« June 2008 | Main | August 2008 »
July 26, 2008
Gee, that time already?
Just when you think I've given up making entries here, ta da..I'm back. Granted, it still may not be worth your wile to read but still...
We've had a LOT of rain lately..lots of mosquitoes, moths. We've got one cat who is the mighty moth hunter. He's is pretty darn agile for all of his 22 pounds but at the same time I suspect he's the one who keeps bringing in slugs on his coat, since he's the only one who can lay still long enough for a slug to climb aboard. Eeewww....I've found two in the house so far; I really don't think they get in on their own. Anyway, the birds have been enjoying the rain though; some mornings the backyard looks like a scene right out of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds for all the starlings/crackles out there pecking away at the ground and underbrush. ..........Shudder........
Ooohh...I'm really enjoying the Beijing Welcome song for the Olympics next month - check it out. Language is a very complicated thing - somehow I think the translation is a bit simplistic for very sincere and deeper concepts.
Someone is going to the UK for a month and it's not me. Someone also needed a cell phone that would be usable there ..or anywhere where there is GSM (ours is CDMA) Enter the Crackberry - er I mean Blackberry. I think the reason Blackberry users appear to be so addicted is because they can.... or so I've noticed. ANYWAY, we do our best to try to keep up but I have to admit it's getting harder. I think I've managed to link this blog to my Facebook page...whew... yes, me, facebook...go, register.
Moving right along........
I enjoyed a visit from Lori Demian Maura and Kieran a week or so ago. Photos are so revealing! I didn't realize someone had his finger under the juicer spout until I was uploading and resizing these photos! Silly goose.
We did manage to get in some berry picking and a stop at the Vermont Teddy Bear factory before both kiddies feel ill with some virus. They did manage to keep it to themselves though.
Enjoy your week all...I'll be here all alone, by myself, just me and the cats...UNTIL my SIL gets here on Wednesday. I think I will find things to do to entertain myself for a month...need a visitor?
Posted by frani at 09:43 AM | Comments (6)
July 11, 2008
All's Quiet...
Yes, the neighbors on the Western front (back) were quiet last night. My PIC remarked that the quiet was quite remarkable and noteworthy! Another neighbor called and wanted to know what I did to "them" since they noticed it was quiet as well. That should probably tell us something.
I did make the rounds yesterday: I spouted off at the receptionist who assured me David was not there and she had put a note on his desk to call me a couple of days ago. Then I went next door and reamed out Scott, the truck depot manager, and told him I was nearly crazed with the noise. Of course he assured me he was doing the best he could and pleaded with the distributor (Greg) in Maine not to send anything except the whisper quiet trailers overnight because he had an angry neighbor and the police calling him. *I* assured him that I was doing the best I could as well and as long as he had a noisy trailer out there I would call the police as soon as the noise ordinance violation kicked in. Then I went to see our Zoning administrator (Ray)and was given updated noise ordinance policy as set by the city. Oooohhh, lookie here, machinery can't be run after *9PM* not 10PM as I had recalled from the last go round with violations. Ray told me my complaints were a police issue and I should find out if citations had been issued and if not why not. Police Officer Golin was next assigned to deal with the crazed woman (me). He assured me I had legitimate complaints but said no, the truck depot had not been cited for noise violations because there needs to be two separate parties complaining. OOOOOHHH..no problem, *I* had volunteered to take the rap for the neighborhood but if they needed more people to complain, then we could comply no problem. Looking over the new policy we concluded that quite possibly the noise fit in the general category of noise violations and I might not even have to wait until 9PM to complain. (To wit: It shall be unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made any loud or unreasonable noise. Noise shall be deemed to be unreasonable when it disturbs, injures or endangers the peace or health of two or more unrelated people or when it endangers the health, safety or welfare of the community. Any such noise shall be considered to be a noise disturbance and public nuisance) When asked how loud the noise was, I declared that noise was in ear of the beholder (behearer?)but that listening to it for 5 hours straight on any given night made for a very cranky and crazed woman by the time I went to bed. I invited him over for tea on the porch to listen. I thanked him for his time and reminded him of our neighborhood watch picnic coming up at the end of the month to which we always invite the city police and fire departments. (our neighborhood has the best turnout and food for these functions you know) - hopefully the trucks won't be making noise that afternoon/evening. Grin.
After I returned home, I rallied the neighbors to call when the noise started up and they were all too willing to make the calls...we waited with bated breath...nothing. This was a good thing, right?
May Peace and Quiet be with you (and us) for now on....
Posted by frani at 08:52 AM | Comments (3)
July 04, 2008
July 4, 2008
Happy Independence Day! (Happy Birthday to my Aunt Bertie and foster brother Bruce.)
I heard the fireworks last night - wish I could have braved the crowds. I love fireworks...sigh.
I made one and a half cakes yesterday. One cake to bring to "camp" and the half cake/loaf pan was to sample last night. I learned from my father that it is important to do a taste test - just wouldn't do to offer up bad cake to people.
Going out to beautiful (cold) Caspian Lake today to visit family and friends.
Have a pleasant day all......
Posted by frani at 08:27 AM | Comments (1)
July 03, 2008
Sad case of lost child...
I'm just sick. Vermont has been consumed by the case of a missing 12 year old - Brooke Bennett - the very first Amber Alert case in Vermont. She disappeared last Wednesday and her body was uncovered yesterday afternoon. I just wasn't prepared for that ending...I had hoped she was in hiding somewhere, afraid for her fate, not knowing who to trust. A very sad commentary in itself.
Facts uncovered in the investigation have lead police to sexual abuse beyond my comprehension. Brooke's mother and Aunt married to sexual predators? Another child involved with these men from age 9 to present of 14? I realize a mother is grieving but who the hell would allow their child to be in the company of a registered sex offender? The judgment or lack thereof shown by the all the adults in this child's life is criminal in itself; no one is exempt from responsibility when it comes to the life and death of this little girl.
Just as I can not fathom how someone anyone can abuse a child in this way, I am finding it difficult to think up consequences for these abusers/murderers that even comes close to justice for this child. Death is too easy an out; I'm certainly not thrilled with the idea of housing, feeding and entertaining them for the rest of their lives (although the prospect of their becoming someone's bitch is somewhat more palatable)
The sociologist in me suspects a multi generational cycle of untold abuse - a cycle that in all probability would continue. Unfortunately, the sad reality may be that Brooke may have been spared a horrible life at the hands of her own family. We'll just never know what could have been...we could have hoped for a better life for her but at least we know one piece of the cycle has been broken.
Peace, Brooke.
Posted by frani at 07:39 AM | Comments (1)