New Year's Eve 2012

Rachel @ concert in Virginia

 Here is Rachel outside the Coliseum in Hampton Virginia going to see Pretty Lights and Bassnectar. I guess she enjoyed it, she went with Steven, Jill and Danielle. They left VA on Sunday morning and are now in New York City. I'll watch Times Square to see if I can spot them tonight when the ball drops at midnight!

As you can see, Chip is not impressed with Christmas. No extra bones or biscuits? REALLY? Poor dog...

Chip not impressed with X-mas

Tonight we will have to stay home to keep an eye on the A-holes that like to shoot their guns in the air to celebrate New Year's Day. Last year I must have called the police half a dozen times at least and Bill called, too. Now there is a police camera at the corner, but I doubt that will stop the jerks.

Ah, Christmas in the 'hood

Christmas Eve A-hole playing loud music

Christmas Day at Moon River Brewing

Boom Boom! Out go the Lights!

All is calm, not a ho' in sight!

Ah, Christmas time. On Christmas Eve, this A-hole was playing music so loud it was rattling my windows. I opened the door and yelled this is not an entertainment zone- turn it down. Someone at Dirty South must have said something 'cause he jumped into his car and left.
On Christmas Day, it was so quiet in the 'hood. Not a ho' nor a drug dealer in sight! However, minutes after I took the above photo, a scumbag started walking into the driveway next door, unzipping his fly and pissing while he was walking. Nice.
Later on  Christmas Day, we went uptown to Moon River Brewing Company. Cute sign.. Yes, you can get a beer to go, and drink it while walking in the historic district from River Street until I think Liberty Street. NOT here in the 'hood, though you would think so with so many people walking around with cans...

Somebody is getting their lights shut off at the rooming house. Ha Ha. Merry Christmas!

It's officially winter

Bird bath

This greeted the birds on Saturday morning, the first full day of winter. Why does the bird bath look cloudy? It is full of ICE! Yes, it is officially winter.

This morning, Bill left for Massachusetts. Rachel leaves for NYC on Friday and Bill returns on Saturday. I'm not sure when Rachel will be back. She is going to a concert in Virginia then off to NYC to see the ball drop in Times Square. Not sure when she will be back. It will be quiet here. I'm looking forward to scrap booking and reading. I picked up "Trust me I'm Dr. Ozzy." It's an advice book based on a column that Ozzy writes. Yes, Ozzy giving advice on love, diet, exercise and drugs... Who Knew?

I made up some really cute Christmas cards. Kind of like dioramas. Sending them out late, but oh well...Each one is different.

Hell time

It's been a tough week. Last Saturday (the 15th) I came down with a migraine. Thought there was plenty of meds under the counter...Turns out the boxes were hormone therapy crap not Imitrex. Bitch. I tried all day to sleep, took Exedrin Migraine and 800mg. Ibuprofen, but to no avail. On Sunday afternoon I drove to Charleston SC by my frigging self, while Bill watched TV and/or slept in the big chair. Nice. I got a shot, and then had to drive the 115+ miles back home.  Only bright spot was the Subaru, listed as 29 mpg on the highway, I got 30 on my round trip. Pretty impressive. Then, Monday morning, I woke up with the migraine headache again. I went to the VA clinic in Savannah (which isn't open on the weekends and no longer really takes walk-ins) at 7:30AM and finally got my shot at 11. Then I came home and slept for a few hours. Though I kept getting twinges of pain in my right eye, the migraine did not come back.

I was supposed to have a job interview at a temp agency for Paralegal work on Monday at 10. Had to re-schedule it since I was sitting at the VA almost in tears at that point. I will be sure to never run out of migraine pills again...My appointment has been re-scheduled for after Christmas. We will see if anything comes of this.

Savannah Tech is offering to teach us Tax Prep on Jan 17 for free. We have to agree to donate (i.e.means NOT get paid) time to prepare taxes for underprivileged. I'm OK with that. It will give me something else to add to the resume. It's all good. Now, we just have to watch what congress does. They MAY NOT extend the child care tax credit of $2500, it may drop to $1000. That does not bode well for me.

Lastly, Rachel finished high school 2 weeks ago today. We were told by Savannah Tech that if she got a letter stating that, she could be accepted there and could start taking classes in January. We got the letter but when we went back to SavTech, turns out the person who told us that, was dead wrong. She cannot start there and have the Pell Grant/Hope Scholarship pay because the district will not give her a diploma at this time. She can go to school if I want to PAY cash.. WTF? I don't have the money. The point was she wanted to use both Hope Scholarship and the Pell Grant and then she would get cash back.They will not pay until she gets the diploma. Those will only be issued in late January (after college classes start) or in June. She wants to walk with her class and has opted for June. That said, the grants/scholarships won't pay without a diploma to even start classes. CATCH -22... So, instead she will work full time and make money to buy a better car before starting college in the fall. That is still not a bad plan.

I like this!

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting."

-- E.E. Cummings, American poet

Professionals make all the difference

Non-Professionals cut tree and fence

Professionals cut trees

This is what happens when you hire professionals to cut down trees in your yard. Several guys show up, they have saws, and ropes, and boots made for climbing. They clean up the yard and it all looks good.

Then, you have the non-professional... Guy showed up with a tiny chainsaw across the alley on 34th street. Standing on the roof of his vehicle, he cut limbs and dropped them ... Then, he dropped the frigging SAW. Take a look at the fence! it is all cut up... Bill was watching this scene and was positive the guy was going to cut off his leg.. After this fiasco, the dude was done...

School days

Today is supposed to be Rachel's last day of high school. She is taking her end of course test for mathematics and then she will have all her requirements to graduate in June. Cool! No more screaming at her from the bottom of the stairs to GET UP! and GO TO SCHOOL. YEAY! She is planning on signing up at Savannah Tech to take some classes in January. That will be good for her, but she doesn't need EARLY classes...

I'm finishing up my semester at Sav Tech. Not thrilled. My presentation last night went OK. After I was nearly done with my presentation last Wednesday, the asshole teacher said "I thought I had told you that you don't do the presentation on the author that you did your research paper on," I was thoroughly pissed. So, without asking, I decided to do my presentation on Bob Dylan, an American Poet and the song- "The times they are a -changin'." It went well but I didn't break down the rhyming style. Too f'n bad. The scheme wasn't important. The lyrics are. I used my I-phone to play a clip from the song. My PowerPoint presentations are always different from everybody elses...My classmates liked it, but I'm sure the bitch gave me a B or even a B-, just because she is that way. Can't wait for this semester to be over.

Tumultuous week

It has been a one of those weeks. On Monday evening, my mother was hit by a car while walking her dogs. On Tuesday (by the way, that was my birthday) she had surgery to repair her broken pelvis and shattered knee. Today, I believe she is having surgery on her TWO broken arms. Then, next week she will have surgery on her broken leg. Damn. After the flight by helicopter, I guess she can write that off her bucket list...

Peg being Air Lifted to Hospital

2 weeks ago, I came down with some god-awful stomach virus. I went to the VA and got a note to stay out of  school on 11/19. So that was the day my literature teacher gave out the assignment for us to complete a Powerpoint that we will present next Monday (Dec 3rd) in front of the class. When I went back to school the day before Thanksgiving, she handed me the rubric stating what the requirements were for the assignment. I worked on mine over the next week and last night went to class with mine nearly done. Half way through class, she said that it could NOT be on the author we had previously written out term paper on. WTF? She never stated that to me before. What an asshole. Now I have to research another author. I am PISSED. I will definitely slam her on my review....She is such a little bitch. She and I butted heads the very first night of class when I looked at the syllabus and saw we had to read Flannery O'Conner, an angry woman from Savannah (she had some terminal disease and died in her early 40's, I believe). Turns out, this teacher LOVES her and did her master's thesis on O'Conner. I told her that I refuse to read another word that angry bitch wrote. That was that. I don't see me getting an A in that class. Ha Ha...

"It is the studying that you do after your school days that really counts. Otherwise, you know only that which everyone else knows."

-- Henry Doherty

Patriots 49 Jets 19

Stop me when you've heard this before... The Jets just fumbled. (#4)

The day before Thanksgiving

 

"A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused questions. There is something about a well-worded question that often penetrates to the heart of the matter and triggers new ideas and insights."

-- Brian Tracy, Author 

Not much happening. I have class tonight. Finished my paper on Thoreau and Civil Disobedience. Not my best work but not too bad either.  I do believe we need to start a revolution and civil disobedience is a good way to start. This country is not in a good place. Weak leadership is keeping the country involved in wars we have no need to be involved in as well as forcing the American people to support a new health care system while not providing funding for it (which was passed by people that didn't read it and who don't have to pay for it because Congress get free healthcare for life...) and calling it a TAX, this is beyond ridiculous. This country is now no better off than a third world nation.

 

Ah, the new normal

Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel , "Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land."

Nearly 75 years ago, (when Welfare was introduced) Roosevelt said, "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel, this is the Promised Land."

Today, Congress has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels and mortgaged the Promised Land!

I was so depressed last night thinking about Health Care Plans, the economy, the wars, lost jobs, savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc ....

I called a Suicide Hotline.

I had to press 1 for English.

I was connected to a call center in Pakistan ..I told them I was suicidal.

They got excited and asked if I could drive a truck......

Folks, we're screwed

Interesting note on the news today

Heard on the news that many states are planning on seceding from the United States. Wow! We are living in historic times. Obama and his policies have polarized this country and now we have proof.

"I quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though I will still make what use and get what advantage of her I can, as is usual in such cases."

Henry David Thoreau 1848

"I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success, but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life."

-- Madeleine Albright, secretary of state

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go any higher than you think."

-- Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

Amazing

Friday night, Rachel took the Honda and drove with 3 friends to a concert in Columbia SC (that's 300 miles round trip!). Surprise, it made it with no problems. Cost $55 in gas but that's not bad since it was split between the 4 girls. I'm grateful I didn't get a call in the middle of the night!

I'm pleased, I have no school tomorrow. Gives me plenty of time to do my homework. Rachel is not happy as Chatham county has school.. Ha Ha.

Oh Boy! the Patriots won today. Another heart stopper. They were ahead by like 14 points at half time. Then in the last 2 minutes, they were only ahead by 6 and the Bills had the ball and were closing in on the goal line. Good thing it wasn't on TV. I would have walked out of the room yelling at Belicheck and Brady! But, the Pats managed to save it with an interception in the end zone. Whew!

I didn't watch the Falcons, but they finally lost today. They were 8-0 for the season. Pretty remarkable. This could be their year...Still not going to a Falcons fan, just saying that they are having a good run of it.

The other day I saw a real piece of sh*t car on Bay Street (had Chatham County tag). A 4 door Toyota that had been hit in the front, had no hood, had been hit on the passenger side and the 2 side doors were tied closed together with a rope, had been hit in the rear and had a GREEN bungee cord holding the trunk closed (like Rachel's car used to have!). Wow! There was a bumper sticker on it that said "Never Settle". (?)

Typical

True then, true today

Well, got a check from the attorney's office for work performed. Check was late. And, when I went to the bank, guess what? Bounced again. WTF?
I had to call the office and 2 hours later the money was transferred into the account. What kind of way is that to do business? I haven't been called to meet with any clients lately even though they gave me paperwork for a different attorney out of Atlanta.

Still haven't sold the I phone. Every time I renew it on Craigslist, I get e-mails that say, still available? Then either nothing or the scam- I'll pay you $100 over asking price if you will ship it.. No, I'm not shipping anything. The point of using Craigslist is to sell to local people. Craigslist is becoming a huge scam.

Rachel and the election

Rachel doesn't pay much attention to the news. Rachel doesn't pay any attention to elections. BUT!
This morning she said "Washington and Colorado legalized pot." I asked if she was thinking about moving, and she said she's thinking Colorado. Rocky Mountain High has a whole new meaning!

Obviously the financial community don't have much faith in the US . Dow Jones dropped over 300 points on the Wonderful news of Obama's re-election. Screwed, the US is screwed. Old dude I spoke with up at Starbucks (Sunny) for the last few months had told me the fix was in, Obama would win but a worse recession was headed this way. I believe it completely. We need a REVOLUTION!
Look back at the '60's and early '70's, revolution was in the air. It was a wild time to be alive. I remember it well. I went to demonstrations in Norwood, Mass. It was exciting. Bras being burnt, draft cards being burnt, people took a stand for something. We need that today.

Ah, the violence in Savannah. 7 people shot at the Coastal Empire Fair on Saturday night (about 1.3 miles from my house). No one saw nothing... Police are begging people that were there with cell phones to turn over the pics to the police. Rewards are being offered to find out who the shooters were.  Unlikely much will come of this, code of silence and all..
Last night just before 9pm, Bill heard 5 shots outside. About 15 minutes later I came home from school and saw a paddy wagon and a cruiser on 34th and Jefferson. Hope they got the bastard. This is just too much. If they kill each other off, then OK. But improperly aimed guns hit innocent targets.

It's all over now

Jump boys on 35th street

Well, the election is over and now the country is heading into a major nose drive. I will never get a full time job again and my grandkids will be living in a socialist republic rather than a constitutional democracy. All this time I've been telling my kids that lying will come back to bite you in the end, but now we have a president that lied about his nationality to get into college and a senator elect in Massachusetts that lied and said she was native American to get into college but that's all right. In this country, liars can be elected and the lemmings will continue to vote for them.
Yesterday afternoon, about 6 police cars blocked the 200 block of  West 35th Street. They jumped out and arrested some dude and then he started screaming. The hood'kins were milling around Montgomery street and watching... Then one lunatic stood in the middle of 35th Street and started yelling that his stuff was "pure and hasn't been stepped on." Ah, life in the 'hood.

Vote on Tuesday

“But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step closer toward obtaining it” Henry David Thoreau (Civil Disobedience, 1848). Truer words cannot be spoken today.   Everyone needs to vote for the candidates who will keep government respectable (without subjecting tax payers to lawsuits for personal behavior lapses), unobtrusive (not demanding that every citizen pay for health insurance by calling it a tax), and not, as it is proudly proclaimed on the Washington DC license plate, Taxation without Representation.

 

This WAS the Bounty when she was in Savannah

The Bounty when she was in Savannah

The Bounty going out to sea

The first 2 pics are the Bounty in good times (pics taken by Bill), on the Savannah River. The bottom pic is from a few hours ago. The Bounty was actually made for the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty" in 1962 (starring Marlon Brando). The bottom pic is the Bounty going down in the storm of the century, Sandy. The captain is still missing and one woman has died but the rest of the crew is alive having been rescued by the coast guard.

Circle of life

Ah, remember that sweet song from the Lion King movie, the Circle of Life?
We have our own little circle going on in the backyard. I throw bird seed and bread out in the backyard everyday and Louise and Chip love to chase the birds and squirrels. But now and then, it happens like this morning. I threw seeds out there and heard a loud rustle of wings out there. So, I threw bread and more seeds out there. The pigeons flew into the yard. Then, it happened. A hawk flew into the yard and scooped up a pigeon! Now we have no pigeons back there. But that was so cool!

Nice thought

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes in to us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands, and hopes we've learned something from yesterday."

-- John Wayne, Actor

 

I always liked John Wayne. 

Rachel's car - what a piece of sh*t

Last night Rachel calls and says, her driver's window made a strange sound, and now it won't go up all the way. Sheesh. Just got rid of the worst dent and the frigging bungee cords and now, the window screws up. Please, God, let me win Mega Bucks so we can afford to fix that piece of sh*t car!
Did you ever hear that Adam Sandler song, piece of sh*t car? Well, I think he based it on the Honda...
bald fucking tires (hes got a piece of shit car)   (replaced all the tires at a used tire place)
no rearview fucking mirror (piece of shit car)   (side view mirror glass moves)
  7 different colors (hes got apiece of shit car) ( paint is peeling all over)
  fucking rag for a gas cap (piece of shit car)  (I replaced her lost gas cap)
  tailpipe making sparks fly everywhere (piece of shit car) (Thank God, no)
  whoaaaa the whole town thinks im a loser (piece of shit car)

the engine likes to flood,

  the car always fucking stalls,   (It took a couple hundred dollars, but doesn't stall now)

  and the seat cushions got a big rip     (Actually ALL the seat cushions are ripped )

Ah, the memories of the Rachel car... Hard to believe, but it  still runs and drives...

It's Hiyah Time

It's Hiyah Time!

Get Up Hiyah

While Hiyah may not live across the street anymore, he is still part of the neighborhood. I found a can of his fave, Old Milwaukee in a bag in the alley. It added just the right touch for the front yard.

Car not looking so bad

Rachel brought the green monster to Dave Haberman's shop. Scotty did a good job taking the front cover off, drilling some new holes and putting it back on. Then she took the green monster to the place where I get her tires. I told the guy we were practically family since Rachel has been through I think, 4 or 5 tires in just over a year. So when she went to get the right front tire replaced, the guy said they do a little body work, too. For $35 she got a decent tire mounted on the car and most of the dent pulled out of the right front fender. WOW, what a bargain! Now she actually isn't embarrassed to be seen in her own car!

big dent gone.

No more bungee cord!

Getting ready for the big day- Halloween

Inside the front hall

Front yard

Office

I've been decorating for the big day. Neighbors have been enjoying the frights! At night I turn on the tube lights (orange and purple). Nice and creepy. I love these panorama shots from my I phone 5. I can fit so much more into my pictures now and you get a better feel of all the creepiness. This year's theme, Zombies. The targets look great and I sprayed "blood" all over them. Barbie is a Zombie Killer this year.

Barbie is always involved in Halloween festivities

Happy Friday

see the chicken

You know you are in a trailer park in Georgia when no dogs are allowed, but, Chickens are!!!


I've been busy this week. The law office gave me a few people to sign up and that worked out nicely. I got several people to check on with the Bank of America. Made about $60 for that. Slowly but surely I'm getting some bills paid.

I went to Sav Tech again. They absolutely will not let me take a lower math class. There are no tutors available for that God Awful class, either. So, I'm stuck getting a big fat F in that class. It really makes me mad and gives me no incentive to work in my other classes. I feel really used by the Paralegal dept head who pushed me to take the paralegal studies at ST. None of my paralegal classes from South Univ are being accepted at ST and she won't let me into the internship part of the program unless I complete the program. I don't have the time to complete the program there as VA is only giving me 12 months of schooling total. They wouldn't let me take any of the paralegal classes until I took their INTRO to paralegal, even though I already had INTRO and about a dozen other paralegal classes. With VA, I had to be full time and someone in their infinite wisdom decided Math 1111 class would fill the schedule. Well, it filled it but it was also taking up all my time. I was spending so many hours on the book and the computer studying that math, that my eyes were too tired to do the rest of my homework.

Crime and Rachel

When I told Rachel that the Crab Shack had been robbed, she was in disbelief. After seeing it on the news, she believed. Still, in the life of Rachel, it had little meaning beyond the novelty of it all. That is until I asked her, Did you get your paycheck? Huh? It seems checks are ready on Monday and put in the safe. The thief stole the safe Monday night... Rachel did not pick up her check Monday... Oh no!

More crime

I know I haven't written anything the last few days but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Rachel went to her friend's funeral on Friday. Very sad. They did pick up the guy that was at the gas station buying a gallon of gas, holding a rag, and ...driving the car Amber was found in about 3/4 of an hour later... He isn't saying anything.

The Crab Shack (where Rachel works) was robbed last night.

A man who walked into a popular on Tybee Island seafood restaurant Monday night wanted more than just dinner. Crab Shack owner Jack Flanigan said a man wearing a mask walked into the restaurant's office just after 10:00 p.m., brandished a gun, and demanded money from the female worker inside. The man got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Flanigan said he and the other employees present were unaware of the robbery until the police came.
He said they have dozens of cameras at the restaurant already, but today are adding more cameras and motion-activated lights to the area near the office. He hopes that enhancements to the surveillance images will give officers better clues to the robber's identity.
He said they are offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
According to Savannah-Chatham Metro Police, the robber is described as a black male, around 5'10", weighing 165 lbs. If you have any information, call police.

I am grateful Rachel wasn't working last night. You never know what could have happened.

Inspiration?

I get these e-mails sent to me almost everyday. They contain inspirational quotes. Although, I don't know if I'd call today's message, inspirational...

"I think there's a great beauty to having problems. That's one of the ways we learn."
Herbie Hancock, musician.

Really? Damn,  I'd like to have less a few less problems.  I can handle a little less learning!

Crime

Man, you can't turn on the news or pick up the paper without hearing about crime in this town. They have finally released the name of the 18 year old (Amber) found burnt in the car uptown. This is so sad. Rachel is clearly disturbed by this development. We will wait to talk about it when we know more of the details.

There is something seriously wrong with people today. The 19 year old debutante who was killed uptown back in 2005 was murdered by 3 black men out to get some easy money for drugs. The unrepentant shooter said "Bitch shouldn't have bucked" when he demanded her purse and she didn't turn it over immediately.  What is wrong with him? His own uncle turned him in, but that's a different generation. Too many young people want instant gratification and are demanding that everyone else give them what they want NOW.
We don't yet know why Amber was in this burning car. It is unlikely she "accidentally" set the car on fire herself and died in it.
We still don't know why the 2 young people were killed about a 1/2 mile from my house. They were  practically feet  from the young woman's apartment and should have been safe. Why were these 2 killed before their time? It is so tragic these law-abiding, good people were murdered.
The answers can't come soon enough for the families so they can begin to heal. For us, it is too late. The bloom is off the rose (Savannah). Mentally, we are out of this place. As soon as possible, we are selling the house and getting the hell out of Dodge. This place is becoming like the OK corral. And we know how that ended...

Crime is still in the news and in the hood

This morning at 2:30 am I woke up to hear 4 gunshots. I ran downstairs but didn't see anyone out there.
Just after 10 pm, Rachel called to say that a girl she knew named Amber, was found dead in a burning car in Yamacraw Village around 7 am today. The police aren't releasing any names yet nor whether she was dead before the car burned or was burned alive. It is getting very, very dangerous to be in Savannah. The last time Rachel saw Amber was a couple of months ago. Rachel picked up Amber and her boyfriend along with another friend of hers. Later, Rachel couldn't find her tablet that I gave her for Christmas... She had it when she picked up everyone as she was listening to the music. Rachel felt that Amber or her boyfriend had taken it, now she thinks it was for drug money. Very sad...

Sicko to go along with the crime, crime, crime

This afternoon I was walking the dogs across Barnard Street at 35th Street, I saw a young,black, shirtless, man behind the house next to Delany Hall. As I walked past him, I realized his ...manhood... was out. He stared at me and proceeded to (it doesn't rhyme with Gee) ..... The SICKO.
I was wearing pants with small pockets and it took several seconds to get my phone out of the pocket. Then, the soft stretchy cover that I have on it is one made for the IPhone 4 so it ends up covering up the bottom of the screen on the front and the camera lens on the back.. the parts so that I couldn't make a call or take a pic. Just as I tried to take the cover off the phone so I could use it, Louise pulled hard to the right and Chip pulled to the left and the phone fell on the ground. F*CK. I picked up the phone and told the sicko I was dialing 911 and that what he was doing was a sex crime. Pervert. He took off down Brady Street. Too late for me to call 911 at that point. I have got to get a cover for this phone that will fit it.

Crime Crime Crime

This is getting ridiculous. I just drove down Victory Drive and over by Habersham Street and nearly all the way to Abercorn Street I saw at least 50 cops, some walking on Victory Drive with shotguns. I hear a helicopter in the air. Nothing on the news. More to follow...
UPDATE: It was a bank robbery at Wells Fargo Bay Street and the armed suspects were tracked down to here. No word on arrests so they probably got away.

Over the weekend, at Daffin Park (where the Sand Gnats play), kids football games were being played on several fields. Fights broke out between adults and a teenager pulled out a gun and fired several shots.

The Labor Day weekend murders of 3 are still unsolved. The Police Chief has since said that the couple that was murdered were not involved in any wrongdoing. That gives little solace to the families since the A-hole(s) is still out there free to enjoy life while their loved ones are buried.
On the cover of Monday's paper, they were discussing several high profile murders, I don't want to hear about the perps and their sad deprived upbringing. The victims had the right to live. Let's talk about that.

A couple of girls that just moved here from Hong Kong to attend SCAD were assaulted on Monday at the home they were renting. One creep tried to sexually assault one of the girls. Welcome to Savannah.

Ho

And speaking of crime, there she is, strutting IN the street. She is wearing a pink bra and some lace, well I think she calls it a shirt, but I wouldn't be that generous. Standing in Jefferson Street, waving at cars, and in general, being a nuisance.

Sunday and the Who Knew Parade

Who Knew Parade

Sunday afternoon I heard the sound of music in the air. What is this? I looked out the front door and there was a parade down Montgomery Street. Who Knew? I saw nothing in the Sunday paper. This town is bizarre.
This morning I logged into my computer class to check my grades. I have a C or a 75. How can that be? My test grades are 96 and 88. All my homework is done on time. I hate this class. Maybe the teacher is mad because I asked him a question on formatting and it took him 10 minutes to figure out how to do it...

I phone 5 is Here

I phone 4 vs 5

Well Look At This! I have the I Phone 5. It is beautiful! I love it! I didn't have the 4S so I did not have Suri. She is cool. I sent a text without having to deal with my fingernails making it hard to select a letter. I just pressed the button and asked Suri to send a text message and it was great!
Now I'm trying to find a cover for it. Been all over town and found Otter Box defenders at Target. See if Bill will front me the money until Wednesday...
The screen is bigger by about a half inch but that is enough to make it easier for me to see. IO6 had a download so you can take panoramic pictures. I'll be playing with that, especially after I decorate for Halloween!

Happy Thursday

Hiyah is still working

I know everyone has been wondering, what is going on with Hiyah. Well, you can breathe easier now. Here he is, still working hard!

Finally, the German family that bought the formally beautiful Queen Ann house on 36th Street, are beginning to do some work. It will be nice to see it restored to its former glory.

Rachel is working only a few hours a week at the Crab Shack but now she is putting in some hours at a new Japanese Restaurant on Whitemarsh Island. The more she tells me about this place, the more concerned I am. The guy said he doesn't pay for the first day of work. Now while she is training to be a waitress, he is going to pay her $2.13 an hour WITH NO TIPS. I called the Department of Labor and that is not legal. Then she said that he told her since she is in school, she can't work more than 20 hours a week. According to the Department of Labor, that is UNTRUE. The quote from the DOL- as long as you are over 16, an employer can work you for 24 hours a day without even giving you a break! Who Knew?

	I am 16 years of age. What time does the boss have to let me off in the evenings on a school night?		back to top

There are no restriction on hours for minors 16 years of age and above. (No cutoff hour; no maximum number of hours per day).

Finally, restoration will be starting

After I have worked for 4 hours at my job, doesn't the boss have to give me a 15 minute break?		back to top

No. State nor federal law requires meal periods or breaks. If you are willing, the boss can work you 24 hours a day provided you are 16 years of age or older.

I used to like Math

This college math class is stupid. I'm studying to be a paralegal and this math is NOTHING that I will ever use. Biggest math problem I'll have- XYZ insurance company is offering you x dollars for your accident. After the attorney takes 30% (some take as much as 50% but let's not go there), you are left with 70% x $ and after your doctor's bills are paid, even less.  Is that enough? Hell no, let's ask for y $.
There's my math.
What I'm being given is (a to the nth power minus b to the nth power) cubed. WTF? or 7 the square root sign over five minus square root sign over 35. Really? What does that even mean? I am spending 4-6 hours a day 7 days a week on this damn math, and I have 3 other subjects that I need to work on.

Updates

Remember the blond bimbo that punched Rachel in the face last year? Well, the little tramp is 10 weeks preggers! Ha Ha. Life is changing for her, 16 and pregnant! Sounds like a bad reality show. That incident was over a year ago and you know Savannah's Finest (i.e. the Police) were never able to find the girl. You see, when the incident happened, the skank lived in Bryan county. Shortly after that, she moved to Chatham county. Because she was 15 at the time, this case needed to be handled by the juvenile officers. They NEVER came to interview us. (I say us because I witnessed her punch Rachel in the eye.) Moral of this story, if you have an incident with someone in Chatham county, the offending party better live here 'cause the Police won't be able to find them and bring them to justice.

Then, the murders that happened Labor Day weekend. I actually heard from a cousin of one of the two victims that were killed up the street from me. It's really f'd up that the media and the police are feeding us a line of BS. They stated this was NOT a random act of violence. Implied they knew the people or worse, they were doing something they should NOT have been doing. My theory on this: police are purposely misleading the public. It is too close to the historic/tourist district.

I, for one, am feeling like the Savannah-Chatham Police are losing the war here. The violence is getting out of control and they seem to be clueless about solving crimes. Unless the public points out the perp or better still, the perp turns him/herself in, way too many crimes in this city are going unsolved/un-prosecuted.
A few outstanding/un-prosecuted cases besides the assault and battery on Rachel :
In 2003, a convicted child molester abducted a 12 year old and killed her. (he was the mom's boyfriend.)The police say that have lots of evidence, have the guy in jail. Now, 9 years later,  he is not able to be prosecuted because they held him in jail too long without a "speedy trial." Un-prosecuted.The city is appealing the decision.
In May 2004, an Army Captain was shot and killed in the historic district as he walked home. Unsolved.
A few months ago, a young firefighter was at a bar. Outside, a guy was robbing a girl and shot his gun to scare her. Well, the damn bullet went into the bar and killed the guy. No ideas as to who the scumbag is. Some grainy video on TV and asking the public to "come forward." Unsolved.
Now this past Labor day weekend. The two killed in the car up the street- police asking the public to look for a car seen on video- looks like maybe a Nissan cube. Unsolved. And some dude on River Street was shot and killed walking out of a bar. Unsolved. That's good for the tourists. They were able to solve the one where the 14 year old killed his dad. He confessed. (Actually, he bragged.) That's a 25% solve rate for the weekend. Whoo! Whoo!
I just don't know what is happening in this city.

Monday

See ENTER

So,this is what I was working on that was driving me insane. I'm still waiting for the Help(LESS) desk to answer my question of how to get past this screen. Meanwhile, I sent the transcript (the Help(less) desk sent me a transcript of our "conversation") to my teacher and he recommended trying the TAB key. Whoppee! It worked. I was done in about 10 minutes with the lesson and it took about 10 more minutes to take the test. Done with that homework. Now if I could just get finished with the math that fast.

A quiet Saturday

This weekend is certainly quieter than last weekend and that is a good thing! My computer class is really making me insane. Like I really need INTRO to computers, but in order to get my degree, I'm required to take it. Well, the companion website says you must access it with Internet Explorer. I prefer my Mozilla firefox, but NOOOO, I have to use IE. So, I use it and the frigging program we are working on in WORD (oh be still my heart, I'm learning SO much about Word) tells me to "highlight the text, then change the spacing to 1.3 and then click OK." All is good until I try to click OK. Then nothing. WTF? I tried it about 20 times, and yes, I know the definition of insanity is to try the same thing over and over and expect different results, but this IS a computer we are talking about, so I did it anyway. It wouldn't let me escape, move forward, move backward, go to help. I swear to God I wanted to smash the keyboard. I exited the program Control/Alt/Del and shut down the computer and re-started the computer and then went back to the frigging website. SAME result.........Scream.......
I then tried it again this morning. Scream again..... Then I went to the CHAT for help. After being on hold for 22 minutes... some dude from India tells me to use another browser, like Firefox. WTF. R U Serious?

WTF

Where is the owner

On Saturday I had an appointment with the man who lives here. I got there precisely at 1. (yes it was on Labor Day weekend.) I called before I left but there was no answer. When I go to the house, there was no door bell to ring. Music was playing loudly and the screen door was locked. I knocked several times on the window, then left.
Yesterday, the office made another appointment with him. I called him and confirmed that I would meet up with him today, Thursday, at 5. As I pulled up to the house, I saw 2 police cars in front of the house. After I parked and exited the car, a third car pulled up. I asked if it was OK for me to go to the house as I had an appointment. I was told to hold back...

Ominous.

I waited.
One of the officers then asked why I was there. I explained I was there to meet with the man for a car accident to sign some papers. They were more interested.
I said he didn't answer the door on Saturday but I spoke to him yesterday at which time he assured me he would be home.
The police sergeant asked me to wait, they might want me to be a witness. HUH? WTF? Witness to WHAT?
The 3 officers walked around the house. Then they came back to the front door. They asked me about the taxi. Yes, I said, it was there on Saturday, too.
That is all I know, and I'm sticking to it! I gave them my personal business card and they let me go. Sayonara!

As far as the shooting early Saturday morning, the news says that the couple was NOT randomly shot. Wow. Shocker. Again, what were they doing out at 3:45 am? But here's the weird part. The news says the 2 were passengers. Huh? Who was driving? More questions than answers at this time.
It was a very deadly weekend. On Talahi Island, (which is in Chatham County heading toward Tybee Island) a 14 year old killed his dad and his mum helped to cover it up. Damn.
Also, on River Street at 1 in the morning, a guy was shot and died while trying to get away. What is going on here? 4 murders on a 3 day weekend. Makes you think. Might be safer to move to Baghdad..

A little excitement

Another shooting in the 'hood

11 last night, walking the dogs, a helicopter came flying overhead. Spotlight on, scanning around 37th street, it was there for a good 15 minutes. I stood on the porch with the dogs for a bit and watched but couldn't tell what was happening. Then I walked into the kitchen and saw the copter's searchlight was in my backyard. That got my attention. I ran to the front of the house and watched the copter circle around again and again. Finally it went back to 37th street. I don't know what was happening and nothing was mentioned on the news or online news...

This morning at 7:30 I left to go to Starbucks. I couldn't go all the way up Jefferson due to this roadblock. While up at SB, I saw a detective. I asked and sure enough, there was a shooting this morning. However, he had no clue what was happening last night.

Had my physical yesterday. Talked to my doctor about the Rachel incident last week. The doctor said Rachel was drugged as her daughter had an incident that was quite similar.. (as in losing control of her bowels, not remembering most likely roofies).
 "The three most commonly used drugs for date rape are alcohol and two prescription-strength sleep aids. The two prescription drugs are GHB, also known as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, and benzodiazepines (such as flunitrazepam, also known as Rohypnol or "roofies")."

Still no money for me

Got a letter in the mail yesterday from my bank. Letter states Sun Trust said at the time the check was deposited in my account, there was insufficient funds to cover the check. My bank will try to send it through the system and just maybe by next week the funds will be there. Meanwhile, I'm still broke, Rachel is still bitching she doesn't have any new shoes for the new school year. Boo Hoo..

Life just sucks for me

So I went to my bank this morning to see if I could get a bit more of an explanation about why they won't let me have access to any of my paycheck. They said that because I don't have a spare 900 bucks sitting around, they will not allow me to have access to any of the funds right now. My goddam car insurance bill is due to be automatically withdrawn from my checking account on 9/2. They aren't going to credit my account until 9/4. Wow. Screwed again...

On Wednesday I had my English lit class. Funny, like deja vu, I remember taking English lit years ago... But, they are making me take it again. WTF? What a waste of my time. The teacher gives out the syllabus and I see my LEAST favorite author- evil bitch named Flannery O'Connor from Savannah. I had to read some crap she wrote and I HATED every word of it. When we had to make our introductions, I noted how much I despised FO'c. Guess what? My teacher loves her and did her master's thesis on the bitch. This will go well..

Teacher asked us to write a 3 paragraph paper on one of three topics. I picked the American Dream...
The American Dream was alive and well until about the year 2009. Millions of immigrants from around the world flocked to this country for a chance to own their own home, make a decent living and give their children a better standard of living.

Now, this is no longer the case. More Americans than ever are relinquishing their citizenship. Less Mexicans are crossing the border to the United States. What has happened to the dream?

The dream is shattered because the country is devastated from years of fighting wars, corruption in banks and financial institutions undermining the economy and incompetent leadership in all government agencies from the presidency to the local city manager. It will take a mighty leader with determination to turn this around. I don't believe it will happen in my lifetime. 

I can INVENT new ways to get screwed

Well, finally got paid yesterday for my bill that I submitted on 8/15. As normal, I deposited the check into my account. I got access to 10% of the funds yesterday and got $25 in gas for myself, $20 in gas for Rachel, $60 for Rachel for school clothes. Then. I checked my checking account this afternoon expecting to see a nice fat figure in my account. What I see it squat and this notification:

"Deposit Holds mean a check has already been credited to your account, but the funds are not available for your immediate use.

• To avoid overdrawing your account and incurring overdraft fees, please do not make withdrawals or write checks against these funds.
• You can find your current Available Balance on the Account Summary and Account Activity page.
• We may delay funds availability further or reduce the amount of funds currently available as we continue to verify your deposit. "

The money is being put on HOLD for 14 DAYS. This is the explanation I got when I called:

Wells Fargo says "many factors enter into the decision to put a hold on this check when no hold has been placed on previous checks deposited to this account. Wells Fargo may have been notified that the item has a high probability of not being paid at the maker bank. " This is why the bank has put a hold on this check. This is a direct quote from my WF rep.
See, I found a new way to get screwed!

A real Sh*tty day

What is this?

Yesterday afternoon, Rachel arrived home at 1:30 pm. Yes, she had been out all night. She came home without her car or shoes. She lost her new keys and her shoes and has NO idea where they are.

This morning, Rachel came home at 5:15 am. YES, AM. She rang the doorbell. Yes, Bill had given her a new house key and I gave her the last car key. Why did she ring the doorbell when she had a key? Good question! Her reply- I didn't want to wake up everyone. Huh? Ringing the door bell, waking up the dogs, who now bark at the door, making me get up out of bed to open the door, shut off the alarm then re-set the alarm. Makes more sense than Rachel opening the door, shutting off the alarm and re-setting the alarm. Dogs won't bark if the alarm is shut off in a few seconds. Hmmm. Then, Bill gets up and walks the dogs at 6:30. I feed the dogs when he returns and he says, Rachel needs to clean the sh*t off the door frame. Check it out. Seriously. GROSS. Then, I wait for Malcolm to open next door. I watch his video.
Rachel arrived just after 2 am. Proceeded to sleep in her car until 5. Then, stumbles to the back of her car where it appears she slipped to the ground and took a loose bowel movement. It was behind her car, all runny looking. Then, she wandered to the porch. That's what is on my door frame. Rachel denies it all. But the video and (dna) evidence do not lie.

Still have no money, this sucks

I submitted a bill on Wednesday for my pay from the lawyers' office in Florida. I was told a rush would be put on it. I waited by the mailbox on Friday, nothing. Saturday, nothing. So I sent an e-mail to the person that hired me. He says that if I have a bank that has a local branch in Florida, maybe they could direct deposit the money. I void a check, scan it and send it.
This morning I get an e-mail... Couldn't process my invoice because my zip code wasn't on it. What kind of s**t is that? I'm pissed. When was I going to be told about the missing zip code? Did you ever hear of www.usps.com? I use it whenever I need a zip code. Looky here. I entered the street address and Shazam! the USPS gives me the complete zip!

You entered:

314 W 35TH STREET
SAVANNAH GA

Here's the full address, using standard abbreviations and formatting...

314 W 35TH ST

SAVANNAH GA 31401-8009

 

Forgot to mention this the other day, Bill heard a gun shot around 4am. Bill was talking to our insomniac neighbor later the same day while walking Chip. Neighbor said he was on his second floor porch at 4 when he observed a guy walking down our street, lifting up door handles on cars. Neighbor ( I'm not mentioning names to protect the innocent...) slipped downstairs and shot his pistol into the ground. A-hole took off screaming like a little baby! 

busy busy

Hiyah looking rough

Hiyah was looking a little rough yesterday. His clothes were filthy. Wonder if the old lady threw him out or something?

What a week. I've been fighting to get Rachel enrolled in school and myself, too. Financial aid has been a bitch. The guidance counselor at Islands HS won't do a thing for Rachel. It is frustrating. She kept telling me that Rachel needed to apply back in June. Kept looking in folder after folder on her desktop to PROVE to me that the deadline is June... Couldn't find it though. And she would NOT sign the papers for Rachel to do Accel.. What an ass. Then Rachel said she would take on line school, but the counselor is dragging her feet to fill out her part of the process for that, too...

It took all week but I was finally able to get my financial aid set. That means I can start school next Wednesday and my books will be paid for with my aid..(loan)

Finally, they say God protects fools. Well, it is best not to depend on that because he might be busy when you need him... Point is, I told Rachel to put air in her tire. Told her to go to an Enmark gas station about a mile from the house. Gave her my frigging GAUGE...After 5 days of her not filling the tire, I made her follow me to the station this afternoon, since I had a low tire, too. MY GOD, one tire of Rachel's had 10 lbs and one had 12 lbs! There was a vicious storm yesterday that she was driving to Tybee Island with 2 low tires.. Wow. What an idiot.