A Beautiful Sunday Morning with a Little Rain.

 

Fred had me up early this morning to watch the sunrise. There wasn't much to see with all the clouds but Fred took some gorgeous shots as usual. This is mine the better of a bad lot. I can't get that ISO thing right.

The day cleared up and was sunny for a few hours but now thunder rocks the house upsetting poor Zack. He is trying to lay on Fred while Cujo sleeps through it all. Kids are back to school tomorrow and I have two more days of vacation. Lucky Me!

April, A New Bginning!

This last week has kept me very busy. I took the week off to spend time with my family, catching up on badly needed chores and I ended up with more than I expected. Day one my husband was admitted to the hospital for a rapid and irregular heart beat. Five days later they released him. He is fine but they have him on blood thinners and have changed his blood pressure medicine. He has also stopped smoking, quit drinking alcohol and has limited his caffeine consumption. He feels better and we like him better this way.

Now during hubby's stay at the Holiday Inn at Lawnwood Medical Center, I took the girls to Universal Studios. We promised them at least two days this past week and actually made plans to stay Sunday to Tuesday possibly Wednesday depending on how much money we spent. We drove up early Monday spent the night and all day Tuesday at Universal/Islands of Adventure.



I hated leaving Fred but he kept thinking the Dr. was going to let him go home and was actually looking forward to some quiet time. We left him the van and off we went. We had a good time. The girls walked my legs off. I ended up with blisters all over my feet.



We made it home Tuesday night and Fred finally came home Wednesday morning. Life is getting back to normal. Elizabeth has decided to take Warrens old room and spent most of the week painting. She just finished last night and will be moving in this morning which is a good thing because Warren will be staying with us for a few months until he can get caught up on his bills. His last job did not work out. He starts a new job in Vero on Monday but until his finances are more settled he has decided to stay at home.

I just printed out my taxes - done. I painted my bathroom - done. I need to repaint my bedroom and the hallways of the house - hopefully done soon. I have not felt so good the last few weeks and even though so much has happened this week I think it has all happened for the good. There was a lot of drama here this past week as you can imagine. However, I am feeling better and I am looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

I am streaming Bucky Covington all day! See Link!!!!

My computer is back up and running but my laptop blew the video card so I am down to one computer again. (My mother board took a dump on my PC.) I spent a week in hell having to sneak onto my husbands computer when he wasn't looking just to read my email. UPS finally showed up with my parts and three days of nagging finally placed my PC back on my desk and another two days of reinstalls and I am good. My pictures are stuck on a hard drive I cant get to so today I will repost from Flickr. I also want to brag a little. Floridashine Team won again when Bucky Hit #15 on the charts. I have a signed t-shirt and a autographed pictured signed 'Kathy Thanks Bucky Covington'. I love them. Bucky is climbing the charts and is approaching # 10 with 'It's Good to be Us'. I am streaming on CMT, YES.com and looking for new places to post the widget. We want another win at #10 so if you haven't voted please do today. Go to amazon buy 'It's Good to be Us' on MP3 only .99 or listen free at CMT. Play Bucky we want him at #!.

Bucky Covington @ Germain Arena 03/15/2008

St Lucie County cuts back.

The fall out from 'The Save Our Homes' legislation has the municipalities and the county government in an uproar. There is no extra money to spend and the powers that be are demanding up to 20% cuts in department budgets. Employees tend to be the largest part of a budget which means the potential loss of 20% of employees from each department being cut. County employees where initially told there would be no layoffs but then the rumors of potential cuts in the IT department and Public Safety have started filtrating into daily conversations in the center. 911 is safe so far but the commissioners are screaming about the overtime. I was told our overtime budget was 5x higher than any other department but we are also the only 24/7 department under the BOCC. E911 is still under staffed and have minimum employee requirements on a daily basis that have to be fulfilled.

The county administrators just finished a two day brainstorming meeting and now the sheriff is threatening to lay off 115 deputies. The clerks office is rumored to being laying off 8 employees based on job performance but I can't find anything to substantiate this rumor. The state has already proposed a drastically reduced budget to the governor and the court system is taking a pretty hefty cut. There will be layoff. It's coming but no one knows when.

I took the liberty of borrowing this list of items in the county from the Ft Pierce Tribune. Maybe it will give an idea of what the county admins are doing to economize. I read the opinions people spew and at one time I put my two cents worth but even I got tired of bantering with idiots how don't research or read before that make stupid comments. I linked this entry to the latest Tribune article. I feel bad for the admins who have to decide who leaves and who stays that can't be easy. The only good thing about this situation that I can think of, is if cuts are based by performance a lot of dead weight is trimmed that needed to be otherwise I feel bad for those who may loose their livelihood.

N THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

•Continue the employee hiring freeze (savings: $2.7 million).

•Stop paying for school resource officers (savings: $600,000).

•Close all libraries (except the main Fort Pierce library) one day per week (savings: $163,752).

•Cut money for outside agencies (such as the Council on Aging and Healthy Start) by 10 percent (savings: $2.2 million).

•Stop mowing medians and county right-of-ways (savings: $620,710).

•Cut money for financial recovery fund (savings: $2.75 million).

•No new capital projects or equipment purchases (savings: $11.8 million).

•No budget increases for clerk of court, supervisor of elections or sheriff's office (savings: $2.7 million).

COUNTY BUDGET NUMBERS

Projected shortfall in all county areas: $29.9 million

Projected shortfall after factoring in money set aside and other cost savings: $15 million

Projected general fund shortfall: $17.3 million

Projected general fund shortfall after factoring in money set aside and other cost savings: $6.3 million

Projected shortfall because of property tax reform over next five years (number provided by the state): $94.9 million

St. Lucie County (numbers subject to change)

The New Microwave!

 

My microwave broke the other day infact my husband accused me of breaking it on purpose because a friend of mine at work is selling her over the counter microwave and her french door refridgorator for a very resonable price. I have been dying for a new fridge and I just drool over the new french door design so when 'Donut" needed to rid herself of these items at more than half the retail price I jumped on it. My hubby was the voice of reason this time even though she is literally giving these items away, we still cant afford them.

Of course when our microwave breaks only 2 days later, it is my fault. I broke it on purpose. The fact that the microve/convection oven is over 13 years old has nothing to do with it's death. I broke it.

My family has suffered with out a microvewave for almost a week. My husband can't heat up water for his tea. My children can not reheat left overs or pizza, no one knows how to defrost meat, and of my goodness how do you cook a bag of popcorn. My hubby broke down and bought a temperary replacement until a new over the counter microwave/convection oven can be replace.

I am next planning the demise of my refridgerator. Please don't tell my husband!

Bucky all night long!

Okay maybe not all night long but I have been sitting at my computer for the last several hours streaming Bucky Covington's new single 'It's Good to be Us' on CMT. My daughter yelled at me because I am also streaming on my husband's computer. I know I'm pathetic but my team 'Floridashine' has won two of the 3 contests the fan club is running. I will be getting another t-shirt and another autographed picture of Bucky. Yeah!!!!!!

We must be doing something right because his single is at number 15 and still climbing. I get to see him again this coming weekend in Estero, Fl., but this time I will take my daughters camera and hopefully I will get better pictures than last time. It would be really great if all my readers would give Bucky your vote for the CMA's and stream 'It's Good to be Us' on CMT. We really want to see him make it all the way to number one.

911 and Advice

 

I will not give advice to the public. I will not give advice to the public. I will not give advice to the public. I will not give advice to the public x1000

One of these days I will learn to keep my mouth shut maybe, hopefully, okay who am I kidding.

I am a mom so naturally advice spews from my mouth. It is very hard to be quiet when a few choice words of wisdom might change the course of history.

Of course this is only in a perfect world and last time I checked I lived in the alternate reality which is Fort Pierce/Port St Lucie area where phrases like "I am educated" issue from someone who can't tell the difference between a real check and loan advertisement and send me the 'PO PO' is more common than I'd like to admit to.

The public wants to know what they should do but I am not allowed to tell people how they shoud live their lives. I know from years of experience that 'Thank Yous' are few and far between and advice is never taken if even listened to. The majority of the public that calls 911 just want the police to make it stop and go away, they dont want excuses, they want it now.

I like to think that I am doing better with my attitude. I am nicer and I listen better and interupt less but trying to damn the advice is almost impossible.

I swear I will learn to keep my mouth shut. Okay realistically, I will try harder to keep my mouth shut. I swear really!!!!!

I love Librivox.org

My daughter will argue that you can't get the same enjoyment from a book by listening to someone read it versus reading it yourself. I have gone around the block with her over this argument and it may not be the same but I still enjoy it maybe even more that actually reading the book myself. I am no longer tied down. I am mobile. I can go anywhere and still reap the benefits of reading. I have listened to more books in the last week than I have read in the last 5 years.

I have read/ been read 'Alexander the Great' and 'Peter the Great' by Jacob Abbott. 'Emma' and 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austen, 'Poetics' and 'Politics' by Aristotle. I am currently downloading Anderson's Fairy tales and looking for more. I think 'A tale of two cities' is next. I never read it in high school. Regardless of my daughter's disdain I love Librivox.org I can read again.

There's a snake on my patio.

 

If you are unlucky enough to find a snake this large on your patio or in your yard then please call 911 and someone will come out and get it. Boa Constrictors and Pythons are not natural predators in the United States. They are also dangerous. Rattle snakes and coral snakes are also dangerous and if one is found in a yard or patio please call 911 especailly if you have children or small pets. However rat snakes, whips and ring necks are not dangerous and if you leave them alone they will leave you alone. They eat mice, lizards and other small rodents. If they are inside your house or an enclosed patio an officer will come and get it but if it is in your yard slithering away from you please do not call 911. First of all by the time the phone call is made and the officer is dispatched the snake has most likely left the area. By the time the officer arrives 15-20 minutes later the snake has long gone. It seems like there are more calls on snake sightings here lately. It could be the rain. The last time I found a snake in my pool I scooped him out, tossed him in the yard and never saw him again. Snakes don't bother me, it's spiders I hate but even then I can deal with them. I don't understand the person who looks out their house window, sees a snake sunning himself then calls 911 in hysterics. I don't get it.

Now if by chance you leave your back door open and a racoon wanders inside and decides to sit down and watch T.V. please call 911. An officer will also come out for this and yes this did happen the other day. However if you get a bat in your house or rats in your attic you need to call an exterminator.

Gators are everywhere and unless they are actively trying to eat your dog or likes watching you eat dinner from your sliding glass door please dont call. Gators live in the canals. It will soon be mating season and they will be moving from their wallows and finding a mate. Gators can and will cross 4 and 6 lane highways. They will walk through your yard to get to the next canal. They will hang out in a retention pond until they decide to move on. If there is a pond in your back yard I can guarantee there is a gator in it. Please don't call 911 if there is a gator in your pond call a trapper.

Panthers and bob cat sighting although rare still occur. Do not call 911 unless the animal is injured. Consider yourself very lucky to have seen one and keep your small pets inside. If a panther or bob cat is near it's probably because they are hungry and house cats are good eating so I have heard.

What do your taxes pay for?

 

I understand that locking your keys in the car is an inconvenience and it can be expensive, but when did it become an emergency. What kind of person calls 911 then complains when refused service because neither a child nor pet was locked inside the vehicle (this is considered an emergency) and infers that this is what they pay taxes for?
A normal person like me would call and have someone bring me a spare. If that is not feasible I would then call a lock smith or a tow company to pop the lock. In the past I have done all three of these things and paid for it like a regular person without complaint. It is my fault I locked my keys in my car therefore I will take care of it. I can think of many things that my taxes should pay for and unlocking a car door is not one of them.

Car Show

 

Fort Pierce has a variety of little shows that are held in the downtown area. Last night I took Ellie and her friends to the car show after feeding them soda and pizza. This little mustang was my favorite car. It is tricked out to the disproval of my mustang crazy daughter. She is such a purest.

I was disappointed wiht the pictures I took. First I grabbed the wrong lens. It was dusk but I did not want the glare of the flash so I used a non flash setting and I ended up with unfocused and smeared pictures.

Putting out another call for the MGD Team!

Mark, Genny and Dahmer where are you? All web sites have been quiet for the last 2 months. Has anyone heard anything? I was hoping they were coming back to the Buzz in West Palm. Loper snd Smity are cool no doubt but they are not MGD.

Audio Books

Unfortunately, I have computer issues. I have a serious addiction. I can't stay away from this box. It has kidnapped me almost completely. I am totally and completely hooked on electronics. I have still resisted the call of the IPOD but I can hear it calling me in the distance. It is the natural progression to my latest obsession. My eyes are not so good anymore and I don't read as I used to. I miss it. I have purchase a few books on CD and I like being able to listen to a story as I still surf the internet, play games or work (yuk). However, I like free and have discovered Librivox.org. I can listen to all the classics my heart desires. I am currently listening to Pride and Prejudice. There is a wonderful list of free titles including the Bible. Unfortunately, I am still stuck to the computer and so I see an MP3 player in my future. I would prefer an Aesus EEE but I have to wait for my birthday if I get it at all.

The Lunar Eclipse - Florida

181a, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I took over 350 pictures of the eclipse. Trying to choose the right one is impossible so here is one of my better shots.

Lunar Eclipse

068, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I took almost 100 pictures before I finally took this shot as you can see the eclipse has not begun. I have no idea what setting I used. Trail and error......

Going to see Bucky Covington in Pompano!!!!

Can't Wait!!!!!

Bucky Convington's New Single

We put Bucky in the top 20 now working on number one......Everyone call your local Stations and request Bucky.

My Handsome Husband

My Handsome Husband, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I have been a little lonely this week. I have enjoyed the company of my daughters when I have seen them. Erin on the sofa watching T.V. and Elizabeth on the computer most of the time. It has been very quiet mostly. No squealing or tattling on who did what. Erin so bored Saturday, she cleaned the house. I guess she has a limit to how much T.V. she can watch.

In a way, I have enjoyed the peace not being annoyed or harassed. I have the bed to myself, all 4 pillows and ALL of the comforter. No stench or disgusting bowl noises. Its been a bit of a vacation.

However I miss my husband, it is too quiet. I crave a little chaos and mayhem. I miss his smile and horrible sense of humor. I miss his ugly big feet and his warm loving hands. I miss him.

He will be home late tonight and life will go back to normal.

A Good Day.

My job is all about getting information and sometimes it pays off. See link.....

Tax Time

Tax Time, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I am starting out my new year by getting all my tax records in order. I might as well get it done now no use procrastinating. Taxes are inevitable.

Last Sunrise of 2007

Dec 31, 2007 Sunrise - Indian River 3, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I had thought about writing a long dissertation about my life this year and all the things I have learned. Needless to say, I have learned much about myself and the others I share my world with. I am not happy with what I see but instead of ranting and boring everyone with silly details I think I will end my year as I began it. I love the sunrise and I hope you will love it too.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

New Bucky Covington Contest

All my people need to request Bucky at there local radio stations.





All my Florida people need to call and request Bucky because I am in a contest and if my team and I get the most points we get free tickets and meet and greets to his concert. I would really love to see him again so vote!!!!!

Go to Yes.com and vote ......already linked .....

Smoky Mountain Waterfall

Smoky Mountain waterfall, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

We are having a great time. We drove through the Smoky Mountain National Park today into Cades Cove. There were deer all over. They will let you get very close before they casually saunter away. It snowed a little Sunday night and there is a light dusting in the higher elevations. It is very beautiful.

So far the restaurants suck here. We keep trying to try new places to eat but so far no luck. Paid way too much for a steak last night that was over tenderized. Would have had a much better meal at Outback. Tried a local establishment thinking it would be good. Our breakfast was average at best. Same with dinner great friters and wonderful apple butter but the entrees resembled cracker barrel almost exactly only the prices were much higher. We will be eating in the rest of the week.

We are going to see my dad and Sue tomorrow.

Miss you all but having a good time anyway.......

Weekend Off

SeptBeach KPate2006 135a, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

Can you beleive it I have the entire week end off. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. We plan on going to the VNA Air show in Stuart and maybe a quick trip to Orlando for Universal and shopping. This maybe expensive..........

Happy Halloween!!!!

Erin, Elizabeth and Savanah.

The Crying Angel

crying angel, originally uploaded by theogeo.

When I was 6 year old we lived in Millington, Tennessee and then for a little while the Chickasaw Bluffs out in the middle of nowhere. I had a pony named Smokey, a huge tree house and our back yard was the Mississippi River. We had a decent garden in back yard. I remember pulling radishes and running thought the corn. I was sick a lot then but mostly I remember my pony and hikes in the woods.

I do have a vivid memory of a trip we made to a cemetery. I recall it was a warm day but cooled off quickly as the afternoon wore on. My mother, always the explorer, was searching for a local legend. It seemed to me as if we searched all afternoon for the right spot finally finding the hidden cemetery in the late afternoon. It seemed even longer before we found the legend she was looking for. As the shadows deepened and the sun disappeared amongst the heavily foliaged oaks, she finally found the marble statue of 'The Crying Angel'. I vaguely remember the sculpture but I do remember how scared I was. The cemetery was neglected and teen hang out at the time. For some reason I was afraid they would show up like the biker gangs did in all the drive in movies we went too with no Mad Max to save us. The legend told by locals in the area was the the angel would weep but I don't recall any tears but I do remember the statue in disrepair, moldy and dirty. I was a little awed and would not surprised if I had goosebumps at the time although I truly don't remember. It is funny that I should think about that trip that we took almost thirty years ago and I thought I would see if I could find it.

After googleing for several hours and searching through GenWeb, I was disappointed to discover it no longer existed. The Angel after years of neglect and battery was finally removed no longer marking the grave of the young civil war hero who died so long ago. No more fluttering of angel's wings or crying in the night. I went even further trying to find the old cemetery but even goolge maps was no help tonight. I fear the old cemetery has been replaced by a pet cemetery or just over grown and out of sight.

Happy Halloween Anyways!!!!!!!

Noel Noel.........

Makes me want to start singing Christmas Carols.........Just heard on the scanner school will run as usual tomorrow they will decide on Thursday about this same time. It is looking like there will be no Halloween this year. We will not to be activated unless Noel decides to play bad at the last minute but we are basically gearing up for more rain like we need more. My back yard is a lush green mosquito infested jungle but the evenings are wonderful when its not too wet and you have enough Off.
I love Florida and the rain is replenishing the low water table but I am tired of the rain everyday eventually it has to stop.

Merlot & Earl Gray

Merlot & Earl Gray, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I was playing with photo shop... I like.....

IMidlife Crisis?

IMidlife Crisis?, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

Merlot and Earl Grey tea is what my husband asked for we I went to the store this afternoon. I giggled because this is my husband the grunting, farting man I have lived with for over 20 years. All I am thinking is midlife crisis or what.

Grits and Sin?????

I was looking for grit and sausage resipes and came across this article. I about peed my pants. I am still not sure if this is a spoof or a real story but it was interesting reading.

Ms.Riley speaks

I did not get to watch Inside Edition today but I found a brief article on their website about a scared shy little girl????

I feel Yucky!!

SeptBeach KPate2006 113a, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

I hate feeling sick but I should not be surprised my body finally succumbed to a buggy. To much work, stress and lack of rest will do it to me every time. A day or two of down time should do me I hope. I need to download some more pictures.......

Local Streaming Police Scanner

SeptBeach KPate2006 078a, originally uploaded by kathleenpate.

Not only am I playing with my new Flickr account but also found this web site through a friend. I have no idea how long this has been up but I thinks its a great site. I also realize that we (911) needs to be a little more diligent in the way we (dispatchers) give out information and what information we give out over the radio. This is also a great site for anyone who wants to become a dispatcher. If you can type everything you hear, keep up and hold a conversation with another person (phone counts); you just might have what it takes to be a dispatcher.

Google "DANIEL GILROY FORT PIERCE"

And you wont find anything new today. It looks like "that" train has left the station. I'm not saying there wont be more fallout in the future because every media slut with an opinion has been in contact with local law enforcement and the 15 yoa's family. I heard Dr. Phil was even looking for some action. "Dog the Bounty Hunter" the convicted felony had a few choice words himself. I added the article from our Hometown News. This next week I am sure "shocking" details of the incident will be played over and over again but from what I have read the "majority" feel the officer was justified.

I am upset that so many people who know nothing about our town feel the need to label this a race issue. Race has nothing to do with this. Our last police chief was black and he did less for this community than the current chief has done in the few months he has held the position. He works with city leaders and is dedicated to saving our youth and keeping gangs off our streets. Our city is safer now than what it was just mere months ago. This is due to Chief Baldwin's commitment to his community. Anyone who states otherwise obviously does not know him. Officer Gilroy, who can be a headache at times for dispatcher's, was not out prowling for little black girls to harass. Her grandmother threw her out of the house because she was "being hard headed". A citizen called in a report of a suspicious person. He was doing his job and not only trying to protect himself but also tried to protect the 15 yoa from getting hurt. Ms. Riley was the one who controlled the events that happened not the officer.

I am sick of hearing about how a mere wisp of a girl can cause such a problem for such a big guy. It happens. At 7 years old at a mere 65 pounds if not less I fought off six nurse who were trying to give me a shot after surgery and vomiting from the effects of anesthesia. I held my own for a good minute or two. When I met my husband I was not too much more that 130 pounds but I could wrestle with him, get away from him and take him down if I needed to. You could not keep me down for long. I too bit, kicked and squirmed to get away. He might have been 6'5 and over 200 lbs but if I did not want to be confined there was no way he was going to win or keep me down. So don't try to tell me this "baby" was to small to be treated with excessive force. I know better.

I don't want to hear from the Al Sharpton's of the world who obviously don't have a clue. What I really want to hear is why this girl was out so late. Why did her grandmother kick her out? Why did the child, who obviously thinks she is grown, act this way? Who taught her respect for the law? Who taught her anything of value while we are on the issue? A black male posted that white people don't understand because we live in our "Leave it to Beaver" world. All I really got out of this was if obeying the law and trying to build a safe and secure home for my children is the "Leave it to Beaver" world then I guess I am guilty. But, crossing all boundaries of race and color is'nt that what we all want. Is'nt that the ultimate goal for most to be safe and secure in our own little castle and provide the best for our families? A part of feeling safe in our home is to also feel safe in our communities. Children running around in the streets is not acceptable and the city of Fort Pierce is enforcing the curfew that has been in effect for several years now. It is a law enforcement tool that works and needs to keep working.

Al Sharpton representative accuses Fort Pierce officer of excessive force on teen

Basically they want to drop the charges on the 15 yoa and charge Ofc. Gilroy with assault. Go figure...........I am praying that the police department, the city and the states attorney continue to do the job my taxes pay for and not be pressured by what a few loud mouth ill informed opinions. The curfew works and the PD needs to keep enforcing it. It is saving the lives of our youths even if they don't like it

Al Sharpton representative, local activists to speak out in case of Fort Pierce teen's dramatic arrest

And the circus begins.....................

Deadly statistics in Fort Pierce

Here is an article I found that gives an idea of how serious the police department is on deterring crime and our lowering the murder rate. Right now we have had on 2 murders in the city limits. Last year there were 4 and the year before 10. Our community along with the local law enforcement agencies are doing everything possible to make Fort Pierce a better community. It is working.

Chief Baldwin's Media statement and official police report of incident

You will need adobe acrobat to view statement and police report.

Fort Pierce Police conduct internal investigation into officer's taped arrest of 15-year-old

Here's the next article in this ongoing story..........

Officer Gilroy of Ft Pierce Police Department and the abuse charges.

In the early morning hours of October 6th, my coworkers and I viewed the video of Officer Gilroy detaining then arresting a 15 year old juvenile. There was an instant debate over what we saw. On the first viewing of the video, I have to admit it was not hard to react shocked by the images. Being at work, the volume was turned down and we are all distracted by phones or radios so we watched it again and again. The debate grew. You either agreed or disagreed; there is no middle ground on this one. The majority thinking by hard core LEO Dispatchers in St Lucie County were in agreement with Officer Gilroy's actions but there was still one or two dispatchers that refused to see reason. And that's fine, we are all entitled to our opinions and OMG this past weekend I have heard a few.

This was my first weekend back on midnight rotation and the crazies seemed to have crawled out of the wood work; their rants fueled by vicious cop videos and worthless law enforcement tirades all over the media. We received calls from many media outlets. A few callers offered to critic the situation. One man called repeatedly until he finally became tired of being hung up on. It was that or he finally passed out from whatever he was drinking.

If I heard it once I heard it over and over again about cop brutality, corruption and unfairness of the world in general. I have to agree there is much truth to what we see but in the Gilroy case there is nothing in the video that implicates him if anything it exonerates him. That's why he turned on his camera. He saw the situation spiraling out of his control; he was by himself with an aggressive juvenile. He made sure there was no doubt of what occurred. He did his job and did it well. I have heard statements made by other officers who would not have been so patient or tolerant of the juveniles behavior. The child is very lucky that she was not hurt.

She is also very lucky she is not my child because I would have hurt her when I got her home. It is not against the law in the state of Florida to spank your children and 15 is not to old to get a paddling. We adhere to that philosophy in our home and it works very well. Officer Gilroy did nothing compared to what I would have done to her when I got her behind closed doors. I hope this young lady and the youths of Fort Pierce have learned a lesson. The city of Ft Pierce is not going to tolerate juveniles and gang members running amok in the streets any more. This past summer was one of the most pleasant our small town has experienced in decades. Crime is down and a large part of it is the crack down on juveniles and enforcement of our curfew.

All I can say is keep up the good work and could you guys keep an eye on the juveniles off 17th and Ponce Del Leon. They are starting to get annoying.

We will miss you Tim

It is never easy to lose a loved one but we can all rejoice in his life and accomplishments and remember him what he was: a wonderful man, an accomplished officer and dear friend.

My WOW addiction.

I am seriously considering closing my world of Warcraft account until I get caught up on life. There are so many things I want/need to do but I find myself sucked into the game every day. Right now I am tirelessly leveling my new blood elf character; so far she is an amazing level 33 and quickly rising. OMG I am so sucked in.

Robert Jordan died this week.

Robert Jordan aka James Oliver Rigney Jr. was one of my favorite authors. He was the creator of the Wheel of Time Series that I have been reading since my son was a toddler. Not only was he the author of some of my favorite adventures, but he also lived in my favorite city of Charleston S.C. I was so upset when I found out of his passing people in my office stopped to ask me what was wrong. I feel silly for being so upset but Randy Al Thor, Egwene, Perrin and Matt have shared their lives and adventures with me for all of my adult life. My favorite WOW character Falchion is based on the WOT character Faile. I introduced my son to the series when he was a teenager and is just as big a fan if not more.

And alas, the final and thirteenth book has yet to be written. Rumor is Mr. Rigney told the final tail to his loved ones and it is hoped that in time they will share the final outcome of Rand's life. I would love to know the ending but even if it is never revealed I want to thank Robert Jordan/James Rigney for a wonderful tale. He was such an awesome story teller and I will miss him.

Photo by Liza Trombi

Time flies when your having fun.

It's hard to believe that the summer is over and the kids are back in school; between work and trying to keep up with the girls have kept me busy. I have my niece Savannah driving Beth to Central and then driving herself to school at Westwood. Erin is in 7th grade and attending one of the few middle schools left in the county. She either rides the bus or I take her when I can. We have actually reached a brand new level in our life. When Warren started driving the girls where really too young to go out, now at 16, 15 and 12 they want to go all the time. They used to go and hang out at the Firehouse on Friday nights but now its football games, movies and shopping. Savannah has her D.L. and they go or at least try to go as much as we will allow them. We try to keep them home on school nights but that is even hard when they need to go to Walgreens and Walmart for supplies. Fred and I have lately spent our Friday and Saturday nights alone together. Its nice a little strange but nice. We used to complain about not having any time alone together but not anymore. It is scary to think that in just a few more years my house will be empty.

I finally finished my first book. Unfortunately it is not one of my novels. I finally finished the training manual for work. It will always be a work in progress as things change and evolve but for right now Version I/2007 is complete. I have now taking on the challenge of creating a TTY Manual but I am going to take a break. I need to work on my own manuscripts and I am thinking about getting a hotel room for the week end so I can finish the one and start on the other. Well actually Fred keeps threatening to lock me in a hotel room so I'll finish. He is so supportive.

Life is pretty much as normal as any family can possibly be. We work. We play. We relax when we can. We're healthy and happy. What more could we ask for.

I need a Vacation from Vacation.

I am tired. My feet, my legs, and my back hurts. Two days of Universal Studios and I am wiped out. All I want to do is lay on my bed and relax but instead I am writing and drinking another Coke. I need to lay down because we are getting up early and starting all over again at Islands of Adventure. The girls want to get wet. We are trying to cram in as much park as possible before we have to take Savannah back to Ft Pierce tomorrow. She still is taking summer classes and was not able to finish ahead like we had hoped. She will stay with her mom until we get back Friday. I think she has enjoyed herself she seems happy. She loves all the rides and stands in line to get her picture taken with the characters. She is fun to be around and very active. She keeps me on my toes. I am glad we can give her these three days.

Greyhound adventures and beyond....

Friedrich Nietzsche said "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

My mother left about a month ago to spend the summer with her family in Knoxville Tennessee. While she was there she started having hip problems and over medicated and ended up in the hospital. Apparently she was in a stupor for at least five days taking handfuls of pain pills until she finally called an ambulance because she could no longer tolerate the pain. My Uncle Jay called me this past weekend and I have been doing little but talking to my mother and trying to figure out what happened.

There are many factors that made me decide to take a bus but cheap and easy won out. Considering the fact that we were hit by lightening last week and had to replace our entire electrical panel along with planning a short vacation, choosing Greyhound was the most practical decision. I do not regret my choice in fact it was an adventure I shall not soon forget.

I am full of assumption, my first mistake was made at the bus station in Ft Pierce. There was a bus in the parking lot but there was no sign indicating it's destination and the number on my paperwork did not match the number on the bus so I made my way to a sitting area away to wait for my bus. Thankfully the bus driver crossed my path and set me straight. My first mistake was assuming my bus would be appropriately marked however it was the only one there. Can you say duh.....

The bus is about half capacity but no one appears to want to share a seat so I head all the way to the rear of the bus and find an empty seat. The bus is not unlike the many buses I have taken on various trips with my children on field trips although much quieter still the same. The bus is older, the walls once bright white now look a dingy gray, The seats are a two tone blue, light blue gray hounds race across a background of dark blue. the chair in front of me the material torn. The bus has obviously seen better days. The people around me all appear to be sleeping or resting. I hear little conversation even from the younger children on the bus. I spent most of my time staring out the window watching families drive past in the SUVs wishing I had just spent the money and driven my own gas hog. I eventually got tired of watching passing traffic and play Soduko until we get to Orlando.

I have an hour and 45 minute lay over in Orlando. The bus station is newer built or remodeled sometime in the last 10 or 15 years. I spent a good 45 minutes sitting in the small cafeteria/convenience store. I ordered a $3 dollar hot dog and smothered it in mustard and washed it down with a bottle of water. I sat there staring at the dingy grease and dust covered walls when not watching the people around me. So many families traveling by bus, I was amazed but then again who can afford airfare for 5 or 6 people. Then there are folks that have security issues, no one checks on coming luggage and I never showed I.D. If I wanted to remain anonymous I would travel by bus.

I had another little misunderstanding trying to re board. /apparently you need a re boarding pass to get back on the same bus you just got off. Luckily the driver let me back on, he rolled his eyes when I complained and let me pass but he was a little rude to me after at least for a little while after. By the end of the trip he smiled at me a couple of times when I re boarded after break stops and I thank him again after we unloaded in Atlanta. I road up by myself but had a seat companion until we reached Ocala. I cant remember her name but she was nice enough we chatted on and off until she fell asleep. She was traveling from Clearwater to see her family there. Sounded like a family reunion. I picked up another seat make in Gainesville but lost him in Lake City. He was traveling to Jacksonville. I sat by myself until we made it to Atlanta.

Pulling into downtown Atlanta at 11:30 at night was beautiful, the station was a nightmare. It was packed solid. I made my way to my gate and began my wait. The staff there were less than accommodating. They told people coming in that if they did not make their bus they would have to wait until the next one at 8 a.m. You can imagine the hostility this caused. There was almost a fight as the terminal became more crowded and people began cutting in line and jostling each other for position. I was very disappointed when a family who blatantly cut in line was escorted to the bus when it finally showed up before the elderly where assisted. What a crock that was but another bus driver was brought in and I was able to get on the next bus and I was happy. We refereed to the other bus as the bad karma bus.

Our driver was very nice but he was also very tired, we made just one stop and I hoped he would wake up because he scared us more than I tried to let on. We finally made it to Knoxville with no incidents at about 5:30 a.m. and I called my Uncle Joe to pick me up. We visited for a few minutes but I needed a shower and some sleep. I had hoped I would have slept on the bus but it was impossible. I survived but I was very tired.

After a 2 hour nap, I got up and dressed and went downstairs. Mom was almost ready to go and I would have left then but my aunt Billie Jean and Aunt Peggy showed up. We visited for a little while but I knew if we did not get on the road I never would have made it home. I climbed into that old Dodge van of my mothers and we headed out. We made it home safe and sound but the trip is definitely another story.

Greyhound Adventure

I am leaving this morning on Greyhound to Knoxville, Tn to pick up my mother who is having health issues. Long story short, I needed transportation and Marie at the bus station found the earliest and cheapest mode of travel. I leave at 8:25 am on a 20 hour bus ride. What a story this will make.

Done with the Deathly Hollows

I t took me 34 hours but I am done. I purchased the book 2am Friday night and finished it just a little while ago. I can not discuss the book with anyone in my house and my husband is threatening me with bodily harm if I snitch. He is currently up to page 76.

I am hoping to get back on blogger soon and be more diligent in posting I have been having issues with my laptop. It broke Fred fixed and it broke again so I have been forced to use Fred's computer when he lets me......... The new part wont be in until next week if Im lucky......

Update, Warren moved out Wednesday and now lives in Casselberry just north of Orlando. I miss him already but he is an adult and they have to move on sometime and be adults. Fred helped him pack up and helped him get settled into a nice 4 bedroom home in a gated community that he is sharing with three of his friends. I have to wait until August to see just how nice his new roommates and house really are........

Beautiful Saturday Morning

Beth and I were up early this morning and headed out to the beach for some sunrise photos. The was a fishing tournament going on and we caught the boats as they were racing out of the inlet. We took some great pictures but I like this one posted above. I have no idea who the young lady's are but they made good models. It has been a very hectic week and I am glad it is over. I have added several more photo albums at my picture trail site. I really love my husbands Rebel XT digital camera and have used it much these past two to three weeks. I'm getting better but then again practice makes perfect.

24 hours of Bucky Covington

I have lost my mind so to speak, either that or I am bored with my life. You think as busy as I stay I would not have anytime to be bored. This might be my mid life crisis but who knows.
I went to West Palm Beach last night with my friend Lisa and caught his free concert at Renegades. We had a few drinks took video and a few pictures. I was a bar so the quality is poor at best. We had a good time and that is all that matters.
Today we drove to Zellwood, Fl. to the corn festival and met Bucky and Rocky. I have pictures with both of them along with an autographed picture of Bucky and an autographed drum stick from Rocky. They are so polite and sweet and go out of there way for you. They are not like some people I have met in my life who make you feel like well you know.
The weather was great, sunny but with a cool breeze. A few clouds but no rain although it did threaten. We found great spots on the lawn and I took a bunch of pictures. Fred let me borrow his camera and it takes awesome shots. I have uploaded a few of the better ones to my Picture Trail account so go and enjoy.

It's not my birthday yet.....

but my peeps at work help me celerate with cake, ice cream and flowers.

Fort Lauderdale

I am here at the Fort Lauderdale Grand Hotel attending The Governor’s Hurricane Conference at the Broward County Convention until Friday morning. My last class is at 10:30 am. My first workshop is a 2 day class in Basic Public Information. It has been pretty interesting and it is based around journalism which I do have an interest but being a PIO is not anything I care to do. Sure I could probable write a fairly adequate press release and I have given a few interviews in my time but apparently being a good PIO involves having to appear on T.V. from time to time and I am not into that. The camera always puts 50lbs on me if not more. I also have homework tonight. I have to write a press release on a car accident or a fire o something like that????? But I plan on waiting until later at least until after dinner to sit down and tackle that. I was thinking about pulling up a few real press releases and model mine after the best one I can find.
Like my room? It’s great. I have a king size bed all to myself with a balcony that faces out onto the docks. There is a nice breeze and if you don’t look down at the garbage floating in the water it is actually a nice view. I ended up having to pay for a weeks worth of internet at the tune of $45. That hurt a little. I will be eating out more often at the fast food joints but I will live. Today we had Taco Bell but tonight we plan on splurging at Moe’s. Pat my co-worker who is al attending says it’s pretty good and cheap just the way I like it.

Interview.....Hometown News

Click on link....

I should have posted this last week but I forgot.

I'm an addict......

 

I have an addiction to online games. It is so sad because I have so many other things I could be doing like writing, taking pictures (like the one on this post), gardening or finishing my book. I could go and do things that get me off my butt and moving again. I used to be so active once upon a time ago.

I am a level 69 Night Elf Hunter named Falchion. I named her after my favorite Robert Jordan character from ‘The Wheel of Time’ series. I have worked on this character for almost 3 years and in 2 days she will be maxed to the highest level in WOW game playing. Finally……

I cant say that I have let this game take over my life because I still manage to keep my house reasonably clean, the laundry done, and spend time with my family but it has taken a big chunk out of what little spare time I have. I used to read a lot now not so much. I am hoping once I hit 70 I will find time to pursue other hobbies but I have this gnome mage named Mistical that is level 59 and she has been waiting for some attention for a while now……………………….

OMG! I am a member of the Bucky Covington fan club.

I dont know how this happened. I am not the type to act this way. I rarely watch T.V. so why would I care about this young man who was booted off American Idol. One of my co-workers is Bucky's biggest fan. She drives us all nuts with the Bucky updates, sightings and gossip. She is trying so hard to win a contest the fan club sight is having and recruiting new members is her mission in life right now.

We all gave up our email addresses, I gave her 3. I joined the fan club three different times which is no big deal. Then I started reading about him and his fans. I listened to his music. I have become a Bucky fan. I ordered his debute CD and I am going to see him in Zelwood Florida in May for my birthday.

I still dont know how this happened but I am pretty sure it is not a bad thing.

Just Another Day

Back at work again. I have so little time at home for my family and just relaxing I find it hard to do to much of anything else. Tonight I am working what we call a "specail detail". However I have found I have spare time and not too much else to do. Tommorrow I actually have a day off but I have to drive my mother to Lake Worth for a doctors appointment and I have to finish my tax return. I thought all I had to do was get all my papers organinzed but I was going over my 1040 and it's not right. I have a dreadful feeling when I go back and try to fix my mistake I will go from getting back money to owing. I hate owing money to the IRS I really do.

Next month I might get lucky and not have to work as much or I should say there will not be as much overtime to work. The schedule is not out yet but there are 5 other people on my shift that need overtime and I have to share I am not the only one with a mortgage and rising escrow accounts. Everyone I know is getting hit hard by out of control insurance and property taxes. The only bright spot at this moment is I get a raise the first of April. The will either help a little or throw me into the next tax bracket. With my luck her lately I am betting on the next tax bracket. Fred has been working without a contract since October. The PBA finalized the contract two weeks ago and it was suppose to go up in front of the commissioners Monday. I think they did everything but that. Fred is looking at an 8% increase which will help.

I remember not to long ago (before my escrow almost doubled) planning on purchasing a used R.V and researching a summer trip across Route 66. Now I dont think we will be able to afford more than a few weekends trips if that. It will be another long summer spent at home trying to make ends meet and playing the lottery. I am so thankful we have a pool.

I started a small garden last month and I actually have tomatoes growing. I planted 2 Jalopeno bushes and a rosemary bush. I hope to plant more jalopenos and herbs my next weekend off. Downside is I have discovered tomatoe worms. They are yucky. They just eat the leaves so the fruit is still good but I jhave got to get rid of them before they spread. I figure if I dont kill what I already have planted I might branch out to salad greens. I can grow those all year long.....


Until next time.....

Busy Busy Busy

Busy Busy Busy

I am not sure what I am running on anymore. I ran out of steam about a week ago and I think desperation is the only thing that keeps me going. I am averaging about 60 to 65 hours a week at work and its killing me both physically and mentally. Physically from the seditary aspect of my job, I sit in an office chair for 12 to 16 hours a day. I get a 10 minute break every two hours that a rarely take and we eat out all the time. I get motivated every once in a while and brown bag it but I never seem to have enough time in the morning to make anything. Okay I never make enough time to make anything is what I should say, sleep is so much more important. On top of being inactive at work, I do little at home. On those long days that I work, I go home eat, play on my computer/watch T.V. and then pass out. My exercise consists of walking from one chair to another and the occasional tossing and turning in bed. On my days off when I am not recouperating and trying to recapture my sanity I am cleaning and doing laundry. I have to admit that I do spend much of my free time playing WOW. I have my lvl 64 Elven Hunter 'Falchion' that has to make lvl 70 soon. I call it therapy.

And therapy is what I need badly.

I am mentally exhausted. My brain is fried. I truly hate people. I want to be a hermit.

The 911 center I work for is a catch all. We dispatch animal control and code enforcement alnog with Law Enforcement and EMS. We are one stop shopping. We are the Walmart of St. Lucie County complaints. Sometimes it is ridiculus what people expect 911 to do. Please get comfortable because I fell like a good rant.........

Now I have to admit many people who call 911 do so because they have no other choice and feel guilty when they do. I cant tell you how many times I have listened to people tell me this is not an emergency but they told me I had to call or shock and dismay when they learn that they have been transferred to 911. these are not the people I am reffering to. I loathe the people that start in on you before you can even finish "911 Police , Fire or Rescue!" and it's for something silly. Maybe silly is not a good word but it is the one I am going to use today.

I spoke to two people thuis week about the garbage in their yard. one lady wanted to give me tag numbers of the offenders and the second wanted me to have officers chase the children that had built a fort in the lot next to her cited for littering. I told them they could talk to officers but they refused. One lady asked me my opinion bad idea but i told her "personally I just pick up the garbage and throw it away". I have the same attitude about dog poop in my yard. I dont like it but dog's have to go too. I am not going to burst a vein over it because it is not that important. Pick it up and go on with your day unless you step in it then of course curse until your hearts content because now you have a reason to be upset just dont call 911 because it still not an emergency. It is an unpleasant fact of life and shit will wash off.

I have to go back to the other caller with trash in her yard. She was upset because the children have built a fort and worn a path in the vacant lot next to her yard, they were dragging trash onto the lot (club house) and it was getting on her property. The only problem I could see that officers might investigate is a trespassing but the owner of the lot was not complaining. There maybe a code enforcement issue for building without a permit but I am pretty sure they over look this types of structures unless it is obviously a hazard. I let her list all her complaints but all she was basically doing was complianing about them playing. I am blunt and asked her "your calling because the children are playing?" She immediately replied "yes".
I was silent for a few moments then asked her if there was anything else I could do for her. She hung up.

The road ragers or the tattle tellers as I sometimes like to call them drive me nuts. Understand the road rage is serious business, people get killed or seriously injured in these types of calls but dont call in because someone pulled out in front of you and made you hit your brakes. He almost hit me or almost ran me off the rd is not the same as he did hit me or he did run me off the rd. Agressive drivers are a dime a dozen these days and I agree if the vehicle is obviously reckless please call 911and please know where you are before you do so. Now if you have spent the last 10 minutes flipping each other off and cursing each other but dont want to talk to an officer you might be a tattle teller. Please dont call 911 and tattle because you see someone doing the same thing you get a ticket for like not using your blinker or not making a complete stop at a stop sign, ect...... the officers will catch up to them eventually its just a matter of karma. I'm not going to get into speeding we all do it calling in speeders like everything else is a judgement call.

I have to touch on the animla lovers. I have 3 dogs, a cat, a rat, and a rabbit. I love animals just as much as any animal owner however they are animals and as much as I love them I will save my children before I do my pets if it comes down to life and death. It is the same with 911 human life takes priority to animals there are no execeptions. In my little part of the world we do not have an animal ambulance, animal control dose not work 24/7 and when they do they like everyone else must try to adhere to the speed limits and rules of the road. I understand that your neighbors dog is loose again but dont scream at me about it because I dont care. I have a hard enough time just keeping my own dogs in the yards. I actually have a hard time keeping them inthe house. Butch as old as he is still tries to escape he leaves no open door or unlocked window uninspected.

I can come up with a miriad of things to complain about and in essence I am just like the ones how call in and complain but I prefer to do my bitching on the internet. I do feel better now that I vented a little. I am sure there will be more of this as I dont see my schedule changing any time soon. Maybe I will get motivated and writre something interesting. I switch to midnights soon so maybe I will get the chance.......