Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wednesday May 30, 2012

I got this from Groupon today:
 From: Groupon <mail@e.groupon.com>
Subject: Father's Day deals for the man who gave birth to you


Seriously, the man you gave birth to you. OK so what did mom do? Just along for the ride?
Well, let's start off with what happened yesterday. Tuesday. Rachel had a 3 day weekend, a concert on Saturday 250 miles away, and ended with her birthday on Monday. OK we made it through all that drama. Then, Tuesday I wake her up for school at 6:40 am. I had a migraine and told her I can't be yelling at you 6 times to get downstairs and go to school. School starts at 7:45. At 7:30, she says she can't find her car keys. Well... I don't drive that piece of sh*t. So, I tell her to keep looking. I fell asleep after taking another migraine pill. I woke up at 9 to find Rachel back in bed asleep! I told her I'd drive her, but nothing doing. She looks around her room again, still can't find the keys and back to bed she went. Finally, at 2 pm, she got up. Found her keys wrapped up in her sheets. Let her explain to the school why she didn't go. I'm not giving her a note, for sure.


Now this morning, get her up. She finally leaves at 8. Yes, school starts at 7:45....
So, I have a late start to go to Starbucks. All my usual spots are taken. I keep going and magically, 2 spots opened up right in front of SB! I'm amazed. I pull up taking the one further away from the intersection. I get out and open the back door to get my purse, when bam! A woman in a full size pick up pulling into the spot behind me, smacks into the back of my Subaru. What the hell? I go look and there isn't any damage. Hell, it's been hit worse by 2 hit 'n run drivers. The woman is all apologetic. I told her no damage, no problem. She was so grateful she bought me a SB gift card. That was nice.


Then, I get home. I take a look at my and Rachel's checking account balances. What the? Rachel has more money today than yesterday and she hasn't worked. So I look a little more. She made a deposit of $150 check yesterday. Hmmm. Curious. I open up the deposit. No f'n way. It is a check for $150 made out to ISLANDS HIGH SCHOOL for SENIOR DUES... Damn. Rachel "cashed" a check made out to the school for her friend.
OMG. This is bad. The day after she turns 17 she commits a crime... I can't do anything for her. It will have to be between Rachel, Wells Fargo and the girl's dad...(and maybe the police). She may have colored her hair black, but Rachel is still a BLONDE. Thinks it is OK to cash checks for people. So naive. This will be an expensive lesson.l

Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day 2012

Today, Rachel turned 17. Typical day, she slept until almost noon...I picked her up a new digital camera (so she would have no reason to be asking to take mine anymore...).
She had Ariel over. The two girls are talking about getting an apartment together in Statesboro in July or early August. At 17, Ariel is already living on her own. She gets money from her dad (since he didn't pay his child support money when she was younger, he recently entered into a court agreement to pay her directly). Nice.
Trash being disposed behind house

Someone looking for cans?

Birthday girl

Rachel and Ariel



Someone is using this house on 36th Street as their personal dumping ground. Bunch of cans will at least be picked up shortly as people collect and sell them.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Thursday May 24 2012

Things have been quiet here in the 'hood as well as uptown. One would almost think we lived in the 'burbs! Monday night, I noticed the streetlight in front of my house was out. It makes the street look really dark. When the lights go out, you call Georgia Power and they fix them.
Well, I didn't think about the light on Tuesday until about 5 p.m. It had gotten eerily quiet outside. Suddenly the whole house shook and then I saw the lightning and heard the thunder. It was CLOSE. Chip was petrified and Louise, who usually sleeps through it all, was up barking. Seconds later it was hailing then it changed to big, heavy raindrops. Within 15 minutes, it was all over. After a few instances of the lights flickering, they stayed on, thankfully!
That is when I decided, I had better call Georgia Power and report that light. I found you can report it by e-mail. Cool! So I filled out the report about my light and one in the alley behind Oman's house. When you're all done, it says, this will be addressed within 5 working days. Yeah, right. I reported this around 6 p.m. on Tuesday night. At 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Georgia Power is in front of my house... Now That's Service!!!
Every time we have reported lights out in our 'hood, it is this way. I don't know who cracks the whip, but I can tell you, I love it!

Only real bit of news today is Rachel's SAT scores are in. She made 520 on reading and 520 on math so she can get into Georgia Southern University as a dual or joint enrolled student. I think she would prefer the term JOINT enrolled.... She can go to college as a freshman and take the last two classes she needs to graduate from high school at the college. She is very excited. She won't even be 17 until Monday and here she is planning on going to college in August. I hope Statesboro, Georgia is ready for Miss Rachel!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Monday May 21 2012

Pretty quiet out there. I saw Hiyah sweeping the sidewalk. Working hard to make enough money for that 40 ounce of Old Milwaukee...Stupid liquor store has opened back up. The hearing is May 31. If I'm not working by then, I'll surely be at the city council hearing on the license...
Not doing much except homework these days. Although this morning I did cut the grass. Yes, me.. Just the front yards though, hell, we've been in a drought. The backyard is 60% stone, 15% pavers, 5% grass and the rest is DUST! 

Funny thing, Rachel just called. She was driving with the moon roof open and  smoking a cigarette. Someone uptown had sprinklers on and the water hit her in the face!!! HA HA HA!


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Saturday May 19, 2012

Friday night Crack 'n Crabs just hasn't been the same since Dirty South Records was shut down. I couldn't be happier! My neighbors have commented that parking is no longer a hassle, too.

Homework due tonight. I am not thrilled. Thankfully there are only 3 more weeks left for my online class. Mostly the online classes are a pain. I don't think you learn as much, or I should say, the teachers don't teach that much. We pretty much have to teach ourselves. I don't have a clue half the time where to find the answers. I would rather take classes on ground any time...

Friday, May 18, 2012

Friday May 18 2012

The excitement of yesterday has worn off  a bit and people up town are getting back to normal. There is still talk about the shooting and "where were you when it happened," but mostly people are going about their normal routine.

The storyline now is that a father and son were taken hostage by 2 gunmen on Wednesday night. The father, Earl Hamilton, and one gunman went in the silver Jag up town to get money from a bank. The kidnap victim saw a cop outside Starbucks and alerted the cop that he was being kidnapped. Hamilton bailed out of the Jag and the officer shot at the Jag. The bad guy, Kevin Brooks, took off and holed up in the Pink House. Meanwhile, the other gunman, Brian Jones, stayed at the house with the 11 year old boy. The rest is history as they say.

But, here are my questions. Why was this man targeted? Did the gunmen know him? I don't think they were desperate crackheads as it is reported they had automatic weapons. That sounds pretty serious. I don't believe for a second this was a random act. If someone was to look around my neighborhood (OK that's just ridiculous, 35th and Montgomery! but we're being hypothetical here) would a  person decide to enter my house arbitrarily and take me hostage? My neighbors who are college students? The neighbors across the street at the rooming house? What would they expect to get? I feel there is still more to this story we are not being told.

I like this pic, man and machine
Name: JONES, BRIAN NICHOLASBirth Date: 08/22/1988Race: B  Sex: MArrest Date: 05/17/2012 at 1130Arrest #: 120517042Agency: SAVANNAH PD Bond: $.00Charge(s):
16-8-41 - ARMED ROBBERY - F
16-5-41 - FALSE IMPRISONMENT - F
16-7-1 - BURGLARY - F

Name: BROOKS, KEVIN DALEBirth Date: 11/04/1985Race: B  Sex: MArrest Date: 05/17/2012 at 0830Arrest #: 120517042Agency: SAVANNAH PD Bond: $.00Charge(s):
16-8-41 - ARMED ROBBERY - F
16-5-41 - FALSE IMPRISONMENT - F
16-5-40 - KIDNAPPING - F
16-7-1 - BURGLARY - F
16-13-30(A) - POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - F
16-5-21 - AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Thusday May 17 2012

shooting @ Bull/Broughton
 What a day! I was sitting at Starbucks when Rachel called at 8:05 AM. She was sick and wanted to go to the doctor. I told her to go back home and I'll meet you there. A minute later, I got up and walked away from Bull/Broughton Streets. Before I could get in my car, I heard a shot!
Holy Crap! It was in front of Starbucks! I jumped behind my Subaru then heard a second shot. People were running towards me and screaming "get down".

glass shattered @ Saigon restaurant

car has bullet hole




As I was peeking out from behind my car, I saw the grey Jaguar with the doors open driving in reverse by itself. It slammed into the Saigon Restaurant then rolled back into the street. I stayed behind my car.... called 9-1-1.

After a few seconds, the police were there. Then I came out from behind the car and closed my driver's door. Everyone started coming out of doorways and stores. Lots of talk about what happened. All I know is my car was instantly blocked in as part of the crime scene. Damn. I couldn't leave. I was stuck up on Broughton Street. Starbucks was the crime scene so I couldn't go back there. Panera Bread was also blocked off so I couldn't go there. I was trapped, like a rat. Thankfully I'd already had my coffee or it could have been very ugly.

After a few minutes, a helicopter started circling overhead. It was getting annoying. I finally checked out WTOC.com (thank you Steve Jobs for the I-phone with internet service). Turns out the shooter was holed up at the Pink House Restaurant a couple of blocks away. Now there were 2 helicopters circling and SWAT arrived. I knew then, I wanted OUT. I helped the young officer raise the tape to let the manager of the Pink House in. Then I pleaded with him, I have a sick child at home.. He finally said, go quickly!

Now here I am safe at home in the 'hood. Seems kind of ironic don't ya think?

Update: So, the person doing the shooting up on Broughton Street, turns out it was a plainclothes policewoman that was in Starbucks. There was also an FBI man in Starbucks. From what was on the news, last night at 11 PM, men armed with automatic weapons, took a man and his son hostage in their home. This morning, the men forced the kidnap victim to go to with them to the bank to get them money. I don't know what happened next just that the policewoman saw the automatic rifle and fired at the car. One of the kidnappers holed up inside the Pink House for hours. A robot was sent in and eventually the dude was arrested. The other kidnapper took off in a different vehicle and went back to the area where the kidnapping had taken place. He ran his car off the road and was arrested, too.
Man in long shirt in front of the car is the kidnapping victim


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Wednesday May 16 "2012

Trash on Brady Street
This afternoon, I saw this massive pile of trash on the corner of Brady and Barnard. The guy that used to own the house, Dan Marino, left several months ago. He had a really good pizza place on Bull Street but ran into some, let's say, legal troubles... Happens when you don't pay taxes... Anyways... He decided to walk away from his house and go back to Jersey. I guess someone (the bank?) finally went in there and cleaned up. People were picking through the stuff out there. One girl picked up a teddy bear nearly as big as she was!

Well, things are not going well job-wise or school-wise.  I didn't hear back from the law office uptown and a decision was due to be made on Monday. Then, I heard about this program from the VA, "Vow to hire a vet". I totally qualify for the program, but there are some problems. South University isn't covered because it is not a technical school or vocational school. Plus, I would need to earn an Associates Degree or some kind of certificate. Damn. Paralegal studies are one of the careers that is covered, too. I went to Sav Tech, which is definitely covered under the program. Fall classes start in mid-August. That means, I wouldn't get a check until ? I think beginning of September? How the hell can I survive until then? The program starts on JULY 1. I don't know what to do. I tried looking for other schools in Savannah, but nothing starts in July. I am so frustrated. I could get over $1400+ a month! If only.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Monday May 14 2012

Well, I am certainly glad I didn't spend the $69 to update my TomTom. Damn thing won't work. I plugged it in, the green light comes on indicating it is charging. I left it charging for several hours. Then, NOTHING. Held down the button, lightly pressed the button, SQUEEZED the button, STOMPED the button. Still, won't turn on. So much for that.

This massage therapist I know, Lenny, told me about an attorney client of his in desperate need of a paralegal. Lenny told the guy to give me a call. Of course, the attorney calls me when I'm outside walking the dogs. Not exactly an opportune time to be jotting down his e-mail address or chatting.... Anyways, he says he will call back and leave his e-mail address on VM. Just my luck, he calls back and the message is garbled. I called him later and left him a VM.
Nothing else happened over the weekend.
This morning I sent him a text. He did text back his email address so that I could send him my resume. We'll see.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the big day to sign up for the VA program for students. I am so totally ready to start getting some kind of income....

Also, tomorrow is my luncheon at school for being on the President's List. All A's again!!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Prom 2012

ready for the prom

Rachel and her date

Rachel and a friend
Well, last night was the prom. Rachel looked striking in her dark hair, (spray on) tan and extra long gown with almost 4" pumps. We went to the Savannah Yacht Club on the Islands to take pics. Most of the prom goers were there as it provides a great background. I was a bit worried the gnats would be out, but thankfully they were not. The kids all looked so grown up and were dazzling with an abundance of sequins! (Rachel's dress has some sequins, too.)

Since it is now Sunday morning and I had no calls from the Police, I'd say the prom was success!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Saturday May 12 2012

Got the skinny on what went down last night... A neighbor saw a guy put down a package next to the yellow house across the street (the one the people from N.C. just bought). Then, the guy kept going back to the "package." So, he got a detailed description of the guy and called the police. It was a big bag of drugs... Oh yeah, another Friday night of Crack 'n Crabs is ruined.
Also saw Hiyah yesterday. He was walking over to the liquor store at 8 AM.. Probably on his second 40 oz. by then...;-))

Friday, May 11, 2012

Friday May 11 2012

10PM, Friday night, 4 police cars
10 PM on Friday night, and it is pretty quiet out there. I look outside and see 4 cop cars. I don't know what is going on out there. At that little yellow house, 4 cops are walking around it and shining flashlights under it. Strange. Someone just bought the house on Tuesday...

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Wednesday May 11 2012

 A couple more shots of the tall ships are here.
It has been real quiet here since Hiyah moved and the big bust happened. Unfortunately, the damn liquor store is re-opening today. Dirty South better NOT re-open. That place is nothing but a drug dealers hang out.

 
Making a decision usually means taking one of two roads. One is doing the right thing. To take the other road, you have to sit back and spin a story around the decision or action you are taking. If you find yourself thinking up an elaborate justification for what you are doing, you are not doing the right thing."
-- Wayne Sales
Tall ship heading out
Friday May 4, 4 PM
I can NOT believe I did not put this in my blog! On Friday at 4 PM, Rachel had JUST left for work. Suddenly, it was ghastly quiet out there. Bill and I looked outside and saw a policeman putting yellow tape across the street, over the hood of my Subaru. If Rachel had waited another 10 minutes, she would have been blocked in. More than a dozen cops were out there as well as the drug dog. Some included the Jump Boys (in masks!) and several were carrying automatic weapons! Cool! The police closed down Dirty South Records, Dirty South Car Wash and Montgomery Liquors. We saw at least a dozen guys on the sidewalk in handcuffs. Word was that someone (AND IT WASN'T ME!!!) called the City Manager and complained about the dealing and crap going on here. I'm saying, hey, look a little closer. Hiyah moved out on May 1st... Bust happens May 4.... Hiyah ain't busted.... I don't believe in coincidences. Oh, and Little (400 pound) Billy was hanging out in front of the liquor store the days preceding the Big Bust and he didn't get arrested from what I saw either. RATS, I say, RATS. Hmmm. Perhaps the strangest part of the whole thing was that this was live on 2 TV stations then followed up by the others but never made the newspaper. Really.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Tuesday May 8 2012

Tall ship in harbor

Tall ship heading out to sea
The tall ships were beautiful. The whole time they were here, the weather was great. Then, yesterday morning as they prepared to head out to sea for the race, the weather started getting bad. The wind picked up, the seas were rough and then it started to rain. While we need the rain, it was a shame it started just as the ships were heading out. Bill got drenched trying to get pics. I had to stay further back with the car to keep from getting a ticket. Those meter maids are vicious!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Thursday May 3 2012

Happy Birthday Elizabeth. Nine years old! We are going to try to Skype with her in the next few days. That will be cool. Not as much fun as face time, but still, give her a chance to stay in contact with us.

Bill and I went to see the Tall Ships as they arrived in Savannah. At first, Bill went down to the river alone. He told me River Street was all blocked off and he couldn't see much and he was on his way home.
Well, I went for my SB coffee, then took a ride to the river, myself. Guess what? Bill was mistaken. River Street was not yet blocked off. I went down to the River and got pics of a ship coming in. I just missed taking a pic of the cannon going off! After that, as I was leaving, I ran into the Occupy Savannah people. They are some cool people. I talked with them for a bit. I'm going to get them to help me with my Ogeechee River Fishkill protest.
I went back to the house and picked up Bill. We got an excellent parking spot on Bay Street and spent 2 hours on River Street. We rode the ferry which is FREE! Then we went to eat at one of my Fave Restaurants, Vic's on the River. They have awesome biscuits served with butter and marmalade and the tastiest, freshest salads. (Crobb salad is my favorite- crabmeat salad on top of greens with nuts, veggies and fresh fruits. Yum!) The weather was perfect with puffy white clouds and nice breeze. It couldn't have been any better.

Well, here are some pics of the Tall Ships. Enjoy!
taken while on the free ferry

Also taken while on the ferry

Taken from restaurant 4 floors up

Indonesian ship, People standing on masts waving

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

JOB

I tried out a new job. This one is looking at houses, determining occupancy and taking pictures.
Today, as a trial, I looked at 6 houses. My damn tom-tom is several years out of date. I can't afford the $69 to update it.  3 out of the 6 properties I couldn't locate on tom-tom.
I tried using the i-phone and found out that it doesn't give turn by turn directions- you have to hold the phone and keep turning or moving the screen. What should have taken 1.5 hours took more than 3 hours. But, the Subaru still got 24 mpg and I drove about 45 miles. It never should have been that many miles, but I drove the wrong way due to not being able to look at the phone and drive...
Oh, and let's not forget that Rachel borrowed tom-tom last month... It came back without the cord that plugs into the car. So, I got to the first house, and started to the second when...tom-tom was DEAD. NICE!
Meanwhile, the first house is in a bad section of the "hood" that is worse than where I live... Just finished up, sitting in the car, putting my next address in the tom-tom, when my phone rings. It is a law office. I proceed to have a phone interview while sitting in a 100 degree car in the frigging sun with miscreants walking up and down the street and the Power Company getting ready to do something, (about 6 men walking up and down the street going to everyone's house). I was trapped. The guy told me to go to the houses looking professional wearing pants (not shorts). OK so the hot sun is shining down through the windshield on my black pants and I'm wearing socks and black shoes. I have sweat pouring from every pore in my body. But, yes, I say, yes, we can talk now....
All is good. I have a face to face interview scheduled  for Monday @ 2 for a bankruptcy clerk position @ a law office about 1 1/2 miles from my house...
Wish me luck!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

May Day 2012

Gone! Hiyah has moved!

No one home
BREAKING NEWS!
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK OVER THERE!
Hiyah and his old lady moved out over the weekend. Now where are the scumbags going to hang? It is quiet as a church over there.
Now I guess it is time to concentrate on Dirty South Records... Oh yeah, I have too much time on my hands...