Hard Evidence

These photos were taken during my San Diego getaway back in January with mom. While visiting with lifelong friends Nicky and her mother, it became clear that what Nicky & I feared most was indeed taking place...

I'm posting these as a public service announcement, if you will...

WARNING:

Ladies, we are all turning into our mothers!!

Get the word out!!

GET THIS!

I just learned that our new neighbor was arrested yesterday in connection to a rape that occurred just south of Minneapolis! From what I understand, this crime occurred prior to his jail sentence from which he was just released. I'm unsure as to why this only just surfaced, however.

I am not happy that another person had to suffer, but I do feel that my prayers have been answered as to our community's well being.

Big big sigh...

I need a nap

The town meeting on Monday night brought approximately 200 people in attendance and was only somewhat informative. From what Andy tells me (I didn’t attend), the local police and MN department of corrections were simply offering their reassurances that this guy will be closely monitored and reminded us that he does have rights. They were able to tell us that the sexual encounters he was nailed for were (1) statutory rape and (2) ‘mishandling’ a passed out girl (who was known to him) at a party. When he was busted for burglary with intent to assault, again, it was somebody he knew who had ticked him off; he had therefore broken into their home to do some bodily harm. (Sounds like people are better off not knowing this guy!)

As for other news, Elliott’s hockey team was able to once again participate in the Little Chippers program at the Minnesota Wild hockey game last night. During the first intermission, he and his teammates played a game of hockey in front of a FULL HOUSE at the Xcel Center. I will try to post some pictures soon. Once again, it was an amazing night filled with flashing cameras, amazing kids and proud parents. The Wild played the Phoenix Coyotes last night, whose head coach is Wayne Gretzky. While dropping off Elliott’s hockey bag in their special designated locker room, the kids actually saw the hockey legend walking through the corridor. They were silent with AWE, which is quite a feat for a pack of 16 eager eight year olds!

We continue to hungrily gear up for spring break. Much as I’ve always appreciated the opportunity to get away for a vacation, I think this is the first time I’ve ever felt the *urgent* need to depart. It seems as though we are surrounded by every kind of drama available. On top of wrapping up my own physical issues, I find myself faltering over my lack of action as it relates to my mother’s stormy marriage, my little Noah has decided to destroy anything with significant value in our home and I must honestly confess that if one more person creates another headache-ensuing mountain out of an insignificant molehill, I will have a rap sheet of my very own hanging on the fridge for all to see. I now understand why I recently dreamt of being surrounded by tornadoes.

Well I’ve successfully ranted to the point of exhaustion. As the Advil bottle suggests, I’m going to take 2 and keep away from kids.

Here we go again!

I live in a great neighborhood. There are wonderful families and kids for my children to play with; there are 3 beaches , a large neighborhood park, and a few fishing docks within a 3 block radius for us to enjoy. We are within walking distance to the quaint and charming downtown area filled with boutiques, barbershops, cafes, hardware and drug stores. We live one block off of the parade route and 2 blocks away from where fireworks are launched. I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. (A little redundant perhaps, but it gets the point across.)

However...

I have a new addition to our list of growing issues (you're familiar with the list right? the one that includes stolen bikes, slashed tires and lest-we-not-forget peeping Tom's?) Well brace yourselves, here's the new one:

Our community children came home with a memo announcing that a Level 3 Sex Offender is moving into our fine city. 'Where?' you might ask - 2 freaking blocks away from my home. He is being released on March 20th and from what I understand, is being welcomed into the home of his girlfriend who feels we should embrace him with open arms, as he is indeed reformed.

That brings me to his rap sheet. The offense for which he is currently serving five year's time for according to the local police department is that of raping a 15-year old girl; but when I bring up his general offense information online, it discusses a first degree burglary with intent to commit assault.

Reformed? Excuse me, but what the %#@&? Five years and he's fit for society? Five years and he's fit for a neighborhood with countless numbers of children under the age of 12, a half dozen young teenage girls, some dang fine look'n mommas and plenty of high-end homes to seduce him? He will be living exactly 50 feet away from the beach where my children play and young girls sun themselves. How much will it take to lull him out of reform, because I guarantee you that this move will be a terrible challenge for Mr. Reform.

We will attend the public meeting on Monday night to find out what we can and cannot do about Mr. Thomas. There was a great deal of language devoted to warning us about harassing the 200 lb monster in the memo that our children were given. Should be interesting to see how Andy, along with the other fathers, will respond to that advice.

One of the main questions I expect to ask at the meeting is why is our neighborhood designated the half-way house for Mr. Thomas?

I don't want to stop at just that but I am having a difficult time articulating my other concerns. So lay it on me friends; give me some good points of discussion for our little "let's embrace the Rapist" meeting scheduled for Monday night.

Yummy Chocolate Covered "Normal"

Life is finally on its way to 'normal'.

Speaking as candidly as I can for the sake of those with weaker stomachs and/or sunny dispositions, I finally had things 'taken care of'. My doctor encouraged me to live life and allow things to happen naturally, but as my husband might say, I just don't let things go:) I spent about 2 weeks hunched over in a state of flux before finally throwing in the towel (or wrapping it around the neck of the next sympathetic health care professional who came along!) In the midst of this year's worst blizzard, I went in for the procedure. After a very peaceful nap, the nurse woke me to say everything was finally over. Big grateful sigh. She asked my husband's name in order to retrieve him from the waiting room, and thanks to the after effects of my anesthesia, I said "You won't need his name. Just look for the dashing man in the black sweater." As you can imagine, my dashing Andy will never let me live that one down!

It's been easy to move forward mainly because spring break is on the horizon and we have another trip to Florida to look forward to. Instead of being held at the strict mercy of the Mouse this year, we're staying off the Disney site and are looking forward to seeing the ocean, the Kennedy Space Center, and anything else Florida can offer under the literal sun. We thought about catching our local ball team at a spring training game, but I can't imagine spending 3 hours in a car to do so. If anybody has any Florida fun suggestions for us, I am all ears (no pun intended!)

Well, my poor Noah has been held captive of the Upside Down Show for a while, so I had better put my interactive mommy face on and do something constructive (perhaps a nap?) ...one can always hope!