Who Murdered My Co Worker’s Cousin?

This is a very tragic story about a co worker’s cousin in a very large and close family. Lets just call my co worker “Jane”.

Apparently there was a party at the Aunt’s house for a bunch of 16 to 18 year old kids. Their was alcohol to which the Aunt had provided along with the kids. Well, This young boy of 16 does not drink, smoke or take drugs. It is a known fact that he was a good kid and was just there to be with his friends. He knew that some of them did drugs but figured that that was their choice. According to (Jane), some of these wonderful friends of his (sarcasm) started putting pills in his soda thinking this was funny. These kids would always ask him if he wanted another soda and then would get it for him. He then after a while started acting as though on drugs and passed out on the couch. No one bothered to check on him – Just letting him sleep it off.

The next morning the aunt (the one who had this party and supervised it)(sarcasm), woke up to find the boy still laying on the couch and his lips were blue. The aunt called 911 and they promptly came out only to find that this young man of 16 was now dead. The autopsy showed that he had consumed several different types of pills.

When asked by (Jane) and her family members to the aunt. “What were you thinking, you are the adult!” “How could you let this happen?” Her reply was, according to (Jane) was almost matter of factly, “It isn’t my fault!” “I couldn’t watch everything that was going on!”

What? Just writing this makes me shake. I could not believe my ears when Jane told me. She had tears in her eyes and a lot of anger.

Well, this happened approx. 3 weeks ago and this is the update. The police are trying to find out which kids gave him the drugs, and when they figure out who they are (of course no one is squealing on them), they will be tried for murder in the 1st degree. The aunt however,  is going to also be charged but only with ” homicide due to neglect”. I could not believe my ears. I am so appalled and dumbfounded at this. She was the adult who is “supposed to be watching and supervising these children!” Well, as you can tell, I totally disagree with this. I feel that she is just to blame if not more for her lack of actions. She was a lousy supervisor and never bothered to checked on this kid who was passed out on her couch. She said she thought he would be ok. If she had checked on him through the night to make sure he was ok, he might have been saved! I honestly believe in my heart,  that she should get life for her actions, or lack of actions.

Write and let me know what you think!

“I send my blessings to all who grieve for this loss, and may God bless you all”.

Are Weather Forecasters Comedians?

I like to know what is happening with the weather and so I listen to the radio going to work and back home. I have finally realized that this is a pointless thing to do. I live in Arizona and we don’t get a lot of rain but when we do some of the roads flood and I either can’t get to work or home. A couple of days ago I was driving to work and the weather forcaster said ”It going to be sunny and quite warm today. No chance of rain. Well when I went out on my 15 minute break it was beautiful out. We had a nice cool breeze and clear skies. Went out for lunch, same thing. Went out on my afternoon 3:00 break and lo and behold, it was cloudy and sprinkling. Then at 5:00 I get in my car and its cloudy. I even hear a clap of thunder. I have the radio on and I don’t get but maybe 5 miles from work when the weather forcaster states that we “have some weather activity going on in the valley.” ” Looks like it’s raining in parts of the valley and it looks like we have a 30% chance of showers going into the evening:. Well, I swear to you that as soon as se said that, the sky began to clear up and by the time I got home it was beautiful outside. I sat in my car just cracking up. I was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my face. When I regained myself, I then realized “Weather Forcasters Are Comedians”!

What About Tomorrows Money?

I normally do not like to talk about politics but I have to say that what I see happening in our country scares the heck out of me.

Things are getting tough and you really need to start thinking about tomorrow.

My significant other and I are living in our home that we are still paying for. He is 58 years old and working 3 jobs “thats right 3 jobs”. I am 56 years old and I work 2 jobs. “Guess what”! We”re struggling. Five jobs and barely making it.

Well, I am thinking about tomorrow. I have never really worried about tomorrow before. Now, after September 11th and because of the financial problems that our country is facing today. I am worried about tomorrow, next year, etc.

What I am doing is paying off all of my debts (credit cards, etc). This will take some time (approx 3 years) and this does not include the home, (that will come later).

Then when debts are paid off we won’t have as much of a problem with financial survival.

If the United States is out of trouble by then (fingers crossed) then I will be doing really well. If the united States is still in trouble then I will not be struggling so hard.

Don’t just assume that everything is going to get better, because none of us knows what is going to happen at this point.

So please, be safe and take care.

PS: Please tell me if you have thoughts of your own on a better way of handling this matter.

“GOD BLESS AMERICA” AND “GOD BLESS YOU”!

 

Whats Happening To Our Children?

Let me ask you a question. Does anyone seem to care that some our children are growing up to be so angry that they actually commit murder? Does anyone see that awful commercial on Girls Gone Wild? If that commercial came on and I saw “MY” daughter lifting her blouse in front of thousands if not millions of people I would be devastated. Someone told me once when I brought up this subject, “Oh, they’re just being kids.” JUST BEING KIDS? WAKE UP! This is our future. This is their future and this is our grandchildren’s future. Aren’t you worried? Even Scared? I am!

Computers, Ipods and all of the other electronics out there are raising our children. I see a commercial for a program teaching little children on the computer. Gee! Lets think about this.  What about human contact?  Does anyone besides me see this? I think it is sad that we don’t have time for our children. I remember playing jacks with friends or hop scotch or hide and seek. I remember children being read to before they went to sleep by their mom or dad. I can go on and on and believe me - on this subject it is not hard to do.

Do you realize that children don’t even verbally communicate with one another? Children are on their cell phone.  Right now you’re thinking “Well thats human communication”! No no no! They are text messaging each other…

Even radio has changed. I remember when radio was so much fun. You had a DJ that spoke to you, the listener. Legand (Wolfman Jack). Kids would stop to listen to this man. He would in his own way give kids a human voice and some how he totally connected to those kids. Kids would call his station to request a song and when he aired it he would dedicate it to someone from someone and say something to make that kid feel like Wolfman knew them and understood them. DJ’s used to actually talk to you. As if he/she was right there with you. That, my friends, is a skill. Today, voice talent either talks to each other or just does commercials. Today, I never feel connected  to a radio talent. In fact, they irritate me. Even radio isn’t about connecting with our kids. It is all about  (money, money and more money).

You don’t have time to talk to your kids because you have to work to put clothes on their backs. (money, money, and more money). This is because our children of today demand to wear designer clothes. $130.00 pair of designer sneakers. Oh yeah, and of course, our children need to go to salons and pay $100.00  or more to get their hair styled. (money, money and more money).

Children killing children, children killing their parents. etc, etc.

Please, if you are a parent, single or not, please think about this.

Maybe, all this money, lack of human contact, etc. is not working. At least think about it.

You might save a life!

Why are women this way?

I am a female and it still baffles my mind on how women are so different than men. My issue is in the working place. I work in an office with 19 women including myself and 2 men. The women just cannot get along. They are snippy, cliquish, judgmental, and downright rude. The whole office is run off of hormones. I know that women who read this will be upset at me for saying all of this but I really hope women who read this will look at  themselves and see if they fit in this category: If everyone got along and worked (together as a team) instead of thinking that we are stupid for asking questions, that we are the only ones who make a mistake in the whole office; that we don’t look good because we don’t have our hair done in a salon, etc.  And these are just a few examples of what goes on in a womens’ working world. Yes, I am a female and there are some things about women that I don’t like but I am never rude. I never whisper behind their backs, etc. The men in the office seem to get along with everyone including the other males. I don’t see them at lunch going “Oh my god! Did you see Sally’s hair?”  It looks so stupid! She should go to a salon and get it done. She looks like a bag lady. Men do not do this.  Also when Sally walks up to the girls talking,  they all shut up and walk away. Sally knows that they don’t like her but she doesn’t know why and she goes back to work feeling hurt, self-conscious and trying to figure out what she did.

Why are women this way? Did you ever think that maybe Sally can’t afford to go to a hair dresser? Maybe she is a single mom raising 2 children on her own and would rather feed her children?

Have you ever thought that maybe it would be nice for everyone pitching in on her birthday and getting her a gift certificate to a salon and spa? She would not think that you are doing it because you think her hair is ugly. She would think you are doing this because you want her to treat herself for a day. She probably would love it. She would also feel like you girls really care and like her.

So get off your high horses ladies. You are no better than anyone else. You don’t know how someone lives or what kind of a life they have. Maybe she is a battered wife and I have met a few of those ladies. Maybe she is raising children on her own. You are no better and no worse then anyone else.

I don’t care who you are. black, white, Hispanic, short, obese, homely, teeth missing, etc. I won’t judge you! I will get to know you!

I have always said that you can put 100 men in a working place and they will get along just fine. Put 5 women in a working place and you have a cat fight!

I Will Miss George Carlin

I have been listening to George Carlin for years and never got tired of him. I know that a lot of people found him to be vulgar and inappropriate but I felt that he just showed that a word is just a word and nothing else. We just make the word have a meaning that everyone is offended by. He was radical beyond belief and I laughed until my sides hurt. I could really relate to what he said no matter how far fetched it was. Yes! He used profanities in all of his routines and didn’t seem to care what other people really thought. I think that in itself is something that we could all learn from. Be who you really are and let people think what they want about you. You know who you are and that you are a good person and that is all that counts. Thanks to George Carlin, I can actually laugh at myself and that my friends, is a good thing. “I will miss you George Carlin”!

A Sucessful Diet Is One You Own

When I am on a diet I know you mean well - but it’s destructive when you say “Should you be eating that?  Is that part of your diet”?  Even though you mean well, you have just tried to take control of my diet and now the food you are asking about has not only become forbidden but now I feel guilty and I start to become afraid to eat anything in front of other people. I know this sounds tough for you to understand but bear with me and let’s see if I can help you understand

I took control of my life and decided I did not want to be overweight any more. And I decided for no one but me.  So I joined  Weight Watchers online and started to learn about portions. I can have anything I want as long as I don’t go over my points ( a system used by Weight Watchers). I started the diet and no one knew but me. My husband figured it out rather quickly when I was buying special frozen food – one hundred calorie packs of chips, cookies, and yes, even chocolate.

My husband meant well and started saying things like “I feel bad eating this hot dog in front of you now that you are on your diet”.  I told him, “I own my diet. I know what I can and can not do. So don’t feel quilty because if I want a hot dog I will have one”. 

Well I lost 20 lbs. and no one but my husband and my daughter knew. (my daughter started the same diet and we supported each other by calling and saying “I weighed myself and lost another 1/2 lb.” and the other would say “Good for you”.  Then we would share items we found that contained low points in them that we could eat.

It was great.

Well the outside world noticed that I was getting thinner. So people at work were asking me if I had lost some weight and of course I said “Yes I have and thank you for noticing.”  It was wonderful and I felt soooo in control.

THEN IT STARTED!

My husband would see me eating a Twinkie and ask me, “Should you be eating that?”  People at work would see me eating a cookie and say, “Is that on your diet? Are you supposed to be eating that?:  My director even went as far as saying when she saw me eating a plain doughnut delivered by one of our drug reps (I work in a Dr’s. Clinic).  Anyway, she came up to me and said ” Are you eating that?  You’re my idol, you have done so well.  Don’t blow it.”

Needless to say, I have gained 5 lbs.  I kept asking myself “Why? I was doing so good.  What happened?”

Well, here is the answer.  I’m angry!  Thats right, I’m angry… not at myself - but at everyone who is trying to control my darn diet.  Again I know you mean well but STOP!!!  I own my diet.  Not you!  I eat what I know I can.  I know how my diet works.  Not you!  I don’t want to feel like I have let you down.  I also don’t want to feel guilty.  Stop worrying about what I am eating and instead look at what you are eating.  I own my diet! Asking me if I should be eating that only makes me feel like I am doing something wrong and makes me feel like I have to hide what I eat. Now I am eating out of pure 100% defiance.  Thats right!  I will show you.  I can eat whatever I want and you can’t stop me…ha, ha, ha! (wicked laughter).  I now feel like all eyes are watching what the heck I am eating.  (Get a life of your own please.)  My diet is my own private personal thing.  Don’t take that away from me.  It is okay to say that you notice my weight loss.  It is okay to ask me how I am doing it.  But… if you see me eating a doughnut or a piece of chocolate cake mind your own business.  I don’t walk up to you and say “Should you be eating that 3rd piece of cake”?  It’s your business - not mine!  Let me worry about what I am eating and you worry about what you are eating.  I feel sorry for those people whose lives are so boring that they have to watch what I am eating.

I know I sound angry and I am. I have always wondered why I would start to lose weight and as soon as I would be losing I would go pig out somewhere.  Well now I know.  It is because when I start to lose weight people stop looking at me and start watching what I eat.

That my friends, makes me feel really uncomfortable!

So to wrap this up… when someone is trying to lose weight, the best way to support them is “Let them own it”!  Notice that they are losing weight and let them know that they are looking good - not, “Sooo how much weight have you lost?”  When they are gaining weight do you walk up to them and say, “Sooo how much weight have you gained?”.   Please, let them own it.  You can still take them out to dinner (anywhere). They are watching what they eat.  They can handle it.  Husbands - buy your wife, girlfriend or daughter roses when you see that they are losing weight and just let them know how beautiful they are… NOT “Congratulations on losing 20 lbs.”  or “Can’t wait to see how you look when you lose 50 more pounds.”

Be supportive and let them own their weight loss.  Wives, if your husbands are trying to lose weight and you are cooking dinner let him get his own servings.  Don’t put a carrot, a celery stalk and a piece of melba toast on his plate – then sit down with the family with steak and potatos.  He owns his diet so let him own it.  Let him eat what he knows he can have.

Ok – I have vented long enough.  I just want to end with this note.  Obesity is becoming one of America’s largest problems.  With all the diets out there, all of the fitness centers, diet pills, books and yes, doctors why then are we still having this massive problem? Because we don’t own our diets. Everybody else is taking that ownership away.  Doctors, friends, family, co-workers, diet centers and anyone else that I have left out – STOP IT!  Let people own their own weight. I think there is way too much pressure and not enough praise without guilt.

So please, The next time you see me walking down the street, stop  and just say ” You look great!” -not, “Should you be eating that candy bar?”

A successful diet is one you own!

Thank you and by the way - ”You look Great!’ 

Karen

Business Podcasts Are Critical

For a long time I did not understand what podcasts were or what they can do. I also did not understand why people were so excited about mp3 players. Well, I have found that both items are essential to business. My husband purchased a mp3 player for me for Christmas. I have to tell you that when I opened it I said in a very confused voice “Oh how nice. What is it?” Well needless to say, my husband started to explain and all I could say was “uh huh”. I kept thinking that radios and CD players do the same darn thing. “NOT”! Well now I have found the yellow brick road to all sorts of wonderful places. My husband showed me “Podcasts” and again it took him a while to get me to try it. I found some podcasts about “Having a store online and how to build more customers to come into your store”. While driving home, I decided to listen to these so called podcasts “on my mp3 player”  and got so excited about what they were saying that I came up with all kinds of things to keep my online store not only fun but not just another boring online store. So now I have a Treasure Hunt being launched in my store so that people can come in and have some fun. Having people coming into your store and look around is a good thing. I would have never thought of this without my wonderful mp3 player and podcast. I am so excited about my new found treasure that I have downloaded a lot more podcasts to listen to. I will wait though and let my mind absorb what I have learned so far. Trust me. Try listening to some of them pertaining to what it is that you want or like to do. You may find a whole new world out there!

Get Ready to Play & Win!

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