew the relationship between you and John and Danny should would be sad right now. She wouldn't be mad. She'd be devastated like I am. She's not sad. She's just acting angry. Like she wants the money. John never meant anything to her or Ed. It's sad because I really appreciated you kids. I miss John. I miss you too. She's not suffering. I am. I have a loss. She doesn't give two s**ts."

WHAT AN INSENSITIVE BITCH!!! For her to compare "her suffering" to that of John's mother and to say that his family isn't suffering. Unfrigginbelievable. John Graziano is in what will most likely be a permanent vegetative state. More than likely he will die. If by some miracle he does wake up he will never be the same. He will have severe brain damage and no matter what will need medical attention his entire life.

I used to like Hulk Hogan, he did a lot for this community, but now I am so sick of these people I can't stand it. Nick is complaining that he is in solitary confinement. He is a juvenile, housed in an adult jail. He was adjudicated and sentenced as an adult. All juveniles housed in this particular jail are kept clear of the adult inmates. Nick is bitching about being in solitary, I wonder how much he'd bitch after he got beat down in population.

Dona Noblis Pacem

So Mimi tagged me to do the Blogblast for peace today. Well I couldn't get my peace globe uploaded, but I'll post anyway.

Peace be with you......

I got Tagged

Mimi got me for the blog Blast for Peace, so what the hell... Go to Mimi's site to get your globe and all the other details.

The Peace Globe project began in the fall of 2006 with a simple post from one blog, Mimi Writes. The post ignited a flame in the blogosphere. The flame became a passion. The passion became a movement. It amazingly traveled from blog to blog to blog across the globe. Bloggers wrote passionate articles on what peace means to them, along with the promise of three Latin words scribbled on a globe - Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace) - branded with the integrity of their names or blog names. It was positively inspiring to watch. And it began to happen all over the world - from Singapore to China to Afghanistan to Brooklyn.

It was simple. And powerful.

In less than two weeks bloggers from all across the globe will blog for peace.
We will speak with one voice. One subject. One day.
Won't you join us?
June 4, 2008

The good old days

I know I haven't posted in a month and now I show up with Garth Brooks. But there is a purpose and a method to the madness. Not really, just madness. I haven't posted, as I pointed out to Wendy when she called and told me I haven't posted, because I really haven't had anything to say.

Now,as I was watching the ACM Awards (Academy of Country Music) tonight (still am actually) and had to think about "back in the day". What made me think of this you ask? Well George Strait is 56 years old and Garth Brooks is really gray.

Back in the day, Wendy and I lived together. She worked at the county bar where we hung out and I was a cop working 3-11. On the weekends I'd get off work and join her at the beertub. Adorable, drunken cowboys would come for beer, handing her money and pointing to the beer. Very few words were spoken. There was dancing and drinking and adorable, drunken cowboys telling me I looked 19. Garth Brooks was in his prime and he inspired a lot of the dancing, much of the drinking and a whole line of clothing.

Now he's gray. Those good old days are gone. I'd never want to go back to high school ,but I'd definitely go back to then.

Killing stuff -- UPDATED

So the National news is reporting that the hunt is on for a shark who killed a triathlete in California. Now my BFF is a triathlete and it would kill me if she were killed by a shark. I have to ask though why are hunting down and probably killing this shark?

This happens in Florida with alligators too. Every time an alligator crawls out of a lake for a walk or bites a guy who's swimming in the lake, some trapper hunts it down and kills it.

So, let me got this straight, we swim in the ocean or a lake or camp in the deep woods and are so shocked when nature mistakes us for food or perceives us as a threat, that we have to kill it. WTF!! Weren't they here first?

When a shark goes swimming in my bath tub then I think I have a right to kill it.

"Hi I'm Mr. Shark and I live in the in the ocean. If you swim in the ocean, I might eat you. This has been a public service announcement."

-----UPDATE -----

So our former Governor Jeb Bush is quoted in Sunday's paper talking about why he opposed spending tax dollars to market alligator meat.

"Alligators proliferate in Florida. They eat small dogs. We don't need to market them, we need to kill them"

Antisocial Behavior

We are apparently antisocial. Husband and I were invited to a cookout at the neighbor's yesterday. We went arrived we were told the one of the neighbors we had bet with the host -- a 12 pack that we wouldn't show up.

Granted although we knew the host, we had never met the other neighbors at the party. But just because we don't want to stand outside socializing with the neighbors all the time doesn't make us antisocial. Or maybe it does.

Either way, we showed up ate food and socialized with the neighbors. Then we went home, locked the doors and put the Do not disturb sign on the door.

Taking the cat for a drag

When Wendy lived with me, she/we had a basset hound named Molly. When we would take Molly for a walk, it would always end up being a drag, literally. You had to walk down the middle of the road, especially near the end of the walk. If you got to close to the grass, Molly would just flop over and lay down and there was almost no getting her back up..hence taking the dog for a drag.

So what does this have to do with my cat. Well Kody got into the garage this evening and while I was trying to herd him back in the house (an event in it self), he decided to flop over and just lay there. He's no little kitten either, 16 lbs of pure catness.

Hence, taking the cat for a drag.

Here is his Catness in all his glory.



To be fair, I have to show off Kady too. She's my crazy little girl. Here she is in all her craziness.

New Windows

The new windows are in and great:

Here's the full set of old windows. If you look closely you can see the broken panel (middle window on the first set)
Here's the actual broken window. If you want to see the poor dead pigeon, I have pictures of that too. Just let me know.

Here is the redneck attempt to fix the window until the new ones came in. The garbage bag is a nice touch. That's husband's police car in the reflection.

The unmowed lawn really adds to the redneck look of we are trying to achieve. That truck belongs to the County. Probably code enforcement.


These are the nice contractors who showed up at my door to install the window at 8:30 AM.


The big gapping hole in my house.


And here is our brand new beautimous window. I kind of miss the garbage bag.

Happy Easter

The Easter Bunny Came, We got an Easter basket!! Yea us. The Bunny said that since husband and I have had such a rough time lately she thought we deserved something special. So she made a special delivery, in the rain no less.

The basket had lots of Easter grass in it but I had to take that out before the cats ate it and had Easter poo.

Have a Happy Easter everybody. Thanks Easter Bunny...bak, bak.

Things I miss

Things I miss since becoming unemployed:

1. Stan my hair dresser
Stan is the best, I've been with him for 8 years, but his shop is 45 mins. away and I really can't afford to do full color and cut. I have been surviving on Fantastic Sams, and have gone back to my natural color. I'm getting ready to color my gray on my own.

2. Regular pedicures

3. Eating out once a week with husband

4. The lawn man....
Poor husband has to mow the lawn now and he hates it. I can't mow the lawn because of my allergies.

5. The cleaning lady

I had a larger list this morning, but as usual, didn't write anything down. This will do for now, I can add later.

Welcome my friend

My friend Wendy just joined the world of blogging. I would like my two readers (Dave & my Mom) to welcome her and go visit her. This should be fun.

wendysworld

I got nothing..again

I have nothing to talk about. Look at cute kittens.

My Mother is pissed off again

We are involved in an unpopular war - our young men and women are dying on foreign soil every day. Our economy is in big trouble. People are losing their homes to foreclosure. The jobless rate is getting higher every day and we have gunmen roaming our high school and college campuses shooting people for no reason whatsoever.

And what is our Congress doing?

They are wasting their time and our tax dollars trying to determine if an overpaid, pampered, baseball player lied about taking performance enhancing drugs.

WHO CARES!!

If this guy is so stupid as to put crap in his body that will hurt his health or kill him, in the hope of hitting a few more home runs – WHO CARES! It’s a game folks – not national security.

If he did it or didn’t do it - lied about it or didn’t lie about it, it has no effect on me. The fact that the house next door to me has been foreclosed on and the people who lived there are out in the street and many of my friends and family are out of work and it costs more each time I go to the grocery store does have an impact on my life.

Congress needs to get off its ass and do something about the problems of every day Americans.

Nature's depression

Tonight I have some sad news to report. A pigeon who was apparently depressed committed suicide by free diving into to front window of my house this evening. I was not home, but I am told that chaos ensued with cats running for cover and husband tried to figure out if he needed to hurt people for throwing thing through our windows.

Needless to say, the poor pigeon did not make it and we have a big broken window in the front of our house. Things just keep getting better.

I'm not that kind of doctor

But I am a doctor. I successfully defended my dissertation today and can now be called Dr. There's some final editing that needs to be done and graduation is in July,but I'm essentially done.

Dr. Sonja

Puppy Bowl IV

Next year, may I suggest Puppy Bowl V as your pre-game Super Bowl viewing.

Another Mom segment

Here's a three part segment of.....

Things That Piss My Mother Off

1. Performers that can’t, or won’t, sing our National Anthem properly.

Sparks didn’t do a half bad job at the Super Bowl but it still wasn’t good. She started out pretty good but was a disappointment in the end.
The Star Spangled Banner is our National Anthem. It belongs to all Americans and is not a song that one should “take” and “make it your own”.
So stop all the warbling and sing it the way it was written, and with reverence and respect.
Did you ever hear “Oh Canada” or “God Save The Queen” stylized?

My Comments: I think Jordan Sparks did a very good and respectable job last night. It could have been like Rosanne Barr.

2. What’s up with old rockers for Half-Time entertainment. First the Rolling Stones and now Tom Petty? It’s football folks! What ever happened to marching bands, baton twirlers and pretty cheerleaders.

This year's half time show was one of the best yet. It didn't look like it was produced by MTV or BET. I loved the stripped down, band singing. For the record I don't ever remember a marching band in pro football. That's high school and college mom

3. Regarding commercials – Violence is not funny !! Horses are.

Yes the Budweiser horses commercials were good. I always love those, but when that mouse busted out of the wall and beat that guy up in the Doritos commercial, I laughed by butt off. Yes violence can sometime be very funny

State of the Union

Why must I suffer through the State of the Union address? Seriously does this REALLY need to be on every major channel on TV? I know, I know I should watch it so I know what's going on in the world and in my country, blah, blah, blah. We all know what he's saying is only half-truths. He's a politician for God Sake.

All I'm asking is that maybe it can be shown on one or two minor channels, like C-SPAN or something. This way, those who want to watch can and the 95% of the rest of us can watch good stuff.

I'm just saying.....

Assholes live forever -- the story

My seemingly only reader Dave, (and don't think I don't see you lurkers who never comment) wondered about the context of the 'assholes live forever". So here's the story.....

When I was a police officer, working midnight shift, one night we got a call of a stabbing. It seems that the dirtbag asshole victim was auguring with his mother's dirtbag asshole boyfriend. And the DBAH boyfriend stabbed him with a screwdriver.

The DGAH victim gets air lifted to the trauma center 25 mile away and I get to go collect the hospital evidence. By the time I get to the hospital, DGAH victim has been moved from the ER to the OR. I get escorted to the OR and am told the victim's clothes that I have to collect are in the surgery room. At this point the nurse says the magic words "Do you want to go in a get them?"

Hell yes I do! She gets me dressed up in a paper like Oompa Loompa (original Gene Wilder Oompa Loompa, not the creepy Johnny Depp one) jumpsuit that fits over my uniform, gun belt and all, along with the booties, gloves, mask and head cover .

I get in the OR and collect my bag of clothes. And continue to stand there like some kind of moron. The Dr. and I have a conversation about the victim. He had a 3 cm stab wound in his abdomen. In order to make sure none of his organs were perforated, the Dr. cut him open from below his sternum to the top of his pelvis. I find that ironic that his surgery scar is bigger than his stab would.

The conversation turns to general topics, like our jobs and the Dr. tells me to be safe. Now is where we have the statement that dirtbags like this guy will live forever, but good people die young.

During this entire time, the Dr. is looking over this guy's intestines for perforations. When he finishes he just dumps the intestines back into the abdominal cavity. Now I'm not Dr. but I've seen a few anatomy text books and I thought that those things had a place. I don't maybe there's something similar to a hose roller in there. So with all the knowledge of a semester of biology, I ask the Dr. "Hey, don't those have a place?"

Luckily he did not call me an idiot. He said that they just float in there and then said more magic words "Do you want to see?"

Hell yea!! I got the approach the table and the Dr. showed me the liver, and the stomach, and the appendix and the intestines.

It was great. Now if I could have flown on the helicopter my career would have been complete. But, that's another story.

Sad News

It has been reported today that Heath Ledger is dead at the age of 28. What a loss. I have always liked is work. He had such a wide range, and never took parts based solely on his looks.

It's also such a loss at such a young age. Here was a young man with so much talent and so much ahead of him.

I had an ER doctor tell me once that nice people die early but assholes live forever. Here's a young man who seemed to be a nice guy. He wasn't in the new all the time, kept to himself, etc. But Britteny Spears and Pairs Hilton will live forever.

It's sad really.

Gained a pound

Ok this week I gained a pound. It was a bad, no focus. Plus husband and I went drinking with some friend of his from work. That didn't help my focus.

Drinking, no calorie tracking & much snacking= a bad week

Diet weigh in # 3

One more pound this week. I've been snacking poorly, but I'm still on track. I think I also need to up my calorie intake. I'm not even reaching the minimum number of calories I'm supposed to have.

But as a reward for losing 5 lbs, I'm getting a pedicure tomorrow.

My mother found this....

great blog. This woman is by far one of the best writers I have yet to read. She is funny and smart and I just spent the last half hour reading her first month's archives. Go check her out.

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman

New Revelations

It has come to my attention the my former supervisor has found and read my blog. Apparently he was overheard expressing to someone how I hurt his feelings with my comments. Let's discuss that.

I guess we're even, because he hurt my feelings when he stabbed me in the back and lied to my face about it.

In May 2005 I was told that I had to make a decision between being faculty or a program coordinator. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. If I had stayed faculty, I would have maintained my tenured contract and would still have a job. Plus the raises are better as faculty. The disadvantage would be that I would have had to move to another division and work for a man that I don't consider ethical. As a program coordinator on a yearly contract I opened myself up to losing my job, but I got to continue to do a job the I really loved.

I chose the job I loved instead of the easy money. When I made my decision I went to my supervisor and told him that I was choosing to stay with him but that I understood that I was opening myself up to have my contract not renewed. I explained my apprehension and asked him if he was going to back me up should others try to get rid of me. He assured me that he would have my back.

Little did I know that he would be the 'other'. A year later when I heard I might be losing my contract I asked him about it and, well you can read how that went. Again on the day I was told officially that I lost my contract, I asked him if he knew why, he essentially said that he really didn't.

The problem is that he did, he wrote the document recommending that my contract not be renewed. In said document, it was listed that I violated several State rules, which I didn't. I was also called combative and untrustworthy.

The bottom line is that I have known this man since before I worked there and considered him a friend. He was the only 'boss' at the office who was invited to my wedding because I considered him my friend. When he said he'd have my back I trusted him and when he said he didn't really know why my contract was not being renewed I believed him. In the end I was wrong for trusting and believing.

So that part of me that never wants to hurt anybody is sorry his feelings were hurt, and to that end I went back and modified my earlier posts. I took out the hurtful comments, mostly the name calling. But, I don't apologize for the content or the intent of anything. I didn't lie or tell half-truths, I didn't name names or identify the workplace. I have the right to say what I did.

Things that piss my mother off

Here's another installment of things that piss my mother off...Apparently the topic is Hillary Clinton.

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Did you see Hillary Clinton tear up and almost cry while talking to New Hampshire voters yesterday?

P L E A S E !!

The last time Hillary Clinton cried for real was when the Doctor slapped her on the butt the day she was born.

Have you seem any of the other candidates crying on TV?

Have you seen any great women leaders of the world pull such a stunt?

If Hillary wants to be taken seriously and treated as an equal then she should act accordingly.

Only lost 1 lbs. this week. I seemed to be not as attentive this week the during week one. I was snacking more and not really sticking to my game plan.

At least I didn't gain so I'm still on track. Week three will be better.

Happy New Year

I say Happy New Year to all of you with the 2007 best quote of the year ( and a pretty funny picture)

Have a great 2008, be safe and have fun.

Sunday weigh in

Yea me, I lost three pounds. I'm not as hungry all the time like I was a week ago. I still feel the urge to eat when I'm bored but I'm drinking more Crystal light and that helps. Plus munching on healthier snacks like celery help the craving to eat without adding calories.

My Scraps

This blog was originally designed to show off my scrap booking. That hasn't happened. Till today. Here is a picture of a thank you card I made for our neighbors who baked us brownies for Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Don't forget to track Santa on his journey tonight. Have a great Christmas tomorrow.

The Diet Starts.....

....tomorrow. I am currently about 30 lbs overweight. I am an emotional eater, I eat when I'm bored or stressed. The last 6 month have been stressful to say the least and I have spent most of it eating and sleeping. This is not a new year's resolution mind you, I hate those.

Anyway my plan is to lose 28-30 lbs by my birthday in May. Wish me luck.

Things that piss my mother off

Today we have a special feature. Since she does not have her own blog and doesn't have enough to say to have a blog (her words, not mine), my mother decided she could occasionally rant here. So, from time to time I will now have special input from my mom. Here you have it.....Things that piss my mother off.

The United States Mint, financed by our tax dollars, spends millions of our tax dollars each year on television advertisements to get us to buy coins that the manufacture of is paid for by our tax dollars. People who collect coins do not need to be told how to get them. They already know. This is a flagrant waste of our taxes.

Honestly I thought this would be longer.....

Earning your paycheck

The news reported yesterday the A-Rod signed a 10 year contract worth $275 million. That's $27 million per year to hit a ball and run around bases. Husband, who is a law enforcement officer, and I were discussing this. Husband gets like $40 K a year and has the potential to get seriously injured, or killed. I don't think A-Rod is likely to die during a game, so husband and I thought of some ways to make pro games more interesting and give the players some incentive to earn that paycheck. Here's some of our suggestions:

Randomly exploding balls -- this can be for baseball, football and basketball

Randomly exploding bases -- baseball

Camouflaged pits in the field -- for baseball and football

Wrist bands with mild electrical shock randomly given by the commentators -- baseball, but this would also work for football by putting the electrodes in the pads

"Spectator "plants in the stands with paint ball guns firing projectiles at the players

Thoughts anyone?

Friday Moment of Zen

Jeff Dunham - Achmed the Dead Terrorist

This is very funny....

Silence.. I kill you.

Wikipedia Hell

I have just spent the last hour in what is referred to in our home as Wikipedia Hell. I have been reading everything there is to know and then some about the Star Trek series....all of them.

How did this start you might ask? Is she a closet Trekkie? God we hope not. No friends I am not a closet (or open) Trekkie. I have been know to enjoy an episode but do not have Klingon outfit or English to Klingon translator in my possession.

So how did this start. Like all trips to Wikihell, with an innocent query. I looked up the novel Roots (there was a Jeopardy question). That led me to the mini-series, which led me to look up LeVar Burton, which led to Geordi La Forge. And that's how it goes, one link leads to another and the next thing you know its 3 AM and you know more than you ever should about Star Trek.

Those little blue links, you just want to click on them and see where they lead.

Other notable searches...
The Tutors (the Showtime series led to a long night with the actual family)
Elizabeth (searching the movie led to an equally long night with same said family)
Anderson Cooper (did you know he was a Vanderbilt, I do now)
The Last Samurai (look up a movie learn about a real life rebellion)

This is a warning my dear friends, wikipedia is evil and was sent here by aliens to keep us from sleeping. Once we are sleep deprived and full of useless trivia, they are going to take over the world.

It could happen.....

Remember those who serve

Now that the holiday season is under way, I want to remind every one to remember those who have lost their lives protecting the home front. The Officer Down Memorial Page reports that 158 law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty so far this year. Please remember their sacrifice this season by placing a single blue light in your window.

Project Blue Light

This information is provided courtesy of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS), a national grief support organization comprised of over 15,000 surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, is asking concerned citizens and law enforcement agencies nationwide to again support Project Blue Light.

During the holiday season you are asked to put blue lights in your holiday decorations and your windows and tie blue ribbons on car antennas to show support for law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty for the citizens they have served. Additionally, this will be a show of support for those who continue to work the streets 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Several years ago, Mrs. Dolly Craig, the surviving mother-in-law of Daniel Gleason, a Philadelphia (PA) police officer killed in the line of duty in 1986, sent her Christmas message to the COPS National office. Her daughter Pam, the surviving widow of Officer Gleason, had been killed in a car accident in August, 1989, before the holiday season. Dolly wrote, “This holiday I’m putting two blue lights in my living room window. One is for Dan and the other is for Pam, who believed so much in the COPS organization.”

Dolly Craig is now deceased as well, but her idea of Project Blue Light burns bright in the hearts of the over 15,000 families in the COPS organization.

For more information about Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., or to support COPS’ programs for survivors and law enforcement agencies, contact COPS at PO Box 3199, Camdenton, MO 65020, (573)346-4911, or visit www.nationalcops.org.

I got nothing

I got this in the email from my Friend from work. Take it if you like have fun. I got nothing new in my life right now.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends!
What a nice way to take a mental break and have a bit of fun reminiscing :) Then you can get back to work :(

Try not to be a SCROOGE and copy this entire email, then paste into a new email you can send to others.
Change the answers so they apply to you; then send to bunches of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you... Tis the Season to Have Fun and Be Nice!!.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2. Real Tree or Artificial? Fake ~ got tired of searching for the perfect tree

3. When do you put up the tree? When we get to it

4. When do you take down the tree? Right after new year

5. Do you like eggnog? Yummmmm

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Ummm, no idea

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No

8. Hardest person to buy for? Dad

9. Easiest person to buy for? Husband ~ he gives a pretty comprehensive list

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Again, no idea

11. Mail or Email Christmas cards? Mail... I’m making them this year

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October/November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not yet

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Lumpy mashed taters

16. Clear lights or Colored lights on the tree? colored

17. Favorite Christmas song? None

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Maybe

20. Angel on the tree top or a Star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Day

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic from 6-monthers

23. What you love most about Christmas? decorations

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Not very

Happy Halloween

It's the most wonderful day of the year. I love Halloween. Of course it's been so windy here this week that my decorations are blowing all over the neighborhood.

I have to go out and retrieve my tombstones from the neighbor's yard and get my witch off the roof now.

Have a Spooky day.

Seriously OK chicken

We made it to NC and home. Yea us. Last Monday, husband got home from work at 5....AM. we were out of the house by 5:30. I'm sure that is a new personal best time for me. After gas and money we were on the road. Husband drove for 5.5 hours, almost all the way to Atlanta. I got to drive through Atlanta while husband slept. This is possibly one of the more dangerous things we could have done. We all know about my driving/ADD problems, so imagine how much fun it was to drive husband's F150 through Atlanta. It takes a good 15 miles for me to get comfortable driving the truck.

(BTW, Dave is there ever a time that I85 or 495 or anything in Atlanta is not ridiculously crowed?)

Anyway we got to NC by 4:30 PM, got to the cabin with the driveway of death and had a wonderful couple of days.

Oh yea the title, I almost forgot. So as we're driving through Georgia we see signs for Zaxby's chicken and it is advertised as "Seriously Good Chicken". We decide to stop in Buford to try this seriously good chicken. This is were I (and an 18 wheeler) almost killed us getting off the Interstate. Anyway, the chicken was ok, cold slaw sucked, but the Texas Toast was seriously good.

On Vacation

We leave tomorrow at O' dark f-ing thirty (6am) to go to North Carlina for our 3rd anniversary. We need to get away even for a few days. One of the great things for me and one of the only pluses to unemployment, is that for the first time in 4 years I can go on vacation without a computer. No students to check on, no term papers to read, no grades to input (trying to do that from St. Thomas, now there's some fun) And yes I took my computer on my honeymoon, amazing he didn't leave me in the mountains to fend for myself.

See ya Friday.....ish

Cool Things

Ohhhhh, I almost forgot. I got published. The book showed up on my doorstep from the publisher yesterday and I have a chapter.

The book is: Stress Management in Law Enforcement 2nd ED

My article is: Chapter 10 Stress and the Female Officer

Pretty cool huh?

nothing to say

I'm really bad at this blogging thing. Lately I have nothing to say. Everyday is the same, get up look for a job, watch TV, ignore my dissertation, go back to bed and nap.

I emailed my attorney a week ago and have not heard back from her. I asked her what the odds of getting my job back would be since all the alleged violations they claimed I committed were actually not found by the State auditor. (Did that make sense?) I suppose I should call her, schedule an appointment or something.

I'll get back on track after I get back from vacation. Next week, for our anniversary, husband and I are going to NC for 4 days.

Job search update

I had a job interview today. Yea Me!! It was a really good interview, very conversational and the training manager seemed excited about my qualifications and what I brought to the table. The company is pretty big, but the training unit is new and small (the training manager I interviewed with and whoever gets hired). Its a good opportunity to develop something from the ground up. The commute is a bitch. Of course I'm just happy to be called for an interview at this point.

Tomorrow I go to a job fair closer to home. That company is expanding and has several jobs open including management positions.

Well that's it from job search central.

Rainy Sundays

It has been raining for the better part of three days. On and off pretty steady all weekend, especially today. Today was a great day. Dark, overcast and, did I mention rainy. Husband and I slept in (ok he slept most of the day, but he works midnight shift), watched football and UFC fighting and ordered out.

Couldn't have been better.

But he didn't kill his ex-wife....

Is there anybody out there who now does not believe that OJ Simpson is a complete sociopath?

As I understand these new charges, he did not pay rent on a storage unit and his property was legally auctioned off to cover the debt. Then he commits what amounts to a home invasion robbery at the hotel room of the guys who bought his stuff and threatens them, allegedly with a gun, and steals back his former stuff.

Did he think he would get away with this? Did he believe that nobody would recognize him? (No officer, I've never seen the crazy black man with the gun who broke into my room)

What was he thinking?

We all know that there is a big difference between being found not guilty and actually being innocent. All these years he's been looking for the real killer, he never looked in the mirror.

Maybe this time he'll get what he deserves.

Friday Fun Day

This is my favorite commercial right now. I love the porcupine best.

Fini

Husband's back piece is finished. 10.5 hours later and it is done. He's already planning his next tattoo.

Job search update

Not much to report.

I've applied for 5 jobs, three in training and two as a meeting/seminar planner. One of the trainer positions is with AAA auto club. That would be fun.


Today's Note from the Universe

One thing I know for sure, Sonja is that with time, everything becomes clear, all questions are answered, what's broken is restored, new trails are blazed, hearts are mended, love returns, and you will look over your shoulder, with a tear in your eye, at life's utter perfection.

And best of all, Sonja time is one thing you have plenty of. Trust me.

The Universe

Friday Moment of Silliness

Sleestaks in the library

This cracks husband and me up. Then again we are easily amused

At what price, this 'routine' vigil?

Yesterday a Sgt. from one of our local sheriff's offices was killed. This is an opinion in today's local paper. I like Howard Troxler, sometimes I don't agree with him (what do they say about opinions?). I really like this tribute and think it applies to all who do the 'routine' job of Law Enforcement.

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By HOWARD TROXLER, Times Staff Writer
Published August 16, 2007

---

At least 22 arrests dating from age 12. A prison record. A history of violence. An upcoming trial that seemed likely to put him back behind bars.

Michael Allen Phillips had built some track record. And he was just 24 years old.

"Mike was mentally unstable," his ex-girlfriend told a reporter Wednesday, "but he was a good person, too."

Definitions vary.

Early Wednesday, good person or not, authorities say that he shot and killed a veteran Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy, told his ex-girlfriend of the act, and informed her that he was coming for her family next.

Deputies soon found Phillips at his mother's home in Brandon. According to Sheriff David Gee, he spouted Aryan sayings over the telephone to negotiators. Phillips then exchanged gunfire with the SWAT team that surrounded the house. That decision did not turn out well for him.

- - -

Some years ago an officer pulled me over in the rain. For some idiot reason I got the idea I would save him some trouble, got out and ran toward his cruiser.

The officer threw open his door, dropped to one knee and called on me to stop RIGHT NOW. I do not remember seeing his weapon but he would have been right to draw it.

This memory never left me, not just because of my own stupid act, but because of what it showed about the nature of his job.

Hour after hour, day after day, it is routine, boring, frustrating, rewarding, and then in the span of seconds before you can finish this sentence, you are stone dead.

Sometimes you get advance notice of the risk. Tampa Bay officers have lost their lives in hot pursuit of killers, responding to violent crimes or being involved in undercover assignments.

But the circumstances of their deaths also include: approaching a parked car, making a routine traffic stop and even just sitting in their own vehicle. What other job is like this? What if selling cars, or accounting, or cutting hair, could be fatal any second?

- - -

Sgt. Ron Harrison apparently wasn't chasing a murderer, or a kidnapper, or breaking up a robbery.

He had been at a DUI checkpoint, given that he was the sheriff's head of DUI enforcement.

They say he seemed to be in a good mood as he left. Maybe he was thinking, as he pulled away, that they had made the roads safer that night.

It is not clear exactly how Harrison was shot, or whether Phillips was in a car or on foot.

Either way, Harrison apparently realized he had minutes at best, no time even to radio. He turned his car, maybe headed for the closest hospital. His cruiser left the road and hit a tree, which is where they found him. He was 55.

- - -

I have a neighbor, a nice guy, friendly to everybody, great sense of humor. He and his wife just had a baby boy, their first.

Sometimes I see him out on the street and wave. Sometimes he pulls up in front of my house and we shoot the breeze for a few minutes.

Then he drives away in his police cruiser for his night shift. The idea that he might pull away and that I might never see him again - that his wife and his baby might not - I cannot imagine it, nor imagine what guts it takes to live that way, or at what cost.

And so it begins

Oh Sweet Jesus, football season has started. I'm not sure if I can make it through. I mean I'm already stir crazy from being home most of the time, and now football. I don't mind the regular season so much, only three days a week, and the evening games I only have to sit through half of it. Husband usually leaves for work around half-time.

But pre-season is like basketball season, it seems to never end. There is a game every night this week. Am I being a bad wife? I try to care, but its really hard.

Observations on Unemployment

Unfortunately since this blog is about my thoughts on things in my life, and currently unemployment is part of my life, that is what the theme lately. This is the longest I have been unemployed since I started really working (high school and college employment don't count). I was was out of work a month between the PD and the college, but I knew that the college job was waiting for me, I had a roommate who paid half the bills and I took work at the bar she worked at, so it wasn't bad. So here are my observations on this thing called unemployment.

1. I have gone days without knowing what day it is. When you have no place to be, you can lose track of time. And I have no idea what the date is. I'm lucky to actually know what month it is.

2. I actually have more meetings now then when I had a job. Between the company trying to get me a job, the attorney (another story for another time) and aerobics with mom, I'm actually busy.

3. I am inherently lazy. Oh I'll work hard when I have a job to do, but ultimately when I have nothing to do, I would rather be in bed than any other place. Curled up with a cat and, husband, warm and cozy. Ummm, nothing better. In fact I could use a nap now.

Update

Not much to report over the last couple of days. I've been working on my resume with my marketing advisor and working on my dissertation on my own. I've analyzed my data and am working on chapter 4, my results. After that I have one more chapter and I need to beef up my lit review and I can start the approval process. I'm hoping to graduate by December.

Other than that I'm finding that I am busier now than when I had a job, lots of meetings and water aerobics. I have also found out that there is absolutely nothing worth watching on TV during the day. Man I need a job.

Still Unemployed

Yes I still have not found a job. I was turned down for the Bailiff position because the SJF and the dung beetle basically assassinated me in the document used to not renew my contract. Words such as combative were used and it was said that "Due to her mood swings and negative attitude, she can no longer be trusted". I'm thrilled. I'm going to see an attorney.

On the other hand, I have hired a corporate marketing firm that basically makes you and your resume corporate ready. The teach you to interview and negotiate and they help you get a career using you "marketable, transferable skills". So far, I have done some homework designed to redo my resume. They say you will learn a lot about yourself in this process. This is a difficult process, and I am struggling to find my work related "accomplishments" Wish me luck.

Comment on Society

Moving away from RPS and Dominoes.....I have a comment on society.

I'm not a big football fan. Until my best friend moved in with me, I never really even watched it. Here's my comment though. Michael Vick from the Falcons is not allowed to come to training camp until the NFL does its own investigation into his dog fighting indictment. I don't disagree with this decision by the NFL. Where my problem lies is in the fact that you can kill somebody or beat your wife and play in the Superbowl.

What does this say about our society? Again, I agree with the NFL's decision, but if we are going to ban Vick for animal abuse, then we should also be banning those players who are indicted for manslaughter, homicide and spouse abuse.

Calling Bullshit

Webster's Dictionary defines a Sport as:
(1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in

Again imagine my surprise when husband turned on ESPN and found the World Rock Paper Scissors Championships. Very much like the Billiards & Poker I'm trying to figure out how RPS is a SPORT. I can see an physical activity (sort of, barely), or a particular activity, but come on...a sport?

I'm calling Bullshit.

Week one

Week one of unemployment has come and gone. Pretty uneventful. The holiday in the middle of the week made it hard to do any real job hunting. I sent out a couple applications, but mostly slept in and was lazy. I did start water aerobics at the city rec center with my mom. I'm the youngest in the group, just me and 20 or so old ladies. Its actually pretty fun.

I haven't heard from unemployment yet.

Today I made $87 selling some of Husband's old CDs.