...everyone needs to go to Lewis' post of the 28th, about the missing Philly woman. I donated five dollars. If I was missing, I'd hope someone would do it for me.

...then, go to Jack's post of the 27th, and just read. It will make you appreciate things a little more when it comes to our military.

...now I wasn't big on anything about our military until 9/11 and all the shit that's happened since. I even took the test for the Coast Guard, but I decided against going in. Personally I think that was a good idea, because I have a hard time standing up to someone now, much less if they were breaking the law. I admit it...I'm a wuss. Of course, I am capable of defending myself in an immediately dangerous situation; I've had to do that. But as for what our men and women do, whether they be a cop or service person, I would suck at it.

...I am very grateful for what these people do, and everyone else should be, too. I know I've said this before, but it's just that important that it needs to be said again (and I'll remind you later on down the road) that we need to support all of our police, rescue, military, and emergency personnel. Sure, there is the occasional bad one in the bunch; if you happen to interact with one of these people, don't let it cloud your thinking about everyone else.

...the cop I asked for help from when my dad went on one of his "trips" embarrassed me in front of several different policemen that night. You could tell they were embarrassed about it. He basically told me, and not very nicely, that if my dad was a problem, they'd deal with it. I know he's an asshole...he has that reputation...but I refuse to let him change how I feel about the others. They're good guys, they've helped me before, and I respect them.

...the people who embarrassed our country with what they did at that prison, all those pics and such...even I know that's not normal for our military. It's another example of someone that makes the rest of us look bad.

...I am supporting two soldiers now. One was assigned to me through Soldiers' Angels. The other is one who apparently was so depressed about being over there (I have no idea exactly where, but he's in the middle of it) that he couldn't understand what he was fighting for. He was tired of being shot at. An email through the site told everyone to write him, and we did, and I've decided I will do for him what I'm doing for the other. You write once a week, and if you can, send a care package once a month.

...the bad thing is, aside from the fact that these are kids who, a lot of the time, aren't even old enough to legally drink, they are in a war. They are shooting at people who are trying to kill them. They sometimes travel and have no idea if they will make it to their destination alive. Even if they don't think we should be over there, they are doing what they are told to do. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of the time, they are pretty fucking scared.

...a lot of these soldiers have no one who writes to them. That's what I couldn't believe. Can you imagine what that feels like? Watching some guy next to you read a letter from home, and you have nothing?

...it only costs the price of a stamp. Unfortunately it's a little more to send a package, it could take a week or so, and you never really know that they got it unless you hear from them. Of course, it would be nice if our postal service would make the rates a little cheaper...it's not like they aren't getting any less business.

...the hardest part I've found is, I've only heard from one guy once, through an email. His name is Nicholas Dumond, and he's twenty years old. He was happy that I even wrote. That was about two months ago. The other one, Jeff Porter, is the one who was so upset. I imagine he got a lot of mail, and hopefully is feeling better, at least about being appreciated.

...everyone please go to that site...just type in Soldiers' Angels. It doesn't matter whether you like what's going on or hate it...just do it. It really feels good to be able to help somehow.



posted by Wanting at 9:38 AM

 
DEF LEPPARD was fantastic...I haven't been to a concert in years, and this was my first rock concert. Definately worth the money! I actually had a beer, too. A bit expensive, but a great way to unwind.....


conversation at the lab today...

Jeromie: "So Kim, how was the concert?"

me: "They were great! But my knees hurt.."

Jeromie: "Ohhhh....so you got backstage, then.."
posted by Wanting at 12:50 PM

 
Everybody go to Lewis' site and wish him a

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY...he's 33 I believe....



(you're welcome, Lewis)
posted by Wanting at 4:00 PM

 
It's been raining for several hours tonight!!! I love it!!

...and what's tomorrow?? Hump day? Wednesday? Two days before payday? Yesssss.....but it's also...DEF LEPPARD DAY!!!

Hell....I may even have a beer at Old Chicago...
posted by Wanting at 8:27 PM

 
OOOOOHH...I hear thunder...could it mean.....



posted by Wanting at 10:49 PM

 
God I'm so friggin' boring...no wonder no one visits much anymore...

I've been busy, Nik...being...boring. Let's go camping, chick!

This weather sucks...I'm having these terrible cravings for Pepsi...and this weather sucks.

btw...6 more days...til you know when.....
posted by Wanting at 7:47 PM

 
...you know I can't help it...I just get that way sometimes...
posted by Wanting at 7:32 AM

 

posted by Wanting at 7:27 AM

 

MAJOR coolness.. 
posted by Wanting at 11:07 PM

 

MORE coolness... 
posted by Wanting at 11:06 PM

 

...mmmm...coolness... 
posted by Wanting at 11:05 PM

 

...it's on it's way... 
posted by Wanting at 11:04 PM

 
...I'm getting a lot of these phone calls lately from people that want money for whatever it is they are supporting.

To all those callers out there....

I'm sorry...but it seems that most of my money is locked up in my life....i.e. water and electricity and a truck payment and the gas to run the truck, along with the upkeep...a couple of credit cards and another loan towards taxes last year that just seem to keep getting raised (but I just don't see it on my street) every friggin' year and on my vet bills (I don't have kids so don't go there), plus the phone bill and internet use and the groceries that I have to buy...like toilet paper and detergent and various toiletries and pet food (like I said...don't) and my medicine plus the doctors' bills I'm slowly paying off along with the student loans I just got another forebearence on.

Oh, I'm sorry if I occasionally eat out...but I haven't been out since January. I don't drink like I sometimes wish I did and I don't do drugs...unless, of course you count chocolate and and a visit to the Chinese buffet...I watch too much television and I spend too much on certain magazines and books...hey...reading is fundamental.

I pick and choose my charities...Children's Make-A-Wish and Ducks Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation. I wanted to walk in a breast cancer walk-a-thon but I wasn't able to. I also give to a policemen's fund, but it's getting pretty hard to tell who's who, especially when they called me twice one year. I also take in anything that needs fed or sheltered, but anyone who isn't an animal lover won't understand that one, and I don't care, because it's probably your dog or cat that I'm taking care of.

I'm supporting one Marine over there (I just sent my second care package to him, but still no word on whether he got it or not), and possibly another who apparently is so depressed about being shot at he doesn't know what he's fighting for anymore. I signed up to volunteer at a women's shelter; I even said I'd do an all-nighter, but for some reason they never called. Am I on some list somewhere that says I'm a bad person? No problem...it's their loss.

Sometimes I bring my neighbors something from the store...fruit for the two on my right, and a package of Little Debbie's for the one on the left. Both households are older and have had a bad year.

So if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if I didn't get those calls every other night...and I especially don't appreciate it when you hang up on me because I said, very politely, "I can't do it this year." I don't like being made to feel guilty because I can't give money to everyone. Oh, and please, just once, pronounce my name correctly.

Maybe you should call that gomer down the road who just bought a Hummer, or the rich dicks who have a three and a half car garage (gotta have room for the golf cart) and a three story house for two on the country club lake...they can certainly afford to give some money to someone who needs it.
posted by Wanting at 7:21 PM

 
...less than 14 days until Def Leppard.....


posted by Wanting at 6:42 PM

 

LOOK at that face.... 
posted by Wanting at 3:03 PM

 

...after the last post...a couple of pictures of cuteness...how Disney.... 
posted by Wanting at 3:02 PM

 
...maybe it's time we all stayed home...what do you think? Can't go anywhere for fear of being blown up...I've never been in an underground train, and after last week, given the chance, I may never get on a bus again, either.

...people say that's what they want us to do...that they win. Maybe so. But until we start keeping a better watch on things, I won't feel too safe about certain things.

...the first time I flew I was petrified. I was going to Boston to help open a store...all excited about visiting such a historical place, but unfortunately all I got to see was the buildings flying by as we sped to the hotel and back. This was before 9-11...they let me go through the gates without checking my boots (metal eyes) that set off the airport security in Peoria (and they looked). Didn't they say some of those assholes came through Boston? Now I wished I'd called someone and said something. But what would they have done?

...I for one won't fly, unless it's an emergency. And even then, I won't mind waiting until they check people out. Don't like it? Get used to it. Imagine how it felt knowing the people on the plane were going to kill you...seeing a building coming at you...I bet they wouldn't have minded waiting if it meant getting some radical dickhead carrying a gun out of the line and into jail...

...this shit scares the hell out of me. I'm supporting two soldiers now, and I may get more. I could never do what they do. And no matter how much I wish we could just leave over there, these men and women are out front taking shots. Imagine having someone in your family...a son or husband..a father or sister...a wife or mother or daughter...going away and never coming back.

...guys like Jack and Blade...how the hell can you stand it sometimes? I admire what you guys do...but what keeps you from hurting someone because you know they deserve it?

...I hate this...and I hate that we can't get our shit together over here...gangs and the fucking drugs that are being made in our own neighborhoods...seems every week some kid or kids are missing or killed...molested or abused. These are the guys that need to be destroyed...no mercy...just...get rid of them. You don't do that shit to a child. And anyone that defends one of these animals is just as bad. Fuck their rights...they took away that kid's rights...so...no way they get theirs.

...and anyone who can do such things to a child will probably do it to an animal...and vice versa...people who know me know my opinion on that one...

...people killing each other over whatever bullshit they seem to think is more important than a human life...I for one believe in other life in the universe...but why would they want to come here...we've hurt this planet so much they may just say screw that...they're doomed...why bother?

...I'm sorry this is such a depressing post. I finally get people to come here and read this, and all I have is this. If you disagree that's your right...just don't be degrading to me...I'd like your opinion if you want. I'm a nice person...believe it or not.

HAVE A BETTER DAY....
posted by Wanting at 2:28 PM

 
SO TELL ME....WHAT'S WITH....

...crabby people at WalMart? Some of the customers could be a little nicer, too.

...all this friggin' mail from these Scientologists? My dad made this HUGE mistake and signed a register when he went on a tour of their facilities some 30 years ago, and they STILL send their shit to this house.

...Hollywood? No really good scary movies have come out of Hollywood for years. Guess I need to pop in some old favorites.

...MST3K? That show was funny...I mean...I watched it...I liked it...it can't be any more stupid than the Real Gilligan's Island, now can it?

...management? Ever heard the expression "you can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar"? Why are some people with "power" such dicks? Try doing my job for a day, then tell me how I can improve it.

...people with no work ethic? Think you have a hard life because you worked a whole 40 hours this week? Please keep bitching about it...I love to hear how you get screwed every day because they don't let you take two hours for lunch instead of one, while I have to redo your work because you don't care how sloppy it is.

...a diaper on the ground? A dirty diaper...thrown on the ground...because you didn't want to take the time to put it in the garbage. Why don't you let your kid just stand outside and take a dump in the street? As he gets older, he and daddy can have pissing contests in my yard. Great thing you're teaching him...

...people in my yard in the middle of the night? Nothing else to do? Please don't stand there while I sleep in the house. I don't like that...makes me nervous. There's no reason to be there. If I see you, I call the cops. If you make me feel threatened, I call the cops AND wield a little wooden club with a metal band around the edge. If you come into my house, I will hurt you. No reason to come in. I have nothing valuable here...believe me when I say this.

...this weather? I don't care if it's July. I don't like the heat. I want fall...I want cooler days and crisp nights...campfire weather. I want a BIG fire...until it burns itself out and I'm asleep in my tent all snuggled up with...

...damn...gotta change that, too.
posted by Wanting at 6:48 PM

 
...something happened last night that has me...wondering.

...I was letting Fed out for his usual morning relief, getting ready to pull the truck out of the garage. There's an empty soda can in the middle of my drive and a cigarette butt next to it.

...my driveway runs the length of my house. This means that someone had to either come thru the back yard and stop there near my back door, or walk down the drive and stop by my back door.

...now I usually don't mind being here alone. I'm used to it. But I don't like the fact that someone was standing outside my door in the middle of the night, having a soda and a smoke. Why? There's no reason to be there.

...ya'll might think I'm being paranoid, but once in a great while the idiots do come out. I value my privacy. It would have been one thing to stop in front of the house to have a smoke, but what were they doing in the back?

...Fed is twelve. He rarely hears me come in from work. He used to be a great watch dog. But sometimes I get a little nervous. I called and asked the police to drive by more often at night and told them why, besides the fact my neighbors on both sides are older. They have always done that when I asked (yeah, sometimes I just have to).

...meanwhile I guess I'm going to get another lock for the door. Anyone could break it down if they kicked hard enough. Shit. I'm getting to be a whiner....sorry.

...Hey, Narcman...do you hire out? Ever been to Illinois?
posted by Wanting at 8:17 PM

 

"...sadly...my uncle bubba on my momma's daddy's brother's haf sister's momma's side insists on playin' HAPPY BIRTHDAY...I just cain't beleeve they keep invitin' him..." 
posted by Wanting at 7:35 PM

 

"..daddy sez we can put this in the front yard...my birthday party will be so much fun!!" 
posted by Wanting at 7:29 PM

 

..."this is the albina mountin' liin daddy caught last night...I do beleeve he killed a cuppa of our chickins...and one of our dawgs is missin'" 
posted by Wanting at 7:17 PM

 

..."dinna wuz very good...sittin' on the porch sippin' mint julips makes the day complete.." 
posted by Wanting at 7:14 PM

 

"...I just hate goin' for thuh mail...why you wud think that nasty ole postal man wud bring it up to thuh house.." 
posted by Wanting at 7:12 PM

 
OK...one more thing, then I'm going to go watch a movie....

......why is everyone so surprised when a shark attacks a person in the water? Now if the shark comes up on land and attacks, THAT'S a problem. Of course, if your're in your swimming pool, and a shark attacks, that's also a problem.

...I'm no expert on sharks, but...if you go into their area (personal space, territory, the water), you can pretty much expect them to be there at one point or another. Maybe no one in sharktown has told them the rules...
...people come into your area, your rights as a card carrying member of the Shark Association are null and void...you must...and I do mean MUST avoid any contact at all time...it doesn't matter that they leave their garbage and piss in the water...it doesn't matter that they know dangerous creatures are here....you can't expect these people to be intelligent, look at the size of their brain! Anyway, just keep farther out into the ocean...oh, and if you see any divers there, give 'em a thrill, swim by a couple of times, then go home. Thank you and have a good day.


posted by Wanting at 9:53 AM

 
(just in case you haven't heard)
posted by Wanting at 9:27 AM

 

FBI poster 
posted by Wanting at 9:01 AM

 

..tribe map of American Indian 
posted by Wanting at 8:59 AM

 

..inspection and sale 
posted by Wanting at 8:57 AM

 
...I don't mean to sound ungrateful...I'm not. I'm proud to live here, the greatest country in the world. But we shouldn't forget what has happened here in our history. Some of it good, some of it bad. The slaves we bought...the Native Americans that were wiped out (they were the original Americans)...the Civil War, which started over states' rights, not slavery...the civil rights in the South (and ashamed to say that Mississippi is at the forefront of that...that's one thing I'd hate to find out about in my family history, but I'd be willing to bet it's there).

...don't forget how we waste our resources, how some people abuse children, their spouses, their parents and are just overall bad people...how we mistreat animals, look down on someone less fortunate than we are, abuse drugs, believe money is more important than anything, and misuse the legal system...the bad cops that make the good cops' job so much harder, the bad doctors and lawyers and teachers and soldiers that make all the other good guys in those professions look bad.

...now you may think I'm some warped bitch who only wants to bring everyone down. I don't. Be thankful we can change this shit...and be thankful we have more good people than bad...so the next time someone does a good job tell their supervisor in person or a letter or an e-mail...support our troops no matter what...read up on our history and teach your kids about the Trail Of Tears and John Brown and the Amistad (sp), the KKK and Martin Luther King, the Declaration of Independence and why Texas is called the Lone Star State...teach them about how certain wildlife used to live in your area and why it doesn't anymore...take them on a hike and show them the plants and bugs and animals you see there...teach them to respect their teachers, the police and everyone else they meet, that the police protect us and work hard at stopping the bad guys from hurting us.

...take pride in your job even if it's the local McDonalds. At least you have a job. (guess what...being on welfare because you don't want to get off your lazy ass and work or because you get money for every kid you drop...not cool. That makes you an embarrassment, and I don't appreciate paying for you)

...all I wanted to say was I'm proud to be here at this time in history. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. This day is more than just BBQs and fireworks.

...so if you stand there tonight and they play the National Anthem and you get a little teary eyed, don't be ashamed of it. Be proud. We are so damn lucky...



posted by Wanting at 8:48 AM

 
...Edge has recently posted on a certain topic that I think everyone has seen at some point in their life. He and a few of his fellow bloggers are trying to reach out and help, which I think is the neatest thing. Some people don't give a shit. I decided to tell you this, then....

...when I was about fifteen, my mom had a boyfriend that she broke up with. Well, she tried to, anyway. He just wouldn't get the message. I remember she went out one night, and before she left she told me about the gun on top of the refridgerator...that the safety was on and it was easy to use and oh by the way I doubt there will be any trouble but just in case...I never slept a wink that night...on the couch and worried someone was coming...but no one did.

...not soon after, my mom was in the hospital for some overnight thing. My dad brought us back to feed our collie, Daisy. But she was dead in the back yard. Being a young dog and with no visible signs of injury, we thought he'd poisoned her.

...a few weeks later, my mother left the house to go to the store, then bring back dinner. It was about four or five when she left. Several hours go by, and around ten thirty or so she calls, telling me we should have gone ahead and eaten. She was out (you could hear music, so I knew she was in a bar somewhere) and would be home soon. I couldn't believe she'd just forgotten about us. I stayed up a few more hours, then went to bed.

...I wake up...and my mom is bent over me. I see that she seems to have put on her make-up wrong...the whole side of her face is black and blue. She's whispering..."get up, Kim...we're leaving.." and as I reluctantly get out of bed, she tells me to hurry. I start to grab some clothes, but she tells me no...

"this way..." I follow her across the hallway to my brother's room, where my little sister is waiting with him. "what's on your face?" I ask. She just tells us to hurry and climb out his window. I ask why and she tells me in her don't-ask-stupid-questions-just-do-it voice to "climb out that window now..."

...we hurry out through the first (and only story, thank God) window, my mom looking back every few seconds. After we all get out of the house we are rushed to the car. Now I'm getting scared because my mother doesn't get scared...and she's obviously very frightened. By now we're all looking behind us, and as she starts the car and backs out of the driveway, I almost expect to see someone coming out of one of the doors to the house. But there's no one.

...a few streets over is a friend of hers, and soon my brother and sister and I are in the living room asleep while they talk in the kitchen. Of course, I couldn't sleep at all...so I listened.

...my mother did intend to get groceries and she did intend to bring back dinner...but her ex found her...grabbed her and for some reason, took her to that bar. I don't know when he hit her, but apparently it wasn't before the bar...or else no one cared about a woman with a blackened face. While she was there, she was allowed to go to the bathroom. When she did, another woman who had been drinking at the bar was in there. My mom gave her a note asking for help with the police...she asked this woman for help. The woman took the note, went back into the bar, and gave the piece of paper to my mother's ex boyfriend. I'm pretty sure this set him off. I think he may have hit her once when she came out of the bathroom. Maybe it was more. All I know is, before he brought her back home, he hit her so hard she was black and blue on one whole side of her face, and he'd broken her cheekbone.

...after he brought her back, while we were sleeping, he raped my mom on the livng room floor, then fell asleep. When she was sure he was out, she went back and woke all three of us, and that's when we went out the back bedroom window.

...when the cops showed up, he was still passed out on the floor...

...he got a year and a half...served a year...and that was it. He never came around again (at least that I know of), but I think our justice system truely sucks. Rapes and beatings and murders...a year or two or maybe more. But if you sell drugs...wow...

...now if my mom had taken a bat to him before she left with us...I'd be willing to bet she would've gotten in more trouble than he did.

...I guess if he was selling drugs he would've really been punished.... Maybe Blade can explain how that works?
posted by Wanting at 7:45 PM