Confessions of A Former Catholic School Girl. - darlins64's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64 In my Blog, I will be sharing my thoughts and comments on numerous topics: Life in General, VISD, kids, parenting, ex spouses, Pets and whatever other random thought pops into my brain! All comments will be welcome! In my Blog, I will be sharing my thoughts and comments on numerous topics: Life in General, VISD, kids, parenting, ex spouses, Pets and whatever other random thought pops into my brain! All comments will be welcome! en-us Looking To Buy A German Shepard Puppy http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/9012 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/9012 <font face="Tahoma" size="4">Ok, it's just about 77 days away from Christmas... my husband wants a German Shepard puppy.&nbsp; If you know of anyone who has a liter that will be ready by Christmas, please let me know.&nbsp; I've been keeping my eye on the shelters around here, but it has to be a male and it has to be a saddleback.&nbsp; We don't care about AKC or CKC papers... we don't breed our dogs, they are family members and usually will be spayed or neutered by the age of 6 months.&nbsp; </font> EWWW - Gross! Cafeteria Food. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/8730 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/8730 <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">For those of us with kids in school, here's something you ought to know:&nbsp; School Cafeteria Lunches are GROSS!&nbsp; Not only that, the price has gone up (again) by .20.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Thursday, I went to Patti Welder Jr. High where my son is attending.&nbsp; It was his birthday, and I wanted to bring him his favorite meal:&nbsp; 2 double cheese burgers, fries, and a root beer from McDonalds.&nbsp; He didn't really want me to sit in the cafeteria with him - &quot;Mom, I'm in the 7th grade, that's embarrassing!&quot; - but due to some rule made up by the food Nazis at the FDA, if a child is eating &quot;foods of minimal nutritional value&quot;, a parent or guardian must be present during the entire consumption... Gee, do I have to be CPR certified as well?&nbsp; Any whoo... as we sat there, we were joined by some of his friends who bought their lunch from the cafeteria - For $2.15 these kids got a : 2 tbs of questionable ground beef, 1 stale taco shell, 12 pinto beans and about 1 1/2 cups of Spanish rice.&nbsp; Where's the protein?&nbsp; Where's the green veggies?&nbsp; One kid went thru the &quot;pizza line&quot; - Talk about gross- The pizza looked like a glop of dough, not fully cooked, with a drop or two of tomato sauce coated in fake cheese, plus a bread stick.&nbsp; These portions are NOT enough to fill up growing boys.&nbsp; They can go thru the line again, but it costs another $2.15.&nbsp; Talk about minimal nutrional value!!!&nbsp; Many of you may suggest that my son brown bag it -- good idea!&nbsp; I could fill him up with healthy foods that not only taste good and are good for him, but have eye appeal as well.&nbsp; But the problem is, Patti Welder does not allow backpacks or book bags and doesn't have lockers.&nbsp; So what's a kid to do?&nbsp; I'm sure he could haul his lunch around with him through 1st period athletics that start at 7:30AM until lunch time which is 4th period (11:44AM).... Been there, done that - lunch get's stolen during athletics and once (last year) was confiscated by a teacher aid in the lunch room.... (Don't get me started on that)</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">I understand that VISD employes a &quot;nutritionist&quot; who decides what foods should be served and how much is in a serving... but even by FDA guidelines the lunches at school are seriously lacking.&nbsp; Then there is the whole issue with price:&nbsp; For $2.15 I think that the kids should get a little more meat and protein on their plates.&nbsp; Don't fill them up on starches and carbohydrates!Give them less rice and more meat or protein.&nbsp; For Gods Sake, if you are going to serve pizza, make it look like pizza!&nbsp; It really helps if you cook it!&nbsp; These are children that we are feeding!&nbsp; I swear, prisoners get better food than our students!&nbsp; And they don't even have to pay for their meals!!!!</font></p> To Our Son http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/8693 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/8693 <p><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff" size="5">Today&nbsp;is a milestone for you!&nbsp; Today, you became a teenager!&nbsp; Happy, happy birthday to my &quot;no longer baby&quot; boy!&nbsp; Dad and I are so proud of the young man you are and we love you so very much!&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff" size="5">Mom &amp; Dad!</font></p>


Title: sam on heliocopter.jpg
Caption: Sam on Helicopter
Credit: darlins64


Title: sam on heliocopter.jpg
Caption: Sam on Helicopter
Credit: darlins64

 sam on heliocopter.jpg Sam on Helicopter darlins64 Memories of Rockport http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7950 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7950 <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">I remember the summer vacations of my childhood and the days spent in a wonderful place called Rockport.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Nearly every July of my childhood, my maternal grandparents, Joe and Ethel Sneed would rent a house in (Key Allegro) Rockport.&nbsp; The Sneed offspring and their offspring would spend a wonderful month together in our &quot;summer home&quot;.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">We grandkids were kept in line for the preceding weeks with threats of not being able to go if we didn't behave.&nbsp; Even the adults looked forward to the event and could barely contain their excitement.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The days leading up to the start of our Rockport adventure were thrilling and busy.&nbsp; There was the gathering of the necessary items:&nbsp; bed linens, pillow, cots, beach towels, swimming suits, cooking utensils, food, ice chests, and of course, the fishing equipment.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">There were long distance phone calls from Uncle Charles and Aunt LaVerne in Bakersfield California, informing Nana and Granddaddy that they were leaving for Texas the following morning, and nightly updates as to their progress.&nbsp; &quot;Countdown to Uncle Charles&quot; began.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The day would finally arrive and we would set out from Refugio in two and sometimes three cars.&nbsp;&nbsp; We children could hardly sit still.&nbsp; As we headed toward our destiny, we'd talk and sometimes argue about what we were going to do, and who would be the first to do what when we got there.&nbsp;&nbsp; If we were lucky, we were in Uncle Charles' station wagon in the lead car.&nbsp; If we had been unlucky, we were in the car with Granddaddy going 15 miles under the speed limit.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As soon as we came to the causeway over Copano Bay, we'd roll down the windows and take in the scent of summer.&nbsp; Rockport has a scent all of it's own:&nbsp; warm sand, bay leaves, oak, cedar, creosote, sea breeze and oleander.&nbsp; It was fresh, and invigorating, and once you've smelled it, it stays in your soul forever.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The days spent in our summer home were filled with sugar cookies, crab gumbo, Mrs. Henkehaus' homemade beets, coffee, gallons of Kool-Aide, fried frish, broiled fish, peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches and other delicacies.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">There was a million things to do in Rockport:&nbsp; trips to the beach where Uncle Charles would tease us until Nana made him stop; building sandcastles; tending jellyfish stings with the mud from the bay; sitting on the deck on the Fourth of July to watch the fireworks display; the annual art show where Uncle Joe would show off his painting talent.&nbsp; There were crabbing and fishing expeditions as well as going to play putt-putt golf.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Then there were the visits from the &quot;Bay City Bunch&quot;, Nana's sister, Aunt Bea, her husband Uncle Bill (Gordon), their children and grandchildren.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">There was most always a game of cards going.&nbsp; The adults would play Shanghai practically around the clock.&nbsp; The cards were always on the table ready to be dealt.&nbsp; Woe to any child who messed with them.&nbsp; Being included in the card game was a right of passage.&nbsp; That was <u>the</u> signal you were considered &quot;old enough&quot;.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The very first house I recall was destroyed by Hurricane Celia.&nbsp; We also stayed in a house, known to us as the &quot;Captains&quot; house several years in a row.&nbsp; A time or two a condo was rented.&nbsp; The last house Nana and Granddaddy rented was out on Fulton Beach Road in the summer of 1981.&nbsp; I was going into my senior year of high school and thought I knew it all.&nbsp; Rockport had <em>almost</em> lost all of it's charm for me.&nbsp; That was the summer Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles.&nbsp; I remember Nana waking me up very early that morning so that I could watch the ceremony on television.&nbsp; &quot;It's history in the making.&quot; she said.&nbsp;&nbsp; At the time, I could have cared less.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Aunt Bea died in '77.&nbsp; We lost Granddaddy in December '83.&nbsp; Nana quickly joined him a few months later.&nbsp;&nbsp;Uncle Charles and Uncle Joe both passed away in 2001.&nbsp; Mother is the last.&nbsp; She had tried before her brothers died, to keep the tradition going.&nbsp; Health and other issues have prevented it.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">I never did get to play Shanghai with the &quot;adults&quot; in Rockport.&nbsp;By the time I was old enough, I had no interest.&nbsp; Life took me far from Rockport for a while.&nbsp; Now I am closer and I take my kids down for the day.&nbsp; As soon as we get to the causeway, I roll down my window to take in the sweet scent of my childhood.</font></p> When Friendships End http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7624 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7624 <p><font face="Verdana" color="#000080" size="4">Throughout my 40-something years of life, I can count on one hand the friends I've had that I considered &quot;best friends&quot;.&nbsp; Those who loved me warts and all:</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#000080" size="4">My childhood friend Kara - we met in the 2nd grade and were inseperable for years.&nbsp; Even when she moved away, there were regular letters exchanged back and forth.... in the summer, she would come spend time with me or I'd go spend time with her.&nbsp; She taught me the importance of make-up and told me what &quot;french kissing&quot;.... We were polar opposites -&nbsp; she thin, tall &amp; blonde, me brunette, chubby.&nbsp; she had 2 sisters and I had none.&nbsp; She didn't like her step-dad, I adored mine.&nbsp; During her senior year of high school, she went on to other things and left me behind.&nbsp; I think we just out grew each other and I've seen her once in the last 15 years.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#000080" size="4">Then there was Teresa from High School.&nbsp; We met the first few weeks of freshman year in English class.&nbsp; I was the new kid in town, lonley, overwhelmed, miserable.&nbsp; She walked up to my desk and said:&nbsp; &quot;Listen here newbie, that's my seat&quot;.... as I mumbled an apology and started to move, she laughed and said:&nbsp; &quot;Just Kidding&quot;.... we grew from there.&nbsp; We were always doing things together and always talking about our &quot;future husbands&quot;... She was going to marry my brother, Richard, and I was going to marry Stanley Hopkins Peavy, III.... we'd live in the same town and our children would be best friends!&nbsp; Teresa and Kara even met and were friends thru me.&nbsp; After high school, we sort of drifted apart.&nbsp; Life happens.&nbsp; She graduated from college, got married, had 2 beautiful children and still lives in the same town.... we still exchange Christmas Cards, the ocassional letters, and a few emails.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#000080" size="4">Karen was a friend I met when I lived in Houston.&nbsp; Her &quot;live in&quot; boyfriend and mine, bowled on the same league.&nbsp; We started a weekly poker game and laughed a lot.&nbsp; Her boyfriend was a jerk and treated her badly.&nbsp; I tried to help her and she repaid me with the worst kind of betrayal.&nbsp; Even now, nearly&nbsp;18 years after the fact, it is too painful to discuss.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#000080" size="4">Then there was Sara* (<font size="2"><em>this name has been changed to protect the innocent</em></font><font size="4">)&nbsp; We met about 12 years ago when my youngest son was an infant.&nbsp; We lived in the same neighborhood.&nbsp; We really didn't have much in common except our kids were close in age.&nbsp; But we became close.&nbsp; At least 2 or 3 times a week we would get together and play cards, or go to lunch or breakfast.&nbsp; We had a tradition that on the first day of school every year, we'd drop the kids off at school, and then go to Village Inn or Ihop for breakfast.&nbsp; Sara was there for me during my worst times... she held my hand before I went into surgery and was there when I woke up.&nbsp; When her youngest was born, I was right there with her... both of us cried on each other's shoulders or bent the other's ears with frustration at the kids or when our husband's were acting like jerks.&nbsp; We laughed and cried, and b*tched and celebrated together.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our kids called us &quot;aunt&quot;, and we each had the other listed as emergency contacts.&nbsp; We'd talk on the phone or see each other every day.&nbsp; Then, it was once a week.... twice a month.... last summer, the calls and emails slowed to a trickle... 2 months went by and we didn't see each other.&nbsp; After my granddaughter was born, there was a renewed effort and our families spent New Year's Eve together....In March, she forgot my birthday so I called to tease her about it.... she never called me back... Later that month, I was really going thru a hard time and needed a friend.... she didn't call me back.... In April, I found out I had some serious health issues and reached out.... no call back, no email, no nothing.&nbsp; I went to go see her one day&nbsp;about 2 weeks ago.&nbsp; I had the grandbaby and my oldest daughter with me.&nbsp; The tension was palitable.&nbsp;&nbsp;I knew something was wrong, but didn't&nbsp;know what.&nbsp; When we left that day, Sara hugged and kissed everyone -- except me!&nbsp; I&nbsp;got the message, but didn't understand why I was getting it.&nbsp; A few days later&nbsp;I got an email from her telling me that she has been ticked off at me for&nbsp;the past 3 months, and proceeded to tell me why.... I had, very unintentionally, done something that she felt was a betrayal.&nbsp; A series of heated emails was then volleyed back and forth... nothing was really accomplished.&nbsp; So yet again another long term friendship dies..... </font></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#000080" size="4">Sara, I will miss you and the kids very much.&nbsp; I have apologized to you for my unintentional blunder, and wish nothing but the best for you and your family.&nbsp; I'm always here for you and you know it.</font></p>


Title: Kara Linda Teresa.jpg
Caption: We called ourselves the 3 Musketeers... Summer, 1979. What fun we had!
Credit: darlins64


Title: Kara Linda Teresa.jpg
Caption: We called ourselves the 3 Musketeers... Summer, 1979. What fun we had!
Credit: darlins64

 Kara Linda Teresa.jpg We called ourselves the 3 Musketeers... Summer, 1979. What fun we had! darlins64 Happy Birthday! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7582 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7582 <p><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="4">On a personal note:&nbsp; Happy Birthday Little Brother!&nbsp; Hope it's a Good One!</font></p>


Title: charlie on horse.jpg
Caption: One of the last real cowboys!
Credit: darlins64


Title: charlie on horse.jpg
Caption: One of the last real cowboys!
Credit: darlins64

 charlie on horse.jpg One of the last real cowboys! darlins64 Can't Wait Til School Board Race Is Over http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7508 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7508 <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">I cannot wait until this School Board Race is Over!&nbsp; Maybe then this forum will go back to some semblance of normalcy!&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">This week, 2 threads have been locked because the 2 campaigns are fighting a &quot;Death Match&quot; armed with rumor, innuendo, unsubstantiated fact, and down right hatred of one another....</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">Yesterday afternoon, I posted a comment in which I stated that I did not reside in the contested district.... Meaning that my school board representative's position isn't up for grabs.&nbsp; But I do reside in Victoria.&nbsp; Later, after the post was locked by Mr. Cobbler, I received a message from &quot;sickofit&quot; stating:&quot;If you don't live here, then we really don't care what you have to say.&quot; That person further went on to give me a &quot;poor&quot; rating.&nbsp; I really don't care about that.&nbsp; What bothers me is that this topic has become toxic.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">Keeling supporters accuse Jaynes of having ulterior motives (the Drill Team); Jaynes supporters accuse Keeling of being anti-drill team-which may as well be grounds for evisceration to some.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">Add to this the thread from several months back about the Drill team in which a poster repeatedly insinuated that Ms Jaynes was breaking some law or putting kids in danger.... That thread was eventually deleted.....</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">At this point in time, I am sick of this election and all that goes with it.&nbsp; It would have been better had there been a coin toss -- that would have been a whole other debate!</font></p> Oh No! Not Another Cheerleading Scandal http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7302 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7302 <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">It seems that the insurability and the hazard pay for cheerleading coaches has just gone up... according to a news report from The Oklahoman, a cheer squad coach was attacked by a woman with a stun gun:</font></p> <p>A woman accused of attacking a cheerleading coach with a stun gun has turned herself in to authorities, police said today.</p> <p><a title="Leshawn Fisher" href="http://www.newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&amp;CANONICAL=Leshawn+Fisher&amp;CATEGORY=PERSON">Leshawn Fisher</a>, 36, was booked into the <a title="Oklahoma County" href="http://www.newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&amp;CANONICAL=Oklahoma+County&amp;CATEGORY=COUNTY">Oklahoma County</a> jail on a complaint assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on Friday, police said.</p> <p>The arrest came after a warrant was issued for <a title="Leshawn Fisher" href="http://www.newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&amp;CANONICAL=Leshawn+Fisher&amp;CATEGORY=PERSON">Fisher</a>. She allegedly used a stun gun to attack <a title="Bethany Lorenz" href="http://www.newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&amp;CANONICAL=Bethany+Lorenz&amp;CATEGORY=PERSON">Bethany Lorenz</a>, a cheerleading coach and biology teacher at <a title="Putnam City North High School" href="http://www.newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&amp;CANONICAL=Putnam+City+North+High+School&amp;CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION">Putnam City North High School</a>, police said. </p> <p><a title="Bethany Lorenz" href="http://www.newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&amp;CANONICAL=Bethany+Lorenz&amp;CATEGORY=PERSON">Lorenz</a> was zapped in the neck with a stun gun by a woman that had flagged her down in the school's parking lot following cheerleading practice. The woman started asking questions about the cheerleading squad before the attack, police said.</p> <p>The attacker left after a brief scuffle. Surveillance footage captured by cameras in the school parking lot allowed police to identify a suspect, police said.</p> <p>A warrant was then issued based on police findings.</p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">Wow!&nbsp; Rah Rah Rah, Sis boom --- DON'T TAZE ME BRO!</font></p> If The World Wasn't Crazy Enough --- http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7227 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7227 <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">What?&nbsp; Really....?&nbsp; People, this is not a laughing matter!&nbsp; Here is the actual article I found on the Reuter's website:</font></p> <p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"><u><strong>Penis theft panic hits city..</strong></u> <!-- END HEADLINE --></font></font></p> <div id="ynmain"><!-- BEGIN STORY BODY --> <div id="storybody"> <div class="storyhdr"> <p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"><strong><span>By Joe Bavier</span>Wed Apr 23, 1:07 PM ET</strong> </font></font></p> <div class="spacer"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div> </div> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>Reports of so-called penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa, where belief in traditional religions and witchcraft remains widespread, and where ritual killings to obtain blood or body parts still occur.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>Rumors of penis theft began circulating last week in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling capital of some 8 million inhabitants. They quickly dominated radio call-in shows, with listeners advised to beware of fellow passengers in communal taxis wearing gold rings.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear, in what some residents said was an attempt to extort cash with the promise of a cure.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>&quot;You just have to be accused of that, and people come after you. We've had a number of attempted lynchings. ... You see them covered in marks after being beaten,&quot; Kinshasa's police chief, Jean-Dieudonne Oleko, told Reuters on Tuesday.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>Police arrested the accused sorcerers and their victims in an effort to avoid the sort of bloodshed seen in Ghana a decade ago, when 12 suspected penis snatchers were beaten to death by angry mobs. The 27 men have since been released.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>&quot;I'm tempted to say it's one huge joke,&quot; Oleko said.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>&quot;But when you try to tell the victims that their penises are still there, they tell you that it's become tiny or that they've become impotent. To that I tell them, 'How do you know if you haven't gone home and tried it',&quot; he said.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>Some Kinshasa residents accuse a separatist sect from nearby Bas-Congo province of being behind the witchcraft in revenge for a recent government crackdown on its members.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>&quot;It's real. Just yesterday here, there was a man who was a victim. We saw. What was left was tiny,&quot; said 29-year-old Alain Kalala, who sells phone credits near a Kinshasa police station.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#333399" size="4"><em><strong>(Editing by Nick Tattersall and Mary Gabriel)</strong></em></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="4">I can honest say now that I have heard it all!!!!&nbsp; I can't stop laughing over this article!&nbsp; I can't even think of anything more crazy to say!</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></p> </div> </div> UPDATED: More Than Just Prices Fall At Wal-Mart http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7149 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7149 <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">Earlier in the week, I wrote about my near-death experience with falling objects in the Wal-Mart Sporting Good Dept.&nbsp; (ok, so it really wasn't &quot;near-death&quot;, but it could have been!)&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">My main complaint was the lack of concern displayed by the sales clerk and other employees.&nbsp; I was injured and felt pain, and no one even asked:&nbsp; &quot;Are you okay?&quot; or said:&nbsp; &quot;My goodness!&nbsp; I'm so sorry that happened.&quot;&nbsp; Until......</font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">Monday afternoon, I decided to contact a manager at Wal-Mart.&nbsp; When I told him my story, he was shocked!&nbsp; He profusely apologized and told me that it is store policy, even if it is obvious the customer is at fault... (which I wasn't)... that a manager should be called immediately, and an incident report filled out.&nbsp; This manager, David, told me that he was going to look into the matter and asked that I come in at my convienience to fill out an incident report.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">When I met with him on Tuesday morning, he was very, very polite and professional.&nbsp; He asked if I needed to see a doctor or anything.&nbsp; I told him my pride was bruised more than anything and declined the office visit.&nbsp; I filled out an incident report and re-visited the offending aisle... sure enough, the stacked plastic gun cases were more stablized on the top shelf!</font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">So, I'm good.&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks David</font></p> More Than Prices Fall At Wal-Mart http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7120 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/7120 <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">Remember the old Wal-Mart commercials that showed the smiley-face person -- er thingy-- er mascot in a hard hat with the caption:&nbsp; &quot;<strong><em>Watch for falling prices&quot;?&nbsp; </em></strong>That came into my mind yesterday afternoon just after I was hit on the head by falling objects in sporting goods department.</font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">I had some errands to run in town and Wal-Mart was first on my list.&nbsp; True to my obsessive/compulsive nature, I ventured into the non-food section first.&nbsp; There was something my husband needed from the sporting goods department so I was standing there looking for the .44 cal. barrel bore he needed.&nbsp; Normally, there are at least 2 persons behind the counter in that section and I was hoping to catch someone's attention to assist me.&nbsp; There was only one person working there and she seemed extraordinarily concerned with re-arranging the cooler which houses the cartons of fishing worms and other creepy crawlers.... Suddenly, I heard a noise from above and looked up..... On the top shelf, just above the gun cleaning sets, were a stack of plastic rifle cases.... which seemed to act of their own volition and came sliding down.... The first one hit my up-raised arm, the second hit my head and shoulder... the third landed on my foot.&nbsp; OUCH!&nbsp; The one that hit my arm felt like it jammed my wrist.... and I was seeing stars from the bump on the head..... but hey, at least now I had the attention of the sales clerk!&nbsp;&nbsp; She walks over looks at the 3 gun cases, and says:&nbsp; &quot; Huh, that's odd.&nbsp; Can I help you find something.&quot;......... She never asked if I was alright, never apologized, never mentioned it.&nbsp; I found what I needed in that department and rushed over to the pharmacy for some Advil, and then headed for the nearest check-out stand.&nbsp; I told the clerk what had happened and she said:&nbsp; &quot;I'll let my manager know, Thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart, Have a nice day.&quot;&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">Now, I'm not looking to sue Wal-Mart, nor was I very seriously injured.&nbsp; I just thought that they should have acknowledged the unfortunate event, asked if I was okay, or at least pretend they were concerned.&nbsp; Instead, they just pretended it didn't happen!&nbsp; I guess that since they are one of the worlds largest retailers, they don't have to use common courtesy!&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">I am considering calling the store manager today and making a formal complaint.&nbsp; I doubt if it will amount to anything, but it will sure make me feel better to do something.</font></p> <p><font face="Tahoma" size="4">If anyone else has ever had a similar experience, please let me know!</font></p>


Title: 2218140930.jpg
Caption: He's secretly laughing at me
Credit: Wal-Mart Logo


Title: 2218140930.jpg
Caption: He's secretly laughing at me
Credit: Wal-Mart Logo

 2218140930.jpg He's secretly laughing at me Wal-Mart Logo The IRS & The EX http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/6737 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/6737 <p><font face="Verdana" color="#006600" size="4">The ex is behind on his child support payments --- again!&nbsp; I know I really shouldn't go off about this, because I know I am just one of a billion out there whose ex is behind on child support.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#006600" size="4">Because the ex owes $1099.00 in child support and over $500.00 in medical bills, the Attorney General's office intervened.&nbsp; The ex, who is so racist, he makes Archie Bunker look like Ghandi, believes that the OAG is making him pay more child support because he is caucasian.&nbsp; He recently stated that if the case were in East Texas, he would not be paying support at all!&nbsp; (He's not very smart either.)&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#006600" size="4">Any who --- The OAG sent a nice little note to the IRS stating that Ex-husband's refund should be garnished.&nbsp; The IRS complied, but only withheld a portion of the total amount due.&nbsp; Instead of the $1099.00, they only took out $683.00.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#006600" size="4">I know what you are thinking:&nbsp; &quot;Honey, that's a nice chunk of money, what are you b*tching about?&quot; --- He filed his return, rapid refund, of course, around the 25th of January.&nbsp; He received over $3,000.00 after the garnishment.... I have been informed by the OAG and the IRS that they can hold the funds from 4 - 6 weeks or even longer.&nbsp; While he got his money Feb. 1st, I'm still playing the waiting game.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#006600" size="4">I guess I'm rattling about this because I don't think it's fair that the IRS holds the funds just to make sure he doesn't owe anymore taxes, and if he does, I don't get what's owed on behalf of my child!&nbsp; Plus, I know the money isn't in an envelope waiting to be mailed.... it's in an account drawing interest that I will never see.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" color="#006600" size="4">I suppose some may think I'm a greedy person, but the money is for the benefit of a child.... He dad couldn't even be bothered to send her a $4.00 birthday card on Feb. 5th.!&nbsp; But he had $3000.00 and no bills to pay!&nbsp; Sucks doesn't it?</font></p> On Becoming A Grandmother http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/5520 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/5520 <p><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#ff007f" size="3">On Monday, October 22, 2007, at 4:35 PM, I became a 43 year old grandmother to Jaylynn McKenzie. She weighed in at 8 lbs 4 ozs and was 20 inches long. She was the most beautiful creature (besides her mother) I have ever seen. It is almost as if God sent a precious angel from Heaven for us to have, hold, love and spoil. I thank God for answering my prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy baby! (Even though my daughter had a rough time and ended up having a to have a c-section.) My cup runneth over with His Blessings! (Even though I had to share the event with my ex and his wife)</font></p> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#ff007f" size="3">Jaylynn joined our family on what would have been my beloved grandmother, Theresa Mae Sullivan, aka, Nana Sullivan, birthday. Tabitha met Nana twice when she was just a baby herself. Nana died when Tabby was about 4 months old. Life renews itself, and so I feel a part of Nana is with us in Jaylynn.</font></p> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#ff007f" size="3">When I first got the news, back in Febuary that I was going to be a grandmother, I was excited!&nbsp; When I first laid eyes on Jaylynn, I was overwhelmed with emotion!&nbsp; I cried!&nbsp; She was so beautiful and so perfect! I was so overcome with happiness, I smiled at my ex before I could stop myself!&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#ff007f" size="3">It is my intention that Mimi (that's me) will take every opportunity to spoil Miss Jaylynn horribly every chance I get. Though it may seem like it, Corpus Christi is not too far away to do so. </font></p> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#ff007f" size="3"></font></p>


Title: Mimi & Jaylynn 2.jpg
Caption: Jaylynn McKenzie, my first grandchild, and her Mimi -- that's me!
Credit: darlins64


Title: Mimi & Jaylynn 2.jpg
Caption: Jaylynn McKenzie, my first grandchild, and her Mimi -- that's me!
Credit: darlins64

 Mimi & Jaylynn 2.jpg Jaylynn McKenzie, my first grandchild, and her Mimi -- that's me! darlins64 Okay, so she's not Julia Roberts.... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/5127 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/darlins64/5127 <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">I may receive a lot of flack for what I'm about to write here, but oh well</font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">DAMN THE TORPEDOS!</font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">I got married, for the first time, when I was 21 years old.&nbsp; We were young and thought we could change the world... blah blah blah.&nbsp; </font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">Three years and 2 kids later, I was done!&nbsp; We went through a very bitter and painful seperation and divorce.</font><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"> </font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">I remarried in 1994 and My ex married&nbsp; 2002.&nbsp; Even though we had been divorced for 13 years&nbsp;and I had&nbsp;been happily remarried for 8&nbsp;years, I acted a lot like Susan Sarandon in the movie &quot;Step Mom&quot;.&nbsp; Not that I was ever openly hostile toward her, but I wasn't openly friendly.&nbsp; I didn't encourage my kids to get along with her either.&nbsp; There is nothing horrible about my kid's step mom...</font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">Earlier this year, we found out we are going to be grandparents.&nbsp; I really had mixed feelings about this, because I've already had to share my two kids with step mom, but now I have to share my grandchild!?!? This could get ugly!&nbsp; </font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">Remember in the movie, when Julia Roberts helps the daughter get revenge on the boyfriend... well similar circumstances:&nbsp; </font>A few weeks ago, my son was going thru a really emotionally difficult time.&nbsp; I was unreachable dad was still at work, but step-mom answered the phone.&nbsp;&nbsp; She said:&nbsp; &quot;If you want to talk about it, I'll listen and not say anything&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div> </font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">I started&nbsp; thinking about other parts of that movie... the scene in the resturant where Mom and Step Mom meet over drinks to discuss Mom's impending death, and how she worried the daughter wouldn't remember her... and I realized, she isn't trying to take my place or compete with me!&nbsp; She honestly and truly loves my children!&nbsp; How can that be a bad thing?&nbsp; I think if anything ever happened to me, and I was taken from this earth, Step mom wouldn't replace me... but she would fill a HUGE hole left in my kids and grandchildren's lives.&nbsp; She would, regardless of her feelings for me, offer comfort and support, and encouragement.&nbsp; Probably do a few loads of laundry and cook a few meals for them too!&nbsp; You know, all the things that Mom's do for the kids that they love!!!!&nbsp; </font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366">Will I be spending Christmas Morning with my ex and his wife?&nbsp; I seriously doubt it... I might be ok with Julia, but Ed Harris is still an a-hole!&nbsp; But I am looking forward to the baby shower this weekend, when we place a &quot;grandmother&quot; tag on my wife-in-law.....and I'll gladly make a place for her in the baby's scrapbook!</font></div> <div></div> <div><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ccffff" face="Verdana" color="#003366"></font></div>