Life Lesson Opportunity Falls in Our Laps

You know how you look for examples to teach your kids about consequences of actions? We got a cold hard dose of reality to use last night. Here's the article, courtesy of www.kotv.com, below:

Driver Arrested After Fatal Tulsa Traffic Accident

Driver Jailed After Fatal Tulsa Crash
TULSA, OK -- A crash in the 5000 block of East 31st Street leaves a 20-year old man dead and the driver in the Tulsa County jail.

The accident happened at 10 p.m. Thursday near the 31st Street exit ramp of the Broken Arrow Expressway.

Tulsa Police say a car driven by 18-year old Joel Jaimes was traveling westbound on 31st Street, lost control, causing the car to flip several times and coming to rest on its top.


Police say an unidentified passenger in the car was killed and Jaimes took off on foot.

"Through quick and subsequent investigation, officers were able to locate the driver who fled the scene after the collision. He was located at a local business and taken into custody," said Tulsa Police Captain Jonathan Brooks.

Jaimes was arrested outside a nearby nightclub.

Police says Jaimes was booked into the Tulsa County jail on complaints of 2nd degree manslaughter, DUI and leaving the scene of an injury accident.

The name of the passenger has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

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As we were heading home from seeing K's parents in B-ville, our 8 yr old said, "There's fog up there". As we looked up 31st St, there was smoke everywhere. We thought a car had been on fire. So, the rubber-neckers that we are, we drove through the intersection to take a look. There was a car overturned in the opposite lanes and then two Mexicans ran past us on foot! They were running from the scene. We quickly pulled a U-turn to follow these guys while we also called 911. They cut across the street, through the intersection to climb up under the overpass. So we followed and pulled another U-turn to keep a better eye on them and report back to the dispatcher. Once they realized we were still there, the older of the two flipped us off as they ran around corner of overpass towards a local strip club, so conveniently located near our home.

As we turned toward it we saw one of the two go in to the club and we lost sight of the other one. So I pulled in to the club and the dude ran out right in front of us. At this time, I thinking, 'this guy is right next to us and could have a gun'. So we drove through parking lot, back on to the street as he ran across street to hide. Then the bouncer came out in chase. He caught the suspect across the street and we pulled a fourth U-ey to park at the club(not to go in, really I mean it). It was all I could do not to jump out and kick the guy in the face since I was all hopped up on adrenaline. But I was aware of our child and held it together enough just to yell nonsense at him; which K reminded me of the rest of the night.

The police finally showed up, we explained the situation and were told to wait to make a statement. It wasn't until a few minutes later that we learned that there was a third guy, in the overturned car, that was dead. So now we are witnesses to a possible vehicular manslaughter.

All in all we got to explain to our daughter that 1) you don't run from the law, 2) you don't drink and drive, or 3) people can and do die.

"Go Ahead, Make My Day"

I have joined the ranks of the ones who cling to their guns and religion. I already had the religion part down, now I'm packin' heat.

My father-in-law got me a Smith and Wesson 9mm for Christmas. It was one of those not so surprising presents, but a much appreciated one. I talked for months about how I wanted to get a shotgun and handgun for home protection. And with a stroke of his index finger pointing high in the air, my father-in-law declared "Tony, I know what I'm getting you for Christmas". And here it is:



Not only did I get a handgun, I got a reaction out of my dad and brother like I just gutted my first kill or changed my first tranny. They could not wait to get me out to the range. So I met them the day after I was laid off from my job. No pent up aggression to release there, eh?

So I first watched my brother shoot a few and then decided I was ready to give mine its maiden voyage. For someone who has never fired anything more than a .22, all I can say is WOW! The flames, the recoil, the flying casing. It was amazing. But it did also make me very aware of the gravity of firing handguns and believe me, I don't f&*k around with it. It was fun, but in a Las Vegas kind of way(a couple of days and you've had enough).



I got to fire my brothers' laser sighted Glock. I had better accuracy than him(and he said it out loud). I also fired my dad's .357 which seemed no different than firing the 9mm with it's solid steel body and all.

All in all it was a good time to be with my dad and brother, who I don't see that often and bond in a way that only they have shared.

The Recession Hits Home

The recession that we are currently in has claimed me as a victim.

As of last Thursday I'm one of the many unemployed. Unlike mis-managed big businesses(think Chrysler, GM, Citi, etc, etc, etc) there will be no bail out for me. And because K and I work hard to pay our bills and meet our responsibilities there is no special programs for us. Sure, there's unemployment, and I will definitely take advantage of(anything I can do to stick it to my previous employer).

But being a hard working, intelligent, punctual employee doesn't always get you were you want to go.

Now I have the opportunity to decide where I want to go. And I'm choosing school. Not just any class but Nursing or an Allied Health such as Radiography Tech. I've got a degree in Biology and I've never gotten to use it, as my dad points out any chance he gets. So it's off in to the great unknown with K's complete support. I think she's more excited than. No, I know she's more excited than me. But I'm always concerned about the unkown. Especially when it involves not only one but two families. In other words, the problems that will arise about child support and custody. I can already see a storm cloud brewing with K and the ex and I'm dreading it. There's going to be a lot of changes but I've been given this opportunity by God to make a change and I'm going to make the most of it.

R.I.P. Violet

Yesterday we mourned the loss of a dear friend and confidant. Some may call it a cyst; I called it Violet, K’s undeveloped twin. K had it (her) removed from her neck yesterday. Of course I had to go to the appointment with her. I had to see it come off. Unfortunately the doctor said, “I’d invite you to stand over here and watch but it may be messy when I cut it”.

It took all of five minutes and the marble sized cyst was taken out. No more Violet. While K wanted to throw a party for our loss, I was busy asking myself ‘who will I cuddle with once K has drifted off to sleep?’

Cliff Clavin Strikes Again

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

Yes, you guessed it. That is the official name of Bangkok.

That was what I was confronted with first thing this morning. The atheist, our resident Cliff Clavin, walked over and promptly set a printout on my desk. No conversation with me; just set the paper down. I could have said, ‘oh yea, ha ha ha’ and played like I knew what it was. But I don’t really give a flip about looking uninformed. So my real reply was, “What the heck is that, your birth name?”

‘No, that’s the official name of Bangkok. I used to know it by memory; I had some friends from Thailand and I could rattle it off on command’

Good for you atheist, good for you.

It’s going to be a long day today.

Never Gonna Give You Up

Last Friday we went to my father-in-laws for dinner. He knows that I want to do woodworking around my house and got me a pair of great tools for Christmas.

He told me that he knew what he was giving me for my birthday. He has a tool at his shop that he has never used and it would be perfect. So I’m thinking this’ll be great. After a couple of glasses of wine and dinner, he asked me if I wanted to go look at his shop. He’s a painter by trade and has an enormous garage shop that, of course, gave me shop envy in the worst way. This is painful, in a guy way (no tears), since we just fixed up an extra bedroom for K. It’s her new sewing/craft/project room; I have a part (read small) of the garage in which to move tools around. I’m beginning to feel like a dog without a doghouse.

Back to the shop; K’s dad spots the tool, a jointer, he’s going to give me and asks if we want to take it home that night. I thought, what the heck, we’re here let’s do it. It only weighs about 500 lbs. Moving that thing in to the back of my 4Runner on a hot and extremely humid night left me drenched in sweat. Of course the door had to be tied down and the tool, attached to a base, sounded as if we had a sneaker-full basketball court in our vehicle. The squeaking was beyond bad and I knew K would pop a vein on the side of her head; I couldn’t wait!

The ride home was damn near unbearable for me as well as K and the kids, surprisingly, zonked out. I waited until Saturday morning to unload the beast and then realized what a jointer does. At least I believe it faces boards to give them a flat edge. I have no idea what I’m going to with it; at least short term. And it’s a good quality, belt driven tool.

I asked K what would possess him to buy a jointer in the first place. I said it would be like me, a huge music lover, buying a Rick Astley cd.

Monday Morning Musings

• 2 hours of work with a chainsaw can leave your body out of commission for days, especially when the limbs are above your head
• Social Distortion is underrated
• A cat starts to smell like its litter box if it’s not emptied on a regular basis
• I now think of driving around in dollar figures (it takes $18 to drive to my father-in-laws and have steak – but WORTH EVERY DOLLAR!)
• Brand new mulch can smell like ass
• BitTorrent is the next best thing to sliced bread
• A home-made lasagna, out of the freezer, is so much better than store bought
• If you interested in purchasing a pool want to go to a pool and spa show at the convention center, call to make sure there will actually be pools there(that cost me $3 in gasoline)
• Pillsbury Crescent rolls, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and garlic are the bomb; thanks to K!