Rusty's Wednesday evening was spent listening to a presentation by 1958 Miss America, Marilyn Van Derbur, author of MISS AMERICA BY DAY. This best selling book is touted as "A guide for parenting...resource for professionals...handbook for survivers of sexual abuse...love story."

A survivor of incest (from age five to eighteen), Van Derbur said her dad was the problem. So often, mothers do nothing to protect their daughters and accuse their hurting daughters of making up stories that aren’t true. Because of their denial and doing nothing they end up hurting the kids more than the dads do.

She says the biggest group of sexual predators is boys between the age of 12 and 17. Most of their victims are little sisters usually starting at age 5. She says it is so vitally important to train our sons about the dangerous potential they have to ruin lives forever. They have to realize how to control their sexuality because they have no idea of the damage they do and that fondling can be as damaging mentally as actual penetration.

Babysitters are probably the next most numerous group for preying on the littler kids. I know a guy who told me, "When I was twelve a babysitter got me into sex and it really screwed me up." Another guy said about the same thing, same age, babysitter, etc.

Since kids won’t tell, parents need to ask them, “Has anybody touched you someplace you didn’t want them to?” Teach them BEFORE the fact to say, “NO, mommy and daddy said nobody is to touch me like that.”

Please take my recommendation on this and try to get the book and or CDs. www.MissAmericaByDay.com is your contact info. ******

HOPE OF SOUTH TEXAS, Sexual Assault Crisis and Children's Advocacy Center, sponsored the program. Their program listed these helps —

When you suspect child abuse or neglect:
All Texas citizens have a legal obligation to report suspected child abuse or neglect immediately to a state or local law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Your report of child abuse or neglect is confidential and immune from civil or criminal liability as long as the report is made in "good faith" and "without malice".
DO NOT confront the abuser.

If a child outcries abuse to you:
Don't overreact, remain calm!
Reassure the child that they are doing the right thing by telling.
Don't ask leading or accusing questions, but allow the child to tell their story.
Listen quietly and be cautiopus of your facial expressions.
Report ther outcry immediately.

Know who to call:
Law enforcement if the abuse is outside of the family, is life threatening, if immediate intervention is needed.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services if the abuse is within the family or household. THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE NUMBER IS 1-800-252-5400.

How to help an adult friend
Listen, be there, don't be judgemental.
Strongly encourage your friend to call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. The hotline, operated by the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), provides free, confidential counseling 24/7. RAINN can also provide your friend with the mane and contact information for a nearby crisis center.
Remember that, in the end, only your friend can make the decision to get help. Be patient- it may take time for him/her to deal with the crime.
***
What people need to know about sexual abuse:
Victims of sexual abuse can be any age, race or gender. (Rusty here: I personally know of one lady age 50 when raped, my older sister must have been in her late 50s and a lady out in west Texas, kin to a local man here, was either in her mid to late 80s or early 90s when she was beat up and raped. Also, one of our faithful readers has a grown daughter who was raped since we started the Rusty blog. And, his family had the highest praise for Hope of South Texas.)
One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually assaulted before they are eighteen. (Rusty, again, I know of a high school boy who was threatened at school. Fortunately, he grabbed an effective weapon and beat the other four boys severely. Too bad he didn't kill those football players who couldn't pass anyway.)
93% of victims know their abuser.
34% of those who sexually abuse children are family members and 59% are friends and acquaintances.
67% of all sexual assault victims are children.
Like Rape, child molestation is one of the most underreported crimes: ONLY 1-10% ARE EVER REPORTED.
****
For more information call Hope of South Texas at 361-573-5868. Any other suggestions?

Wednesday night Rusty acosted these good folks in the fishing tackle section of the super WM in Victoria. JOSH MEYER said his s-son BO CRANE caught some gafftop catfish on live shrimp off the pier at Indianola. They also caught a 5 foot manta ray on cut bait.
***
VODIE & LINDA BROOKS started with live shrimp off the rocks at Indianola and caught some rat reds and some black drum from 18" to 28". "When we ran out of live shrimp we got some dead ones and they worked just as good." They also used three inch pearl white Berkley 400X Gulp baits with good results. They were planning to go back out there this weekend.
*****
JEREMY HALLIBURTON was going to fish a creek up toward Halletsville this weekend.
*****
Y'all email me your fishing stories, especially when the kids went. Thanks, Rusty We're going to have to hatch up some kind of fishing contest for the kiddoes. Any ideas? I used to be able to wrangle prizes for the kids' events.

HELP! If anyone knows of anybody going to the FEMA CLASS in Corpus this Friday, I'd be willing to share the gas with them, my vehicle or theirs. With all the privacy stuff these days there's no way the little gal at the course office would help me. Of, course, she has to cover her backside.

BIRDDOG: That recent round about snakes not crossing a rope or hose on the ground was just shot in the rear by a snake on our breezeway slab tonight. One was slithering along our garden hose and suddenly took a hard right turn and went right over the top of it. My walking along beside it may have prompted it to do so. Since it was nonpoisonous it wasn't being harrassed or in any danger from me.

Bill Seeger sent this:
How to treat a woman:
Wine her.
Dine her.
Call her.
Hold her.
Surprise her.
Compliment her.
Smile at her.
Listen to her.
Laugh with her.
Cry with her.
Romance her.
Encourage her.
Believe in her.
Pray with her.
Pray for her.
Cuddle with her.
Shop with her.
Give her jewelry.
Buy her flowers.
Hold her hand.
Write love letters to her.
Go to the ends of the earth and back again for her.

How To Treat a Man:
1. Show up naked.
2 Bring chicken wings.
3 Don't block the TV.

Kinda reminds me of the John Larriquette (sp?) show where he was excorting a mature lady. After the night on the town she left the room and came back clad in only a sheer outfit and told him, "Now, treat me like a woman." His response was, "Okay, turn on the TV and bring me a beer."

MY truck flooded when I tried to start it after a meeting (An Emmaus gathering)last night. It had been idling too fast but I had no idea what to do about it. Bill Rakowitz hung around until the rough running leveled out and it was ready to head home. This morning it got to going much sooner than last night. Thinking it would be possible to reach my destination, prompted me to head on out. Things went well until a gas stop at Inez. The flooding and rough running resumed but it seemed to be okay. Less than a quarter mile down the road it just flat quit. Thank God for the tree shade on the rural highway.
A couple guys stopped but had no idea what to do. Troy Stidt stopped and squirted some cleaner on the injector nozzles and tried to reset the computer but it didn’t seem to happen. Late for helping another neighbor, he pushed me back down the road to Don Tipton’s body shop driveway but my rig stopped kind of cattywampus to the gravel driveway. Against better judgment, the gear shift lever was left in the park position instead of neutral. Since Don was his neighbor, Troy told me how to reach him by phone. My cell phone number was left at Tipton’s Conoco at Victoria.
Dwayne had to drop what he was doing to come haul me to the fundraiser clay shoot. About an hour into my helping score the practice rounds of the shooters, my phone rang. Don had decided to have his men work in the body shop this afternoon and my truck was in the way. Ray Anne Curry drove her dad’s pickup to Don’s shop where Don hooked my tow chain on and we pulled the truck out of his way.
Dr. John Beck, the veterinarian whose ranch the event was held at, had his daughter Laurie fix me up with a pillow and bedding for me to spend the night on their couch because the shooting was to resume in the morning. My plan was to lean my suburban seat back and sleep in the truck at the Beck ranch in order to save on that $2.85 gasoline, instead driving about 75 miles round trip. Dr. Beck approved my overnight in the truck plans earlier in the week.
Dwayne Bennett, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club in Victoria was going right by Ganado on his way home to Richmond tonight. Fearing my extra clothes, etc. would preclude my getting a ride back to my truck tomorrow riding home with Dwayne seemed the logical thing to do.
If my durned hip isn’t barking too loudly I might try hitchhiking back to the ranch tomorrow morning because I’d promised to volunteer again. These situations are usually interesting to see how the Lord blesses me while working things out. Johnnie High Jr., one of my former bosses, lives fairly close to where the suburban sits. He promised to pull me home tomorrow.

Here's a chance for you to heckle your old Uncle Rusty Saturday night. He volunteered, yesterday, to fill in for the auctioneer at the exciting fundraiser at the Beck Ranch. The auction is slated to start towards the end of the pit grilled steak supper due to start at 6:00 p.m.

Among the various auction items of fishing, camping and outdoor gear is a custom fishing rod, some fishing trips, two dog kennals, professional art work, jewelry, three outdoor portraits, a family portrait, art work by Boys & Girls Club members,and several gift certificates. Also a pet physical, a Mumford's catered event for eight people, dinner for four at Greek Bros in ElCampo,a cleaning package for ducts, vents, carpet and sidewalks; a TV advertising package.

Among the raffle items are a 12 gauge shotgun, a gas grill, an IPOD, a 10'X20' three room tent, a recliner, and a Shimano rod & reel.


The Victoria Rotary Club and the Boys & Girls Club of Victoria continue their partnership by hosting the ninth annual charity sporting clay shoot. Monies earned by this event go to benefit local area youth. The Boys & Girls Club share goes into its programs which are aimed at giving youth an avenue to a wholesome, productive life.

The Rotary share goes into local college scholarships, local and international youth leadership training, and support to local youth development programs.

The Clay Shoot will be held on April 22 & 23, 2006, at Beck Ranch, 9023 Salem Road. This is a new location farther out Salem Road just past the creek bridge. The format will be similar to past shoots—Saturday for registration, practice, and the Boys & Girls Club Field Day, then that evening, a steak dinner, Calcutta, and charity auction held at the event site as part of the entertainment at the dinner meeting of the Rotary Club. Sunday, the clay shoot will begin at 11:00 AM. The shooters will shoot ten targets at each of five stations to determine their class using the modified Lewis system.For more, click
http://www.victoriarotary.o... target='_blank'>HERE

Here's some more of WalMart's UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the biggest seller of firearms in the country, said it is discontinuing sales of guns in about 1,000 U.S. stores due to insufficient demand, part of an effort to boost sluggish sales by better matching store merchandise to individual neighborhoods.
http://online.wsj.com/publi... target='_blank'>HERE

A faithful reader sent this, surprised me as he's a staunch republican.

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher, whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to former Texas Governor, George W. Bush and his elevation to the White House.

The old Texan said, "Well, ya know, Bush is a 'post turtle'."

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was.

The old rancher said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."

The old man saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain, "You know he didn't get there by himself, he
doesn't belong there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, and you just want to help the dumb **** get down."

My sweet wife gave me three choices for a snack during Jeopardy today: “You can have your Caramel pecan pie, coconut cake with fresh strawberries or some of your pudding that’s still hot.” We started with the cake and later she brought me a tablespoon of warm tapioca pudding. Then for supper she nuked a sweet potato, fixed fresh green beans, fresh baked ham and made a salad. After our walk there was the pie and a bowl of tapioca pudding.

Heard a guy saying a man was using vulgar words? You know, some folks even try to say gosh, darn, dang, heck, etc. are "just substituting those words for the ones you'd really like to say."

Some think "dam*" and "hel*" are vulgar? Boy, they must have really had sheltered lives.

What do you say? If you don't want to answer here, hit my "contact Rusty" button.

With all the nasty/filthy stuff on TV, in movies, in so called music these days, what is socially acceptable and what's not? Who is the offical judge on this?

DARLENE TISE AND SHEILA MILLER in this week's Jackson County Herald Tribune were mentioning Easter. This brought back old egg hunts "down on the farm". Did Uncle Ellis "forget to mow the yard" the week before Easter with the nephews and nieces in mind? Who knows?
In the paternal grandma's yard was a cedar tree about eight feet tall, several pipes & old car axels driven in the ground, counter weights for the gates, a smoke house, a dog house, a bench for the wash tubs, post oaks and blackjack oak trees, a few bushes, etc. Of all the places the adults hid eggs, the one coming to mind was a bailing wire spiral hanging from an averhead tree limb with a colored egg in it.

A close eye had to be kept on the cats and dog that they didn't feast on the eggs before the kids found them

One Easter found me in bed with the old fashioned German measles. My sister Mary Sue and I hid eggs in the house. The only rub was that not all were found during the hunts. A few weeks later our noses found them. She had put some in an old purse and stuck it in a drawer.

What are some of your Easter memories?

In his book "UH,OH" Robert Fulghum was carrying on about his midnight snacks. That prompted Rusty to head to the kitchen, with no set plan other than to raid the fridge. The saucer turned out heaped with 1 TBSP Miracle Whip, 1 TBSP sweet relish, 1 TBSP chopped purple onions, 2 tsp gourmet honey mustard, 3/4 cup canned salmon, few slices cheddar cheese, handful soda crackers. It was going to be slow daubing individual ingredients on the crackers so everything besides the cheese and crackers was mixed together. Yummy yummy.

What kind of snacks do you make?

BILLY BIRDDOG sent this:
My uncle, Mom's brother, died yesterday. He was the oldest of four, 88, and one of the strongest, toughest, most kind hearted persons I've ever known. I could go on-and-on about Uncle Bill but 'nuff said that he's in glory today. We'll be making a trip Friday to Stamford, Tx. for the funeral on Saturday. Then back to Big Springs to spend the night and go to church Easter Sunday at the church my brother pastors. It'll be a lot of time on the road. Pray for travel safety and God's grace for the funeral. This will be a tough one for Mom.

BILLY: Give "yo mama" a big hug for me. Condolences to your family. Have a safe trip. Will look forward to hear from you after your trip. Vaya Con Dios.

Anyone who knows Dwayne Bennett at the Boys & Girls Club, Victoria, jack him up about keeping us updated on the auction items and prizes for this event. Oh, yes. You can donate prizes and buy tickets from him. Hope to see you there.
***
The Boys & Girls Club of Victoria, along with Rotary, is having a SPORTING CLAYS SHOOT AND FUNDRAISER Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23. As soon as Dwayne Bennett gets me some more info I’ll tell you the rest of the who, what, when, where, and why plus the cost. The kids from the club will have some firearms safety lessons and will be allowed to shoot (many for the first time). I do know there will be a steak dinner Saturday night and an auction, a Calcutta and maybe more.

DWAYNE BENNETT SENT ON 4/12. Good Morning Abe,
To find out particulars about the clay shoot event, please go to the victoriarotary.org website. They should have up to date info. about the event. As far as auction items goes, we currently have a professional painting, catered cooking for 8 by the ladies of Rotary, carpet cleaning services (2), a travel cooler, marble slab ice cream gift cert., jewelry, massage therapy, complimentary family photo by professional photographer, hunting equipment, fishing equipment among others.
http://www.victoriarotary.o... target='_blank'>HERE
Watch this space for updates

WHAT DO YOU THINK about the French gal trying to windsurf from Australia across the Indian Ocean? It was on Yahoo news but the link wouldn't work. Is that typical with yahoo news?

CJ CASTILLO FORWARDED ME A LINK http://www.ripoffreport.com... target='_blank'>HERE

Immediately below is a reply about a scam Rusty fell for yesterday. Below that is my original posting.

Search For Talent - Casting Talent Network Fraudulent charges, dishonest unethical practice, scam artists, liars, crooks, thieves South San Francisco California
*********

Old Rusty may have screwed up (yes, again). He called the 800 number listed in the classified "general" help wanted section of the Advocate. Search For Talent at searchfortalent.com is seeking actors, models, movie extras and assorted staff help. When the rep on the phone asked for a credit or debit card number to charge $1.98 to for shipping an information and instruction packet, Rusty gave him the card number of an account with a very small balance. They promised a seven day free trial. If you like their service your portfolio will remain active at $4.98 a week billed monthly. The phone guy said there was a casting call within 30 miles of Ganado and the information will be mailed or emailed. My inbox had a "Welcome Aboard" letter along with my user name and password just a few minutes after the phone call.
My search of their casting calls has turned up nothing of interest (extra) to me this side of Houston or San Antonio in the near future.
My question is this: Do any of you have any information about this bunch or had any dealings with them? Is this possibly a scam?

Evidently, old Rusty is going to have to hit the hay lots earlier and stay away from this keyboard. The other night, morning rather, he couldn't find his cell phone. It wasn't in the magic hands-free- speaker-phone gizzie. It wasn't in the tool pouch on the side of his carpenter shorts and not in any other pockets.The only thing left to do was call the number and see where it was ringing. That worked. It was in the leather cell phone holster he'd picked up while bike riding recently. The holster? Clipped to the waste, oops,waist band of his shorts.

Alex was diagnosed with cancer before she was a year old. At the age of four she wanted to start a lemonade stand to raise $10 million for pediatric cancer research. She died at age eight but her legacy lives on to help others. To learn more click
HERE

How many of you have, or know of someone who has, had chronic diarrhea since having their gall bladder removed? Ever Since my wife had her gall bladder removed in 1985, she’s had chronic diarrhea, yes, daily. A couple weeks ago my mom learned of the malady and replied, “My doctor gave me something which cleared mine up in just a few days. I’ll send her some to try.” Since the can of Cholestyramine oral suspension powder arrived, the wife said it stopped the diarrhea in just a few days. May be worth your while to ask your doctor about it since it is a prescribed item. Good luck.

First the serious part: After my mom had a cancerous section removed from her colon she hounded me for three years before I had a colonoscopy. That showed no problems. However, within six months it was obvious something was involved with my colon. Surgery removed a colon section because there was a fatty tumor about the size of a golf ball attached to the colon wall. My question to you readers: Is it possible for the scope procedure to irritate or bother the colon enough to cause the tumor? Have any of you ever heard anyone speculate on this?

Before we relate what faithful reader Birddog Billye sent lst me say that my favorite request of a colonoscopy patient was, “Hey, doc, could you take the front sight off that shotgun barrel?
Colonoscopies are no joke , but these comments during the exam were quite humorous..... A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his (predominately male) patients while he was performing their colonoscopies:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Herein lies the basics of the funny stuff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. "Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!

2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"

3. "Can you hear me NOW?"

4.! "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

5. "You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married."

6. "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"

7. "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out..."

8. "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"

9. "If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!

10. ! "Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."

11. "You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?"
12. "God, now I know why I am not gay."
And the best one of all...
13. "Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up here?"

Edna anglers Israel Saenz, Ronaldo Saenz and Enrique Luis Rocha were fishing south of U.S. 59 in Lake Texana. They were using shad for bait and had a gar about 24 inches long. Ronaldo “McDonaldo” Saenz, age 6, is in Mrs. Overstreet’s first grade class at Garver Elementary in Edna. The photo shows Ronaldo and his dad. You folks who have never eaten gar don’t know what you’re missing. The white meat, to me tastes better than some catfish. What I’ve eaten had no fishy taste to it. Fish that doesn’t taste like fish suits me better than those that do.


To get your fishing photos and stories on this blog use the CONTACT RUSTY ABE link. Please give the details of your catch or give your phone number in your email. Thanks, Rusty

Just on a wild hair, a "What are you up to?" note was sent to Tomaso. Here's what he told us.

Hey Rusty!! Good to hear from you. Things are going fine. I have been real busy. My wife and I just bought a building for her dress shop - so we have spent a > lot of time getting it fixed up — and I am also going back to school to get my real estate license. If you can't beat the neo-cons——maybe its time to join them?

TOM: Thanks for the info. Can I put this in my blog? Where's the shop and when does she hope to have it open? Does she sew or are these ready made dresses? Rusty

Rusty, Use it freely...but I doubt any Victoria Advocate area folks will find it interesting...I live in a small town in South Carolina called Elloree. It was through connections at the Advocate - that is how I got started blogging in South Texas!!!! But, if you want to run a little Whatever happened to Tomaso? deal - go right ahead.

The other piece of news you can use is that I started my own little newspaper here in Elloree. It is a monthly tabloid sized paper with 16 pages. My first issue was in January. My circulation was 1,000 copies which I distributed freely to everyone in town. I pretty much paid for that out of pocket. Its a lot of work. But, I actually like it. I did my own
delivery as well. Things have grown quickly. My fourth issue in April will be 20 pages and this month the advertising alone will pay for the printing costs!!! Next month I am hoping to actually turn a small little
profit - and of course my wife's ad is free. Can't beat that. And over the next couple of months I am hoping to push toward a subscription basis – so that will be more revenue. (Right now I have about 40 paid subscribers.
But, I am growing. John Foster Kane...look out.).... Only in America. Who knows I might even start my own little website and blogosphere at some point!!! Tomaso may return yet from the dead!

His paper is the ELLOREE DISPATCH. He's taking subscriptions. Use his contact link from his RETIRED BLOGGER page.

The Wabash (wah-bash) River, for a short distance, is the state line between Indiana and Illinois. Old Wabash is a name attributed to any old river rat from that region.
In this case, Wabash's wife was curious about hearing her hair dryer running in their bedroom. When she got there he was playing the blast from the tool over several wet spots of varying sizes on the bedsheets. "What are you doin'?" "Well, in that case you might as well change the sheets or they'll stink."
Sheepishly, the old cuss told the story which we won't tell here. To read the rest of this crazy tale hit the "Contact Rusty"link on this page and put WABASH in the text box.

Y'ALL help me out here. Add your stories to my stupid move. The coffee was too hot so, not thinking, my rice crispy square got dunked, only briefly but long enough to melt the marshmallow/butter glue holding it together. New song, "Rice Crispies in my coffee cup.."

A reader sent this:
A little boy comes down to breakfast. Since they live on a farm, his mother asks if he had done his chores.

"Not yet," said the little boy.
>
> His mother tells him no breakfast until he does his chores.
>
> Well, he's a little ticked off, so he goes to feed the chickens, and he kicks a chicken. He goes to feed the cows, and he kicks a cow. He goes to feed the pigs, and he kicks a pig. He goes back in for breakfast and his mother gives m a bowl of dry cereal.

"How come I don't get any eggs and bacon? Why don't I have any milk in my cereal?" he asks.

"Well," his mother says, "I saw you kick a chicken, so you don't get any eggs for a week. I saw you kick the pig, so you don't get any bacon for a week either.
>
I saw you kick the cow, so for a week you aren't getting any milk."

Just then, his father comes down for breakfast and kicks the cat half way across the kitchen.

The little boy looks up at his mother with a smile and says, "You going to tell him, or should I?"

Hey, if they'll let those ignorant, illegal immigrants display the Mexican Flag without doing anything about it, I demand equal time.

All you rednecks drag out your rebel flags. Let's parade around with them and see what a fuss it creates. The people who'll object came here from somewhere else didn't they? Let's stop kissing the butts of every yayhoo that hollers, including all those money grubbing ACLU horse's rears.