• BOOKS: Children of the Earth Series by Jean Auel Mary Higgins Clark John Grishams People Series by Kathleen O'Neal & W Michael Gear Readers Digest MUSIC: Pink Floyd Van Morrison New Age Eagles Alabama Chicago Fleetwood Mac Moody Blues Carol King Jim Croche Yes Mamas & Papas

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Saturday, April 30, 2011

THEME Thursday, April 28, 2010 - Sleep

EtsyBlogger Teammates Artwork.  Click on photo to transport to each shop!

Original Photo 5x7 Sebastian and Snowflake
A Sleepy Horse - 5 x 7 print of an original watercolor
Sugar - Kitty Cat and Blue Beaded Earrings

Jumping Off Places Meme ... Week 10 April 29, 2011

Week 6 The Beginninghttp://jujubejewelry.blogspot.com/2011/03/jumping-off-places.html

Week 7:  http://jujubejewelry.blogspot.com/2011/04/friday-fence-post-april-15-2011.html

Week 8:  http://jujubejewelry.blogspot.com/2011/04/friday-fence-post-april-15-2011.html

Week 9:  http://jujubejewelry.blogspot.com/2011/04/jumping-off-places-meme-week-9-april-22.html

Week 10:  Gasping for air, I literally thought my lungs would burst!  A peaceful quiet surrounds me as I am embraced in a loving lightttt... none of it matters any longer...

Gasping again.  Can't breath.  Choking, trying to inhale beyond the water and interuption that has penetrated my world.  Mother had gone for a walk on the beach with her girlfriends, Liz rescues me from drowning.  We are at Old Silver Beach again, a few miles from our home on Cape Cod.  None of us sisters can swim, the drop off was closer to the edge and unexpected.

Breathing in gulps, begging Liz not to tell, for I would surely be punished.  Please, please Liz, you don't know her.  Please don't tell!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

'Breathtaking' treasure dug up in backyard


VIENNA – A man turning dirt in his back yard stumbled onto buried treasure — hundreds of pieces of centuries-old jewelry and other precious objects that Austrian authorities described Friday as a fairy-tale find.

Austria's department in charge of national antiquities said the trove consists of more than 200 rings, brooches, ornate belt buckles, gold-plated silver plates and other pieces or fragments, many encrusted with pearls, fossilized coral and other ornaments. It says the objects are about 650 years old and are being evaluated for their provenance and worth.



While not assigning a monetary value to the buried bling, the enthusiastic language from the normally staid Federal Office for Memorials reflected the significance it attached to the discovery.

"Fairy tales still exist!" said its statement. "Private individual finds sensational treasure in garden."
It described the ornaments as "one of the qualitatively most significant discoveries of medieval treasure in Austria."

This find is stunning!  What would you do if it were you?

Friday, April 22, 2011

Congratulations to Linda, etsyBlogger Team Member of the Month - April



About

Hi, my name is Linda and I'm passionate about using bright colors and gemstone characteristics in my unique beaded jewelry designs. Most of my items are one-of-a-kind. My Judaica line of jewelry and accessories is very popular and I enjoy coming up with new designs for it. 
With more than 70 sales a year since opening her shop in 2008, I thought it would be fun to look back down memory lane to her 1st sale ...


Pink Mothers Day and Blue and Purple Bookbeads - YART SALE

Latest Sale
Womens Wire Beaded Kippah with White Pearls

Etsybloggers April 25th, 2011 Blog Carnival by Alice's Owl

Alice's Owl ... I just love this name of her etsy shop and blog!!!
www.alicesowl.etsy.comwww.alicesowl.bogspot.com
phoenixphire.alicesowl@gmail.com

3): Share with us your favorite part of April. What about it is so special to you? Why? Do you remember it from childhood? Did a special friend introduce the two of you? Did you discover it yourself while out on a bike ride or spring stroll? Perhaps you just were pulled to it and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since then. Show it to us, describe it to us, make it our favorite part of April too!


I'd met him for time the first that warm night.  Unbeknownest to me, it was the evening that would later change my life, and that of my children, forever.

Knowing him for a couple of years before we had our first date on my birthday, however I will never forget that fateful evening when I was first introduced to my future husband by my then boyfriend.

Friendships can be fragil and ours was. Kim and I had hit it off, and shared margaritas by the pool one summer afternoon to toast my birthday.  A couple of weeks later I was attempt to avoid her sons birthday pool  party at the house, because I knew that he would be there, afterall it was his home, and my heart was in no mood scared to fall in love, I comminted it to be so.

That week I mailed Pete's birthday gift knowing I would not attend his party, afterall Kim said that Rob was dating his ex-girlfriend again.

The afternoon that Pete's gift arrived at the house, Kim called to inquire.  After some pressure, my o]position was explained.  She understood.  That evening, the phone ran again, this time it was him!  Heart thumping, hands sweating ... he said, "I heard that you were not coming to Pete's party?" God, if he would only talk forever ...  It was a question.  I would need to talk.  Gulp! 

Finding my voice, I told Rob that it would be best that I not be there.  He said, "I want for you to be here" ... a little less that two years later we married our best friends, each other.  April 1, we celebrated aout 11th year of marriage to one another.  Often, my heart still skip-thumps when I see him.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Jumping Off Places Meme ... Week 9 April 22, 2011

The bee flitted from blossom to blossom in an erratic pattern as my spirit revels in the height of the tall, fragrant, wheat colored grass.  When laying within the fold of this huge beautiful field behind our house, looking at the pussy willow tree upside down, and the awesome blue cloudless sky, my thoughts wander.
The momentary escape mingles with reality and I turn it over quickly, out of my mind, thinking only of the pieces of milkweed dancing along in the background to the deep, neverending blue sky.  Breaking off a piece of the tall grass and putting it into my mouth, I feel engulfed in peace.  When I am here, I believe that I am loved more than anything imaginable. 

An unexpected exhale, a relaxing.  Taking in the fresh air, breathing in and asorbing the colors that suround me in every direction.  I long to be, in this, my favorite place in all of my small world.  There is no wrong, no looking over my shoulder, making a snow-like angel within the tall, wheat colored grass ... places like this are known by wild deer, not children. I am blessed to share such a teeny place in all of the universe.

In the distance I see shadows behind the kitchen window.  Can I be seen.  Am I ever truly alone?

How to disable your iPhone's creepy tracking feature

By Rosa Golijan

We've established that your iPhone is constantly tracking and recording your location without your knowledge or consent, and initially you were helpless when it came to stopping this pesky phenomenon. But now we've got a way to put an end to the creepy tracking feature — assuming you're willing to use an app unauthorized by Apple.

The Next Web reports that a free iPhone app called Untrackerd can be used to delete any of the location data recorded to your device — and to prevent any further data from being saved. There's a catch though: The app only works if you've jailbroken your iPhone.

Jailbreaking — as the process of unlocking iOS devices so that they can run unauthorized software is called — is a quick and simple task at this point and can be done by anyone. In fact, tip site Lifehacker maintains an "always up-to-date" guide which will show you how to get through the whole task in just a few clicks.

Once you've jailbroken your iPhone, all you need to do is download Untrackerd from the Cydia Store and let it do its thing:

A package [will install a] daemon (process that can run in the background) to clean consolidated.db file. No new icons are added to your homescreen. There are no options to configure.

That's it. Sounds simple enough.
A few cautions before you run off, jailbreak your iPhone, and download Untrackerd:
  • There can be risks to jailbreaking. Some legit apps might not run correctly or your iPhone may act up in strange ways. Your phone may also be left with some security vulnerabilities.
  • Untrackerd was created by a third-party — and while that individual's intentions are probably good — no one's checked whether the app itself does anything shady while cleaning up your data.

Do you love COOKIES?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/miamicbs4-15750840/hollywood-woman-s-penguin-tickle-video-goes-viral-24964912

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Thursday, April 14, 2011 Meme - "SPICE"

I LOVE SPICES, HOW ABOUT YOU?

A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark or vegatative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor.comor, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. Flavoring may be to hide other flavors. In the kitchen, spices are distinguished from herbs, which are leafy, green plant parts used for flavoring.
Many spices are used for other purposes, such as medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, perfumery or for eating as vegetables. For example, tumeric is also used as apreservative; liquorice as a medicine; garlic  as a vegetable.

Early history
Humans were using spices in 50,000 BC. The spice trade developed throughout the Middle East in around 2000 BC with cinnamon and pepper, and in East Asia (Korea, China) with herbs and pepper. The Egyptians used herbs for embalming and their need for exotic herbs helped stimulate world trade. The word spice comes from the Old French word "espice" which became "epice" and which came from the Latin root "spec", the noun referring to appearance, sort, kind ('Species' has the same root.) By 1000 BC, China, Korea and India had medical systems based upon herbs. Early uses were connected with magic, medicine, religion, tradition, and preservation.

Digs found a clove burnt onto the floor of a burned down kitchen in the Mesopotamian site of Terqa, in what is now modern-daySyria, dated to 1700 BC.

In the story of Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers to spice merchants. In the biblical poem Song of Solomon, the male speaker compares his beloved to many forms of spices. Generally, early Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, and Mesopotamian sources do not refer to known spices.

In South Asia, nutmeg, which originates from the Banda Islands in the Molukas, has a Sanskrit name. Sanskrit is the ancient language of India, showing how old the usage of this spice is in this region Historians believe that nutmeg was introduced to Europe in the 6th century BC.

The ancient Indian epic of Ramayana mentions cloves. The Romans had cloves in the 1st century AD, as Pliny the Elder about them.  Indonesian merchants went around China, India, the Middle East and the east coast of Africa. Arab merchants facilitated the routes through the Middle East and India. This made the city of Alexandria in Egypt the main trading centre for spices because of its port. The most important discovery prior to the European spice trade were the monsoon winds (40 AD). Sailing from Eastern spice growers to Western European consumers gradually replaced the land-locked spice routes once facilitated by the Middle East Arab caravans. 
Middle Ages

Spices were among the most demanded and expensive products available in Europe in theMiddle Ages, the most common being black pepper, cinnamon (and the cheaper alternative cassia), cumin, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Given the Medieval Medicine's main theory of humorism, spices and herbs were indispensable to balance "humors" in food, a daily basis for good health at a time of recurrent pandemic.
Spices were all imported from plantations in Asia and Africa, which made them expensive. From the 8th until the 15th century, the Republic of Venice had the monopoly on spice trade with the Middle East, and along with it the neighboring Italian city-states. The trade made the region rich. It has been estimated that around 1,000 tons of pepper and 1,000 tons of the other common spices were imported into Western Europe each year during the Late Middle Ages. The value of these goods was the equivalent of a yearly supply of grain for 1.5 million people.  The most exclusive was saffron, used as much for its vivid yellow-red color as for its flavor. Spices that have now fallen into obscurity in European cuisine include grains of paradise, a relative of cardamom which most replaced pepper in late medieval north French cooking, long pepper, mace, spikenard, galangal, and cubeb.

Early modern period

The control of trade routes and the spice-producing regions were the main reasons that Portuguese navigator Vasco do Gama sailed to India in 1499.  Spain and Portugal were not happy to pay the high price that Venice demanded for spices.  At around the same time, Christopher Columbus returned from the New World, he described to investors new spices available here.
The military prowess of Afonso de Alburquerque (1453–1515) allowed the Portuguese to take control of the sea routes to India. In 1506, he took the island of Socotra in the mouth of the Red Sea and, in 1507, Ormuz in thePersian Gulf.  Since becoming the viceroy of the Indies, he took Goa in India in 1510, and Malacca on the Malay peninsula in 1511. The Portuguese could now trade directly with Siam, China, and the Moluccas. The Silk Road complemented the Portuguese sea routes, and brought the treasures of the Orient to Europe via Lisbon, including many spices.

With the discovery of the New World came new spices, including allspice, bell and chili peppers, vanilla, and chocolate. This development kept the spice trade, with America as a late comer with its new seasonings, profitable well into the 19th century.

In the Caribbean, the island of Grenada is well known for growing and exporting a number of spices, including the nutmeg, which was introduced to Grenada by the settlers.

Handling spices

A spice may be available in several forms: fresh, whole dried, or pre-ground dried. Generally, spices are dried. A whole dried spice has the longest shelf life so can be purchased and stored in larger amounts, making it cheaper on a per-serving basis. Some spices are rarely available either fresh or whole, for example turmeric, and must be purchased in ground form. Small seeds, such as fennel and mustard seeds, are used both whole and in powder form.

The flavor of a spice is derived in part from compounds that oxidize or evaporate when exposed to air. Grinding a spice greatly increases its surface area and so increases the rates of oxidation and evaporation. Thus, flavor is maximized by storing a spice whole and grinding when needed. The shelf life of a whole spice is roughly two years; of a ground spice roughly six months. The "flavor life" of a ground spice can much shorter. Ground spices are better stored away from light.
To grind a whole spice, the classic tool is mortar and pestle. Less labor-intensive tools are more common now: a microplane or fine grater can be used to grind small amounts; a coffee grinder is useful for larger amounts. A frequently used spice such as black pepper may merit storage in its own hand grinder or mill
.
Some flavor elements in spices are soluble in water; many are soluble in oil or fat. As a general rule, the flavors from a spice take time to infuse into the food so spices are added early in preparation.


Production in tonnes. Figures 2003-2004
Researched by FAOSTAT (FAO)
India1 600 00086 %
China99 0005 %
Bangladesh48 0003 %
Pakistan45 3002 %
Nepal15 5001 %
Other countries60 9003 %
Total1 868 700100 %

Friday, April 15, 2011

Jumping Off Places Meme ... Week 8 April 2011

Younger memories ... click here

The inward journey is a lifelong pilgrimage.  

An adult now, the journey has been filled with many good memories, and even more prevalent, the nightmares.  It is unfortunate that the monster mother continues the games and actions meant to control and injure, even in her seventies, as the youngest of us continues her healing battle. 
Maine and New Hampshire camping vacations, participating in elementary school May Pole Ceremonies, empty refrigerator boxes used to slide down the grassy hill between our house and my grandparents home. Standing at the edge of Nanna & Grampy's backyard filling our mouths with warm, sweet, fresh raspberries and blackberries from the vines.  Traveling into the woods on the tailgate of our station wagon eager to pick wild blueberries, and eating hard pears from the school yard tree.  Raising tadpoles, ice skating and bonfires on cranberry bogs in winter.  Clyde, my fathers black Labrador retriever, yearly month-long vacations visiting maternal relatives here in Florida.  Suddenly, I learn that my father is not my real father. 

Good memories tempered by the impossible. 

It was like a boomerang, coming back only to knock me upside the head.  She yelled at me.  "How dare I embarrass my "father" like that in front of everyone?"  Oh my god, in trouble again.  What is happening?  My head spins.  Who kicked me in the stomach?

Arriving at Aunt Betty and Uncle Al's home, everyone leaves the car making a beeline for the house.  I am told to wait.  She takes me aside in the driveway, yells at me again for embarrassing my "father", how could I be so rude.  "No, he is not your father."  "Stay here until you stop crying."  NEVER bring  the subject up again, questions are unacceptable. 

Frightened into believing!  Why am I different?  Why is this so bad?  Head continues to spin, stomach hurts, can't breath.  Hold me.  Please hold me.  Love me, PLEASE!  She gives me a piece of gum and tells me not to come into the house until "you can stop crying"!  I see her back walking away through my hot, salty, frigthened tears.

God, please take me away, anywhere.  Somewhere.  Help me find my real father, he will take me to a home of love and peace.  "Real" grandparents?  Sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles ...

It is a coming to terms, realizations, purging, giving up, and letting go.  Looking at the adult, with an adults vision and a child's broken spirit.  How do I forgive?  Do I want to know how?

Friday Fence Post April 15, 2011


Double Fence Posts

(Did you see it in the background?)

Monday, April 11, 2011

Camera-Critters #157 - Bandit Nabs Oysters

How birth order affects your love life

Want some fresh insight into your love personality? Forget about whether you’re a Leo, Pisces or Aquarius; instead, consider whether you’re a first-born, middle child, or baby of the family. If you want to understand how you operate in every kind of relationship, “understanding birth order is a lifesaver,” stresses psychologist Kevin Leman, Ph.D., author of The Birth Order Book. Read on for more insight into your love life:

If you’re an oldest child...
It’s no coincidence that most U.S. Presidents were first-borns, because this is the sign of natural leaders. You’re a take-charge person, so not the type to drive friends and romantic partners crazy asking questions like, “I dunno where we should eat; where do you want to go?” Instead, you’ll make sure you have reservations — and land a prime table, too. And anyone lucky enough to pair up with you won’t spend weeknights wondering whether he or she has Saturday night plans, because “oldest kids are planners,” says Dr. Leman. You’re also old-fashioned (in a good way). You always come through on anniversaries and Valentine’s Day.

Your love challenge: Being more spontaneous. First-borns aren’t the “seize the day” sort (you’re not one to text your sweetie to suggest meeting at this fun café you just walked past). Likewise, “you hate surprises,” Dr. Leman warns. Pity the fool who springs meeting the parents on you or when you thought it was just the two of you going out tonight!
Best match: The youngest child. “It’s a case of opposites attracting,” says Dr. Leman. “You help the last-born be more organized, and the last-born helps you lighten up.”   

If you’re a middle child...Contrary to their reputation as insecure messes (example: Jan Brady), middle kids actually make stable and loyal partners. “One thing you’re not is spoiled,” Dr. Leman says. You probably grew up feeling like you got less attention than your siblings, and that drives you to work for every perk — including a happy relationship. Also in the “positives” category: You’re “a compromiser and negotiator,” Dr. Leman notes, so you’ll give your partner plenty of say in everything from how quickly your relationship progresses to where you go on vacation together. And your romance should be free of daily petty squabbles (middles hate conflict); instead, you try to put others at ease.

Your love challenge: Opening up. Have you ever been told you’re hard to read? “Middle children can be very secretive,” says Dr. Leman. “They got hammered by the first-born and swindled by the baby, so they keep their cards close to their chests.” You’re also not the best communicator when you’re upset. But if you learn to speak up instead of holding your anger in, you’ll have a more harmonious relationship.
Best match: Youngest child. “Middles aren’t as threatened by last-borns as they are by exacting first-borns,” says Dr. Leman, so the odds are good for open communication.

If you’re a youngest child...
You’re all about fun. The most outgoing of all in the birth order spectrum, youngest children live to have a good time (it may be because your parents were more laid-back by the time you came along). On a typical first date you’ll have your date laughing so hard that water shoots out his or her nose. In fact, “most famous comedians are youngest children,” says Dr. Leman. A partial list of famous examples: Jon Stewart, Jim Carrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. And forget ho-hum plans like dinner and a movie; you love to do the unexpected, often on the spur of the moment. You’re the type to take someone to a party only to whisper, “Let’s get out of here” two minutes later... and then convince your date to take a road trip to Atlantic City or Vegas for the weekend.

Your love challenge: “Babies are the least financially dependable,” warns Dr. Leman (it comes from being, well, taken care of all your life). That means your date may be stuck picking up the tab when your credit card is maxed out. Also, some youngest children — not you, of course! — use that last-born charm and charisma to be a bit, ahem, manipulative, says Dr. Leman. That breed of baby will leave a date and sneak off to hit golf balls with pals or something similar, leaving the other person wondering what happened.
Best match: Either the oldest child (they serve as a good counterbalance in a parent-child sort of way) or middle child (they value friendships, so they totally understand why you love being the life of the party).

If you’re an only child...
You’re a rock-solid citizen — and a sweetie. “Only children are super-reliable,” Dr. Leman says. “They’re like oldest children taken to the extreme.” Growing up with only adults made you into a little grown-up early on — meaning you’re serious and dependable. You’re the rare person who will stay up half the night helping a friend or partner prep for a licensing exam or a big work presentation. You’re the type to move your partner’s car so he or she doesn’t get a ticket. Punctual and true to your word, onlies like you never leave a loved one waiting for a call or email. And you’re articulate, too, so your date can expect great conversations that really make a person think.

Your love challenge: Admit it — you’re a bit of a perfectionist. Maybe you send back steaks that aren’t cooked just so or point out a teeny-tiny stain on your date’s sweater. Also, you’re so cautious and pragmatic that you can be very slow to act (i.e., someone else has to make the first move).
Best match: Youngest child, because you balance each other out. The baby of the family adds spontaneity and romance, while you make sure you two aren’t dining by candlelight because the electric bill never got paid.

Lisa Lombardi has written for Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Shape and other publications. A classic middle child, she is happy to have picked a fun-loving last-born mate.

What do you think? And, please take the <<<POLL<<< over there... :o)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thursday, April 7, 2011 Meme - "FACE"

1.
a. The surface of the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin and from ear to ear.
b. A person: We saw many new faces on the first day of classes. 
2. A person's countenance: a happy face.

3. A contorted facial expression; a grimace: made a face at the prospect of eating lemons.
4. Facial cosmetics: put one's face on.
5. Outward appearance: the modern face of the city.
6.
a. Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige: lose face.
b. Self-assurance; confidence: The team managed to maintain a firm face even in times of great adversity.
7. Effrontery; impudence: had the face to question my judgment.
8. The most significant or prominent surface of an object, especially:
a. The surface presented to view; the front.
b. A façade.
c. Outer surface: the face of the earth.
d. A marked side: the face of a clock; the face of a playing card.
e. The right side, as of fabric.
Morning Sky Creations
f. An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock.
9. A planar surface of a geometric solid.
10. Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal.
11. The end, as of a mine or tunnel, at which work is advancing.
12. The appearance and geologic surface features of an area of land; topography.
13. Printing
a. A typeface or range of typefaces.
b. The raised printing surface of a piece of type.

Jumping Off Places Meme ... Week 7 April 8, 2011

Scroll down for current week ...

Week 5: A bead of perspiration rolled from my temple down across my cheek. Or was it a tear? Why won't she love me is my last thought as my head hits the open bottom drawer. Dizziness overwhelmed and scared me, and I knew, this is not normal.

Week 6: Smoke filled the room like a cloudy day. No I realize with head spinning, everything is blurry. I cry out in pain... disbelief is mixed with tears, I hear mothers mocking laughter. Why did this just happen? What could be so evil to deserve such harsh consequences? Everyone in the kitchen is just standing there, no one moves to help, take a stand, comfort and protect a little girl? Condem the mother/wife for what she has just done?
Alone in confusion, hurt to the core, in the gut for the first time that can be remembered, too young to process the combination of all that is happening. It comes to me, move. Escape. It is then she realizes that there is no escape. There will never be. Never.

Slumped back toward the kitchen, alone, heading toward my bedroom and all of the stuffed animal friends who love me.

Week 7:  A door slammed and someone ran down the stairs in an obvious hurry!  Waking with a jolt, must have fallen asleep.  What time ... just after midnight.  Another party in the basement and I hate that my bedroom door is just steps from the bar and party downstairs, and the only bathroom in the house.

Too afraid to ever sleep with my door closed, these get-togethers are always a restless night for me.  It is unnerving when a drunkard enters my bedroom, wobbling, stinking of smoke, trying to adjust their eyes to the darkness.

Laying quietly, eyes open only a slit in case I need to somehow protect myself, surrounded by fourteen stuffed animals, frozen waiting for them to realize they missed the room to the toilet.  Why doesn't my mother and step-father realize how awful their parties are to me, a scar on the spirit of my childhood.
Orange light?  Not really flashing, but I am too young to think of another word.  The flikering leads me into the kitchen, something on the stove is on fire!  The last thing I remember is a gutteral sound ... did it come from me?

Monday, April 4, 2011

I LEFT MY BLACK CLOUD AT 7-11

Future Lottery Winner T-shirt
On my way to an appointment I was assaulted with the desire for an orange Slurpee as I pulled into a 7-11, where on impulse, she who rarely does this had a "feeling" and bought a scratch off lottery ticket.  On my way again, I realized that I had my Slurpee, but not the lottery ticket.  No problem, will just stop in on my way home.
Walked into the 7-11 for the second time this "Monday", up to the counter where the woman who checked me out suddenly realized who I was.  Just a quickly, I saw her palm my lottery ticket, which to my lack of surprise, was all scratched off.  With the ticket, she grabbed up some trash and asked if she could help me as she was throwing away the pile.

Telling her the situation, she said that she had put it aside however had just cleaned up and it must have been thrown into the trash.  She offered me another ticket or to pay me for it.  At this point it became a matter of principle.

"No, I want the ticket that I paid for thank you."  She stuttered, and repeated, as did I, adding that she could look in the trash or I would be happy to, cause logic would say that no one in their right mind would throw away a lottery ticket that  had not been scratched off!

She quickly walked to the trash and opened the top as she proceeded to again palm my ticket, I just knew it was mine - that's all - so I dashed walked fast paced around the counter to the opening where she was illegitimately "going through the trash" without results.  Hum, how could that be possible when I glimpsed the ticket twice, and when if was legitimately the case, she had thrown away an unused lottery ticket, and the trash had not been taken out.  It had to be there.

Suddenly, the ticket slipped and again hidden just a quickly into the empty cigarette cartons that she was holding within her hands.  Letting her know that I saw the ticket, pointing it out telling her that this belongs to me.  In return, her response was that it was from a different customer who brought it in to claim the prize.  I asked for the manager.  To my amazement, the assistant manager (am) was standing right there, gawking, definably out of his element, eyes like a dear in the headlights as this woman (looked like early 20's) proceeded to try to pull him into the situation by saying, "you remember that I just cleaned right?".  Carefully, I withdrew the used ticket from between the boxes.

When asked, the am refused to give the managers telephone number, rather, he gave me the telephone number to the store that was printed on a receipt and told me she would be in Tuesday (which is now today) between 6 and 2.  Thankfully, the telephone number to the corporate office was also printed on the piece of paper.  Commenting that I would like for the store tape to be reviewed and that I was going to contact the police department, I was told to get a report.  Okay, out to my car and cell phone I travel, as the woman literally begins to babble even faster!

Called information for the non-emergency police department telephone number that was then dialed through for me.  There was a full list of questions to be answered, including, "are there any weapons involved?"  No ma'am, however I do have a conceled weapons permit and there is a gun in my vehicle that I have no plans on using, never mind even the thought of looking at it! 

Knowing this information had just increased the value of our conversation, and the questions took a slight turn.

Looking back, I now realize why 3 officers showed up so fast, in 3 different police cars while I was making my report to the 7-11 corporate office.  Note: During this telephone conversation, I explained that I had contacted the police department and asked that they have a representative too.

Needless to say, the officers were much more interested in my car console than any report to begin with.  OMG, they were scaring me!  Moving slowy, with permission, and explaining each move, I opened the back door to retrieve my wallet as I am verbally guided though each motion.  I notice a hand on his weapon carefully monitoring.  My hands became of special interest to me, as I was certain to keep them in plain view.  He is running my liscenses.
Fast Car Choker - A Keepers Jackpot

I bet you think it couldn't get more interesting ...

So, we are standing there as I tell my story to one of the officers while the other two go into the store.  A woman pulls into a parking spot and begins to get out of a Jaguar, her car alarm goes off.  She did not realize it was her car until the officer with me motioned to her.  As she went into the store I noticed that the tag on her shirt was hanging out, or her shirt was on inside out ... turned out to be the latter.  The next car to pull into the spot is a corvet and we comment.

While the officer and I are chit chatting, I am told that two managers have come to the store.  One is running a register, the alleged thief is off to the side talking on her cell phone, and the other manager with two of the officers are in the store office beginning to review the store video tapes as three people approach cautiously.
Jungle Animals Newsboy Hat Toddler - Little Andalucia
She and the two men are seeking help for a parental kidnapping.  The father is in town with the five year old boy the family is seeking to have returned to them.  The officer now with me begins to ask questions and review their paperwork, as I say a prayer for the boy. 

They have moved away from me, and his presence is replaced by one of the other officers who has come from the store office.  He tells me that they must run the numbers on the ticket past the Florida lottery system to confirm it was the one that I had purchased.  Later, one of the officers reappears and states that the ticket is not mine.

We chit chat.  After 22 years in the line of duty, I wonder if he has seen it all.  Kids.  Dysfunctional people, raising dysfunctional people, who then continue raising the dysfunctional..., church, family, then he kinda jumps as he hollers and waves to my left. 

Someone pulling out of the expensive car parking space is looking backward while backing up.  Apparently miscaculating, the front drivers side of her car crashes into the rear passanger side of the car next to her.  By this time, two officers are outside with me, waiting.  One asks the other, and he calls it in to the department.
Lemon Cream Cheese Cake Felted Soap - Rainy Day Art
They were going to continue  to review the tapes, it is going to take a few hours.  He has all of my information and someone will call with an update.  As I leave, I am wondering ... is an apology cake, forgive me/apology card, a spa day, is in order.

Hours later, the lead officer on the case (if there even is one) calls me at home.  Turns out I was ticket owner!  Between rechecking via the Florida lottery and the video tapes which shows her scratching the ticket off, then letting someone she knows cash it in to give her the money.  Someone from the company will be in contact and the woman is going to be loosing her job.  Do I want to continue and press charges, afterall, turns out the ticket was only a $1 winner? ... the cost of the ticket itself.  It will be a misdemeanor offense, most noted to me, a lot of paperwork. 

Since, both the lead police officer and area manager have called and left messages for me.  The main point is that they would rather that I do not press charges against the wonam.  My husband agrees.  I struggle because of this.

Do future employers, family, friends, neighbors, have the right to know? 

Maybe she babysits?  (I have had two rip me, one of them big time however slow it all happened)

Will she have learned a lesson, or will this just be a blip on her radar screen?

It is not likely that I am her only victum?

Question:  Like the TV show, "What Would You Do?

Want your Social Security early?

More people are refusing to wait until 65, opting for reduced benefits right away. Are they ahead of the curve or just hurting themselves?

The number of Americans opting to take Social Security at 62 -- currently the youngest age allowed -- is on the rise. In 2009, 42% of 62-year-olds claimed benefits, up from 38% in 2007, according to economists at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.
(click on photo for more on this topic)

Afraid that lawmakers will soon raise the retirement age of Social Security or shrink benefits, many are ignoring the traditional advice of financial planners and retirement experts everywhere and taking their benefits as soon as possible.

Advisers say the average pre-retiree typically underestimates the impact of taking benefits early. For example, a top earner retiring at 62 would get $1,803 a month. By waiting until 66, he'd increase that amount to $2,442, and delaying until 70 would bump the monthly payment to $3,256, according to Rande Spiegelman, the vice president of financial planning at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. Another way to look at it: People who take Social Security at 66 rather than at 62 will collect more money over time, provided they live to at least age 77.

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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Camera-Critters #156 - Cowlick


To join in this fun meme, which is all about critters, scroll down and click on the badge.

Theme Thursday Meme March 31, 2011 ~ SILLY

SILLY STATE LAWS


Check out this array of crazy codes of conduct from across the nation. Some are no longer on the books (thank goodness), others are truly letter-of-the-law lunacy.

FLORIDA:  Doors that open inward, instead of outward
NEW HAMPSHIRE:  Don’t even think about collecting seaweed at night
SOUTH CAROLINA:  There’s no playing with pinball machines until you’re 18
ALASKA:  It is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane
HAWAII:  Coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears
NEW YORK:  A person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in his/her pocket
INDIANA:  Hotel sheets must be exactly 99 inches long and 81 inches wide
VERMONT:  Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth
COLORADO:  It is illegal to ride a horse while under the influence
ALABAMA:  Boogers may not be flicked into the wind

More?  Click Above Map ...