Wednesday, October 31, 2007

They're too busy holdin on to one another

Halloween Edition of the Darwin Awards:
CONFIRMED DARWIN AWARD:
Mummy Says, Don't Smoke"Another Incentive to Kick the Habit"
For Halloween 1998, a Canadian man dressed as a mummy by wrappinghimself from head to toe in fluffy cotton batting. The cotton wastaped at the wrists and ankles, and white gloves and running shoescompleted his ensemble. As the mummy waited for his girlfriendto dress for pictures, he carelessly lit a cigarette...and the fluffy cotton burst into flames.
The reason for flame-retardant costumes became clear.
Firefighters arrived within minutes, yet already the mummy costumewas reduced to ashes, right down to the white coveralls underneath.The man kept repeating, "It's my fault." He was taken to Soldier'sMemorial Hospital with 2nd and 3rd degree burns, where he died.

UNCONFIRMED DARWIN AWARD: Death of Dracula
1994 A college student dressed up as Dracula for Halloween. For the finishing touch, he put a pine board down the front of his shirt, so he could stick a knife into the board and pretend he wastransfixed with a killing stake. He didn't consider the strengthof the thin pine board when he tapped in the knife with a hammer.
Propelled by the force of the hammer, the sharp knife tip splitthe soft wood and buried itself in his heart. He staggered fromhis dorm room into the party, gasping, "I really did it!"before succumbing before horrified friends.
REFERENCE: Dead Men Do Tell Tales by William R. Maples, Ph.D., 1994

Monday, October 29, 2007

Disturbing Halloween decoration

So, last week, someone called into the PD with a report of a disturbing Halloween decoration. An officer was dispatched out to the address and confirmed that it was a disturbing decoration. There was a dead woman on the roof of her mobile home.
Apparently, she was cleaning her gutters and died of natural causes, staying on the roof and decomposing. They estimated she had died a few days earlier. People had seen her on the roof, but assumed it was just a display for the season.
I wonder how the caller and the other people that saw this woman on the roof felt.
I found it humorous (maybe I'm messed up), but also sad.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Raise the bar high

I don't know what the point of making plans is if someone's not going to care enough to show up. Tonight, I'm making dinner for Kevin and me (which is huge, cause I don't cook). I threw the ingredients from a Banquet crockpot dinner in the crockpot, and went off to work, called Kevin when I got off work and told him he had 25 minutes to get over here (he knew I was making dinner to be ready to eat around 6). He tells me, he’s working on his (and his roommate’s deck), and of course I called him about 6:35 when the food was done, and what was he doing? STILL WORKING ON THE DAMN DECK!!!!! He had all day to do stuff, and he happens to be working on the deck as the last thing. What’s the point?
I’m rather annoyed with him this week. Tuesday, he says he’ll take me to dinner, we end up with his roommate at a local Chinese place (I don’t mind going out with his roommate), and then we go to Lowe’s afterward. I don’t like wandering through Lowe’s for my night. I told him later, I would have been less crabby not seeing him, than going to Lowe’s to look at boards for his deck.
Wednesday, he has to work til 10, and then work the next day at 9AM, so I tell him to go home after he gets off work.
Thursday, he goes out to eat with his roommate again, and calls me asking if I wanna be picked up (as we’re going to Walmart later). After going back to his place, and leaving in his truck we go to Walmart.
Now, I get that they have to finish this deck project because his roommate’s dad started it and didn’t finish it, but when I make plans you’d think he could be respectful and show up.
Am I being selfish?

Wherefore many men have gone

Recently, someone told me that most Marines are idiots, that "They are called Jarheads for a reason". I was pissed. Course I was already in a bad day and kept my mouth shut instead of spouting off. But I wished I knew a Marine I could call up and have them come over and educate this person.
I'm reading my Marine newsletter from 2 weeks ago, and that quote was just ringing in my head.
Ever notice how it's the uneducated (about that subject) who feel the need to speak bullshit/crap on a subject they know nothing about?

Saturday, October 20, 2007

And the clothes you left

Some interesting pictures for y'all to enjoy
Dozen roses from Kevin
Cool felted pumpkin I made for work

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

He died keeping my promise.

We who have seen war, will never stop seeing it. In the silence of the night, we will always hear the screams. So this is our story, for we were soldiers once, and young.

Good morning, Sergeant Major.
How do you know what kind of goddamn day it is?

Beautiful morning, Sergeant!
What are you a fucking weatherman now?

Any one of you sons of bitches call me grandpa, I'll kill ya.

American soldiers in battle don't fight for what some president says on T.V., they don't fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag... they fight for one another.

I can't promise you that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear, before you and before Almighty God, that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me, God.
I wonder what was going through Custer's mind when he realized that he'd led his men into a slaughter?
Sir, Custer was a pussy. You ain't.

You want to know how Custer felt? Why don't you ask him?

I'll never forgive myself.
For what, sir?
That my men... that my men died and I didn't.

In Saigon, Hal Moore's superiors congratulated him for killing over 1,800 enemy soldiers. Then ordered him to lead the Seventh Cavalry back into the valley of death. He led them and fought beside them for 235 more days. Some had families waiting. For others, their only family would be the men they bled beside. There were no bands, no flags, no Honor Guards to welcome them home. They went to war because their country ordered them to. But in the end, they fought not for their country or their flag, the fought for each other.

Monday, October 08, 2007

One tear hit the hard wood, it felt like broken glass

How come things have to suck as you get older?
Things change, dreams become realized that they're never coming true, you learn things that change your view on the world. I hate growing up.
I learned tonight, another one of those things that I loved as a kid, isn't going to be anymore.

My dad works at WOI Radio (google it). Every year, twice a year they have a fund-drive (it's a public radio station, meaning that the listeners pay for it), and they have volunteers answer phones and fill out the pledge forms (amount of money listeners pay). This is a week-long event. I got coralled in at least 10 years ago (pretty sure it was more, but I have no idea when I started), and since then, I've been going to the station, the Saturday of the fund-drive, pretty much working with the same people each time. We've gotten to know each other, and I like hanging out with the people my dad works with (plus we get great free food).
This year, they're expecting getting twice as many calls (about 5,000 instead of 2,500), so they're using a local call center, and not needing the help of the volunteers. I asked dad if this was going to be the way it was run from now on, and he said probably.
I didn't realize how much I expect to do it, until he told me this, and the tears/emotions came out.
I hate change

Sunday, October 07, 2007

How 'bout them cowgirls

I read PostSecret every Sunday. A couple of weeks ago there was one postcard that said: "I bought the coolest phone on the planet - but it still only rings as often as my old phone did." and Frank (the owner/blogger/writer of PostSecret) received an email in response to that postcard: "I feel the same way. I often wonder why I even have a phone because I rarely receive calls. If there was a way we could contact each other, that would be cool. My phone number is 605-212-7787." This was posted and the calls started coming in for the guy. How cool is that?
If I had the guts to post my phone number, I would, because I definately agree with the guy. My phone's not cool in any way, but very few people call it (with the exception of Kevin), it would be nice to talk to hundreds of different people, just wanting to talk.
Go here to read the story about the guy who posted his number online wondering if people cared.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

I'll be there

Wednesday, I bought Kevin a rose, cause he seemed a little weird when he left my house Tuesday night. Today, when he picked me up from work, he gave me a dozen roses. So, tonight we're talking, I was relaying to him what I did and didn't want out of the relationship, and he said he really cared about me and that he loved me. Personally, I'm not sure what to make of that. We've known each other since sometime last spring (2006), when we took a class together, but didn't really, officially meet until last fall, when we were in another class together and I added him as a friend on one of the online communities I'm in. At that time he had a girlfriend, and he was a friend. Later that year (around December, I think), he breaks up with his girlfriend, and we were chatting, me just trying to be a friend. Then earlier this year we start hanging out, I'm guessing sometime in April (I remember him coming over when I had one of the construction guys touching up in my bathroom). And maybe a month after that, we started cuddling (which Kevin says was when we were officially dating). So he's known me about 6 months, is that long enough to know you love someone?
I know I care about him, I know it's more than just friendly caring, and I've been in love once, I don't feel that way about Kevin.
And, I haven't even kissed him yet (in the way, that I actually initiated a kiss, and kissed him back). I'm having a hard time with that, I'm not quite sure why. Because I have no problems kissing my GP, but when I'm with Kevin, I just don't want to kiss him, I have no idea why.
Any advice for me?

Thursday, October 04, 2007

You Are 84% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges.
Tough and independent, you think big.
You love everything about the US, wrong or right.
And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

Still believe the media?

Read this in my latest Sgt Grit American Courage newsletter:

Washington Examiner
September 24, 2007

Officials Say Evidence Shows Justification In Some Haditha Shootings
By Rowan Scarborough, National Security Correspondent

WASHINGTON -- The prosecution of four Marines for killing Iraqi Civilians in the western town of Haditha had promised to highlight one of the military's worst war crimes.
But after the completion of the last pre-trial hearing this month, Evidence shows that Marines were justified in opening fire in at least some of the 24 deaths, officials have determined. The house-by-house clearing Operation was depicted by Iraqi witnesses in the news media as cold-blooded murder. It now appears to be a more complex case involving young enlisted Marines in a dangerous mission.
Of four Marines charged with murder, a hearing officer has recommended All charges be dropped against two. The Marines dismissed murder charges against a third in exchange for his testimony.
The remaining murder defendant is Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, who appeared at a evidentiary hearing this month. Facing 13 murder counts, Wuterich justified his actions. He is now awaiting the hearing officer's report to Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, who will decide whether to order a court-martial.
"Based on certain political agendas and scurrilous leaks from Defense Department officials, the media was led to exaggerate the facts on the ground insinuating there were massacres that day," Washington attorney Mark Zaid, who represents Wuterich, told The Examiner. "The evidence now clearly rejects that was ever the case."
To be sure, there was carnage that day in 2005 when Marines raided four homes in Haditha after suffering a bomb attack that killed a battle mate.
But Lt. Col. Paul J. Ware, the investigative officer for all three pre-trial hearings, has issued investigative reports that cleared two of the accused - Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt and Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum. Mattis accepted Ware's recommendation on Sharratt and dismissed murder chargers. His decision on Tatum is pending.
Sharratt shot and killed three Iraqis in a house with an M9 pistol several hours after the bombing. Sharratt said the men were armed with AK-47s and he fired in self-defense.
Ware wrote that forensic evidence showed the wounds were not consistent with an execution. The officer termed "not credible" the eye-witness accounts of Iraqis.
In the Tatum case, Ware said the evidence showed the Marine followed the rules of engagement when he and squad mates entered two houses in which 17 Iraqis were killed.
"Lance Cpl. Tatum shot and killed people in houses 1 and 2, but the reason he did so was because of his training and the circumstances he was placed in, not to exact revenge and commit murder," Ware wrote.
Ware's two exonerations have brought criticism on Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who said at a 2006 news conference the Marines killed the Iraqis "in cold blood."
Said Zaid, "Murtha used these kids to help his anti-war agenda."
Murtha's spokesman declined to comment.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

'Meme Me?

Stolen from Sodapop (as always):

1. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as? A Mardis Gras goer
2. What are your choice of toppings on a hamburger? And do you prefer gas or charcoal grilling? Cheese, tomato, ketchup, pickles, I've never had gas grilled
3. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask? Are you going to listen to the media or the soldiers? Don't bring the troops home, please let them win.
4. It’s your first day of vacation, what are you doing? Going back to Okoboji
5. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies? I don't buy food at the movies
6. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email? Pop-up ads. My email filters are really good, but my pop-up blocker misses quite a few
7. What do you think Captain Hook’s name was before he had a hook for a hand? Who cares?
8. Rock, paper, or scissors? Scissors
9. How long was it from ‘the first date’ until the proposal of marriage? How long until the wedding? Wouldn't know, haven't gone that far yet. I've heard you should be dating someone for 6 months before you marry them
10. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet? Too quiet, I work in too loud places a lot
11. What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person? Honesty
12. At the good old general store, what particular kind of candy would you expect to be in the big jar at the counter? Wax pop bottles
13. What is the most distinguishing landmark in your city? Probably the Campanile on campus, I don't know
14. Everyone hears discussions that they consider boring. What topic can put you to sleep quicker than any other? My brother and how important he is, can't say politics do anything for me either
15. How many times did it take you to pass your drivers test? None, haven't taken it
16. If you had to have the same topping on your vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life, what topping would you choose? Hot fudge!
17. What food item would need to be removed from the market altogether in order for you to live a healthier, longer life? Pop
18. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second? Keep the 1st, it's a guarantee
19. If you had to choose, which would you give up: cable TV, or DSL/cable internet? Cable TV, I don't have it anywayet?Cable TV.
20. What is your highest level of education? College graduate, Bachelor of Science degree, double major: Sociology and Criminal Justice (I'm kinda proud of it, can't tell you it's helping in my job right now though)
21. How much is a gallon of gas in your city? What was the highest it’s been? I think it's over $3, I don't buy gas, so I don't really pay attention, I do know diesel is over $3, because, I pay attention for Kevin
22. What kind of lunch box did you have as a kid? I had a plastic Barbie one, yes I was mainstream, it's sad. Course I stopped using it after I put my GP in it and she peed in it, then I got one that kinda looked like the ones construction workers use, it was green with a top opening lid
23. What would you rather have, a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, or a chauffeur? A housekeeper.
24. Would you rather be trapped in an elevator, or stuck in traffic? Stuck in traffic, preferably with Kevin, I've been trapped in an elevator, not much fun
25. Lets say a brick fell on your foot, and your kid is standing right next to you, what is your ‘cleaned up’ swear word? I swear whether anyone is around me, and I don't have kids, so probably SON OF A, that's gonna leave a marks

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Another Rant

So, I was reading Snapshawt's post on the Boogie Man, how parents/guardians tell their kids that the cops will get them if they misbehave. I know this happens pretty much everywhere with cops, I didn't realize how much it happened with people who write tickets. Here, the PD has Community Safety Officers, CSO's, they basically (in the words of my bf) "do everything that doesn't require a sworn officer for". They transport prisoners to county jail (the city doesn't hold anyone anymore, everyone is shipped to county), direct traffic around big events, or accidents, deal with the speed trailer, etc, but one of the main things they do, and what people generally recognize them for (because they drive around little trucks that say Parking Division), is write parking tickets. Anyways, I've noticed quite a few people do this, and it annoys me so much, but even more so when my parents and boss do it. Everytime my boss sees my boyfriend (usually when he's working, but other times too), she'll ask if he's giving her a parking ticket. And last night, my brother was saying something about parking in-between barricades because a parade was going on, and my dad said "Don't let Kevin hear that, he'll ticket you". I have the tendency to defend him, and the other CSO's because people don't seem to get how annoying it is. Kevin says he's pretty used to it. I've even heard of them referred to as Parking Nazi's. Of course if people just obeyed the laws, parked where they were supposed to on a given day, at a given time, they wouldn't get a ticket.
My question for my very few readers, is, does this happen in other professions, does it bug you, and how do you react?
I'd also be interested in how cops react to this.