This Just Toasts My Ass

Court rejects death penalty for raping children

By MARK SHERMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 25, 2008; 10:13 AM

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a law that allows the execution of people convicted of a raping a child.
In a 5-4 vote, the court said the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
"The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. His four liberal colleagues joined him, while the four more conservative justices dissented.
There has not been an execution in the United States for a crime that did not also involve the death of the victim in 44 years.

Full Story here.

So what about the cruel and unusual treatment of the child? Raped by her stepfather??

Sign Her Up

This young lady is amazing! Just shows you that women are more on the "ball" than men.

What do you do when someone you thought was a friend, someone who you really care about and who you thought cared about you, rips out your heart, stomps on it and then turns and walks away?

What do you do when you have known this person for 15 years, shared more with this person than you do your husband, know more about this persons life than anyone else does, and yet she throws it all away?

What do you do when you opened up your life and your home to this person for 18 months, had them living with you, including them in every aspect of your personal, professional and community life and they don't give a shit?

How do you ever get over knowing that someone you thought was a friend was just using you?

How do you ever trust anyone ever again?

RIP George

George Carlin passed away last night.

I think he was one of the first "comedians" I ever really listened to. When I was 16 my then boyfriend had his albums and he and his friends would quote different lines, stories, routines from them all the time.

He was one of those comedians who made sense! While making you laugh you would also see the deeper side of the comedy, the sarcastic side, the side of life.

Such as this one:

"Doctors have discovered that saliva causes cancer.
But only if taken in small amounts over a long period of time."

Or how about when he talks about people who are so vehemently opposed to having a jail/prison built in their backyard?

George Carlin said, of course he would want it in his backyard. Do you really think someone who has escaped from jail is going to stick around? No way, they are going to take off and get as far away as possible.

Here are a few others:

Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.

Electricity is really just organized lightning.

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.

The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.

Makes a little bit of sense doesn't it?

Of course then there are those famous 7 words that can never be used on television....

Do you know the 7 words?

For Puppy Monster

I Got an 8!

How well do you know your TV theme songs? Our local newspaper want us to find out.



Check out the link and let me know how you did!



http://www.sptimes.com/2007/webspecials07/interactives/tv-themes-quiz/

I'm Done

Yup, Jury Duty is over.

I wish I could say it was a great experience and that I was truly amazed at the wonder of our court system.

I wish I could say that I have every faith in our law enforcement officers, our State Attorney's, and fellow jurors.

I wish I could say that our court system truly looks out for the best interest of those accused of a crime and those who are the victims of a crime.

But I can't and I won't.

They Like Me...

They Really Like Me...

Or they are completely off the wall.

I've been selected for jury duty.

I've had to sit in front of the defendant and his attorney. During jury selection she focused on me. I'm in the front row withh 5 other people.

The Prosecution raises an objection during one of the Defence questions to the potential jurors. (which I am thrilled about because I had no real clue what she was asking) She did not repeat the question.

Questions are asked, stories are told.

24 people are in the room. One is excused because she claims she doesn't understand English (even though she has lived here 4 years and has a Driver's License), one is excused because his hearing aid doesn't work at a distance, one is excused because she is married to a Sheriff Officer who is friends with a witness (more on that later).

They need a jury of 6, down to 21.

After a brief break....first name called....

Me

Even after Defense...

Never mind, much, much more later

I cannot believe I have been seated on this cases

Jury Duty

I've been called for Jury Duty.

I report at 8:00 this morning. I am to report to the "Jury Pool Room" with 399 other residents of this county.

I am really interested in seeing how this works. I am 47 years old and have never been called. Probably because this is the first place we have lived longer than 4 years. We have been here 11 years now.

I've been told to bring my book, I have it. They message line told me not to bring any sharp objects through security, like scissors or knives. It warned me that sometimes jury selection can last past 5pm so be prepared to make arrangements for dinner. They do have a cafeteria, it closes at 3pm.

I may not be around your blogs much today, so don't do anything real interesting until tomorrow. Okay?

It Was a Success!!

A couple of weeks ago I was talking about a fundraiser the organization I work for was having. We were really worried if we would make any money at all. I mean, things are really tight everywhere, for everyone.

I am pleased to say we did! We actually cleared $8,100!! Woo Hoo!! The Silent Auctions were great, we had some amazing baskets and packages. The lobster was perfect and they were actually closer to 2 pounds! I did have to wait and eat my lobster on Sunday, too busy at the event to take time out to work, but it was great Sunday also.

Now on to the next event, in December! In between times I will be writing lots of grants to make up for all the shortfalls we are experiencing.

Thanks for all the well wishes and for the wonderful man from the Orlando area who bought tickets but couldn't make it over! We have got to get together sometime!

Happy Birthday Camie!

Twenty seven years ago at 8:06 am a miracle entered my life.

My daughter was born.

For any of the male readers who stop by here, I won't go into the whole child birth experience. I won't talk about vagina, or water breaking or anything like that. I will say that my first child birth experience was great. I had 1 1/2 hours of labor, my doctor had to ask me to stop pushing so he could get in contacts in and because I was having back labor a nurse was assigned to hold my right leg up in the air so I could give birth on my right side.

Back to the miracle of my daughter.

Now at 27 years old my daughter is a mother.

She is going through the same trials and tribulations as a mother that I did with her. She has a son who has a mind of his own. At two years old, he has changed his sleeping habits he wants to be awake at ungodly hours of the morning. (4:45 am) He has temper tantrums. He repeats what he hears (even swear words). He loves to be outside. He gives kisses, he gives hugs, he tries to help out when he can.

But that will change. Children grow and develop into their own people and their own personalities. We shape them with the experiences of their childhood and the values we instill in them. And yet, they still surprise us and become amazing human beings.

To Camie, I am so proud of you and who you have become. I love you and wish you a Happy Birthday!!

Don't Mess with the Man

While he is on an ice cream hunt.

Driving home from Atlanta this last Monday, Not a Grampy decided that he wanted ice cream. Soft Serve ice cream. In Blizzard format. Yup, he wanted Dairy Queen. When Not a Grampy gets obsessive about something like this it is best to just go along.

Now, driving south on I75 on a holiday, is always a good time to decide you want something like that. Especially when everyone else and their uncle has decided the same thing.

The first exit we find that has a Dairy Queen sign Not a Grampy pulls into. I pause as we pull up to the place, I realize it looks very familiar. Now realize, we do this drive at least twice a year. so we are beginning to figure out which exits are good and which ones are not so good.

This is one of those establishments that has a Subway, Dairy Queen, and gas station and store all attached. In a long rectangle shape.

We bee bop to the DQ section.....and notice the 25 or 30 people waiting....and waiting.....and waiting....I get close enough to look behind the counter and what do I see??? One person working. Okay, it is going to be a wait...

Did I mention Not a Grampy is not a very patient person? (later post will be driving to and from Atlanta and hitting rush hour traffic...)

We calmly leave this establishment (at least he didn't ram into the gas pumps with the car) and begin our search for another Dairy Queen.

As we pass exit after exit with no Dairy Queen Not a Grampy is beginning to get worried. Well, worried may not be the correct term, he starts fussing again about why a Dairy Queen would only have one person working on a holiday, a Dairy Queen that is located on an Interstate...I know it is best to just let him get it out of his system.

While he is carrying on and we are passing exits with no Dairy Queens, I get on the GPS unit in the car, put in the requested location and determine that in about 8 miles we will have a Dairy Queen at an exit just outside of Gainesville.

Not a Grampy was so happy. I saved the day! Well, except for the fact that he had to get gas at this exit and it was $4.15 a gallon. The other one it was $3.85. That'll teach him!

Redneck Time

I know I have mentioned a couple of times that I have two gorgeous grandchildren. A 5 year old and a 2 year old.

Well, it seems I am about to become a grandmother again...twice...

My son is in Ohio and his girlfriend there is pregnant. They broke that wonderful news to us a couple of weeks ago.

We would be thrilled except for one small thing..

He isn't divorced from his wife yet (mother of GK #1).

It gets even better. Mother of GK #1 (DIL) just gave birth to a baby boy, not a child by my son. The father of this child is currently a guest of the county for a probation violation.

Because my son and DIL are not divorced, the state of Florida says he is responsible for this new baby, the 1/2 brother of GK #1.

He can't afford the one he has, now he has another one yet to be born and one that isn't his???

I need a drink.

We're Home!

We made it safely home. Later I will have a post about the trials and tribulations of driving through Atlanta at 5:15 pm on a holiday Friday, with a man who is not the most patient of drivers anyway.....

Have to go and pick up the small critters (dogs) from the boarding place. They are going to be so mad at me...the dogs, not the boarders. Well, maybe the boarders also. Two hard headed, stubborn shih tzu's can be something else.

I'm Not Here

I'm in Atlanta! (well I will be later today...right now I am at my computer in the kitchen when I should be finishing up the packing)

Woo Hoo!! Going away for a few days. Yup, going to visit some friends. I won't be on the computer, no reading blogs (sob), no checking email (god, can you imagine how full my inbox will be??) no Facebook.

Wait, wait a minute no Facebook??!! EEEKKK...do you have any idea what will happen to my cars in Parking Wars??? My God....I am going to have all kinds of violations...Plus, everyone will be parking on my street and earning more money...

I am appealing to my Parking Wars friends...DutchBitch, Shelli, Stacie and Blonde Blogger, please take pity on me and my little cars. They are not parked illegally on purpose. They will be moved as soon as I get home (or find a computer).

Meanwhile, everyone have a wonderful holiday weekend and don't start any internet drama without me.